Wild at Heart

Starting this year, we’ll occasionally offer Wild at Heart Stories—spotlighting allies who are spreading this message within their communities and around the world in unique ways. To kick things off, Jan Janura talks with John about the profound impact reading Wild at Heart had on his life. But the story doesn’t end there. For more than 25 years, Jan has held world-class fly fishing retreats for m...

In this conclusion to the Good Heart series, John, Allen, Stacey, and Alex share personal stories and practical insights on the Good Heart—including why so few believers are aware of this truth, what it looks like to live from a good heart, and how doing so transforms our self-image as well as our view of God and others.  Keywords: Wild at Heart, Good Heart, John Eldredge, Allen Arnold, Christian...

If you believe you have a wicked or bad heart, then you will treat your heart—as well as the hearts of others—with suspicion, judgment, and contempt. But if you know your heart is good...well, that changes everything. In this second episode of the three-part series, John is joined by Fintan and Elaine Supple (therapists in Ireland and part of the Wild at Heart team) for a conversation on how the c...

Do we really have a good heart? John and Allen take a fresh look at this question and the significant ramifications of how we answer it in the start of this foundational series. Many Christians still believe—and live under the false burden—that their hearts are desperately wicked. God, however, promises to set a new heart within us (Luke 15:8), and Jesus spoke of those with a “good and noble heart...

As we start the new year, one of the most dangerous assumptions is that things will be the same as last year. Our world is growing increasingly dangerous and uncertain. Rather than move through it casually or rely on self-effort, a sobriety is required to follow God in both the big and small things. To help, John and Allen reveal the difference in dreams and desires, what keeps us stuck, and an of...

Christmas is past but the new year hasn’t yet arrived. In this in-between week, John and Allen invite you to slow down and experience a thin place with God before jumping back into your regular routine. Doing so can radically change your new year—if you’ll try these simple yet profound practices. Show Notes: The five steps of the Ignatian Examen include coming into God’s presence, asking for help...

In this special holiday podcast, John and Stasi read (in character) from Charles Dickens’ classic tale A Christmas Carol . The experience will bring a smile to your face, chase away the “bah humbugs,” and serve as a beautiful reminder of the power of new beginnings. Show Notes: A Christmas Carol is available wherever books are sold. _______________________________________________ There is more. Go...

We can get so caught up in the busyness, routine, and familiarity of Advent that we miss the main thing: Jesus isn’t focused on Christmas past but on his return. Given that, what if this Christmas season we choose to not only look back at Bethlehem—but equally celebrate the coming return of Jesus, known as the second Advent? Show Notes: Show Notes: The essay John reads from is “The World’s Last Ni...

In the Christmas rush, it’s hard to slow down and savor the season. The pace of things makes experiencing any sort of spiritual depth a struggle, but there’s a deeper, often hidden, obstacle more likely to steal your joy. John and Allen offer a powerful question to help you see what’s in the way of this Advent season. Show Notes: Find the Wild at Heart Gift Guide here . The book John reads from is...

We’re back with more of your questions as Allen asks John his thoughts on the following: Does God allow ongoing suffering to build our character? How do you deal with a narcissistic spouse? Should we avoid praying out loud to prevent the enemy from hearing what we say to God? How do parents help young children understand evil without shattering their sense of safety? Will we see our beloved dogs a...

When you think of Thanksgiving, what comes to mind? For many, this American holiday is filled with warm memories of food, family, and gratitude. But for others, it’s filled with challenges of fractured family relationships, missed desires, and time alone. In this hopeful podcast, John, Stasi, Allen, and Kellye swap stories about lessons learned from past gatherings as well as how to enter this Tha...

We’re receiving such good questions from viewers and listeners of the podcast...and doing our best to answer as many as possible! This week, Allen asks John his thoughts on a wide range of topics, including these: How do we pray for unbelieving adult children? When does a daily routine become an idol? What is stolen grief? When things change or look like they’re coming to an end, how do we know wh...

