Brendan J. Cunningham wears many hats. He is a highly regarded real estate professional, recently named the 2024 Associate Realtor of the Year in Western New York. He hosts The Real Realtors Podcast and speaks regularly to audiences across the country. His publishing history spans multiple genres, including the industry guide Tricks of the Trade, the self-help manual The Seventh Sense, and the widely popular Potato Chips for the Soul series.
His latest project, Spiritual Power Lifting: 21 Days to a Better Life, takes his focus on personal development in an entirely new direction. The book relies on the structure and intensity of athletic training, applying those physical principles to faith and daily habits. It provides readers with a 21-day program designed to build inner strength, resilience, and clarity.
We recently sat down with Cunningham to discuss his varied background, his writing process, and the specific reasons he decided to create a practical workout plan for the spirit.
Hello Brendan J. Cunningham, welcome to WorldAuthors.Org! To begin, press materials often refer to you as a “Renaissance Man.” You are a Shakespearean-trained actor who has appeared in 53 plays, films, soaps, and commercials. How do those experiences factor into your writing and your life today?
Acting, particularly performing Shakespeare, requires intense discipline and a deep understanding of human nature. You have to learn how to communicate clearly and connect with an audience. Appearing in 53 different productions meant I had to constantly adapt and show up ready to work, regardless of how I felt on any given day. That background gave me a strong appreciation for structure and repetition, which is exactly what I write about today. Whether you are on stage, selling real estate, or working on your personal faith, you have to put in the reps.
You already have a strong catalog of books, including Tricks of the Trade, The Seventh Sense, and the Potato Chips for the Soul series. Where does Spiritual Power Lifting fit into that lineup?
My previous books deal with practical business advice, effectiveness, and the lighter, humorous side of daily life. Spiritual Power Lifting goes much deeper. It is the blueprint for handling the heavy lifting we all face eventually. Potato Chips for the Soul is a quick snack for your mind, but this new book is the full workout. It brings together the discipline I have learned in business and the faith that sustains me, offering a structured path rather than just passing inspiration.
What made you write this book?
I talk to people every day who are overwhelmed by fear, uncertainty, and the constant pressures of modern life. They have no foundation to fall back on when things get difficult. I realized that while many people go to the gym to take care of their bodies, they completely neglect their spiritual core. When a serious life crisis hits, physical strength is not going to carry you through. I wrote this book because people need a practical, actionable way to build internal resilience before they actually need it.
The book treats spiritual growth like an athletic program. Why did you choose the framework of physical conditioning?
Athletes do not get strong by accident. They get strong through intentional, consistent practice. They know that progress requires effort and sometimes a great deal of discomfort. People often treat faith and spirituality as something passive; they hope it will just happen to them. I wanted to change that mindset. By calling it a “spiritual workout,” it changes the expectation. It tells the reader that they have to participate actively, focus their mindset, and put in the work to see results.
The 21-day program focuses on progress over perfection. What does a typical daily “spiritual workout” entail?
Every single day presents a specific exercise. It starts with a brief reflection to set the tone, followed by faith-based coaching. Then comes the most important part: the practical application. I give the reader a specific action or mental shift to practice throughout the day. It is not about being perfect; it is about building endurance. If you stumble one day, you come back the next day and try again, exactly as you would at the gym.
You mention that readers will develop endurance, resilience, and clarity. What is the biggest shift people experience by the end of the three weeks?
The biggest shift is moving from reaction to conviction. Instead of feeling panicked or uncertain when a problem arises, they feel grounded. The confusion fades because their thinking becomes sharper and their faith becomes steadier. By day 21, the challenges in their lives have not magically disappeared, but their capacity to handle those challenges has multiplied. They walk away fully equipped to face whatever comes next.
Strength for the Long Haul
As our conversation concluded, it became obvious that Cunningham’s approach to life is firmly rooted in action. Whether he is memorizing lines for a Shakespearean production, closing a major real estate deal in Western New York, or drafting his next manuscript, he applies the same level of focus and discipline to every task.
Spiritual Power Lifting: 21 Days to a Better Life serves as more than just a reading assignment; it is a direct call for readers to take control of their internal foundation. While physical muscles might fade over time, the spiritual endurance Cunningham outlines is designed to last a lifetime. He proves that being a “Renaissance Man” is not just about having many different jobs or hobbies, but about showing up to every single one of them with purpose and preparation.
For readers ready to start their own training, Spiritual Power Lifting: 21 Days to a Better Life, along with his previous works like The Seventh Sense and the Potato Chips for the Soul series, is available now.
To learn more about his work, read his industry articles, or tune into The Real Realtors Podcast, visit his official website at booksbycunningham.com.