Being Human with Steve Cuss

In this episode of Being Human, Steve and Lisa Cuss explore how politics, social media, and the stories we tell ourselves shape who we become. Pastor and political analyst Ryan Burge explains how social media amplifies political extremes, distorts public discourse, and increasingly allows partisanship to shape religious identity. Jessie Cruickshank and Julia Schmaltz, co-authors of Becoming Good News, unpack how internalized narratives, legalism, perfectionism, and the Christian “Übermensch” ideal—the pressure to become a superhuman believer—can hinder spiritual growth. Steve and Lisa use these conversations to offer a path toward self-awareness, grace, presence, and embracing weakness as essential to genuine faith and transformation.

Original Episodes:

Being Human: How Memory, Identity, and Story Shape Discipleship with Jessie Cruickshank & Julia Schmaltz

Being Human: How Politics Hijacked the Pulpit with Ryan Burge

Ryan Burge’s The Vanishing Church: How the Hollowing Out of Moderate Congregations Is Hurting Democracy, Faith, and Us

Jessie Cruickshank & Julia Schmaltz’s Becoming Good News: Reimagining Discipleship Through Identity, Story, and Science

Nietzsche’s concept of the Übermensch

More from Ryan Burge:

Ryan’s Graphs about Religion

Ryan on X (formerly Twitter)

More from Jessie Cruickshank and Julia Schmaltz:

Jessie Cruickshank’s Ordinary Discipleship podcast

Julia Schmaltz’s Sermons

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Steve Cuss welcomes physician Eric Shoemaker to explore the intersection of physical health, neuroscience, and spiritual fitness. Eric explains how injury and pain recovery mirror emotional and spiritual healing, and breaks down the difference between the body's "threat" and "challenge" responses, showing how faith can reshape our nervous system's reactions. Steve and Eric discuss whole-body discipleship, identity in Christ, and practical micro-habits to help rewire the brain toward trust over fear.

Episode Resources:

Eric’s article The Neurobiology of Victory: How the physical reality of performance reveals the spiritual power of faith

Dan Allender’s Leading with a Limp: Take Full Advantage of Your Most Powerful Weakness

Scripture Referenced:

Genesis 32:22-32 (ESV)

More from Eric Shoemaker:

Eric Shoemaker’s Substack: The Divine Design Lab

Follow Eric on instagram

Sign up for Steve’s Newsletter & Podcast Reminders

Capable Life Newsletter

Get the Assets & Liabilities pdf and the Life Giving List

Join Steve at an Upcoming Intensive

Capable Life Intensives

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Being Human, host Steve Cuss is joined by pastor and Harvard-trained brain scientist Jessie Cruickshank and first-time guest Julia Schmaltz to explore whether changing our internal narratives can enable transformation. Jessie and Julia discuss their co-authored book, Becoming Good News, and examine spiritual growth and discipleship through the lenses of theology, neuroscience, and personal experience. They challenge unrealistic “superhuman” expectations in church culture, advocate for grace-based discipleship, and emphasize that spiritual maturity means becoming more fully who God created us to be—joyful, childlike, and close to Jesus.

Episode Resources:

Jessie Cruickshank & Julia Schmaltz’s Becoming Good News: Reimagining Discipleship Through Identity, Story, and Science

Jessie Cruickshank’s Ordinary Discipleship: How God Wires Us for the Adventure of Transformation

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Nobel lecture: The Quest for Peace and Justice

Nietzsche’s concept of the Übermensch

Jessie Cruickshank’s previous appearance on Being Human: Episode 171

Scripture Referenced:

2 Corinthians 3 (ESV)

Psalm 139 (ESV)

More from:

Jessie Cruickshank’s Ordinary Discipleship podcast

Julia Schmaltz’s Sermons

Sign up for Steve’s Newsletter & Podcast Reminders

Capable Life Newsletter

Get the Assets & Liabilities pdf and the Life Giving List

Join Steve at an Upcoming Intensive

Capable Life Intensives

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Being Human, host Steve Cuss speaks with political scientist and pastor Ryan Burge about his book The Vanishing Church. They explore how American Christianity has become increasingly radicalized by political partisanship, the role of social media algorithms in amplifying extreme voices, and the disappearance of moderate congregations. Burge discusses how partisanship now shapes religious identity rather than the reverse, the impact of COVID had on churches, and how the church has become a "hospital for the healthy."

Episode Resources:

Ryan Burge’s The Vanishing Church: How the Hollowing Out of Moderate Congregations Is Hurting Democracy, Faith, and Us

Michael Wear’s CT review of Ryan’s work on the “big church sort”

Pew research: How the Pandemic Has Affected Attendance at U.S. Religious Services

A Look at The Donatist controversy

Who was Count Zinzendorf?

Scripture Referenced:

1 John 1:5 (ESV)

Matthew 20:16; Luke 13:30; Mark 10:31 (ESV)

Mark 2:17 (ESV)

More from Ryan Burge:

Ryan’s Graphs about Religion

Ryan on X (formerly Twitter)

Sign up for Steve’s Newsletter & Podcast Reminders

Capable Life Newsletter

Get the Assets & Liabilities pdf and the Life Giving List

Join Steve at an Upcoming Intensive

Capable Life Intensives

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special travelogue episode of Being Human, host Steve Cuss records from Tinos, Greece, where he discovered a profound Orthodox Christian pilgrimage tradition. Pilgrims crawl a half-mile uphill to a famous church, seeking healing. Steve reflects on desperation, hope, and faith across traditions, he draws on MLK's words: "If you can't walk, crawl—but keep moving forward." He invites listeners to consider their own pace and bring their whole selves to God.

Episode Resources:

Learn about Christian Missionary Fellowship International

Read about the church of Our Lady of Tinos, Greece

History of Our Lady of Tinos (Panagia Evangelistria)

More about Fred Craddock

Scripture Referenced:

Revelation 21:5 (ESV)

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

Sign up for Steve’s Newsletter & Podcast Reminders

Capable Life Newsletter

Get the Assets & Liabilities pdf and the Life Giving List

Join Steve at an Upcoming Intensive

Capable Life Intensives

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices