I Used To Think...

4 | Body Image, Beauty, and Being a College Soccer Player

Easton remembers the first time she became aware of her body. After hearing a devastating comment from a fellow classmate in 2nd grade, she began wrestling with deep insecurities over her body image. She carried these insecurities into high school as she started dating for the first time and struggled with persistent acne.
She talks about her life as a collegiate athlete and how it affected her relationship with exercise and health. The episode ends with an intriguing discussion about social media and modern culture's view of beauty.
Easton's story communicates a powerful message: Where we focus our attention and the words of our community, can make all the difference in how we view ourselves as humans - both body and spirit. 

3 | Fyodor, Frodo, and Finding Value

When Erik was 12 years old, he got really sick. Like really sick. His adolescence was characterized by constant vomiting, isolation, and getting lost in books. After surviving thoughts of suicide in high school, he began a long journey of rest and rebellion. Erik tells us how timeless works of literature and the characters within them has helped him to realize a tremendous truth: Loving others is a result of believing that you yourself are loved.
 
References:
- "The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien
- "Inferno" by Dante Alighieri
- "The Great Divorce" by C.S. Lewis
- "Art and Faith: A Theology of Making" by Makoto Fujimura
- "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky
- "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne
 

2.5 | I Used to Think God Wanted My Life, Pt. 2

Part 2 of Episode 2. Miranda talks about her parents' divorce and God's loyal commitment to her well-being.

2 | I Used to Think God Wanted My Life

Cruel Puppetmaster. Distant Recruiter. This is who Miranda assumed God was for a lot of her life. Heaven was a dilemma, because she wanted to die, but she didn't want to meet God.
Miranda talks about how battles with self-worth in 4th grade, her parents' divorce, and an inspiring high school teacher helped her realize that she never gave God a chance to properly introduce Himself.
Miranda's Blog: https://thatnewdirection.blogspot.com/p/thatnewdirection.html

1 | Jazz, Japan, and Jesus

We speak with Tynan about how his 2 year trip to Japan changed his perception of jazz music. We discuss the surprising popularity of jazz music and musicians in Japan and what it's like to walk into a Japanese jazz club. The episode ends with a conversation about spirituality and music, and what makes music religious.

Intro Episode

Hello friends! Welcome to a new podcast called "I Used To Think..." where you'll hear stories of people who were brave enough to change their mind.