{"podcast":{"title":"The Best of You","slug":"the-best-of-you-5434878","podcast_index_feed_id":5434878,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/TSF6018604298","website_url":"https://www.alisoncookphd.com/","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/bce7efe6-a03f-11ee-8c9f-774bed44a0bf/image/fc2ae1c482ec1458c40205cd8f979641.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"Dr. Alison Cook","episode_count":344,"summary":"Join therapist and author, Dr. Alison Cook, as she guides you through some of your toughest challenges with wisdom, kindness, and grace. Together with friends and experts we'll unpack the best of psychology from a faith-based perspective. You’ll discover how to break free from painful patterns, mend your past, and discover what brings out the best of you.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-30T18:19:05.176079+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-best-of-you-5434878"},"episode":{"title":"How to Know If It’s Your Inner Critic or Conviction","slug":"how-to-know-if-it-s-your-inner-critic-or-conviction","published_at":"2026-07-17T08:14:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-best-of-you-5434878/how-to-know-if-it-s-your-inner-critic-or-conviction","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-best-of-you-5434878","url":"https://pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/arttrk.com/p/TSFL1/claritaspod.com/measure/traffic.megaphone.fm/AMPH5086042822.mp3","audio_url":"https://pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/arttrk.com/p/TSFL1/claritaspod.com/measure/traffic.megaphone.fm/AMPH5086042822.mp3","summary":"Today's Scripture: 1 John 3:18–20 What do you do when the harshest voice in your life is the one inside you? Today’s Scripture helps us distinguish between true conviction, which leads to repair and life, and self-condemnation, which crushes us with shame. This episode helps you recognize the inner critic, notice when self-criticism starts to sound spiritual, and rest your heart in the presence of the God who is greater than your heart. You’ll learn:*The difference between conviction and condemnation*Why sensitive, conscientious people often mistake shame for maturity*How the inner critic tries to protect you through harshness*Why God’s full knowledge of you is comfort, not threat*One way to respond when your inner critic gets loud Go Deeper: Episode 140: How to Stop Blaming Yourself for Things That Aren’t Your FaultRead I Shouldn’t Feel This Way for help distinguishing true guilt from false guilt. Connect with Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook Join 80,000+ Soul Menders in Dr. Alison’s free email community for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices","meta_description":"Today's Scripture: 1 John 3:18–20 What do you do when the harshest voice in your life is the one inside you? Today’s Scripture helps us distinguish betwee…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":604,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-best-of-you-5434878/episodes/how-to-know-if-it-s-your-inner-critic-or-conviction/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-best-of-you-5434878/how-to-know-if-it-s-your-inner-critic-or-conviction.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}