The Dylan Gemelli Podcast — Episode #71

Guest: Colby Maier
Theme: The Impact and Importance of Faith on Health, Connecting the Bible with Science, The Power of Redemption and Change
Date: December 8, 2025

Episode Overview

In this special “Faith” episode, Dylan Gemelli sits down with Colby Maier, pastor, speaker, and founder of Academy of the Bible, to deeply explore the intersections between faith, holistic health, biblical wisdom, and science. Together, they break down how spiritual health is essential for overall wellbeing, discuss personal stories of transformation, and address misconceptions about scripture, science, and change. The conversation offers an engaging, honest, and relatable look at spirituality’s relevance for modern living and health.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Spirituality as the Foundation of Full Health

• Dylan’s Perspective ([03:34-04:13]):
  He emphasizes that true health isn’t attainable without spiritual health:

  “You can't have a full attainable health without some spiritual health. It's just not there... if it's not God first, then I have been lacking and miserable.”

• Colby’s Biblical Insight ([04:13-05:38]):
  Colby cites the biblical teaching that body and soul are integrated, not separate.

  “The body is not separate from the soul, and the soul is not separate from the body. If you take care of one, you take care of the other. Paul in the New Testament talks about how your body is a temple. If we are abusing our temples, our spirit, our spiritual life, is gonna feel the effects in a big way.”

• Rest and Sabbath ([05:38-08:30]):
  They discuss the overlooked importance of rest and Sabbath, not only as physical restoration but as a spiritual commandment, with Colby noting:

  “This is just one example of many that I feel like, to your point, Scripture speaks into—how holistically we can live more full, abundant lives.” ([07:40]) “Taking care of our bodies is a spiritual act of worship. When we abuse our bodies or we’re living restless, anxious, depleted lives, I don’t think that gives God honor.” ([08:30])

2. Colby's Journey Into Faith and Ministry

• Sports to Spirituality ([09:57-12:31]):
  Colby shares how a basketball injury forced him to question his identity and ultimately led him to faith at 17, after watching "Joseph: King of Dreams," which inspired him to read the Bible cover to cover.

• Academic Dive ([12:48-13:43]):
  He demystifies theological studies:

  “A lot of people think it's kind of like, ‘Oh, you just... study the Bible’. We're talking getting into the original languages... you can get as deep and into the weeds as you want, but it's also the simplicity of the message as a whole.” ([12:48])

3. Building a Modern Ministry & Leveraging Social Media

• Digital Ministry’s Origins ([14:34-17:45]):
  COVID forced Colby’s church plant online, where his Bible teachings went viral (esp. on TikTok). His content ignited faith in lapsed Christians and connected many seeking answers during lockdown.

  “The Bible, in its plainest form, is compelling and healing, and allows people to really find hope, even in dark seasons.” ([16:32])

4. Understanding the Bible: Context, Interpretation, and Learning

• Biggest Stumbling Block — Misinterpretation ([19:03-21:58]):
  Colby stresses focusing on Christianity’s unifying essentials (the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus), not divisive “non-essentials” or denominational differences.

  “If we reassess in humility, we’d see many things aren’t the most important… I’m a big believer in closed-handed issues versus open-handed issues. The open things we can discuss—we shouldn’t divide over them.” ([21:23])

• Debate Over the Canon ([21:58-28:11]):
  Colby details how the biblical canon was formed (including why certain books are excluded in different traditions), referencing early church controversies and councils:

  “The church was compelled to gather the bishops together... The councils, when the early church council came together, all they did was validate the general consensus of the Christian community as to which books were already seen as genuine.” ([26:21])

5. The Academy of the Bible: Accessible, Relevant Teaching

• Mission and Format ([28:57-32:50]):
  Colby’s academy curates courses by distinguished Christian scholars, pastors, and practitioners. Courses cover spiritual formation, practical living, mental health, apologetics, and more, accessible at one’s own pace, with regular live sessions for community and Q&A.

