The Signpost Inn Podcast

Does the world feel like a scary place? Do you wonder what to do with your feeling that everybody's out to get you? Well, then this episode is for you! In this episode, Brandon and Peter tackle a single word listener question, "cynicism?" We begin our conversation with a reading from Brandon's book, Changing the Conversation: How to dance instead of fight in everyday conversation. We then explore...

Relationships are complicated and messy. How do we grown in self-understanding that breeds compassion for ourselves and others? Can God really redeem my broken history of relationships?  Today's episode is a conversation with our friend Shell Odum, founder of the ministry A Radical Relationship . A Radical Relationship provides community centered life coaching and groups for you to participate in!...

How am I, with all my duties and responsibilities, supposed to live a life of prayer and devotion to God? Can my family, my work, and my duties be a spiritual journey with God? In his book, Domestic Monastery, Father Ronald Rolheiser retrieves deep wisdom from the ancient monastics, making it easy to understand and very applicable to those of us who live “normal” lives.  Join us for a delightful c...

What are we humans capable of? What is a realistic view of what we can accomplish?    Join us for today's delightful conversation with David Zahl about his newest book,  Low Anthropology . You'll breathe a sigh of relief as you listen to David share about low anthropology and it's refreshing perspective on life. The team here at Signpost Inn absolutely loved reading this book and talking with Davi...

Why are we so afraid of acknowledging our limitations? What does needing help say about us?   In this episode, Brandon, Matt and Peter talk about needing help, recognizing our limitations, and why the doctrine of sin is so good. That's right, understanding Sin is wildly helpful to experiencing the freedom to ask for help. God knows your limitations! The pressure is off! Take a deep breath and enjo...

Can an experience of God change us? What if it doesn't?   With these questions and many others, Brandon interviews Professor Simeon Zahl about his book,  The Holy Spirit and Christian Experience . In this week's conversation, Professor Zahl breaks down the false dichotomy between trusting the Bible and having a personal experience of God. The Bible clearly uses experiential language to describe re...

Do you struggle with indecisiveness?   In this week's podcast Brandon and Rachel sit down with Emily P. Freeman, about her book The Next Right Thing! Emily is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Simply Tuesday and A Million Little Ways. She shares from her book about how indecision is an opportunity for spiritual formation. Whenever we find ourselves at a crossroads, it is an invitation...

Feeling disconnected? Confused? Distant from God?   This week's conversation is centered around spiritual dryness. What is it? Why does it happen? And what can we do about it? Brandon and Peter explore the topic with compassion and curiosity. One of the main themes that emerges is that we humans are not projects to be fixed or problems to be solved. However we are experiencing seasons of spiritual...

We need a space where our souls can be listened into the light of God's love.   In this episode Brandon talks with Adam Ormord, Executive Director of Grafted Life Ministries, about what it means that we have shy souls. They talk about how our souls need a space with no agenda, a space where we can simply be. They talk about some of the common challenges with soul care like trying to measure our gr...

What is the purpose of our Christian life?   Join Brandon and Peter for this week's conversation on the back porch. They explore the big question, "what is the purpose of the Christian life?" Using the analogy of the solar system, Brandon and Peter spitball about what various theological perspectives put at the center of their solar system. What is the most important thing around which everything...

How does liturgy shape one's spirituality?   In this episode, Brandon talks with Rob Goodman, an Anglican priest serving Holy Trinity Anglican Church in San Antonio, Texas. Together they nerd out about liturgical spirituality and sacramental theology. They explore what liturgy is and how everyone has a liturgy. They examine how good liturgy tells the gospel story and points us to Jesus. Brandon an...

Join Brandon and Liv Booth for a special Good Friday episode where we meditate with you on the compassion that moved Jesus to suffer and die for you.  We begin by reading the Good Friday Litany from the ancient Mozarabic Breviary . And then contemplate the seven last words of Christ from the Cross and the prayers of Joachim Mynsinger of Frundeck (1514-1588) .  We know you'll find this both moving...

Hospitality is life itself. Humans need to be accepted by other humans. They need to know their life has a place and a purpose.   This episode is a little different. Rather than a conversation or interview, Liv Booth reads a piece she wrote about the beauty of hospitality. Part memoir, part reflection, Liv shares several formative experiences of hospitality and how they have shaped her and taught...

