What I DO Believe

Episode SummaryIt’s been a minute. I’m back with a new direction for the show. More conversations instead of monologues, with a focus on humor, hope, and depth.In this episode, I’m joined by my friend, Julianna Tate Zoch, an Ignatian trained spiritual director and fellow MDiv. We talk about what it looks like to keep believing by staying open to possibility, even when certainty changes.Along the way we explore power, vocation, grief, spiritual freedom, and the quiet ways new life keeps showing up after loss.We close with the poem that gave this episode its name, Traveler, There Is No Path.GuestJulianna Tate ZochJulianna’s WebsiteReferencesMatthew McConaughey on the Blocks Podcast with Neal Brennan“Traveler, There Is No Path” (commonly attributed to Antonio Machado)th” (commonly attributed to Antonio Machado) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zacharybryant.substack.com

🎙 Episode 7 – Why I Hate Hot TakesHot takes are everywhere—and not just from the usual suspects.In this episode of What I Do Believe, I talk about why hot takes frustrate me so much, not only when they come from culture warriors, fundamentalists, or angry atheists, but even when I see them from thoughtful people I normally respect. Quick outrage and snappy one-liners might get attention, but they don’t build understanding. They just pile more noise onto the noise.I share my own story of getting caught up in hot-take culture back in 2020—firing off posts and callouts from a place of anger—and how a simple question from Kayla made me realize I was losing my voice instead of helping people actually listen. From there, I explore why “calling people out” rarely leads to change and how the way forward is learning to call people in instead.In this episode:​Why hot takes are addictive but rarely helpful​How call-out culture builds audiences on anger instead of healing​The difference between calling people out and calling people in​What I’ve learned from my own experience of losing my voice onlineWhy relationships and listening change people more than arguments ever willIf you’ve ever felt stuck in cycles of outrage—or wondered if there’s a better way to share what you believe—this episode is for you.🔗 Links & Resources🌐 Website – whatidobelieve.com📰 Substack – Zachary Bryant📖 Zach’s Book: Deconstruct with Jesus — Get it on Amazon👉 If this episode resonates, subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who might need to hear it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zacharybryant.substack.com

🎙 Episode 6 – Can We Let the Church Die?What if faithfulness doesn’t always mean staying loyal to an institution?In this episode of What I Do Believe, I talk honestly about why I haven’t been part of an institutional church for years—and why I don’t feel guilty about it. While I still experience God in silence, prayer, and small contemplative communities, I no longer feel the need to keep the larger church “on life support.”I name the common “shoulds” people use—like community, teaching, accountability, and sacraments—and share why I’ve found those things in other, more life-giving spaces. Then I wrestle with the bigger critique: that leaving the church is unfaithful. Maybe the more faithful response is to accept that the institution is dying and trust in resurrection.In this episode:Why community, teaching, accountability, and sacraments don’t only exist in church buildingsHow loyalty arguments and “faithfulness” often miss the pointWhy the institutional church feels more like life support than resurrectionWhy letting go of the institution might be the first step toward new lifeHow God shows up outside the walls of the churchIf you’ve stepped away from church—or wondered if it’s okay to—this episode might help you name your experience without shame and see faithfulness in a new way.🔗 Links & Resources🌐 Website – whatidobelieve.com👉 If this episode resonates, subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who might need to hear it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zacharybryant.substack.com

🎙 Episode 5 – Am I Just Believing in the God I Want?One of the most common critiques I hear is that I’m just “making up God the way I want Him to be.”In this episode of What I Do Believe, I slow down to unpack that pushback. I name the assumptions underneath it—like the idea that desire equals deception, or that believing in love is the easy way out—and why those assumptions don’t actually hold up.Because the truth is, believing that God is love doesn’t make life simpler. It forces me to let go of certainty, superiority, and control. It means learning to trust worth that’s rooted in love, not in comparison. And it means rethinking what faithfulness really looks like when it’s not measured by endless “shoulds.”In this episode:​Why “wanting God to be loving” isn’t self-deception​How everyone cherry-picks scripture (and why honesty matters more than pretending not to)​Why love is actually harder than judgment​The difference between “shoulds” that weigh you down and “coulds” that give life​Why the so-called “slippery slope” can actually lead deeper into faith, hope, and loveIf you’ve ever been told you’re just making God in your own image, this episode might give you language and freedom to believe in love anyway.🔗 Links & Resources🌐 Website – whatidobelieve.com👉 If this episode resonates, subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who might need to hear it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zacharybryant.substack.com

