Paul Nottoli (00:02.155)
Welcome to the Believe the Hope podcast. I am here with my spiritual coach, Brian Hall. And this is kind of fun because now I get to ask him questions instead of him asking me and mentoring me. I think you'll enjoy this. I will enjoy it. yeah, Brian, thank you for being here today.

Brian Hall (00:20.57)
Dude, it is an honor. It's an honor to be with you. I'm super, super excited. Just mashed it up with you, man. This is gonna be a good day.

Paul Nottoli (00:29.409)
So for those that don't know Brian, Brian Hall is a dynamic force in spiritual coaching. He is esteemed founder and lead pastor of two nonprofit organizations, the Cincinnati Dream Center and Cincinnati Dreamworks. Over the years, Brian has earned a stellar reputation as a spiritual coach guiding over thousands of the world's most renowned influencers, celebrities, entrepreneurs, and CEOs.

His unique blend of wisdom, compassion, and insight has made him a sought after mentor, leading him to travel the globe the past 22 years and provide spiritual guidance to his clients and his families. At the heart of Ryan's life as his cherished family, he's blissfully married to Tracy for 18 years and together they have and been blessed with four beautiful children and one is on the way. So congrats on that, man. That's new. Fairly new. I think you told me a couple of calls ago, like a couple months ago, but.

Brian Hall (01:17.802)
Thanks, man. Five kids. I did. Yeah. yeah. Dude. Thank you. Thank you for the introduction.

Paul Nottoli (01:23.935)
Still new, still very new.

Paul Nottoli (01:29.877)
Yeah, so my question, my first question and how we kick off every episode, because everyone has a unique perspective based on experiences and all kinds of things in life is what does hope mean to you personally?

Brian Hall (01:44.14)
It's a great question. Hope to me is the unwavering belief that something better lies ahead. Even when all visible signs point to the contrary. You know, it's the anchor that holds me steady in the midst of life storms. You know, reminding me that no matter how dark the night, the dawn will come.

Hope is not just a fleeting emotion, Paul. It's a deep spiritual conviction that God is at work in all circumstances, weaving a tapestry that I may not yet fully see or understand. And so it's the light that guides me through the unknown, a reflection of my faith that God's promises are true and that he is faithful to complete the good works that he began in me.

Paul Nottoli (02:42.039)
Beautiful. And I know you have a pretty good story of when you felt hopeless and you had to dig yourself out of a pretty bad situation to get to where you are now. So I mean, you may have multiple of them, but share a time where hope played a crucial role with that unwavering desire inside of you that you were like, my life isn't going anywhere. And I pulled myself out to get to better myself.

Brian Hall (03:11.848)
Yeah, I mean, I think there's, my goodness, there's so many times, I think all of us that are, if we're breathing, we've gone through something that we've had to dig ourselves out of or overcome. you know, there was a time in my life that, you know, when I faced a season of profound loss and uncertainty and everything that, everything I had worked for seemed to be unraveling. And, you know, and I found myself questioning

the path I was on. was in this dark valley that hope became more than just a concept. It became my lifeline. And I had to dig deep beyond the surface level, optimism, to a place where hope was rooted in my faith and God's sovereignty. And so I clung to the promises of God. One particular scripture is

Romans 828 that says, in all things, God works for the good of those who love him and who are called according to his purpose. And so it's this hope, this hope was not passive. It required this active trust in God. And even when the outcome was unclear, it was this hope that gave me the strength to persevere.

And so to keep moving forward and even when everything in me wanted to give up. And so looking back, I can look at so many times in my life where I can see how that season was a turning point where hope became the foundation upon which I rebuilt my life and my ministry.

Paul Nottoli (04:56.535)
I know we've talked about this before on just calls and just conversation. when people are in that, we'll just say valley or pit or seems like whatever, it's more like a pit sometimes in life. And they're calling out, they seem like they're calling out for help or they're trying their hardest and they don't feel like they're getting ahead or they're calling out to God or the universe that I'm asking for guidance or to hear me.

