Abstract Essay podcast | Listen online for free

639 episodes

Abstract Essay, in its sixth season, features Tom Anderson—author, God-pursuer, and collector of friends, helping people rediscover who they are through grace, belonging, and a relational view of God—as my guest. In this episode, we explore a deeply personal and transformative journey of identity, faith, and connection. Tom Anderson shares his perspective on moving beyond rigid beliefs into a more relational and grace-centered understanding of God, where belonging comes before striving and acceptance replaces performance.
04/22/2026 | 25 mins.
Tom Anderson
Tom Anderson — Author, God-pursuer, collector of friends. Helping people rediscover who they are through grace, belonging, and a relational view of God.
I’m Tom Anderson, author of "From Sinnership to Sonship: The Story of Becoming", and my message was born out of a long, imperfect, grace-filled journey of marriage, fear, healing, and discovering who we truly are in God.
My wife Nancy and I married young — and we were a mess. I was afraid of life. I lived inside a very small comfort zone, and when my world felt threatened, I would literally curl into the fetal position. Nancy struggled with clinical depression and felt trapped in a marriage that wasn’t giving either of us the life we hoped for.
Early in our marriage, we committed ourselves to Jesus because we knew what we were doing wasn’t working. For eight years, we hung on by our fingernails, trying to survive while quietly wondering if real change was even possible.Then one day, as we prayed together, a Scripture from Isaiah came forcefully to us:
“Consider not the former things… Behold, I am doing a new thing.”
We sensed God was not just offering comfort — He was making a promise. And over the decades, we have watched Him faithfully “perform that word” in our lives.

