Podcast appearances and mentions of cassidy hall

Episode 79.  In this conversation, Cassidy and I talk about her evolving, contemplative spiritual expression and identity as a queer Christian. We also touch on her view of scripture and incorporating various theologies and poetry as she finds comfort in paradoxes. Thanks go to the Elevate Podcasting Summit recently hosted by BYU Radio, where we met and recorded this conversation.  Highlights:·       Cassidy Hall's Spiritual Journey and queer Christian spirituality.·       Exploration of Faith: Embracing spiritual paradox; seeking expansive belonging.·       Influence of mystics and desert elders·       Contemplative spirituality: Silence holds paradox, presence, absence.·       Engagement with Queerness in Christianity·       Cassidy's evolving faith practice·       Acceptance of uncertainty and communal prayer river.Bio: Rev. Cassidy Hall (she/her), MA, MDiv, MTS, is an author, award-winning filmmaker, podcaster, ordained in the United Church of Christ, and author of Queering Contemplation: Finding Queerness in the Roots and Future of Contemplative Spirituality. She is the cohost of the Encountering Silence podcast and the creator of the Contemplating Now and Queering Contemplation podcasts. Her films include In Pursuit of Silence and Day of a Stranger. Cassidy is widely published and currently resides in Indianapolis, where she is studying for her doctorate degree. You can learn more about her at cassidyhall.comSocial Media links for Cassidy: Website – www.cassidyhall.comBook – Queering ContemplationInstagram – instagram.com/casshallSocial Media links for Méli:Website – Talking with God Project LinkedIn – Meli SolomonFacebook – Meli Solomon Transcript:  Follow the podcast!The Living Our Beliefs podcast offers a place to learn about other religions and faith practices. When you hear about how observant Christians, Jews and Muslims live their faith, new ideas and questions arise:  Is your way similar or different?  Is there an idea or practice that you want to explore?  Understanding how other people live opens your mind and heart to new people you meet. Comments?  Questions? Email  Méli at – info@talkingwithgodproject.org The Living Our Beliefs podcast is part of the Talking with God Project – https://www.talkingwithgodproject.org/

In this conversation we talk about the difference between contemplation and coping, being similar to a plant, and her new book, “Queering Contemplation: Finding Queerness in the Roots and Future of Contemplative Spirituality”

Welcome to Part 2 of our episodes responding to your questions. This episode continues the conversation from the previous episode responding to listener questions from Season 1 of Everything Belongs. About the guest: Cassidy Hall (she/her/hers) (MA, MDiv, MTS) is an author, award-winning filmmaker, podcaster, ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, and leading voice in contemplative spirituality. She is the cohost of the Encountering Silence podcast and the creator of the Contemplating Now and Queering Contemplation podcasts. Her films include In Pursuit of Silence and Day of a Stranger. Her forthcoming book, Queering Contemplation, Finding Queerness in the Roots and Future of Contemplative Spirituality is set for release in May of 2024. Cassidy is widely published and currently resides in Indianapolis, where she is studying for her DMin degree. Resources: A PDF of the transcript for this episode is available here. Grab a copy of the newly revised version of Falling Upward, with a new foreword by Brené Brown here. To learn more about Cassidy Hall, visit her website here. Grab a copy of Cassidy's book, Queering Contemplation, here.

In this season finale of Everything Belongs, we're diving into the final chapter of Richard Rohr's book Falling Upward and responding to as many listener questions as we could across three parts. Joining Corey, Mike, and Paul for these special episodes is our dear friend Cassidy Hall, the author of Queering Contemplation. Together, we're exploring how her work relates to the themes of Falling Upward and the paradoxical journey of spiritual growth that comes along with it. This episode was recorded during a particularly memorable moment, as a brood of ducklings hatched in Richard's front yard, creating a scene of pure joy and wonder that mirrors the themes of new beginnings and unexpected grace that ran throughout this season. We hope you enjoy it

We are so excited to welcome Cassidy Hall to the podcast for a conversation about her book, ‘Queer and Contemplation.’ […] The post Queering Contemplation with Cassidy Hall appeared first on Queer Theology.

