Truth Trauma Theology

Kyle Spears

My podcast is about the intersect between Trauma and Theology. Contemporary discussions have to involve a balance of biblical truth and current research studies. Topics will expand upon the content discussed on the Youtube channel.

  1. 5d ago

    Hallway Miracle: Opening a Jewish Heart to Jesus with Cara Shine

    In The Hallway Miracle, Cara shares a story of personal transformation shaped by early antisemitic bullying and a lifelong wariness of Christians. Years later, she finds herself working at an elementary school as the only Jewish staff member among Christian coworkers, uncertain what genuine faith truly looks like. Set during the fall of 2002, as sniper attacks bring fear into everyday life across the Washington, D.C., area, the memoir unfolds against a backdrop of heightened anxiety and uncertainty. When a student is killed at a nearby school, the fragile sense of safety disappears. Blending personal reflection with historical tension, The Hallway Miracle explores anxiety, identity, and faith. Through a small but unexpected moment involving a desk calendar devotional, a handful of M&M’s, and a powerful prayer, Cara encounters a moment of grace that reverberates far beyond the hallway where it begins. Written with honesty and sensitivity, this book will resonate with readers who carry complicated questions about faith and long to see what belief looks like when it is lived out with quiet authenticity. Cara Shine is a retired award-winning elementary school teacher with a passion for encouragement, anxiety management, and “bridge building” between the Old and New Testament through her Jewish background. When she isn’t busy with her work as a lay pastor and ministry coordinator, Cara and her husband, Jeff, enjoy trying to beat their daughter, Emma, and her husband, Matthew, at Pickleball whenever they have a chance. They rarely succeed, but darned if they don’t keep trying! Her faith story, The Hallway Miracle, will reignite your compassion for those around you and remind you that even in the darkest hours, God can turn ashes into something beautiful.

    1h 9m
  2. Jun 12

    Where Are You God? Unmasking Your Pain & Uncovering His Presence with Dominique Young

    If you’re silently suffering under the weight of depression, anxiety, shame, grief, and spiritual doubt, Dominique Young helps you discover the nearness of a God who does not shy away from your brokenness. In this safe space, you are invited to take off your mask, confront your hidden pain, and be seen by God for who you truly are―beloved. Far from a quick fix or feel-good message, God, Where Are You? is a vulnerable, faith-filled journey that uses heartfelt storytelling and practical tools to help you wrestle with real emotions and deep questions―like how to deal with failure, how to find your true identity, and more. Practical tools include: Tracing God Devotionals: Explore Bible verses at the end of each chapter and learn how to recognize God’s character and presence even in hard places.Reflection Questions: Through self-examination, you can heal deeply and receive clarity, healing, and personal revelation.Prayers: Each chapter includes heartfelt prayers that bridge raw emotion and spiritual intimacy, modeling honest and hopeful dialogue with God.God, Where Are You? is not just a book to be read―it’s a healing journey to be walked. With authenticity, compassion, and biblical grounding, Dominique is your traveling companion to uncover the life-giving truth: even in the silence, God is near. Dominique Young is the founder of Faith Mamas Inc. (Faith Family Worldwide), a community of more than 6,000 Christian women and a private app serving over 1,700 believers. She helps people break free from fear through Scripture and has been featured on the Don’t Mom Alone podcast and The Refreshed Moms Podcast. Dominique holds a psychology degree from Hampton University and a master’s in theology from Fuller Seminary. She is also a devoted wife and a mother of four. Here is a safe space for your deepest questions and your hidden pain. Interview Outline Was there a particular moment or life experience that inspired you to write God, Where Are You? How did your own spiritual and mental health shape the stories and insights that you share in your book?You invite readers to confront grief and doubt with honest faith. What advice would you give to someone who wants to experience God’s presence as they contend with unresolved pain or unanswered prayers? You emphasize that faith and healing can coexist with suffering. Why is it important for Christians to understand that healing is often a multifaceted or lengthy process?You mention in your book that some trauma victims process grief and pain on their own because they are afraid of turning to a therapist for help. What are some common fears that prevent people from seeking out a therapist? What would you say to encourage them to be open to therapy? How can faith communities better support those who are suffering from depression and anxiety?One of your goals when writing God, Where Are You? was to help readers put on a new identity rooted in the Holy Spirit. For women who are feeling stuck in pride or self-reliance or shame or guilt about past mistakes: What first steps should they take to begin to embrace their new identity? You encourage readers to drop their “masks.” What does that mean, and what might that entail from day to day?God, Where Are You? helps readers identify lies from their pasts that have skewed their self-perception. Give us an example of a common lie related to one’s identity that individuals need to replace with God’s truth. Follow Dominique On: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dominiquenyoung/

    1h 10m
  3. Feb 20

    Holy Disturbance: Reacquainting the Church and Her People with the Gifts of Suffering with Karen Sjoblom