6. Personal Transformation, Redemption, and the Power of Faith

• Stories of Change ([39:24-43:13]): Dylan recounts how his material successes left him unfulfilled until a spiritual awakening shifted his priorities to serving others:

  “Everything that I thought I wanted just comes—even though I don’t... care. What’s on my mind is giving back to everybody.” ([39:55])

  Colby reflects:

  “I believe every good journey in life begins with putting God first and others first... true joy and contentment is in serving others and improving the quality of their lives and doing that for God.” ([41:21])

• Redemption & Repurposing Suffering ([46:02-49:49]):
  Through biblical stories (Joseph, Paul) and personal experience, they highlight God’s ability to repurpose hardship, sin, and suffering for future good.

  “God can take even the most evil, heinous things... redeem them, and not just redeem but use them to catapult us toward our God-given destiny.” ([47:15])

  On true, lasting change:

  “People aren’t really changing, they’re becoming what they were meant to be and they were actually lost.” ([48:58])

7. The Interplay of Science, Nature, and Faith

• God’s Provision in Creation ([52:04-53:17]): Dylan asserts that God provided answers for our ailments in nature. Colby agrees and adds:

  “I actually would say that most times it begins with getting our mind right... The true battle is always in our minds and with the thought life that we adopt.” ([53:17])

• Embracing Science as Divine Beauty ([55:23-59:22]):
  Both reject the faith-vs-science dichotomy.
  Colby:

  “Good science amplifies the teachings of the Bible, and good Bible amplifies the teachings of the created world. When you study science, I’m like, ‘Wow, how amazing is the one who created this?’... There’s nothing but an intelligent designer behind it.” ([57:27])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Faith and Health:

  “If we're to understand that taking care of our bodies is actually a spiritual act of worship... our spiritual act of worship is how we live every day.” – Colby ([08:30])

• On Rest/Sabbath:

  “I’m literally going seven days a week... the fact that [rest] was stressed as an actual commandment probably means to take it serious.” – Dylan ([08:13])

• On Biblical Interpretation:

  “There's closed handed issues, and then there's open handed issues... the open handed things we can talk about. Was Jesus the Son of God? Absolutely. That’s non-negotiable.” – Colby ([21:23])

• On Change:

  “People aren’t really changing, they’re becoming what they were meant to be and they were actually lost.” – Dylan ([48:58])

• On Suffering and Redemption:

  “What you intended for evil to harm me, God intended for good, for the saving of many lives.” – Colby, quoting Genesis ([47:17])

• On Science and Faith:

  “Good science actually amplifies the teachings of the Bible... When you study science, I’m like, how amazing is the one who created this?” – Colby ([57:55])

Important Timestamps

• 03:34 — Linking spirituality and health: the biblical model
• 05:38 — The Sabbath and holistic living
• 09:57 — Colby’s faith journey from basketball to Bible
• 14:34 — Using social media for digital ministry
• 19:03 — How to properly interpret and learn the Bible
• 21:58 — The Bible's canon and excluded books
• 28:57 — The Academy of the Bible: what, why, and how
• 39:24–43:13 — Dylan’s personal transformation and true fulfillment
• 46:02–49:49 — Redemption: biblical and personal stories
• 52:04 — Faith, nature, and God’s provision for healing
• 55:23 — Science as an expression of divine wonder

Connect with Colby Maier

• Social: @ColbyFMaier on all major platforms
• Academy: AcademyoftheBible.org

Episode in a nutshell:
Dylan and Colby's candid, passionate discussion illustrates that holistic health, purpose, and fulfillment arise from an integrated approach—grounding physical, mental, and spiritual health in faith, biblical wisdom, and an awe for the God-given beauty of both scripture and science. Their stories and teachings offer hope that anyone—including those who have failed or suffered deeply—can be restored, changed, and used for a greater good.