CXMH: On Faith & Mental Health

By Robert Vore & Dr. Holly Oxhandler

Religion & Spirituality Christianity

What's CXMH: On Faith & Mental Health about?

Hosts Robert Vore & Dr. Holly Oxhandler discuss the intersection of Christianity and mental health. Guests include pastors, ministry workers, mental health professionals, and more.

Download our free app to listen on your phone

LAST EPISODE

159 - Creativity, Faith, & ...

01.30.2023

In our first interview for Season 7, we’re joined by Stephen Roach. Stephen talks to us about creativity, faith, mental health, and how all of those things intersect.Things we mention in this episode/other resources:- Makers & Mystics S9 E02: The ...

CXMH: On Faith & Mental Health episodes:

01.30.2023 159 - Creativity, Faith, & Mental Health (feat. Stephen Roach) In our first interview for Season 7, we’re joined by Stephen Roach. Stephen talks to us about creativity, faith, mental health, and how all of those things intersect.Things we mention in this episode/other resources:- Makers & Mystics S9 E02: The ...
01.23.2023 We're Back! // Welcome to Season 7. After taking the fall off, we’re back and excited to kick off Season 7! In this episode, we talk about why we paused the show and where we go from here.Things we mention in this episode/other resources:- Embracing Rhythms of ...
05.24.2022 Summer 2022! // Season 6 Finale Robert and Holly reflect on Season 6 and look toward the summer break from the show.Connect with Robert on his website (https://robert-vore.com), Twitter (https://twitter.com/RobertVore), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/RobertVoreCounseling/), or Instagram. (https://www.instagram.com/robertvore/)Connect with Holly on her website (https://hollyoxhandler.com/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/hollyoxhandler/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/hollyoxhandler/), or ...
05.18.2022 Bonus! "Witness" by Morgan Harper Nichols Morgan Harper Nichols reading her poem “Witness.” This clip is from our recent episode, 158 - Peace as a Practice (feat. Morgan Harper Nichols) (https://cxmhpodcast.com/show-notes/2022/05/16/158-mhn-peace).Connect with Morgan on her website (https://morganharpernichols.com/), on Instagram (http://instagram.com/morganharpernichols), on Twitter (https://twitter.com/morganhnichols), on Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/morganharpernichols), ...
05.16.2022 158 - Peace as a Practice (feat. Morgan Harper Nichols) For our last interview of Season 6, we’re excited to have the return of Morgan Harper Nichols! She talks to us about her recent autism diagnosis, how viewing peace as a practice is helpful, and some ways to engage in ...
05.09.2022 157 - What If Our Pain Is Telling Us Something? (feat. Eric Minton) This week we talk with writer, pastor, and therapist Eric Minton. He talks to us about his new book It's Not You, It's Everything: What Our Pain Reveals about the Anxious Pursuit of the Good Life. Why are we all ...
05.02.2022 156 - Navigating Depression & Doubt with Saints (feat. Diana Gruver) This week we talk with Diana Gruver, author of Companions in the Darkness: Seven Saints Who Struggled with Depression and Doubt. She talks to us about the struggles of people like Charles Spurgeon, Mother Theresa, William Cowper, Martin Luther King ...
04.25.2022 155 - Spirituality in Therapy Sessions (feat. Russell Siler Jones) This week we’re joined by Russell Siler Jones to talk about his book Spirit in Session: Working with Your Client’s Spirituality (and Your Own) in Psychotherapy. He talks with us about why spirituality matters for all of us, some ways ...
04.18.2022 154 - How We Grieve and Why 'Moving On' Isn't the Goal (feat. Dr. Jill Harrington) Content warning: grief, death, loss, and brief mention of suicide deathToday we’re joined by Dr. Jill Harrington, editor of Superhero Grief: the Transformative Power of Loss. She teaches us about grieving styles, the continuing bonds theory, and unpacks some types ...
