Deep Spirituality

Deep Spirituality
  • 4.9 (219)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Biweekly

Follow our Deep Spirituality Podcast Network to meet all your spiritual podcasting needs. Join our Editor-in-Chief Russ Ewell and guests as they have candid discussions on spiritual topics ranging from faith to anxiety to vulnerability, or check out our narrative podcasts for an immersive storytelling experience of biblical stories. You could also listen to our scripture playlists to learn more about God and yourself as you go about your week. Check out our book "He's Not Who You Think He Is: Dropping Your Assumptions and Discovering God for Yourself" at https://deepspirituality.com/book.

  1. Jul 19

    How Reading the Bible Lowers Anxiety, According To Research | John Plake

    What if I told you there's hard data proving the Bible is changing lives right now — not someday, not in theory, but measurably, scientifically, today? Dr. John Plake from the American Bible Society joins me to unpack the research behind Bible engagement and mental health. Honestly, it left me smiling. Dr. Plake leads the State of the Bible study—the longest-running research on how Americans engage with Scripture—and what he's found is genuinely hopeful. People who are deeply engaged with the Bible show lower anxiety, lower traumatic stress, and higher hope than those who aren't. Harvard's Human Flourishing Study confirms it. Gen Zers, who statistically struggle the most with anxiety and depression, look completely different when they're Scripture engaged — like they've unlocked something their peers haven't found yet. We also dig into the real barrier holding people back: it's not desire, it's guidance. Millions of people want to read the Bible but don't know where to start, what translation to pick, or how to make sense of it. Dr. Plake breaks down practical first steps—from finding the right translation to using audio and video to build a consistent habit—so we can turn curiosity into a life-giving relationship with Scripture. If you've ever picked up a Bible and felt lost, this episode is your on-ramp. JOHN’S LINKS: State of the Bible → https://sotb.americanbible.orgAmerican Bible Society → https://www.americanbible.org YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanBibleSociety  SCRIPTURES SHARED: Isaiah 55:10-11 NIVJohn 10:10 NIVHebrews 4:12 NIV CHAPTERS: 00:00 — Trailer 01:03 — The Data Behind a Life-Changing Book 05:02 — Why Accessibility Matters More Than "The Right" Translation 11:00 — You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone 12:28 — Inside America's Curiosity Wave 23:24 — What the Fastest-Growing Group Can Teach Us All 40:49 — The Well-Being Breakthrough: Hope, Resilience, and Science 47:41 — Rebuilding Real Community, One Honest Step at a Time

  2. Jun 29

    The Empowered Parent: Raising a Child With ADHD With Hope and Direction | Ryan Wexelblatt

