On this episode, we sit down with Eddie Rester and Chris McAlilly, the hosts of The Weight podcast. Known for diving into life's most challenging questions, they explore faith, mental health, leadership, and personal growth with depth and authenticity. In The Weight, they invite guests from all walks of life—pastors, artists, athletes, and thinkers—to discuss the moments that shape us and how we find hope and meaning in the midst of heavy burdens. Tune in as Eddie and Chris share the story behind their show and the conversations that continue to inspire them.

For more information go to: www.theweightpodcast.com

This week we are back from summer break! We have a new studio design and lots of guests lined up for the fall season. Today we check in on what John and Matt have been up to over the summer and what they are excited about for the fall at Chapelwood.

This week we are joined by Reverend Cesar Martinez! Rev. Martinez has been a Pastor in the UMC for the last 12 years. He leads a multicultural, multilingual, and multigenerational church in Houston Texas called CrossRoads UMC. Today we talk about how the United Methodist Church can better serve those in the community of Houston and how we can create more opportunities for discipleship in the neighborhoods around us.

This week we are joined by Rev. Gregg Taylor and Rev. Melissa Maher at the Texas Annual Conference! We get an update from Rev. Taylor on his church in Minneapolis and we hear about how Rev. Maher has transitioned into a new and exciting role within the United Methodist Church.

This week we drop in on a group therapy session that is hosted by Logos, a group therapy resource started by Robert Hilliker. We discuss how Robert Hilliker first began his group therapy practice and some of the concepts that he finds foundational.

For more information visit: https://logosgroups.com

This week we talk about the devastating weather event that occurred in Houston and how we are responding to those in crisis. For more information on how you can receive help or donate to the relief efforts visit Chapelwood.org/storm.

Ibraim Nascimento is an international, Afro-Brazilian artist from the historic city of Cachoeira, Bahia. He has exhibited his work throughout Brazil and the United States, from California to Texas.

Iconoclast, an organization associated with Chapelwood, recently commissioned Ibraim to create the cover art for an annual book of poetry that they publish. The book will be released at the They Say student poetry performance on Thursday, May 16th, at The Museum of Fine Arts. For more information on this event, visit https://www.iconoclastartists.org

Today, we discuss how Ibraim came to America, his inspiration for his art, and how he became involved with Chapelwood and Iconoclast. To find more information about Ibraim, visit his website at https://www.ibraimnascimento.com/about.

Ibraim, in partnership with friend of the podcast, Rev. DeAndre Johnson, has recently published a book of prayers and artwork called Yes and Amen: A Prayer Collection, which can be purchased on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Yes-Amen-Collection-DeAndre-Johnson/dp/B0CLHQ9J2Z/ref=sr_1_1?crid=14QG70DBLKNNE&keywords=yes%20and%20amen%20deandre%20johnson&qid=1701383817&sprefix=yes%20and%20amen%2Caps%2C100&sr=8-1

Today we are joined by Rev. DeAndre Johnson and Pastor Lindsay Kirkpatrick to discuss some changes that are taking place in The United Methodist Church. John Stephens served as a delegate to the United Methodist Church’s General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. The two-week long process uses the first week to divide into 14 different legislative committees connected to every part of the Book of Discipline, UMC church law and polity. Over 1,100 petitions were submitted and worked on in the legislative committees. The delegates of General Conference are from around the world - USA, Philippines, Europe, Eurasia, and Africa. In the legislative committees, the groups of 40-80 members discuss and debate every petition. Once that work is done, all their actions come to the main body of almost 800 members in week two for all of us to either approve the work they've done, reject it, or amend it.  

Today we discuss all of UMC news and much more!

Linda Kagey, LCDC, ADC is a licensed chemical dependency counselor with more than 20 years of experience providing addiction and codependency treatment to adults, adolescents and families. She has extensive counseling experience with both the criminal and family law systems and can provide evaluations and therapy as needed, as well as expert testimony on substance abuse and its impact on families. Linda is a Love First Interventionist and a certified trainer for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). She currently is the co-chair on the Texas Collaborative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Steering Committee. Linda is affiliated with the Houston Area Partnership on FASD, Texas Association of Addiction Professionals, NAADAC Association for Addiction Professionals, national and local chapters of Employee Assistance Professional Association and serves on the board of the Coalition of Behavioral Health Services.Today we talk about Linda's story of recovery, how you can tell if you are living in a system of alcoholism and much more! For more information visit: LindaKagey.com