Unhurried Living | Helping Christians Rest Deeper & Lead Better

If you’ve ever wrestled with how your personal faith connects with the pain and injustice in the world, this episode offers a path forward, not in politics or performance, but in deep spiritual formation. Alan sits down with transformation life coach and ministry leader Brenda Renderos for a tender, honest conversation at the intersection of soul care and justice, especially racial justice....

What is the Christian life really about? And what is the church meant to be? These foundational questions often reveal how deeply our assumptions have been shaped by culture more than by Christ. In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Alan Fadling shares a rich conversation with John Mark Comer , originally aired when his book Practicing the Way was newly released. John Mark is a teacher,...

What happens when the deep inner work of spiritual formation begins to shape the way we lead others? In this episode, Gem welcomes Ed McManness, General Director of  Frontier Ventures , and Matt Fogle, Chief Development Officer at Frontier Ventures, for a rich conversation at the intersection of soul care and leadership.   As leaders, it's easy to focus solely on strategy, productivity,...

What if the gospel is not just about someday, but about today—right here in the holy ordinary? In this episode, Alan welcomes pastor and author Andrew Arndt to talk about his new book, A Strange and Gracious Light . Rooted in the rhythms of the church calendar, Andrew’s book is an invitation to encounter Jesus afresh—not just as a message we proclaim but as a presence we inhabit....

Have you ever sat in church, said your prayers, and still felt... nothing? Like your faith was stuck in neutral? You’re not alone—and you’re not broken. In this deeply honest episode, Reverend Dr. Kyle Norman shares how his wife’s cancer diagnosis led him into one of the darkest seasons of his life, shaking the very foundations of his faith. But instead of giving up, he dis...

Faith often becomes a checklist—prayer, scripture study, ministry—rather than a living, breathing relationship with Jesus. In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Alan Fadling speaks with bestselling author and teacher John Eldredge about shifting from a performance-based spiritual life to one rooted in presence, intimacy, and encounter. We talk about how to slow down in a wor...

If you’ve been longing for a more humane, hope-filled way to lead—this episode is for you. Dr. Nicole Massie Martin brings years of pastoral and executive wisdom to a deep conversation about what it means to lead from the soul, not the ego. Alan and Nicole explore why so many leaders today feel spiritually empty, and how rediscovering the cross of Christ as a leadership model can bring...

Life doesn’t always go according to plan. The map you were following suddenly doesn’t make sense. What once felt solid begins to crack. But what if this unraveling isn’t a detour... what if it’s part of the sacred path? In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Gem and Alan Fadling explore a powerful biblical framework for spiritual transformation— orientation,...

In this episode, Tracie Braylock joins Gem Fadling to explore how we can release the stress we were never meant to carry. Stress isn’t just a nuisance—it can quietly erode our peace, health, and capacity to enjoy life. Tracie brings a holistic approach to well-being, weaving together mind, body, spirit, and biblical wisdom to help us relax more intentionally and live more freely. We di...

Leadership is sacred work—but it can also leave wounds. What happens when unaddressed pain begins to shape the way we lead? And how can healing restore not only our souls but also the communities we serve? In this episode, Alan Fadling is joined by Nicolas Rowe and Sheila Wise-Rowe, authors of Healing Leadership Trauma: Finding Emotional Health and Helping Others Flourish . Together, they of...

What if your self-doubt, overreactions, or stuck-ness aren’t the real you? What if freedom is simply a matter of coming home to yourself? Welcome to the Unhurried Living Podcast with Gem Fadling—where we help you rest deeper, live fuller, and lead better. In this episode, Gem is joined by Michelle Chalfant , therapist, coach, and creator of The Adult Chair model, a framework that blend...

Have you ever stood at the edge of the ocean and been struck by its vastness—its depth? That sense of something greater calling to us? Today, Alan Fadling invites us into a reflection on the spiritual hunger so many of us carry: a longing not just to know about God, but to be deeply rooted in God. In this episode, Alan explores what it means to cultivate a life of soul-depth, spiritual depth...