    The best podcasts don’t just inform you. They hold up a mirror. That’s what happened the first time I listened to Ryan Wexelblatt, founder of ADHD Dude, licensed social worker, and one of the clearest voices on parenting I’ve ever encountered. I was ten minutes in before I started laughing at myself. Not because he was funny. Because he was right. I knew I had to get him on the Spiritual Frontier. Here’s the reality: 1 in 9 American children, 7 million kids, are carrying an ADHD diagnosis. Behind that number are millions of parents who love their children fiercely and were never handed a map. That’s not a failure. That’s simply where we begin. Here’s a number that stopped me cold: 40% of parents want to be the fun parent. Only 7% want to be seen as strict. But Ryan helped me see what I’d been missing. We’ve confused strictness with structure, and they are not the same thing. Strictness controls a child. Structure sets one free. For a child with ADHD, structure isn’t a cage. It’s the scaffolding they climb to become who they’re capable of being. Ryan doesn’t avoid the difficult. He explains and inspires. That’s his gift. He trades guesswork for what the evidence actually shows: how to read your child’s big emotions instead of fearing them, how to stop rescuing and start equipping, how to raise a child who learns they are capable rather than helpless. This is one of the most enjoyable, inspiring, and detailed episodes I’ve ever produced. Maybe the best yet. Not because it will make you feel you’ve gotten it wrong, but because you’ll walk away believing you can get it right. Don’t miss it. RYAN WEXELBLATT: Ryan Wexelblatt, LCSW, is a licensed social worker, ADHD specialist, and founder of ADHD Dude. An expert in behavior management and executive functioning, Ryan combines clinical expertise with his personal experience to help families replace daily chaos with structural discipline, resilience, and real-world independence. RYAN'S LINKS: ​YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@ADHDDude​Podcast → https://open.spotify.com/show/7xATyVhNZU3abIejNIggvD?si=f06f32163dc04dcb​Website → https://www.adhddude.com/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE SPIRITUAL FRONTIER: ​Deep Spirituality → https://deepspirituality.com/the-spiritual-frontier/​Substack → https://spiritualfrontier.substack.com/ CHAPTERS: ​00:00 - Trailer00:51 - ADHD Is Not an Attention Problem04:12 - The #1 Mistake in Every ADHD Household08:38 - "Parental Accommodation" Is Making It Worse13:01 - Why Your ADHD Kid Ignores Lectures15:56 - Why Individual Therapy Alone Doesn't Work25:42 - Stop Making ADHD Their Identity28:56 - How to Build Real Confidence (Not Reassurance)36:04 - Scaffolding: Teaching Kids to Do It Themselves

    The Empowered Parent: Raising a Child With ADHD With Hope and Direction | Ryan Wexelblatt

  3. Jun 29

    The Spiritual Frontier: Faith, Courage & the Life You Were Made to Live

    There are places in life most of us are afraid to go. The unknown. The unpredictable. The dreams we’ve quietly stopped believing in. The versions of ourselves we’ve glimpsed but never fully become. These are spiritual struggles. And they’re exactly where the most important growth happens. That’s The Spiritual Frontier. It’s not a place on a map. It’s the courageous decision to stop letting fear write the story of our lives and to start trusting that God has something extraordinary waiting on the other side of our hesitation. Proverbs 29:18 says it plainly: “Without vision, people perish.” The Spiritual Frontier exists to give us that vision back. And it’s for everyone. Whether you’re deeply rooted in faith or just beginning to wonder if there’s something more, you belong here. The Spiritual Frontier includes essays and podcast episodes that will go deep into faith and God—that’s the heartbeat of everything I do. But it won’t stop there. We’ll bring in researchers, psychiatrists, and business leaders. We’ll talk about developing the faith to conquer the things that are real and complex in our lives—like grief, leadership, disabilities, and more. God is the source of all wisdom and understanding, and he wants to fully equip us to be the best we can be in every area of our lives. I’m learning as I go. I’m overcoming my own fears in real time. And I’m inviting you to come with me. Watch the video above for my full launch message, where I share exactly what this new chapter is, where it’s headed, and what’s coming in the very first episode. (Spoiler: it might be the best one I’ve ever made.) The frontier is waiting. Let’s go. SUBSCRIBE TO THE SPIRITUAL FRONTIER: On Deep Spirituality → deepspirituality.com/subscribe On Substack → spiritualfrontier.org CHAPTERS: 00:00 - The Courage to Cross the Frontier00:37 - Welcome to The Spiritual Frontier01:03 - Why We Made This Easier to Access01:46 - Faith Means Facing the Impossible02:18 - The Vision That Changes Everything02:39 - Experts, Psychology & No Gatekeeping04:34 - The ADHD Episode That Changes Everything