Those unlearning the ways of an anxious culture are leaning into queerness as a metaphor for approaching the sacred: We are leaning into “possibilities beyond”...We're learning a new path.   Find Jonathan Merritt's children's book My Guncle and Me here. Find Queering Contemplation by Cassidy Hall here. Find the Contemplating Now podcast episode I quoted from with Therese Taylor-Stinson here. The prayer we pray in A Slow Practice can be found in The Asian Journal of Thomas Merton.  Here's a link to Micha's new book Blessed Are The Rest of Us: How Limits and Longing Make Us Whole. Find it at Target, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Leave a review for Blessed on Amazon here!  It's availble at 40% off the price of other booksellers at BakerBookHouse. Just use the code SLOWWAY at checkout. Learn more about Micha's other podcast The Lucky Few at their website and instagram.   Micha will be hosting a weekly virtual book club for paid subscribers this spring, following the release of her new book. If you're interested, become a paid subscriber and support her work! Here's a link to learn more. Find a transcript of this episode here.  Find Micha's website and sign up for her weekly newsletter here. Find Micha on Instagram.  Find Micha on Threads. 

In this interview with Cassidy Hall we discuss her new book “Queering Contemplation, Finding Queerness in the Roots and Future of Contemplative Spirituality” and finding your next calling. Learn more at: cassidyhall.com broadleafbooks.com faithandjusticebookgroup.com findyournextcalling.com

Returning guest, Cassidy Hallconverses with host Lisa Colon DeLay on a variety of topics from Cassidy's new book entitled Queering Contemplation.

Cassidy S. Hall (She/Her), MA, MDIV, MTS, is an author, award-winning filmmaker, podcaster, and leading voice in contemplative spirituality. She is the cohost of the Encountering Silence podcast and the creator of the Contemplating Now and Queering Contemplation podcasts. Her films include In Pursuit of Silence and Day of a Stranger. Cassidy is widely published and currently resides in Indianapolis, where she is studying for her DMin degree.   What Would it Look Like to Queer Thomas Merton? What is queer theory and queer theology and how can they be used as a lens to better understand Merton—and ourselves? In our time together, Cassidy, a cis queer white woman, will examine the ways the traditional western Christian contemplative canon has left out far too many voices from the conversation. She will share a part of her own contemplative journey which led her to traveling to all 17 Trappist Monasteries of the US, Directing a film about Thomas Merton's hermitage years, and writing the forthcoming book Queering Contemplation: Finding Queerness in the Roots and Future of Contemplative Spirituality.

We all have superpowers, most of which go unnoticed and untapped. Join the continued conversation starting in Episode 69. This episode centers the gentle, healing voice of Anne Garner joined by Kerry Connelly and Cassidy Hall. Together we discover a superpower WE ALL HAVE...the power of presence.Are you curious to discover how to unleash your superpower into the world today and participate in healing? Come find out!JOINED BY:Kerry ConnellyCassidy HallRev Anne GarnerSupport the show

Part 2…Two beautiful conversations about queerness, spirituality, & eroticism.So…What is it… what is the EROTIC, and how does EROS promote well-being? Is it pornographic or is it so so so much more? Come find out.This episode featuring author, contemplative, filmmaker, and scholar Cassidy Hall dives into the erotic, specifically the root word EROS and the embodiment of it.JOINED BY:Kerry ConnellyRev Anne GarnerSupport the show

Are you interested in engaging with the word queer differently and understanding how queerness promotes well-being?“You're about to listen to an episode discussing queerness, queer life, and queer expressions. In this episode, I share my experience of being queer in my sexuality and in the ways my queerness has opened me up to my true self...my weirdness, strangeness, and all the possibilities within me. My words and my story do not speak for every queer life or experience. They only speak for my own, and it is my hope that by listening to this episode, we all might engage with the word queer differently, that it might become a word of invitation, and that we might embrace it as a place of infinite possibility of wild hope and expansive becoming.My queer experience as someone who identifies as queer in sexuality and in life is one in which I hope invites ALL of us into the ways in which queer can be an invitation into transgressive action which opposes societal norms. An invitation to living in a place beyond binaries and in that liminal space of possibility and an invitation into how queerness doesn't only live in sexuality.” - Cassidy HallHappy listening, friends. Enjoy the conversation.JOINED BY:Kerry ConnellyRev Anne GarnerSupport the show

Carl McColman is a contemplative writer, speaker, teacher, soul friend, and storyteller.He is the author of numerous books, including The Big Book of Christian Mysticism, Answering the Contemplative Call, An Invitation to Celtic Wisdom and Unteachable Lessons. His latest book, Eternal Heart, was published in June 2021.Carl studied at James Madison University (BA, English) and George Mason University (MA, Professional Writing and Editing). His formation in the spiritual life includes training with the Shalem Institute in Washington, DC; the Institute for Pastoral Studies in Atlanta; and the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Georgia, where Carl is a Life-Professed Lay Cistercian: a layperson under formal spiritual guidance with the Trappist monks. He is a certified presenter of Centering Prayer Introductory Workshops. Carl co-hosts the Encountering Silence podcast with filmmaker Cassidy Hall and theologian Kevin Johnson. To learn more about Carl and his work, visit his website, www.anamchara.com.Resources:www.claudiumurgan.comwww.patreon.com/claudiumurganclaudiu@claudiumurgan.comSubscribe for more videos! youtube.com/channel/UC6RlLkzUK_LdyRSV7DE6obQ

