Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick

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Episode 214 - Tony Anderson, "The Heart of Man, Part 2" Mar 11, 2022

Show notes

“Evangelicals in America are one of the most unreached people groups.” - Tony Anderson
On this episode, Michael concludes his conversation with Tony Anderson. As the Executive Producer of the film, The Heart of Man, Tony was intimately involved with every facet of the movie. Tony and Michael continue their discussion about the film but also delve into topics like why African American women are so drawn to the movie, why millions in Saudi Arabia listen to his music, and what Tony’s personal relationship with the Lord looks like on a daily basis.
The interview was conducted just before the 2017 release and I’d like to reiterate, The Heart of Man is a film we highly recommend - it can be found on multiple streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
HELPFUL RESOURCES:
The Heart of Man
Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation

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Episode 213 - Tony Anderson, "The Heart of Man, Part 1" Mar 04, 2022

Show notes

“The only thing that translates to the world is raw experience with God.” - Tony Anderson
On this episode, Michael welcomes Tony Anderson to the podcast.
Tony describes himself as a “sonic architect” who creates and composes music for film, television, and beyond and has been featured in promotions for National Geographic, GoPro, ESPN, Ford, and many more. Tony’s life has also been radically transformed by the power of the Gospel. As the Executive Producer of the film, The Heart of Man. This interview was conducted just before the 2017 release and in this conversation, he and Michael dig deep into what the movie is all about, how it came to be, and what the ultimate goal for the movie will be. This is a film we highly recommend to you and it can be found on multiple streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
HELPFUL RESOURCES:
The Heart of Man

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Episode 212 - Laura Barringer, "A Church Called TOV" Feb 25, 2022

Show notes

“Only one side could be telling the truth and it's really disturbing either way.” - Laura Barringer
On this episode of Restoring the Soul, Michael welcomes Laura Barringer to the podcast.
Over the past decade, we have seen incredible examples of toxic church culture that has upended congregations and has left thousands of church staff and congregants confused and shaken. In 2020 Laura co-authored a book with her father titled “A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing.” Together, they dedicated the book to “the wounded resisters” which provides a framework to create a “good” church culture rather than a toxic one in order to prevent further abuse. As you’ll hear in her interview with Michael, Laura has firsthand experience of toxic church culture.
Laura is a graduate of Wheaton College and makes her home in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and three beagles.
HELPFUL RESOURCES:

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Episode 211 - Brenda Salter McNeil & Rick Richardson, "The Heart of Racial Justice" Feb 18, 2022

Show notes

“The greatest act of worship is to become who God says you are.” - Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil
On this episode of Restoring the Soul, Michael welcomes authors Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil and Rick Richardson to discuss their latest book, “The Heart of Racial Justice: How Soul Change Leads to Social Change.” In it, they recognize that racial and ethnic hostility is one of the most pervasive problems the church faces. In large part, because it is a spiritual battle. In this book and in conversation with Michael, Brenda and Rick provide a model of racial reconciliation, social justice, and spiritual healing that creates both individual and community transformation.
Rick Richardson is director of the Billy Graham Center Institute and its Church Evangelism Initiative, and professor of evangelism and leadership at Wheaton College Graduate School.
Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil is a dynamic speaker, an author, and a trailblazer with over thirty years of experience in the ministry of racial, ethnic, and gender reconciliation. She is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church and is on the pastoral staff of Quest Church in Seattle.
HELPFUL RESOURCES:

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Episode 210 - Ian Morgan Cron, "The Story of You, Part 2" Feb 11, 2022

Show notes

“If you don’t have a narrative that you can share with yourself and others about who you think you are, you’re in trouble.” - Ian Morgan Cron
On this episode of Restoring the Soul, Michael concludes his conversation with Ian Morgan Cron. They’re discussing Ian’s latest book, “The Story of You: An Enneagram Journey to Becoming Your True Self.” In today’s conversation, Ian delves into the SOAR process that helps men and women to rewrite their stories.
SOAR stands for:

See your origin story
Own your shadow side
Awaken to your present moment
Rewrite your new story

HELPFUL RESOURCES:

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Episode 209 - Ian Morgan Cron, "The Story of You, Part 1" Feb 04, 2022

