The Eremos Podcast
by EREMOS
The official podcast of EREMOS, a Nashville based nonprofit, explores faith, spirituality, and emotional health in the 21st century. Hosted by cofounders Zach (a spiritual director and life coach) and Brian (a therapist and former preacher), the show blends wisdom, authenticity, and humor to explore faith, grief, resilience, and finding purpose. Rooted in contemplation and community, this is your space for connection, growth, and healing. Whether you’re rethinking faith, seeking encouragement, or simply looking for deeper connection, you are welcome here!
Episodes
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Journey of Grief #5 I James and Vangie Hunter
My adopted dad recently passed away as I was already working on thoughts to share about my adopted mom who died 6 years ago. So, I put them all together. "Don't wait until I'm dead to give me flowers!" Outline: 00:46 --Intro 4:06--Honoring James/Dad 17:51--Honoring Vangie/Mom 28:53--A Fitting...
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The Orthodox Faith, Art, and Hagiography with Laura Wilson
Brian talks with Laura Wilson about her Ph.D. dissertation on St. Dominica, an early deaconess in the church. Get a general intro to the Orthodox church as they discuss Icons and church history. Learn about Hagiography. Laura's undergrad degree in Art with a minor in Greek influenced her…
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God Doesn’t Want to Ctrl+Alt+Delete You | Deconstruct with Jesus # 7
Welcome back! In this episode of the DwJ series, Zach and Brian explore chapters 6–8 of Deconstruct with Jesus: “Take Me Back to Eden,” “The Wounded Healer,” and “We’re in the Endgame Now.”They unpack the opening chapters of Genesis—not as a science debate, but as a poetic, theological vision of...
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We're Back. Sad News!
After a long hiatus, Zach and Brian reconnect to reflect on where they’ve been, what’s going on, and how they’re navigating life lately. In this episode, they talk about dealing with sad news—from personal losses to the daily weight of the world—and share an honest conversation about how to stay...
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Paul Needs A Hug! | Deconstruct with Jesus # 6
Welcome back! In this episode of the DwJ series, Zach and Brian dive into Chapter 5, “Paul Needs a Hug.” They explore how the theology behind "total depravity" has shaped the way many Christians view themselves—and why it might be time to let it go. Through humor, honesty, and deep reflection…
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Does God Get What God Wants? | Deconstruct with Jesus # 5
In this episode, Zach and Brian continue their series on Deconstruct with Jesus, diving into Chapter 4: No Whipping Boy, No Mermaid, Just Love. This discussion explores how our understanding of God’s justice and love is often shaped by atonement theories—particularly penal substitutionary...
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You DON'T Have All The Answers! | Deconstruct with Jesus # 4
In this episode, Zachary and Brian continue the discussion on Zach's book, Deconstruct with Jesus, diving into Chapter 3. They explore how faith isn't about having all the right answers but about learning to sit with the unknown. From theological debates to personal experiences, they discuss how...
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Your God Sucks! | Deconstruct with Jesus # 3
In this episode of the Eremos Podcast, Zach and Brian dive into Chapter 2 of Deconstruct with Jesus—The God I Don’t Believe In. They tackle the gods they were handed—the vengeful, the transactional, the distant—and why rejecting those gods doesn’t mean rejecting God altogether. What if the God...
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You Need to Repent! | Deconstruct with Jesus # 2
In the second episode of the series, Zach and Brian dive into the real meaning ofrepentance. It’s not about guilt or shame—it’s about rethinking everything. They explore Jesus’ call to “repent” (Mark 1:15) as an invitation to deconstruct unhealthy beliefs and embrace transformation. Timestamps:...
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The Journey of Grief #4 I Lisa's Story (Brendan)
Lisa shares the story of her son Brendan, who died from an accidental overdose on fentanyl. It's a story of courage, continuing when it's dark, and healing. "Nobody Grieves Perfectly" is a statement we agreed on. Lisa appreciated her therapist reminded her, "Of Course!?" Lisa and I led some...
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Deconstruction Without Losing Faith | Deconstruct with Jesus #1
In this kickoff episode of The Eremos Podcast series on Zach's new book, Deconstruct with Jesus, hosts Zach and Brian discuss the inspiration behind the book, the journey of faith and doubt, and why deconstruction doesn’t have to mean walking away from God. They explore how Jesus actually...
