Asking Why

Episode 119: Andy Coats | From Ministry to Writing

In this episode, host Clint Davis interviews author and entrepreneur Andy Coates. They discuss Andy's journey from full-time ministry to writing books and helping businesses. Andy shares about his various book series, including children's books on facing fears and books on entrepreneurship and money management. They also talk about the importance of supporting local resources and the impact of community connections. The conversation highlights the value of expanding our circles and learning from different perspectives.

Instagram: @theandycoats

Book Signing Event: https://allevents.in/bossier%20city/meet-the-authors-a-million-words-book-signing-celebration/200026261842618

Andy's Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Andy-Coats/author/B0BHR4CXLY?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Episode 118: Jeremy Sutton | Physical Therapy and Mental Health

In this episode, host Clint Davis interviews Jeremy Sutton, a physical therapist and Christian counselor. They discuss Jeremy's journey in the field of physical therapy, his approach to holistic care, and his unique practice of providing physical therapy in patients' homes. They also touch on the importance of treating patients as whole individuals and the value of serving and caring for others. The conversation highlights the need for a more integrated approach to healthcare and the benefits of personalized, one-on-one care. Authenticity and integration of one's beliefs and actions are key in building trust and connecting with others. The purpose of all individuals, regardless of their profession, is to be a light and model Christ in their daily lives. The fulfillment of helping others and witnessing their healing and growth is a powerful motivator. We are all part of the body of Christ and have a role to play in sharing the love of God with those around us. The stories of the prodigal son, the lost coin, and the lost sheep remind us of the irrational and unconditional love and grace of God.

 

Episode 117 | Matt Branch | Healing from Porn Addiction

In this episode, Matt Branch shares his personal journey of recovery from pornography addiction. The conversation explores the complexity of addiction and the struggle with lust and pornography. It highlights the early exposure to explicit material and the impact it has on individuals. The importance of empathy and understanding addiction is emphasized, along with the impact of addiction on relationships. The conversation also differentiates between pornography addiction and sexual addiction. The role of group therapy in the recovery process is discussed, as well as the ongoing journey of recovery and the understanding of sin and God's love. This conversation explores the journey of recovery from addiction and the importance of faith in the process. The main theme is the goal of making Christ more and ourselves less, striving to be more like Christ every day. The conversation also emphasizes the need to let go of perfectionism and the pressure to be perfect in our walk with Christ. The three circles exercise is discussed as a tool for identifying triggers and creating boundaries. The importance of vulnerability and transparency in the church is highlighted, as well as the need for a culture of support and acceptance. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the cost of following Christ and the value of sharing testimonies for freedom and healing.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Trigger Warning
01:37 Matt's Story and Journey to Recovery
06:15 The Complexity of Overcoming Addiction
10:21 Early Exposure to Pornography
13:29 Empathy and Understanding Addiction
20:07 Differentiating Pornography Addiction and Sexual Addiction
22:21 The Importance of Group Therapy
25:12 The Journey of Recovery and Relapses
27:39 Understanding Sin and God's Love
28:38 The Goal: Making Christ More, Ourselves Less
29:36 Striving to Be More Like Christ Every Day
30:04 Embracing Imperfection and Letting Go of Pressure
30:30 Different Stories of Recovery
31:28 The Three Circles Exercise
31:51 Shifting Boundaries and Reducing Triggers
32:19 Continual Growth and Adjusting Circles
33:17 Aligning Inside and Outside Self
33:47 The Importance of Congruence
34:17 Making Surgical Changes in Recovery
35:16 Identifying Individual Trees in the Forest
35:45 Letting Go of Deficiencies and Finding Worth in God
36:37 The Addiction Cycle and Emotional Triggers
37:04 Recognizing Slow-Burning Triggers
37:34 The Importance of Being Aware of Surroundings
39:03 Knowing vs. Believing in God's Love
39:32 Putting Things on the Altar and Drawing Closer to God
41:37 Being Human and Vulnerable in the Church
44:29 The Language and Support of Therapy
45:49 The Importance of Vulnerability and Transparency
48:06 Creating a Culture of Vulnerability in the Church
50:04 The Gospel and the Works of Faith
51:04 Living Out the Love of Christ in Action
52:30 Putting Everything on the Altar for God
53:01 Identifying Idols and Surrendering to God
54:00 The Cost of Following Christ
55:27 The Value of Connection and Community
56:25 Sharing Testimonies for Freedom and Healing

Episode 116: Clint Davis | Handling Toxic Stress

In this episode, Clint Davis discusses the topics of vicarious trauma, burnout, and compassion fatigue. He explains the differences between these three concepts and emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing them. Clint also introduces the concept of the window of tolerance and provides practical techniques for building a healthy window of tolerance. He encourages listeners to examine their beliefs about suffering and offers guidance on how to regulate the nervous system. Overall, the episode aims to provide support and encouragement for individuals who may be experiencing the effects of compassion fatigue and burnout.