Higher Ed AV PodcastEpisode 160It's that time again for NW/MET! We're back in person with conferences! Joe sits down with conference planners Raul Burriel (Oregon State University), Carrie Kyser (Lewis-Clark State College), and Cassidy Hall (University of Idaho) to discuss the schedule and why we should all attend!NW/METNorthwest Managers of Educational TechnologyWeb: https://www.nwmet.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/5190961/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/nwmetRaul BurrielStreaming Media CoordinatorOregon State UniversityLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rburriel/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/rburrielCarrie KyserInstructional DesignerLewis-Clark State CollegeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekyser/Cassidy HallManager, Collaboration & Classroom Technology ServicesUniversity of IdahoLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cass-hall-95696998/

PART 3...This is the final episode in a 3-part series offering practical tools for everyday white-identifying people to transition towards racial justice. Join the conversation with Cassidy Hall, a brilliant author, filmmaker, activist, podcaster, pastor, and friend.Cassidy and I (Shaleen) conclude this conversation by exploring our experience as white-identifying people who desire to step away from pseudo-white supremacy and closer to beloved community.Join us in reimagining spirituality in our country as a means to confronting and dismantling racism, dominance, and toxic power. We are focused on the opportunity to finally, fully, and unequivocally transition from considering oneself “not racist” to understanding what it may mean to become “anti-racist.” We offer examples from our lives, utilize resources, consider how we have been part of the problem...AND explore opportunities to be part of the solution.COME WITH US ON A JOURNEY TOWARDS LIBERATION AND JOY!Engage Cassidy's work at www.cassidyhall.com**PS Please forgive us. We made a MISTAKE and originally posted this series in the wrong order! Our bad! Here is the correct order! Thank you for your patience with our humanness! HahahSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/preview/7914a4f7860a4376adacf88925a49433)

PART 3...This is the final episode in a 3-part series offering practical tools for everyday white-identifying people to transition towards racial justice. Join the conversation with Cassidy Hall, a brilliant author, filmmaker, activist, podcaster, pastor, and friend.Cassidy and I (Shaleen) conclude this conversation by exploring our experience as white-identifying people who desire to step away from pseudo-white supremacy and closer to beloved community.Join us in reimagining spirituality in our country as a means to confronting and dismantling racism, dominance, and toxic power. We are focused on the opportunity to finally, fully, and unequivocally transition from considering oneself “not racist” to understanding what it may mean to become “anti-racist.” We offer examples from our lives, utilize resources, consider how we have been part of the problem...AND explore opportunities to be part of the solution.COME WITH US ON A JOURNEY TOWARDS LIBERATION AND JOY!Engage Cassidy's work at www.cassidyhall.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/preview/7914a4f7860a4376adacf88925a49433)

PART 2...This 3-part series offers practical tools for everyday people to engage our transition towards racial justice. Join the conversation with Cassidy Hall, a brilliant author, filmmaker, activist, podcaster, pastor, and friend.Cassidy and I (Shaleen) continue the conversation exploring our experience as white-identifying people who desire to step away from pseudo-white supremacy and closer to beloved community. Join us in reimagining spirituality in our country as a means to confronting and dismantling racism, dominance, and toxic power. We are focused on the opportunity to finally, fully, and unequivocally transition from considering oneself “not racist” to understanding what it may mean to become “anti-racist.” We offer examples from our lives, utilize resources, consider how we have been part of the problem...AND explore opportunities to be part of the solution.COME WITH US ON A JOURNEY TOWARDS LIBERATION AND JOY!Follow Cassidy's work at www.cassidyhall.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/preview/7914a4f7860a4376adacf88925a49433)

This 3-part series offers practical tools for everyday people to engage our transition towards racial justice. Join the conversation with Cassidy Hall, a brilliant author, filmmaker, activist, podcaster, pastor, and friend. Cassidy and I (Shaleen) discuss our experience as white-identifying people in stepping away from pseudo-white supremacy and closer to beloved community. Join us in reimagining spirituality in our country as a means to confronting and dismantling racism, dominance, and toxic power. We are focused on the opportunity to finally, fully, and unequivocally transition from considering oneself “not racist” to understanding what it may mean to become “anti-racist.” We offer examples from our lives, utilize resources, consider how we have been part of the problem...AND explore opportunities to be part of the solution.COME WITH US ON A JOURNEY TOWARDS LIBERATION AND JOY!Follow Cassidy's work at www.cassidyhall.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/preview/7914a4f7860a4376adacf88925a49433)

In today's episode of Encountering Silence, we visit co-host Cassidy Hall's new podcast, Contemplating Now: A Podcast Exploring the Intersection of Contemplation and Social Justice. Join us as we listen to wisdom from previous Encountering Silence guest, Therese Taylor-Stinson: spiritual director, author, and ordained deacon and elder in the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA).

