A Different Kind of Walk Podcast

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan have the privilege of speaking with Fred Hagan, who is a clinical supervisor and counselor for students in the Philadelphia area who have experienced trauma. He has regular contact with middle and high school students who have behavioral health issues and are at risk of intervention, being out-placed, or are returning to public school from an alternative, mental health or juvenile justice placement. Fred is originally from the country of Ghana, and has been a citizen of the United States since 1983. Enjoy the episode!

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan get to talk about science and religion with Bill Jones, who is a professor of physics at Princeton University. Bill earned his PhD at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and was a scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena before coming to work at Princeton in 2008. The focus of his research is cosmology, meaning that he attempts to understand the contents and evolution of the Universe. Enjoy the episode!

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan chat with Rev. Tara Woodward-Bosman who is a Nebraska native, a Princeton Theological Seminary graduate, and a missional networker in South Africa for Resonate Global Mission. They discuss place and peace and how those two can go together even if your place is diverse, or if you marry someone from a different culture, or your country has experienced Apartheid. Enjoy the episode!

In today's podcast, Jeff and Susan chat about the season of Advent, the history of the church calendar, and their experiences of noticing (or not noticing) Mary, the mother of Jesus. They hope you enjoy the episode, and have a wonderful holiday season!

In today's podcast, Jeff and Susan are privileged to get to speak with Dr. Sean Inderbitzen, who is a psychotherapist and autism researcher. He works as a clinical social worker specializing in care for those with autism, and he regularly trains healthcare professionals in best practices when working with people on the spectrum. Sean himself was diagnosed with autism many years ago, as you'll hear, and he has been friends with Susan and her husband, Gary ever since Sean became a college student of hers in the early 20tens. Enjoy the episode!   P.S. - You can find Sean at https://www.instagram.com/inderbitzen.consulting/

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan would like to give you hope that our country doesn't have to be so hatefully divided when it comes to politics. To that end, they have posted two separate interviews: one with DeShauna Blankinship who is voting for Kamala Harris (this episode), and one with Greg Porter who is voting for Donald Trump (see Part 1). Please note that Jeff and Susan don't necessarily agree with everything their interviewees say here, AND they will always advocate for your right to vote for whomever you choose. Enjoy the episodes!

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan would like to give you hope that our country doesn't have to be so hatefully divided when it comes to politics. To that end, they have posted two separate interviews: one with Greg Porter who is voting for Donald Trump (this episode) and one with DeShauna Blankinship who is voting for Kamala Harris (see Part 2). Please note that Jeff and Susan don't necessarily agree with everything their interviewees say here, AND they will always advocate for your right to vote for whomever you choose. Enjoy the episodes!

A Different Kind of Walk is back from summer vacation and excited to tell you about this season's theme: peace. Whether it's peace instead of war, peace in the midst of anxiety, or simply peace and quiet, Jeff and Susan look forward to sharing another great year of interviews with you. Enjoy the episode!

As Jeff and Susan begin their summer break, they talk about Jeff's most recent health updates and their plans for next season. They also end up in an impromptu counseling session as they discuss imposter syndrome and the difficulties of middle-age adulthood. Enjoy the episode!

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan are delighted to get to speak with Josh Rodriguez. Josh is from Indiana, he's a graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University and Princeton Theological Seminary, and he is the pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Piqua, Ohio. Josh is also from an immigrant family that came to the U.S. illegally from Mexico. These two sides of Josh's story are quite different, and he is gracious enough in this interview to share openly about identity, immigration, pain, joy, and Jesus. Enjoy the episode!

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan give a quick update on Jeff's health. And, since it is Holy Week, they discuss some of the Holy Week and Easter traditions that have been meaningful to them over the years. Enjoy the episode! 

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan get to speak with Mike Abrams, who is the Deputy Standards Editor at The New York Times. A journalist himself, Mike's job is to help make sure all journalism at the Times is held to high standards of Independence, Integrity, Curiosity, Respect, Collaboration, and Excellence. And, in an ever-changing world with over 5,800 journalists around the globe and news coming out around the clock, that job has become increasingly complex. Enjoy the episode! 

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan get to speak with Kathleen Biggins, the founder and president of C-Change Conversations. Kathleen founded C-Change Conversations as a non-profit that works to build consensus across cultural and political lines on the topic of climate change. She (and other volunteers from C-Change) has spoken to audiences all over the country and internationally, walking them through the topic of climate change both socially and scientifically and explaining both the risks and the opportunities that lay ahead because of it. Enjoy the episode!

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan get to interview Carolyn Whitney-Brown about her recent book, "Flying, Falling, Catching." Carolyn was good friends with the late Henri Nouwen, a famed spiritual writer, speaker, priest, and university professor. Her book–framed by the true story of Nouwen being rescued out a hotel window during his first heart attack–incorporates his unpublished writings about his friendship with a traveling trapeze group and gives a glimpse of Nouwen as a whole person. Enjoy the episode!

