University Overwhelm

Scott and Sophia sit down to recap Season 2. They discuss themes they noted in each pastor interview episode, as well as individual nuggets that really resonated with each of them.

If you've skipped around and listened to a few of the episodes, this will be a great listen to you to inspire listening to more episodes. If you've listened to all of the episodes, this will be a great listen for you as they'll likely mention some things you noticed as well!

Scott and Sophia are both vulnerable in this episode about what God has specifically done in their lives through this season.

Scott and Sophia are joined in the studio by the Dillards! Aleah and KD have been involved in FCA for many years. They share their experience in a Parachurch Ministry and how that ministry relates to being plugged into a local church.

KD and Aleah spend time explaining the importance of being plugged into a local church, and how involvement in a parachurch ministry can open up doors for discipleship.

Aleah works in the local Lynchburg area for FCA and KD is a track and field coach for Liberty University.

Finding a healthy church includes being able to discern red flags and signs that a church is, unfortunately, unhealthy.

Scott and Sophia discuss various things church leaders or members may say or do that should raise concerns in our listeners' minds.

This is not a comprehensive list, nor should anyone listen and assume that everything mentioned means they should immediately leave a church if anything discussed happens.

Rather, Scott and Sophia share their thoughts and opinions on how to navigate controversial and/or concerning things in a church, while going to God in prayer for wisdom and discernment.

So you've been going to a local church for a few weeks and you're really liking it! You connect with the style of preaching, you find the leaders and members to be healthy from what you can tell, and you would like to figure out what that church believes.

Scott and Sophia give practical tips on how to find Doctrine Statements, Statements of Faith, Values, etc. on the church's website. As well as breaking down what certain terms mean, the history behind why churches believe what they believe, and the types of questions you can ask the pastor (or any leader in the church) to gain a better understanding.

If this is intimidating to you because you aren't as confident in knowing exactly what you believe, don't worry. This episode is for you! We help walk you through how to develop your own belief system, how to humbly go on this journey, and the healthy things to be on the lookout for that a church should believe.

What is a worldview? How does it get developed? What forms it? What's the difference from a worldview and a Biblical worldview? Do Christians form their Biblical worldview, or does God? Why should college students be thinking about their worldview when they've got enough going on already?

Dr. Van Engen is a Professor at Liberty University and teaches various biblical studies courses. Many of which address the topic of: how do I view the world and where is that perspective coming from?

Join Scott, Sophia, and Dr. Van Engen as they explore the topic of Biblical Worldview and the impact being plugged in to a healthy local church can have on its development.

What does the phrase "get plugged in" even mean?

Churches uses it in various contexts to inspire its members to get involved in serving, or to join small groups, or any number of things.

Scott and Sophia break down their definition of what "get plugged in" means, how they view its importance, and give examples of what it looks like.

This episode is intended to keep things clear for the rest of the season as to what they are referring to when they use the phrase "get plugged in"!

Lukas Hafeli joins Sophia in studio to talk about how to study your Bible!

Lukas shares a method that was taught to him by his pastor years ago. It requires only a notebook and a Bible and can be something you implement in your day immediately.

Sophia shares the Inductive Study Method taught to her when she was in Elementary School that she has stuck with into adulthood. It can be simple or in depth, as well as there are prepared Bible studies that use the method.

Give this episode a listen if you feel lost trying to study your Bible and need some guidance in this area!

Building Healthy Community continued!

Practical tips and tricks for Y O U to know how to build healthy community, and how to let go of unhealthy people in your life. Give this episode a listen if you struggle in this area!

Drew Pelkey joins Scott and Sophia in studio to talk about the book Find Your People by Jennie Allen.

If you struggle with building any type of community, building healthy community, or simply understanding why it even matters, then give this episode a listen. Drew, Scott, and Sophia share information from the book as well as personal insights into the topic.

You make the rules! Sort of....

When it comes to establishing a habit or a discipline, you know yourself better than others. You can read a book where the author gives a tip on how to get to bed earlier, but if that does not work for you, then don't do it! Finding what works best for yourself is half the battle.

