Searching Inward

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Seth Abram and Anna Bryant speak with Rianne McCulloch about her experience with Restore Small Groups. Rianne shares how small groups taught her to be vulnerable to help her move forward in her process as well as help a group of strangers become friends during the eight week program. “And I think that’s one of the big things that I learned from Week...

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Scott Reall, Seth Abram and Anna Bryant have a conversation about intrinsic hope. Hope is dynamic and a powerful force that is essential in the human experience. The three hosts discuss this feeling as it relates to growth and change and how it can help keep us forward. They share what hope means to them and how to practical ways to cultivate it. “O...

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Scott Reall, Seth Abram and Anna Bryant speak with Janele Nelson, Mission Director at YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties. Scott and Janele have known each other for almost 20 years after her job sent her to Restore Small Groups in Nashville. Janele discusses her work at the YMCA and how the organization continues to provide a great place to help peo...

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Scott Reall, Seth Abram and Anna Bryant talk about the bargaining stage of grief. This stage is a refusal to accept a reality from a loss, but goes beyond denial as it’s trying to create an alternative reality mentally. The three hosts discuss how this stage can show up and give practical tips on how to work through it. “It’s like I can’t heal an em...

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Seth Abram speaks with Taylor Grice of Nashville about her experience with Restore Small Groups. Taylor shares what she uncovered about herself as she unpacked her story in the eight-week program. As she started to see pieces of herself in others, she developed special bonds with the peer group, and she describes how the community helped her move fo...

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Scott Reall, Seth Abram and Anna Bryant have a conversation around loneliness, belonging and community and the relationship between the three. In this vulnerable conversation, the three hosts discuss how these deeply connected elements play a significant role in mental and emotional well-being and share practical takeaways to deal with loneliness in...

 In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Scott Reall, Seth Abram and Anna Bryant continue to explore one of Scott’s books, “Journey to a New Beginning after Loss: Freedom from the Pain of Grief and Disappointment,” and focus on the second chapter about anger–one of the stages of grief. They discuss our relationship with anger, the benefits of it during this stage and how to work through...

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Scott Reall and George Stull speak with Heather Lefebvre, a licensed psychotherapist who focuses on marriage and family therapy. Heather previously worked for Restore Small Groups over a decade ago, where her and her husband, Steven, were essential in the development and growth of the organization. She shares her journey with Small Groups and how it...

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Seth Abram and Anna Bryant speak with Mike “L.A. Mike” Rada about his experience with Restore Small Groups. Mike shares how feeling lost mentally, physically and spiritually after a pretty bad case of COVID-19 inspired him to join a Small Group. He takes the host through his journey that quickly evolved into sharing vulnerably. “It allowed me to let...

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Scott Reall, George Stull, Seth Abram and Anna Bryant talk about vulnerability. They explore what this means in the context of mental and emotional well-being and break down the myths about it. Listen as they share strategies for leaning into our vulnerability and embracing authenticity. TIMESTAMPS [00:05] Intro [01:19] Defining vulnerability [03:21...

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, George Stull, Seth Abram and Anna Bryant speak with Jason Adam Miller, a pastor at South Bend City Church and author of the book, When The World Breaks: The Surprising Hope and Subversive Promises in the Teachings of Jesus. Jason is a helpful voice in bringing mental, well-being and faith together in such a meaningful way, so he discusses how to fin...

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Seth Abram, Scott Reall and Anna Bryant do implement the third of their four styles of episodes in this new season by talking about curriculum. They explore one of Scott’s books, “Journey to a New Beginning after Loss: Freedom from the Pain of Grief and Disappointment,” and talk about grief and loss. Scott explains how our whole life is nothing but...

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, Anna Bryant and Seth Abram hear from Jim Clement, a participant of Restore Small Group from Franklin, Tennessee. Jim talks about his experience in a small group, how it brought him relief during a period of grief and isolation and what the overall experience means to him. “When I heard those stories, it was the first thing that brought me any sort o...

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, George Stull, Scott Reall, Anna Bryant and Seth Abram start a new series format with a topical episode about awareness. The more aware a person is, the more cognizant they are of how they show up in the world. The hosts discuss how we see and understand this concept and how we can start by aiming the awareness towards ourselves so that we can begin...

After exploring The Journey of Transformation over 36 episodes, George Stull, Scott Reall, Anna Bryant and Seth Abram preview what’s to come on the Searching Inward Podcast. The new format will start in the next episode. Stay tuned! “...We’re going to have the wonderful opportunity to invite you in to meet some of the people that we dearly know and love, who have been a part of our groups, who hav...

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, George Stull, Scott Reall, Anna Bryant and Seth Abram wrap up their series on the journey of transformation by talking about WOOP it, an acronym that helps us turn our wishes and dreams into a concrete plan. They discuss what keeps us motivated, where motivation comes from and what are some of the factors that shape intrinsic motivation in our lives...

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, George Stull, Scott Reall and Anna Bryant talk about getting out of the shadows and into the light. There is only one way there – through vulnerability – so they explore this central question: Do we run from vulnerability? Or do we embrace it? “But the true relationships I can be honest and vulnerable with, and their input is received as helpful and...

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, George Stull, Scott Reall and Anna Bryant talk about finding your North Star, keeping your eyes focused on a goal and not just your obstacles. Scott explains how to access this North Star through cognitive reframing and the tool he’s devised called STAR. “If we have a North Star and we do get lost and we will get lost, disoriented in a fog of our sh...

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, George Stull, Scott Reall, Anna Bryant and Seth Abram talk about deliberate practice, a growth mindset that puts in the work when success isn’t on the horizon. As we prepare for something that has yet to arrive, we are doing the work so that when it gets here, we can enjoy it. Listen as we discuss how deliberate practice changes our brains as well a...

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, George Stull, Scott Reall, Anna Bryant and Seth Abram talk about the secret ingredient to happiness. We explore how we can rethink our purpose outside our work in our pursuit for inner happiness so that we can find a deeper meaning in our lives. We discuss the role fear and shame play into our happiness, but also share what makes each of us happy. “...

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, George Stull, Scott Reall, Anna Bryant and Seth Abram talk about the freedom to let go, starting with the word – sobriety. Many times, we’re not aware that we’re not emotionally sober. Where do you run or escape to when you don’t want to experience reality during difficult times? To find the freedom to let go, we first need to become aware of where...

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, George Stull, Scott Reall, Anna Bryant and Seth Abram talk about managing our expectations. Understanding our expectations or the lack of them can lead us to a lot of conflict with ourselves and our relationships. Listen as the four hosts discuss why understanding what we expect from our lives and others, managing disappointment and facing risks wil...

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, George Stull, Scott Reall, Anna Bryant and Seth Abram talk about kenosis, which means to let go. This act of making room by letting go of something tired and empty starts with the hope of change. If we’re still clinging to other attachments, how can we ever be free for something new and better to come in? Listen as we discuss how to give yourself gr...

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, George Stull, Scott Reall, Anna Bryant and Seth Abram talk about finding hope in the midst of suffering through the story of Etty Hillesum, a Dutch Jewish writer who died at Auschwitz in 1943. The four hosts discuss how to create space for joy and hope when we’re surrounded by confining things. “So she found freedom from within, although outwardly,...

In this episode of the Searching Inward Podcast, George Stull, Scott Reall, Anna Bryant and Seth Abram start the new year by talking about the idealized self – an inflated ego that flatters us with unmatched beauty, power, intelligence, fame, etc – which makes us arrogant and addicted to outside affirmations and recognition. They share how a healthy sense of self helps free us from this and why it...