    How might believers get back to offering the gifts of suffering-faith, perseverance, empathy, and hope-to those living in a literal world of hurt? People used to seek support from the Church when life got hard. But instead of providing a place for people to suffer well together, many churches today focus more on big growth, how-to programs, and positive news. If we come to value comfort over depth, chasing after more safe, predictable lives, we risk diminishing our light and His hope. In Holy Disturbance, author Karen Sjoblom aims to reacquaint people of faith with the gifts of suffering by weaving historical and current-day narratives around Reverend Addison Groff's timeless prayer, "Disturb Us, O Lord." Focused on equipping and encouraging pastors, leaders, volunteers, and congregants, Sjoblom invites the Church and Her people to move toward deeper faith and community-especially within our storms. Study how and why we've drifted from being suffering servantsRead dozens of stories from congregants, leaders, and pastors about grief, recovery, hurt, and growth within the ChurchSoak in reflection questions, meaningful practices, and leadership wisdom to map a new course for your church and community-and a renewed thirst for GodSuffering engenders messier lives but richer, deeper connections...and this is what the Church was built for. Holy Disturbance is part love letter and part wake-up call to the Church and Her people-to recognize the gifts that come from our seasons of struggle, and to share our hard-won lessons and His hope with a hurting world. About Karen: An award-winning author, freelance writer, and editor, Karen Sjoblom has had a 40-year career in healthcare, science, education, high tech, and nonprofit communications, as well as decades in faith-based nonfiction. She also co founded and ran for nine years Eve‟s Daughters, a nonprofit for single moms and their kids outside of Portland, Oregon. In addition to Holy Disturbance, she‟s published Gone for Good: Lessons from a Midlife Exodus; One: Single Mothering, Full Circle from her time with Eve‟s Daughters; two parenting books with New Leaf Press as part of the Mom2Mom series; plus a patient and family handbook on living with Lou Gehrig‟s disease. She‟s also edited several books by multiple authors. She‟s passionate about matters of faith, resilience, and re-creation: studying our stories and scars, witnessing His mercy, and stepping into our missions. She lives in the Midwest, writing, teaching, and encouraging others to know, value, and share the wisdom gained from their life-journeys with a hurting world.  Follow Karen: Website: KarenSjoblom.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karen.sjoblom LinkedIn: https:/www.linkedin.com/in/karensjoblom/

    1h 9m
  4. Jan 23

    The Real Conversation Jesus Wants Us to Have? A Conversation with Regina Cates

    Regina V. Cates is an author, activist, podcaster, and founder of Romancing Your Soul, an organization that helps people develop lives of love, compassion, and purpose. Her first internationally bestselling book Lead with Your Heart: Creating a Life of Love, Compassion, and Purpose continues to be an inspiration to people who desire a more fulfilled life. Regina is followed by hundreds of thousands on social media who embrace her messages of kindness, compassion, and empathy for one another as equal members of our human family. In this conversation we discuss Regina's new book The Real Conversation Jesus Wants Us to Have: A Call to Bravery, Peace, and Love. Viewing modern Christianity from Jesus’s point of view Why are we not loving our neighbors as ourselves? What has changed? What questions can you ask to confront the judgmental attitudes alive within Christianity? How do you think Jesus would view modern Christianity? What attributes, from Jesus’s viewpoint, make great leaders great? Demonstrating why it is necessary for individuals to critique their religious and social experiences from Jesus’s viewpoint in order to truly love Christ. For individuals who are fed up with church but still love Jesus, what should they do? Where should they go? What is broken within Christianity? What are some tangible solutions to fix what is broken within Christianity? What religious, social, and political persecution have you witnessed? How does the church fail to address sexual abuse, misogyny, homophobia, corrupt politics, and religious authority? Resonating with those who have themselves fallen victim to widespread religious judgment. How can this book be a guide to those fallen victim to widespread religious judgment? Compelling Christians and Christianity to answer questions Jesus would ask of anyone who claims to love and follow Him. What do you think it would be like to have a conversation with Jesus about our modern world? What would the conversation focus on? Follow Regina: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReginaVCates/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/regina_cates_music/ Website: ReginaVCates.com

    1h 3m
  5. 09/19/2025

    Healing for the Inner Person with Jenna Riemersma

    Jenna Riemersma is a Harvard-trained speaker, therapist, and best-selling author. She is a Certified IFS Clinical Consultant, and teaching faculty for the International Institute of Trauma and Addiction Professionals, Jenna is dedicated to helping others know that "all parts are welcome." Jenna Riemersma applies the groundbreaking insights of Internal Family Systems (IFS) for anyone who feels stuck in unwanted feelings and behaviors, with a special focus on personal transformation for readers of faith. Altogether You delivers practical, life-affirming counsel from a place of deep personal faith. Riemersma understands the unique discouragement that people of faith experience when their actions do not line up with their sincere beliefs. With genuine sensitivity to tradition and biblical teachings, she helps readers understand that God is not waiting in frustration on the other side of our “pile of sins” until we “get our act together.” Rather, the God of grace is with us right here, right now in our core imago Dei—the always-accessible starting point for healing. Riemersma’s book is packed with warm, personal stories and immediately applicable insights. She guides readers through paradigm-altering understandings with helpful definitions and summaries, self-inventories, action steps, and resources. Tell us a bit about your journey towards authentic faith and becoming acquainted with the IFS model?Let’s start with giving a basic overview of the IFS model for those who are not familiar with the model.There are many folks who feel hesitant about psychological theories being incorporated into spiritual formation. Can you take a moment to explain how the “Spiritualizer” manager part of self influences how we experience authentic Christianity?Can you share more about what you mean by “move towards”?Are there any upcoming projects that you are working on?

    57 min
4.9
out of 5
87 Ratings

About

My podcast is about the intersect between Trauma and Theology. Contemporary discussions have to involve a balance of biblical truth and current research studies. Topics will expand upon the content discussed on the Youtube channel.

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