Soul Sense with Mark Verkler
by Samaritan's Well
From Mark Verkler, the founder of Samaritan's Well, a Christian counselor with over 30 years of experience in teaching, counseling, and leading from a Biblical perspective. This podcast is a culmination of the wisdom he has learned and taught to hundreds over the years. We hope this blesses you and brings you insight into your relationships and your spiritual journey.
Episodes
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The Three Sources of Depression (a Christian Perspective)
Depression can have many layers. In this episode of Soul Sense, Mark explores three potential sources of depression through decades of counseling experience and biblical wisdom: 1. Unresolved grief — Losses we haven't fully acknowledged or mourned. 2. Anger turned inward — Unforgiveness toward...
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When the Life You Imagined Falls Apart | Rachel Kerr Schneider
When life takes an unexpected turn, how do you grieve, care for your family, and hold on to faith? Mark Verkler talks with author Rachel Kerr Schneider about losing her husband to ALS, parenting through grief, navigating addiction, and finding hope in God amid heartbreak. Rachel shares lessons on...
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Caring for Aging Parents: How to Love Them While Learning to Let Go | Ingrid Hanson-Popp
What happens when the roles begin to reverse, and the parents who cared for us begin to need our care? In this episode of Soul Sense, Mark talks with author Ingrid Hansen-Popp about Becoming an Orphan: A Caregiver’s Guide to Lovingly Letting Our Parents Go. They explore the emotional, practical,...
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The Power of Patient Love: Helping Troubled Kids Find Hope | Brian Gray
What if the messages we believe about ourselves can shape the course of our lives—and what happens when those messages are replaced with truth? On this episode of Soul Sense, Mark sits down with Brian Gray, author of Rap Sheet to Resume: Finding Blessing in Brokenness. Brian shares his story of...
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What Neurodivergence Taught Me About Following Jesus | Dr. Amanda Wilson
What does it look like to follow Jesus when you experience the world differently? In this episode of Soul Sense, Mark talks with Dr. Amanda Wilson—an orthodontist, entrepreneur, and Christian who discovered later in life that she is neurodivergent. Amanda shares her journey from atheism to faith,...
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Emotions,the Bible,and Becoming Emotionally Healthy | Dr. David Pendergrass
What does emotional maturity actually look like for a Christian? In this episode of Soul Sense, Dr. David Pendergrass—pastor, biblical scholar, counselor, author, and leadership consultant—joins Mark to explore what Scripture teaches about emotions, anger, grief, and spiritual maturity. David...
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Retraining Your Nervous System for Rest and Connection | Rochelle Walsh
What if burnout isn’t simply a problem of having too much to do—but a nervous system that has learned to find safety in doing, performing, pleasing, or staying in control? In this episode of Soul Sense, Mark Verkler talks with Rochelle Walsh, LCSW, founder of Joyful and Present, about the...
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The God Who Delights in You | Dr. Bill Senyard
What if the Christian life isn’t about becoming “good enough,” but learning to experience how deeply God already loves and delights in you? In this episode of Soul Sense, Mark sits down with Dr. Bill Senyard, author of Good Enough Christian, Good Enough Parent, and Before the Couch. Bill explores...
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The Lost Art of Being Still | Dr. Joshua Knabb
What if silence isn’t the absence of God—but the place where we learn to recognize His presence? In this episode of Soul Sense, Mark sits down with Dr. Joshua Knabb, board-certified clinical psychologist, professor, researcher, author, and therapist, to explore Christian meditation…
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Neuroscience, Scripture & the Path to Healing From Trauma | Dr. Deborah Gold
What if the patterns you’ve come to see as “just who I am” are actually trauma responses your brain learned for survival? In this episode of SoulSense, Mark sits down with Dr. Deborah Gold, author of Wired for Redemption, to explore trauma, neuroscience, Scripture, and Christian healing. Dr. Gold...
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Am I an Addict? Recognizing the Signs of Addiction | Carolyn Dunegan
In this episode of Soul Sense, Mark Verkler and Carolyn Dunegan explore the progression of addiction—from recreational use to problematic use, dependence, and addiction. Drawing from decades of experience in chemical dependency treatment, Carolyn explains how addiction affects relationships,...
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What Actually Helps People Change in Christian Recovery? | Rose Ann Forte
In this episode of Soul Sense, Mark sits down with Rose Ann Forte, international bestselling author, addiction and behavioral habits specialist, and creator of the Choose Freedom® Program. Rose Ann shares her journey from alcohol addiction to freedom and explores how neuroscience, Scripture, and...
