In this episode of Soul Care, Brian Sturtz sits down with Allison Pugh — sociologist, Professor at Johns Hopkins University, and author of The Last Human Job — for a thoughtful conversation about what it means to remain human in an age increasingly shaped by AI, automation, and productivity culture.

Together they explore the importance of “connective labor” — the deeply human work of listening, comforting, recognizing, and caring for others. The conversation touches on loneliness, burnout, dignity, healthcare, chaplaincy, technology, and the spiritual hunger many people carry beneath the surface of modern life.

What happens when efficiency becomes more valued than presence? Can empathy be automated? And why do people long so deeply to be truly seen?

This episode offers a reflective and hopeful conversation for caregivers, leaders, healthcare workers, pastors, and anyone trying to cultivate deeper presence in a distracted world.

Listen in for a rich discussion on soul care, human connection, and the sacredness of attention.

In this episode of Soul Care in Real Life, Brian sits down with Dr. Carmen Imes, Old Testament scholar and author of Bearing God’s Name and Being God’s Image, for a conversation that is both grounding and quietly disruptive.

Together, they revisit the Old Testament—not as a relic of the past, but as a living invitation to rethink who we are and how we live. Dr. Imes helps untangle common misunderstandings about God’s wrath and love, revealing a vision of God that is deeply relational, holy, and committed to human flourishing.

The conversation takes a surprising turn into one of the most misunderstood commandments—“taking God’s name in vain.” What if it’s less about what we say and more about how we live? What if bearing God’s name is a calling that reshapes our speech, our leadership, and our presence in a fractured cultural moment?

At the heart of it all is a powerful, clarifying truth: to be human is to be made in the image of God. That identity carries both dignity and responsibility. It pushes back against dehumanization and invites a way of life marked by integrity, humility, and care for others.

This episode offers a steady, hope-filled vision for navigating a tense and uncertain world—rooted not in fear, but in a deeper understanding of God’s character and our shared calling.

If you’ve ever wrestled with the relevance of the Old Testament or wondered what it really means to live as God’s image in everyday life, this conversation opens up fresh and meaningful ground.

Takeaways

• Exploring faith and spirituality in real life
• Understanding the Old Testament and its relevance to our lives Intrinsic worth and value of every human being
• The relevance and importance of the Old Testament in understanding human identity and purpose

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to SoulCare in Real Life
• 05:05 Misrepresenting God's Name and Image
• 12:25 Cultural Moment and Reshaping Speech and Leadership
• 21:34 The Image of God and Human Dignity
• 28:51 Cultural Tensions and Hope in Scripture

In this episode of Soul Care in Real Life, Brian sits down with Dr. Thomas Jay Oord—a leading voice in contemporary theology and one of the most influential thinkers shaping conversations about God, love, and human freedom today.

Dr. Oord invites us into a deeper understanding of love as the defining reality of God—not as control or coercion, but as relational, uncontrolling, and always working for the good. Drawing from his work in open and relational theology, he explores what it means to live in a world where God does not override suffering but faithfully participates with us in it.

Together, the conversation wrestles with questions many carry quietly:

• Where is God in suffering and tragedy?
• What does it mean to trust a God who doesn’t control everything?
• How can love shape the way we respond to pain, uncertainty, and others?

This episode offers both intellectual depth and pastoral care, creating space for listeners to reflect on their own experiences of faith, doubt, and hope. Whether you’re navigating loss, asking hard theological questions, or simply longing for a more compassionate vision of God, this conversation opens a path toward a more honest and life-giving faith.

Learn more about Dr. Oord's work at the Center for Open and Relational Theology - here