CXMH: On Faith & Mental Health

This week we talk with Dr. Michaela O’Donnell, the executive director of Fuller Seminary’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership and the author of the new book Make Work Matter: Your Guide to Meaningful Work in a Changing World. She tells us about how the world of work has changed, why adulting seems so hard, and how we could navigate things moving forward. In the intro, Robert & Holly talk about...

Daniel Bowman Jr. stops by the show to talk with us about neurodiversity, seeing our differences as a gift, and some of his own personal story. Daniel is the author of On The Spectrum: Autism, Faith & the Gifts of Neurodiversity. In the intro, Robert & Holly talk about things they’ve learned about themselves as adults.

Content warning: death, abortion, loss This week we’re joined by Marlena Graves to talk about how justice and love intertwine, as well as her book The Way Up Is Down: Becoming Yourself by Forgetting Yourself. In the intro, Robert & Holly talk about books that have helped them understand other people better.

This week we’re joined by Shannon Evans to talk about her new book Rewilding Motherhood: Your Path to an Empowered Feminine Spirituality. In the intro, Holly gets a fun surprise and Robert gets a pillow.

This week, we share the audio from Holly’s talk at the recent Church Mental Health Summit . In the intro, Robert & Holly talk about the things gained & lost with virtual events. Things we mention in this episode/other resources: - In the intro, Holly mentions the Gil Taylor Behavioral Health Symposium on Oct. 8th. - Our talks from last year’s Church Mental Health Summit: - - ep. 113 -...

Kayla Craig reads her “Prayer for the Overwhelmed” from her upcoming book, To Light Their Way: A Collection of Prayers and Liturgies for Parents. This is an excerpt from our full interview with Kayla in episode 134.

In our first interview of Season 6, we’re joined by Kayla Craig! She talks with us about honest prayers, writing liturgies, and finding ways to feel God while parenting.

Kayla Craig reads her “Prayer for a Child with Big Feelings” from her upcoming book, To Light Their Way: A Collection of Prayers and Liturgies for Parents. This is an excerpt from our full interview with Kayla in episode 134.

Robert and Holly are back for Season 6! We kick things off by talking about what happened over the summer, what we’re looking forward to in the fall, and why we’re excited about this season. Things we mention in this episode/other resources: - order Hiding in the Pews: Shining Light on Mental Illness in the Church by Steve Austin - the GoFundMe for Steve’s family - Preorder Holly’s book! The...

Robert and Holly sign off for the summer! In our final episode of Season 5: we share our reflections on the season (4:10), why we take the summer off (11:28), what we’re reading this summer (17:06), and ways we plan to rest (25:20). Things we mention in this episode/other resources:-  The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.- When It Is...

This week we’re joined by Abby Norman, author of the new book You Can Talk to God Like That: The Surprising Power of Lament to Save Your Faith. She tells us about lament on a personal level, a community level, and a societal level. Things we mention in this episode/other resources:- CXMH ep. 131 - Finding Joy Amidst Tragedy (feat. Dr. Angela Gorrell) Connect with Abby on her website , Facebook , T...

This week' we’re joined by Dr. Joseph Currier to talk about moral injury. In the intro, Robert & Holly talk about funny ways they’ve gotten injured. Things we mention in this episode/other resources:- CXMH 91 - Spiritual Bypassing (feat. Dr. Jesse Fox) - CXMH 103 - How We Move Through Suffering (feat. Dr. Daryl Van Tongeren & Sara Showalter Van Tongeren) Connect with Dr. Currier using his...

Content warning: suicide, substance abuse, loss. This week we’re joined by Rev. Dr. Angela Gorrell to talk about her job studying joy, a season of unexpected losses, and what she learned when those two collided. Angela’s new book is The Gravity of Joy: A Story of Being Lost and Found. Things we mention in this episode/other resources:- CXMH ep. 84 - Technology, Media, & Living Our Theology (fe...

Content warning: in this episode we talk about suicide, self-harm, bad therapy experiences, and more.———This week we’re joined by the wonderful Sarah J. Robinson! Sarah’s upcoming book I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die: Finding Hope in the Darkness of Depression shares her journey of wrestling with things like suicidal thoughts and self-harm while also figuring out her faith. Find a list of suicide/...

We’re joined by author & podcast host Lisa Colón DeLay to talk about exploring our internal landscapes. Lisa explains why it’s important to hear from more than just culturally dominant theologians, how spiritual practices can help us learn more about ourselves, and how we can find healing. Things we mention in this episode/other resources:- the Johari Window that Lisa talks about Connect with...

This week we’re joined by Charlotte Donlon, author of The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other. We talk about belonging to ourselves, each other, to places, through art, and to God. Things we mention in this episode/other resources:-  Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection by John T. Cacioppo & William Patrick- CXMH ep. 125 - One Year of COVID Connect wit...

This week we’re joined by Dr. David H. Rosmarin to talk about how we make connections internally, interpersonally, and spiritually. Dr. Rosmarin’s newest book is The Connections Paradigm: Ancient Jewish Wisdom for Modern Mental Health . Things we mention in this episode/other resources:- CXMH ep. 81 - Closing the Chasm Between Spirituality & Treatment (feat. Dr. David Rosmarin) Learn more abou...

Robert and Holly talk about 5 ideas for getting work done as an adult with ADHD, how they’ve used them, and learning to work with yourself instead of against yourself. Things we mention in this episode/other resources:- the article that’s the basis for this conversation: 5 Ideas for Working as Someone with Adult ADHD - More Attention, Less Deficit: Success Strategies for Adults with ADHD by Ari Tu...

Robert and Holly talk about the one year anniversary of COVID-19 being declared a global pandemic, trauma anniversaries, what we’ve learned over the past year, and how they’re balancing hope with grief right now. Things we mention in this episode/other resources:- Jennifer King’s article  A Year Later, The Body Remembers - Adults Reporting Symptoms of Anxiety or Depressive Disorder During COVID-19...

This week we talk with therapist Nia Baker, who specializes in working with people who have experienced trauma. She talks about working with our nervous systems, how we can use bottom-up processes to create safety, and what this means for our communities. Things we mention in this episode/other resources:-  Radically Open DBT - How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuro...

Tanner Olson reads an untitled poem from his recent interview on CXMH.

This week we talk with poet and author Tanner Olson. We touch on balancing hope & pain, where he finds inspiration, and learning to still be himself while being a writer. In the intro, Robert and Holly check in after Texas’s recent weather and talk about WandaVision. Things we mention in this episode/other resources: - CXMH ep. 122 - How Writing Can Shape Your Past, Present, & Future (feat...

Tanner Olson reads his poem “Some Days” from his upcoming interview on CXMH.

This week we talked with Allison Fallon, author of the new book The Power of Writing it Down: A Simple Habit to Unlock Your Brain and Reimagine Your LIfe. She talks to us about the benefits of writing in terms of processing your memories, understanding yourself, and more. Allison is the founder of Find Your Voice, as well as the author of a number of books. Things we mention in this episode/other...

This week we talk with therapist Krispin Mayfield about attachment science, how that shapes our relationships, and how that shapes our connections with God. In the intro, Robert and Holly share about things they’re attached to. Things we mention in this episode/other resources:-  The 6 Needs of Every Child: Empowering Parents and Kids through the Science of Connection by Amy Elizabeth Olrick and J...