The Faith Filled Therapy Podcast

How does faith shape the brain? Can neuroscience help us understand spiritual growth? And what does epigenetics have to do with transformation?
In this episode of the Faith-Filled Therapy Podcast, Jo Hargreaves is joined by author, speaker and leadership expert Dr Chuck Coker to explore the fascinating intersection of neuroscience, psychology and biblical wisdom.
Together, they discuss emotional intelligence, spiritual formation, Gen Z’s search for authenticity, the science of worship, and how God’s design for spirit, soul and body points us towards wholeness. Chuck also shares insights from his book, A God-Shaped Mind: The Neuroscientific Path to Spiritual Maturity, which explores spiritual development through both Scripture and brain science.
Key Takeaways
Faith and neuroscience don’t have to be competing conversations. Jo and Chuck explore how our understanding of the brain can offer another lens through which to consider spiritual growth and transformation. 
We are designed as whole people. The conversation considers the interconnectedness of spirit, soul, brain and body, and what that means for living a full and flourishing life. 
Spiritual maturity is an ongoing process. Chuck explores stages of spiritual development and how growth can shape the way we think, relate to others and invest in the next generation. His book develops this journey from “spiritual infant” through to “spiritual parent.” 
Emotional intelligence and spiritual formation are deeply connected. Chuck and Jo discuss emotional intelligence alongside the Fruit of the Spirit and the role relationships play in our development. 
Neuroplasticity and epigenetics open up fascinating questions about transformation. Chuck explains his understanding of how our experiences and spiritual formation interact with biological processes. 
Gen Z is looking for authenticity, not perfection. Chuck reflects on a generation seeking truth and reality, and on a God whose love is based on relationship rather than performance. 
Community and discipleship matter. Transformation isn't simply about acquiring information. Chuck emphasises intimacy, accountability and meaningful relationships as important parts of spiritual maturity. 
About Dr Chuck Coker
Dr Charles “Chuck” Coker, PhD, DMin, SPHR, is the founder and CEO of LifeThrive Performance Systems and has more than 35 years of experience across leadership, teaching and ministry. His work brings together neuroscience, psychology and biblical wisdom to help people grow emotionally, spiritually and personally. 
He is also the founder of Yesha Ministries and author of A God-Shaped Mind: The Neuroscientific Path to Spiritual Maturity, which explores how brain science and biblical truth intersect in the journey towards spiritual maturity.
Connect with Chuck & Resources
Website: ChuckCoker.com 
Book: A God-Shaped Mind: The Neuroscientific Path to Spiritual Maturity
Chuck’s book is available now in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Walmart and Target as places where listeners can find it. 
If you’d like to watch the video version of the podcast, you can watch it on YouTube here: YouTube Link

Special resource for Faith-Filled Therapy listeners:
Purchase a copy of Dr Chuck Coker’s A God-Shaped Mind and send a screenshot of your proof of purchase to cwcoker@lifethrive.com to receive a complimentary 16-week Bible study designed to accompany the book. 
For free resources, reflections, and regular encouragement, come join me over on Substack. You’ll also find the option to subscribe to The Faith-Filled Collective — a monthly space for women who are pursuing wholeness and holiness. 
You can also find my e-books and webinar links here
Love and hope
Jo

Exploring the Mind-Body Connection with Dr. Lee Warren
Join us in this insightful episode as Dr. Lee Warren, a renowned neurosurgeon, shares his unique perspective on neuroscience, faith, and mental well-being. Discover how understanding the brain can deepen our spiritual walk and improve mental health.In this episode:
 
The role of neuroplasticity and how deliberate mental practices can reshape our brains
Practical strategies for self-regulation based on Scripture and neuroscience
The fascinating interface of mind, brain, and spiritual life
How suffering can refine us and give purpose, supported by biblical perspective
The impact of hope on neurochemistry and resilience
Exploring the concept of the mind’s location and its connection to eternity
The significance of wonder and awe in mental health and spiritual life
 
Key Takeaways:
 