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Healing Shame Through the Love of the Father | Tom Anderson
What if the biggest obstacle to healing isn't your circumstances—but what you believe about yourself? In this episode of the Soul Sense Podcast, Mark Verkler sits down with author and speaker Tom Anderson for an honest conversation about moving from fear, shame, and striving into the freedom of...
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Finding Identity After Codependency | Steve Rotermund
Steve Rotermund spent 13 years trying to save his wife from addiction while quietly falling apart himself. As a pastor, he preached freedom while hiding his own codependency and shame — until it cost him his church and his faith. This is his story: the collapse, the counselor who called out his...
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How Spiritual & Mental Health Impact Each Other | Dr. Katherine Lanning
In this episode of Soul Sense, Mark Verkler talks with Dr. Katherine Lanning—occupational therapist, founder of Transformed for Life, and host of the Transformed for Life Podcast. Katherine shares her journey from striving for health in her own strength to finding lasting healing through Christ....
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Meeting Jesus in the Middle of Your Pain | Tony Stoltzfus
In this episode of Soul Sense, Mark Verkler sits down with author, coach, and teacher Tony Stoltzfus to explore how God transforms us through relationship with Jesus—not just through discipline, effort, or trying harder.Tony shares his journey from being driven by self-discipline and performance…
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Trauma, Church Hurt, & the Need for Connection | Danielle Bernock
What if the things you thought were flaws, failures, or weaknesses were actually wounds that needed healing?In this episode of Soul Sense, Mark sits down with Danielle Bernock, trauma-informed coach, author, and founder of 4F Media, to talk about her journey from surviving deep childhood trauma…
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Finding Purpose After Loss, Addiction, and Grief | Mia Godfrey
In this powerful episode of Soul Sense, Mark sits down with author, speaker, and certified life coach Mia Godfrey to discuss a remarkable journey of faith, grief, resilience, and purpose. Raised under communist rule in Romania as the youngest of ten children, Mia shares her experiences with...
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Restoration after Estrangement | Marit Welker
Marit Welker, certified life coach and podcaster from Boise, Idaho, joins Soul Sense to talk about adult child estrangement, a problem affecting millions of families that almost nobody talks about openly. Marit shares her own story on both sides of estrangement, as a daughter who went low contact...
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Pastoral Burnout, Depression, and the Wilderness: One Pastor's Story | Dustin Kleinschmidt
From rock star dreams to church planter to pastoral burnout — Dustin Kleinschmidt's story is one most ministry leaders won't say out loud but desperately need to hear.After 25 years in ministry, Dustin resigned from leading a church through a moral failure crisis, expecting relief. Instead he got...
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How to Be the Detective Your ADHD Child Needs | Dr. Amy Moore
If you've ever felt like you're failing your ADHD child, this episode is for you. Dr. Amy Moore is a cognitive psychologist, neuroplasticity researcher, and mom with ADHD who has spent 30 years working with neurodivergent kids and families. She joins us to break down what's actually happening in...
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The Hidden Roots of Addiction: Shame, Control & Surrender | Carolyn Dunegan, LCDC
In this foundational episode of our addiction series, we sit down with addiction expert Carolyn Dunegan, LCDC, to explore what addiction really is, why it’s so rooted in shame and isolation, and what true recovery actually requires.This conversation goes far beyond substances alone. We discuss…
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A Christian Therapist on Postpartum Anxiety, Depression, & OCD | Emma Donaldson, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor and Perinatal Mental Health Specialist Emma Donaldson joins Mark to have an honest conversation about what really happens to a mother's mind, body, and faith after having a baby. From the hormonal crash after birth to postpartum OCD, anxiety, intrusive thoughts…
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The 5 Soul Senses Explained | Mad, Sad, Bad, Glad & Scared
What are emotions actually trying to tell us?In this episode of the Soul Sense Podcast, Mark explores the idea of the 5 Soul Senses — mad, sad, bad, glad, and scared — and how our emotions are designed to inform us, not control us.You’ll learn:• Why emotions are gifts from God• The “high road”…
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She Was a New Age Star… Then Found Jesus | Doreen Virtue
From New Age celebrity to devoted follower of Christ — Doreen Virtue spent 26 years as one of the most recognized voices in the New Age movement, appearing on Oprah, The View, CNN, and Donahue, with books published in 38 languages. Then, at age 59, everything changed.In this powerful episode of…
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Why Does God Allow Suffering? A Real Conversation About Job | Autumn Miles
Why does God allow suffering? And what do you do when He feels completely silent?In this powerful episode of the Soul Sense Podcast, we sit down with author, speaker, and minister Autumn Miles to talk about her new book Holy Ghosted—a deep dive into the often-avoided Book of Job.Autumn shares…
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From Contempt to Compassion: Healing Communication in Marriage | Healey Ikerd
Join us on this episode of the Soul Sense Podcast from Samaritan’s Well as we welcome back Healey Ikerd, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, and Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor. Healy shares practical insights on building strong, faith-centered...
