Listen "Embodied Faith and the Death of Platitudes"
Episode Synopsis
I sat down with artist, writer and friend Josh Nadeau to explore his path from theological precocity to personal crisis and ultimately, redemptive beauty. Josh shares how growing up steeped in Reformed theology didn’t insulate him from a slow descent into apathy, addiction, spiritual numbness, and walking through life “as a ghost”. It was beauty—raw, embodied, soul-stirring beauty—that woke him up. We talk about deconstruction, embodiment, addiction, the love of God, and why aesthetics — embodied faith — might be what Saints are made from. If you’re barely hanging on or wondering what a holy life could look like beyond checklists, I commend his book Room For Good Things to Run Wild to you.In This EpisodeGrowing up “super Christian” and deeply catechizedUniversity: the intellectual wrestling match of faithBurnout, apathy, and alcohol: five years of slow unravelingRock bottom: bourbon at 5am and the call of hidden musicChurchy clichés and the need for something that can bear the weightThe boxing gym: embodied weakness and discipleshipGnosticism, disembodied faith, and hunger for incarnationTheology of the Body & rediscovering the sacred in fleshBecoming a saint: not instant, not easy, but beautifulGod’s love beyond usefulness, the danger of returning to slaveryWhy Josh wrote Room for Good Things to Run WildBeauty as the apologetic for a disenchanted ageSpeaking to the silent middle: the “4 out of 10” Christian lifeGuest Resources Room for Good Things to Run Wild by Josh Nadeau Josh’s InstagramJosh’s SubstackFOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:Instagram | Youtube | Website | NewsletterIf you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!Thank you to our SponsorsOvercoming the Darkness by Nate PickowiczThis book offers biblical wisdom and the stories of faithful saints to help you see God’s faithfulness in the darkest seasons. Grab Overcoming the Darkness today at MoodyPublishers.com or wherever good books are sold.On Our Way Home by Colleen ChaoThrough Scripture and her own journey of suffering, Colleen Chao reminds us that all our longings point to the joy of our true Home with Christ. Get your copy of On Our Way Home at MoodyPublishers.com or wherever good books are sold. –Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co. For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
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