In this episode of Being Human with Steve Cuss, hosts Steve and Lisa Cuss explore how upbringing shapes relationship dynamics, feelings of shame, and our faith. Guest Christine Caine shares her powerful journey through adoption trauma, childhood sexual abuse, and healing. Bible scholar Yana Jenay Conner reframes Jesus' "turn the other cheek" teaching as a dignified response to dehumanization. Steve and Lisa also address gaslighting and its impact on trust. Throughout, the episode emphasizes that family of origin work isn't about blame, but about pursuing healing, forgiveness, and flourishing rooted in God's transformative love.

Episode Resources:

Yana Jenay Conner’s Living Beyond Offence: Finding the Shalom of Jesus on the Path to Forgiveness

Christine Cain’s The Faith to Flourish: God's Design for a Rooted, Resilient, and Fruitful Life

More From Christine and Yanna:

Other books by Christine Caine

Christine Caine’s website

Yana Jenay Conner’s website

Yana Jenay Conner’s podcast ⁠Living Single with Yana Jenay⁠

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In this episode of Being Human, host Steve Cus sits down with Yana Jenay Conner, author of Living Beyond Offence: Finding the Shalom of Jesus on the Path to Forgiveness. They explore practical forgiveness, family of origin influences, and conflict avoidance. Yana shares insights on "turning the other cheek," the difference between hurt and harm, and setting boundaries the Jesus way. She also reflects personally on trust issues, self-reliance, and the challenge of praying for herself—revealing how childhood experiences shape our relationships with others and with God.

Episode Resources:

Yana Jenay Conner’s Living Beyond a Fence: Finding the Shalom of Jesus on the Path to Forgiveness

Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend’s Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life

Check out The Bible Project

Psalm 139 (ESV)

More From Yana:

Yana Jenay Conner’s website

Yana Jenay Conner’s podcast ⁠Living Single with Yana Jenay⁠

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In this episode of Being Human, Steve Cuss talks with Christine Caine—speaker, bestselling author, and co-founder of A21—about her adoption story, childhood trauma, emotional healing, and identity in Christ. Christine shares how she discovered at age 33 that she was adopted, how she began healing from childhood sexual abuse, and how Scripture memorization helped renew her mind and strengthen her faith. She also reflects on the role of mentors Alan and Deb Hirsch in her recovery and discusses her book, The Faith to Flourish, explaining how the olive tree reveals God’s design for a rooted, resilient, and fruitful life—even in hardship. This conversation explores family of origin, Christian healing, resilience, and what it means to flourish in faith.

Episode Resources:

Christine Cain’s The Faith to Flourish: God's Design for a Rooted, Resilient, and Fruitful Life

Dan Allender’s The Wounded Heart: Hope for Adult Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse

More about Alan and Deb Hirsch

More From Christine Caine:

Other books by Christine Caine

Christine Caine’s website

Sign up for Steve’s Newsletter & Podcast Reminders:

Capable Life Newsletter

Get the Communication Styles Guide:

https://capablelife.com/pages/podcast

Join Steve at an Upcoming Intensive: 

Capable Life Intensives

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In this episode of Being Human, host Steve Cuss and monthly guest Clarissa Moll from The Bulletin explore how family-of-origin dynamics shape individuals' relationships with themselves, others, and God. Drawing on family systems theory, they discuss how families function as interconnected systems where dysfunction is shared rather than isolated. They introduce the genogram as a tool for mapping generational patterns, values, and beliefs. Emphasizing curiosity and kindness over blame, they encourage listeners to examine inherited "family propaganda" and discern how it aligns—or conflicts—with their Christian faith.

Episode Resources:

Genograms in Practice Explainer (pdf)

Pete Scazzero’s Emotionally Healthy Spirituality

Biography of Murray Bowen 

Family Systems Theory’s Eight Concepts

Scripture referenced:

Genesis 28 (ESV)

Luke 24 (ESV)

Exodus 20:5–6 (ESV)

Jeremiah 31:29 (ESV)

Genesis 25–27 (ESV)

More From Clarissa Moll:

Clarissa Moll’s The Bulletin podcast

Explore Clarissa Moll’s website

Read Clarissa Moll’s substack

Sign up for Steve’s Newsletter & Podcast Reminders:

Capable Life Newsletter

Get the Communication Styles Guide:

https://capablelife.com/pages/podcast

Join Steve at an Upcoming Intensive: 

Capable Life Intensives

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In this episode of Being Human with Steve Cuss, Steve and Lisa do a raw, provocative deeper dive into the current “family of origin” series. They feature standout insights from Shane Wood, Dr. Craig Mattson, and Justin Heap on trauma, Revelation, social media, marriage loops, and the inherited, subconscious beliefs secretly shaping your relationships with yourself, others, and God. The second half of this episode explores childhood wounds and abuse that remained buried for decades. There is definitely a hidden cost of unresolved pain—making it a must-listen for anyone exploring the Christian mental health space, family systems therapy, emotional healing, and faith-based relationship advice. 

Episode Resources:

Dr. Mattson’s Digital Overwhelm: A Mid-Career Guide to Coping at Work

Substack: Shane J. Wood: Letters from the Desert

Shane J. Wood’s website

Shane J. Wood’s Between Two Trees: Our Transformation from Death to Life

Justin’s Nine Spaces Enneagram Coaching

Justin’s Lines & Spaces podcast

Read Justin’s book By & By & Never: Poetry & Art

Being Human episode: “Are You Carrying Your Family's Emotional Baggage? with Steve & Lisa Cuss”

Sign up for Steve’s Newsletter & Podcast Reminders:

Capable Life Newsletter

Get the Communication Styles Guide:

https://capablelife.com/pages/podcast

Join Steve at an Upcoming Intensive: 

Capable Life Intensives

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In this episode of Being Human with Steve Cuss, Steve  interviews Dr. Craig Mattson, professor and author of "Digital Overwhelm." They explore how technology and workplace pressures affect early-career professionals, discuss generational differences in resilience and anxiety, and reflect on the impact of family upbringing on personal and spiritual life. Craig shares insights from his research, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, presence, and community. 