You can set the parameters around something and what "counts".

Just because some gymfluencer says that a workout only "counts" if it's an hour long doesn't mean you have to adopt that mentality. You get to choose what "counts".

Give this episode a listen if you struggle with defining what types of parameters need to be set around your habits and disciplines!

There are some buzz words that start off with the proper definition attached, but then quickly slide into whatever the cultural use becomes. Gaslighting* started off as the understanding that when someone is correct about something and they are talking to someone else who is disregarding the facts and is focused instead on making the person think they are crazy for thinking that way.

Now, it has become anyone that makes a person feel uncomfortable in a conversation or someone that disagrees with us.

Scott and Sophia talk about gaslighting, and how they would counter the current cultural definition of gaslighting as, more often than not, simply poor communication. Why? Well, listen to the episode to get their take on things!

*with the understanding that there are true gaslighting moments. Scott and Sophia do not disregard that in the slightest. Simply another perspective for moments that are frustrating, but do not happen to be gaslighting.

Sophia has a new soapbox that she's standing on and it's the topic of Discernment! Scott and Sophia discuss discernment in the context of cancel culture. Should we throw out an entire book that someone published if some of the theology is questionable? Should we call for someone to lose their platform because we disagree with them? What music should we as believers listen to?

Discernment is incredibly important, but how do you develop a healthy amount of it? Listen to this week's episode to find out!

Problem Solving continued! Joe Ruiz is still with Scott and Sophia chatting about Problem Solving as well as conversations he's had with students over the years.....

Scott and Sophia are joined in the studio by Joe Ruiz! He is a Senior Associate Director in the Office of Community Life alongside Sophia and Scott. Joe has worked in the education field for many years, and shares his insight on the skill of problem solving, as well as some areas that he sees students struggling in.

The three of them talked for so long, this episode had to get split in two! Make sure and catch Part 2 to hear the rest of their conversation.

Scott and Sophia have differing opinions when it comes to personality tests. Sophia loves them and thinks they are extremely helpful in creating self-awareness. Scott......has many thoughts on how people hide behind their results to justify their unhealthy behavior.

Give this episode a listen to hear different perspectives regarding personality tests, how they can be used for good, and also cautions against them.

The phrase "Our Identity is in Christ" is one that gets used within Christian circles on a regular basis. The issue with that is it can lose its meaning and impact.

On this episode, Scott and Sophia bring in a different perspective. They discuss the impact on our minds and hearts when our identity is in nothing, or it is in things that are fluid like what the popular kids decide is cool, what social media trend is currently acceptable, what body image issues our friends have that we take on, etc.

Give this episode a listen to hear Scott and Sophia's takes on building a firm foundation in the Lord, and how to recognize when outside sources are trying to suck us in.

Discussions surrounding technology tend to heavily focus on the negative. Scott and Sophia talk about the positives AND the negatives! How you can use your phone to HELP you get homework done. How to set boundaries so that you can enjoy technology instead of feeling guilty. And how to look at it as a tool instead of a hindrance!

Give this episode a listen for inspiration and ideas in regards to positive technology usage!

Identity is a hot topic on Tik Tok and Instagram. Labels are either something we cling to, or reject.

In an age when the social media comparison game can throw us off course at any given moment, having a firm foundation of knowing who we are is vital. Our identity will be in something. Whether that be Christ or a personality test type, or something the world has decided is "good enough." Do you want to explore what the possibilities of having it in Christ are?

Sophia and Scott discuss this topic in today's episode.

If you are the type of person who has a long to-do list at any given time, but never feels like you've accomplished anything of worth....then this episode is for you!

Deep Work by Cal Newport is the book discussed by Scott and Sophia on today's episode. They dive in to the concept of dividing up tasks into 2 categories: Deep Work and Shallow Work. If it's something that requires your full attention, with little to no distractions like a podcast or someone interrupting you, then it's Deep Work. If you can do the task while listening to something, having a conversation with a friend, or stopping and restarting with no issues, then it's Shallow Work.

