Being Human with Steve Cuss

What do a high schooler’s senior year and the offices of a high-fashion magazine have in common? Stress. During a discussion of The Devil Wears Prada, Steve Cuss and his college-bound daughter, Kaylee Cuss, talk about the anxiety on display in the iconic Meryl Streep film. The two talk about how Streep’s character, Miranda Priestly, may be the one in charge, but she’s arguably also the most anxious. They talk about trying to fit into existing systems, high emotions in the workplace, and relational enmeshment. Tune in for a heartfelt, insightful discussion of failure, success, and taking care of the relationships that matter most. Resources mentioned in this episode include: * The Devil Wears Prada [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458352/] * “Ep148: Gilmore Girls and Systems Theory [https://stevecusswords.podbean.com/e/ep148gilmore-girls-and-systems-theory/]” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

When Joy Allmond was fresh out of college, she struggled to find a professional role in her field. She decided to make the most of her young, single years and became a flight attendant. The Lord used that experience to broaden her perspective—especially when she staffed one of the first flights to take to the skies after September 11, 2001. Now, Allmond is the executive editor of Christianity Today. She and Steve talk about how airport behavior often reveals deeper feelings and what it takes to manage a crisis. They talk about the recent CT redesign, new content in the magazine, and Allmond’s hopes for CT’s future. Allmond shares her thoughts on the church at its best, experiences of feeling fully loved, and taking time to hear from the Lord. Resources mentioned in this episode include: * “We Can’t Worry Our Way to Peace [https://www.christianitytoday.com/2024/09/reactivity-assumptions-remember-god-presence-peace/]” * November/December 2024 [https://www.christianitytoday.com/magazine/2024/november-december/] issue of Christianity Today * “CT Design, Redesign, and Re-redesign, from 1956 to Today [https://www.christianitytoday.com/2024/07/ct-redesign-design-history-layout-font/]” * “Qualms and Proverbs [https://www.christianitytoday.com/2024/11/do-i-have-to-go-to-church-with-my-folks/]” (CT advice column) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

As the Thanksgiving holiday draws near in the US, Steve and Lisa Cuss reflect on the importance of gratitude. They talk about intentionally prioritizing the activities, people, and places that help us feel alive. Steve shares how keeping a Life Giving List [https://capablelife.activehosted.com/f/29] has helped him through challenging faith seasons, and Lisa gives some practical examples for cultivating thankfulness in everyday life.  Steve and Lisa talk about the often emotional experience of gathering with family for holidays and how to develop a noticing frame of mind. They discuss political differences among loved ones, strategies for deepening our relational capacity, and the power of curiosity. Resources mentioned in this episode include: * Capable Life Free Resource Dashboard [https://capablelife.activehosted.com/f/29] (includes Life Giving List) * “Enneagram, Anxiety, and What We Live For [https://www.christianitytoday.com/podcasts/being-human/enneagram-anxiety-and-what-we-live-for/]” with Jimmy Carnes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

How can Christians know if they are managing their relationships in a healthy way? What does it look like to treat people with mental health disorders lovingly and respectfully? When should parents of young adults speak up, and when should they let their children learn on their own? These are the types of inquiries that you, listeners of Being Human, have shared with us. Listen as the Cusses answer: * What are family systems theory and internal family systems theory, and how do they relate to faith? * How can Christians discern between healthy, gospel-based differentiation of self [https://www.thebowencenter.org/differentiation-of-self] and becoming detached or cynical? * How can leaders operate so that those around them can air their differences without dumping all their projections onto the leader? * What does it look like to navigate settings where an individual’s mental health struggle is setting the tone for a group? * Since most well-meaning laypeople are not trained therapists, what is the church’s role in dealing with mental illness? * What are some words of wisdom for parents whose children will soon exit their teen years and enter young adulthood? Resources mentioned in this episode include: * Bowen family systems theory [https://www.thebowencenter.org/introduction-eight-concepts] * Internal family systems theory [https://ifs-institute.com/resources/articles/internal-family-systems-model-outline]  * A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix [https://www.amazon.com/Failure-Nerve-Leadership-Age-Quick/dp/159627042X/tag=christtoday-20] by Edwin H. Friedman * Borderline personality disorder (BPD) [https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9762-borderline-personality-disorder-bpd] * “Introducing ‘Being Human with Steve Cuss’ [https://www.christianitytoday.com/podcasts/being-human/pilot-episode/]” * Managing Leadership Anxiety: Yours and Theirs [https://www.amazon.com/Managing-Leadership-Anxiety-Yours-Theirs/dp/1400210887/tag=christtoday-20] by Steve Cuss * The Expectation Gap: The Tiny, Vast Space between Our Beliefs & Experience of God [https://www.amazon.com/Expectation-Gap-between-Beliefs-Experience/dp/0310156378/tag=christtoday-20] by Steve Cuss * Capable Life [https://capablelife.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Being fully seen and fully known can feel, in a word, terrifying. And yet, that’s exactly what our souls crave—and exactly what God designed for us to experience.  From the Sheep Meadow of New York City’s Central Park, Steve Cuss explores the idea of being entirely ourselves. He considers the two protective extremes that often keep people from being fully human: pretense and pretending. Cuss walks through 1 John 3:19–20, which describes being vulnerable in the presence of a God who is greater than our hearts that condemn us. He looks at Jesus as the preeminent example of being exactly ourselves, shares stories from his time as a chaplain, and offers practical steps for remaining loving and curious in relationships. Resources mentioned in this episode include: * The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God [https://www.amazon.com/Meaning-Marriage-Facing-Complexities-Commitment/dp/1594631875/tag=christtoday-20] by Timothy Keller with Kathy Keller * Capable Life Intensives [https://capablelife.com/pages/intensives] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]