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Faith, Neuroscience, and the Sanctified Mind | Dr. Angela Deulen
What actually happens in the brain when we experience trauma? And how can we truly “take every thought captive” when painful memories and emotions feel overwhelming?In this episode of the Soul Sense Podcast, Mark welcomes back Dr. Angela Deulen, professor of psychology at California Baptist...
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Prison Ministry, Guilt, Shame, and True Identity in Christ | James Early
What if guilt and shame aren't part of who you really are?In this episode, Bible teacher and prison ministry volunteer James Early shares powerful stories from over 18 years of leading weekly Bible studies at a federal correctional institution — and what he's learned about guilt, shame, identity,...
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Beyond PTSD: Understanding Moral Injury | Dr. Larry Brant
Dr. Larry Brant — 17-year Navy chaplain, combat veteran, and author — joins the SoulSense podcast to unpack one of the most misunderstood wounds people carry: moral injury. It's not the same as PTSD. It's the place where guilt and shame go so deep that a person believes they are beyond love and...
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Trauma-Informed Leadership: Building Cultures of Wellness at Work | Dr. Melanie Gray
Most workplace problems aren't attitude problems — they're trauma responses nobody taught you to recognize. Dr. Melanie Gray, PhD, RN and trauma-informed leadership consultant, joins us to break down why your team's behavior makes more sense than you think, and what leaders can do about it.In…
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You Are Not a Machine: A Practical Guide on Sleep, Faith, and Rest | Dr. Benjamin Long
What if your sleepless nights weren't something to fight — but an invitation to connect with God?In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Benjamin Long, a dual board-certified sleep medicine physician and pediatrician, to explore the science and spirituality of sleep. Dr. Ben walks us through his...
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From Drugs to Doc Severinsen: Jazz Musician Fletch Wiley's Radical Salvation Story
In this episode, we sit down with legendary musician and arranger Fletch Wiley to hear his incredible journey from drug addiction to redemption through Christ. Fletch shares stories from his remarkable career working with icons like Andre Crouch, Diana Ross, and Doc Severinsen, starting from his...
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Learning to Listen, Fight, and Thrive: Marriage Therapy Insights | Lisa Gray
What if the key to a stronger relationship isn't avoiding conflict—but learning how to do it right?In this episode, licensed marriage and family therapist Lisa Gray shares game-changing insights from her 20+ years working with high-conflict couples and those navigating chronic illness. Lisa…
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Money & Spirit: Finding Financial Freedom Through Faith | Heather Day
Struggling with debt, anxiety, or shame around money? You're not alone. In this honest conversation, Heather Day shares her personal journey from financial chaos to freedom—and it wasn't about finding a quick fix.Heather and her husband Robert found themselves drowning in debt in their mid-20s....
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From Bartender to Death Doula: The Power of Presence at Life's End | Gina Economopoulos
What does it take to transform death from your greatest fear into your sacred calling?In this deeply moving conversation, certified end-of-life doula Gina Economopoulos shares her extraordinary journey from bartender to nun to helping others transition peacefully from this life to the next. After...
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Breaking the Silence: Understanding Domestic Abuse in Faith Communities | Stacey Womack
In this powerful conversation, Stacey Womack, founder and executive director of Abuse Recovery Ministry Services (ARMS), shares her 28 years of experience helping abuse survivors and those who use abusive behaviors. Stacey discusses: - Why churches struggle to address domestic abuse (and often...
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The Trouble With Jesus: Doubt, Faith, and Why So Many Walk Away | Constance Hastings
In this powerful and honest conversation, host Mark sits down with Constance Hastings, author of The Trouble With Jesus: Considerations Before You Walk Away. Together, they explore why Jesus has always been “troubling,” why doubt is not the enemy of faith, and how authentic belief often grows in...