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Deconstruction and AI with Scott Simpson (Part 2)
Deconstruction and AI with Scott Simpson, Part 2 of 2 Part 1 was published on Monday, January 13th. We continue the discussion on deconstruction, Scott's use of AI in creating this album, have a tangent on Parker Palmer, and more. Hear two more songs from the upcoming album, which will be…
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Deconstruction and AI with Scott Simpson (Part 1 of 2)
Educator, poet, and musician Scott Simpson sat down with Brian and Paula to talk about his deconstruction journey, and how he has used AI to create a Deconstruction Manifesto and an album about deconstructing. Scott Simpson Music Hymnautica A Manifesto for Deconstructed Christianity By Scott...
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Christmas Mailbag: Advent Adventures & Holiday Musings
In this festive episode of The Eremos Podcast, Zach, Brian, and Kayla dive into a fun and thoughtful Christmas mailbag Q&A. From humorous hypotheticals to meaningful reflections, this episode has it all. Highlights include: Rudolph vs. Frosty: Who would win in a showdown, and does Rudolph's nose...
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The Journey of Grief #3 | Tom's Story (Dora & Nora)
Tom shares about the loss of his mother 60 years ago and the death of his granddaughter from a brain tumor. From his wealth of experience with grief and ministry, he talks about what’s helpful and not helpful to say to those who are grieving, how faith and faith communities blessed him during the...
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Advent for the "at least average Intelligence"
Zach and Brian welcome Kayla (EREMOS founding board member and Zach's wife) as they engage in a thoughtful and reflective (and sometimes silly) conversation about the holiday season, particularly focusing on Advent as a potential antidote to the stress, grief, and challenges that often accompany...
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The Journey of Grief # 2 | Jenna's Story (David)
In this second episode of the series, Jenna shares her journey of grief following the loss of her ex-husband in 2022, shortly after the family discovered he had a brain tumor. Brian and Jenna discuss the experience of grieving both with family and in solitude, near-death experiences, dream...
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Processing The 2024 Presidential Election Results
In this solo episode, Zach takes a moment to process the 2024 Presidential election results with you, sharing some personal reflections on the ups and downs of post-election emotions. Whether you’re feeling disappointed or hopeful, let’s talk about how to hold space for both perspectives as…
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Finding Serenity in Election Week
Finding Serenity in Election Week As election week 2024 unfolds, Zach and Brian tackle the question of how to engage with the news and political conversations in a way that protects our mental, emotional, and spiritual health. What does it look like for a grounded person of faith to navigate this...
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Halloween Mail Bag: Zach and Brian Get Spooky
In this special Halloween-themed episode, Zach and Brian dive into the Christian origins of Halloween, exploring the holiday’s spiritual roots and how it evolved into the celebration we know today. They also open up their “fan mail” to answer some fun, spooky questions: from favorite Halloween...
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Using The Fruit Test To Discern God's Voice
In this laid-back conversation, Zach and Brian unpack the "fruit test," inspired by Matthew 6 and Ignatian discernment. The Bible isn’t always as clear as we’d like, but don't worry! It'’s all about paying attention to the Fruit of the Spirit and remembering that God is love—so if something isn’t...
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The Journey of Grief #1 | Brian Nicklaus & Paula Harrington
Brian and Paula engage in a transparent discussion about the lives and deaths of their parents, exploring the lasting impact of early parental loss and dealing with a parent suffering from alcoholism and bipolar disorder. Key themes in their conversation include faith, shame, and healing, as well...
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Story Time With Brian and Zach
Welcome back to the pod! In Episode Two, Brian and Zach each tell their faith story. Brian shares his experiences growing up around the church, how living overseas and being trained as a therapist have impacted his journey, and how he now understands it. Zach shares his journey from a...
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Welcome to The Podcast!
Welcome to the Eremos podcast! In the inaugural episode, Zach and Brian discuss: A brief history of their friendship How the Eremos nonprofit came to be The meaning behind the word eremos and the values/mission of the organization Introductory thoughts on deconstruction, contemplative...
About this show
The official podcast of EREMOS, a Nashville based nonprofit, explores faith, spirituality, and emotional health in the 21st century. Hosted by cofounders Zach (a spiritual director and life coach) and Brian (a therapist and former preacher), the show blends wisdom, authenticity, and humor to explore faith, grief, resilience, and finding purpose. Rooted in contemplation and community, this is your space for connection, growth, and healing. Whether you’re rethinking faith, seeking encouragement, or simply looking for deeper connection, you are welcome here!
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EREMOS
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