04.11.2022 153 - How to Be a Trauma-Informed Community (feat. Dr. Amy Marschall) On this week’s episode we’re joined by Dr. Amy Marschall to talk about being a trauma-informed community. What does ‘trauma-informed’ even mean? What changes when we use that lens? How does it shape caring for others (and ourselves)? We talk ...
04.05.2022 152 - How to Find Contentment (Instead of Happiness) (feat. Niro Feliciano) This week we talk with Niro Feliciano about the difference between happiness & contentment (13:02), why happiness is so hard to find in the first place (17:37), and the 8 keys to contentment (24:11). These keys include things like connection ...
03.28.2022 151 - Grief, Certainty, Deconstruction, & Superheroes (feat. James Prescott) On today’s episode, we talk with author & podcaster James Prescott! We talk about grief, how learning how to grief can guide us through certainty & deconstruction, and we hear a lot of James’s story. Also, he talks about superheroes!
03.21.2022 150 - Faith, Mental Health, & Rest for the Weary (feat. Emmy Kegler) Today we’re joined by Emmy Kegler to talk about her new book, All Who Are Weary: Easing the Burden on the Walk with Mental Illness. In the intro, we talk about Spring Break and how Holly might’ve taken the ‘break’ ...
03.07.2022 149 - Black Mental Wellness, the Black Church, and Public Health (feat. Brandon Johnson) Content warning: in this episode we talk about suicideThis week we’re joined by Brandon Johnson, public health expert and creator of The Black Mental Wellness Lounge. We talk about why conversations specific to black mental health matter (including suicide prevention), ...
02.28.2022 Recast - Seeing the Sacred in Ourselves & Each Other (feat. Dr. Holly Oxhandler) It’s book launch day for Holly’s brand new book The Soul of The Helper! To celebrate, we’re releasing the interview we did where Robert interviews Holly about it. In a really special intro, Robert’s copy of the book gets delivered ...
02.21.2022 148 - Homelessness & Housing Insecurity (feat. Kevin Nye) This week we talk with Kevin Nye, author of the upcoming book Grace Can Lead Us Home: A Christian Call to End Homelessness. Kevin tells us about how COVID has impacted homelessness, why the housing first model is so important, ...
02.14.2022 Recast - Singleness (feat. Holly Stallcup & Dr. Bella DePaulo) This week we’re rereleasing our conversation from 2019 with Holly Stallcup & Dr. Bella DePaulo about singleness. Here’s the link to preorder Dr. Holly Oxhandler’s new book (https://amzn.to/34EcOYf)! Original show notes below:--------------------------------------------------It’s Valentine’s week, and one important conversation to have ...
02.07.2022 147 - How To Play (& Why It Matters) (feat. Courtney Ellis) This week we talk with pastor & author Courtney Ellis about playfulness! Why it matters, how it can show up in our everyday lives, and how to play more regularly. In the intro, Robert & Holly talk about games they’ve ...
01.31.2022 146 - How Patriarchy Got Baptized (feat. Dr. Beth Allison Barr) This week we’re joined by Dr. Beth Allison Barr, historian and author of The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth. She tells us about the role of women throughout Christian history, why understand that ...
01.24.2022 145 - How Children's Books Can Shape Our View of God & Ourselves (feat. Matthew Paul Turner) This week we’re joined by Matthew Paul Turner (author of children’s books like When God Made Light, When God Made You, and more). Matthew talks to us about why children’s books is important in our view of ourselves & God, ...
01.17.2022 144 - Embodiment, Healing, & Working With Our Bodies (feat. Dr. Hillary McBride) To kick off the second half of Season 6, we talk with Dr. Hillary McBride! Hillary is a therapist, research, podcaster, and the author of The Wisdom of Your Body: Finding Healing, Wholeness, and Connection Through Embodied Living. She talks ...
12.13.2021 Christmas 2021! Robert and Holly chat before taking the holiday break off! We talk about our experiences being in Christmas plays (03:51), our favorite Christmas songs (10:56), reflect on the first half of Season 6 (14:18), and our hopes for the listeners ...
