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Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation

Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation

By: Geoff and Cyd Holsclaw
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About this listen

Attaching to God connects relational neuroscience and attachment theory to our life of faith so you can grow into spiritual and relational maturity. Co-host Geoff Holsclaw (PhD, pastor, and professor) and Cyd Holsclaw (PCC, spiritual director, and integrative coach) talk with practitioners, therapists, theologians, and researchers on learning to live with ourselves, others, and God. Get everything in your inbox or on the app: https://www.grassrootschristianity.org/s/embodied-faith

© 2025 Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation
Christianity Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Spirituality
Episodes
  • 133 Tested with Jesus (1): Stones to Bread and the Attack on Hope
    Feb 18 2026

    The Attaching to God podcast returns after a break to begin a three-week Lenten series on the Temptations of Jesus. Hosts Cyd and Geoff Holsclaw (co-founders of the Center for Embodied Faith) reframe Jesus’ first temptation as an attack on his secure attachment to the Father—an attack on hope. The hosts connect this to modern anxieties that push people into “protection mode,” explain Jesus’ scripture-based response (“not by bread alone”), define hope as expectant waiting rooted in attachment, and offer a Lenten practice. The next episode will focus on the second temptation as an attack on faith.

    Dive deeper in our new book, Landscapes of the Soul: How the Science and Spirituality of Attachment Can Move You into Confident Faith, Courage, and Connection, and learn about our trainings and other resources at embodiedfaith.life.

    Stay Connected:

    • Check out our Attaching to God 6-Week Learning Cohort.
    • Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources.
    • Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
    Show More Show Less
    23 mins
  • Is Joy Even More Central Than Love? (Replay for Thanksgiving)
    Nov 26 2025

    What is so important about joy? The great commandment is to love God and others, but is joy even more central than that? Where does joy fit in the landscape of political outrage and cynicism, in the seriousness of life today?

    We're talking about it. Looking at why joy and love are so connected.

    Dive deeper in our new book, Landscapes of the Soul: How the Science and Spirituality of Attachment Can Move You into Confident Faith, Courage, and Connection, and learn about our trainings and other resources at embodiedfaith.life.

    Stay Connected:

    • Check out our Attaching to God 6-Week Learning Cohort.
    • Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources.
    • Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
    Show More Show Less
    22 mins
  • 131 (Bonus) Spiritual Direction as Friendship (from the Kellia, with David Clayton)
    Nov 20 2025

    In this BONUS episode (before season 8 starts), host Geoff Holsclaw starts experimenting with regular guest hosts to dive deeper into certain topics.

    This episode sees the return of David Clayton, a spiritual director, supervisor of spiritual directors, and a trained behavior analyst and facilitator of psychological safety.

    David will bring us the "voices from the Kellia"—the monastic "cells" in the heart of the desert. As a twist of sorts, we believe the insights of Christian asceticism and monasticism still speak wisdom into our modern life (even our corporate and business lives).

    This time we focus on the role of spiritual direction, connecting it to friendship, vulnerability, and psychological safety. This episode sets the stage for ongoing discussions with David and promises practical advice for spiritual and personal development.

    David Clayton is a Spiritual Director and Supervisor of Directors. He is a trained Behaviour Analyst, and is a Facilitator of Psychological Safety. Learn more at Monos-Collective.

    Dive deeper in our new book, Landscapes of the Soul: How the Science and Spirituality of Attachment Can Move You into Confident Faith, Courage, and Connection, and learn about our trainings and other resources at embodiedfaith.life.

    Stay Connected:

    • Check out our Attaching to God 6-Week Learning Cohort.
    • Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources.
    • Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
    Show More Show Less
    49 mins
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