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  • E188 | Susan Carson | Safe Enough to Heal: Why the Church Gets Trauma Wrong and What to Do Instead

    E188 | Susan Carson | Safe Enough to Heal: Why the Church Gets Trauma Wrong and What to Do Instead
    2026/05/26

    E188 | Susan Carson | Safe Enough to Heal: Why the Church Gets Trauma Wrong and What to Do Instead

    Welcome to the Face to Face podcast and episode 188 with spiritual director and author Susan Carson. Susan tells her story of meeting Jesus at 18, later experiencing spiritual trauma, and moving into a contemplative path of prayer and inner healing. We talk about how neuroscience, Christian mystics (especially Julian of Norwich), and the biblical idea of kenosis (Philippians 2) come together in her "safe space" approach—noise-free, shame-free, and formula-free—focused on embodied, face-to-face connection. We discuss how church environments can be unsafe and harmful, why healing is low-and-slow rather than a quick fix, what it cost Susan relationally (including LGBTQIA+ convictions), and her new book releasing May 5, with more at susancarson.net.

    Instagram: @susancarsonauthor YouTube: @SusanCarson Substack: @susancarsonauthor

    00:00 Podcast Welcome

    00:29 Episode Intro and Summer Plans

    02:38 Meet Susan Carson

    05:04 Her Spiritual Journey

    08:17 Mystics Meet Neuroscience

    12:29 Kenosis and Healing Space

    16:14 Good News After Deconstruction

    23:10 Church Safety and Trauma

    25:47 Book Controversies and Costs

    28:13 Safety and Trauma Basics

    29:05 Church Culture and Safe Spaces

    29:50 Leaders Doing Inner Work

    31:23 The Quick Fix Myth

    32:33 Contemplative Healing Journey

    36:59 What Contemplative Really Means

    39:22 Low and Slow Rewiring

    42:40 Book Takeaways and Release Info

    45:50 Thesis Origins and Farewell

    47:05 Podcast Wrap Up
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    48 分
  • E187 | Dr. Jason Swan Clark | Trauma Healing, Mental Health and Ignatian Spiritual Exercises

    E187 | Dr. Jason Swan Clark | Trauma Healing, Mental Health and Ignatian Spiritual Exercises
    2026/05/05
    In episode 187, we welcome Dr. Jason Swan Clark, a professor, spiritual director, former pastor, and theologian, who recounts his traumatic childhood, coming to faith at 17, decades of church planting and pastoral leadership, a nervous breakdown at 30, and ongoing work integrating mental health and faith. Jason describes how suffering shaped his leadership, distinguishes healing from transformation, and explains Ignatian spirituality and the Spiritual Exercises, including consolation/desolation and a practical discernment process. He closes with a personal story of meeting Jesus in Gethsemane through the Exercises during COVID and shares where to find his work online. 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:29 Episode 187 Milestone 01:14 Institute Updates 02:40 Meet Jason Swan Clark 04:25 Setting the Conversation 06:17 Jason's Origin Story 08:34 Breakdown and Calling 09:45 Waverley Abbey Vision 13:21 Trauma Survival and Escape 18:20 Workaholism as Coping 24:22 Trauma Shaping Leadership 31:10 Healing vs Transformation 34:46 Wanting More Than Healing 36:30 Healing Through Participation 40:04 Embracing the Cross 42:25 Trauma and Purpose 46:30 Ignatius and the Exercises 51:34 Discernment Made Practical 01:00:18 Freedom and Attachments 01:05:32 Gethsemane Stay Awake 01:07:24 Closing and Where to Find Jason https://www.spex.so/ https://www.jasonswanclark.org/
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    1 時間 9 分
  • E186 | Paul Young | Embracing Uncertainty: Finding Truth in the Unknowing - Part 2

    E186 | Paul Young | Embracing Uncertainty: Finding Truth in the Unknowing - Part 2
    2026/04/21

    E186 | Paul Young | Embracing Uncertainty: Finding Truth in the Unknowing - Part 2

    Paul Young (Part 2) on Prayer as Relationship, 12-Step Community, Healing vs Curing, and Return to the Shack In episode 186 (Part 2) of the Face to Face Podcast, we continue our conversation with Paul Young, discussing prayer as ongoing conversation within relationship and how spiritual practices can help but often need community to endure. We talk about honesty without fixing, and how close relationships expose areas needing healing. The conversation explores reclaiming inner wisdom, resisting church-driven codependency, and transformation from the inside out. Paul shares updates on Return to the Shack: A Journey into Redemption (releasing October 6, with a special Shack hardback including three sequel chapters) and a large-scale Shack stage musical in Germany planned for spring 2029. He also addresses living with epilepsy, seeking healing rather than curing, and using "unrighteous wealth" (platform/notoriety) shrewdly for the kingdom. 01:22 Trauma Course Plug 01:52 What Prayer Looks Like 03:43 Spiritual Practices Reframed 05:17 Bradley and AA Community 10:09 Why Community Heals 14:07 CODA and Not Fixing 17:21 Codependency and Self Trust 20:20 Poem on Voice and Boundaries 21:35 Sequel Release Plans 22:28 Musical Adaptation Update 25:10 Casting Connection Offer 25:51 Creative Process Reflections 27:06 Health and Epilepsy Journey 30:57 Unrighteous Wealth Parable 33:42 Using Platform for Kingdom 40:07 Revival and Union Talk 41:35 Podcast Farewell and Outro
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    43 分
  • E185 | Paul Young | Embracing Uncertainty: Finding Truth in the Unknowing - Part 1

    E185 | Paul Young | Embracing Uncertainty: Finding Truth in the Unknowing - Part 1
    2026/04/07
    E185 | Paul Young | Embracing Uncertainty: Finding Truth in the Unknowing - Part 1
     We are excited to welcome back one of our favorites - Paul Young (author of The Shack) for part one of a two-episode conversation, while also sharing updates on Immanuel Approach for Life Level 1 and 2 cohorts and a Wheaton College research team studying the model's efficacy. Paul reflects on the necessity of "unknowing" as humility and openness, contrasting intellectual belief with whole-person trust and relational knowing. The discussion explores trauma and religious performance as obstacles to embodying God's goodness, emphasizing awareness of an always-present union/non-separation with God rather than earning it. Paul critiques fear-based theology and transactional faith, reframes Hebrews 11's "substance" as Jesus, and offers a practical way to interrupt panic and future-tripping by asking, "What do I know is true right now?" 00:35 Training Cohorts Update 01:15 Research Study Spotlight 01:30 Introducing Paul Young 02:21 Cloud of Unknowing 02:46 Letting Go of Certainty 05:06 Trust Beyond Head Knowledge 12:09 Union Versus Awareness 13:44 Unconditional Father Love 20:06 Trauma Shapes Theology 23:24 Gods Character Questioned 25:45 Knowing Versus Believing 31:32 Removing Barriers to Love 31:55 Untangling Dark Religion 33:44 Grief Without Losing Trust 35:33 Separation Distorts Faith 36:59 Hospital Story Faith Shame 41:31 Hebrews 11 Jesus Substance 45:03 Union Mystics And Indwelling 50:08 Eden God Never Turns Away 53:17 Agency Submission Not Control 55:04 Fear Love And Inner Work 58:41 Present Tense Stops Panic 01:00:11 Closing Thanks And Outro
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    1 時間 1 分
  • E184 | Dr. Bob Schuchts on Healing the Whole Person, Spiritual Formation, and Bridging Catholic–Protestant Divides

    E184 | Dr. Bob Schuchts on Healing the Whole Person, Spiritual Formation, and Bridging Catholic–Protestant Divides
    2026/03/24

    Episode 184: Dr. Bob Schuchts on Healing the Whole Person, Spiritual Formation, and Bridging Catholic–Protestant Divides

    On Episode 184 of the Face to Face Podcast, we welcome Dr. Bob Schuchts, founder of the John Paul II Healing Center, to discuss healing ministry from a Catholic perspective and its overlap with the Immanuel Approach. Dr. Schuchts shares his background as a longtime therapist, a pivotal spiritual encounter that led him to study many prayer modalities, and his current work offering healing and training conferences that emphasize safety, surrender to the Holy Spirit, abiding, discerning inner movements, addressing barriers, and practicing prayer ministry.

