At Sea with Justin McRoberts

Handling Change: Embracing unpredictability through the lens of the welcoming prayerPrayer and Action: Why a true prayer life leads to action, and how activism should drive us back to prayerIdentity and Memory: The myth of hyper-individuality and why our identity is held collectively—by others and by GodResources Recommended:Contemplation in a World of Action by Thomas MertonThe Active Life by Parker PalmerClosing Poem: A meditation on friendship as one of life’s most valuable treasures Links For Justin:Read Justin's SubstackOrder In The Low - NEW Book with Scott EricksonCoaching with JustinOrder In Rest - New Book of PoemsOrder Sacred StridesJustinMcRoberts.comSupport this podcastNEW Single - Let GoNEW Music - Sliver of HopeNEW Music - The Dood and The BirdThe Book - It Is What You Make itHearts and Minds Amazon Barnes and Noble

Episode Notes:Legalism vs. Values: Legalism is a rigid, unchanging posture; values evolve with evidence and relationship.Processing Group Hurt: Don’t rush past collective wounds; learn to carry them together.Contemplative Prayer: Prayer as receptivity and openness, not productivity.Caring for a Terminally Ill Friend: Let them teach you; honor their humanity without rushing to fix or control.Closing: A reading from Justin’s forthcoming book with Scott Erickson. Links For Justin:Read Justin's SubstackOrder In The Low - NEW Book with Scott EricksonCoaching with JustinOrder In Rest - New Book of PoemsOrder Sacred StridesJustinMcRoberts.comSupport this podcastNEW Single - Let GoNEW Music - Sliver of HopeNEW Music - The Dood and The BirdThe Book - It Is What You Make itHearts and Minds Amazon Barnes and Noble

Episode Notes:Fostering unity in politically split churches:Use group-based creative projects and shared reflection (like Lectio Divina).Staying motivated:You don’t have to feel motivated—learn to work without it.Breaking conflict cycles:Let go of the need to win. Signal that the relationship means more than the argument.Navigating hard conversations:Only have them with people you trust. Be honest about why it's hard.Sticking to creative/spiritual routines:Go small and consistent. Add complexity only after habits feel natural. Links For Justin:Read Justin's SubstackOrder In The Low - NEW Book with Scott EricksonCoaching with JustinOrder In Rest - New Book of PoemsOrder Sacred StridesJustinMcRoberts.comSupport this podcastNEW Single - Let GoNEW Music - Sliver of HopeNEW Music - The Dood and The BirdThe Book - It Is What You Make itHearts and Minds Amazon Barnes and Noble

Listener Question: How do I stay engaged with a broken or compromised system?Coaching Insight: The answer depends on context—but it starts with deciding if you want to engageHero’s Journey Framework: Crisis, the low point, perspective, and the invitation to re-enterTemptation of Distance: Why staying detached can feel safe but keeps us isolatedThe Cost of Return: Re-engaging means risking hurt again—but also invites growthCycle of Life: We never “arrive”—we grow through constant cycles of disappointment and resolveThe Low Show: A creative collaboration with Scott Erickson rooted in this rhythm Links For Justin:Read Justin's SubstackOrder In The Low - NEW Book with Scott EricksonCoaching with JustinOrder In Rest - New Book of PoemsOrder Sacred StridesJustinMcRoberts.comSupport this podcastNEW Single - Let GoNEW Music - Sliver of HopeNEW Music - The Dood and The BirdThe Book - It Is What You Make itHearts and Minds Amazon Barnes and Noble

Introduction: The evolution of At Sea into a listener-driven Q&A formatPublic vs. Private Religion: Addressing a critique on public fasting and faith practicesPerfectionism in Faith: How the demand for purity can lead to isolationLessons from Leadership: Reflections on pastoral life and the struggles of maintaining a communityWhy Public Faith Matters: Creating shared spaces for growth, support, and imperfectionThe Role of Imperfection: How embracing our limitations opens the door for community and transformationClosing Thoughts: Inviting people to share in faith practices without the pressure of perfection Links For Justin:Read Justin's SubstackOrder In The Low - NEW Book with Scott EricksonCoaching with JustinOrder In Rest - New Book of PoemsOrder Sacred StridesJustinMcRoberts.comSupport this podcastNEW Single - Let GoNEW Music - Sliver of HopeNEW Music - The Dood and The BirdThe Book - It Is What You Make itHearts and Minds Amazon Barnes and Noble