    The Spiritual Frontier: Faith, Courage & the Life You Were Made to Live

  4. Feb 4

    Spiritual Lessons on Resilience From Two Elite Athletes

    Is your independence actually your biggest weakness? In football, a player left on an "island" is a liability. In life, a man who isolates himself is dangerous—to himself and everyone around him. In this episode of the Deep Spirituality Podcast, we sit down with Jeremy Ross (Former Cal & NFL Receiver) and BJ Jones (Cal Football Linebacker) to decode the "internal game" of elite athletes. We move beyond the clichés of "grinding" to explore how the high-pressure crucible of sports accelerates character growth and why you cannot win the battles of life without a team. If you are tired of fighting your battles alone or struggling to maintain focus when things get hard, this conversation provides lessons on resilience and building internal strength that lasts. About Our Guests: Jeremy Ross: Former Cal and NFL receiver (Packers, Lions, Patriots) who now mentors athletes on faith, resilience, and identity through '7 Mind and Body.' BJ Jones: Bishop O'Dowd alum and Cal Linebacker who champions neurodiversity and empowers athletes through inclusive E-Football programs. Check out Jeremy's website! → 7mindandbody.com Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NASB1 Timothy 4:8 NIVMatthew 7:24-27 TLB ► SUBSCRIBE: https://youtube.com/deepspirituality/?sub_confirmation=1 Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 01:55 - Run with purpose 04:00 - How you got started in sports 10:02 - The importance of playing outside 13:47 - How physical training reveals your heart 18:10 - Building culture in family and football 22:57 - How sports can help young people build character 29:04 - Sports builds friendships 44:24 - What churches can learn from sports 53:25 - Managing ADHD 01:00:30 - 7 Mind and Body

  5. Jan 21

    Journeying Together: Finding Spiritual Community in a Lonely World

    In this episode of Deep Spirituality, Russ Ewell chats with Matt McChlery about why picking up a book is actually a "rebellion" for your soul in a world of endless scrolling. After interviewing nearly 100 authors, Matt has seen firsthand how the power of story helps us connect with God far better than a dry lecture ever could. They get real about authenticity, sharing that we need to drop the "perfect Christian" mask and be honest about our messy journeys. Matt even opens up about his own battle with cancer, explaining that when we share our "storms," it creates "light through the cracks" for everyone else. To wrap things up, they talk about the magic of music—how it gets into the gaps of our hearts to take us straight to God—and why every community should celebrate its own unique "sound". Check out Matt! → https://www.mattmcchlery.com/Matt's podcast, Christian Book Blurb → https://open.spotify.com/show/32gv1Rl6HFBneRMygfjzM2Matt's books → https://www.amazon.com/stores/Matt-McChlery/author/B09L4YQGCL Scriptures: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV2 Corinthians 1:8-9 NIVPhilippians 1:30 NLT1 Corinthians 12:13 TLBJohn 13:35 BSBJohn 17:23 NLT1 John 5:2 TPT ► SUBSCRIBE: https://youtube.com/deepspirituality/?sub_confirmation=1 Chapters: 00:00 - Meet Matt McChlery 02:30 - The power of pages 08:11 - The power of story when we read 16:24 - Promo: Why we're talking more about AI than God 17:32 - Insights from 98 Christian author interviews 22:39 - Struggle is normal, ditch the perfect performance 30:46 - Why we should journey together in faith 37:43 - Promo: The Kingdom of Change 38:54 - Why music is part of our spiritual journey 42:33 - What every worship leader should know 50:12 - Find and follow Matt McChlery

  6. Jan 6

    From Fragile to Firm: The Spiritual Mechanics of Building Resilience

    In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Zack and Becky Mariscal return to the Deep Spirituality Podcast to discuss the "spiritual mechanics" of resilience. Their story reveals how internal strength is forged through profound suffering, moving from a place of human fragility to firm faith. This episode will help you shift your perspective on current troubles—not by ignoring them, but by learning how to fix your gaze on the unseen. Whether you are facing a health crisis or navigating the "ups and downs" of life, you will walk away with a meaning-making framework for resilience and the inspiration to turn toward God instead of shutting down. ► SUBSCRIBE: ⁠https://youtube.com/deepspirituality/?sub_confirmation=1⁠ Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NIVEcclesiastes 9:11 NIV2 Corinthians 4:7-9 NLT2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLTRomans 15:4 NASBPsalm 46:1-3 NASB95Psalm 77:19 NLT Chapters: 00:00 - Optimistic resilience 01:56 - How does your knowledge of God increase your resilience? 08:16 - How breaking up made us stronger. 21:44 - What young men can do. 26:09 - How do you stay joyful in suffering? 32:30 - Ad: Kingdom of Prayer 33:24 - Take initiative in relationships 40:05 - How what we go through can help others 50:51 - Wrap up