Episode Resources:

Dr. Mattson’s Digital Overwhelm: A Mid-Career Guide to Coping at Work

Dr. Mattson’s Calvin College Professor Bio

Jonathan Malesic’s End of Burnout: Why Work Drains Us and How to Build Better Lives

Jonathan Malesic’s Burnout Culture

Aristotle’s Poetics

More About Hannah Arendt

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In this episode of Being Human with Steve Cuss, Steve talks with New Testament scholar Shane J. Wood about the book of Revelation and its relevance today. He reflects on how vulnerability and sacrificial love—not power or aggression—are central to Christian faith and transformation. Their conversation weaves together biblical insights, personal stories of trauma and healing, and reflections on family of origin. The episode explores how unhealed pain is passed down, the importance of bringing wounds into the light, and the church’s unique role in fostering wisdom, openness, and hope in a turbulent world.

Episode Resources:

Shane J. Wood’s Thinning the Veil: Encountering Jesus Christ in the Book of Revelation Genesis 3 (ESV)

2 Peter 3 (ESV)

Matthew 5-7 (ESV)

More About Walter Brueggemann

More From:

Substack: Shane J. Wood: Letters from the Desert

Shane J. Wood’s website

Shane J. Wood’s Between Two Trees: Our Transformation from Death to Life

Sign up for Steve’s Newsletter & Podcast Reminders:

Capable Life Newsletter

Get the Communication Styles Guide:

https://capablelife.com/pages/podcast

Join Steve at an Upcoming Intensive: 

Capable Life Intensives

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In this episode of Being Human with Steve Cuss, Steve interviews Justin Heap, an Enneagram coach and creative consultant, about the impact of his turbulent upbringing. Justin shares candidly about growing up amid parental conflict, frequent moves, and emotional turmoil, and how these experiences shaped his sense of safety, responsibility, and coping mechanisms. Together, they discuss the challenges of recognizing and processing childhood trauma, the influence of family dynamics on faith and relationships, and the ongoing journey toward healing and self-understanding through therapy and honest reflection.

Episode Resources:

More about Missio Alliance

Enneagram Type Seven

What is Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)?

More From Justin Heap:

Justin’s Nine Spaces Enneagram Coaching

Justin’s Lines & Spaces podcast

Read Justin’s book By & By & Never: Poetry & Art

Justin’s Pax Coworking

Justin’s Curious Human creative consulting agency

Sign up for Steve’s Newsletter & Podcast Reminders:

Capable Life Newsletter

Get the Communication Styles Guide:

https://capablelife.com/pages/podcast

Join Steve at an Upcoming Intensive: 

Capable Life Intensives

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In this episode of "Being Human," hosts Steve and Lisa Cuss launch a new season focusing on family of origin that explores how inherited "assets and liabilities" shape our lives. They discuss family propaganda, permitted emotions, and generational traits, sharing personal stories about how these dynamics influence relationships and self-understanding. Emphasizing a gospel-centered approach, they encourage listeners to reflect on their own family patterns with compassion and curiosity, offering practical tools for growth. 

Biblical Passages

John 1:1–5 (ESV) 

Exodus 20:5–6 (ESV)

Deuteronomy 5:9 (ESV)

Jeremiah 31:29 (ESV)

Ezekiel 18:2 (ESV)

Genesis 25–27 (ESV)

Episode Resources:

What is a genogram?

More about the Family Systems Theory

Family Diagram (Bowen Center)

Pete Scazzero’s Emotionally Healthy Spirituality

Human Sized Journal – Digital Edition (PDF Download) 

Sign up for Steve’s Newsletter & Podcast Reminders:

Capable Life Newsletter

Get the Communication Styles Guide:

https://capablelife.com/pages/podcast

Join Steve at an Upcoming Intensive: 

Capable Life Intensives

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In this episode of Being Human with Steve Cuss, Steve and Lisa react to recent conversations and wrap up our series on communication styles. They explore the invisible dynamics that shape our relationships—with others, ourselves, and God. They discuss the transformative power of listening postures, emphasizing curiosity and spiritual presence. Clarissa Moll shares insights on vulnerability and judgment in communication, while additional guests, Zack Windahl and Andrew Arndt reflect on self-awareness and honesty before God. The Cusses highlight the importance of empathy, respect, and bringing truth to our inner lives.

Biblical Passages

James 1:19-20 (ESV)

Episode Resources:

Andrew Arndt’s A Strange and Gracious Light: How the Story of Jesus Changes the Way We See Everything

Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov

C.S. Lewis's The Abolition of Man

Zach Windahl’s The Bible Simplified: Learn the Story, Live the Story

More From Clarissa Moll:

Clarissa Moll’s The Bulletin podcast

Explore Clarissa Moll’s website

Read Clarissa Moll’s substack

Sign up for Steve’s Newsletter & Podcast Reminders:

Capable Life Newsletter

Get the Communication Styles Guide:

https://capablelife.com/pages/podcast

Join Steve at an Upcoming Intensive: 

Capable Life Intensives

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