Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation

Is corporate worship just the transfer of information? Or to whip up our emotions into a frenzy? Or does corporate worship do something else? In this episode, host Geoff Holsclaw engages with Reverend Dr. Joshua Cockayne about corporate worship, joint attention in spiritual formation, and perspectives from developmental psychology, attachment theory, and neuroscience. This episode challenges the t...

Have you felt overwhelmed and flattened by the sheer amount of noise and distraction in your home, your schedule, and your brain?  In our fast-paced culture, is it possible to set up our families and children to thrive? In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, host Geoff welcomes Sarah Boyd, writer, child development expert, and founder of Resilient Little Hearts . Sarah discusses her new...

Is society producing more narcissists, or producing more people susceptible to abuse by narcissists? How has narcissism evolved in our internet age? In this episode, we explore the evolving nature of narcissism in the internet age and its impact on church communities. We discuss the shift from authority-based to algorithm-based influence, the rise of performative narcissism, and the attack on empa...

What are the limitations of our modern approaches to discipleship and spiritual formation? How do our neural pathways connect to our spiritual pathways? Does brain-wiring connect to spiritual warfare? And how does this all connect to our identity in Christ? In this episode of the Attach To God podcast, host Geoff Holsclaw delves into the intersections of neuroscience and spiritual pathways with Dr...

In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, host Geoff Holsclaw chats with singer-songwriter and poet Andy Squyres about his faith journey, his time in Santa Cruz, and reconciling disappointment with hope.  They discuss his creative process, dealing with grief and deconstruction, and the significance of embracing both doctrinal depth and authentic emotional experiences in faith. Andy Squyres...

What exactly is spiritual formation? Is it similar or different than discipleship? And who is having this conversation about spiritual formation anyway? In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, hosted by Geoff Holsclaw and produced by Embodied Faith, the focus is on spiritual formation—what it is, how it compares to discipleship, and its future. Dr. Strobel shares his journey into this fie...

In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, we explore the often overlooked emotional struggles faced by leaders.  Our guests are Nicholas and Sheila Wise Rowe. Nicholas Rowe is the Haslin Associate Professor of Leadership at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. And Sheila Wise Row is a seasoned counselor and author (and previous podcast guest ). We talk about their new book, Healing Leadersh...

Does neurodiversity impact relational attachments? What does secure and insecure attachment look like for those who aren’t neurotypical? In this episode of the Attachment to God podcast, hosts Geoff and Cyd Holsclaw are joined by Barbara Grant, a specialist in autism and neurodiverse couples coaching. They talk about how neurodiversity impacts relational attachments and spiritual practices, partic...

Scholars of the Apostle Paul have long debated the so-called center of Paul’s theology, focusing on themes like justification by faith, reconciliation, union with Christ, and the apocalyptic triumph of God in Christ. But what if love really is the heart of the gospel that he preached? In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, we welcome Nijay Gupta, the Julius R. Manti Professor of New Test...

In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, hosts Geoff and Cyd Holsclaw welcome Steve Cuss. They delve into the nature of anxiety, different coping mechanisms, and how these dynamics affect relationships, including one's relationship with God.  Steve highlights the importance of addressing reactivity, identifying false needs, and fostering supportive environments within leadership teams...

We are all looking for a bit of relief. Some pain relief, relief from stress, the relief of getting the kids off to school or maybe to bed on time. But do we think of God’s grace as the big relief? In this episode, we welcome back David Zahl, of Mockingbird Ministries .  David introduces his new book titled The Big Relief: The Urgency of Grace for a Worn-Out World , which focuses on how God's...

Host Geoff Holsclaw engages with New York Times columnist and author Ross Douthat. They discuss the enduring relevance and shifting perceptions of religion in a scientific and secular age, driven by Douthat’s book Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious.  The conversation navigates the historical impact of new atheism, the existential malaise in youth culture, and a generational gap in religious...

Sometimes, when you feel stuck, and overwhelmed, you don’t need more and better information. Sometimes you need to engage your story, to better understand how the past influences the present. That's what we talk about with Adam Young.  Adam Young is a therapist who focuses on trauma and abuse, and the host of The Place We Find Ourselves podcast. He currently serves as a Fellow and Instructor...