  7. 12/22/2025

    Before & After Cancer: How Our Relationship with God Transformed | Zack & Becky Mariscal

    What happens when your "perfect" life is upended by a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis at just 17 years old? In our latest episode, Zack and Becky Mariscal join the podcast to share their incredible journey of faith, wrestling with God, and finding a love that endures the unthinkable. Whether you are walking through your own "wilderness" or supporting someone who is, this story is a powerful testament to the God who heals the brokenhearted and carries us through the storm. 🎧 Listen now to find hope in the struggle. Scriptures: Genesis 32:24,28 NIVLuke 7:47 VoiceIsaiah 6:5 NIVTitus 2:12 NIVActs 2:38 NIV2 Corinthians 1:8-11 NIVExodus 3:10-12 NASB95Psalm 56:8 NLT Psalm 126:5-6 NLTPsalm 147:3 NLT ► SUBSCRIBE: https://youtube.com/deepspirituality/?sub_confirmation=1 Chapters: 00:00 - Zack and Becky Mariscal 01:52 - Wrestling with God 04:58 - When they became Christians 08:29 - How do you handle the struggles of being a Christian as a teenager 14:14 - What young men can learn from others 19:03 - Getting sick and starting to date 27:03 - How God moved through the struggle 31:29 - The shock and trials of being diagnosed with cancer 46:01 - The scriptures reveal how the spirit brings us through difficulty 52:04 - Why God wants us to just show up sometimes 56:36 - God brings us through our sufferings to our destiny **** #DeepSpirituality #FaithJourney #CancerSurvivor #RelationshipGoals #GodIsReal #HopeInTheStruggle #PodcastRecommendation

  8. 12/16/2025

    Desperate Prayers | Scripture Playlists

    Desperation is a feeling that no one really likes, but our willingness to admit that we are desperate is the key to experiencing God’s supernatural power. Desperation opens our hearts and makes room for God to move in ways that go far beyond our wildest dreams. In this scripture playlist, we’ll go from denial to desperation so that God can turn the impossible into the inevitable. Scriptures referenced: Psalm 34:6 MSGJames 4:2 ERVMark 11:25 ERVPsalm 66:18-20 NIVEphesians 6:13-18 MSGPsalm 5:1-3 TPTPsalm 77:2 AMPPsalm 86:1 TPTPsalm 107:6 CEBJeremiah 29:11-13 TPTIsaiah 55:6 TPTMatthew 6:5-6 MSGRevelation 3:20 ERV (00:00) Introduction and Welcome (01:31) Four reasons we don’t pray desperate prayers (04:06) After clearing our heart, we can pray (05:26) Powerful prayers unlock a powerful future (06:58) Desperate prayers start with simple steps (08:30) Outro and credits

    Desperate Prayers | Scripture Playlists
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4.9
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About

Follow our Deep Spirituality Podcast Network to meet all your spiritual podcasting needs. Join our Editor-in-Chief Russ Ewell and guests as they have candid discussions on spiritual topics ranging from faith to anxiety to vulnerability, or check out our narrative podcasts for an immersive storytelling experience of biblical stories. You could also listen to our scripture playlists to learn more about God and yourself as you go about your week. Check out our book "He's Not Who You Think He Is: Dropping Your Assumptions and Discovering God for Yourself" at https://deepspirituality.com/book.

Information

  • Creator
    Deep Spirituality
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    250
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Deep Spirituality
  • Show Website
    Deep Spirituality

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