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Lowering the Barrier to Scripture: A Conversation with Bible Translator Dan Parr
Join us on this episode of SoulSense as we welcome Dan Parr, broadcaster, voice artist, and the creator and narrator of the Easy-to-Understand Read Bible (EUR). Over the last four years, Dan has rewritten, published, and recorded all 66 books of the Bible in a contemporary, thought-for-thought...
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Breaking Strongholds: Faith, Brain Renewal, and Freedom from Emotional Eating | Dr. Laurette Willis
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Laurette Willis, a cognitive-behavioral therapist, international speaker, and founder of PraiseMoves®, the Christian alternative to yoga, and the Faith-Fueled Transformation Movement.Dr. Willis shares her powerful journey from New Age practices to a...
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When God Says No: Finding Joy after Chronic Illness & Loss | Lara Silverman
Laura Silverman's life changed overnight. At 30, she landed her dream job as a federal prosecutor—only to fall mysteriously ill her second week. What followed was 8 years (and counting) of being mostly bedridden with a rare neurological disorder that makes the world constantly spin around her.But...
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You Make a Good You: Freedom from the Comparison Trap with Michael Miller, Founder of UPPERROOM
Comparison is one of the enemy's most subtle and destructive weapons against believers—and most of us don't even realize how deeply it affects us. In this powerful conversation, Michael Miller shares the dramatic moment God woke him in the night with these words: "Comparison is killing my people,...
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Resilience, Trauma & True Identity: A Conversation with Dr. Albert Bramante
Dr. Albert Bramante is a seasoned college professor with more than two decades of experience teaching psychology and human development. Before academia, he spent many years as a talent agent, gaining deep insight into human behavior, performance, and motivation. Today, he works as a performance...
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From Comparison to Calling: Embracing Your Unique Story with Wendy Gunn
In this powerful episode, Mark sits down with Wendy Gunn—best-selling author, keynote speaker, and empowerment coach—to discuss finding your purpose and calling, especially through life's trials.Wendy shares her incredible testimony of surviving ovarian cancer through miraculous healing, and how...
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From Terminal Cancer to Miraculous Healing with Tom Snow
Tom Snow is a retired software engineer, author, and cancer survivor from Greenville, South Carolina. After experiencing miraculous healing from terminal cancer at age 16, he has spent 55 years walking with God. He wrote "The Daily Stand" and "Set the Captives Free" to help believers deepen their...
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Taking Thoughts Captive with Healey Ikerd, LPC, LMFT
Join us for an insightful conversation with Healey Ikerd, LPC and LMFT, who practices counseling in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and hosts the "Healthy and Redeemed" podcast. Healy shares powerful insights from her children's book "The Red Ball: A Story of Friendship and Forgiveness," inspired by her...
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The Science of Trauma Recovery with Caroline Kobylinski, LPC
Join us on the SoulSense Podcast as we sit down with Caroline Watson-Kobylinski, a Licensed Professional Counselor and trauma specialist, to explore the profound intersection of faith, attachment theory, and the science of trauma healing. Caroline shares her personal journey from church hurt and...
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Wired for Connection: Faith and Neuroscience with Dr. Angela Deulen
Dr. Angela Deulen is a professor of psychology at California Baptist University, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Christian author, and creator of educational content on her YouTube channel. In this episode, Dr. Deulen explores the fascinating intersection of interpersonal neurobiology…
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Pursuing Peace With Perfect Memory With Frank Healy, LPC
In this episode of Soul Sense from Samaritan's Well, Mark interviews Frank Healy, a Licensed Professional Counselor and life coach with over 40 years of experience who possesses the extraordinary ability to remember every single day of his life from age six to present—nearly 60 years of daily...
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Navigating Grief with Dr. Amanda McNeil
Today's guest, Dr. Amanda McNeil, brings a remarkable combination of academic excellence and hard-won personal experience to the conversation about grief, loss, and healing. With a BA in Psychology from Southeastern University, an MA in Christian Counseling, and a Doctorate in Psychology and...
About this show
From Mark Verkler, the founder of Samaritan's Well, a Christian counselor with over 30 years of experience in teaching, counseling, and leading from a Biblical perspective. This podcast is a culmination of the wisdom he has learned and taught to hundreds over the years. We hope this blesses you and brings you insight into your relationships and your spiritual journey.
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Samaritan's Well
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