ER Chaplains Watching "ER"

The chaplains break down episodes 1.20 and 1.21 of ER as we look at the ER as “the center of the universe,” how none of us is really in control of much of anything, the beloved friendship between Doug Ross and Mark Greene, secondary trauma, how competition can be both positive and negative, why grief applies to a lot more than just death, righteous anger, and the importance of taking a time-out. We also read a wonderful email from our listener Max. Hosted by Stacy Sergent Lawton, Sara Jane Moran, and Janie Toy Powell. See Ep 11 Show Notes for more great info and links to the episodes on Hulu.

Peter Benton's marathon shift leads the chaplains to talk about boundaries, the value of rest and self-care, and who can/should provide spiritual support in hospitals. And the classic episode "Love's Labor Lost" brings discussion of the alarming (and worsening) rates of maternal mortality in the U.S. We also learn what became of the actress who played Tatiana and more. Hosted by Stacy Sergent Lawton, Janie Toy Powell, Sara Jane Moran, and Carrie Walker Nettles. See Ep 10 Show Notes page for more great info and links.

We're finally back with a new episode! We learn how George Clooney is a real-life PSA for wearing a helmet, Mark and Jennifer Greene's marriage illustrates Gottman's Four Horsemen, Doug Ross demonstrates toxic charity, and a parable of Jesus reframed for modern caregivers may have saved Stacy and Carrie from burnout. Hosted by Stacy Sergent Lawton and Carrie Walker Nettles.See Ep 9 Show Notes page for more.

The chaplains discuss domestic abuse, gang violence, white male privilege (mostly Dr. Carter's), end of life care, the origins of Doug Ross's (and George Clooney's) love of basketball, how ER gave us an Ocean's Eleven prequel, and more as we watch "Long Day's Journey" and "Feb 5, '95." Hosted by Stacy Sergent Lawton and Sara Jane Moran.See Ep 8 Show Notes page for more.

Dr. Susan Lewis reminds us of our own difficulties asserting authority as young women and the horrors of individual supervision in Clinical Pastoral Education, while Dr. Peter Benton's story leads us to discuss family systems theory and respite care. And as always, there will be some fangirling over 90s George Clooney. Hosted by Stacy Sergent Lawton, Sara Jane Moran, and Janie Toy Powell. See Ep 7 Show Notes page for more info.

It might be (unofficially) summer here, but on ER it's all snow days and Christmas carols! We talk about staff camaraderie, music and dance as therapy, personality types, the power of repetition and ritual, organ donation, eschatological theology, stages of faith, and more. Hosted by Stacy Sergent Lawton, Sara Jane Moran, and Carrie Walker Nettles. See Ep 6 Show Notes page for more.

Carol's treatment of a rape victim is examined by our own resident expert, Carrie Nettles. Doug Ross's renaming of a new employee and Carter's lack of empathy for a transgender patient are also on the table. Finally, we get a little silly talking about Doug's ethically questionable relationship with a pharmaceutical rep.

We talk about Doug Ross's assumptions (and ours), children as a means of God's grace, how fear pushes us to our worst decisions, the importance of boundaries, recognizing compassion fatigue, and the difficulty of quantifying spiritual care, as we look at episodes 1.6 and 1.7 of ER. Hosted by Stacy Sergent Lawton, Sara Jane Moran, Carrie Walker Nettles, and Deborah Gaddis Reeves.See Ep 4 Show Notes page for more.

John Carter and Mark Greene bump up against their own existential limits, Doug Ross needs to check his privilege, why the ER is no place to work if you have a sensitive nose, incarnation and the holiness of bodies, potentially problematic theologies and more are discussed as we look at episodes 1.4 and 1.5 of ER. Hosted by Stacy Sergent Lawton, Sara Jane Moran, Deborah Gaddis Reeves, Janie Toy Powell, and Carrie Walker Nettles. See Ep 3 Show Notes page for more.

How the ER is a sacred space (but the ER bathroom is a really gross place to have sex), the difference between healing and cure, lament as a response to the injustices we encounter in healthcare, the spiritual care needs of children, and Nearing Death Awareness are some of the topics we cover as we look at episodes 1.2 and 1.3 of ER. Hosted by Stacy Sergent Lawton, Sara Jane Moran, Deborah Gaddis Reeves, and Carrie Walker Nettles.See Ep 2 Show Notes page for more.

In our very first episode, we're talking about the pilot episode of ER, "24 Hours." We'll meet the characters, introduce ourselves as your hosts, discuss how chaplains can care for hospital staff under stress, and talk about some big ways things have changed since 1994 (including George Clooney's haircut).