Introduction: The shift in the podcast’s format and answering listener questionsADHD & Spirituality: Exploring how neurodivergence intersects with faith and spiritual formationReframing ADHD: Why ADHD isn’t a disorder but a different way of interacting with the worldHyperactivity & Masculinity: How society misinterprets hyperactivity, especially in menAttention Deficit Myth: ADHD isn’t a lack of attention—it’s the challenge of directing itInstitutional Challenges: Why modern systems don’t always support neurodivergent peopleResources for Further Learning: Books Stolen Focus (Johann Hari) and Driven to DistractionFinal Thoughts: The need to rethink how we define ADHD and its role in a flourishing life Links For Justin:Read Justin's SubstackOrder In The Low - NEW Book with Scott EricksonCoaching with JustinOrder In Rest - New Book of PoemsOrder Sacred StridesJustinMcRoberts.comSupport this podcastNEW Single - Let GoNEW Music - Sliver of HopeNEW Music - The Dood and The BirdThe Book - It Is What You Make itHearts and Minds Amazon Barnes and Noble

Introduction: Overview of podcast shift to directly answering listener questionsIs All Art Spiritual? Understanding art as a tool for connectionArt, Spirituality, and Religion: The connection between creating, spirituality, and divine connectionSeth Godin's Definition of Art: Art as a way to foster connection between peopleSpirituality: Spirituality as recognizing the divine in all aspects of lifeReligion: The difference between bad religion (selling access to the divine) and good religion (recognizing existing divine connection)Hope: The decision to hope, not based on external circumstances but on the work we continue to doChoosing Hope: Hope as a practice of engaging with the world and staying connected to meaningful workClosing: Call to support the podcast via Patreon Links For Justin:Read Justin's SubstackOrder In The Low - NEW Book with Scott EricksonCoaching with JustinOrder In Rest - New Book of PoemsOrder Sacred StridesJustinMcRoberts.comSupport this podcastNEW Single - Let GoNEW Music - Sliver of HopeNEW Music - The Dood and The BirdThe Book - It Is What You Make itHearts and Minds Amazon Barnes and Noble

Introduction: The widespread struggle with overwhelmWhy We Feel Overwhelmed: Taking in too much informationEmotional Impact: The humbling and frustrating nature of feeling overwhelmedPersonal Stories: Examples of individuals struggling with prioritizationPractical Advice: How to focus on what's within your controlBuilding Patterns of Care: Creating sustainable habits to combat overwhelmEncouragement: Why your unique contribution to the world mattersClosing Thoughts: Developing a life where overwhelm doesn’t derail progress👉 Interested in diving deeper? Reach out to Justin for one-on-one coaching opportunities. Links For Justin:Read Justin's SubstackOrder In The Low - NEW Book with Scott EricksonCoaching with JustinOrder In Rest - New Book of PoemsOrder Sacred StridesJustinMcRoberts.comSupport this podcastNEW Single - Let GoNEW Music - Sliver of HopeNEW Music - The Dood and The BirdThe Book - It Is What You Make itHearts and Minds Amazon Barnes and Noble

Podcast Show Notes:Introduction: Justin McRoberts introduces the episode, its themes, and his approach to answering listener questions.Question 1: How to create spiritual practices after leaving a hurtful church environment:Importance of spiritual direction and coaching.Rebuilding trust in community and relinquishing control in spiritual growth.The role of forgiveness in healing and moving forward.Question 2: Maintaining healthy boundaries in nonprofit and religious work:Reframing the meaning of work as an internal and relational experience.Practical tips for setting boundaries and balancing expectations.Question 3: Why evangelicals are converting to Catholicism:Exploring the desire for deeper, less experience-driven spiritual practices.The maturation process in faith and the appeal of liturgical traditions.Closing: Justin invites listeners to submit future questions and reflects on the ongoing value of this conversational format. Links For Justin:Read Justin's SubstackOrder In The Low - NEW Book with Scott EricksonCoaching with JustinOrder In Rest - New Book of PoemsOrder Sacred StridesJustinMcRoberts.comSupport this podcastNEW Single - Let GoNEW Music - Sliver of HopeNEW Music - The Dood and The BirdThe Book - It Is What You Make itHearts and Minds Amazon Barnes and Noble

Show Notes:Introduction to the episode and the season’s Q&A formatBackground on Justin’s previous online engagement in political conversationsEmotional and financial costs of discussing divisive topics on social mediaReflection on the neutrality (or lack thereof) of social media platformsReference to Johann Hari's book Stolen Focus and its insights on attentionThe impact of online platforms on our ability to empathize and listenJustin’s journey with the decision to step back from digital political discussionsEncouragement to shift political conversations to small, in-person settingsJustin's view on the limitations of online platforms for fostering meaningful discourseFinal thoughts on reclaiming human-centered dialogue in an increasingly digital world Links For Justin:Read Justin's SubstackOrder In The Low - NEW Book with Scott EricksonCoaching with JustinOrder In Rest - New Book of PoemsOrder Sacred StridesJustinMcRoberts.comSupport this podcastNEW Single - Let GoNEW Music - Sliver of HopeNEW Music - The Dood and The BirdThe Book - It Is What You Make itHearts and Minds Amazon Barnes and Noble