Unhurried Living | Helping Christians Rest Deeper & Lead Better

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.

What does it really mean to become the best version of yourself in God?

In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Gem Fadling sits down with therapist and bestselling author Dr. Alison Cook to talk about Christian boundaries, finding your voice, healing trauma, and facing emotional pain with faith.

Dr. Alison shares a deeply personal story that shaped her book The Best of You, and we explore why so many Christian women struggle to recognize their needs, speak up in relationships, and set healthy boundaries without guilt. We also look at how Jesus modeled a strong sense of self, and why facing your pain is essential to spiritual growth and emotional healing.

If you’ve ever wondered:
Is it selfish to focus on my needs?
How do I set boundaries as a Christian?
Why is it so hard to use my voice?
How do I heal from past wounds with God?
This conversation will encourage you to rest deeper, live fuller, and lead better.
_________________________________________
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.