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan talk through their reactions since their interview with Kim van Essen on the topic of having a transgender spouse in the episode "Unity and/or Diversity: Part 1." They discuss the tools they've used to gain a better understanding of the topic including books, ballet, and medical diagnoses. Enjoy the episode!

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan talk through Jeff's latest health challenges while enjoying a few interruptions from their visiting peanut gallery (Jeff's college/Camino friends, Cathy and David Thoma). Enjoy the episode!

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan are privileged to speak with Kim van Essen about her experience having her spouse transition from one gender to another. Admittedly, this topic is not an easy or simple one, but Kim is lovely and was gracious enough to answer their questions about faith and surgeries and family and living in a threatening world. Enjoy the episode!

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan get together for the first time in a couple months to discuss Jeff's health and just enjoy a good chat. Not surprisingly, they end up having a fun conversation about miracles, books, and God. Enjoy the episode!

Happy Easter! Today's episode is the last of the season, and in it you'll find a very special confession from Jeff as he continues along his journey of faith. Join Susan in the role of a listening priest and, as always, enjoy the episode!

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan get to chat with Bill Haley who is a Spiritual Director and the founder of a spiritual formation ministry called Coracle. They discuss Bill's life (studying and traveling, church-planting and spiritual retreat) as well as where spiritual direction originated, what it is, and what it's supposed to do in the world. You can learn more about Bill's work at www.inthecoracle.org. Enjoy the episode!

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan and Scotty get to chat about what brings them hope. Despite the most difficult issues at play in our world today, they believe that hope is not lost and that the future just might be a pleasant surprise. Enjoy the episode! 

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan continue their discussion from the previous episode on deconstruction. Here they talk about church burn, issues of abuse and harassment, and how the stages of faith are not simply linear. 

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan get to answer some questions about faith and deconstruction. Is deconstruction a bad thing? What is "church" supposed to be, and is there a difference between "going to church" and "going to worship"? Does it matter whether or not believers physically gather together, worship God together, and are the church together? Whether you've ever considered these questions or not, they hope you enjoy the episode. 

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan get to spend time again with Patrick Gray and Justin Skeesuck, the founders of I'll Push You, Inc. and the leaders of wheelchair accessible trips along the Camino de Santiago in Spain. This is Jeff's and Susan's last interview about the Camino, and they are excited to share how and where Patrick and Justin have seen God show up in this world. Enjoy the episode!

In today's episode, Jeff and Scotty and Susan get to share their favorite (and least favorite) Christmas songs and why they matter to them. You'll hear some musical renditions by Susan (and one by her kids) and hopefully get some laughs along the way. Enjoy the episode!

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan get to spend time with Mandy Smith. Mandy is the Pastor at St. Lucia Uniting Church in St. Lucia, Australia and she has much to teach us about gentleness, leadership, and absorbing pain. Enjoy the episode! P.S. - Click here to see the piece of art Mandy references: "Groomed For Leadership."

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan get to speak with Donna Jones. Donna is a native of Guam, she was born with Spina Bifida, and despite being paralyzed from the calves down she is a competitive athlete who enjoys skiing, skydiving, weight lifting, and has hiked the Camino de Santiago in a wheelchair. Enjoy the episode!

In this episode, Jeff and Susan get to welcome their new Co-Host, Scotty Meiser. The three of them discuss headaches, Donald Duck, and technology, and they share the metaphors they are currently using to understand and connect with God. Go to www.adifferentkindofwalk.com/donate to help sustain A Different Kind of Walk through the spring.

In this episode, Jeff and Susan discuss their pets (Jeff's dog, Lumi, and Susan's cat, Charm), Jeff's most recent fall, and their experiences encountering euthanasia as a topic in media and in real life.

In this episode, Jeff and Susan are joined by 16-year-old Mary Proctor. They chat with Mary about Catholic School, faith, the first year of driving, and how to navigate high school when you deal with high anxiety.

Just a quick note from Jeff about the election coming up. We are so lucky to live in a country where we are free to have a voice, where we have the opportunity to vote for our leaders. This is your chance to participate. It's time to vote!

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan are joined by Dr. Alexandria Nickles who is a physical therapist in the neurology department at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. From day to day, Alexandria works with patients experiencing traumatic brain injuries and chronic neurological diseases like Multiple Sclerosis (MS) or Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS), which just so happens to be the front runner as a diagnosis for Jeff. Little did Jeff and Alexandria know that they would find themselves on the Camino together this year, but it was a happy coincidence indeed. Enjoy the episode!  