And they don't feel like they're being listened to. How do you, how does one cultivate hope or how does one find that to dig themselves out? Obviously you had, you use scripture and different things or you may have other avenues, but some people may not be familiar with that. They may not have guidance in that realm. They may not, they just be, they're just kind of floundering or lost in that pit. How do they, how do they dig out of that? How do they find that in the stillness when they feel like no one's listening or no one hears them?

Brian Hall (05:53.55)
You know, think maintaining hope in tough times requires a deliberate focus on the bigger picture and a steadfast trust in God's character. mean, when we face, when I, I'll say myself, when I face uncertainty, failure or loss, I remind myself that these moments are temporary and that God's plans are eternal. And so I cultivate hope by

immersing myself in Scripture, particularly passages that speak to God's promises and faithfulness. Prayer is also crucial. You know this, we've talked about this tons of times. Prayer, bringing our fears and doubts and frustrations before God and allowing His peace to guard our hearts and our minds. so, it's interesting. I also find it helpful to

Recall past instances where where God has brought me through difficult times, you know reminded me Paul of you know What it looked like before and how he was faithful before and so, know and guess what he'll be faithful again You know, and I think additionally I would add to this is you know surround yourself with a supportive community

You're not supposed to do life alone. Get around people that encourage you because that perspective is vital. In essence, maintaining hope is about staying connected to the source of hope, God himself, and trusting in his unchanging nature. so, yeah.

Paul Nottoli (07:44.41)
Yeah, and it's funny that every episode I've done so far community has been number 1 like people will always say that you got to have a community of people you got to have someone that or at least one person that believes in you more than anybody else in the world to help you Yeah to help guide you and give you

gave you that hope sometimes, when things don't feel like they're going that way. yeah.

Yeah, I just forgot where I going with that thought. anyway, What can listeners or anybody listening? What can they do to provide more, more hope and more guidance, more positivity to their community?

Brian Hall (08:30.615)
Yeah, would say, you know, inspiring hope in a world begins with being a beacon of light in the darkness. And so I think individually we can inspire hope by living out our faith, you know, authentically, you know, and being willing to share our stories of how God has worked in our lives. And so being present with others in their pain.

offering a listening ear or a comforting word or a helping hand can make a profound difference. And so it's about showing people that they're not alone in their struggles and there is a reason to believe in a brighter tomorrow. And so I think on a community level, which I think is huge as well, we can actually create environments where hope flourishes.

you know, by fostering a culture of encouragement and support. And so this could, this could mean a lot of things, man. This could mean involve organizing outreach programs, you know, to meet the needs of the vulnerable, offering mentorship to those who struggle or simply creating spaces where, you know, people can share their burdens. You know, I mean, the church in particular has a unique role to play in this, you know, I mean, by being a place where

where the message of hope is consistently proclaimed and lived out in practical ways. And so by being a community that reflects the love and grace of Christ, we can actually inspire hope not only within our walls, but also in a wider world.

Paul Nottoli (10:14.015)
And that brought up a question in my head is maybe there's someone listening right now that have been wronged by, we'll just say religion in general, or they've been wronged by a church or they felt like they've been led astray. if you're utilizing, if you're looking to that or looking to get back onto that, how would you help them look for that or look to hope that realized that was...

not necessarily an everyday thing, but maybe just something that particular reason. So they may have lost hope because they may have tried to use God or go back to church and they weren't welcome or, you know, there's all kinds of things that happen to people. What would you say to those people to help?

Brian Hall (11:02.045)
Yeah, I would say that to anyone struggling with hope, you know, would say first, honestly, I mean, I would say first that it's okay to feel what you're feeling. You know, I think acknowledging the pain and the struggle is an important step.

