In this two-part conversation on The Sacred Sofa, Brad and Grace dive into one of life’s unavoidable storylines: tragedy—and the grief that follows 💔. Joined by registered psychotherapist Suzanne Trotman, whose professional work is deeply shaped by her own losses, they explore what grief really is (spoiler: it’s not something you simply “get over”), why it shows up far beyond death, and how ill-prepared most of us are to respond.

Together, they unpack common myths, the real needs of mourners, the quiet dread of holidays and New Years, and the awkward things well-meaning people say when they don’t know what else to do.

This isn’t a roadmap through grief—because there isn’t one—but a grounded, honest conversation for anyone grieving, supporting someone who is, or noticing that life is more grief-adjacent than we often admit 🌿.

We’re taking a short pause, but don’t worry — we’ll be back soon with something truly special for the holiday season. Cozy up, make some tea, and get ready to join us on December 11 for a heartfelt holiday episode featuring a very special guest.

Stay tuned… this is one you won’t want to miss. 🎄💛

This week on The Sacred Sofa, Brad and Grace wrap up the seven great plotlines with Rebirth—a storyline that doesn’t begin with adventure or catastrophe, but with captivity… those moments when the life we’ve been living simply stops working.

From Nicodemus’ nighttime visit to Jesus 🌙 to Scrooge’s ghostly wake-up call 👻 to Andy Dufresne’s long walk toward freedom 🚶‍♂️⛓️, they explore how fear, pride, and the illusion of safety keep us holding onto identities we’ve outgrown. And how grace often arrives not as a reward, but as a holy interruption.

They dive into the moment of awakening—the crack where light begins to seep in—and the terrifying, beautiful release that follows when control softens and hope steps in ✨.

If you’ve ever felt trapped in an old script or sensed something new stirring beneath the surface, this episode invites you to loosen your grip, welcome grace, and imagine what a “second birth” might look like in your own story 🌿💫.

This week on The Sacred Sofa, Brad and Grace dive into a different kind of tragedy—the slow, self-made kind that sneaks up on us through good intentions gone unchecked. They explore how our greatest strengths—ambition, compassion, confidence—can quietly turn against us when boundaries blur and wisdom gets left out of the story. 🌱

From King David’s downfall 👑 to Walter White’s unraveling to today’s relentless “grindset” culture, they unpack how drive can become obsession, care can morph into burnout, and isolation can creep in under the banner of productivity.

But the story doesn’t have to end there. Brad and Grace also share how to spot the early warning signs, how to reach back toward connection when withdrawal feels easier, and why Jesus’ invitation to the weary might be the off-ramp from a life that’s slowly coming undone.

The Sacred Sofa is taking a little breather this week — because even sacred conversations need time to rest and reflect. 🕊️

Brad and Grace will be back next week with a brand-new episode you won’t want to miss!

This week on The Sacred Sofa, Brad and Grace are riding high on Blue Jays adrenaline as they dive into the sacred comedy at the heart of faith — not the stand-up kind, but the kind that transforms confusion into clarity, disguise into recognition, and separation into reunion.

From Sarah’s laughter at the absurd promise of new life to the healing power of humour amid our contradictions, this episode reminds us that comedy isn’t about jokes — it’s about grace.

Together, Brad and Grace explore why laughter often rises in moments too painful or too beautiful to bear, how masks fall in the presence of love, and why grace so often looks ridiculous before it looks redemptive.

Because maybe the truest punchline is this: the universe isn’t a tragedy after all — it’s a divine comedy still unfolding.

What happens when you come home and realize that neither home nor you are quite the same? In this episode, Brad and Grace dive into the timeless “Voyage and Return” story—spanning Cast Away to the Prodigal Son—exploring how journeys of loss, deconstruction, and rediscovery reshape our sense of home, love, and belonging.

They explore what it truly means to return after change: navigating disorientation, healing attachment wounds, and reconnecting with the sacredness of unconditional love. Whether your journey has been literal or deeply internal, this episode is a gentle reminder: getting lost isn’t failure—it’s a necessary part of the path that brings us home. 🏡✨

Every great story begins with a call — that quiet whisper that says, there’s more than this. In this episode of The Sacred Sofa, Brad and Grace journey into the Quest plotline — that timeless story where companions set out toward a distant goal, face trials and temptations, and discover that the true treasure is inner transformation.

From Abraham’s call to leave home to Moana’s voyage across the sea, this conversation explores how every quest — ancient or modern — mirrors our own sacred journeys. Together, Brad and Grace reflect on what happens when the familiar world falls away, when our “chains” become too heavy to carry, and when perseverance gives birth to renewal.

✨ Whether you’re standing at the threshold of something new or feeling weary from the road, this episode invites you to remember: the path itself is shaping who you’re becoming.

From Cinderella to Slumdog Millionaire, from The Ugly Duckling to Rocky — we’ve always been drawn to the story of transformation, the journey from obscurity to glory. But what if this timeless story is more than a tale of fame and fortune? What if it’s a reflection of our deepest spiritual longing — to be seen, known, and valued?

In this episode of The Sacred Sofa, Brad and Grace explore the “Rags to Riches” story as a mirror for our own spiritual and psychological growth. They unpack why we dream of becoming more than we are, what our craving for recognition reveals about us, and how Jesus’ story turns the narrative upside down — showing that the path upward often begins in humility and hiddenness.

Through reflections on waiting, identity, and transformation, this conversation invites you to see your “rags” not as something to escape, but as the sacred ground where renewal begins.

Why do monster stories never go out of style? From Gilgamesh to Jaws, Harry Potter to Stranger Things, humanity has always told stories of heroes facing overwhelming threats.

In this first episode of our Narratology series, Brad and Grace unpack why the “Overcoming the Monster” storyline is so universal—and so personal. What monsters are we really fighting today? Fear, shame, addiction, cynicism? And what happens when we mistake people for monsters instead of naming the real forces that threaten us?

Blending theology, psychology, and pop culture, this conversation explores why these stories matter, how the Bible itself is filled with them, and why naming our own monsters might just be the first step toward freedom.