Dr. Warren’s blend of neuroscience and faith points to the importance of managing thoughts through intentionality and the biblical practice of taking every thought captive.
The “self-brain surgery” metaphor emphasises deliberate mental strategies to address emotional and spiritual health.
The reticular activating system filters our perceptions; belief modifies the signals we focus on, shaping our reality.
Moments of wonder and awe, especially in the right brain hemisphere, are vital for mental health and spiritual connection.
Hope activates motivational neurochemicals, empowering us to undertake meaningful change, even in suffering.
The biblical concept of “renewing the mind” aligns with neuroplasticity principles—changing thought patterns through deliberate action.
The distinction between mind and brain underscores that thoughts are not exclusively generated by physical brain activity, offering hope and freedom.
Suffering, when reframed, can lead to character development and hope, as supported by both Scripture and science.
 
Dr. Lee Warren's Website
 
Self Brain Surgery Book 
Lectio 365 Prayer App
Podcast
Substack Newsletter
 
For free resources, reflections, and regular encouragement, come join me over on Substack. You’ll also find the option to subscribe to The Faith-Filled Collective — a monthly space for women who are pursuing wholeness and holiness. 
You can also find my e-books and webinar links here
Love and hope
Jo

Hello to you. 
After a short break, the podcast returns with an honest and gently reflective episode about waking up feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and physically on edge. From that real-life moment, this conversation explores what it means to regulate your nervous system in a way that is both deeply therapeutic and rooted in faith.
Blending neuroscience with scripture, you’ll be guided through simple, grace-filled practices like breath prayer, gratitude, singing, and getting outside, reminding you that your body isn’t a barrier to God, but part of how you were designed to heal, connect, and feel safe.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in your head, weighed down by anxiety, or simply exhausted, this episode offers a gentle reminder: you make sense, and there is a way through.
For free resources, reflections, and regular encouragement, come join me over on Substack. You’ll also find the option to subscribe to The Faith-Filled Collective — a monthly space for women who are pursuing wholeness and holiness. 
You can also find my e-books and webinar links here
Love and hope
Jo

In this episode, Jo Hargreaves, faith-filled therapist and writer, is joined by Dr Perrianne Brownback for a thoughtful conversation about the left and right hemispheres of the brain, moving beyond pop-psychology myths into something far richer and more meaningful.
Together, they explore how simplistic ideas about being “left-brained” or “right-brained” have been largely debunked, while also uncovering the profound truth that how our brain processes the world really does matter. Drawing on the work of psychiatrist and philosopher Ian McGilchrist, this conversation looks at the distinct roles of each hemisphere, and why the left hemisphere was never designed to operate independently, but to be guided and interpreted through the right.
This episode invites listeners to reconsider how they think, perceive, and make meaning, not just cognitively, but relationally and spiritually. It’s a grounding, curiosity-stirring conversation that connects neuroscience, lived experience, and faith, offering a deeper understanding of how we attend to the world, to God, and to ourselves. 
You can follow Perianne's work here and purchase her book here
For free resources, reflections, and regular encouragement, come join me over on Substack. You’ll also find the option to subscribe to The Faith-Filled Collective — a monthly space for women who are pursuing wholeness and holiness. 
You can also find my e-books and webinar links here
Love and hope
Jo

Keywords

Faith, Therapy, Biblical Meditation, Neuroscience, Mental Health, Spiritual Growth, Peace, Mindfulness, God's Word, Self-Understanding

Summary

In this episode of the Faith Filled Therapy podcast, Jo Hargreaves discusses the significance of biblical meditation and its impact on mental health and spiritual growth. She shares her personal journey with God's word, emphasizing the importance of taking scripture at face value and the therapeutic benefits of meditation. Jo explores the neuroscience behind meditation, explaining how it can rewire the brain and promote peace. She encourages listeners to integrate biblical meditation into their daily lives, highlighting its transformative power.

Here's the link to the beautiful poster by Nick at The Christian Poster Company 
Here's the booking link to this months webinar with Dr Lee Warren  
Here's the link to my substack 

For free resources, reflections, and regular encouragement, come join me over on Substack. You’ll also find the option to subscribe to The Faith-Filled Collective — a monthly space for women who are pursuing wholeness and holiness. 
You can also find my e-books and webinar links here
Love and hope
Jo