🎙 Episode 4 – There’s No Proof God Exists. But I Still Believe in God Because I Want To.If we can’t prove God exists—and can’t prove God doesn’t—what’s left? For me, it comes down to this: I believe in God because I want to.In this episode, I talk about the freedom that comes from letting go of certainty and bulletproof arguments. Instead of faith being about “being right,” it’s about desire—wanting a God who is like Jesus, who is fully present in humanity, and who is making all things new.Along the way, I share how my understanding of prayer has shifted. These days, it’s less about talking and more about paying attention—being present to myself, so I can notice how God is present to me.In this episode:Why I no longer try to “prove” or “defend” God’s existenceHow desire, not certainty, is what keeps me holding on to faithWhy believing in a God like Jesus challenges me as much as it comforts meHow my prayer life has changed from talking at God to listening with GodIf you’ve ever felt unsure about what you believe but still wanted to believe, this episode is for you.🔗 Links & Resources🌐 Website – whatidobelieve.com📰 Substack – Zachary Bryant👉 If this episode resonates, subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who might need to hear it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zacharybryant.substack.com

🎙 Episode 3 – I’m Agnostic… JK I’m Not!Can you go through a second round of deconstruction without losing your faith completely? What if belief isn’t about being certain—it’s about choosing what kind of story you want to live?In this episode, Zach reflects on the past several months of quietly rethinking everything—again. From a fresh wave of doubt to a growing sympathy with agnosticism, he talks honestly about what it’s like to feel unsure about everything… and still choose belief anyway.Rather than defend faith or define God, Zach shares how belief has become less about answers and more about intentional trust. It’s not about being right. It’s about living like love, grace, and resurrection are real—even if you can’t prove it.​Why agnosticism makes sense—but still doesn’t feel like home​How belief can be a choice rooted in honesty, not certainty​Why living like grace is true might be more important than “being right” about anythingIf you’ve ever said, “I don’t know what I believe anymore,” this episode might help you find permission to believe anyway.🔗 Links & Resources​Join the Community: eremos.community​Support the Show: eremosnashville.com/donate​📖 Zach’s Book – Deconstruct with Jesus: Get it on Amazon👉 If this episode resonates, hit subscribe, rate the show, and leave a quick review. It helps more people find the podcast. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zacharybryant.substack.com

🎙 Episode 2 – God Is Already HereHave you ever felt like faith is about bringing God to people? What if God is already everywhere—in everything, in everyone?In this episode of What I Do Believe, Zach unpacks a major shift in his spiritual journey: moving from a mindset of bringing God to recognizing where God already is. Instead of seeing faith as a mission to "deliver" truth, Zach now approaches it as an ongoing discovery of the divine in every person and place—no exceptions.He shares personal experiences, biblical meditations, and a surprising encounter with Buddhist wisdom that reshaped his understanding of faith. Looking at Matthew 25, Jesus’ interactions with outsiders, and his own journey, Zach challenges us to rethink what it means to be aware of God's presence.🔹 Faith isn’t about getting closer to God—it’s about becoming aware of how close God already is.🔹 What if truth, goodness, and wisdom aren’t limited to just one tradition?🔹 Are we missing divine encounters because we assume God isn’t in certain people or places?If you're ready to move beyond religious gatekeeping and step into an expansive view of faith, this episode is for you.🔗 Links & Resources🌍 Join the Community: eremos.community💡 Support the Show: eremosnashville.com/donate📖 Zach’s Book – Deconstruct with Jesus: Get it on Amazon📚 Book Mentioned: The Art of Communicating – Get it on Amazon💬 Follow & Connect with Zach & EREMOS📸 Instagram: @eremosnashville📢 Zach's Personal Instagram: @bryantzacharyd🎵 Music by Ivan Elsasser, originally for @Symbology-Cinematics (YouTube)👉 If this episode resonated with you, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review! It helps others find the show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zacharybryant.substack.com

🎙 Welcome to the very first episode of What I DO Believe!Have you really moved on, or are you still keeping tabs? In this debut episode, Zachary Bryant challenges a common post-deconstruction trap—staying emotionally tethered to what we’ve left behind. Whether it’s fundamentalism, evangelicalism, or megachurch culture, many who have "moved on" still find themselves caught in a cycle of reactionary content, endlessly critiquing their past rather than stepping into something new.Zach shares his personal journey with this, why he believes constant criticism keeps people stuck, and how focusing only on what we don’t believe can prevent us from fully embracing what we do. Instead of just deconstructing, this podcast is about discovering where life, love, and God truly are.And yes—moving forward might even mean forgiveness. Not for those who caused harm, but for our own freedom.If you’re ready to stop looking back and start moving forward, welcome! 🔗 Links & Resources​EREMOS Website: eremosnashville.com​Support The Show: eremosnashville.com/donate​Join the Online Community: eremos.community📖 Zach’s Book: Deconstruct With Jesus​Get it on Amazon: Deconstruct with Jesus💬 Follow & Connect with Zach & EREMOS​Zach's Instagram: @bryantzacharyd​Eremos Instagram: @yourhandle🎵 Music by Ivan Elsasser, originally for @Symbology-Cinematics (YouTube).👉 If this episode resonated with you, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review! It helps others find the show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zacharybryant.substack.com