The three hardest things to say in the English language are, "I'm sorry, I need help, and Worcestershire sauce."   Join the conversation as we explore how challenging it is to truly admit our faults and ask for help. We discover that the ability to say I'm sorry and admit our limitations does not come from within us. We are enabled when God shows himself to us as a compassionate, forgiving God who...

In this episode, Brandon interviews Tara Owens about spiritual direction. They talk about the ancient roots of spiritual direction in the church and how it differs from discipleship and counseling. They emphasize and explore how spiritual direction really does not have an agenda. A fundamental aspect of spiritual direction is trusting that God is present, desiring to be with you and that this is e...

In this episode, Brandon interviews Father Gavin on his latest book, “Mysteries of the Lord’s Prayer: Wisdom from the Early Church.” They talk about the rich history that the Lord’s Prayer has in the prayer life of the the church and why it is so important and good to reflect on the Lord’s Prayer. Father Gavin invites us to embrace the strangeness of the Lord’s Prayer because the wonderful truths...

Today's guest, Steve May, is a friend of Brandon's and has been a psycotherapist for over 20 years. Brandon and Steve explore the topic of trauma and how it connects to spirituality. Steve shares some of his experiences with helping others through trauma and sheds light on the feelings of shame that often come with trauma. You won't want to miss this one.  Check out Steve's Facebook profile and vi...

Brandon and Matt interview J.P. Moreland about his book  Finding Quiet which was born out of Professor Moreland's own experiences with anxiety and depression. The interview touches on topics like the relationship between body and soul, the nature of anxiety, and some practical habits to develop in order to cope with negative self-talk in a healthy manner.    Also thanks to Rex Daugherty for creati...

In this episode, Brandon, Matt and Peter discuss a question that comes in from a listener about fantasy stories. As avid readers themselves, the group talks about why they believe fantasy stories to be wonderful and good. The great authors, Tolkien and Lewis are brought up throughout the conversation and introduce some meaningful points. Ultimately, the group affirms the joy of fantasy stories whi...

In this episode, Brandon, Matt and Peter contemplate the significance of Jesus' incarnation. Brandon invites all listeners to consider how the truth of the incarnation impacts their relationship with God. The group discusses how to not simply think nice thoughts about Christmas and the incarnation, but how to practically experience these truths. The episode closes out with a few artful expressions...

Brandon, Matt and Peter reflect on the first whole year of the Signpost Inn podcast. They share favorite episodes and talk about what was most fun and impactful for them. In highlighting some of key insights from various episodes, the topic arises of how we make sense of different perspectives on faith and following Jesus. The group talks about how contemplation is an invitation to go beyond intel...

Brandon and Peter are drawn into a conversation about realistic expectations for the Christian life. The questions stem from a passage in, “Interior Freedom” by Jacques Philippe in which Philippe remarks that we waste our time and stunt our spiritual growth if we focus on our sins and limitations. The central issue becomes clear as the conversation progresses: If I have been fully redeemed and fre...

What is contemplation and how does it develop our core identity?  In this episode Brandon interviews Dr. Thomas Kimber from Melbourne School of Theology where he is the Dean of Faculty and a lecturer in Missional and Pastoral Theology. Dr. Kimber's unique perspective on contemplation connects liturgical practices--our embodied rituals--to God's shaping of our soul and identity.   This is the final...

What exactly is contemplation and contemplative prayer? Is it new age nonsense or does it lie at the very heart of the Christian life? And if it's the latter, how exactly does the average Joe "do" it?!  In this episode Brandon interviews Dr. Kyle Strobel from Biola's Talbot School of Theology. Dr. Strobel brings an amazing wealth of knowledge about the history of contemplation in the Christian tra...

What exactly is contemplation and contemplative prayer? Is it new age nonsense or does it lie at the very heart of the Christian life? And if it's the latter, how exactly does the average Joe "do" it?!  In this episode Brandon interviews Father Theodore from the Benedictine monastery of Our Lady and St. Laurence in Cañon City, Colorado. Together he and Brandon take a deep dive into contemplation f...