On this episode of Restoring the Soul, we’re joined by Ericka Anderson, author of Freely Sober: Rethinking Alcohol Through the Lens of Faith. Together, Michael and Ericka open up a thoughtful and grace-filled conversation about the complexities of alcohol use among Christians and the personal journey of overcoming dependence.

Ericka Anderson shares candidly about her own struggles with alcohol, the internal battles that come with trying to moderate or quit drinking, and the lived realities of seeking help within faith communities—where often the only solutions offered are extreme or stigmatizing. Drawing from her experience, research, and journalism background, she explores why so many people, especially women, feel pressure around drinking and why traditional labels like “alcoholic” can do more harm than good.

This episode dives into how self-medication, shame, and self-deception can keep us trapped, and why community, curiosity, and honest reflection—rooted in faith—are key to true freedom. Whether you’re questioning your own relationship with alcohol or supporting a loved one, this conversation offers hope, practical next steps, and a reminder that you’re not alone.

Support the show

ENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:
- Follow us on YouTube
- Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter
- Follow Michael on Twitter
- Email us at [email protected] 

Thanks for listening!

Welcome to another episode of Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick. In this conversation, Michael sits down with Mark Batterson, the celebrated pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C., and multi-time New York Times bestselling author. Together, they dive deep into the inspiration and lessons behind Mark’s latest book, "Gradually Then Suddenly: How to Dream Bigger, Decide Better, and Leave a Lasting Legacy."

Drawing from three decades of ministry, Mark Batterson shares stories of setbacks, perseverance, and the long, often unseen journey toward meaningful transformation. The episode explores the power of slow growth in a world obsessed with quick fixes, the value of legacy and "cathedral thinking," and the importance of staying humble and hungry over the long haul.

With candid reflections, practical wisdom, and a few memorable one-liners, this episode offers rich encouragement for anyone seeking to influence others, live with deep conviction, and play the long game of faith and leadership. So grab a cup of coffee and join us for a heartfelt discussion on dreaming, deciding, and leaving a legacy that lasts.

Mark Batterson serves as the Lead Visionary of National Community Church (NCC) in Washington, DC. NCC also owns and operates Ebenezers Coffeehouse, The Miracle Theatre, the DC Dream Center, the Capital Turnaround, and Culture House as gathering places for the community and funding for Kingdom causes. Mark also serves as Lead Visionary for The Dream Collective, which equips and supports dreamers who long for revival in the church, reformation in the kingdom, and renaissance in culture.

Mark holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Regent University and is the author of 25 books including the New York Times bestselling The Circle Maker as well as In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, Wild Goose Chase, Double Blessing, Whisper, and, most recently, A Million Little Miracles and The Best Worst Day Ever, a children’s book he wrote with his daughter, Summer. Mark is married to Lora, and they live on Capitol Hill. They have three children: Parker, Summer (married to Austin), and Josiah.

Support the show

ENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:
- Follow us on YouTube
- Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter
- Follow Michael on Twitter
- Email us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening!

Welcome to another episode of Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick. Today, Michael is joined by author and therapist Jay Stringer for a deep and vulnerable conversation about his newest book, "Desire: The Longings Inside Us and the New Science of How We Love, Heal, and Grow." Together, they explore the civil war of desire that shapes our lives—how our deepest longings birth both our greatest joys and our most profound heartaches.

Jay Stringer shares how his personal and professional experiences led him to unpack the complexities of desire, discussing its impact beyond sexuality and touching on meaning, intimacy, growth, and purpose. The episode explores how our desires are formed, suppressed, or distorted—often by trauma, shame, and cultural influences—and why understanding these origins is crucial to transformation.

Support the show

ENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:
- Follow us on YouTube
- Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter
- Follow Michael on Twitter
- Email us at [email protected] 

Thanks for listening!