    The conversation explores healing as an ongoing encounter with God's love and truth that brings wholeness and communion, the link between healing prayer and spiritual formation, the "seven deadly wounds," and how sacraments and interdenominational bridge-building relate to unity and integrity in the body of Christ.

    00:29 Episode and Course Updates

    01:11 Meet Dr Bob Schuchts

    03:13 Bob's Healing Journey

    07:15 Training and Conferences

    11:59 Healing and Formation

    15:50 Seven Deadly Wounds

    22:19 Catholic and Protestant Bridges

    24:50 Baptism and Salvation

    26:10 Confession and Forgiveness

    27:09 Eucharist and Real Presence

    27:42 Confirmation Marriage Orders

    29:14 Anointing and Healing

    29:50 Sacraments Heal Roots

    30:44 Bridging Denominations

    35:05 Unity and Communion Boundaries

    39:49 Integrity and Marriage Analogy

    42:29 Healing Grace and Cooperation

    44:00 Resources and Closing Thanks
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    48 分
  • E183 | Untangling Love: A Journey with Wayne Jacobsen

    E183 | Untangling Love: A Journey with Wayne Jacobsen
    2026/03/03

    Wayne Jacobson on Experiencing God's Love, Presence, and Freedom Beyond Performance | Face to Face Podcast Ep. 183

    In this episode of the Face to Face Podcast, we interview author and former pastor Wayne Jacobson about moving from a transactional, performance-based faith to an experiential life rooted in God's affection, presence, and fullness. Wayne shares his background, ministry disillusionment, repeated experiences of betrayal, and how God's presence slowly meets people in pain and trauma.

    He explains how a curative (not punitive) view of the atonement reshaped his view of the Father, argues that transformation comes through relational engagement with God rather than information alone, and critiques Christianity as a sin- or shame-management system. He discusses community as a gift cultivated through hospitality and friendship, points listeners to his book He Loves Me and his websites, and closes by praying for listeners to relax into the "unforced rhythms of grace."

    00:26 Meet Wayne Jacobson

    01:08 Level One Invitation

    02:07 Trauma Course Preview

    03:15 Why This Interview Matters

    04:57 Wayne's Journey Begins

    07:30 Betrayal and Presence

    09:41 From Earning to Love

    16:18 Atonement Reframed

    20:16 Engagement Over Information

    24:30 Belonging Before Behaving

    28:00 Affection Presence Fullness

    29:12 Rethinking Sin and Shame

    30:29 Sin Management Trap

    32:02 Righteousness as Justice

    33:26 Relational Justice Through Love

    35:49 God Inside Our Failures

    37:08 Lifting the Legalism Veil

    40:11 Unforced Rhythms of Grace

    46:17 Engagement Over Doctrine

    51:08 Fear of Hell and Salvation Now

    53:25 Finding Real Community

    58:26 Resources and Final Blessing

    01:01:29 Closing Reflections and Outro
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    1 時間 3 分
  • E182 | Brian Zhand | Christian Nationalism, the Kingdom of Jesus, and a More Beautiful Christianity

    E182 | Brian Zhand | Christian Nationalism, the Kingdom of Jesus, and a More Beautiful Christianity
    2026/02/18
    Brian Zahnd on Christian Nationalism, the Kingdom of Jesus, and a More Beautiful Christianity | Face to Face Podcast Ep. 182 In episode 182 of the podcast, Melinda interviews pastor, author, and theologian Brian Zahnd (Word of Life Church, St. Joseph, Missouri), while co-host Cathy is absent due to losing her voice and shares updates on Immanuel Institute trainings and the standalone Understanding Trauma Course. Zahnd recounts leading one congregation for 44 years, the church's early rapid growth, and a major theological recalibration that moved them toward the Christian tradition and away from politicized rezligion—costing them about 1,500 people between roughly 2004–2014—followed by healing on a 40-day Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in 2016. The conversation contrasts the kingdom of Jesus with Christian nationalism, critiques reducing "Christian" to an adjective serving political agendas, and emphasizes that discipleship requires allegiance to Christ over nation while maintaining a church culture marked by kindness amid political differences. Zahnd centers his theology on "God is like Jesus," argues Jesus reveals God as Savior rather than saving us from God, commends the historic creeds as generous guardrails, and discusses leaning into the "beautiful" as cruciform Christianity, along with his books and an upcoming release, The Unseen Realm (May 19).

