Practicing Hope Podcast

The Colossian Forum
  • 5.0 (15)
  • Christianity

Practicing Hope is a podcast for Christians looking for honest conversations about the brokenness and beauty in the world. Hosted by your friends at The Colossian Forum, you'll learn about reconciliation, transformation, and new ways to practice hope.

  1. 6h ago

    When "Keeping the Peace" is Hurting Your Team

    In churches, workplaces, and ministry teams, it's easy to mistake being nice for making peace. We avoid difficult conversations, keep things pleasant, and hope the tension will eventually disappear. But what happens when you still have to work alongside someone and the relationship isn't okay? In this episode of our Beholding series, Tanner Smith, Chase Rashad Stancle, and Sarah Johnson explore the difference between keeping the peace and making peace. Through a relatable leadership scenario and honest reflections, they share Christian practices for hard conversations that help us face conflict with curiosity, take responsibility for our part, and move toward healthier relationships without pretending everything is fine. In this episode, you'll learn: Why avoiding difficult conversations can actually create more tension, even when we're trying to keep the peace How to separate what actually happened from the assumptions and stories we're telling ourselves about another person Why two things can be true at once, and how acknowledging both can help us move forward without blame or defensiveness Key Resources Mentioned Beholding Workbook — A practical guide for learning to see yourself and others through God's love, with exercises for individuals and groups. Relational Triangles Podcast Series — An earlier Practicing Hope series exploring how involving a third person in a conflict can keep us from addressing tension directly (Episode 1; Episode 2; Episode 3; Episode 4)  Feelings Wheel — A tool for identifying and naming emotions, especially when a difficult interaction leaves you feeling overwhelmed or defensive. Have a question you'd love to hear us explore on the podcast? Send us a voice memo or write to info@colossianforum.org. We'd love to hear what's on your mind, and your question may help shape a future conversation on the podcast. Join our newsletter Want more practical encouragement for navigating conflict faithfully? Subscribe to our twice-monthly newsletter by visiting colossianforum.org/newsletter. Receive stories and reflections from Christian leaders, practices for everyday peacemaking, and resources to help you grow through conflict. How are you practicing hope? Has something from this podcast or another Colossian Forum experience inspired you to try a new practice or take a different approach in a relationship? We'd love to hear what you tried and what happened. We'll be sharing selected listener stories during episode breaks throughout the Beholding series. Record a voice memo of 90 seconds or less. Start with your name, your work, and/or how you're connected to The Colossian Forum, then tell us your story. Use your phone's recording app to record, then select Share to email the audio file to info@colossianforum.org with the subject line "Practicing Hope Story." No polished script needed; just tell us in your own words.

    When "Keeping the Peace" is Hurting Your Team

  2. Oct 21

    How Do I Stay Rooted in God's Love When Relationships are Hard?

    Sometimes self-protection looks a lot like responsible leadership. We work harder, avoid difficult conversations, agree with everyone, or become defensive when someone questions us. These responses might help us feel safe in the moment, but they can also keep us from connecting with the people around us. So how do we stay rooted in God's love when anxiety takes over and our instinct is to protect ourselves? In this episode of the Beholding series, Tanner Smith, Chase Rashad Stancle, and Sarah Johnson explore the ways self-protection shows up in our leadership and relationships, even when we don't recognize it. Through personal stories and practical exercises, they discuss emotional regulation for Christian leaders and how remembering that we are loved by God can change the way we respond under pressure. In this episode, you'll learn: How to recognize self-protective behaviors that can look like responsible leadership Why remembering your own belovedness can help you see others with greater compassion, even during conflict How to practice Palms Down, Palms Up prayer to release what you're holding and receive what you need from God Key Resources Mentioned Beholding Workbook — A digital workbook with practices and reflections to help you see yourself and others through God's love. A small group bundle is also available. Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster — A book exploring spiritual disciplines, including solitude, silence, and prayer. Amy Edmondson's work on psychological safety — Research exploring whether people feel safe to speak honestly, disagree, and take interpersonal risks within teams. The Sponge Practice — A reflection from the Beholding workbook about how what we absorb shapes what comes out of us under pressure. Have a question you'd love to hear us explore on the podcast? Send us a voice memo or write to info@colossianforum.org. We'd love to hear what's on your mind, and your question may help shape a future conversation on the podcast. Join our newsletter Want more practical encouragement for navigating conflict faithfully? Subscribe to our twice-monthly newsletter by visiting colossianforum.org/newsletter. Receive stories and reflections from Christian leaders, practices for everyday peacemaking, and resources to help you grow through conflict. How are you practicing hope? Has something from this podcast or another Colossian Forum experience inspired you to try a new practice or take a different approach in a relationship? We'd love to hear what you tried and what happened. We'll be sharing selected listener stories during episode breaks throughout the Beholding series. Record a voice memo of 90 seconds or less. Start with your name, your work, and/or how you're connected to The Colossian Forum, then tell us your story. Use your phone's recording app to record, then select Share to email the audio file to info@colossianforum.org with the subject line "Practicing Hope Story." No polished script needed; just tell us in your own words.