Welcome back to the Restoring the Soul podcast with Michael John Cusick. In this episode, Michael and AJ Denson dive deeper into the transformative concepts from Michael’s book, Sacred Attachment: Escaping Spiritual Exhaustion and Trusting Divine Love. Picking up where they left off, the conversation centers on the “Four S’s” of attachment—Seen, Soothed, Safe, and Secure—and explores how these elements shape our spiritual and relational lives.

Together, they reflect on the nuances of secure and insecure attachment, the power of rupture and repair in relationships, and how even well-intentioned parents and caregivers can struggle to meet these needs. Michael brings personal stories and practical insights, offering hope for healing attachment wounds, whether through new relational patterns or divine love.

The episode also tackles the complex reality that attachment styles are not fixed but evolve with our circumstances and emotional states. Through compassionate storytelling and relatable examples, the hosts unravel what it means to be “soothed”—the crucial experience of knowing someone has “got you” in moments of distress, vulnerability, and everyday life.

Support the show

ENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:
- Follow us on YouTube
- Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter
- Follow Michael on Twitter
- Email us at [email protected] 

Thanks for listening!

Welcome back to another episode of Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick. In today's conversation, Michael is joined by AJ Denson as they dive into the foundational building blocks of healthy relationships and spiritual well-being—the "Four S's" of attachment: seen, soothed, safe, and secure.

Picking up from their previous conversation on Attachment Neuroscience and the Trinity, Michael unpacks how the story of God is ultimately a story of profound attachment, beginning with the indivisible unity of the Trinity itself. The discussion explores how these four components of attachment shape not only our childhood experiences but also our spiritual lives and adult relationships.

Together, they reflect on what it means to be truly seen and delighted in, drawing parallels between the secure love a child needs and the way God knows and loves us deeply. With honest stories, cultural insights, and a grounding in Scripture, this episode offers hope for healing and restoration, even in the places where attachment may have been broken.

Support the show

ENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:
- Follow us on YouTube
- Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter
- Follow Michael on Twitter
- Email us at [email protected] 

Thanks for listening!

Welcome to another episode of Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick. Today’s conversation dives deep into the heart of spiritual growth, as AJ Denson returns to interview Michael about his award-winning book, Sacred Attachment, Escaping Spiritual Exhaustion and Trusting in Divine Love.

The episode explores Chapter 3, focusing on attachment theory and its profound connection to both psychology and the divine. Michael lays a foundation by tracing attachment back beyond neuroscience and child development, all the way to the ultimate example: the Trinity. Together, Michael and AJ unpack how the Trinity models perfect attunement and connection, and what this means for our relationship with God, others, and ourselves.

Support the show

ENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:
- Follow us on YouTube
- Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter
- Follow Michael on Twitter
- Email us at [email protected] 

Thanks for listening!

Welcome back to “Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick.” In today’s episode, Michael John Cusick and Julianne Cusick dive deep into the world of neurodiversity, focusing on the unique challenges faced by couples where one partner is neurodivergent, often navigating undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or related conditions. Drawing on both personal experience and extensive clinical work, Julianne Cusick shares valuable frameworks—including the “umbrella” of neurodiversity—and explains how overlapping diagnoses like depression, anxiety, and mood disorders often connect.

Together, Michael and Julianne tackle the realities of trauma within neurodiverse relationships, especially the emotional impact on neurotypical partners who may feel unseen or misunderstood. They unpack terms like Cassandra Syndrome and Ongoing Traumatic Relationship Syndrome, revealing why typical marriage advice sometimes falls short for these couples. You’ll also hear practical insights about the importance of attunement, how the absence of emotional mirroring can lead to lasting pain, and new paths forward—like specialized neurodiversity coaching and frameworks that finally bring clarity and hope.

Support the show

ENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:
- Follow us on YouTube
- Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter
- Follow Michael on Twitter
- Email us at [email protected] 

Thanks for listening!