12.06.2021 143 - Seeing the Sacred in Ourselves & Each Other (feat. Dr. Holly Oxhandler) This week is a special episode of CXMH! Robert interviews our very own Dr. Holly Oxhandler about the ideas in her upcoming book, The Soul of The Helper. Holly teaches us about her Namaste Theory, how we can see the ...
11.29.2021 Bonus! "Walk a Little Slower" by Tanner Olson To celebrate Tanner Olson’s new book Walk A Little Slower: A Collection of Poems and Other Words, we’re sharing this recording of ‘Walk A Little Slower’ that Tanner recorded specifically for CXMH. You can hear more from Tanner on ep. ...
11.22.2021 142 - People Living With Dementia and Their Caregivers (feat. Dr. Brianna Garrison & Dr. Dennis Myers) This week we’re joined by Dr. Brianna Garrison & Dr. Dennis Myers. They teach us about dementia, how to care for those living with it, and how to care for their caregivers. In the intro, Robert & Holly talk about ...
11.15.2021 141 - Navigating Suicidal Thoughts (feat. Dr. Kathryn Gordon) Content warning: suicide, suicidal thoughtsThis week we share part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Kathryn Gordon based on The Suicidal Thoughts Workbook. She talks us through some strategies for navigating suicidal thoughts such as Uncovering Causes (08:18), Coping with ...
11.08.2021 140 - Understanding Suicidal Thoughts (feat. Dr. Kathryn Gordon) Content warning: suicide, self-injuryIn part 1 of a 2 part conversation with Dr. Kathryn Gordon, she tells us how we can understand suicidal thoughts, how contexts & environments might play a role, and more. Dr. Gordon is the author of ...
11.01.2021 139 - Calling, Adulting, and the Changing World of Work (feat. Dr. Michaela O'Donnell) This week we talk with Dr. Michaela O’Donnell, the executive director of Fuller Seminary’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership and the author of the new book Make Work Matter: Your Guide to Meaningful Work in a Changing World. She ...
10.25.2021 138 - Autism, Faith, & the Gifts of Neurodiversity (feat. Daniel Bowman Jr.) Daniel Bowman Jr. stops by the show to talk with us about neurodiversity, seeing our differences as a gift, and some of his own personal story. Daniel is the author of On The Spectrum: Autism, Faith & the Gifts of ...
10.19.2021 137 - Love, Justice, & Memento Mori (feat. Marlena Graves) Content warning: death, abortion, lossThis week we’re joined by Marlena Graves to talk about how justice and love intertwine, as well as her book The Way Up Is Down: Becoming Yourself by Forgetting Yourself. In the i...
10.11.2021 136 - Motherhood & Contemplative Spirituality (feat. Shannon Evans) This week we’re joined by Shannon Evans to talk about her new book Rewilding Motherhood: Your Path to an Empowered Feminine Spirituality. In the intro, Holly gets a fun surprise and Robert gets a pillow!Things we mention in this episode/other ...
10.04.2021 135 - The Importance of Connecting Faith & Mental Health in This Moment This week, we share the audio from Holly’s talk at the recent Church Mental Health Summit (https://www.churchmentalhealthsummit.com). In the intro, Robert & Holly talk about the things gained & l...
09.29.2021 Bonus! "Prayer for the Overwhelmed" by Kayla Craig Kayla Craig reads her “Prayer for the Overwhelmed” from her upcoming book, To Light Their Way: A Collection of Prayers and Liturgies for Parents.This is an excerpt from our full interview with Kayla in episode 134.Join the Cxmhunity on Facebook ...
09.27.2021 134 - Prayers & Liturgies for Parents (feat. Kayla Craig) In our first interview of Season 6, we’re joined by Kayla Craig! She talks with us about honest prayers, writing liturgies, and finding ways to feel God while parenting. Kayla’s new book
09.27.2021 Bonus! "Prayer for a Child With Big Feelings" by Kayla Craig Kayla Craig reads her “Prayer for a Child with Big Feelings” from her upcoming book, To Light Their Way: A Collection of Prayers and Liturgies for Parents.This is an excerpt from our full interview with Kayla in episode 134.Join the ...
