Faith & Feels
Faith & Feels
Podcast Description
Faith & Feels is a podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of mental health specifically sexual brokenness and trauma, with a special focus on the Asian American faith-based community. Hosted by Rika Matoba Lopez, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT), these episodes will cover interviews of ordinary people as well as professionals who share stories and lessons on struggles with love/sex/porn addiction and emotional/betrayal trauma.Whether you're looking for guidance, encouragement, or simply a space to feel seen and heard, Faith & Feels is here to create a safe environment where men and women alike can journey through healing and wholeness together. Our goal is to make tough conversations less taboo and to remind you that you are not alone.Join us as we explore topics often kept in the dark and work towards breaking cycles of shame and silence, with honesty, vulnerability, and hope.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast addresses themes of mental health, faith, and healing through a lens of sexual brokenness and trauma. Topics include love and sex addiction, emotional trauma, support within the church community, and the healing journey with example episodes like 'My Random Rambling Reflections' and 'Breaking Free from an Abusive Ex-Spouse with NPD'. It emphasizes open discussions on stigmatized issues and seeks to create a safe space for healing.
Faith & Feels is a podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of mental health specifically sexual brokenness and trauma, with a special focus on the Asian American faith-based community. Hosted by Rika Matoba Lopez, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT), these episodes will cover interviews of ordinary people as well as professionals who share stories and lessons on struggles with love/sex/porn addiction and emotional/betrayal trauma.
Whether you’re looking for guidance, encouragement, or simply a space to feel seen and heard, Faith & Feels is here to create a safe environment where men and women alike can journey through healing and wholeness together. Our goal is to make tough conversations less taboo and to remind you that you are not alone.
Join us as we explore topics often kept in the dark and work towards breaking cycles of shame and silence, with honesty, vulnerability, and hope.
In this poignant episode of Faith and Feels, I sit down with Pastor Curtis and Carol Lowe to hear their powerful story of calling, ministry, marriage, and faith. Married for over 40 years, Pastor Curtis and Carol reflect on the journey God has taken them on—through seasons of parenting, ministry, cultural bridge-building, and deep spiritual growth. Pastor Curtis shares his journey from seminary to earning his Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Formation, and how becoming a certified spiritual director has shaped his heart for walking with others. With years of experience pastoring in diverse, multicultural churches—including Asian American congregations—he reflects on the deep spiritual and cultural lessons he’s learned along the way.
Carol shares her upbringing in Los Angeles, her career in IT at Jet Propulsion Lab and Boeing, and how she made the decision to stay home and raise their children during years of active ministry.
But what makes this episode especially powerful is what they share about their 17th year of marriage—when everything came to a breaking point. They vulnerably talk about the suffering they faced with their mental illness (bipolar disorder, ocd, and depression), and how God’s agape love met them in the deepest places of pain. The simple phrase, “we’re working on it,” became a lifeline—anchored in forgiveness, mercy, and the grace of Jesus.
I encourage you to listen all the way through—you don’t want to miss their moving testimony of how God rebuilds, renews, and resurrects even what feels beyond repair. This is a conversation filled with hope.
Recommended Resources:
Pastor Curtis and Carol’s Website
Marriage/Couple Support
www.familylife.com/learn/courses/art-of-marriage/
www.familylife.com/weekend-to-remember
Books:
“Meaning of Marriage” by Timothy Keller
“You and Me Forever” by Francis and Lisa Chan
*Pixabay Music: “Exciting Day” and “Mixaund Happiness”
Takeaways:
Pastor Curtis and Carol share their journey through marriage and mental illness.
The importance of mentorship in the church community.
Forgiveness is a crucial aspect of maintaining a healthy marriage.
Communication styles can differ greatly between partners.
The 17th year of marriage marked a significant turning point for the couple.
Community support is vital for couples facing challenges.
It’s essential to seek help when dealing with marital issues.
Agape love is the foundation of a Christ-centered marriage.
Couples should remember their wedding vows during tough times.
Marriage requires ongoing effort and commitment.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Faith in Fields and Guests
06:01 Purpose of the Marriage Seminar
12:06 Mentorship and Community Engagement
19:14 Struggles in Marriage: Forgiveness and Communication
27:39 The 17th Year: A Turning Point in Marriage
43:51 Encouragement for Couples in Crisis
57:56 Conclusion and Reflection on Agape Love
Disclaimer
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