Have you ever found yourself grasping for a quick fix—work, food, social media, or endless productivity—to ease the discomfort of life? What if true healing and freedom don't come from trying harder, but from surrendering more deeply? In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, host Gem Fadling sits down with Ian Morgan Cron —bestselling author, psychotherapist, Enneagram te...

Have you ever felt the ache of unmet expectations in your relationship with God? Does the faith you imagined seem different from the reality you’re living? In this episode, I sit down with Steve Cuss, author of The Expectation Gap , to explore the space between what we believe about God and how we experience Him in our everyday lives. Steve invites us to dive into the gaps that often hold ou...

In this episode, Gem visits with Dr. Alison Cook, a renowned expert at the intersection of faith and psychology, to discuss her groundbreaking 3-step process for finding the freedom we crave. Many of us struggle with complex emotions and feelings that seem impossible to untangle. Instead of addressing these emotions with care, we often fall into the trap of guilt-tripping or gaslighting ourselves....

Anxiety has a way of driving us—pushing us into constant busyness and keeping us stuck in worry about the future. But living in a non-anxious way isn’t about ignoring our problems—it’s about trusting a deeper reality that surrounds us. In this episode, we reflect on the journey with anxiety and how Jesus' words in Matthew 6 continue to shape our understanding of peace. Toge...

Do you have someone in your life who helps you discern the GOs and STOPs along your journey? In this episode, Gem reflects on the powerful role of wise guides—whether a spiritual director, life coach, or mentor—and how they can offer a wider perspective and discernment that’s hard to achieve on our own. She explores the benefits of verbalizing struggles and desires, helping bring...

God’s will isn’t a code to crack—it’s a friendship to cultivate. How do we discern God’s will in our lives? Is it about finding a hidden answer, or is it something deeper—a way of life shaped by attentiveness, trust, and friendship with God? In this episode, Alan sits down with seasoned spiritual director and author Trevor Hudson to talk about his latest book, "...

What do you really need? And what would it look like to engage life with a deeper sense of agency and self-compassion? Today on Unhurried Living Podcast, Gem is joined by professional counselor and best-selling author Aundi Kolber, whose new book, Take What You Need: Soft Words for Hard Days , invites us to embrace the transformative power of kindness toward ourselves. We’ll explore how earl...

What do you do when your prayer feels dry? When it feels like you're just saying words into the air, wondering if you're actually connecting with God? In this episode, we’ll explore this common struggle, drawing from Thomas Green’s When the Well Runs Dry to uncover how prayer can move beyond effort and become more about encounter. What You’ll Learn: Prayer is a Relationship: Disc...

In this episode, Gem reflects on a powerful moment from a difficult season in her life when she found hope in a simple yet profound image: a long, dark tunnel with a pinhole of light in the distance. This light became a symbol of God's presence, reminding her that even in the darkest moments, His light is enough to guide us forward. She explores the invitation from Psalm 27:4 to dwell, gaze, and s...

In this episode, Alan talks with Steven Lawson, creator of the Monk Manual, a daily planner inspired by monastic wisdom. Together, they explore how we can live with more purpose, productivity, and presence, moving beyond the chaos of busyness to truly engage each moment. Steven shares how we can align our daily actions with our values, creating a life that is more intentional and deeply fulfilling...

"We do Kingdom things in Empire ways. What might it mean to do Kingdom things in Kingdom ways?" Mandy Smith poses this powerful question, inviting us to reimagine Christian leadership—not as coercion or burnout, but as a life deeply rooted in the ways of Jesus. In this episode, we explore why so many Christian leaders are exhausted, losing faith, or misusing power, and how confessing our lim...

What is the Christian life really about? Is it prayer, church involvement, ministry, justice, or evangelism? These are all meaningful aspects, but is there something deeper at the heart of it all? In this episode, I reflect on a question my mentor, Chuck Miller, often asked: “What is the Christian life?” His answer offers a profound simplicity—one that shifts our focus from what...

Have you ever found yourself in a dark, overwhelming season, wondering if God could hear you? We explore the healing power of lament as a way to express grief, open to God’s presence, and find rest for your soul. Lament isn't about having all the answers; it’s about allowing space for God to meet you where you are. What to Expect as you Listen: How lament can deepen your connection wit...