1280. Faith Without Church? Zachary Levi on Purpose, AI's Threat to in Hollywood & Funding Therapy at $200 a Session

Heal Squad x Maria Menounos

Maria Menounos, Heal Squad

Health & Fitness, Mental Health, Education, Self-improvement

4.7 • 2K Ratings

🗓️ 20 May 2026

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Hey Heal Squad! We are back with Part 2 of our conversation with Zachary Levi, and honestly… this one goes to some really unexpected places. Zach shares something that genuinely surprised Maria: despite having such a deep relationship with God, he doesn’t actually go to church. We get into why, what his spiritual practice really looks like, and how years of home Bible studies and chosen-family community became more meaningful to him than traditional religion ever did. From there, the conversation gets even deeper. Zach opens up about marriage, why his first marriage cracked him wide open emotionally, and why he and his partner are choosing commitment and partnership every single day without needing a certificate to define it. We also talk about the massive shift happening in Hollywood right now, the headlines claiming he’s been “graylisted,” and why he says the real story is much more complicated than people think. He shares why he believes the industry has become increasingly hostile to people who don’t fall in line politically or creatively, and why that’s exactly why he’s spent decades dreaming up Wyldwood Studios: the studio and living community he believes could completely change the future of storytelling.And somehow we also get into AI, why it actually doesn’t scare him, and why he believes human connection, creativity, and community are about to become even more valuable. Plus, because it’s Mental Health Awareness Month, Zach talks about Nerd HQ and the nonprofit work he’s doing to help people access therapy who otherwise couldn’t afford it. As he says in this episode: the stigma isn’t the barrier anymore — the price tag is. Just a warning Zach gets into some heavy things, so please listen with care. HEALERS & HEAL LINERS You can't outrun your trauma: Zach said he spent decades performing — booking jobs, hitting marks, smiling on red carpets — while completely unaware that unprocessed childhood trauma was running the show underneath. Every breakdown is an invitation: Zach reframed his lowest moment not as punishment but as God's invitation to finally stop and listen. Church is the people. Healing is the practice. Faith is the next step: Zach pushed back on the idea that church is a building or a denomination — he said church is the community you do the work alongside, the people who show up when you're falling apart. HEAL SQUAD SOCIALS IG: https://www.instagram.com/healsquad/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@healsquadxmaria HEAL SQUAD RESOURCES: Heal Squad Website:https://www.healsquad.com/ Heal Squad x Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HealSquad/membership Maria Menounos Website: https://www.mariamenounos.com My Curated Macy’s Page: https://stylecrew.macys.com/@mariamenounos EMR-Tek Red Light: https://emr-tek.com/discount/Maria30 for 30% off Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/host GUEST RESOURCES: Follow Zach on IG: https://www.instagram.com/zacharylevi/ Radical Love: https://www.amazon.com/Go-Love-Yourself-Radical-Acceptance/dp/0785236759 Wyldwood Studios: wyldwood.com Nerd HQ: nerdhq.org ABOUT MARIA MENOUNOS: Emmy Award-winning journalist, TV personality, actress, 2x NYT best-selling author, former pro-wrestler and brain tumor survivor, Maria Menounos’ passion is to see others heal and to get better in all areas of life. ABOUT HEAL SQUAD x MARIA MENOUNOS: A daily digital talk-show that brings you the world's leading healers, experts, and celebrities to share groundbreaking secrets and tips to getting better in all areas of life. DISCLAIMER: This Podcast and all related content (published or distributed by or on behalf of Maria Menounos or http://Mariamenounos.com and http://healsquad.com) is for informational purposes only and may include information that is general in nature and that is not specific to you. Any information or opinions provided by guest experts or hosts featured within website or on Company’s Podcast are their own; not those of Maria Menounos or the Company. Accordingly, Maria Menounos and the Company cannot be responsible for any results or consequences or actions you may take based on such information or opinions. This podcast is presented for exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for preventing, diagnosing, or treating a specific illness. If you have, or suspect you may have, a health-care emergency, please contact a qualified health care professional for treatment.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Summer's coming, and let me ask you this. What's the one trip you keep saying you want to take but haven't booked yet?
0:05.7	If cost is the reason, here's an idea. While you're away, you could be listing your space on Airbnb.
0:11.6	I've seen friends do it. I've seen people I've met out here in El Salvador do it, turning an empty home into extra income and using that money to support the very trips they've been dreaming about, like a
0:20.9	swap. And now with Airbnb's co-host network, hosting is easier than ever. You can hire a vetted
0:25.9	local co-host to handle all the behind-the-scenes details, like guest communication and on-site
0:30.8	support, so hosting stays completely stress-free. So find a co-host at Airbnb.com slash host.
0:37.3	Heal Squad, you probably heard me talking about
0:38.9	planning a summer trip from my family to the Grand Canyon. And let me tell you, with a big family, I have to be very intentional when I'm looking on Airbnb to find the right set up. Because there's so many of us, I already know I want everyone in the same area, but still have their own space. And Honestly, that's exactly why a home on Airbnb worked so well for big group trips.
0:56.5	Instead of cramming in a hotel rooms, you're going to be... area but still have their own space. And honestly, that's exactly why a home on Airbnb worked so well
0:55.0	for big group trips. Instead of cramming in a hotel rooms, you can book multiple homes close together.
1:00.6	Everyone has room to breathe and you still have spots where everyone can come together.
1:05.0	I love finding a home with a big kitchen for meals because we all get to be in one place cooking
1:09.3	and catching up. So good for the soul.
1:11.4	Here's something else to think about. While you're away, your own place could be doing something
1:15.1	for you, too, instead of sitting empty. You can list your space on Airbnb and earn some extra cash,
1:20.0	maybe even to help fund your next trip. And if hosting ever seemed overwhelming, now it's
1:24.8	easier than ever with Airbnb's co-host network. You can hire
1:28.2	a vetic local co-host to manage reservations, guest communication, provide on-site support.
1:33.6	So hosting stays stress-free and manageable. So if you've ever thought about hosting but need a little
1:37.9	help, find a co-host at Airbnb.com slash host.
1:44.3	I'm on a journey to heal and get better in all areas of life, and I want to do it with you.
1:49.3	Welcome to Heal Squad by Maria Menunoz, where we improve and heal all parts of our lives,
	...

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