What does it mean to truly abide in God? How do we move beyond merely knowing about God to experiencing deep communion with Him? In this episode, I sit down with Michael John Cusick, author of Sacred Attachment, to explore the life-changing power of living in loving connection with God.

Michael, a licensed professional counselor, spiritual director, and founder of Restoring the Soul, shares how our core needs—being seen, soothed, safe, and secure—are met in Christ. We also discuss the barriers that prevent us from experiencing intimacy with God, from false beliefs to misguided attempts to ease our pain.

Together, we unpack practical insights like:

• The difference between accurate knowledge about God and communing with Him.
• Why our struggles often stem from mishandled pain.
• How imagination can open the door to experiencing God more fully.
• And how mysticism invites us to spiritual oneness with God.

Join us for a conversation that will deepen your understanding of God’s invitation to abide and inspire you to take your next step toward living in sacred attachment.

💡 Guest Bio: Michael John Cusick is the founder of Restoring the Soul, author of Surfing for God, and a trusted voice in the integration of faith and counseling. His work has been featured in Relevant, HuffPost, and Red-Letter Christians. He lives in Littleton, Colorado, with his wife, Julianne.

👉 Tune in and discover how to abide in God’s presence today.

 

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Connect with Alan on LinkedIn or learn more about Unhurried Living programs on their website. 

Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care

 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Crafting a rhythm of life isn’t just about adding more to your schedule—it’s about making intentional choices that shape who you’re becoming. Inspired by Ruth Haley Barton’s question, “How do I want to live so I can be who I want to be?” this episode explores the beauty of setting limits as a doorway to creativity, discernment, and rest.

We’ll discuss how a rhythm of life can act like a trellis, supporting your growth and flourishing. With insights from spiritual writers like Margaret Guenther and Evelyn Underhill, we’ll uncover practical ways to create daily, weekly, and seasonal practices that feel life-giving and sustainable.

Join me as we take one small, simple, and gracious step toward cultivating a life that aligns with God’s invitations and your deepest desires.

🌱 Reflection Questions:

1. What feels life-giving to me?
2. What brings me joy?
3. What enables me to rest?

Resources Mentioned:

• Ruth Haley Barton book - Sacred Rhythms
• Evelyn Underhill book - The Fruits of the Spirit
• Margaret Guenther book - Holy Listening
• Learn more about our PACE cohort training: www.unhurriedliving.com/pace

Take a moment to pause, reflect, and begin building a rhythm of life that nourishes your soul.

 

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Connect with Gem on Instagram and learn more on the Unhurried Living website and her new book, Hold That Thought: Sorting Through the Voices in Our Heads

Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode, Alan dives into the surprisingly freeing good news that we aren’t in charge. Letting go of control doesn’t mean losing—it can lead to gaining a life rich with trust, peace, and joy. In a world that glorifies busyness and self-reliance, we often find ourselves weighed down by burdens we weren’t meant to carry. What if surrender isn’t a sign of weakness, but a doorway to abundance? Join Alan as he explores how releasing control opens us to the gift of trust and a more peaceful, joyful life.

This episode also reflects on how trust, submission, and surrender are not signs of defeat, but pathways to freedom, deeper relationships, and a fuller experience of life. Through stories, reflections, and Scripture, we discover how letting go can lighten our load, help us flourish, and bring us closer to the life we are meant to live.

Tune in and let the good news wash over you—you don’t have to be in charge, and that’s truly freeing!

 

If you missed the first episode in this series, "You Are Not a Machine", you can listen here.

 

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Connect with Alan on LinkedIn or learn more about Unhurried Living programs on their website. 

Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode, Gem sits down with author Whitney Lowe to discuss her book, Set Your Eyes Higher. Whitney offers a 40-day reset designed to help you let go of what’s not serving you, honor your limitations, and turn your gaze toward a God who loves you. She dives into the cultural pressures that skew our focus, and how to find peace and rest when life feels out of control.

