Episodes

  • In Pursuit of Integration

    In Pursuit of Integration
    Feb 17 2025
    What does it mean to live a fully integrated life in Christ? Lisa and Steve Cuss return to do a deeper dive into some of the profound themes that have emerged in recent episodes of Being Human. They reflect on what it means to be bewildered by God, as Zach Meerkreebs experienced during the Asbury Outpouring. They unpack Kathleen Smith’s definition of differentiation and Eugene Cho’s challenge to focus on one global need while championing others in their callings. The conversation also delves into Steve Carter’s reflections on grief and the ways loss has shaped their own journeys of faith. Tune in for a thoughtful, hope-filled conversation on living whole lives in Christ. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Glenn Packiam “Authentic Love and The Asbury Outpouring with Zach Meerkreebs” “How to Be ‘True to You’ with Kathleen Smith” “Eugene Cho’s Guide to Mercy Over Burnout” “Revisiting ‘Grieve, Breathe, Receive’ with Steve Carter” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    25 mins
  • Revisiting ‘Grieve, Breathe, Receive’ with Steve Carter

    Revisiting ‘Grieve, Breathe, Receive’ with Steve Carter
    Feb 10 2025
    “Did you have integrity today?” That’s the question that Steve Carter—author, podcaster, and former lead teaching pastor of Willow Creek Community Church—pictured his son asking him when allegations of sexual harassment against Bill Hybels emerged. Steve Carter shares how he has dealt with being misunderstood when his highest values were wielded against him. He talks about the power of the Resurrection and shares what propelled him to write Grieve, Breathe, Receive—a memoir on grief and healing. Listen in for a rich discussion on relationships, reactivity, and remembrance. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Luke: Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching by Fred B. Craddock Steve Carter Craft & Character with Steve Carter Grieve, Breathe, Receive: Finding a Faith Strong Enough to Hold Us by Steve Carter The Thing Beneath the Thing: What’s Hidden Inside (and What God Helps Us Do About It) by Steve Carter Willow Creek Community Church “Managing Leadership Anxiety: Yours and Theirs” “Cadet Prayer” Annie F. Downs Ira Glass Camino de Santiago “What Is a Verbatim?” Compassion International “Welcoming Practice” The Worst James Harden Flops Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    40 mins
  • Eugene Cho’s Guide to Mercy Over Burnout

    Eugene Cho’s Guide to Mercy Over Burnout
    Feb 3 2025
    Feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world? Steve Cuss and Eugene Cho, president of Bread for the World, offer wisdom for Christians who want to pursue justice without burning out. Eugene and Steve discuss moving from a savior complex to faithful discipleship, engaging politics with compassion, and using our gifts to fight hunger and inequality. Tune in for a powerful conversation on justice, mercy, and making a lasting impact. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Eugene Cho Bread for the World One Day’s Wages International Justice Mission A21 Compassion International World Vision “Pastors Share Top Reasons They’ve Considered Quitting Ministry in the Past Year” “HIRR Releases New Report on Increasing Clergy Discontentment” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    49 mins
  • How to Be ‘True to You’ with Kathleen Smith

    How to Be ‘True to You’ with Kathleen Smith
    Jan 27 2025
    Where does your energy go? That’s the question therapist and author Kathleen Smith ponders with Steve Cuss as they discuss anxiety, people-pleasing, and playfulness. Their conversation covers the way people turn to relationships for comfort and the importance of recognizing our finite nature as humans. They talk about systems theory and how it shapes Smith’s therapy practice. Smith and Cuss discuss the ups and downs of gossip, the power of intergenerational connections, and the intention it takes to shift from overfunctioning to resting in God. Resources mentioned in this episode: Kathleen Smith True to You: A Therapist’s Guide to Stop Pleasing Others and Start Being Yourself by Kathleen Smith Everything Isn’t Terrible: Conquer Your Insecurities, Interrupt Your Anxiety, and Finally Calm Down by Kathleen Smith The Anxious Overachiever Bowen Family Systems Theory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    32 mins
  • Authentic Love and The Asbury Outpouring with Zach Meerkreebs