Takeaways

Vicarious trauma, burnout, and compassion fatigue are distinct concepts that can impact individuals in helping professions.
Recognizing and addressing these issues is crucial for maintaining mental and emotional well-being. 
Building a healthy window of tolerance can help individuals better cope with difficult situations and regulate their nervous systems.
Examining beliefs about suffering and practicing grounding techniques can contribute to overall resilience and well-being.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
02:17 Vicarious Trauma
03:46 Burnout
07:04 Compassion Fatigue
09:26 Window of Tolerance
14:50 Building a Window of Tolerance
19:00 Beliefs and Suffering
22:45 Practical Techniques for Nervous System Regulation
23:20 Conclusion and Encouragement

Episode 115 | Mandy Dimarzo | Benefits of Excercise for Mental Health

Summary

In this episode, host Clint Davis interviews Mandy DiMarzo, a trainer and athlete, about her journey in sports and overcoming an eating disorder. They discuss the importance of changing the narrative around strength and athleticism, the impact of body image and body shaming, and the therapeutic benefits of activities like jiu-jitsu. Mandy shares her personal experiences with failure and the lessons she has learned along the way. They also emphasize the importance of self-worth and identity, and the need to focus on personal growth rather than external validation. The conversation explores themes of belief in human potential, celebrating failure, acceptance and growth, authenticity and influence, avoiding comparison, the power of authenticity, bringing faith and mental health together, and accessible workouts for everyone.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
00:43 Mandy's Background and Journey
03:28 Changing the Narrative of Strength and Athletics
04:54 The Tension Between Body Image and Body Shaming
07:21 The Impact of Sports on Mental Health
09:06 The Therapeutic Benefits of Jiu-Jitsu
13:36 Learning from Mistakes and Failure
18:19 Finding the Sweet Spot in Exercise and Life
20:26 The Destructive Nature of Eating Disorders
25:14 Shifting the Focus from External Validation
28:33 Embracing Mistakes and Growth
32:00 The Importance of Self-Worth and Identity
34:15 Learning from Past Struggles
37:26 Embracing Failure and Course Correction
39:08 Wisdom and Growth at Different Stages of Life
40:05 Belief in Human Potential
41:09 Celebrating Failure
42:53 Acceptance and Growth
45:06 Authenticity and Influence
50:28 Avoiding Comparison
54:11 The Power of Authenticity
55:30 Bringing Faith and Mental Health Together
56:05 Accessible Workouts for Everyone

 

 

Mandy's Info:

Website: https://mandydimarzo.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burnbymandy/

Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandydimarzo/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/burnbymandy

 

 

Episode 114: Travis Goodman | The Consequences of Divorce

This week Clint talks with Travis Goodman. Travis is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Mind-Body Coach.  He has been practicing over the past 9 years in both a hospital and private practice setting.  He is also the founder of the Integrated Man Project which consists of a podcast and coaching program.  He has further expertise, training, and certification in Attachment-Focused EMDR, Focusing-Oriented Trainer (FOT), Certified Felt Sense Polyvagal Model (FSPM), Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).

He has been married for 13 years to his amazing wife, Anna, and
resides in Southern California with their family.  They have two boys
and a girl: Shepherd (6), Eli (4), and Iva (2).  Travis is passionate
about continuing to grow as a father, husband, friend, and therapist.
Life in the Goodman family usually consists of lots of music (vinyl),
lots of playing on the floor and in the backyard, cooking, exploring
the outdoors, wrestling and tickling matches, and making up funny
songs together.

Also links for me:
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/travisgoodman
Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/integrated-man-project/id1569718711?i=1000639169741
IG - https://www.instagram.com/integratedmanproject/

Episode 113: Dr Pamela King | From Surviving to Thriving

This week Clint talks with Pamela Ebstyne King, Ph.D.  Dr. King has worked with the Thrive Center for Human Development since its inception in 2011. In 2021, she was named executive director of the Thrive Center and continues to serve as the Peter L. Benson Professor of Applied Developmental Science in Fuller’s School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy.

Her primary academic interests are applied research at the intersection of human thriving and spiritual development. She is passionate about understanding what individual strengths and environments enable humans to thrive and become all God created them to be. She holds particular interest in understanding the role of faith, spirituality, religion, virtues in this process.

Dr. King’s work combines theology, empirical research, and community engagement to further understand what contexts and settings enable people to thrive. She has conducted research funded by Biologos Foundation and John Templeton Foundation, among others.

 

Website: https://thethrivecenter.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/drpamking

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drpamking/

Podcast: https://thethrivecenter.org/podcast/

 

Episode 112: Derek Dunn | Countering Narcissism in the Church

This week Clint speaks with Derek Dunn.  Derek is pastor, preacher and church planter. He and his wife, Nicole, have 3 children and live in the Dallas / Fort Worth area. Derek has served in various church roles, most recently as campus pastor at one the largest churches in the US. He’s currently planting a new church in Fort Worth, TX, which is launching services in the Fall of 2024.

 

Instagram: dereksdunn / tovcitychurch

Facebook: thederekdunn

twitter: dereksdunn

linktree: linktr.ee/tovcity

Episode 111: Britney Green | Moving Roadblocks

This week Clint talks with Britney Green.  Britney has been a prosecuting attorney since 2008. As a prosecutor at the Caddo District Attorney's Office, Britney has focuses her efforts on the crisis of domestic violence. Currently, she serves as the Chief of Domestic Violence in the Special Victims Unit of her office. In that role, she handles felony cases involving all manner of family violence, including domestic abuse homicides. Britney supervises a team of investigators and victim advocates who share the dual mission of keeping victims safe and holding offenders accountable. 

Episode 110: Clint Davis | Made for More - Christmas Addition

During this time of Christmas and Advent Clint thought it was important to remind us of the true reason for the season and to center us on our purpose and goal for being “little Christs” or anointed ones here on earth. We hope this encourages you and emboldens you to be courageous in the way you love counter cultural in this world!