Praxis Podcast with Rhett Smith

This was a fun and deep and meaningful conversation with my good friend Jennifer McDaniel [https://mcdanielnutrition.com/meet-the-team/]. Jennifer is a nutritionist and author, and is the founder and director of McDaniel Nutrition Therapy [https://mcdanielnutrition.com/]. I first met Jennifer in early 2022 when I was preparing to run the 106 mile UTMB trail race [https://utmb.world/] and she was my assigned nutritionist.  In this conversation we explore a trend that we have been noticing in our culture for many people to move away from social media as well as figuring out other avenues to quiet all the technological noise. We have noticed this move in our work with clients, as well as experiencing a personal shift within us. Ultimately, the conversation gets down to the concept of self-worth and how much of it is often built upon notions of one's producitivty and ability to perform tasks. And how it can be difficult to move out of arenas (such as social media, email, hustle culture/work, etc.) when one's self-worth is often maintained by engagement and productivity in those areas.  Below is a list of authors and books and resources mentioned in the podcast.  Jennifer McDaniel Substack [https://jennifermcdaniel.substack.com/]  Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times [https://www.amazon.com/Wintering-Power-Retreat-Difficult-Times/dp/0593189485] by Katherine May [https://katherine-may.co.uk/] 4000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals [https://www.amazon.com/Four-Thousand-Weeks-Management-Mortals/dp/0374159122] by Oliver Burkeman [https://www.oliverburkeman.com/] Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World [https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Work-Focused-Success-Distracted/dp/1455586692] by Cal Newport [https://calnewport.com/] Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World [https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Minimalism-Choosing-Focused-Noisy/dp/0525536515] by Cal Newport [https://calnewport.com/] Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout [https://www.amazon.com/Slow-Productivity-Accomplishment-Without-Burnout-ebook/dp/B0C7716FW1/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.CdxRPCCIiNCxTg_XTVdydydCMnj9HBWJMc9ECZ-QJGq-1rBvExzObYxVXmolba4WPwx0EPonwxDj-2KWmQcXBVFZYokb_3n7XSbeZ2sqeVBcSPCqPd5N43qHpUbzgafkB6v3doUjtWTmTGVOWOW_Ig_ri-ZOSaMZnnUVP7CBgCpozcH218qIsFvvtY7HfjPHysFWcmlS9O1wyU1jUbAJFWCIzPTTUI-lhx3vRP8L-Yw.dB9_Rw6YliXsvRNtWby-UHnQaZS47VfM88-D2tDvheQ&dib_tag=se&hvadid=713540576155&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9026832&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=14366767908157471413&hvtargid=kwd-2082508302938&hydadcr=22569_13730725&keywords=cal+newport+slow+productivity&qid=1737649784&sr=8-1] by Cal Newport [https://calnewport.com/] Just a Thought: A No-Willpower Approach to Overcome Self-Doubt and Make Peace with Your Mind [https://www.amazon.com/Just-Thought-No-Willpower-Approach-Self-Doubt/dp/1684038189] by Amy Johnson [https://dramyjohnson.com/] In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership [https://www.amazon.com/Name-Jesus-Reflections-Christian-Leadership/dp/0824512596] by Henri Nouwen  [https://henrinouwen.org/] Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life [https://www.amazon.com/Falling-Upward-Spirituality-Halves-Life/dp/0470907754] by Richard Rohr [https://cac.org/about/our-teachers/cac-founder-richard-rohr/]

About a week and a half ago I spoke at Preston Trail's Marriage Conference on Mental Health and Marriage. As I thought about this topic I kept coming back to a few essential things that I feel are at the core of this topic. 1. we are wired relationally 2. we are wired relationally around love and trust 3. optimum mental health in a marriage is incumbent about the promotion of love and trust  So in this episode I reflect on this topic, and I hope you find it helpful.

In this episode I talk with my good friend, Will Perry, who is the Lead Student Pastor at Hope Fellowship Church in Frisco, TX, which is a multi-site campus.  I have known Will for almost 10 years and have loved watching him serve in youth ministry. He is one of the best youth pastors I have known, and I admire the way he engages not only youth, but his leadership and volunteers.  In this episode we cover a lot of topics from being a student of your kid, to navigating social media, the challenges around sex in this culture, and how to create an ongoing, emotionally safe environment to engage your kids.  I hope that you enjoy this episode and find it's content helpful.  Check out more of my work at my website www.rhettsmith.com

In this episode I talk with my good friend and colleague, Michael Cox, who is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and contributor and instructor in the Restoration Therapy community that I am a part of.  I appreciate Michael so much as a friend and colleague, and I admire the work he does with so many people, especially couples.  In this episode we dig deep into marital work, and what typically brings couples into therapy, what helps them thrive, and where do they often get stuck.  I hope that you enjoy this episode and find it's content helpful.  Check out more of my work at my website www.rhettsmith.com

In this episode I talk with my good friend Nicole Zasowski, who is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and the author of several books: What if it's Wonderful, From Lost to Found, and Families and Forgiveness which she co-authored with Terry Hargrave. I so much respect the professional and personal work that Nicole does in her life, and she is a lifelong learner which I love. In this episode we dig deep into anxiety and looking at it through the framework of the Restoration Therapy model. I hope that you enjoy this episode and find it's content helpful.  To check out more about Nicole and her work, head over to her website https://www.nicolezasowski.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa1NCNlZKWXk0QlVpZEZuME1nNk1NT3FKSW1Ed3xBQ3Jtc0ttX01XMG45bExNYXktMVJDMHh1SXBLLTBDYUNIZEM5UXc4Nmd2czJuT2dmNV8ydVQzdGlhMGw2aGpCMkhMRnVmTEo2R19mVVB2SGR0MlRTbl9xUmdNdWM4TGduVkE2TV9iVEU0bElhZ1U3NG5ySDJadw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nicolezasowski.com%2F&v=2OaSqOb-xJs]