Paul Nottoli (11:05.975)
Mm

Brian Hall (11:19.261)
But I would also encourage anybody that's hearing this not to stay in that place of despair. mean, is not about denying reality, but about choosing to believe that there is more to the story than what you currently see. And so I would advise them to take small, tangible steps toward hope, whether that's through prayer, reading scripture, talking to someone they trust, or simply

Simply, brother, just taking a walk in nature to remind yourself of the beauty and order in creation. would actually also encourage people to reflect on times in the past when you face those challenges, like we said before. How were you able to come through last time? First, you've got to recognize that the same God who was with you is still with you, and he's here with you.

Paul Nottoli (11:51.189)
Mm -hmm.

Paul Nottoli (12:16.791)
Mm

Brian Hall (12:17.821)
And I would close it with this, is I would say, you know, I would remind them that hope is not something that they have to muster up on their own. You know, it's a gift from God, and He's more than willing to renew your hope if you ask Him. And so leaning on community, seeking counsel, staying connected to God through worship and prayer, and you know, it can help rekindle the flame of hope even in the darkest times.

Paul Nottoli (12:48.919)
And they have rekindled hope, they're looking for that positivity of the future. How does one maintain that outlook to a better future, also stay in the moment to do the work to be able to keep doing the work, to be able to reach what they're going for and reach out of that? Because I know

Brian Hall (13:12.983)
Thank you.

Paul Nottoli (13:13.387)
You can have all the hope in the world. can have all the affirmations in the world. You can have all this, but if you're not taking action, none of it. None of it matters. So how does one maintain that vision of the better future and better hope, but also stay grounded in those daily activities that they can keep working towards?

Brian Hall (13:20.218)
Yeah.

Brian Hall (13:33.274)
Yeah, think balancing hope for the future with present action requires a mindset that holds both the now and the not yet. And so, you know, and that's what, you know, it's about having a clear vision of where you're headed while being fully engaged in the work that needs to be done today. And so I think one way to achieve this balance is by, you know, setting

both long -term and short -term goals. The long -term goals keep the vision alive, and so giving you something to hope and strive for while the short -term goals ensure that you're making progress each day. And so it's important to practice mindfulness, being fully present in each moment and actually appreciating the journey as much as the destination.

And so this means celebrating those small wins, those victories, learning from the setbacks and staying flexible in your approach. And even scripture encourages us in Colossians 3 .23 to work heartily as for the Lord and not for men. And so this means doing our best in the present moment.

and trusting that our labor is not in vain and that God is using it to bring about his purposes in our lives. And so, you know, I would also add this, Paul, you know, keeping a heart of gratitude helps maintain this balance. You know, when we focus on what we're thankful for today, it grounds us into the, you know, into the present while keeping us hopeful for the future.

And so by committing each day, each day's work to the Lord and trusting Him with the outcome, we can actually live with a sense of peace and purpose knowing that our hope is secure in Him.

Paul Nottoli (15:41.419)
I mean, work with obviously celebrities, CEOs, entrepreneurs, all kinds of people on a variety of different avenues and levels in life, I guess you would say. What are you saying to them on a regular basis for hope? Is this all the things that you discussed before? Or is there something that each individual person tends to be missing in their life that are looking for that hope?

Brian Hall (16:10.326)
Yeah, I would say, you know, one additional insight about hope is that it's deeply connected to our identity in Christ. You know, when we understand who we are in Him, beloved, chosen, redeemed, it gives us a foundation for hope that is unshakable. And so the world's definition of hope is often tied to circumstances. But biblical hope?

is tied to our relationship with God. And so it's a hope that is not dependent on what we can do, but on what God has already done through Jesus Christ. And so I think hope is an active force. propels us forward. It's not just about waiting for things to get better. It's about partnering with God in the process of transformation. And so this means that as we have

Paul Nottoli (16:49.804)
Hmm.

