Let's talk about hope once more. It's something that many people need more of these days, myself included. It's also something that many people wrestle with because hope can set us up for falls. That's all a part of the game and the nature of hope and hoping.

Let's talk about hope once more. It's something that many people need more of these days, myself included. It's also something that many people wrestle with because hope can set us up for falls. That's all a part of the game and the nature of hope and hoping.

For this month's hero's study, we interview Brad Onishi, a podcaster and writer with some awesome answers to my questions. He's the cohost of Straight White American Jesus, author of Preparing for War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism And What Comes Next, and he has some great things to say about heroes, faith, religion, politics, and masculinity. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did! I especially like the answers to my last three questions.

Brad Onishi can be found on Bluesky at @bradleyonishi.bsky.social. You can follow his work on Straight White American Jesus at https://www.straightwhiteamericanjesus.com/, or you can search for it on your favorite podcast app. You can also go to his home on the web at https://www.bradonishi.com/. Take a look at his book, and he has another one coming out hopefully next year titled American Caesar.

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.

Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social

Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.

Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/

Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call

Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources

"Nonstop" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Let's talk about what lights your fire. This is one of my favorite topics because we all have at least one thing that we just come to life when we engage in the activity. It can be games, reading, writing, sports, outdoor activities, working with wood or on vehicles, painting, watching movies, etc. You name it! We all have something that lights the fire in our souls and if you're like me, these are the activities that we often set aside for things that we should be doing. Is that how it needs to be?

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.

Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social

Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.

Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/

Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call

Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources

"Nonstop" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Let's talk about our beliefs. For most, if not all of us, our beliefs color how we see our world. Is your world black and white with clear lines of what's right and wrong with rigid rules? Is your world open and expansive to include many different walks of life and experiences? What we believe about ourselves and the world has a dramatic impact on how we view the world, in good and bad ways. Today I talk about what our beliefs can do and how whether you believe something is true or not, ultimately you are right.

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.

Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social

Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.

Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/

Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call

Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources

"Nonstop" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Let's talk about a prominent topic in today's society. Today we look at authoritarianism, a wide political movement taking place all over in western societies. Much of this discussion comes from the work of Dr. Hilary McBride from her Holy/Hurt podcast (definitely give this a listen if you have experience being hurt from religious/spiritual groups). She uses five qualifiers to describe authoritarianism:

1) Control 2) Consequences 3) Compliance 4) Codependence 5) Cultural

If you are experienced all, or even some of these five Cs, there's a good chance you're involved in an authoritarian structure. It could be in your home, community, spiritual group, or country. What do we do with all of this? Find healing. Leave the authoritarian structure. Resist it. Whatever it is that you can do.

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.

Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social

Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.

Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/

Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call

Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources

"Nonstop" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Let's talk about some lessons from another video game interest of mine. This time we're looking at the games Diablo 1 and Diablo 2. The fantastical adventures I'd have going around the world and slaying demons that were clearly the enemy was a favorite past time of mine. Nowadays, what's truly evil is much harder to discern. These two games have helped me move out of my clear as mud, black-and-white thinking that's guided my life for years. Let's dive in!

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.

Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social

Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.

Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/

Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call

Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources

"Nonstop" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

For this month's hero's study, we interview Tori Williams Douglas! She's the cohost of the White Homework podcast, an activist, and anti-racism educator. Her experience in the conservative evangelical church and being a mother had lasting impacts on who she is and what she does. This was an incredible interview and I hope you glean as much if not more from it. Enjoy an awesome conversation!

If you want to follow Tori's work, you can follow her on Bluesky and Instagram. You can also hear more from her on the White Homework podcast.

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.

Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social

Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.

Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/

Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call

Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources

"Nonstop" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Let's talk about how we can be setting ourselves up for failure. Much of this comes down to expectations. I'm a king at setting my expectations too high for many of the projects I want to work on. This came up with a conversation Libby and I had with our friend Katie about some of our financial goals that we're not meeting. It's good to have goals that will stretch you, but also having ones that are reasonable prevent us from falling into the trap of losing faith and hope in ourselves. Let's look at w hat we can do to prevent ourselves from setting ourselves up for failure.

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.

Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social

Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.

Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/

Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call

Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources

"Nonstop" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/