Unhurried Living | Helping Christians Rest Deeper & Lead Better

Most of us have experienced teaching that gives us a lot to think about, but doesn’t necessarily change much how we live. In this conversation about spiritual formation and Christian leadership, Alan and Gem explore why transformation rarely comes through information alone. Through their years leading retreats, workshops, and the PACE leadership cohort at Unhurried Living, they have discovered that growth often happens in quieter ways. It unfolds as people learn to listen to God, reflect on their lives, and share honestly with others. In this episode, they talk about the rhythms that help learning move from the mind into the soul. These include practices like solitude and silence, offering teaching in smaller portions, creating meaningful interaction, allowing a spacious schedule, and paying attention to the dynamics within a group. If you lead retreats, facilitate small groups, serve in ministry, or simply desire a deeper life with God, this conversation offers insight into how thoughtful learning environments can support lasting spiritual growth. You may discover that the way we gather and learn together matters more than we often realize. ______________________________________ Connect with Gem on Instagram and learn more on the Unhurried Living website and her new book, Hold That Thought: Sorting Through the Voices in Our Heads Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What does it mean to become an apprentice of Jesus—not just as an individual, but as part of a community shaped by the kingdom of God? In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Alan Fadling is joined by friend and colleague Matt Fogle for a thoughtful conversation with Keas Keasler about his new IVP Academic book, Kingdom Apprenticeship: Dallas Willard’s Formational Theology and Missional Vision. Together they explore Dallas Willard’s understanding of spiritual formation, grace as both pardon and power, the church as a community of discipleship, and what it means for ordinary Christians and ministry leaders to become people who increasingly reflect the life of Christ. Whether you’re a pastor, church leader, or simply longing for deeper transformation, this conversation offers a hopeful vision for becoming apprentices of Jesus in every area of life. In this episode you’ll discover: Why spiritual formation is about more than gaining knowledge Dallas Willard’s vision for grace, discipleship, and transformation How the church becomes a “school of life” where people learn to live in God’s kingdom Why formation is both deeply personal and profoundly communal Practical encouragement for pastors and ministry leaders seeking lasting spiritual growth Connect with Alan on LinkedIn or learn more about Unhurried Living programs on their website. Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Why can two people experience the same conversation, meeting, or problem so differently? In this episode, Gem talks with Enneagram teacher, management consultant, and executive coach Joey Stabile Schewee, author of When Working Together Doesn’t Work, about what’s happening beneath our behavior and why understanding how we process the world can transform our relationships. Joey explores the Enneagram’s three Processing Centers: Doing, Feeling, and Thinking, including what she calls the “processing divide.” She also unpacks the three stances, Independent, Responsive, and Solitary, and how they influence our relationship with time, our reference point, and the ways we engage with others. Then Joey walks through all nine Enneagram types, offering a brief, accessible description of each and helpful clues for recognizing your own type. Whether you’re new to the Enneagram or have been using it for years, this conversation offers practical insight for greater self-awareness, healthier communication, and more gracious relationships at work and beyond. Connect with Joey on IG @enneagramparents ______________________________________ Connect with Gem on Instagram and learn more on the Unhurried Living website and her new book, Hold That Thought: Sorting Through the Voices in Our Heads Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Over the years, more than one person has described the ministry of Unhurried Living as prophetic. For a long time, I wasn’t quite sure what to do with that assessment. In this episode, I reflect on insights from Eugene Peterson’s The Jesus Way and an observation from recovery historian Ernest Kurtz that helped me see prophetic ministry in a new light. We often remember the dramatic moments of prophets like Elijah, Jeremiah, and John the Baptist. But what if their hidden seasons were just as important as their public ones? What if the margins, rather than the center, are where God does some of his deepest work? Together we’ll explore: Why prophets are often formed in hidden places What life on the margins can teach us about God How solitude helps us resist the assumptions of our culture Why weakness and dependence are central to spiritual formation How an unhurried life can quietly challenge our culture’s definitions of success Whether you’re leading, serving, recovering, or simply seeking a deeper life with God, this reflection offers an invitation to rediscover the living center around which all of life is meant to turn. Connect with Alan on LinkedIn or learn more about Unhurried Living programs on their website. Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Gem reflects on a childhood memory of dandelions and clover to explore a deeper question: how do we decide what is a weed and what is a flower in our lives? Gem considers how interruptions, disappointments, and detours may actually be opportunities for spiritual growth and fullness of being. If you are longing for deeper Christian spiritual formation, a more peaceful response to life’s disruptions, and a fresh perspective on what feels unwanted, this conversation will guide you toward a more spacious and grace-filled way of living. ______________________________________ Connect with Gem on Instagram and learn more on the Unhurried Living website and her new book, Hold That Thought: Sorting Through the Voices in Our Heads Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