News 8's Alexis Rogers sits down with student and local podcaster, Cassidy Hall, about what it will take to confront racism in Indianapolis.

Dr. Leah Gunning Francis is the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, Indiana. During the Ferguson uprising in 2014, Dr. Gunning Francis was serving as the Associate Dean for Contextual Education and Assistant Professor of Christian Education at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. As a result, Dr. Gunning Francis wrote the book Ferguson & Faith: Sparking Leadership and Awakening Community. In the book, She interviewed more than two dozen clergy and young activists who were actively involved in the movement for racial justice in Ferguson and beyond. Dr. Gunning Francis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Hampton University; a Master of Divinity degree from the Candler School of Theology; and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. We can not be silent to the racial injustice in our time. — Dr. Leah Gunning Francis A native of New Jersey, Dr. Gunning Francis is married to Rev. Rodney Francis and they live in Indianapolis with their tween-aged children. In the end of her book, she writes a message as relevant today as it was during her book’s release in 2015: “The fight for racial justice emerges out of the fight for human dignity. If there is any group of people who should be compelled to join this fight, it is the people who call themselves, “children of God.” Staying awake to the injustices that have been revealed through the Ferguson-related events is a critical task for communities fo faith. Our connectedness to our brothers and sisters is rooted in our connectedness to God, for we are all God’s children. And, in the words of the Civil Rights freedom fighter Ella Baker: “Until the killing of black men, black mothers’ sons, becomes as important to the rest of the country as the killing of a white mother’s son—we who believe in freedom cannot rest until this happens.” Learn more about Dr. Gunning Francis by visiting www.leahgunningfrancis.com. This is part one of a two-part episode. Part two will be released later this month. Look for the leader within. — Dr. Leah Gunning Francis Here is a video produced to introduce readers to Ferguson and Faith. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgcIJ3GvKss Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: Leah Gunning Francis, Ferguson & Faith: Sparking Leadership and Awakening Community Leah Gunning Francis, Faith Following Ferguson: Five Years of Resilience and Wisdom John O'Donohue, Eternal Echoes: Celtic Reflections on Our Yearning to Belong White supremacy has disembodied the white body. — Dr. Leah Gunning Francis Episode 108: Silence, Ferguson, and Faith (Part One): A Conversation with Dr. Leah Gunning Francis (Part One) Hosted by: Cassidy Hall With: Carl McColman and Kevin Johnson Guest: Dr. Leah Gunning Francis Date Recorded: July 28, 2020 Featured photograph by Cassidy Hall.

Dr. Leah Gunning Francis is the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, Indiana. During the Ferguson uprising in 2014, Dr. Gunning Francis was serving as the Associate Dean for Contextual Education and Assistant Professor of Christian Education at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. As a result, Dr. Gunning Francis wrote the book Ferguson & Faith: Sparking Leadership and Awakening Community. In the book, She interviewed more than two dozen clergy and young activists who were actively involved in the movement for racial justice in Ferguson and beyond. Dr. Gunning Francis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Hampton University; a Master of Divinity degree from the Candler School of Theology; and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. We can not be silent to the racial injustice in our time. — Dr. Leah Gunning Francis A native of New Jersey, Dr. Gunning Francis is married to Rev. Rodney Francis and they live in Indianapolis with their tween-aged children. In the end of her book, she writes a message as relevant today as it was during her book’s release in 2015: “The fight for racial justice emerges out of the fight for human dignity. If there is any group of people who should be compelled to join this fight, it is the people who call themselves, “children of God.” Staying awake to the injustices that have been revealed through the Ferguson-related events is a critical task for communities fo faith. Our connectedness to our brothers and sisters is rooted in our connectedness to God, for we are all God’s children. And, in the words of the Civil Rights freedom fighter Ella Baker: “Until the killing of black men, black mothers’ sons, becomes as important to the rest of the country as the killing of a white mother’s son—we who believe in freedom cannot rest until this happens.” Learn more about Dr. Gunning Francis by visiting www.leahgunningfrancis.com. This is part one of a two-part episode. Part two will be released later this month. Look for the leader within. — Dr. Leah Gunning Francis Here is a video produced to introduce readers to Ferguson and Faith. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgcIJ3GvKss Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: Leah Gunning Francis, Ferguson & Faith: Sparking Leadership and Awakening Community Leah Gunning Francis, Faith Following Ferguson: Five Years of Resilience and Wisdom John O'Donohue, Eternal Echoes: Celtic Reflections on Our Yearning to Belong White supremacy has disembodied the white body. — Dr. Leah Gunning Francis Episode 108: Silence, Ferguson, and Faith (Part One): A Conversation with Dr. Leah Gunning Francis (Part One) Hosted by: Cassidy Hall With: Carl McColman and Kevin Johnson Guest: Dr. Leah Gunning Francis Date Recorded: July 28, 2020 Featured photograph by Cassidy Hall.