    How Do I Stay Rooted in God's Love When Relationships are Hard?

  3. Oct 7

    Why Do I Feel Like This Relationship Has to Change Before I Can Have Peace?

    Why does being misunderstood feel so threatening, especially in the relationships that matter most? In this second episode of our Beholding series, Tanner Smith, Sarah Johnson, and Chase Rashad Stancle explore unmet expectations, the need for approval, and the pressure we put on others to secure our identity and peace. They discuss grieving the relationship you wish you had, releasing the need to change another person, and finding your worth in God's love. Through honest stories and practical suggestions, they consider how to love someone as they are, even when the relationship remains difficult. In this episode, you'll learn: How to recognize what you're asking a relationship to provide, including approval, security, or a sense of worth Why grieving unmet expectations can help you release the pressure to change another person How Scripture, supportive relationships, and shared activities can help you approach a difficult relationship with love Key Resources Mentioned Beholding digital workbook — a companion resource for the Beholding series with practices for working through difficult relationships Thomas Keating's "programs for happiness" framework — an introduction to how our needs for security, affection, and control shape our expectations and reactions in relationships Romans 8:38–39 and Isaiah 53:3 — passages discussed in connection with God's inseparable love and Jesus' familiarity with grief Find Your People by Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors — a song mentioned during the conversation about finding relationships that remind us we are known and loved Got a Person Who Triggers You at Work? — an episode of The Mode/Switch Podcast from our friend Craig Mattson. The conversation explores how naming the feelings another person brings up in us can loosen their grip and help us reconnect with what matters most. Have a question you'd love to hear us explore on the podcast? Send us a voice memo or write to info@colossianforum.org. We'd love to hear what's on your mind, and your question may help shape a future conversation on the podcast. Join our newsletter Want more practical encouragement for navigating conflict faithfully? Subscribe to our twice-monthly newsletter by visiting colossianforum.org/newsletter. Receive stories and reflections from Christian leaders, practices for everyday peacemaking, and resources to help you grow through conflict. How are you practicing hope? Has something from this podcast or another Colossian Forum experience inspired you to try a new practice or take a different approach in a relationship? We'd love to hear what you tried and what happened. We'll be sharing selected listener stories during episode breaks throughout the Beholding series. Record a voice memo of 90 seconds or less. Start with your name, your work, and/or how you're connected to The Colossian Forum, then tell us your story. Use your phone's recording app to record, then select Share to email the audio file to info@colossianforum.org with the subject line "Practicing Hope Story." No polished script needed; just tell us in your own words.

    Why Do I Feel Like This Relationship Has to Change Before I Can Have Peace?

  4. Sep 29

    Why Conflict Changes the Way We See People

    Disappointment doesn't just change how you feel about someone. Over time, it can change who you think they are. You start bracing for the familiar behavior and noticing the evidence that confirms what you already believe.  In this first episode of the Beholding series, Tanner Smith, Sarah Johnson, and Chase Rashad Stancle explore what disappointment does in our bodies, emotions, and perceptions — and why learning to notice it matters. You'll begin identifying your own "script of disappointment," separating what actually happened from the story you've built around it, and making room to see another person more fully. In this episode, you'll learn: How to recognize your "script of disappointment" and the ways it narrows what you see in another person What your body and emotions can reveal about your reactivity in difficult relationships How to separate what actually happened from the meaning you've assigned to it Key Resources Mentioned Beholding digital workbook — a companion resource for the Beholding series with practices for working through difficult relationships When Trying to Reconnect Pushes Someone Away — Here's What Helps — an article from our blog that explores the "stretch zone" and how to discern when there's enough safety and capacity to move toward a difficult relationship Got a Person Who Triggers You at Work? — an episode of The Mode/Switch Podcast from our friend Craig Mattson. The conversation explores how naming the feelings another person brings up in us can loosen their grip and help us reconnect with what matters most. Have a question you'd love to hear us explore on the podcast? Send us a voice memo or write to info@colossianforum.org. We'd love to hear what's on your mind, and your question may help shape a future conversation on the podcast. Join our newsletter Want more practical encouragement for navigating conflict faithfully? Subscribe to our twice-monthly newsletter by visiting colossianforum.org/newsletter. Get stories and reflections from Christian leaders, practical peacemaking practices, and resources to help you grow through conflict.