    02:08 Meet Brian Zahnd: Pastor, Author, Pilgrim

    04:05 44 Years at One Church: Calling, Team Leadership & Generations

    07:56 A Midlife Faith Shift: From Mega-Growth to Recalibrating Christianity

    10:48 Critiquing America, Losing 1500 People & Finding Healing on the Camino

    13:39 Kingdom of Jesus vs. Christian Nationalism: Where Allegiance Belongs

    19:29 America as Nation, Empire, and "Religion" + The Discipleship Challenge

    24:37 'Christian Nation' Myths, Founding Fathers & Why You Can't Baptize a Country

    27:33 Global Perspective: Sweden, Trump, Team-Sport Politics & Choosing Love

    33:52 Creating a Kind Church Culture Across Political Differences

    35:42 Seeing God Through Jesus (Not Culture or Politics)

    37:14 John's Prologue: Why Jesus Is the Clearest Revelation of God

    40:35 Undoing the 'Angry God' Imagination: Jesus Doesn't Save Us From God

    43:44 Creeds, Control, and the 'Heretic' Label: Keeping Christianity Generous

    47:04 Making Room for Mystery: Truth, Goodness, and the Power of Beauty

    51:43 Cruciform Beauty in Practice: Open Hands, Leading Without Coercion

    55:20 Staying With the Church: Family, Calling, and Local Influence

    57:21 Books, New Release, and Reclaiming a Non-Escapist Heaven

    01:02:40 What Christ Can Bless + The 'Christian' Label + A Final Blessing

    https://brianzahnd.com/
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    1 時間 9 分
  • E181 | Inside the Man Cave: The Heartsmith's Journey with Jason Twombly

    E181 | Inside the Man Cave: The Heartsmith's Journey with Jason Twombly
    2026/02/03

    Welcome to another inspiring episode of the Face to Face Podcast. In episode 181, we are honored to introduce Jason Twombly, also known as the Heartsmith. Jason is a spiritual development coach working primarily with men to transform their pain into power, hurt into healing, and wounds into wisdom. Dive deep into discussions about emotional maturity, trauma processing, and the journey of healing with God. Discover how Jason's personal journey and professional guidance are helping men reconnect with their true selves and cultivate meaningful relationships. Join us for an exploration of vulnerability, emotional safety, and authentic living.

    00:36 How to Get Involved with the Immanuel Institute 02:33 Introducing Jason Twombly: The Heartsmith 04:14 Jason's Journey and Work with Men 07:13 The Importance of Emotional Health for Men 10:19 Jason's Personal Transformation 13:29 Challenges and Breakthroughs in Emotional Healing 21:25 The Second Half of Life: Unlearning and Surrender 23:51 A Message for Men: Recognizing the Need for Help 25:12 Helping Men Rediscover Passion and Purpose 25:57 Transforming Pain into Power 27:29 The Importance of Vulnerability and Safe Spaces 28:10 Grief and Healing: A Personal Journey 31:51 The Role of Self-Leadership and Emotional Sovereignty 33:56 The Continuous Journey of Healing 35:22 The Power of Community and Relationships 42:40 The Abyss of the Heart: A Deeper Dive 43:38 Training Men for Emotional Competence 47:02 Encouraging Men to Seek Healing 49:03 Conclusion and Call to Action

    Resources Mentioned:

    Immanuel Institute: Immanuelinstitute.com

    Jason Twombly: jasontwombly.com; The Heartsmith Coach on Substack; Book: Jesus Comforts - A Devotional from Heartache to Healing

    Contact & More Info: Face to Face Network: facetofacenetwork.org

    Don't forget to leave a five-star review and subscribe for more empowering episodes!

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    51 分