Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick

“I went on a journey of seeking an entry point for the beginning of African American soul care.” - Dr. Barbara Peacock

Michael’s guest on today’s podcast is Dr. Barbara Peacock, an experienced preacher, teacher and minister of discipleship and prayer. Dr. Peacock trains in spiritual direction and soul care for ministry leaders and has a God-given call and desire to serve as spiritual coach for individuals and groups.

Her latest book ...

“My father taught me that when I am walking I should always walk like I’m going somewhere.” - Brandon Washington

Michael’s guest on today’s podcast is Pastor Brandon Washington - a church planter and the pastor of preaching and vision at The Embassy Church in Denver, Colorado. He holds a master’s degree in systematic theology from Denver Seminary.

Pastor Washington feels that, as preachers, when they observe and experience hopelessne...

“What does it look like to follow Jesus faithfully when you’re depressed?” - Diana Gruver

James Chapter 1 verses 2 through 4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” These words have comforted countless who have endu...

“The brain seems to be designed for something. And then theology says, “This is what you’re supposed to do with it.” - Dr. Jim Wilder

Our guest on today’s podcast is Dr. Jim Wilder. For decades, he has been delving into biblical scripture, spiritual formation, and brain science. These studies led to development of a unique model of spiritual and psychological maturation.

Dr. Wilder has been training leaders and counselors for over 27...

“Salvation is liberation.” - Rev. Dr. Dennis Edwards

Our guest on today’s podcast is Reverend Doctor Dennis Edwards. His name might sound familiar to you as he was a recent guest of Michael’s on an episode titled, “Turning the Tables on Injustice.” Today, he and Michael will be discussing his most recent book, “Might from the Margins”.

To summarize the conversation, here is the concluding paragraph of what Dennis wrote in a recent Ch...

“Your ego would like you to think you’re more in control than you actually are.” - Ian Morgan Cron

Ian Morgan Cron is Michael’s special guest for this episode of Restoring the Soul. Of our 149 episodes, Ian has joined us more times than any other guest.

He is a master teacher of the Enneagram, a powerful tool for understanding why we behave the way we do, and how our personalities are powerfully influenced by our motivations. Ian is ...

“If women have the same value and worth as men in the eyes of Jesus, then they need to have the same value and worth as men in our culture.” - Ruth Everhart

Rev. Ruth Everhart is Michael’s guest for this episode of Restoring the Soul.

She is an author, speaker, and Presbyterian pastor. Her writing explores the hidden ways religious belief shapes how we think about life, especially the lives of women. She is the author of three books:...

“How will we engage our body which cyclically bleeds most of our life and can
build and birth a human soul?” - Dr. Christy Bauman

Dr. Christy Bauman is Michael’s guest for this episode of Restoring the Soul.

She is a Licensed Mental Health Therapist who is committed to helping women come into their true voice. She offers meaning-making and storywork consulting. She is the author and producer of three works: Theology of the Womb, A Br...

“Sometimes to get your life back, you have to face the death of what you thought your life would look like.” - Lysa TerKeurst

Lysa TerKeurst is Michael’s guest for this episode of Restoring the Soul.

She is president of Proverbs 31 Ministries and the New York Times best-selling author of Uninvited, The Best Yes, Unglued, Made to Crave, and 16 other books.

As president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa and her team have led thousands to ...

“In spite of a hundred disadvantages, the world will always return to monogamy.
Covenantal sex remembers us.” - Carolyn Weber

On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael welcomes Carolyn Weber to the podcast.

The title of today’s podcast is Sex and the City of God and even though the word “sex” is in the title, you will find out in today’s spirited conversation, Carolyn’s book of the same name is surely and mostly about marriage―w...

“Masculine power is intended to be good when it’s wholehearted and in the service of love.” - Morgan Snyder

On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael welcomes Morgan Snyder to the podcast.

Morgan is a grateful husband of over 20 years and a proud father of a wildly creative and witty daughter and a joyful and passionate son. He serves as a strategist, entrepreneur, teacher, writer, and speaker. In 2010, he established BecomeGood...

“The invitation is participation.” - Aaron Niequist

On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael welcomes Liturgist, Writer, and Pastor Aaron Niequist. Currently living in NYC, Aaron’s career has taken him from leading worship at Mars Hill Church alongside Rob Bell and Willow Creek just outside of Chicago. He has also created A New Liturgy - a collection of modern liturgical worship recordings.

In 2018, Aaron released a book about ...

“When we see God’s heart, our own heart becomes free.” - Michael John Cusick

On this edition of Restoring the Soul, we’re featuring a talk Michael gave to Denver Seminary students titled, “Less Is More”. The essence of the message is about our need to be still and rest in what God has done for us in Christ. And that the depth of our relationship with God is going to be directly related to the depth at which you enter into your own s...

“The number one cause of leadership failure is never a skill let down. It’s isolation.” - Bill Thrall

On this edition of Restoring the Soul, we’re featuring a conversation Michael had with Bill Thrall. If you’re a leader - in any capacity in your life - you’re going to find great connection and value in this discussion.

Bill is a co-founder of Trueface, an organization committed to helping people experience authentic, trust-filled re...

“There’s something about shame you can’t heal on your own.” - Michael John Cusick

On this edition of Restoring the Soul, we’re concluding a 5-part series on the way shame fuels addiction. Longtime friend to Restoring the Soul, Peter Zaremba, joins Michael for this all-important conversation that shows that the foundation of shame is connected to the false self and the belief that you need to be something you are not. 

If this particu...

“The Enneagram takes into account that the human personality is fluid, not static.” - Ian Morgan Cron

On this episode of Restoring the Soul, we’re featuring a conversation between Michael John Cusick and Ian Morgan Cron that took place just before the release of his third book, “The Road Back to You”. They discussed Ian’s introduction to the Enneagram and how it has impacted him over the years. They also covered the crucial need of ...

“Our deepest desire is for connection.” - Michael John Cusick

What do you long for? How about thirst? And what are your desires? God has uniquely wired us for connection; it is the essence of our being. To know and be known.

Welcome to Restoring the Soul, a podcast dedicated to helping you close the gap from what you’re meant to be and what keeps you from being all that. On this edition, Michael continues a series of podcasts on how ...

“In being known, I can simply rest...and be.” - Michael John Cusick

On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael continues a 5-part series of podcasts on how shame fuels addiction. We encourage you to catch up on previous episodes that also include conversations with Michael’s colleague, Kelley Gray.

The statement Michael will address today in part 3 of the series is centered around where shame tells us we can’t get our needs met. ...

On this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael concludes his conversation with composer, arranger, producer, singer, songwriter, and musician Rob Mathes. Rob is a Grammy-nominated, Tony-nominated artist who won an Emmy award for his musical direction of the Kennedy Center Honors.

In Part 2, a few of the topics Rob and Michael discuss include: