Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick

Latest Episodes:

Episode 191 - Andy Crouch, "The Tech-Wise Family, Part 1" Aug 27, 2021

Show notes

“This is about something a lot more than screens, it’s about something a lot more than limits, and it’s not just about the kids.” - Andy Crouch
Michael's guest for the next two podcasts is author, musician and speaker, Andy Crouch, who joins Michael in a discussion about his book, "The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place."
Andy is an eloquent communicator who masterfully makes connections between culture, creativity, and the Christian faith. He is also on the governing boards of Fuller Theological Seminary as well as the Council for Christan Colleges and Universities. For more than 10 years he was an editor and producer at Christianity Today including serving as the Executive Editor from 2012-2016. Andy joined the John Templeton Foundation in 2017 as Senior Strategist for Communication and his work and writing have been featured in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Time Magazine.
He is also the author of several books including "Culture Making", "Playing God", and "Strong and Weak" (which in his first appearance on Restoring the Soul, we explored in-depth). According to Andy's website, "Making good choices about technology is more than just using internet filters and limiting “screen time.” It’s about developing wisdom, character, and courage in the way we use digital media, rather than accepting technology’s promises of ease, instant gratification, and the world’s knowledge at our fingertips."
HELPFUL RESOURCES:
Episode 11 - Andy Crouch, "Strong and Weak, Part 1"
Episode 12 - Andy Crouch, "Strong and Weak, Part 2"

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Thanks for listening!

Episode 190 - Dr. Curt Thompson, "Anatomy of the Soul, Part 2" Aug 20, 2021

Show notes

“How well are you paying attention to what you’re paying attention to?” - Dr. Curt Thompson
On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael continues the conversation we began on our last episode with our good friend, Dr. Curt Thompson. This special in-person conversation has been edited from a 12-part video series with Curt and Michael. As a special blessing for our listeners, Restoring the Soul is making these two conversations available in advance of Curt’s forthcoming book, The Soul of Desire, published by InterVarsity Press.
HELPFUL RESOURCES:
Episode 189 - Dr. Curt Thompson, “Anatomy of the Soul, Part 1”
Episode 65 - Dr. Curt Thompson Part 1, “Being Known”
Episode 66 - Dr. Curt Thompson Part 2, “Being Known”
Episode 122 - Dr. Curt Thompson, "Love and Lament During the Pandemic"

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Episode 189 - Dr. Curt Thompson, "Anatomy of the Soul, Part 1" Aug 14, 2021

Show notes

“We are people who long for a world of beauty and goodness.” - Dr. Curt Thompson
On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael welcomes our good friend, Dr. Curt Thompson, back to the podcast. This special in-person conversation has been edited from a 12-part video series with Dr. Curt Thompson and Michael John Cusick. As a special blessing for our listeners, Restoring the Soul is making these two conversations available in advance of Curt’s forthcoming book, The Soul of Desire, published by InterVarsity Press.
In this podcast, we hope you will discover:

What is a person? What is a soul?
What does the mind look like when it’s flourishing?
The understanding of interpersonal neurobiology as a Christian.

HELPFUL RESOURCES:
Episode 65 - Dr. Curt Thompson Part 1, “Being Known”
Episode 66 - Dr. Curt Thompson Part 2, “Being Known”
Episode 122 - Dr. Curt Thompson, "Love and Lament During the Pandemic"

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Episode 188 - Michael John Cusick, "Surfing for God, Part 14: Understanding Freedom, Part 2" Aug 06, 2021

Show notes

“Freedom is the ability to be exactly who we are before God and others with an overflowing heart and to direct our heart in the direction we most deeply desire.” - Michael John Cusick
On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael continues his in-depth look at Surfing for God and unpacks Chapter 13, “Freedom to Live" with Part 2 of a conversation titled, "Understanding Freedom."
God’s love kneels down to us, wherever we are. And as He does, He urges us to bare ourselves before Him. Why? Because in seeing our naked selves in the light of God’s love, we make two discoveries. First, we discover more clearly who God is. All of the brokenness in our world and in our lives calls into question God’s goodness. Can we trust Him? Is He really enough? In our nakedness, there is no pretense of earning or obtaining His love. It’s a gift that makes the gospel more real.
HELPFUL RESOURCES:
The Apprentice Gathering
The Apprentice Institute for Spiritual Formation
September 23-25
Wichita, KS
Previous podcasts that address “shame”
Episode 173 - "Surfing for God, Part 5: Shame and Core Beliefs"
Episode 133 - “5 Ways Shame Fuels Addiction, Part 1”
Episode 134 - “5 Ways Shame Fuels Addiction, Part 2”
Episode 137 - “5 Ways Shame Fuels Addiction, Part 3”
Episode 138 - “5 Ways Shame Fuels Addiction, Part 4”

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Episode 187 - Michael John Cusick, "Surfing for God, Part 13: Understanding Freedom, Part 1" Jul 30, 2021