Brian Hall (17:07.698)
know, hope, we also act in faith, taking steps towards toward the future that God has for us. so hope also has a communal aspect to it. It's something that that we need to share and spread. And so when we carry hope, we have the power to influence others, to bring light in dark places and to actually inspire change in our communities and all over the world. And so in times like these, which you know,

Like, you know, when despair seems to be on the rise, the world needs people who are rooted in hope. People who can see beyond the present difficulties and believe in a future shaped by God's promises.

Paul Nottoli (17:52.959)
Yeah, and I mean, that was the reason why I mean, you've had a big influence and why I even started this podcast is because I felt like there was more hope and less hope, more despair and negativity in the world that seemed to be winning versus hope, inspiration, positivity that brings light. And yeah, just the more what is that saying? The quote darkness doesn't drive out darkness, light, light, darkness.

Brian Hall (18:22.814)
Mm

Paul Nottoli (18:22.985)
Is that something along those lines? think it was Martin Luther King. That's one of his speeches. And that's the reason why I'm bringing this. That's the reason I'm talking to people like you or other people that are getting different perspectives on a variety of avenues in life from athletes to spiritual coaches to entrepreneurs to just regular people because I feel like people need to see that they may be in situations that you were in or they had been in situations you were in.

Brian Hall (18:42.633)
Okay.

Paul Nottoli (18:53.161)
And that there is light. There is light in the darkness. And actually, there's probably more light. It's just being drowned out by all the negativity, because it gets the most attention and most notice, I guess. I mean, that's why the news or social media seems to just, yeah, it gets the most attention. typically, that's what you see the most of.

Brian Hall (19:15.38)
Absolutely, 100%. And I think that's, I think Paul, that's what we have to do. We have to change our, we have to change our mindset. We have to change, you know, the Bible says that, so like if I was to tell you, Paul, and the viewers, to take one hand and put a seed in it, and it's going to be an oak tree, and then I want you to take your other hand, and I want you to put a seed in it, and it's going to be a thorn bush. Now, if you were to go outside in your backyard right now, and you were to throw those seeds, one is going to grow up a beautiful oak tree.

The other one's going to grow up a very ugly, thorny thorn bush. Well, here's the thing is our thoughts and the way that we speak and what we talk over our lives are going to manifest, are going to happen. So if you wake up in the morning and you're like, it's going to be a crazy day. It's going to be a bad day or I have allergies or, you know, look at my bank account, look at the bills coming in, look at this. Well, guess what? You're going to manifest that throughout your day, throughout your week.

And I think it's that poverty mindset. think it's the negativity. So many people are hurting. If you want hope and you really want to feel the hope, be like the oak tree. You have the ability to plant that seed. Don't look at your bank account. Don't look at those things. Yeah, it's necessary and you have to see it, but you don't have to live in it. You don't have to think it. What you need to be doing is visualizing what God has called you to do next. What is it that you have a passion for?

You know, it, what does it look like in your bank? How much do you want in your bank account? What type of house do you want to live in? What car do you want to drive? What do you want your business to look like? What do you want your family to look like? And then you speak it and you talk it and you visualize it and you desire it and you go after it and you constantly walk in that and what'll happen is, is the law of attraction, right? The law of attraction is science, but it's also biblical.

And so, you know, if you're speaking that and thinking that and visualizing that and walking that day in and day out, ultimately, the law of attraction is you're going to attract that into your life. Well, guess what? If you speak the thorn bush and the negativity, you're going to attract that into your life. And so if you want that hope, you got to take the positive route. You got to start speaking life. You got to start speaking hope.

Paul Nottoli (21:25.331)
Mm hmm. Yeah, I mean, there's the books as the man think if there's the there's the the parable or the legend of the two wolves. Every every man has two wolves inside him. But the one that wins is the ones you feed the most. And so I think there's actually a podcast called The One Who Feeds, a popular podcast that's that's basically goes into that. Yeah, it's yeah, it's the yeah, whatever which one you feed is what you're going to manifest into your life on a regular basis.

Brian Hall (21:55.791)
Amen.

Paul Nottoli (21:56.937)
Anything else to add that we didn't discuss on hope that you would like to?