How to differentiate the 2; how to utilize Deep Work to help with things like homework, goals, and a job; and how to end the day feeling as though you accomplished things of worth are all shared in this episode. Give it a listen if you struggle in these areas!

It's in the silence that our brains finally have the chance to process what we've been avoiding.....

So, it makes sense that we avoid the silence. Processing tough conversations, a stressful assignment coming up, how to talk to that girl or boy we like, or even just the heavy feelings we grapple with day in and day out are all things we'd naturally rather NOT dwell on or think about. Inviting silence into our days means inviting uncomfortable moments. And who wants that?

Scott and Sophia discuss the concept of Being Still, why it matters, and how, over time, it can become a calming and comfortable experience. Give this episode a listen if a sense of overwhelm hits you at just the thought of sitting in silence for a few minutes.

College life is filled with endless virtual interactions, but here's why it's crucial to break the digital barrier and have meaningful in-person conversations:

1. Embrace Genuine Connections: Texting lacks the depth and nuances that in-person conversations offer. Engaging face-to-face allows for authentic connections, genuine emotions, and a chance to truly understand each other.

2. Non-Verbal Cues Speak Louder: Words alone can't capture everything. Facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice convey a wealth of information. Speaking in person ensures a more comprehensive understanding and helps prevent misinterpretations.

3. Boost Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: In-person conversations encourage empathy and emotional intelligence by fostering active listening and genuine responses. Connecting on a deeper level helps develop vital interpersonal skills that will benefit you personally and professionally.

Give this episode a listen to hear more!

The brain does not have infinite resources. The trick to developing your ability to focus is reducing the number of things your brain must expend energy on and increasing your brain’s capacity for cognitive control, which “allows your mind to override your impulses and helps you make decisions based on your goals, rather than your habits or reactions.”

Scott and Sophia dive into an important topic: focus. How can we develop a healthy attention span? What methods help to reduce distractions? Is multitasking better than monotasking? If you would like to increase your attention span, or want to listen in on why you should care, give this episode a listen!

Links discussed in the episode:

https://healthcaremba.gwu.edu/blog/how-to-increase-attention-span/

https://study.com/academy/lesson/cognitive-control-definition-processes.html

https://www.newsweek.com/increase-attention-span-causes-distractions-improvement-1691406

Scott and Sophia know that setting goals can seem like a daunting task, but they want to encourage you to take the leap and start setting them for yourself. In this episode, they share how goal-setting is an essential aspect of personal and professional growth, that it can be incredibly motivating to work towards something you truly want to achieve, that goals can give you a sense of purpose and direction, and that you can break down big, intimidating objectives into smaller, more manageable tasks that will help you move closer to your ultimate goal.

They share personal stories about how when they saw progress, it was a huge confidence boost, and they were able to feel the satisfaction of achieving something they had worked hard for.

They focus on how goal-setting allows you to prioritize your time and energy. It helps you to identify what is truly important to you and where you want to focus your efforts. This can help you to make decisions more efficiently and effectively, and ultimately lead to greater success and happiness.

Social media can be a double-edged sword for college students, providing a platform for connection and self-expression while also fueling anxiety, depression, and loneliness. The constant comparison to others' highlight reels can lead to feelings of inadequacy, while the pressure to curate a perfect online persona can be exhausting.

But where does God fit in all of this?  How does social media impact our relationship with Him?  Should social media have anything to do with God or religion?  Sophia and Scott discuss these points in this week’s episode.

Having difficult conversations can be uncomfortable, but it's necessary for growth, understanding, and building stronger relationships. Scott and Sophia dive in to this topic by sharing their experiences, as well as tips and tricks on how to have healthy conversations, that are also tough, uncomfortable, or difficult.

Give this episode a listen if you find yourself avoiding having difficult conversations, or if you have them but don't find them to be successful or healthy.

Welcome to University Overwhelm! Scott Busby and Sophia Payne talk through all kinds of topics, issues, and/or struggles that can cause a University Student to be overwhelmed.

Don't know how to set boundaries with your parents? Need to talk to your roommate about their cleaning habits? Frustrated with yourself for not following through on your goals? Then give this podcast a listen!