The Connected Life

As humans, we are universally messy. Our actions and reactions are often times in conflict with what we want to do and who we want to be. It can feel much easier to ignore and deny the reality of parts of our lives that don't seem very flattering or socially acceptable, but what if there's something powerful about embracing the truth of our messiness? In this episode, Justin and Abi examine some o...

As time passes, all of us go through stages of change, for the better or worse. In the midst of creating ups and downs for ourselves, being known and understood is foundational to discovering how to thrive. For those that are willing to sacrificially love others, while choosing others that will love them in return, long-term friendship is possible and powerful. In this episode Justin is joined by...

For most, there's something surreal about a life of success and wealth. Driving our dreams is the idea that when we arrive at a specific destination we'll be fulfilled. The details are different for everyone, but the hope of happiness in the distant future seems to stay the same. But what happens when you arrive and you don't feel satisfied? Bryant Ellis, owner of The Adventure Challenge, joins Ju...

Separating ourselves from the nature of love leaves us feeling alone, in a state of fear and abandonment. This disconnection from love drives us to exhibit controlling behavior as we fight for a sense of safety and peace. Unfortunately, any safety or peace we experience through control is an illusion and short lived. In this final episode on faith and emotions, Marcus Miller joins the conversation...

In our broken pursuit of feeling valuable, humans have a way of adopting a system of judgment where we can rank one another better than or less than. This hierarchy is based on our personal assessment of what makes something, or someone, good or bad. This arrogant approach to life dehumanizes some, while humanizing others, resulting in disconnected relationships, and a society lacking in compassio...

It's easy to lose the sense of who we are, and what we believe, for the sake of others in order to belong. We can find ourselves more concerned with following cultural systems, and the rules in these systems, than expressing ourselves in authentic ways. Denying the truth of who we are, what we feel, and what we need is at the foundation of codependancy. In this episode, Marcus and Brianna Miller j...

Neighbors can be difficult to love. They vote, believe, and talk differently. Their lifestyles might just contradict our entire value system. Our time with them, however, is limited. But what about the person in the mirror that you spend 24/7 with? If you don't love them well, your neighbor doesn't stand a chance. Marcus Miller joins Abi and Justin as they discuss the hesitancy to love yourself in...

Emotions tend to get a bum rap in faith communities. Often times the two are treated as mutually exclusive and emotions have the potential to be seen as enemies of faith. But what if emotions and faith were designed to coexist? In this 5-part series Marcus and Brianna Miller join the Stumvolls. They attempt to tackle the many examples throughout faith that give legitimacy to emotions. They examine...

In a noisy, media-driven world, filled with politics, drama, and plenty of expectations, it's easy to stay focused on anything other than connection to our own heart. But what if it all suddenly stopped and we were forced to embrace a moment of solitude that left us nowhere to run? In this episode Justin returns from a divinely inspired 8-day trek into the Texas desert, where he found himself face...

Getting confronted is rarely easy. Often times, confrontation can feel like it's coming out of nowhere. Without the proper tools and understanding of how to respond, conversations that are seemingly low stakes can snowball into disaster. But what if you could be prepared for even the worst and messiest confrontations? In this episode, Justin and Abi tackle the task of helping to equip people who a...

Coming face to face with the attacker that left your daughter for dead should bread feelings of hatred and revenge. But what happens when love and compassion echo louder than the scars left on the heart of an entire family? In the final episode of this three part series Steve and his daughter Mariah talk about the redemptive moments that began to unfold with Kimmi on the other side of her brutal a...

Without miraculous intervention, tragedies have a way of devastating people beyond repair. Most people would be overcome by hopelessness after being told that the likelihood of their daughter coming out of a permanent vegetive state is next to impossible. But what happens when faith the size of a mustard seed takes root? In part two of this three part series, Steve and his daughter Mariah share th...

