Can Church Be Healthy Podcast

The Practice of Repair - Episode 8

Episode 8: The Practice of Repair In every relationship—marriage, friendship, leadership, or church community—ruptures are inevitable. What matters most is how we repair.  In this episode, Jon and Tom talk about the sacred work of relational repair: how to name the hurt, take responsibility, and rebuild trust in ways that strengthen connection rather than fracture it further.  Drawing from both psychological insight and the way of Jesus, they explore how honest repair can become one of the most healing and transformative practices in the life of the Church.

Attachment: Understanding How We Connect to God, Self, and Others - Episode 7

Episode 7: Attachment: Understanding How We Connect to God, Self, and Others Jon and Tom explore the science of attachment—how our earliest relational bonds shape the way we connect with God, self, and others.  They discuss why understanding attachment matters for spiritual growth and community life, and how churches can become places that nurture secure, life-giving relationships.

Understanding Trauma and the Church - Episode 6

Episode 6: Understanding Trauma and the Church In this episode, Jon and Tom take on the crucial topic of trauma—what it is, how it shapes people’s lives, and why the Church must learn to respond with wisdom and compassion.  Too often, trauma is misunderstood or minimized in spiritual spaces, leaving people feeling unseen or even re-wounded.  Jon and Tom discuss how leaders and communities can better recognize trauma’s impact and create environments where healing, safety, and transformation in Christ are truly possible.

Parts Work and Church Systems (Part 2) - Episode 5

Episode 5: Parts Work and Church Systems (Part 2) In this follow-up conversation, Jon and Tom build on their exploration of Internal Family Systems by turning the lens toward the Church itself. Just like individuals, church systems can either create space for honesty and healing—or push leaders to hide until crisis erupts. This episode encourages churches to reimagine their culture and structures in ways that make it safe for pastors and leaders to seek help before things fall apart, fostering healthier leaders and, ultimately, a healthier Church.

The Parts of Us (Part 1) - Ep. 4

Episode 4: The Parts of Us (Part 1) In this episode, Jon and Tom dive into the transformative framework of Internal Family Systems (IFS)—a lens that’s helped them understand why they, and those they lead, show up the way they do. By exploring the “parts” within us—protectors, exiles, managers—they unpack how our internal dynamics shape our relationships, leadership, and even our spirituality. This is the first of a two-part conversation that brings compassion, curiosity, and clarity to the complexity of being human, especially in the context of Church life and spiritual formation.