The Eremos Podcast

My adopted dad recently passed away as I was already working on thoughts to share about my adopted mom who died 6 years ago. So, I put them all together. "Don't wait until I'm dead to give me flowers!" Outline: 00:46 --Intro 4:06--Honoring James/Dad 17:51--Honoring Vangie/Mom 28:53--A Fitting Conclusion

Brian talks with Laura Wilson about her Ph. D. dissertation on St. Dominica, an early deaconess in the church. Get a general intro to the Orthodox church as they discuss Icons and church history. Learn about Hagiography. Laura's undergrad degree in Art with a minor in Greek influenced her transition to the Orthodox tradition and her faith in general.

Welcome back! In this episode of the DwJ series, Zach and Brian explore chapters 6–8 of Deconstruct with Jesus : “Take Me Back to Eden,” “The Wounded Healer,” and “We’re in the Endgame Now.”They unpack the opening chapters of Genesis—not as a science debate, but as a poetic, theological vision of God’s intent for creation, humanity’s vocation, and what went wrong. Along the way, they reframe sin a...

After a long hiatus, Zach and Brian reconnect to reflect on where they’ve been, what’s going on, and how they’re navigating life lately. In this episode, they talk about dealing with sad news—from personal losses to the daily weight of the world—and share an honest conversation about how to stay emotionally and spiritually grounded. They reflect on the life and work of Walter Brueggemann, explore...

Welcome back! In this episode of the DwJ series, Zach and Brian dive into Chapter 5, “Paul Needs a Hug.” They explore how the theology behind "total depravity" has shaped the way many Christians view themselves—and why it might be time to let it go. Through humor, honesty, and deep reflection, they reframe grace as something we don’t have to grovel for and invite listeners to see themsel...

In this episode, Zach and Brian continue their series on Deconstruct with Jesus , diving into Chapter 4: No Whipping Boy, No Mermaid, Just Love . This discussion explores how our understanding of God’s justice and love is often shaped by atonement theories—particularly penal substitutionary atonement—and whether that framework truly aligns with the heart of Jesus. Zach and Brian unpack the idea th...

In this episode, Zachary and Brian continue the discussion on Zach's book, Deconstruct with Jesus , diving into Chapter 3. They explore how faith isn't about having all the right answers but about learning to sit with the unknown. From theological debates to personal experiences, they discuss how embracing mystery can deepen trust in God rather than weaken it. ✅ [01:37] – Why embracing my...

In this episode of the Eremos Podcast , Zach and Brian dive into Chapter 2 of Deconstruct with Jesus — The God I Don’t Believe In . They tackle the gods they were handed—the vengeful, the transactional, the distant—and why rejecting those gods doesn’t mean rejecting God altogether. What if the God we’ve deconstructed wasn’t God at all? What if there’s a God more loving than we ever imagined? They...

In the second episode of the series, Zach and Brian dive into the real meaning of repentance . It’s not about guilt or shame—it’s about rethinking everything. They explore Jesus’ call to “repent” (Mark 1:15) as an invitation to deconstruct unhealthy beliefs and embrace transformation. Timestamps: 00:02 – Intro 04:18 – When did hellfire preaching take over? 12:46 – Repentance as deconstruction 22:2...

Lisa shares the story of her son Brendan, who died from an accidental overdose on fentanyl. It's a story of courage, continuing when it's dark, and healing. "Nobody Grieves Perfectly" is a statement we agreed on. Lisa appreciated her therapist reminded her, "Of Course!?" Lisa and I led some Griefshare groups together and we also talked about Compassionate Friends . Clic...

In this kickoff episode of The Eremos Podcast series on Zach's new book, Deconstruct with Jesus, hosts Zach and Brian discuss the inspiration behind the book, the journey of faith and doubt, and why deconstruction doesn’t have to mean walking away from God. They explore how Jesus actually encourages questioning and rethinking, break down misconceptions about deconstruction, and set the stage for f...

Deconstruction and AI with Scott Simpson, Part 2 of 2 Part 1 was published on Monday, January 13th. We continue the discussion on deconstruction, Scott's use of AI in creating this album, have a tangent on Parker Palmer, and more. Hear two more songs from the upcoming album, which will be available on Friday, January 17th, wherever you get your music. Scott Simpson ⁠Hymnautica⁠ kamala Parker Palme...

