Emuna Builders Podcast

I made this for you. For the woman who still prays even when her heart feels hollow. Who whispers words from her bed because standing feels like too much. Whose tears have become her siddur. This isn’t another teaching about how to pray better. It’s not a list of techniques or a lecture on what you should be doing differently. I’m so tired of “should,” and I suspect you are too. This is a sanctuar...

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For years, I thought I understood Rebbe Nachman’s teaching that “reality is defined by God’s goodness, not circumstances.” I was wrong. What I missed was the actual mechanism—the precise cognitive architecture that makes this proclamation the most sophisticated form of psychological mastery available to human consciousness. This isn’t about toxic positivity or spiritual bypassing. It’s about how s...

I used to think sadness was just... sadness. An unfortunate feeling you ride out until circumstances improve. Then I understood the mechanism, and everything changed. Sadness isn’t just an emotion. It’s a self-reinforcing system that systematically dismantles your capacity to function. Prayer becomes inaccessible. Connection feels impossible. The things that would actually help you—they’re suddenl...

Psalm 13 begins with pain and ends with praise. Join Esther Adams as she unpacks how David shifts from four cries of “How long?” to declaring trust and singing to God. A timeless lesson in faith when hope seems out of reach. Psalm 13 1To the conductor, a song of David. 2How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 3How long will I take counsel in my soul,...

Words have power to heal, to deceive, to build, or to destroy. In this episode of Emuna Builders , Esther Adams explores Psalm 12, where David cries out against lies, flattery, and arrogance, and contrasts them with the purity of God’s promises. Discover how this ancient wisdom speaks directly into our modern world of spin, slander, and half-truths. Psalm 12 1For the conductor on the sheminith, a...

Psalm 11 speaks to the ache of watching wrongdoers prosper while the principled get squeezed. In this episode, we unpack its vivid images—archers in the dark, shaken foundations, and the steady gaze of G-d, to explore free will, moral testing, and ultimate accountability. Practical takeaways included: how to stand your ground without hardening your heart, and how to keep working for truth, justice...

Why do the wicked seem to thrive while the humble struggle? Psalm 10 dives into this painful question, giving us a raw look inside the mindset of the arrogant who deny God and prey on the vulnerable. Yet this perek also shifts—turning into a heartfelt cry for justice, hope, and God’s presence. In this episode of Emuna Builders with Esther Adams , we explore the words of King David, the commentarie...

In this episode of Emuna Builders , Esther Adams unpacks Psalm 9 (Tehillim 9) — a powerful perek where King David turns personal victory into a vision of justice, humility, and trust in God. We explore the historical backdrop, the meaning behind the verses, and timeless lessons for facing struggle today. 👉 You’ll learn: * Why David’s gratitude had to be wholehearted * How enemies often fall into...

A profound Jewish prayer celebrating the lymphatic system's divine design. This traditional blessing combines medical knowledge with spiritual gratitude, honoring the body as G-d's masterpiece. Perfect for those seeking healing prayers and Jewish wisdom. Blooming Immunity is available on Amazon! Paperback or Epub https://a.co/d/hh1X6aN This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this wi...

Our immune system is MORE sophisticated than any military! This Jewish prayer transforms medical science into spiritual wonder. Discover how neutrophils, T-cells & antibodies are literally GOD'S ARMY inside you! Prepare to never see your body the same way again. Save this. Play it daily! Refuah Shelma speedily! Blooming Immunity is available on Amazon! Paperback or Epub https://a.co/d/hh1X6aN This...

This episode walks through Psalm 8 in plain English. From “the work of Your fingers” to the voices of children, we discover why human life isn’t an afterthought and how our choices make HaShem’s (G-d) name great “in all the earth.” Simple steps included to practice awe and live it out. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episode...

When life is heavy, you don’t need perfect words—you need a clear connection. This episode offers a gentle guide to daily prayer that starts with listening and moves into plain, personal speech. We learn from Moses’s hundreds of prayers, the yearly rhythm that turns tears into renewal, and a simple method you can use anywhere: say “Father,” tell the truth, ask for concrete good, and end with thank...

Why does prayer start with ‘thank you’—before we ask for anything? Because real prayer begins with listening. We open up, admit we don’t have all the answers, and let God in. Then we speak. We call on God’s name and recognize something huge: the world isn’t separate from its Maker—it expresses God like a name expresses a person. That’s why life isn’t random; it’s meaningful. We keep searching, eve...

When David was hunted by a king, he took refuge—not in a fortress, but in God. This psalm, born in a cave after sparing his pursuer’s life, blends humility, courage, and a plea for righteous judgment. We’ll walk through the chase, the restraint, the shield of trust, and the “boomerang” of justice—finding a prayer for when we’re misunderstood, wronged, or tempted to strike back. Psalm 7 1A shiggayo...

Negative self-talk fuels stress and stalls progress. Esther Adams shows how to interrupt the loop with awareness, balanced thoughts, nervous-system regulation, and self-compassion. Walk away with a 10-step toolkit you can start now. Based on Rescript Your Reality—perfect for anyone ready to trade self-criticism for sustainable confidence. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this...

Some waves you can’t outrun—but you can ride them together. Esther Adams of Emuna Builders unpacks how meaningful relationships transform hard seasons. Explore how to ask for help without guilt, offer support without burning out, and keep bonds strong when life gets messy. You’ll gain a simple framework for resilience—connection, compassion, and purpose—so you can face the week with courage. If it...

Psalm 6 is an aching, clear-eyed prayer from someone sick and scared: “Don’t rebuke me in anger… my bones shake… my soul shakes more… return, save me for Your kindness.” It ends with quiet confidence—“Hashem has heard my cry”—and even hopes the mockers feel only a moment of shame as they turn back. We unpack the opening note “on the eighth” (eight-string music, the covenant’s eighth day, and help...

A simple morning prayer for clarity, clean speech, and steady trust. We walk Psalm 5 in plain language—what that quirky header hints at, how to pray with words or with thoughts when words won’t come, the difference between lies and flattery, why David bows before he speaks, and a three-minute morning flow you can try today. Psalm 5 1To the conductor, on nehiloth, a song of David. 2Give ear to my w...

Reframe lack and craving as pointers, not problems. Learn to soften the inner judge, practice powerlessness without collapse, ride 90-second urge waves, repair while you grow, and use “a little bit is also good” to build real momentum—tools you can try before the episode ends. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit...

When life squeezes, Psalm 4 shows a way to breathe, act, and rest. We unpack a four-step reset (name the heat, pause, reflect, be still), a “Tight—Then Room—Then Ask” breath-prayer you can use anywhere, and a one-minute lights-out routine. Practical tools to resist gossip and comparison—and to fall asleep in real peace. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscri...

In the wake of Tisha B’Av, after the Three Weeks and Nine Days name our fractures, this episode reframes the “now what?” with one clear practice: hope as a disciplined move. We walk through simple, actionable tools—spoken hope, micro-hopes, a one-minute “future breath,” tiny next steps, and patient waiting—to let the “not-yet” begin irrigating the “right-now.” This is a public episode. If you woul...

Psalm 3 1A song of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. 2O Lord, how many have my adversaries become! Great men rise up against me. 3Great men say concerning my soul, "He has no salvation in God to eternity." 4But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory and He Who raises up my head. 5With my voice, I call to the Lord, and He answered me from His holy mount to eternity. 6I lay down and sl...

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emunabuilders.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emunabuilders.substack.com