Welcome to another episode of "Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick." In today's thought-provoking conversation, Michael sits down with our good friend Peter Zaremba to explore the profound themes of self-confession, freedom, and the intricate dance between control and acceptance. They delve into the notion of attachment to outcomes and how this affects our mental health, relationships, and overall sense of well-being. Through personal anecdotes and biblical references, Michael and Peter ...
Jul 07, 2025•39 min
Welcome back to Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick. In today’s episode, Michael welcomes friend and fellow leader Robby Angle for an engaging conversation about Robby’s new book, The Path: What if the Way of Jesus is Different Than You Thought? —a collaborative work designed to help the next generation rediscover grace, true identity, and the heart of discipleship. Together, Michael and Robby dive into how our cultural assumptions about Jesus and our spiritual journey might be missing t...
Jun 23, 2025•48 min
Welcome back to Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick. In today’s episode, Michael sits down with Tara Owens, author of Embracing the Body: Finding God in Our Flesh and Bone , for a rich conversation about the intersection of faith, embodiment, and the profound ways our physical selves connect us to God. Together, they explore how centuries of Christian teaching have shaped our views of the body, often separating the spiritual from the physical, and what it looks like to reclaim embodied l...
Jun 16, 2025•48 min
Welcome to another episode of Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick. In today’s conversation, Michael is joined by Summer Joy Gross—Anglican priest, spiritual director, and author of the new book, The Emmanuel Promise: Discovering the Security of a Life Held by God . Together, they dive into the transformative power of secure attachment with God, exploring how our personal histories, traumas, and life transitions shape our ability to connect with both ourselves and the Divine. Michael and ...
Jun 09, 2025•50 min•Season 14Ep. 352
Welcome back to the Restoring the Soul podcast with Michael John Cusick. In today’s episode, Michael sits down in the studio with Dr. Janelle Hallman, a seasoned intensive therapist at Restoring the Soul and a longtime friend and colleague. With decades of experience leading therapy intensives, groups, and workshops around the world, Janelle shares powerful insights from her work, especially her passion for walking alongside women in their journeys of healing and transformation. From memorable f...
Jun 02, 2025•30 min•Season 14Ep. 351
Welcome back to Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick. In this episode, Michael sits down with Nate Larkin, founder of the Samson Society and author of Samson and the Pirate Monks . Together, they take a deep and honest dive into Nate's journey—growing up in a Pentecostal preacher’s home, wrestling with hidden addictions, hitting rock bottom, and experiencing the turning point that would ultimately lead to a worldwide ministry of hope and restoration for men. Nate opens up about the impact...
May 26, 2025•55 min•Season 14Ep. 350
Welcome to another episode of Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick. In today’s honest and insightful conversation, Michael sits down with Dr. Dan Allender—a renowned therapist, author, and longtime mentor—to discuss Dan’s latest book, The Deep-Rooted Marriage , co-authored with Dr. Steve Call and enriched by the wisdom and vulnerability of their wives, Becky Allender and Lisa Call. This episode isn’t just a discussion about techniques for a better marriage—it’s a candid exploration of the...
May 19, 2025•59 min•Season 14Ep. 349
On today’s episode of Restoring the Soul, Michael sits down with Dr. Michelle Keener, biblical scholar and author of the new book Comfort in the Ashes: Explorations in the Book of Job to Support Trauma Survivors . In this compelling conversation, Michelle shares the personal story and scholarly journey that led her to explore the Book of Job through the lens of trauma theory. Together, Michael and Michelle dig deep into how Job’s ancient story parallels the experiences of trauma survivors today—...
May 12, 2025•45 min•Season 14Ep. 348
Welcome to another episode of Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick. In this conversation, Michael is joined once again by Chuck DeGroat —pastor, therapist, and author—for an honest and hope-filled exploration of what it means to truly heal from the inside out. Together, they discuss Chuck’s latest book, Healing What’s Within: Coming Home to Yourself and to God When You’re Wounded, Weary, and Wandering . Diving deep into the heart of spiritual and emotional disconnection, the episode unpac...
May 05, 2025•42 min•Season 14Ep. 347
Welcome to another episode of Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick. Today, Michael sits down with returning guest Sheila Wray Gregoire to dive into her latest book, The Marriage You Want: Moving Beyond Stereotypes for a Relationship Built on Scripture, New Data, and Emotional Health . Sheila, known for her groundbreaking research and no-nonsense approach to Christian marriage resources, unpacks the myths, harmful teachings, and outdated stereotypes that have often taken root in Christian ...