One of the first guests on this podcast was Dr. Lerita Coleman Brown, who joined us on our episode #9 in 2018. Today we are delighted to welcome her back to the podcast. You can hear Professor Brown's previous conversation with us here. Lerita Coleman Brown, PhD is the author of When the Heart Speaks, Listen: Discovering Inner Wisdom, detailing her remarkable spiritual journey as a heart transplant recipient. She has also contributed essays to books including Embodied Spirits: Stories of Spiritual Directors of Color, Living Into God’s Dream: Dismantling Racism in America, and Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around — Stories of Contemplation and Justice. Professor Brown is the Ayse I. Carden Distinguished Professor Emerita of Psychology at Agnes Scott College. She has survived over 25 years with her transplanted heart, and 14 years with a transplanted kidney as well. She has also endured a heart valve replacement and a pacemaker implant. In addition to her work as a psychologist and educator, she is a spiritual director and retreat leader who often shares her love for the contemplative wisdom of the renowned African-American mystic, Howard Thurman. You can learn more about her online at www.peaceforhearts.com. Our answers are in the silence. — Lerita Coleman Brown, PhD Given the extraordinary moment that we find ourselves in, and especially our commitment here at the podcast not only to celebrate the gift of silence (and to dismantle all forms of toxic silence, including racism), it seemed natural to invite Lerita back — not only for her insight into the towering contemplative genius of Thurman, but also for her own perceptive words of wisdom about how we can spiritually navigate the urgency for fighting racism and other forms of injustice in our time. One of the problems with white and black is that they're totally constructed sociopolitical identities... disinherited people have no protection from the state. — Lerita Coleman Brown, PhD Dr. Lerita Coleman Brown with 2/3 of Encountering Silence. Left: with Cassidy at the Wild Goose Festival, 2019. Right: with Carl, 2018. (photos by Cassidy Hall and Fran McColman) You've got to be able to center down and feel that sense of renewal from the Spirit, and I think it's really important to learn to listen... We're all called to do something to help restore God's beloved creation... Every single person has a role to play. What is your role in this? — Lerita Coleman Brown, PhD Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: Lerita Coleman Brown, When the Heart Speaks, Listen: Discovering Inner Wisdom Sherry Bryant-Johnson (ed.), Embodied Spirits: Stories of Spiritual Directors of Color Cathering Meeks (ed.), Living Into God’s Dream: Dismantling Racism in America Therese Taylor-Stinson (ed.), Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around — Stories of Contemplation and Justice Howard Thurman, Essential Writings Howard Thurman, Jesus and the Disinherited Howard Thurman, The Living Wisdom of Howard Thurman: A Visionary for Our Time (audio recordings of sermons on a 6-CD set) Howard Thurman, Meditations of the Heart Howard Thurman, The Centering Moment Howard Thurman, Disciplines of the Spirit Howard Thurman, Footprints of a Dream Howard Thurman, The Luminous Darkness Howard Thurman, The Creative Encounter Howard Thurman, Deep is the Hunger Howard Thurman, The Papers of Howard Washington Thurman Volume One Volume Two Volume Three Volume Four Volume Five Howard Thurman, The Inward Journey Howard Thurman, A Strange Freedom Howard Thurman, With Head and Heart: The Autobiography of Howard Thurman