In the series conclusion, Jon Tyson joins John Eldredge to respond to the statement: “I don’t understand how people can survive without...” His simple yet profound answer leads to a wide-ranging conversation on the hopeful and alarming developments regarding the body of Christ, how to restructure our lives around the priorities of God, and what will sustain us during the increasing global chaos. S...

How do we interpret the crisis, resistance, and chaos in our lives? Find out as Blaine joins John and Allen for Part 4 of this series on “I just don’t understand how people can survive without...” In this conversation, Blaine provides a helpful tool kit for processing the questions, pushback, and struggles that keep us stuck. Show Notes: Access Blaine’s hand-written diagram with the four categorie...

As this series continues, Susie Larson joins John to give her answer to the statement: “I just don’t understand how people can survive without...” Susie is a bestselling author, national speaker, and host of the popular radio show Susie Larson Live . She states, “The storms reveal the lies we believe and the truths we need.” It’s a profound insight gleaned from a life filled with unbelievable trag...

What would be the most difficult thing for you to live without? In this second installment of the series, John invites respected therapist Mary Ellen Owen into the studio to respond to the following statement: “I just don’t understand how people can survive without...” Her thought-provoking answer leads to a tender invitation into unexpected tears and deep healing. Show Notes: The books referenced...

For this new series, John and Allen invite five guests over five weeks to complete the following statement: “I just don’t understand how people can survive without...” Sam Eldredge kicks off the opening episode with a surprising response. Sam is a licensed therapist, the director of Noble Workshops, and John’s oldest son. You’ll be intrigued by his insights into the human condition and the one thi...

In this series conclusion, John and Blaine Eldredge share a three-part process for gaining clarity on what God wants to draw our attention to in this moment. The goal isn’t to focus on everything all at once—or even to get answers—but to grow in intimacy with God in the places he desires to work in our lives. Show Notes: The 3 Categories discussed are 1) Contemplation 2) Conversation 3) Action. Th...

Imagine having a spiritual GPS to help you navigate the bafflement and fog of your days. John and Blaine Eldredge provide such a tool in this second installment of the series—including six categories and an Emotions Wheel—to help draw you closer to God and provide clarity on his work in your life. Show Notes:   The Emotions Wheel Blaine references is available here . The “6 Categories for Discerni...

This three-part series kicks off with John and Blaine Eldredge talking about the lost art of noticing what God is up to in our lives—not just today but over time. While clarity is essential, the ultimate goal is to come into alignment with what God is doing. How do we do that? In Part 1, John and Blaine lay a solid foundation by revealing three specific suppositions for discerning God’s work in ou...

Just trying to get through the week as we navigate our to-do list, the needs of others, and the new surge of global chaos can be overwhelming spiritually, physically, and mentally. Thankfully, there are ways we can intentionally center our lives with God. In the second half of this series, John and Allen talk about coming back to the habits, pace, and practices that help keep us aligned with God a...

The shift in seasons is the ideal time to reflect on changes to help us maintain our lives in God. In the first half of the series, John and Allen reveal big lies that keep us stuck in the status quo, how to decide what to take up and set down, and ways we can cooperate with God in our transformation. _______________________________________________ There is more. Got a question you want answered o...

What do you do when someone you care about has a major blind spot that's self-destructive or hurtful to you and others? In the second half of this series, the team makes it practical as John asks Stasi, Allen, and Stacey how they'd react to several "what if" scenarios. Their responses may surprise you. Hard conversations aren't easy, but they also aren't to be feared—once you ask God if and when t...

What does mature love look like when it comes to having hard conversation? We can't just say what we see. Nor can we ignore someone's blind spot (or our own) indefinitely. John, Stasi, Allen, and Stacey share how they tend to handle difficult conversations on a spectrum of avoidance to delay to immediate confrontation. Loving well in these situations isn't simple or easy...but it is possible. Show...

How did the very Holy Spirit Jesus was so eager to give us become feared, divisive, and, for most Christians, simply a forgotten stranger? Pastor and author Tyler Staton joins John to explore the need for every believer to regularly experience the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Through personal stories and insights from his new book— The Familiar Stranger —Tyler reintroduces us to this oft...