Show notes

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” - 2 Cor. 3:17
On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael continues his in-depth look at Surfing for God and unpacks Chapter 13, “Freedom to Live.”
God’s love kneels down to us, wherever we are. And as He does, He urges us to bare ourselves before Him. Why? Because in seeing our naked selves in the light of God’s love, we make two discoveries. First, we discover more clearly who God is. All of the brokenness in our world and in our lives calls into question God’s goodness. Can we trust Him? Is He really enough? In our nakedness, there is no pretense of earning or obtaining His love. It’s a gift that makes the gospel more real.
HELPFUL RESOURCES:
The Apprentice Gathering
The Apprentice Institute for Spiritual Formation
September 23-25
Wichita, KS
Previous podcasts that address “shame”
Episode 173 - "Surfing for God, Part 5: Shame and Core Beliefs"
Episode 133 - “5 Ways Shame Fuels Addiction, Part 1”
Episode 134 - “5 Ways Shame Fuels Addiction, Part 2”
Episode 137 - “5 Ways Shame Fuels Addiction, Part 3”
Episode 138 - “5 Ways Shame Fuels Addiction, Part 4”

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Episode 186 - Michael John Cusick, "Surfing for God, Part 12: Less is More" Jul 23, 2021

Show notes

“In repentance and rest is your salvation. In quietness and trust is your strength.” - Isaiah 30:15
On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael continues his in-depth look at Surfing for God and unpacks Chapter 11, “Less Is More”. Solitude and silence are not just practices to optimize our lives in a fast-paced world. And though these practices may bring us healing, they are far more than a trendy therapeutic technique. Our souls require solitude and silence in order to thrive.
HELPFUL RESOURCES:

Episode 117 - Contemplative Prayer, Part 1
Episode 118 - Contemplative Prayer, Part 2
“Less Is More” (message from Denver Seminary)
“Forty Days to a Closer Walk with God: The Practice of Centering Prayer” by J. David Muyskens

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Episode 185 - Michael John Cusick, "Surfing for God, Part 11: Your Brain on Porn, Part 2" Jul 16, 2021

Show notes

“Restart and reboot yourself. You're free to go.” - Bono
On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael continues his in-depth look at Surfing for God and concludes a 2-part discussion called, “Your Brain on Porn”. Over the past 20 years, the field of neuroscience has exploded our understanding of the human brain. Recent discoveries have profound implications on treating various addictions and psychological disorders and pursuing physical and emotional well-being. The consistent theme is that contrary to conventional wisdom, our brains are highly changeable. Your brain can unlearn, and it can change.
7 Rs to overcome pornography:

Recognize the problem
Reorientation
Relationship
Regulation
Reboot
Restore
Repentance

* Michael refers to the Restoring the Soul podcast, Soul Care with iCare

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Episode 184 - Michael John Cusick, "Surfing for God, Part 10: Your Brain on Porn, Part 1" Jul 09, 2021

Show notes

"Like sand on a beach, the brain bears the footprints of the decisions we have made, the skills we have learned." - Sharon Begley, NEWSWEEK Science Editor
On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael continues his in-depth look at Surfing for God and introduces a 2-part discussion called, “Your Brain on Porn”. Over the past 20 years, the field of neuroscience has exploded our understanding of the human brain. Recent discoveries have profound implications on treating various addictions and psychological disorders and pursuing physical and emotional well-being. The consistent theme is that contrary to conventional wisdom, our brains are highly changeable. Your brain can unlearn, and it can change.
Key Facts About the Effects of Porn on the Brain

Porn is a drug
Porn has harmful consequences
Porn hijacks the brain
Porn changes the wiring in your brain
Porn creates an addicted brain
Porn-addicted brains can be rewired
There is hope for porn addiction of all kinds

* In this podcast, Michael refers to the resource yourbrainonporn.com

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Episode 183 - Dr. Janelle Hallman, "Fostering Wholeness" Jul 02, 2021

Show notes

“I don’t work well with people who have it all together.” - Dr. Janelle Hallman
On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael welcomes colleague and one of Restoring the Soul’s Intensive Clinical Soul Care Specialists, Dr. Janelle Hallman.
Janelle is a Licensed Professional Counselor, ordained minister, professor, author, and speaker on issues such as redemption, healing, and wholeness. Her passion is to counsel, facilitate, teach and share realities about God, life, and the human experience in a way that transforms and touches a person’s deepest heart. She loves working with any individual or couple seeking greater wholeness.
Dr. Hallman has served as an adjunct professor at Colorado Christian University. She is currently an adjunct professor at Denver Seminary and regularly supervises, trains, and consults other therapists, pastors, and lay leaders.
Dr. Hallman received her MA in Counseling from Denver Seminary and her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Regent University. She loves beauty, babies (being a grandmother of course!), nature, and reading, and absorbing the spiritual masters.

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Episode 182 - John Lynch, "On My Worst Day" Jun 18, 2021

Show notes

“The last thing in the world that I was supposed to do was become a believer.” - John Lynch
On this edition of Restoring the Soul, we reprise a conversation Michael had with John Lynch. John served for 27 years as teaching pastor at Open Door Fellowship in Phoenix, Arizona. As a gifted communicator, John is a vital Trueface staff member, joining the team in 1997.
John has co-authored The Cure, Bo’s Café, Behind The Mask, and his own story, On My Worst Day.
In this podcast, we hope you’ll discover:

The secret that John carried for decades, even while ministering and offering a message of hope, freedom, and authenticity.
That we are changed and transformed by living in the reality that we are loved.
How John’s story has helped people understand and experience the Gospel, the original Good News, as it was meant to be.

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