One of the first guests on this podcast was Dr. Lerita Coleman Brown, who joined us on our episode #9 in 2018. Today we are delighted to welcome her back to the podcast. You can hear Professor Brown's previous conversation with us here. Lerita Coleman Brown, PhD is the author of When the Heart Speaks, Listen: Discovering Inner Wisdom, detailing her remarkable spiritual journey as a heart transplant recipient. She has also contributed essays to books including Embodied Spirits: Stories of Spiritual Directors of Color, Living Into God’s Dream: Dismantling Racism in America, and Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around — Stories of Contemplation and Justice. Professor Brown is the Ayse I. Carden Distinguished Professor Emerita of Psychology at Agnes Scott College. She has survived over 25 years with her transplanted heart, and 14 years with a transplanted kidney as well. She has also endured a heart valve replacement and a pacemaker implant. In addition to her work as a psychologist and educator, she is a spiritual director and retreat leader who often shares her love for the contemplative wisdom of the renowned African-American mystic, Howard Thurman. You can learn more about her online at www.peaceforhearts.com. Our answers are in the silence. — Lerita Coleman Brown, PhD Given the extraordinary moment that we find ourselves in, and especially our commitment here at the podcast not only to celebrate the gift of silence (and to dismantle all forms of toxic silence, including racism), it seemed natural to invite Lerita back — not only for her insight into the towering contemplative genius of Thurman, but also for her own perceptive words of wisdom about how we can spiritually navigate the urgency for fighting racism and other forms of injustice in our time. One of the problems with white and black is that they're totally constructed sociopolitical identities... disinherited people have no protection from the state. — Lerita Coleman Brown, PhD Dr. Lerita Coleman Brown with 2/3 of Encountering Silence. Left: with Cassidy at the Wild Goose Festival, 2019. Right: with Carl, 2018. (photos by Cassidy Hall and Fran McColman) You've got to be able to center down and feel that sense of renewal from the Spirit, and I think it's really important to learn to listen... We're all called to do something to help restore God's beloved creation... Every single person has a role to play. What is your role in this? — Lerita Coleman Brown, PhD Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: Lerita Coleman Brown, When the Heart Speaks, Listen: Discovering Inner Wisdom Sherry Bryant-Johnson (ed.), Embodied Spirits: Stories of Spiritual Directors of Color Cathering Meeks (ed.), Living Into God’s Dream: Dismantling Racism in America Therese Taylor-Stinson (ed.), Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around — Stories of Contemplation and Justice Howard Thurman, Essential Writings Howard Thurman, Jesus and the Disinherited Howard Thurman, The Living Wisdom of Howard Thurman: A Visionary for Our Time (audio recordings of sermons on a 6-CD set) Howard Thurman, Meditations of the Heart Howard Thurman, The Centering Moment Howard Thurman, Disciplines of the Spirit Howard Thurman, Footprints of a Dream Howard Thurman, The Luminous Darkness Howard Thurman, The Creative Encounter Howard Thurman, Deep is the Hunger Howard Thurman, The Papers of Howard Washington Thurman Volume One Volume Two Volume Three Volume Four Volume Five Howard Thurman, The Inward Journey Howard Thurman, A Strange Freedom Howard Thurman, With Head and Heart: The Autobiography of Howard Thurman Martin Doblmeier (director), Backs Against the Wall: The Howard Thurman Story (DVD) Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation Billy Graham, Angels Gustavo Gutierrez, A Theology of Liberation James Cone, The Cross and the Lynching Tree Luther Smith, Jr.,

This episode continues our conversation with blogger/activist Kerry Connelly. As in part one of this interview, we explore one of the most pervasive forms of toxic silence in our culture: the silence embedded in white privilege and systemic racism. Kerry Connelly is a writer, certified life coach, creator of the no-nonsense blog Jerseygirl, JESUS, and host of the "White on White" podcast, which reimagines white identity apart from the dead end of pseudo-supremacy. This is part two of a two-part episode. To listen to part one, click here. Her latest book is Good White Racist? Confronting Your Role in Racial Injustice. Kerry Connelly is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Christian Theological Seminary (where she first met Cassidy Hall). She lives in New Jersey with her family. I have to always be aware, practice awareness of who's in the room, what's happening, and what might be my call as a white anti-racist in that particular context, and it's not always going to be the same, there's not one answer. — Kerry Connelly Dr. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza (who has also been a guest on this podcast) praised Good White Racist? by saying, “The work that needs to be done is white-on-white race talk. By that I mean, white folks talking to white folks about the ways white supremacy is internalized and therefore shows up in their social practice. Kerry endeavors to do just this, and I think we all should invest our time in this book!” I don't recommend getting involved with Jesus if you don't want to be radically challenged... I can't be in relationship with Jesus and then be permitted to go about propping up the status quo. — Kerry Connelly Some of the resources and authors mentioned in this episode: Kerry Connelly, Good White Racist? Confronting Your Role in Racial Injustice Therese Taylor-Stinson (ed.), Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around — Stories of Contemplation and Justice The Buddha, Teachings of the Buddha edited by Jack Kornfield The Desert Mothers and Fathers, Early Christian Wisdom Sayings Ruby Sales, The Inner Life of Social Change Simone Weil, Gravity and Grace George Stephanopoulos, All Too Human: A Political Education The Matrix Kenneth Leech, Soul Friend: Spiritual Direction in the Modern World Kenneth Leech, True Prayer: An Invitation to Christian Spirituality Kenneth Leech, Experiencing God: Theology as Spirituality Jennifer Worth, The Complete Call the Midwife Stories Find Kerry Connelly at www.kerryconnelly.com. I wonder what it must have been like, to have been Jesus, and be embodied in the way Jesus was embodied, and then experience that kind of silence in the desert... to be in that place, and to think about silence in that context, is a little mind-blowing. — Kerry Connelly Episode 102: Silence, Privilege, and Dismantling Racism: A Conversation with Kerry Connelly (Part Two) Hosted by: Cassidy Hall With: Kevin Johnson, Carl McColman Guest: Kerry Connelly Date Recorded: April 13, 2020 Featured image photo by Cassidy Hall.

