Deep Spirituality

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.

Deep Spirituality is a religion podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 247 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts Deep Spirituality, a religion show with 247 episodes published.

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  Episode #122

  Gen Z Expert: Why Your Identity Isn’t About Being Liked | Dr. Tanita Maddox

  Aug 30, 202655 min

  If you've ever wondered whether Gen Z still wants anything to do with God, this conversation is for you. Dr. Tanita Maddox, Gen Z expert and the National Director for Generational Impact at Young Life, has spent 26 years on the front lines of Gen Z ministry, and what she taught me about talking to Gen Z about God completely reframed how I see this generation — and it's the most hopeful conversation I've had in a long time. We dig into why relationships — not statistics, not sermons, not slick programs — are still the doorway into faith for young people. Tanita shares the three things Gen Z says makes them actually feel listened to, why so many of them trust a stranger on TikTok more than the adults in their own home, and the surprising reason AI is becoming a competing spiritual authority in their lives. We also talk honestly about why being comfortable with being uncomfortable might be the most important skill we can give our kids — and ourselves. This one is for parents wondering how to reach their teenager, for pastors wondering why Gen Z church attendance doesn't always translate into real faith, and for anyone who's ever felt rejected while trying to love someone well. There is so much hope found in this conversation, and I think you're going to walk away encouraged, equipped, and ready to show up differently in the lives of the young people God has placed around you. TANITA'S LINKS: ​Website — https://tanitamaddox.com/ ​Book — https://a.co/d/0btS5MXa CHAPTERS: ​00:00 - Meet Dr. Tanita Maddox & Her Heart for Gen Z ​08:14 - Why Relationships Open Every Door to Faith ​20:06 - Trust Lives in People, Not Institutions ​26:19 - Answering the Questions They're Actually Asking ​30:53 - How to Truly Listen to Your Kids ​37:08 - Is AI Becoming a Spiritual Guide? ​45:30 - Getting Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable ​51:08 - The Power of Just Showing Up SCRIPTURES: ​1 Corinthians 9:22 NASB95 ​Psalm 22:30 NLT ​Psalm 71:18 NIV ​Acts 13:36 NIV ​Exodus 33:11 TLB ​2 Timothy 3:10 NIV

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  Episode #121

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

  Jul 19, 202652 min

  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.org American Bible Society → https://www.americanbible.org YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanBibleSociety SCRIPTURES SHARED: Isaiah 55:10-11 NIV John 10:10 NIV Hebrews 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

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  Episode #120

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

  Jun 29, 202640 min

  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 - Trailer 00:51 - ADHD Is Not an Attention Problem 04:12 - The #1 Mistake in Every ADHD Household 08:38 - "Parental Accommodation" Is Making It Worse 13:01 - Why Your ADHD Kid Ignores Lectures 15:56 - Why Individual Therapy Alone Doesn't Work 25:42 - Stop Making ADHD Their Identity 28:56 - How to Build Real Confidence (Not Reassurance) 36:04 - Scaffolding: Teaching Kids to Do It Themselves

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  Episode #119

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

  Jun 29, 20266 min

  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 Frontier 00:37 - Welcome to The Spiritual Frontier 01:03 - Why We Made This Easier to Access 01:46 - Faith Means Facing the Impossible 02:18 - The Vision That Changes Everything 02:39 - Experts, Psychology & No Gatekeeping 04:34 - The ADHD Episode That Changes Everything

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  Episode #118

  Spiritual Lessons on Resilience From Two Elite Athletes

  Feb 4, 20261h 5m

  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 NASB 1 Timothy 4:8 NIV Matthew 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

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