In this episode, Travis is joined by Leah Busboom to talk about her writing journey, creativity, and insights around creating and making things, much of which involves courage and just trying. Leah has become an award winning Indie author on Amazon for her fictional romance novels. Interestingly though, she graduated with an MS in Physics and has worked extensively in tech as she was with IBM for 22 years. She continues in an important role in the tech/operations side of America's Kids Belong in the space of foster care.

Their conversation involves looking at the fascinating dichotomy between her left brain science/technology thinking and writing fiction as an imaginative right brain exercise. Leah also finds lot of inspiration in creating characters and charting plots through ordinary moments and everyday people she comes across. She shares a touching story about being deeply impacted by a moment in real life that she uses creatively in a story.

Travis is well outside of his comfort zone and knowledge talking about romance novels so you may want to listen in just for that entertainment. Leah talks about what romance means at its core and talks about what the most popular current niche romance novels are (you'll never guess it).

Checkout Leah's books on Amazon.

Additional resources from Travis and Jess:

Guided Pace website: resources for coaching, soul care, and spiritual retreat offerings

Travis' books:

Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and Hope

Redemption's Echo: Living in the Reflection of God's Grace

You are in for a treat on this one and a bit of a wild wide with our 5 year old guest. Travis and Jess are joined by their youngest kid "Dak" for a conversation around things like: wonder, Ninja Turtles, scary moments, funny sounds, and playing outside.

Dak is full of life and imagination and has never met a stranger in his whole life. You'll hear some funny stories, unique insights and an unexpected prayer from this little guy. It's a strong reminder how much kids are a gift to us all and that their joy, wonder, and child like faith are things that tend to dim in us as we age. But these traits don't have to be lost and leaning into our kids' worlds and seeing the world again through their eyes more regularly is just the medicine most of us need.

Additional resources from Travis and Jess:

Guided Pace website: resources for coaching, soul care, and spiritual retreat offerings

Travis' books:

Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and Hope

Redemption's Echo: Living in the Reflection of God's Grace

In this episode, Jess is joined by her mom Julie Dotson to talk about her story and journey of navigating suffering and abuse as a child. Despite this, Julie embarked courageously to find healing and has really seen God's goodness and nearness throughout her life. Waking up to her belovedness as a deeply loved child of God is a big theme she talks about.

Julie also talks about ways she's learned to put God first and how she's cultivating the habit of communing in his presence in ordinary moments in the everyday. She is actively involved in ministry, spiritual direction, and has a long history of helping others heal from all kinds of troubles whether physical, emotional, or spiritual.

She has trained in cranial sacral therapy, art therapy, and now partners with people on their spiritual journey on a soul level.

Julie shares how much she's been impacted by the writings of Henri Nouwen and Dallas Willard. Today Julie walks with others she mentors and helps them on their journeys of finding wholeness and healing.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Books:

Soul Custody: Choosing to Care for the One and Only You

Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God

Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World

Additional resources from Travis and Jess:

Guided Pace website: resources for coaching, soul care, and spiritual retreat offerings

Travis' books:

Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and Hope

In this episode, Travis is joined by his father-in-law Jim Dotson to talk about his love of bugs and seeing God in nature. Jim has a deep love of nature and still at age 71 studies it with childlike curiosity. He is an entomologist (insect expert) and worked for many years for Bayer's crop science and pest control departments. He talks about his journey of studying bugs professionally and seeing God's divine handiwork in the complexity of their designs. As the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins once said, "The world is charged with the grandeur of God."

Jim shares about his top three "coolest bugs" in the world and why that is. He shares about his hobby of beekeeping and what that all entails. He also shares about becoming a lay pastor in his retirement years and how he continues his journey of learning and discovery in things he's learning in the Bible.

If you love nature and exploring and discovering new things in nature, you'll really enjoy this episode.

In this episode, Jess, a trauma-informed resilience coach and a living testament to overcoming mind-body syndrome and chronic pain patterns shares her experiences in the world of chronic pain and its psycho-somatic nature. Travis shares a funny story about his “pet wheel.”

Jess provides answers to the most pressing questions surrounding chronic pain and mind-body syndrome. From the impact of stress on our bodies to the common personality traits that contribute to chronic pain, offers valuable insights and statistics to help listeners gain a deeper understanding of this complex condition. She first learned of this research from Dr. John Sarno in his work at NYU as a back specialist.

She also explores the role of self-awareness in managing chronic pain and discusses the mind-body connection and its relevance to healing. With practical tools like the STOP Tool and the Compass Tool, along with the PACE model for resilience and healing, Jess equips listeners with strategies to navigate their pain journey.

Through personal anecdotes and stories of individuals who have found relief from chronic pain, she offers hope and encouragement to those seeking an integrated approach to healing. Tune in to this podcast to gain a deeper understanding of chronic pain, the mind-body connection, and the path to resilience when life and pain overwhelms you.

10 daily reminders for healing from Mind Body Syndrome: adapted from Dr. John Sarno’s book “Healing Back Pain”

1. The pain is due to Mind-Body Syndrome, (TMS) not to a structural abnormality.
2. The direct reason for the pain is mild oxygen deprivation and changes in my body due to stress.
3. Mind Body Syndrome (TMS) is a harmless condition caused by repressed emotions.
4. Pain exists to distract my attention from my emotions.
5. Since the body is healthy and normal, there is nothing to fear.
6. Physical activity is not dangerous. It is important to move normally and with out fear.
7. Do not be concerned or intimidated by the pain.
8. Shift attention from felt pain to emotional issues.
9. Aim to be in control, not controlled by the subconscious mind.
10. Think psychologically, not just physically.

Things you want to avoid- 5 Fs that make chronic pain worse:

1. Avoid Fear: Recognize and acknowledge any fear surrounding the pain, but don't let it control your actions. Use resources for fear more than pain.

2. Shift Focus: Shift your focus away from the pain and onto positive and enjoyable activities.

3. Avoid Fixing: Avoid trying to fix or solve the pain through excessive medical interventions or treatments. Don’t avoid movement.

4. Let go of Frustration: Practice patience and avoid frustration when progress seems slow.

5. Avoid Fighting the pain or becoming overly resistant to it.

Chronic pain is not just a physical phenomenon; it's deeply intertwined with our emotions, experiences, and coping mechanisms.



Additional resources from Travis and Jess:

Guided Pace website: resources for coaching, soul care, and spiritual retreat offerings

Travis' books:

Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and Hope

In this episode, Danny Smith joins Travis and Jess to talk about a really common experience so many of us face--chronic pain. Danny shares his personal experiences and story around suffering from debilitating chronic back pain for years. He tried everything to help his back find relief and was at the point of total despair and desperation when he heard about an intriguing book written by a physician named Dr. John Sarno. Sarno was a pioneering researcher in the area of TMS and worked extensively to study the mind/body connection to chronic pain. Observing that stress, anxiety, anger, and personality wiring can have significant impacts in the way the nervous system transmits pain.

Danny talks about the relief he found soon after reading Sarno's book and is excited to share his story as well as some of the principles he's learned that continue to help him be mostly pain free. Jess also has had a long history of battling chronic pain and also shares some really helpful tools and resources.

If you have questions or want to talk with Danny email him at

wasperjaws@gmail.com

Follow Danny's band on Instagram: @wasperjaws

Check out the previous episode he was on (#6, "Stories, Songwriting, and Sparks of Creativity").

**Disclaimer: this episode is for educational purposes only. We are not medical professionals and if someone has pain they should be under the care of a medical provider to make sure they don’t have a more critical condition needing treatment. We hope that these stories and resources might help you find some tools to help with your pain.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

John Sarno's book--Healing Back Pain: The Mind Body Connection

2020 interview with John Sarno

Curable resource

Additional resources from Travis and Jess:

Guided Pace website: resources for coaching, soul care, and spiritual retreat offerings

Travis' books:

Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and Hope

Redemption's Echo: Living in the Reflection of God's Grace

In this episode, Travis and Jess are joined by Sarah and Jared McCrory to talk about everything from soul care to seeking the easy yoke of Jesus to discovering new purpose and taking courageous risks of faith.

They tell relatable stories of wrestling with the trap of a faith identity rooted in performance for God instead of resting in our belovedness as children of God. They also share stories about their journey from being burned out missionaries (in over their heads in Pakistan) to finding health, wholeness, and new purpose in their everyday now.

They both have lots to say around soul care and cultivating new practices and rhythms that lead to rest and renewal. They also talk about having the courage to start new things and take risks and what this looks like in their marriage.

Sarah has a MA in Counseling and she and Jared launched Sanctuary Counseling and Wellness less than a year ago in Montgomery, Alabama. Jared and Sarah lead "Soul Care Saturdays" at a beautiful place of land near where they live to help facilitate connection with God through contemplation and using soul care practices in a beautiful setting.

Additional resources from Travis and Jess:

Guided Pace website: resources for coaching, soul care, and spiritual retreat offerings

Travis' books:

Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and Hope

Redemption's Echo: Living in the Reflection of God's Grace

In this episode, Travis and Jess are joined by pastor and ministry leader Rusty McKie to talk about his upcoming book releasing July 16th, pre-order here: The Art of Stability: How Staying Present Changes Everything

Available on Amazon (Digital only)

Rusty is an author, pastor, trauma informed coach, and spiritual director. He's a contributor to the Gospel Coalition and founder of Steadfast Ministries where he helps leaders survive and thrive in ministry. Rusty authored the book Sabbatical, and he is also the director of men’s discipleship at his church in Central Florida and hosts The Art of Stability Podcast.

Rusty's book is really a helpful guide to staying present to our lives even in the chaos and grounding ourselves deeply in Christ. This book answers the question, "What are the practical implications of your union with Christ?" He shows us how better knowing yourself, reorienting, and coming home to yourself leads to a deeper sense of being present with God and others.

Our conversation also steers around the topics of contemplative Christian practices, understanding soul care better, and knowing better how trauma impacts our stories. He also unpacks the ways in which we get lost in the storm, the desert, and face dark nights of the soul. His message is a one of coming home to Jesus.

This is an episode filled with encouraging reminders of the truth of God and the truth of our belovedness. You don't want to miss this conversation!

Steadfast Ministries

Rusty's writing for The Gospel Coalition

Additional resources from Travis and Jess:

Guided Pace website: resources for coaching, soul care, and spiritual retreat offerings

Travis' books:

Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and Hope

Redemption's Echo: Living in the Reflection of God's Grace