Whitney shares wisdom on how to navigate the dynamics of insecurity, anxiety, burnout, and scarcity—issues that many of us face today—and offers practical advice for finding long-lasting contentment. We talk about how to cultivate spiritual rhythms, set healthy boundaries, and move from scarcity to abundance in a world filled with comparison and distractions.

Join us for a rich conversation about reclaiming peace and clarity, and discovering the hope and light that comes from a deeper connection with God.

 

Episode Links:

• Sets Your Sights Higher Devotional by Whitney Lowe
• Whitney Lowe website

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Connect with Gem on Instagram and learn more on the Unhurried Living website and her new book, Hold That Thought: Sorting Through the Voices in Our Heads

Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Do you ever feel like you’re caught in an endless cycle of production, performance, and pressure to keep going as if you’re a machine? Here’s the truth: you’re not a machine—you’re a beloved son or daughter of God, designed with rhythms, limits, and an invitation to rest as well as work. In this episode, we unpack what it means to live as God intended—rooted, unhurried, and attuned to the gift of being human.

Highlights from today’s conversation include:

• Embracing the Gift of Limits: Why honoring your God-given boundaries leads to true freedom and flourishing.
• Living Like Trees, Not Machines: How rootedness and abiding in God sustain a fruitful, abundant life.
• Recalibrating for Health: Moving beyond burnout to a sustainable, life-giving rhythm of rest and work.

We’ll also explore how acknowledging seasons, valuing slow growth, and embracing your identity as a beloved child of God can reframe your purpose and renew your energy. Let’s lean into the good news that you were made to flourish, not to constantly perform.

Listen in and take a step toward a life marked by fruitfulness, rest, and joy—a life grounded in God’s love and presence.

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Connect with Alan on LinkedIn or learn more about Unhurried Living programs on their website. 

Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode, we reflect on the idea of "vibe"—the way our presence leaves an impression on others. A recent discovery in Petra, Jordan, along with memories of joyful Bedouins and the hospitality of Father Albert Haase, inspired us to consider how our interactions reflect who we are at our core. Whether bubbly or reserved, introverted or extroverted, each of us exudes something that others feel when they encounter us. What if, at our best, that "vibe" could mirror the Fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, and kindness?

Through communion with God, we can allow the Spirit to transform our way of being, shaping the essence we carry into the world. Jesus modeled this beautifully: fully present, compassionate, and deeply connected to the Father. His “vibe” drew people in and brought healing and hope. How might we create space for the Holy Spirit to move in and through us, allowing the fullness of God’s love to flow naturally in our daily lives? Join us as we explore how to embody this life-giving presence in a world longing for peace, joy, and love.

 

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Connect with Gem on Instagram and learn more on the Unhurried Living website and her new book, Hold That Thought: Sorting Through the Voices in Our Heads

Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this transformative conversation, Dr. Curt Thompson, psychiatrist and author of The Deepest Place: Suffering and the Formation of Hope, joins us to explore the neuroscience of suffering and the profound ways connection can heal. Drawing from his expertise in interpersonal neurobiology, Curt shares practical wisdom on how our greatest pains can become places of resilience, character growth, and deepened hope. We discuss how meaningful relationships, rather than solitary endurance, can rewire our brains and open us to healing. Through scripture, science, and personal reflection, Curt invites us to embrace vulnerability as a path to wholeness, transforming our pain into connection.

In this episode, you’ll hear Curt discuss:

• The Science of Suffering: How our brains are wired for healing through meaningful relationships, not just enduring pain alone.
• The Role of Connection in Resilience: How authentic connections with others can help us navigate suffering, rewire our minds, and deepen our hope.
• Scriptural Insights on Suffering and Hope: Exploring Paul’s reflections in Romans 5 and how suffering can produce perseverance, character, and hope in the Christian journey.

Tune in for an enlightening discussion on how God’s peace and love can shape our emotional and spiritual lives, and discover the power of connection in transforming pain into healing.