Apr 28, 2025•39 min•Season 14Ep. 346
Welcome to another episode of Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick. In today’s conversation, Michael sits down with Adam Young—trauma therapist, host of The Place We Find Ourselves podcast, and author of the brand new book, Make Sense of Your Story . Together, they explore the profound journey of making sense of the stories that shape our lives, diving into how our earliest experiences continue to form our hearts, minds, and relationships well into adulthood. From raw personal anecdotes t...
Apr 21, 2025•53 min•Season 14Ep. 345
Welcome to another episode of "Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick." Today, Michael is joined by Brian Lee, founder and director of Broken to Beloved , a ministry dedicated to providing practical resources for recovery from and safeguarding against spiritual abuse. In this heartfelt conversation, Brian shares his personal journey through repeated experiences of spiritual abuse and how these challenges birthed a passion for helping others reclaim their belovedness. Michael and Brian delve...
Apr 14, 2025•51 min•Season 14Ep. 344
Welcome to another episode of "Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick." Today, we delve into the compelling concept of what it means to be a Christian – a question that sparks a fascinating discussion on the dichotomy between list makers and storytellers. Inspired by the insights of Dr. Rodney Reeves, Michael and AJ Denson explore themes from Michael's book, "Sacred Attachment," emphasizing the importance of moving beyond doctrines and commandments to embrace a vibrant, embodied faith. Join...
Apr 07, 2025•53 min•Season 14Ep. 343
Welcome to another episode of the "Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick" podcast. We're excited to welcome Aimee Byrd, a renowned author and theologian, to discuss her latest book, " Saving Face: Finding Myself, God, and One Another Outside a Defaced Church ." Join Michael and Aimee as they dive deep into the pages of her profound work, unpacking themes of vulnerability, spiritual abuse, and the journey toward embracing one's true self. Throughout the episode, Aimee shares her personal ex...
Apr 03, 2025•52 min•Season 14Ep. 342
In this episode of "Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick," we'll journey through a candid and enlightening conversation between Michael and AJ Denson. Together, they embark on a thought-provoking exploration of the season of Lent. Michael shares personal reflections on the significance of 40 days of renewal leading up to Easter, highlighting the duality of detachment and engagement that comes with spiritual practices. With vulnerability and insight, Michael opens up about the profound imp...
Mar 28, 2025•43 min
Welcome to another episode of Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick. On today's episode, host Michael is rejoined by Dr. Andrew Bauman, a passionate advocate for creating healthier church communities and an illuminating voice on overcoming personal and systemic abuse. In this engaging conversation, they delve into Andrew's powerful journey, exploring the roots and revelations that led him to pen his latest book, "Safe Church: How to Guard Against Sexism and Abuse in Christian Communities."...
Mar 21, 2025•40 min•Season 14Ep. 340
Welcome to today's episode of "Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick." In this insightful discussion, Michael sits down with John Carroll, a key leader from the School of Kingdom Living, which is an integral part of Dallas Willard Ministries. Michael and John dive deep into the profound impact of Dallas Willard's teachings on spiritual formation and how John's journey from corporate healthcare into ministry has been shaped by mentors like James Bryan Smith. They explore how the School of K...
Feb 28, 2025•31 min•Season 14Ep. 339
Welcome to Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick. In this engaging episode, we dive into the profound themes of Michael's latest book, " Sacred Attachment: Escaping Spiritual Exhaustion and Trusting in Divine Love ." Joined by A.J. Denson, Michael explores the deep-seated gaps between what we believe and what we actually experience in our spiritual lives. Delving into the concept of "Delta," he discusses both the distance and potential union between these gaps, drawing from personal experi...
Feb 14, 2025•33 min
Welcome to another episode of "Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick." In today's conversation, Michael sits down with AJ Denson to dive deep into the profound themes of Michael's latest book, "Sacred Attachment." Together, they explore the concept of 'spinning' introduced in the first chapter and reflect on how it symbolizes the disorientation and reorientation we experience in life's journey. Michael shares a personal childhood story that beautifully illustrates the unexpected embrace of...
Feb 07, 2025•27 min•Season 14Ep. 336
Welcome to another episode of the Restoring the Soul podcast with your host, Michael John Cusick. Today, we have the pleasure of diving into a profound and transformative conversation with Ian Morgan Cron. Ian is not just a friend to Michael but a celebrated author of books like " The Road Back to You ," and his deeply impactful spiritual memoir, " Jesus, My Father, the CIA, and Me ," as well as his novel " Chasing Francis ." In this episode, we take a close look at Ian’s latest book, " The Fix:...