Like Abraham, our journey has been a slow process, going through predictable stages, from brokenness to wholeness, from striving to belonging, from not being enough to being sufficient. What started as a survival mentality gradually became growing relationship. What started as religion gradually became sonship, and we rest in the place of "It is finished."
More than fifty years later, Nancy and I are still married, still growing, and — even in this past year — have entered a deeper level of relational ease and shared pursuit of what God has called us to: ministering the grace of God. We’re the grateful parents of a son and daughter, with spouses, who are walking with the Lord, and grandparents to six grandchildren.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Abstract Essay in its sixth season features Yasmin Chebbi, biological and holistic dentist, as my guest an insightful conversation at the intersection of oral health, whole-body wellness, and integrative care. In this episode, Yasmin shares her approach to dentistry that goes beyond traditional practices, emphasizing the connection between dental health and overall systemic balance, and how mindful treatment choices can impact long-term well-being. Together, we explore the principles of biological dentistry, from toxin-free materials to the role of nutrition and lifestyle in maintaining oral health. Yasmin also offers a fresh perspective on patient empowerment—encouraging individuals to take an active role in their health journey, ask deeper questions, and view dentistry not just as maintenance, but as a vital part of holistic healing.
04/21/2026 | 24 mins.
Yasmin Chebbi
Biological and holistic dentist
Dr. Yasmin Chebbi, DMD is an accredited dentist and graduate of Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Her practice incorporates whole body health, prevention, and conservative dentistry. Dr. Chebbi is the founder of The Flossery dental office in Boston, Massachusetts. She also practices dentistry with a focus on sleep apnea in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Dr. Chebbi is also the author of Sleep, Eat, Breathe Oral Health: Why your mouth matters available on Amazon.
Dr. Yasmin Chebbi, DMD is an accredited dentist and graduate of Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Her practice incorporates whole body health, prevention, and conservative dentistry. Dr. Chebbi is the founder of The Flossery dental office in Boston, Massachusetts. She also practices dentistry with a focus on sleep apnea in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Dr. Chebbi is also the author of Sleep, Eat, Breathe Oral Health: Why your mouth matters available on Amazon.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Abstract Essay, in its sixth season, features Shermain Melton accomplished, Black, gay, Christian, and unapologetically authentic as my guest. He is the author of The Loneliness of the Accomplished Black Man, a deeply reflective work that explores identity, success, faith, and the often-unspoken emotional realities behind achievement. In this episode, we engage in a powerful and honest conversation about navigating multiple identities, breaking through silence, and embracing truth without compromise. Join us as we uncover the complexities of personal growth, vulnerability, and the courage it takes to live fully seen and unapologetically heard.
04/20/2026 | 25 mins.
Shermain Melton
Accomplished, Black, Gay, Christian, and Done Hiding. Author of The Loneliness of the Accomplished Black Man.
Shermain Melton is a truth teller. He is also Black, accomplished, gay, and Christian. For a long time, he thought God had played a trick on him by giving him a big heart to love people while subjecting him to rejection from the church for living his truth of being gay. He has lost friends and business for owning who he is. Shermain rose from a childhood of poverty, gunshots, and drug dealers to become a self-made and debt-free millionaire. He carries survivor guilt because not all his friends made it out alive. At age twenty, he became the general manager of an underperforming Pizza Hut and led his team of forty to generate over one million dollars in revenue. While his peers were learning business theory, he was running a real business. He eventually walked away from a lucrative technology career as a senior network engineer at American Express. He spent years optimizing broken networks but realized the most critical network that needed fixing was the connection between leaders and their authentic selves. We are currently battling a loneliness epidemic that is killing accomplished Black men in silence. Shermain is on a mission to end this isolation by demanding deep connection, unapologetic belonging, and raw courage. He is the author of The Loneliness of the Accomplished Black Man and he is here to challenge you to stop playing small. Please welcome Shermain Melton.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Abstract Essay, in its sixth season, features Alexia Hoffman Entrepreneur and Productivity Strategist Behind “Success You Can Live With,” Who Transformed Her Workload from 60 Hours to 10 Hours per Week While Raising Four Kids, Maintaining Income, Launching New Ventures, and Mastering the Art of Hiring and Onboarding a Virtual Assistant in Under 10 Hours as my guest.
04/19/2026 | 26 mins.
Alexia Hoffman
Success you can live with! 60 hours/week to 10 hours with 4 kids in 2.5 years while maintaining income and starting new businesses! Hire & onboard a VA in less than 10 hours
Alexia Hoffman had four daughters in 30 months, a rental portfolio of over 80 doors, a coffee shop, and a real estate business she’d built from the ground up since she was 19 years old.
And she was doing almost all of it herself.
At her peak she was working 60-hour weeks — not because she didn’t know better, but because she hadn’t yet built the system to get out. She was the bottleneck in her own business, and she knew it.
So she built a framework. A repeatable, no-fluff process to hire and fully onboard a VA in under 10 hours — and she used it to get her weeks down to 10 hours without losing income, clients, or control.
Eight months after having her fourth baby, she ran her first half marathon. Nine months postpartum, she completed her first triathlon. That’s what the time back actually meant.
Alexia is a TEDx speaker, 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year, and the creator of the Delegation Clarity Framework. She’s not teaching theory — she’s teaching exactly what she did, in the season of life your listeners are probably in right now.
If your audience is full of high-achieving women who are building something real but running out of runway to do it alone, Alexia is the guest that moves them from stuck to actually doing it.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Abstract Essay in its sixth season features Cristian Gonzalez, a capital project strategist focused on leadership and stability under pressure, as my guest—bringing insights on navigating complex projects, making high-stakes decisions, and leading with clarity in demanding environments.
04/18/2026 | 24 mins.
Cristian Gonzalez
Capital Project Strategist Focused on Leadership and Stability Under Pressure
Cristian brings a grounded, real-world perspective shaped by 20 years working across the full spectrum of capital projects, from plant floors and commissioning teams to executive boardrooms making nine-figure investment decisions. He understands how strategy translates into execution, and where misalignment quietly builds long before problems become visible.
On podcasts, Cristian helps audiences think differently about complex, high-stakes initiatives, showing how early decisions shape long-term outcomes, how governance can either reduce or reinforce risk, and how leaders can create clarity in under pressure.
Listeners walk away with a grounded, practical insight they can apply immediately to strengthen decision-making and execution in their own organizations.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

More Arts podcasts

Trending Arts podcasts

About Abstract Essay

Abstract Essay is a podcast that explores the deeper layers of thought, creativity, and the human experience. Blending the reflective tone of personal essays with the conversational energy of an intimate dialogue, each episode takes listeners on a journey through ideas that challenge, inspire, and illuminate. From philosophy and art to culture and identity, the podcast invites guests who are thinkers, storytellers, and visionaries to share their insights in a free-flowing, thought-provoking format. Abstract Essay is not about quick takes—it's about meaningful exploration, where each conversation unfolds with intention, curiosity, and heart.

Podcast website

Arts Visual Arts