Episode Links:

• Curt Thompson, MD website
• The Deepest Place: Suffering and the Formation of Hope
• The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves
• Being Known Podcast with Curt Thompson, MD

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Connect with Alan on LinkedIn or learn more about Unhurried Living programs on their website. 

Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In today’s episode, Gem sits down with author, speaker, and podcaster Carlos Whitaker to discuss his new book Reconnected. After realizing the toll technology had taken on his connection with God, his community, and even himself, Carlos took radical steps to disconnect in order to reconnect. He spent nearly two months living screen-free at a monastery, an Amish farm, and his own home, experiencing profound transformation along the way.

Carlos shares the powerful lessons from his time in solitude, offering us a much-needed perspective on how technology and the fast pace of modern life are affecting our souls. He dives into the challenges and surprises of his digital detox, from grappling with the fear of his own thoughts to discovering the importance of intentionality, presence, and community.

If you're feeling disconnected in a tech-saturated world, this conversation will inspire you to hit reset and consider the practices that can restore balance and meaningful connection in your life. Whether you're seeking wisdom on solitude, slowing down, or learning from community, Carlos offers insights that are as engaging as they are transformative.

Tune in for a conversation full of heart, wisdom, and practical tips for reclaiming your life in a digital age.

 

Episode Links:

• Carlos Whittaker
• Reconnected by Carlos Whittaker

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Connect with Gem on Instagram and learn more on the Unhurried Living website and her new book, Hold That Thought: Sorting Through the Voices in Our Heads

Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What if love was the truest measure of who we are—not our achievements or titles, but the way we love and are loved? In today’s episode, we’re diving into this profound question through the lens of Thomas Merton, a contemplative writer whose reflections on love invite us into a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be “real.” Merton wrote that love is what breathes life into us, a force that, when shared, grows and fills the world. As we uncover his insights, we’ll explore how this love transforms us, forging a connection not only to each other but also to the heart of God.

Drawing from Merton’s New Seeds of Contemplation, we explore his belief that God’s love flows uniquely through each of us, creating a beautiful mosaic of divine presence. “Because God’s love is in me, it can come to you from a different and special direction… And because it is in both of us, God has greater glory.” In this vision, love becomes a profound and personal exchange, as the divine presence moves through us, offering something precious to one another that no one else can replicate.

Join us as we reflect on this life-giving love that makes us real, opening us to both a unique connection with each other and to a fuller experience of God’s glory.

 

Links

• New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton
• From Head Knowledge to Heart Knowledge (UL Podcast episode)

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Connect with Alan on LinkedIn or learn more about Unhurried Living programs on their website. 

Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode, we’re tackling the problem of restless dissatisfaction and how the pursuit of contentment can offer a way forward. For many of us, there’s an underlying sense that something in life—who we are, what we have, or where we’re headed—should be different. The constant pull of “what if” and “if only” can leave us feeling ungrounded and yearning for a sense of fulfillment that always seems just out of reach. As I looked back on my journal entries this year, I noticed contentment as a recurring theme in my conversations with God and with my spiritual director, reminding me of the peace and satisfaction that comes with learning to be present in the here and now.

Drawing from my own journey and insights from Brian Zahnd’s The Wood Between the Worlds, I’ll share practical reflections on how shifting our mindset toward contentment can bring new clarity and peace. This isn’t just about settling—it’s about recognizing how an inner posture of contentment can transform our experience, even when circumstances remain the same. Whether you’re a “Frustrated Idealist” in the Enneagram triad (Types One, Four, and Seven) or simply someone who finds themselves often seeking more, join me as we explore the ways contentment can anchor us in purpose, grace, and genuine satisfaction.

 

Links:

• The Wood Between the Worlds by Brian Zahnd
• The Journey Toward Wholeness by Suzanne Stabile
• The Benefits of Looking Back podcast episode

 

_______________________________________________________

Connect with Gem on Instagram and learn more on the Unhurried Living website and her new book, Hold That Thought: Sorting Through the Voices in Our Heads

Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.