Jan 31, 2025•43 min•Season 14Ep. 335
Welcome to another episode of Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick. Today we're diving into a meaningful conversation on spiritual formation, brokenness, and divine love with our dear friend and ally, James Bryan Smith. In this episode, Michael shares deeply from his own journey of overcoming personal brokenness, including abuse, addiction, deception, and betrayal, to find wholeness through a closer walk with God. He opens up about the stark contrast between his troubled home life and the...
Jan 24, 2025•56 min•Season 14Ep. 334
Welcome back to another episode of Restoring the Soul. In today's special episode, we flip the roles a bit as Curt Thompson graciously takes the lead to explore the profound impact of Michael's new book, Sacred Attachment . Drawing from their personal stories, deep professional insights, and the latest in attachment theory, Curt and Michael delve into the book's central themes of spiritual exhaustion, divine love, and the transformative power of embracing our brokenness. They discuss how embodie...
Jan 17, 2025•44 min•Season 14Ep. 333
Welcome to another episode of "Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick." Today, we're diving into a profound conversation with Alan Fadling, author of the the devotional book, "A Year of Slowing Down: Daily Devotions for Unhurried Living." In this episode, Michael and Alan explore the necessity and impact of integrating brief, intentional moments of reflection into our daily lives, especially in a world that often feels rushed and overwhelming. Alan shares his journey from living a hurried l...
Jan 11, 2025•27 min•Season 14Ep. 332
Welcome to another episode of "Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick." Today, we delve deeper into the essential principles of trauma-informed care in part two of our series. Our host, Michael John Cusick, will guide us through the various resources therapists can provide, such as handouts, whiteboard concepts, and development models, to enhance therapeutic sessions. We'll explore the profound significance of experiencing the "Four S's"—seen, soothe, safe, and secure—within a therapy conte...
Jan 04, 2025•35 min•Season 14Ep. 331
Welcome to another episode of "Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick." In today's episode, we'll explore the critical concept of trauma-informed care—a term that's become widespread yet is often misunderstood. Originating from clinical and research settings and gaining broader cultural awareness, trauma-informed care prioritizes understanding the comprehensive life experiences of individuals to improve their engagement and outcomes in care settings. Michael shares personal stories that und...
Dec 28, 2024•30 min•Season 14Ep. 330
In this captivating episode of Restoring the Soul, Michael John Cusick connects with Meredith Phipps, a dedicated yoga therapist with a passion for integrating faith and wellness. Meredith shares her profound journey from discovering yoga amidst personal healing to becoming a certified yoga therapist with a focus on trauma recovery. Throughout the conversation, Meredith addresses common Christian misconceptions about yoga, highlights the scientific and theological underpinnings of the practice, ...
Dec 20, 2024•23 min•Season 14Ep. 329
Welcome to another episode of Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick . In today’s discussion, Michael welcomes Tony Kriz to the podcast. This episode dives deep into crucial topics, including the impact of trauma on children's development, the importance of supportive adults in their lives, and how churches and communities can foster positive change through active involvement. You'll hear about the startling statistics surrounding childhood literacy, the long-term effects of trauma, and ins...
Dec 14, 2024•41 min•Season 14Ep. 328
Welcome to another episode of "Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick." In today's episode, part two of our conversation with Peter Zaremba, we embark on a journey through the concepts of control, powerlessness, and acceptance. Michael opens with the profound Serenity Prayer, elegantly setting the tone for discussions on letting go and embracing peace through acceptance. Our dialogue delves deep into the biblical teachings on contentment and the spiritual wisdom of the 12-step program. Pete...
Dec 09, 2024•34 min•Season 14Ep. 327
Welcome to another episode of "Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick." In today's thought-provoking conversation, Michael sits down with our good friend Peter Zaremba to explore the profound themes of self-confession, freedom, and the intricate dance between control and acceptance. They delve into the notion of attachment to outcomes and how this affects our mental health, relationships, and overall sense of well-being. Through personal anecdotes and biblical references, Michael and Peter ...
Dec 02, 2024•40 min•Season 14Ep. 326
Welcome to another episode of Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick . Today, we delve into a profound conversation with our guest, Bette Dickinson, a prophetic artist, speaker, and author of " Making Room in Advent ." Join us as we explore the transformative role of women in the church, drawing insight from biblical figures like Mary and Elizabeth. Bette shares how her journey of integrating her artistic and leadership talents has deepened her spiritual connection and illuminated critical ...
Nov 23, 2024•42 min•Season 14Ep. 325