    Why Conflict Changes the Way We See People

  5. Aug 25

    NEW SERIES TRAILER — Introducing Beholding

    Some relationships don't get easier, even when you're committed to loving faithfully. You've tried to understand, had the conversation, prayed for change — and still find yourself caught in the same painful patterns. What does love ask of us when a relationship stays hard? In this trailer, Rev. Dr. Tanner Smith of The Colossian Forum introduces Beholding, a new series from Practicing Hope about learning to look again at a relationship that has become difficult for us to see with hope. Together, we'll explore what disappointment does to the way we see people, Christian practices for hard conversations, and how to keep loving faithfully without pretending everything is okay or assuming we can make another person change. In this series, you'll learn: How the stories we tell after repeated disappointment shape the way we see another person Why our peace can become dependent on someone else changing — and how relying on God's love can free us to relate differently Practical ways to lower defensiveness, reconnect in tense relationships, set faithful boundaries, and hold onto hope when reconciliation remains unfinished Key Resources Mentioned Beholding Workbook — A digital guide from The Colossian Forum designed to help you work through one difficult relationship step by step alongside the series Have a question you'd like to hear us explore on the podcast?  Write to info@colossianforum.org. We'd love to hear what's on your mind, and your question may help shape a future conversation on the podcast. Join our newsletter Want more practical encouragement for navigating conflict faithfully? Subscribe to our twice-monthly newsletter by visiting colossianforum.org/newsletter. Receive stories and reflections from Christian leaders, practices for everyday peacemaking, and resources to help you grow through conflict.

    NEW SERIES TRAILER — Introducing Beholding

  6. May 27

    Leading With Hope When Communities Change

    What happens after the decision is made and things still do not feel settled? In leadership, we often think the hard part is getting through the decision itself. But what happens when the decision changes the shape of the community? When people leave, relationships shift, or everyone is trying to figure out whether they still belong? In this episode, Rev. Dr. Tanner Smith, Chase Rashad Stancle, and Sarah Johnson explore what it means to lead faithfully after a major decision has already been made. Through stories from church leadership, organizational change, COVID, and their own experiences, they unpack the grief, anxiety, ambiguity, and relational tension that often emerge after seasons of discernment, and how leaders can respond with honesty and care. In this episode, you'll hear: Why good decisions can still create grief, loss, and uncertainty in a community How anxiety changes before and after a major decision, and why leaders need to pay attention to both What it looks like to bless people, process change honestly, and lead without defensiveness when a community changes shape Show Notes Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson Our Iceberg Is Melting by John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber Colossians 3:15 — "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…" What do you think of Practicing Hope? We're always looking for ways to make the podcast more meaningful, encouraging, and useful to listeners. Please take 5-10 minutes to fill out this feedback form.  If you're interested in learning more about The Colossian Forum, visit our website colossianforum.org, and follow us on social media @colossianforum.

    Leading With Hope When Communities Change

  7. May 13

    Don't Discern Alone: How to Build a Personal Board of Advisors

    What if discernment isn't something you do alone, but something that takes shape in a relationship? In this episode, Tanner Smith, Chase Rashad Stancle, and Sarah Johnson explore what it looks like to build a "personal board of advisors" — a circle of people who help you listen well, stay grounded, and move forward with clarity.  Through stories, humor, and practical wisdom, they unpack how to recognize trustworthy voices, how to engage others without outsourcing your responsibility, and how discernment shapes who you're becoming over time. In this episode, you'll hear: Why discernment requires both personal responsibility and shared wisdom The kinds of people who bring clarity to your decisions Practical ways to build and test a trusted circle of advisors in your life Show Notes: Proverbs 15:22 (theme): "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed Balcony vs. dance floor metaphor — learning to step back and see clearly Leadership on the Line by Ronald Heifetz & Marty Linsky If you're interested in learning more about The Colossian Forum, visit our website colossianforum.org, and follow us on social media @colossianforum.

    Don't Discern Alone: How to Build a Personal Board of Advisors

  8. Apr 30

    How to Lead Communal Discernment Without Losing Trust

    What do you do when a decision impacts everyone, but not everyone agrees? Making decisions on your own is hard enough. But in leadership, decisions often have consequences for an entire community. The challenge is building a process people can trust, even when they don't get their way. In this episode, Tanner Smith, Chase Rashad Stancle, and Sarah Johnson explore the real tension of communal discernment: how leaders can navigate complex decisions with clarity, honesty, and care. Through stories from church leadership, organizational life, and their own experiences, they unpack practical ways to involve people, reduce anxiety, and build trust that lasts beyond the decision itself. In this episode, you'll hear: Why clarity about roles and decision-making authority builds trust — even when people disagree How practices like "if-then thinking" and separating data gathering from decision-making reduce anxiety What it looks like to care for people after a decision — especially those who feel like they lost Show Notes Fair Process framework — honesty, transparency, and respect in decision-making "If-Then" practice — naming fears and planning responses to reduce catastrophizing Colossians 3:15 — "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…" If you're interested in learning more about The Colossian Forum, visit our website colossianforum.org, and follow us on social media @colossianforum.

    How to Lead Communal Discernment Without Losing Trust
See All (53)

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Practicing Hope is a podcast for Christians looking for honest conversations about the brokenness and beauty in the world. Hosted by your friends at The Colossian Forum, you'll learn about reconciliation, transformation, and new ways to practice hope.

Information

  • Creator
    The Colossian Forum
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    53
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Show Website
    Practicing Hope Podcast

You Might Also Like