Choosing to get honest with ourselves about the reality of our upbringings can often times feel incredibly difficult. The implication that our families are imperfect means that there is a good probability that healing is necessary. But the invitation is always for an opportunity to experience a life fully lived. In part one of this three part series Justin and Abi sit down with Mariah and her fath...

Dreaming for life is so often ineffective that most people find themselves hopeless and disappointed, and for good reason. People's approach to dreaming can be haphazard and lofty. But what if you could deliberately set yourself up for successful dreams that crush disappointment and create long-term affects? In the final episode of 2021, Justin and Abi explore the necessity of reviewing our previo...

For most people, Christmas is laced with nostalgia. Moments of goodness reminding us of the beauty and joy of being a child. For some it can be a bit more difficult, but goodness is waiting to be found in our history and created in our future. In this episode Justin and Abi reflect on childhood memories that make this season warm and special. They talk about fun moments and traditions that make th...

If we're all honest with ourselves, we've all, at some point or another, felt unloveable. In this state of being, it's easy to feel alone, sad, and even hopeless. Life can seemingly deliver us insurmountable odds that leave us feeling down and out. We can feel misunderstood and unworthy of goodness and opportunities. But what if everything can change? What if a hope filled lifestyle is possible? I...

Christmas, like many holidays comes with a mixture of emotions and experiences. For some it can be a sad and difficult time, while for others it be one of the most exciting times of the year. Regardless of your stance on holidays like this one each of us has the power to make it something filled with joy and connection. In this episode, Justin and Abi talk about the true heart of Christmas and the...

Self-Care is often misinterpreted as a shallow, selfish, narcissistic romp rooted in endless spa days, trips with your friends, buying a ton of needless material junk, and gorging yourself on sugary delights until type 2 diabetes kicks into overdrive. But is all of that really self-care? In this episode, Justin and Abi tackle the false sense of self-care that has been perpetuated by a disconnected...

At a young age, through nature and nurture, we find ourselves being wired to relate to the world in ways that aren't always freeing. For many of us, we operate out of the extremes of co-dependance or independence. This can leave us believing things about others that isn't true to their feelings. If we're not put in check, this bleeds into our interactions and understandings of the One who created...

The emotional health journey can sometimes feel like being trapped on a hamster wheel while the sounds of children chanting, "Are we there yet?!" echo out in the background. But what if emotional health isn't about a destination, as much as a way of life? In this episode Justin and Abi explore 10 signs that point towards a lifestyle of wholeness. Together they lower the stakes on emotional health...

(Updated Audio) Social media has woven itself into humanity in a way, that since its inception, an entire generation can now say they have never known a life without it. This medium of human interaction has changed the way we relate to ourselves and the people around us, for better and for worse. In a world that seems to live in a virtually curated space the question of our existence, if we aren't...

Each of us has a story. This story is the collection of our experiences that shape our beliefs and decisions. Knowing and understanding our story is the first step to compassion and healing. Each of our stories is vital to humanizing ourselves and the world around us. In this episode Justin and Abi talk about the impact of connecting to their stories and explore the difficulties we all face when w...

The human soul has basic necessities. When we've been starved long enough of the things we need an inner war ensues as we ravenously gorge to feed the aching hunger within. Only through the nourishment of nurturing love and care can we find the balanced healing we need. In this episode, Justin is joined by fellow Life Consultant Rachel Hughes. Rachel shares about the physical hunger she experience...

On average, we make 35,000 decisions each day. For some, decisions are seemingly made quick and easy with little thought behind them, leaving a trail a problems resulting from the lack of consideration. For others, decisions feel overwhelming and laced with anxiety, creating paralysis and stagnancy. But what if decision making was a beautiful balance of thoughtful wisdom and trust? In this episode...

Change comes with many unknowns and emotions. For some, change is the perceived savior of their circumstances, while for others, it's the villain of their story. Regardless of what it is to each person, one thing is for sure, it's universally part of the human experience. In this episode Justin is joined by his dear friends Brianna and Marcus Miller. The two of them share about an intense year of...