09.20.2021 Welcome to Season 6! Robert and Holly are back for Season 6! We kick things off by talking about what happened over the summer, what we’re looking forward to in the fall, and why we’re excited about this season.Things we mention in this episode/other ...
06.01.2021 Summer Break 2021! Robert and Holly sign off for the summer! In our final episode of Season 5: we share our reflections on the season (4:10), why we take the summer off (11:28), what we’re reading this summer (17:06), and ways we plan ...
05.24.2021 133 - The Power of Lament (feat. Abby Norman) This week we’re joined by Abby Norman, author of the new book You Can Talk to God Like That: The Surprising Power of Lament to Save Your Faith. She tells us about lament on a personal level, a community level, ...
05.17.2021 132 - Moral Injury (feat. Dr. Joseph Currier) This week' we’re joined by Dr. Joseph Currier to talk about moral injury. In the intro, Robert & Holly talk about funny ways they’ve gotten injured. Things we mention in this episode/other resources:- CXMH 91 - Spiritual Bypassing (feat. Dr. ...
05.11.2021 131 - Finding Joy Amidst Tragedy (feat. Dr. Angela Gorrell) Content warning: suicide, substance abuse, loss. This week we’re joined by Rev. Dr. Angela Gorrell to talk about her job studying joy, a season of unexpected losses, and what she learned when those two collided. Angela’s new book is The ...
04.26.2021 130 - I Love Jesus, but I Want to Die (feat. Sarah J Robinson) Content warning: in this episode we talk about suicide, self-harm, bad therapy experiences, and more.———This week we’re joined by the wonderful Sarah J. Robinson! Sarah’s upcoming book I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die: Finding Hope in the Darkness ...
04.19.2021 129 - Healing Our Internal World, Spiritual Practices, & Moving Beyond Empire Theology (feat. Lisa Colón DeLay) We’re joined by author & podcast host Lisa Colón DeLay to talk about exploring our internal landscapes. Lisa explains why it’s important to hear from more than just culturally dominant theologians, how spiritual practices can help us learn more about ...
04.12.2021 128 - Loneliness & Belonging (feat. Charlotte Donlon) This week we’re joined by Charlotte Donlon, author of The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other. We talk about belonging to ourselves, each other, to places, through art, and to God. Things we mention in this episode/other ...
03.29.2021 127 - Connecting to Ourselves, to Each Other, & to God (feat. Dr. David Rosmarin) This week we’re joined by Dr. David H. Rosmarin to talk about how we make connections internally, interpersonally, and spiritually. Dr. Rosmarin’s newest book is The Connections Paradigm: Ancient Jewish Wisdom for Modern Mental Health. Things we mention in this ...
03.22.2021 126 - 5 Ideas for Working as an Adult with ADHD Robert and Holly talk about 5 ideas for getting work done as an adult with ADHD, how they’ve used them, and learning to work with yourself instead of against yourself. Things we mention in this episode/other resources:- the article that’s ...
03.15.2021 125 - One Year of COVID Robert and Holly talk about the one year anniversary of COVID-19 being declared a global pandemic, trauma anniversaries, what we’ve learned over the past year, and how they’re balancing hope with grief right now.
03.08.2021 124 - Nervous Systems, Bottom-Up Safety, & Learning from Each Other (feat. Nia Baker) This week we talk with therapist Nia Baker, who specializes in working with people who have experienced trauma. She talks about working with our nervous systems, how we can use bottom-up processes to create safety, and what this means for ...
03.04.2021 Bonus! "Untitled Poem" by Tanner Olson Tanner Olson reads an untitled poem from his recent interview on CXMH.
03.01.2021 123 - Poetry, Finding Your Voice, and Balancing Hope & Pain (feat. Tanner Olson) This week we talk with poet and author Tanner Olson. We touch on balancing hope & pain, where he finds inspiration, and learning to still be himself while being a writer. In the intro, Robert and Holly check in after ...
02.27.2021 Bonus! "Some Days" by Tanner Olson Tanner Olson reads his poem “Some Days” from his upcoming interview on CXMH.

Older episodes