How do our beliefs shape us? Are we aware of some those beliefs that govern our lives, or as Scott and Troy talk about our beliefs, are those beliefs guiding and governing us without knowledge. 

Marilyn Vancil has studied the Enneagram and its value in Christian spiritual transformation for many years. She is a Certified Enneagram Professional in the Narrative Tradition through Enneagram Worldwide, a certified spiritual director through SoulStream in Abbotsford, BC, and a trained life coach through Coach Training Alliance. She has also completed coursework on the Enneagram at Loyola University and the Deep Coaching Institute.

Marilyn facilitates workshops and retreats on the Enneagram, focusing on how it can be used to deepen one’s life with God and improve relationships. She practices spiritual direction and coaching from Seattle where she enjoys life with her husband, Jeff.

Heather Avis is the founder of The Lucky Few, a New York Times best-selling author, podcaster and a Down syndrome advocate, working to create a more inclusive world where everyone belongs. For more than a decade,She has led this effort by shouting worth, shifting narratives and reimagining what it looks like when we embrace our differences.

The Lucky Few is an invitation to build a kinder, more inclusive world. We accomplish this through a combination of advocacy and activism, narrative-shifting and storytelling. The Lucky Few believes in inspiring and challenging our audiences, calling them to listen, read, share, contribute and support as we work to create a world where differences are embraced and everyone belongs.

Rich Villodas is the Brooklyn-born lead pastor of New Life Fellowship, a large multiracial church with more than seventy-five countries represented in Elmhurst, Queens. Rich holds a Master of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary. He enjoys reading widely, preaching and writing on contemplative spirituality, justice-related matters, and the art of preaching. He's been married to Rosie since 2006 and they have two beautiful children, Karis and Nathan. 

In a life that is known for speed, for instant. It can be hard to realize that how humans grow, mature, is not instant, or 5 easy steps, but a long road of becoming. Scott and Troy talk this week about the often long process, or as we say "the art" of becoming our true selves. 

Is there any hope for humanity? Has God given up on us? Andrew Arndt is his new book Streams in the Wasteland tackles these questions. He points us to the desert fathers and mothers who faced some of the same questions in the 3rd century, less than 300 years from Christ's death and resurrection.

It's a great and hope filled conversation with Andrew.

Andrew Arndt is the Lead Pastor of New Life East (one of seven congregations of New Life Church in Colorado Springs), where he also hosts the Essential Church podcast, a weekly conversation designed to strengthen the thinking of church and ministry leaders.

Pain. We all face it. Can there be a purpose to it? Can it help us become more human, or even better humans? Scott and Troy talk about what can do in helping us become more human, less brittle, less angry if we let it.

We talk about Tish Warren's quote in her book Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep..."The people I most respect are those who have suffered but did not numb their pain-who faced their darkness. In the process they have become beautifully weak, not tough as nails, not bitter or rigid, but men and women who bear vulnerability with joy and trust. They are almost luminescent, like a paper lantern, weak enough that the light shines through."

What is the cost to us, to others in our often relentless pursuit of control get us? More anxiety, stress, broken relationships, a loss of reality? Yes and Yes. Join the conversation as Sharon Hodde Miller talks about control and what it costs us, as she shares about her new book, The Cost of Control: Why we crave it, the anxiety it gives us, and the real power God promises. 

Sharon is a Christ-follower, author, pastor, and teacher.She loves her husband Ike, her kids, and her church, Bright City she co-pastors with her husband Ike. She's also a Disney connoisseur. She lives in North Carolina with Ike and her 3 kids.

Likes, heart emojis, what do we do when they don't give us the validation they used to? What do we when we rely on others who don't know us, but we allow them to have an inordinate effect on us? What do we do? Where should we go?  

Scott and Troy catch up and talk about the podcast and where we've been for a couple of weeks.