Send us Fan Mail

Most of us say we want authentic relationships, but we still find ourselves editing, performing, and managing impressions. When we hide our weakness or curate a version of ourselves that feels safer, we don’t just protect ourselves, we shrink our capacity for real connection. We’re in a series on authenticity, and we’re getting painfully practical about what it takes to be fully known with God, with others, and even with ourselves.

We walk through the Johari Window, a simple but powerful self-awareness tool built around four areas: what’s open, what’s hidden, what’s in our blind spots, and what’s still unknown. Along the way, we talk about why trust grows the “open area,” how blind spots can be embarrassing or surprisingly encouraging, and why the hidden area is often where shame, fear, and destructive patterns quietly fester. We also name the “unknown unknowns” and why prayerful self-examination matters when even the people closest to us can’t see what God can see.

Then we move into two practices that make authenticity real: self-disclosure and receiving feedback. We share why self-disclosure is risky but relationally enriching, how to choose trustworthy people, and why feedback is complicated when intention and perception don’t match. You’ll leave with concrete next steps, including questions to ask like “How do you experience me?” and a simple plan to start expanding honesty with a few trusted relationships.

If this helps you, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, share it with a friend who values real growth, and leave a review so more people can find Praxis.

Send us Fan Mail

If you’ve ever felt the pressure to look “fine” while something inside you is unraveling, you already know the cost of living split. We’re in our authenticity series, and we walk through a surprisingly practical tool learned from The Leaders Journey: the Public, Private, and Secret Self, pictured as three concentric circles that help you name what you show, what leaks out at home, and what stays hidden in the dark.

View a visual of the Public, Private, and Secret Self

We define each circle with real-life examples, from social media curation to the way stress exposes what we try to manage. We also push on a common confusion: authenticity is not the same as transparency. You can be honest without dumping every detail, and you can set wise boundaries without slipping into performance. Along the way we talk about belonging, trust, and why jumping from “secret” straight to “public” can become its own kind of mask.

We get personal about what it looks like to bring the secret self into God’s presence first, then into safe relationships one step at a time, including why leaders are especially vulnerable when they have a large public platform and almost no private support. Mac also shares how recovery and limited capacity force a new kind of honest leadership that names weakness without shame.

Listen, then try the simple practices we give at the end: map your circles, notice the gaps, and share with someone you trust. If this helps you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

Send us Fan Mail

Most of us think we’re reacting to what’s happening right now, but a huge part of our “right now” is actually our first formation talking. We sit down to unpack how early shaping moments and family patterns create a false self, the fig leaves we learn to wear to secure love, safety, control and significance. Mac also shares a brief personal update after a serious medical emergency and why this season is sharpening his focus on what is life-giving and honest.

We work through the biggest pushbacks we hear from Christians: “Isn’t this just narcissistic navel gazing?”, “Aren’t I a new creation in Christ?”, and “My childhood was great so this doesn’t apply.” Then we offer a grounded path forward that keeps the gospel at the centre: identify a shaping moment or pattern, name the message you downloaded about God, yourself and others, notice the vow you made to cope, and trace how that vow still shows up in your relationships, boundaries, conflict style, people pleasing or perfectionism.

The turning point is learning to replace bad news with good news. We talk about prayerful journaling, listening with the Holy Spirit, and letting God speak to identity first, not just behaviour. We also share real examples from our own stories, including perfectionism, overcommitting and learning to trust that emotions are not a liability but a doorway into healing and deeper connection with Jesus. If you’re searching for Christian authenticity, spiritual formation tools and practical discipleship that actually touches real life, this conversation will give you language and next steps. Subscribe, share this with a friend who feels stuck, and leave a review so more people can find the show.