This episode continues our conversation with blogger/activist Kerry Connelly. As in part one of this interview, we explore one of the most pervasive forms of toxic silence in our culture: the silence embedded in white privilege and systemic racism. Kerry Connelly is a writer, certified life coach, creator of the no-nonsense blog Jerseygirl, JESUS, and host of the "White on White" podcast, which reimagines white identity apart from the dead end of pseudo-supremacy. This is part two of a two-part episode. To listen to part one, click here. Her latest book is Good White Racist? Confronting Your Role in Racial Injustice. Kerry Connelly is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Christian Theological Seminary (where she first met Cassidy Hall). She lives in New Jersey with her family. I have to always be aware, practice awareness of who's in the room, what's happening, and what might be my call as a white anti-racist in that particular context, and it's not always going to be the same, there's not one answer. — Kerry Connelly Dr. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza (who has also been a guest on this podcast) praised Good White Racist? by saying, “The work that needs to be done is white-on-white race talk. By that I mean, white folks talking to white folks about the ways white supremacy is internalized and therefore shows up in their social practice. Kerry endeavors to do just this, and I think we all should invest our time in this book!” I don't recommend getting involved with Jesus if you don't want to be radically challenged... I can't be in relationship with Jesus and then be permitted to go about propping up the status quo. — Kerry Connelly Some of the resources and authors mentioned in this episode: Kerry Connelly, Good White Racist? Confronting Your Role in Racial Injustice Therese Taylor-Stinson (ed.), Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around — Stories of Contemplation and Justice The Buddha, Teachings of the Buddha edited by Jack Kornfield The Desert Mothers and Fathers, Early Christian Wisdom Sayings Ruby Sales, The Inner Life of Social Change Simone Weil, Gravity and Grace George Stephanopoulos, All Too Human: A Political Education The Matrix Kenneth Leech, Soul Friend: Spiritual Direction in the Modern World Kenneth Leech, True Prayer: An Invitation to Christian Spirituality Kenneth Leech, Experiencing God: Theology as Spirituality Jennifer Worth, The Complete Call the Midwife Stories Find Kerry Connelly at www.kerryconnelly.com. I wonder what it must have been like, to have been Jesus, and be embodied in the way Jesus was embodied, and then experience that kind of silence in the desert... to be in that place, and to think about silence in that context, is a little mind-blowing. — Kerry Connelly Episode 102: Silence, Privilege, and Dismantling Racism: A Conversation with Kerry Connelly (Part Two) Hosted by: Cassidy Hall With: Kevin Johnson, Carl McColman Guest: Kerry Connelly Date Recorded: April 13, 2020 Featured image photo by Cassidy Hall.