Educator, poet, and musician Scott Simpson sat down with Brian and Paula to talk about his deconstruction journey, and how he has used AI to create a Deconstruction Manifesto and an album about deconstructing. Scott Simpson Music Hymnautica A Manifesto for Deconstructed Christianity                 By Scott Simpson I. Faith Beyond Certainty: Embracing Doubt and Mystery We commit to:  • Holding spa...

In this festive episode of The Eremos Podcast , Zach, Brian, and Kayla dive into a fun and thoughtful Christmas mailbag Q&A. From humorous hypotheticals to meaningful reflections, this episode has it all. Highlights include: Rudolph vs. Frosty : Who would win in a showdown, and does Rudolph's nose generate heat or lasers? Modern Gifts for Baby Jesus : Would wise men today bring Bitcoin, squish...

Tom shares about the loss of his mother 60 years ago and the death of his granddaughter from a brain tumor.  From his wealth of experience with grief and ministry, he talks about what’s helpful and not helpful to say to those who are grieving, how faith and faith communities blessed him during the difficult days of grief, and how his grief journey prepared him for ministry and work in hospice.

Zach and Brian welcome Kayla (EREMOS founding board member and Zach's wife) as they engage in a thoughtful and reflective (and sometimes silly) conversation about the holiday season, particularly focusing on Advent as a potential antidote to the stress, grief, and challenges that often accompany this time of year. Advent, a season of anticipation and preparation leading up to Christmas, offers a p...

In this second episode of the series, Jenna shares her journey of grief following the loss of her ex-husband in 2022, shortly after the family discovered he had a brain tumor. Brian and Jenna discuss the experience of grieving both with family and in solitude, near-death experiences, dream visitations, and the importance of generational growth as a way to honor our deceased loved ones by addressin...

In this solo episode, Zach takes a moment to process the 2024 Presidential election results with you, sharing some personal reflections on the ups and downs of post-election emotions. Whether you’re feeling disappointed or hopeful, let’s talk about how to hold space for both perspectives as people of faith. He dives into some practical ways to keep our peace in a tense time—like managing media con...

Finding Serenity in Election Week As election week 2024 unfolds, Zach and Brian tackle the question of how to engage with the news and political conversations in a way that protects our mental, emotional, and spiritual health. What does it look like for a grounded person of faith to navigate this intense week? We discuss practical ways to stay informed without getting overwhelmed, why it’s essenti...

In this special Halloween-themed episode, Zach and Brian dive into the Christian origins of Halloween, exploring the holiday’s spiritual roots and how it evolved into the celebration we know today. They also open up their “fan mail” to answer some fun, spooky questions: from favorite Halloween memories to must-watch movies. Plus, they get creative with a discussion on which Bible stories could mak...

In this laid-back conversation, Zach and Brian unpack the "fruit test," inspired by Matthew 6 and Ignatian discernment. The Bible isn’t always as clear as we’d like, but don't worry! It'’s all about paying attention to the Fruit of the Spirit and remembering that God is love —so if something isn’t loving, it’s not from God. They also touch on how the truth sets you free , and if it doesn’t, well…...

Brian and Paula engage in a transparent discussion about the lives and deaths of their parents, exploring the lasting impact of early parental loss and dealing with a parent suffering from alcoholism and bipolar disorder. Key themes in their conversation include faith, shame, and healing, as well as spiritual bypassing, the concept of being "Wounded Healers," and the influence of grief on their ro...

Welcome back to the pod! In Episode Two, Brian and Zach each tell their faith story. Brian shares his experiences growing up around the church, how living overseas and being trained as a therapist have impacted his journey, and how he now understands it. Zach shares his journey from a Bible-thumping teen to a deconstructing college kid and temporary atheist and how spiritual formation and directio...

Welcome to the Eremos podcast! In the inaugural episode, Zach and Brian discuss: ​A brief history of their friendship ​How the Eremos nonprofit came to be ​The meaning behind the word eremos and the values/mission of the organization ​Introductory thoughts on deconstruction, contemplative spirituality, mental health, and contemporary culture ​What to expect from the podcast in the future Thank you...