Welcome back to the Restoring the Soul podcast with Michael John Cusick. In this episode, Michael sits down for a thoughtful and deeply personal conversation with his wife of nearly 35 years, Julianne Cusick. Together, they explore the emerging world of neurodiversity, focusing on neurodivergent individuals, neurodiverse couples, and the impact these differences can have on relationships.

Drawing from Julianne Cusick’s extensive work, research, and recent conference presentations, they break down commonly misunderstood terms like neurodiversity, neurodivergent, and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This conversation doesn’t just dwell on diagnosis—instead, it offers a new framework for understanding ourselves and our partners, emphasizing how assessment and awareness can bring clarity, freedom, and healing to relationships.

Support the show

ENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:
- Follow us on YouTube
- Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter
- Follow Michael on Twitter
- Email us at [email protected] 

Thanks for listening!

Welcome back to Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick. In today's episode, Michael sits down with Christine Wolf Hoover, a licensed professional counselor from Texas and author of "Soul Adventuring: Your Guide to Living with Bravery and Joy." Together, they explore the idea that our faith journey is an invitation into risk, bravery, and joy, not just a checklist of spiritual practices.

Through honest conversation and stories drawn from her clinical experience and personal life, Christine breaks down the barriers of toxic positivity, sharing how embracing vulnerability and facing the hard places in life can lead to real transformation. You'll hear practical wisdom on navigating trauma, setting boundaries, and improving emotional health, along with fresh perspectives on classic ideas like "doing the work," regulating your brain, and cultivating joy.

Support the show

ENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:
- Follow us on YouTube
- Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter
- Follow Michael on Twitter
- Email us at [email protected] 

Thanks for listening!

Welcome back to the Restoring the Soul podcast with Michael John Cusick. In this episode, Michael is joined by two longtime friends and fellow journeyers, Justin and Aaron, who share their transformative experiences at the Restoring the Soul Men’s Intensive Weekend.

Together, the trio dives into what makes this weekend so different from the average men’s retreat. From the healing power of anonymity—where first names replace job titles and last names—to the profound brotherhood that develops among men seeking freedom from shame, brokenness, and the barriers that keep them from intimacy. Justin and Aaron reflect on arriving desperate for change, confronting their fears, and discovering a safe space to be truly themselves. Both men describe the event as life-changing, recounting how it ushered in lasting transformation not only for themselves but for hundreds of others.

If you’ve ever wondered what it means to encounter deep healing and genuine, spiritual safety among brothers—and why these men keep returning to serve others year after year—this episode offers an honest glimpse into the heart of the Men’s Intensive Weekend. 

For more information or to register, visit Restoring the Soul Men's Weekend

Support the show

ENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:
- Follow us on YouTube
- Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter
- Follow Michael on Twitter
- Email us at [email protected] 

Thanks for listening!

Welcome to another episode of "Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick." Today, Michael welcomes back his friend, author and spiritual leader Alan Fadling, to dive into themes from Alan’s book, "A Non-Anxious Life." Together, they explore what it means to live with peace in a world gripped by anxiety, unpacking Alan’s personal journey from being "a master of anxiety" to learning to cultivate peace.

Throughout the conversation, Alan Fadling shares how his upbringing, family dynamics, and spiritual formation shaped his experience of anxiety, illuminating the thin line between caring and worrying. The discussion touches on practical ways to practice the presence of God, the unique role that virtues like humility and gentleness play in displacing anxiety, and the centrality of embodiment—experiencing peace not just spiritually, but in our bodies and everyday lives.

Listeners will find hope in the idea that anxiety doesn’t need to be eradicated, but can become a catalyst for experiencing God’s presence and peace more fully. As always, the episode closes with a heartfelt prayer, inviting us into a life marked not by frantic striving, but by the gentleness and trust that come from walking with the Prince of Peace.

Support the show

ENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:
- Follow us on YouTube
- Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter
- Follow Michael on Twitter
- Email us at [email protected] 

Thanks for listening!