In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, hosted by Geoff and Cyd Holsclaw of Embodied Faith, licensed therapist Lisa Cuss joins the conversation. Lisa shares her journey from teaching to becoming a therapist, her focus on trauma and attachment-informed modalities, and her work with  Capable Life alongside her husband, Steve Cuss. The discussion delves into the complexities of anxiety, pers...

What is Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount really about?  Is it an out-of-reach spirituality for the really devoted? Is it a practical guide for political action? A reworking of the Old Testament Law? Or an existential treatise on the intentions that guide our actions? What if it outlines the way toward human flourishing? Dr.  Jonathan Pennington is a Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Southern...

God’s true nature is beyond human comprehension. It can never be fully expressed in human words. But Scriptures uses one particular word to describe the distinctiveness of God’s character; this is the Hebrew word hesed.  Michael Card is an award-winning musician and performing artist. His many books include Scribbling in the Sand, A Fragile Stone, and  Inexpressible: Hesed and the Mystery of God&a...

This Holy Week, as Jesus, "the man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (Is. 53:3), walks toward the cross, we ask what it might be to proclaim this as good news.  An older evangelism might ask, Where will you go when you die ? But in our age of anxiety and despair, maybe we need to shift to: What do you do with your sorrow as you live?  That Jesus walks with us in our sorrows is reall...

Does doing your job need to feel like losing your life? Can your vocation be part of your spiritual formation? Can we survive digital overwhelm? Dr. Craig Mattson is a researcher, teacher, and writer at Calvin University. He’s the editor of The Mode/Switch newsletter and podcast on Substack, both of which decode workplace culture and the strange etiquettes of digital spaces. Craig’s three books ad...

Many spiritual seekers are becoming psychonauts, experimenting with psychedelics. But will that trip lead where we think it will?  I had the pleasure of sitting down with Ashley Lande about how her long and winding journey in and their the world of psychedelic experimentation eventually led her to Jesus, the only one who really makes all things OK.  Ashley Lande is a writer and artist living in ru...

Can we master our emotions? Is that healthy? Are emotions a gift from God, or part of our sinful reality? That’s what we are talking about today.  Dr. Kevin Chapman is a licensed clinical psychologist with a specialty in cognitive behavioral therapy. He is the founder and director of the Kentucky Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders. He leads Sound Mind Ministries and hosts The Sound Mind Show...

Baseball is back. Spring is sprung (depending on where you live). And so we are bringing you the 10 reasons baseball is a mirror for our spiritual formation .  And along the way, Geoff and J.R. Briggs share some favorite baseball memories, especially about their first time hanging out in the bleachers at Wigley Field. Here are the reasons, in no particular order: Going Home All about Failures It&a...

For when the day is long. When you are afraid. When you don’t know what to say to someone you love. When you feel alone. When you’re questioning everything. When you wonder if God is with you. We are talking with the author of Try Softer , Aundi Kolber, about her new book, Take What You Need: Soft Words for Hard Days .  Aundi Kolber is a licensed professional counselor (MA, LPC) and best-selling a...

Is depression a biological and chemical problem? Is it a mental and emotional, or relational problem? Is depression spiritual in nature? As our guest today says, how we describe something is how we see it, and how we see it changes how we respond and act towards it.   Dr. John Swinton is Professor in Practical Theology and Pastoral Care and Chair in Divinity and Religious Studies at the University...

Leaders, pastors, and pioneers of movements are often outward and forward-focused. Often this means leaving the inward life unexplored and ignored. How can leaders tend to the depths within, and how might spiritual directors help in this work? How best can we support and form clergy and leaders? David Clayton is a qualified and experienced Spiritual Director, Supervisor, and Behavioural Analyst. W...

What does attaching to God look like in one's personal life, life as a counselor, and life of faith? That's what we are talking about today. Our guest is Jeff (spelling?) McMullen. Jeff is the Executive Director of Life Counseling Center and an Assistant Pastor at Chapelgate Presbyterian Church. As a counselor, he is particularly interested in working with ministry clients struggling wit...