    Authentic Love and The Asbury Outpouring with Zach Meerkreebs
    Jan 20 2025
    When Zach Meerkreebs finished preaching at a university chapel service February 8, 2023, he texted his wife to say he felt like his sermon hadn’t gone well at all. Four hours later, he wept into a voice memo, asking her to load up their kids and head his way as soon as possible. What we now know as The Asbury Outpouring was beginning. Meerkreebs, a pastor and author, describes what it’s like to be part of a supernatural movement that takes on a life of its own. He and Steve talk about the shame many preachers feel after giving sermons they feel went poorly and how Meerkreebs has learned to steward his emotions in those moments. They talk about the vulnerability of grief, how God has met Meerkreebs at various moments throughout his life, and their hopes for the discipleship of Generation Z. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Lower: Igniting Spiritual Awakening Through Radical Humility by Zach Meerkreebs The Asbury Outpouring Adrenaline and Stress: The Exciting New Breakthrough That Helps You Overcome Stress Damage by Archibald Hart The Toronto Blessing Awakenings Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    41 mins
  • Four Dynamics, Three Relationships, Two Cohosts, and One New Year

    Four Dynamics, Three Relationships, Two Cohosts, and One New Year
    Jan 13 2025
    Every human has three core relationships: to themselves, to others, and to God. Within those relationships, there are four dynamics that can infect them: assumptions, reactivity, predictable recurring patterns, and attempted solutions. Listen in as Steve and Lisa Cuss start a conversation that explores these relationships and dynamics throughout 2025. The couple provides a high-level overview of each relationship and dynamic, setting the stage for upcoming episodes that will take deeper dives. They consider what the Lord’s Prayer and the Book of Job have to say about who we understand God and ourselves to be. Steve also gives a preview of guests soon to appear on Being Human, including Zach Meerkreebs, Kathleen Smith, and Ian Morgan Cron. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Epiphany “It’s Friday But Sunday’s Comin! - Tony Campolo” Zach Meerkreebs Ian Morgan Cron Kathleen Smith Managing Leadership Anxiety: Yours and Theirs by Steve Cuss The Expectation Gap:, The Tiny Vast Space between Our Beliefs & Our Experience of God by Steve Cuss Capable Life Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    34 mins
  • Hosted by God at Christmastime

    Hosted by God at Christmastime
    Dec 23 2024
    Whether our holidays are snowy or sunny—as they are for Steve Cuss as he records from Perth, Australia—the same thing is true: Christmas is a time to remember God’s nearness to us. Steve looks to the text of Luke 2, exploring Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and their quest for a place to stay. He describes the meaning behind the Greek word philoxenia (“love of the stranger”) and the Hebrew word Immanuel (“God with us”) and considers what those terms may mean for Christians today. Ultimately, Steve encourages listeners to recognize that God is the ultimate host—welcoming us with love into a forever family. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Peculiar Treasures by Frederick Buechner “Six White Boomers” ​​Philoxenia Immanuel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    15 mins
  • ‘The Office’ Transforms Anxiety Patterns into Comedy

    ‘The Office’ Transforms Anxiety Patterns into Comedy
    Dec 16 2024
    When the American version of The Office premiered on NBC in 2005, its all-star cast charged right through the fourth wall and looked the audience in the eye. The show’s unique style and cringeworthy stories didn’t just put a new kind of television on display—they explored anxiety in the workplace and relationships in a fresh, often embarrassment-fraught way. As Steve Cuss and his son Andrew talk about the episode “Dinner Party”—arguably one of the most “I can’t keep watching this but I also can’t look away” moments of the show—they explore how the episode reveals anxieties and idiosyncrasies in the characters. They talk about enmeshment, detachment, and differentiation. Listen and consider how art often reflects our anxieties back to us and can help us better understand them. Resources mentioned in this episode include: The Office “Dinner Party” Friedman’s Fables by Ed Friedman “Anxiety Is on the Runway in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    38 mins