Show notes

“All transformation begins with story transformation.” - Ian Morgan Cron
On this episode of Restoring the Soul, Michael welcomes back our good friend, Ian Morgan Cron, to discuss Ian’s latest book, “The Story of You: An Enneagram Journey to Becoming Your True Self.” In today’s conversation, Ian reveals how each of us inhabits a broken story that runs counter to the Larger Story of divine grace and who we were created to be. He and Michael look at the book that maps out a guide for using Enneagram wisdom to reauthor your life and experience deep inner transformation, healing, and happiness.
Not only is Ian a master teacher of the Enneagram, but he is also an accomplished author, an Episcopal priest, and a trained psychotherapist. He and his wife, Anne, live in Nashville, Tennessee.
HELPFUL RESOURCES:
Ian Morgan Cron, The Story of You: An Enneagram Journey to Becoming Your True Self
Christopher Booker, The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories

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Episode 208 - Ryan Taylor, "Awkward Spirituality, Part 2" Jan 07, 2022

Show notes

“I think God is continually beckoning us into this space of intimacy and in order to get there, we oftentimes have to be devastated.” - Ryan Taylor
On this episode of Restoring the Soul, Ryan Taylor joins Michael to conclude their conversation about Ryan’s book Awkward Spirituality: The Divinity of Ordinary Life. In today’s conversation, Ryan candidly reflects about expectations in life and how they “are meant to be disrupted” in order for us to find enough spaciousness and humility to grow—and find the courage to sink into our truest self in hopes to find the spiritual in the ordinary.
Ryan is a pastor at Urban Mercy Church and Chaplain of Network Coffee House, a hospitality house for Denver’s chronically unhoused. Ryan and his wife Angela have two boys, Josiah and Micah, and live in Denver, Colorado.

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Episode 207 - Ryan Taylor, "Awkward Spirituality, Part 1" Dec 31, 2021

Show notes

“We’re afraid to lose the control that we think we have over the life that we think that we’re living.” - Ryan Taylor
On the next two episodes of Restoring the Soul, Ryan Taylor joins Michael to talk about his book Awkward Spirituality: The Divinity of Ordinary Life. In today’s conversation, Ryan reflects on his spiritual journey that was awakened through joining recovery efforts in Post-Katrina New Orleans. He now ministers among those many may consider irrelevant, and has learned that “wasting time” with people is actually a worthwhile endeavor. Ryan is a pastor at Urban Mercy Church and Chaplain of Network Coffee House, a hospitality house for Denver’s chronically unhoused. Ryan and his wife Angela have two boys, Josiah and Micah, and live in Denver, Colorado.

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Episode 206 - Brian Zahnd, "When Everything Is On Fire, Part 2" Dec 24, 2021

Show notes

“Everyone is invited into the experience of God.” - Brian Zahnd
On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael concludes his conversation with Brian Zahnd. Brian is the founder and lead pastor of Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri. He’s also the author of several books, including Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God, A Farewell to Mars, and Beauty Will Save the World.
On today’s podcast, Michael and Brian dive into part 2 of their discussion about Brian’s latest book, When Everything Is On Fire, which seeks to answer the question, “Is it possible to hold on to faith in an age of unbelief?” Today, they talk about how to experience God in your everyday life & the recent conversations about deconstructing one’s faith.
Follow Brian Zahnd on his blog.

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Episode 205 - Brian Zahnd, "When Everything Is On Fire, Part 1" Dec 20, 2021

Show notes

“Faith will not be sustained by some allegiance to a tradition but by one’s experience.” - Brian Zahnd
On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael welcomes author and Pastor Brian Zahnd. Brian is the founder and lead pastor of Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri. Known for his theologically informed preaching and his embrace of the deep and long history of the church, he provides a forum for pastors to engage with leading theologians and is a frequent conference speaker. Brian is the author of several books, including Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God, A Farewell to Mars, and Beauty Will Save the World.
On today’s podcast, Michael and Brian discuss his latest book, When Everything Is On Fire, which seeks to answer the question, “Is it possible to hold on to faith in an age of unbelief?” Various solutions exist―some people will double down on certainty, while others deconstruct their faith until there is nothing left at all. But Brian Zahnd offers a third way: he thinks that what is needed is not a demolition but instead a renovation of faith.
Follow Brian on his blog.

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