Welcome to our very first live AMA episode—unscripted and full of spirit. Listeners showed up with real questions about prayer, mystical experience, cryptids, and the strange space where the psychological meets the spiritual.

We talked about what it means to pray when God no longer fits, how to trust the knowledge of the heart, why some people encounter the sacred and others don't, and whether Bigfoot might just be a messenger from beyond (seriously).

It was thoughtful, honest, sometimes strange, and fun! Thanks to everyone who joined us live—and if you missed it, we hope to see you at the next one.

Episode Highlights

[00:01:43] Intro & Invocation

• Jeff and Michael reflect on why they started the podcast and what it means to be in real dialogue. Michael offers a short prayer, inviting whatever spirit needs to show up to be part of the conversation.

[00:04:05] Barbara's Question: Heart, Mind & Embodiment

• Barbara asks whether putting the heart first in spiritual practice leaves out the mind and body. The group explores what balance really means in a culture so often out of balance itself.

[00:21:13] Rusty's Question: How Do I Pray Now?

• Rusty shares that his image of God has changed—and he's not sure how to pray anymore. What follows is an exploration of prayer as presence, practice, memory, and sometimes just a single word spoken in the dark.

[00:42:22] Jacqui's Question: Is It Real, or Just My Brain?

• Jacqui asks whether mystical or psychedelic experiences are glimpses of something beyond—or just the brain misfiring. The conversation turns to doubt, wonder, and how meaning sometimes survives even when certainty doesn't.

[00:52:37] Anthony's Question: Cryptids & Contact

• Anthony wants to know when we're going to talk more about Bigfoot and the weird stuff. The answer is: now. Jeff and Michael reflect on why stories of the strange matter—and how the sacred sometimes shows up where we least expect it.

[01:04:30] Katrina's Question: Why Do Some People Experience God?

• The group reflects on why some people feel a strong pull toward spiritual experience, while others don't. The conversation touches on temperament, culture, grace, and the freedom not to need what others seek.

[01:18:13] Cliff's Question: Are Dreams Just Chimneys?

• Cliff shares a Jesuit's take that dreams are interesting but not necessarily meaningful—that they may simply vent unresolved thoughts. The group explores whether dreams might offer more than metaphor, and how meaning can emerge even if you don't take them literally.

[01:23:55] Closing Reflections

• A few closing words of thanks and encouragement. It wasn't a typical podcast episode, and that was the point. The invitation remains open—to bring your questions, your story, and yourself.

Continue the Conversation

What did you think about this conversation? Tell us at [email protected] or reach out at: https://www.gospelofdirectexperience.com/#contact.