How do leaders remain faithful, fruitful, and grounded over the long haul? In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Alan Fadling sits down with Eric Geiger, Senior Pastor of Mariners Church and author of The Rooted Leader, to explore what it means to cultivate deep roots as a leader. Drawing from the life of Nehemiah, Eric shares why leadership failures rarely happen overnight, what causes leaders to drift from their deepest convictions, and how healthy rhythms help leaders remain steady through seasons of pressure, challenge, and change. Together, Alan and Eric discuss the hidden work of leadership, the importance of tending our inner lives, and why lasting fruitfulness grows from roots that are nourished over time. Whether you lead a church, nonprofit, business, team, or family, this conversation offers wisdom for anyone seeking to lead from a place of depth rather than hurry, pressure, or performance. In this episode: Why leaders “topple” What Nehemiah teaches about leadership The connection between roots and fruit Seven rhythms that sustain leaders How to strengthen your leadership from the inside out Resources: The Rooted Leader by Eric Geiger Connect with Alan on LinkedIn or learn more about Unhurried Living programs on their website. Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode, Gem welcomes Susan Carson for a rich conversation at the intersection of contemplative spirituality, trauma healing, neuroscience, and the Christian mystical tradition. Drawing from the wisdom of Julian of Norwich and insights from interpersonal neurobiology, Susan explores how healing often happens not through striving, fixing, or formulas, but through safe connection, compassionate presence, and co-suffering love. Together they discuss what trauma really is, why the past can continue to shape our present experience, and how healing invites us back toward our true selves. Susan also explains concepts like co-regulation, the nervous system's need for safety, and why being deeply seen and lovingly witnessed can be profoundly restorative. Along the way, they explore contemplative practices of beholding, the self-emptying love of Christ, and what it means to create "noise-free, shame-free, formula-free" spaces where healing can flourish. If you've ever felt exhausted by quick fixes, discouraged by spiritual formulas, or longed for a deeper experience of God's presence in your healing journey, this conversation offers a hopeful and grace-filled vision of wholeness. In this episode you'll learn: What trauma is and how it shapes our experience of life Why safety is essential for healing and transformation The role of co-regulation in emotional and spiritual health What Julian of Norwich teaches us about God's presence Why beholding is central to contemplative healing How neuroscience and spiritual formation complement one another What it means to create noise-free, shame-free, formula-free space for others Guest: Susan Carson is the Founder and Executive Director of Roots & Branches, spiritual director, speaker, and author of A Kenotic Way of Contemplative Healing. Resources Mentioned: A Kenotic Way of Contemplative Healing by Susan Carson Julian of Norwich Stephen Porges Bonnie Badenoch ______________________________________ Connect with Gem on Instagram and learn more on the Unhurried Living website and her new book, Hold That Thought: Sorting Through the Voices in Our Heads Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What if your morning didn’t begin with hurry, but with holy attention? In this Unhurried Living favorite, Alan Fadling shares how he begins his day with God through simple, grounded rhythms that open space for presence, listening, and grace. What began years ago as a “quiet time” has matured into something more relational—a daily meeting with the living God. In this episode, Alan walks through his morning flow, including silence, Scripture, singing the psalms, prayer for others, and reading spiritual classics like The Philokalia. These practices are not about performance or pressure. They are invitations—ways of remembering God, receiving his love, and entering the day rooted in peace rather than driven by urgency. Resources mentioned: The New Coverdale Psalter(Anglican House Publishers) YouTube video aboutThe New Coverdale Psalter An Unhurried Life An Unhurried Leader Hold That Thought Whether you are building a new rhythm or rediscovering an old one, this episode offers a gentle vision for beginning your day with God as a friend. Connect with Alan on LinkedIn or learn more about Unhurried Living programs on their website. Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Gem reflects on the powerful story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22 and what it reveals about trust, surrender, and spiritual growth. What happens when the thing you long for most feels at risk? How do you trust God when disappointment threatens your peace? Through Scripture and a deeply personal story of infertility and waiting, Gem explores how faith matures when we release our deepest desires into God’s care. If you are navigating unanswered prayer, wrestling with surrender, or seeking a deeper trust in God, this episode will meet you there. ______________________________________ Connect with Gem on Instagram and learn more on the Unhurried Living website and her new book, Hold That Thought: Sorting Through the Voices in Our Heads Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What if the Holy Spirit is not distant or confusing—but closer than you think? In this replay episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Alan Fadling sits down with pastor and author Tyler Staton to explore what it means to grow in discernment and recognize God’s voice through the presence of the Holy Spirit. Drawing from Tyler’s book The Familiar Stranger, this conversation invites us beyond ideas about God into a lived, relational experience with him. Many leaders sense a gap between what Scripture describes about the Spirit’s power and what they experience in daily life. Together, Alan and Tyler gently explore how that gap can begin to close—not through striving, but through growing familiarity with God’s voice, learning to discern what is truly from him, and opening ourselves to a more vibrant, Spirit-led life. Whether you feel curious, uncertain, or quietly hungry for more, this conversation offers a hopeful path forward. Connect with Alan on LinkedIn or learn more about Unhurried Living programs on their website. Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.