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Artwork for Things Above
Christianity
Jesus
Mind Discipleship
Grace
Dallas Willard
God
Spiritual Formation
Addiction
Faith
Gratitude
Spiritual Growth
Psychology
The Gift Of Thorns
Christian Spiritual Formation
Prayer
Spirituality
Desire
Christian Life
Peace
Discipleship

A Community of Learning Centered on Discipleship

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes236Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Religion & SpiritualityChristianity

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Artwork for Things Above

Latest Episodes

James Bryan Smith and Emily P. Freeman announce the launch of the Formation Writers Guild. The guild is a year-long guided journey for writers who sense a vocational call within the field of Christian spiritual formation and want to deepen their fait... more

James Bryan Smith has a Things Above conversation with Liz Hall and Kelly Kapic about their book, “When the Journey Hurts.”

Transform Your Suffering with Tools from Theology, Psychology, and Spiritual Formation

We don’t like pain.

So, we find c... more

James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus.” In this episode, James explains his thought from above, recalling a story about trust and how we can eliminate fear when we have trust.

Interested in d... more

James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this episode is, “We are living in a spiritual world.” This week, James explains how we are all spiritual beings living in a spiritual world. He uses his mornings to practice consonance, which helps him live out... more

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Recent Guests

Elizabeth Hall
Professor of psychology at Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University
Biola University
Episode: Conversation with Liz Hall and Kelly Kapic
Kelly Kapic
Theologian with an honorary chair of theology and culture at Covenant College
Covenant College
Episode: Conversation with Liz Hall and Kelly Kapic
Kelly Flanagan
Author, psychologist
Author of The Road Less Triggered
Episode: Conversation with Dr. Kelly Flanagan
AJ Swoboda
Associate Professor of Theology at Bushnell University, author, and co-host of the Slow Theology Podcast.
Bushnell University
Episode: Conversation with AJ Swoboda and Nijay Gupta
Nijay Gupta
Julius Mante Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary, author, and co-host of the Slow Theology Podcast.
Northern Seminary
Episode: Conversation with AJ Swoboda and Nijay Gupta
Aundi Kolber
Licensed professional counselor, writer and speaker living in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Kolber Counseling
Episode: Conversation with Aundi Kolber
Michael Stewart Robb
Founding director of Sanctus, a European Institute for Theology and Spirituality
Episode: Conversation with Michael Stewart Robb
Dr. Alison Cook
Therapist, author of The Best of You, and co-author of Boundaries for Your Soul
The Best of You Podcast
Episode: Conversation with Alison Cook
Ken Shigematsu
Senior Pastor at 10th Church in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Author
10th Church
Episode: Conversation with Ken Shigematsu

Host

James Bryan Smith
Host of Things Above / The Things Above Podcast; associated with Apprentice Institute / Things Above

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 546 ratings
  • One of my favorite podcasts over the past several years

    I love this podcast. I’ve been listening to it for years, and it has been a gift to me.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    alliburden
    United States7 months ago
  • A treasure trove for deepening faith

    I’ve been listening to Things Above for about a year and a half, having heard about Dr. Smith on Emily P Freeman’s Next Right Thing podcast. I learn something new from every Things Above episode, and especially enjoy the shorter ones where Dr. Smith shares his insights & knowledge and a specific aspect of faith & soul formation. As an ELCA Lutheran, I hadn’t heard or learned much about this topic and truly can’t get enough. The practices, teachings, and insights resonate deeply within me and ar... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ES877
    United Statesa year ago
  • Our Father…

    Today’s ? (Not sure it was just the latest one available) was staring at me when I turned on my phone. Apparently the HS needed me to hear this today. Thank you, Hashtag. Miss you and Megsss ❤️ Randi

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    milliondounuts
    United States2 years ago
  • Introducing a spiritual practice

    I find it very irritating that you don’t explain what a practice is and then describe it. Instead you circle around it! That’s distracting and it’s hard to stay focused on your content.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Blanca V
    United States2 years ago
  • A hopeful voice relevant to those who are authentically seeking to follow Jesus.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    cdaspit
    2 years ago

Listeners Say

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Listeners praise depth, practicality, and compassionate faith guidance.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Conversation with Liz Hall and Kelly Kapic
Q: How do you understand Romans 8:28 in light of suffering?
We argue that the verse should not be read as a blanket guarantee of physical healing or material blessing; rather, it sits within the larger gospel that includes lament, truth-t telling, and being conformed to the image of Christ through suffering.
Conversation with Liz Hall and Kelly Kapic
Q: Can you describe the research process behind the book?
We conducted qualitative interviews with nearly 100 cancer patients, refugees, and various Christian subgroups, developed new measures for the study, and carried out intervention studies on lament and chronic pain to ground our conclusions in empirical data.
Conversation with Liz Hall and Kelly Kapic
Q: Why did you write this book?
We wanted to translate scholarly insights on suffering into practical guidance for ordinary Christians, combining theological depth with psychological research to help people find meaning and hope in tough times.
Conversation with Aundi Kolber
Q: Why did you write this book?
I wrote 'Try Softer' as a love letter to my younger self, hoping it would be helpful for others who are experiencing their own pain and challenges.
Conversation with Michael Stewart Robb
Q: How did Dallas develop that ability to be centered in who he is?
Through practices of solitude and understanding the importance of being grounded in God's presence before public engagements.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Things Above

What is Things Above about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, faith-forward program that blends Christian theology with psychology, spiritual formation, and practical discipleship. Across episodes, listeners encounter topics like suffering, grace, inner healing, and joyful spirituality, with guests ranging from theologians to counselors and theologians who connect faith to daily life. The format often pairs thoughtful exegesis with personal stories, spiritual practices, and guidance for resilient, compassionate living, making it appealing to listeners seeking depth, pastoral insight, and practical faith applications. Its unique angle lies in integrating rigorous study with accessible, pastoral storytelling and a focus on living out beliefs in ordinary life, work, and relationships.

Where can I find podcast stats for Things Above?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Things Above. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Things Above and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Things Above get?

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What are the audience demographics for Things Above?

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How many subscribers and views does Things Above have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Things Above has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Things Above?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Things Above:

1. Life with God: A Renovaré Podcast
2. Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick
3. The Dallas Willard Podcast
4. The Next Right Thing
5. Become New with John Ortberg

How many episodes of Things Above are there?

Things Above launched 8 years ago and published 236 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Things Above?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Things Above?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Things Above from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Things Above?

Recent guests on Things Above include:

1. Elizabeth Hall
2. Kelly Kapic
3. Kelly Flanagan
4. AJ Swoboda
5. Nijay Gupta
6. Aundi Kolber
7. Michael Stewart Robb
8. Dr. Alison Cook

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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