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan get to chat with Nancy and Andy Mako who are friends of Jeff's from his accessibility Camino walk. But it turns out that the Makos have done the Camino three different times for very different reasons. Now retired in New Hampshire, the Makos spend their time volunteering and mentoring (when they're not snowshoeing, that is). Enjoy the episode! 

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan get to spend time with illustrator/designer Sarah Kaizar and writer/teacher Scotty Meiser. As friends and creatives, Sarah and Scotty are collaborating on artistic projects ranging in topic from nature conservation efforts to science fiction comics. In our talk, they share about these projects as well as losing relationships, chronic health issues, and thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. You can find more information about all of Sarah's work at www.sarahkaizar.com, including updates on Sarah and Scotty's soon-to-be-released book RARE AIR: Portraits of Conservation, which is an illustrated book about rare and diminishing North American species of flight.

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan get to spend time with musician, poet, theologian, podcaster, and eco-activist David Benjamin Blower, who lives and works in the UK. David has many albums worth of musical projects ranging in style from ambient to folk to spiritual to alternative rock. And he's done a lot of artistic work around the biblical narrative of Jonah and how that story's call to love one's enemies applies to today's world. Enjoy the episode! (To find David's work, go to www.davidbenjaminblower.com)

(Technical difficulties have been fixed.) In today's episode, Jeff and Susan get to spend time with fellow Camino traveler Ken Proctor. Ken is an architect originally from upstate New York, and when planes hit the Twin Towers on 9/11 as his father was flying home from business, Ken began to notice that his childhood anxiety had reached a new and unmanageable level. Ken's father made it home that day, but Ken has spent the last decade learning how to live a full life while managing anxiety. Enjoy the episode!

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan get to spend time with Daniel Nayeri, who is a writer, editor, and publisher in the United States. His novel that they discuss is called Everything Sad Is Untrue (a true story), which is a telling of his own family having to flee persecution in Iran and becoming refugees when he was a small child. Enjoy the episode!

In today's episodes, Jeff (and Susan, but mostly Jeff) gets to chat with his college friends - David Thoma, Cathy Thoma, and Jeff Gill - and recap their recent experience together on the Camino de Santiago, with a little college humor along the way. In this episode, there are also references to the following videos: Donna Going Solo and Jeff Snoring.

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan get to speak with essay and novel writer Sophfronia Scott. They discuss two of her books, The Seeker And The Monk: Everyday Conversations With Thomas Merton and This Child of Faith (the latter being written with her son, Tain, after he survived the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.) Enjoy the episode.

My (Jeff's) third solo act. This is a health update and an answer to "so how was the trip?"

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan get to speak with Patrick Gray, Co-Founder of I'll Push You, Inc.  Patrick is one of the leaders of accessibility trips along the Camino de Santiago in Spain (the trip Jeff just finished). We get to hear about Patrick's upbringing, his friendship with Justin Skeesuck (interviewed previously), and his journey of deconstructing and reconstructing faith. Enjoy the episode.

It's Jeff! Here is my first interview on the Camino trail. You'll hear from Jeff H. and Kim K.

You might already know that I'm not the best with technology (Susan says I make things explode just by looking at them), but I have just uploaded this podcast episode on my own. I am leaving in a couple days for the Camino in Spain. While I'm there, I will be posting short, unedited recordings of conversations with people in my group and other travelers we meet along the way. Have a groovy day! 

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan discuss what Jeff is looking forward to on the Camino de Santiago, and he gives an update on how his disease is progressing and what challenges he faces as a result. Warning, it's not great news, but Jeff is Jeff so there's still much joy. Enjoy the episode.  

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan interview Psychiatrist Dr. Jeff Naser and discuss mental health, how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected his work, and both the joys and difficulties of the health industry. Enjoy the episode.

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan interview Spiritual Director, Shanna Cummings who lived in and ran a 10-bedroom community house in Bensalem, PA for almost 15 years. Enjoy the episode.

In this episode, Jeff and Susan get to introduce you to the lovely Dr. Claire Foster-Gilbert who is the (founding and current) Director of the Westminster Abbey Institute in London. She has published many books on ethics, but very recently published her own letters (Miles To Go Before I Sleep: Letters on Hope, Death, and Learning To Live) that she wrote to friends and family as she was dealing with her diagnosis and treatment of terminal cancer. Enjoy the episode. P.S. - The music in this episode can be found here.

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan discuss their own personal journeys with mental health, including some distressing incidents they've experienced and the tools they used to get through them. Enjoy the episode.

Enjoy the recordings of the A Different Kind of Walk blog. In this post, Jeff expresses his sadness about the current invasion happening in Ukraine and gives some practical suggestions for how we can all help. Join him in prayer. 

Enjoy the recordings of the A Different Kind of Walk blog. In this post, Jeff discusses how he's feeling currently about change and how he has met with God in that. Enjoy the episode.