Brian Hall (22:01.389)
No, man, I think we crushed it, man. think at the end of the day, we crushed hope today, man. We knocked it out of the park for the people.

Paul Nottoli (22:08.427)
Okay.

All right. How can people connect with you, learn more about your coaching, everything else that you're doing, and get more hope in their life?

Brian Hall (22:20.825)
That's right. Well, I would say first and foremost, find me on Instagram, Brian Hall, just like it's spelled, B -R -I -A -N Hall, H -A -L -L. Find me on Instagram, reach out. I have the roundtable. It's a free group, community group, where I just do devotionals every morning, prayers, daily affirmations, because guess what? You don't just get hope on a Sunday morning when you go to church. You need to do it every day. And so I started the free roundtable for that, and then I have the upper room.

Paul Nottoli (22:44.321)
Mm -hmm. Mm -hmm.

Brian Hall (22:49.858)
that I created that we're doing a Tuesday evening call every single week. We're gonna go even deeper into our spiritual walk and I'll have a lot of cool special guests on, talking all different types of topics and we're all just gonna grow as a community. So you've got the round table and then you have the upper room, but you can find it all on Instagram if you...

Paul Nottoli (23:11.381)
Yeah. So connect with Brian, Brian Hall, and, we won't put it against him and he lives in Ohio, but, sorry. I didn't get my shot. you do have in Kentucky. Yes. I forgot. You have different centers in Ohio, but so good. You've moved over the border. learned, learned your lesson. That's it. So thank God he lives in Kentucky and not Ohio. sorry for all my listeners in Ohio. I do love you. It's just, I have to take my shots every once in a while to, to make it.

Brian Hall (23:19.758)
Kentucky,

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, that's right. That's right.

Brian Hall (23:37.558)
It's.

Paul Nottoli (23:41.431)
Football season started, so I got to have my Michigan, Ohio state. Hey, yeah. yeah. yeah. Thanks so much for being on. Always a pleasure. Obviously we talk every week or mostly every week to, help me and my growth and my hope, because there is some weeks just as life and just running a business that a lot of things go wrong, especially running a business. I mean, if anybody does, runs a business, they know if anybody doesn't 90 % of the time.

Brian Hall (23:44.385)
That's right. yeah.

Brian Hall (24:04.277)
Only. Yep.

Paul Nottoli (24:09.887)
Each week is a lot of things do go wrong and there's a very the small ones go right make it worth it But there's some weeks or months that it just feels like you're just kind of like, all right, this is what it is So brian helps me maintain hope he helps me maintain My vision and faith my walk in faith everything with that and helps me just guide me through through a lot of just daily life and yeah, because it's not just gonna happen at church on Sunday or

Brian Hall (24:17.997)
Yeah. Yeah.

Paul Nottoli (24:39.947)
talking to your friends and yeah, it's a reminder that it's a daily habit and the more you can do it, yeah, the more hope you're going to instill in your life, the more positivity you're still in life. then it will, that light will, will shine. will go, it will eventually kick on and stay lit and you don't have to work as hard for it. And it just becomes part of your natural, natural ability. So.

Brian Hall (24:51.84)
Mm.

Brian Hall (24:58.37)
That's Amen. You closed it out there, That's right. That's right. Give him a mic. No, thanks for having me, man. I truly appreciate it. Yeah.

Paul Nottoli (25:06.109)
Amen. Put me on the pulpit, right, right?

Paul Nottoli (25:13.63)
I'll stick with the podcast, Mike. I don't belong on stage.

Brian Hall (25:18.624)
No, I appreciate it. Thank you so much for having

Paul Nottoli (25:19.808)
I got a voice for podcasting, not a face for it.

Brian Hall (25:23.237)
That's funny.

Paul Nottoli (25:26.785)
All right. Thank you, Brian. Thanks for being here.

Brian Hall (25:29.354)
Thanks man, appreciate you.