On this podcast we often explore the toxic side of silence. In this episode we explore one of the most pervasive forms of toxic silence in our culture: the silence embedded in white privilege and systemic racism. Guiding us in this exploration is author Kerry Connelly. Kerry Connelly is a writer, certified life coach, creator of the no-nonsense blog Jerseygirl, JESUS, and host of the "White on White" podcast, which reimagines white identity apart from the dead end of pseudo-supremacy. Her latest book is Good White Racist? Confronting Your Role in Racial Injustice. Kerry Connelly is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Christian Theological Seminary (where she first met Cassidy Hall). She lives in New Jersey with her family. I am much more of an actor, a doer, a go out and push — and that's something that I have to work to heal a little bit in myself, through silence. — Kerry Connelly Dr. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza (who has also been a guest on this podcast) praised Good White Racist? by saying, “The work that needs to be done is white-on-white race talk. By that I mean, white folks talking to white folks about the ways white supremacy is internalized and therefore shows up in their social practice. Kerry endeavors to do just this, and I think we all should invest our time in this book!” This is part one of a two-part episode. Part Two will be released in the near future. A systemic example of white silence is, for example, the way that we as a society will gaslight people of color who are trying to call out racism, and the Take a Knee movement is a great example of that. The Take a Knee movement is a perfect example of people of color attempting to peacefully bring attention to a very specific result of systemic racism in our country, which is police brutality, and white people will talk about everything but the issue at hand — we will talk about the flag, we will talk about our soldiers, we will talk about national pride, we will talk about patriotism... but we refuse, we insist upon remaining silent about discussing the actual problem. — Kerry Connelly Some of the resources and authors mentioned in this episode: Kerry Connelly, Good White Racist? Confronting Your Role in Racial Injustice Therese Taylor-Stinson (ed.), Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around — Stories of Contemplation and Justice The Buddha, Teachings of the Buddha edited by Jack Kornfield The Desert Mothers and Fathers, Early Christian Wisdom Sayings Ruby Sales, The Inner Life of Social Change Simone Weil, Gravity and Grace For white people to find our meaning, and to find our essence of being apart from this construct of pseudo-supremacy, that's the real work that white people have to do. Because until we can do that, we're never going to be truly willing to dismantle racist systems. — Kerry Connelly Episode 101: Silence, Privilege, and Dismantling Racism (Part One): A Conversation with Kerry Connelly (Part One) Hosted by: Cassidy Hall With: Kevin Johnson, Carl McColman Guest: Kerry Connelly Date Recorded: April 13, 2020 Featured photo: George Washington Bridge, photo by James Ting on Unsplash.

On this podcast we often explore the toxic side of silence. In this episode we explore one of the most pervasive forms of toxic silence in our culture: the silence embedded in white privilege and systemic racism. Guiding us in this exploration is author Kerry Connelly. Kerry Connelly is a writer, certified life coach, creator of the no-nonsense blog Jerseygirl, JESUS, and host of the "White on White" podcast, which reimagines white identity apart from the dead end of pseudo-supremacy. Her latest book is Good White Racist? Confronting Your Role in Racial Injustice. Kerry Connelly is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Christian Theological Seminary (where she first met Cassidy Hall). She lives in New Jersey with her family. I am much more of an actor, a doer, a go out and push — and that's something that I have to work to heal a little bit in myself, through silence. — Kerry Connelly Dr. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza (who has also been a guest on this podcast) praised Good White Racist? by saying, “The work that needs to be done is white-on-white race talk. By that I mean, white folks talking to white folks about the ways white supremacy is internalized and therefore shows up in their social practice. Kerry endeavors to do just this, and I think we all should invest our time in this book!” This is part one of a two-part episode. Click here to listen to part two. A systemic example of white silence is, for example, the way that we as a society will gaslight people of color who are trying to call out racism, and the Take a Knee movement is a great example of that. The Take a Knee movement is a perfect example of people of color attempting to peacefully bring attention to a very specific result of systemic racism in our country, which is police brutality, and white people will talk about everything but the issue at hand — we will talk about the flag, we will talk about our soldiers, we will talk about national pride, we will talk about patriotism... but we refuse, we insist upon remaining silent about discussing the actual problem. — Kerry Connelly Some of the resources and authors mentioned in this episode: Kerry Connelly, Good White Racist? Confronting Your Role in Racial Injustice Therese Taylor-Stinson (ed.), Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around — Stories of Contemplation and Justice The Buddha, Teachings of the Buddha edited by Jack Kornfield The Desert Mothers and Fathers, Early Christian Wisdom Sayings Ruby Sales, The Inner Life of Social Change Simone Weil, Gravity and Grace For white people to find our meaning, and to find our essence of being apart from this construct of pseudo-supremacy, that's the real work that white people have to do. Because until we can do that, we're never going to be truly willing to dismantle racist systems. — Kerry Connelly Episode 101: Silence, Privilege, and Dismantling Racism (Part One): A Conversation with Kerry Connelly (Part One) Hosted by: Cassidy Hall With: Kevin Johnson, Carl McColman Guest: Kerry Connelly Date Recorded: April 13, 2020 Featured photo: George Washington Bridge, photo by James Ting on Unsplash.

This episode is a guided visualization by Cassidy Hall. She leads us through a meditation based around the idea of descending down a staircase into our innermost being and exploring the interior landscape through symbolic images. Most of the work we do as human beings is abstract and external, so much so that we often are estranged from our own self, and therefore everything else. This meditation can help us to reacquaint ourselves with our innermost being. Cassidy Hall is an author, filmmaker, podcaster, student, and trained counselor. She works as a Teaching Assistant at Christian Theological Seminary where she is studying for her MDiv and MTS degrees. She also serves as Student Pastor of First Congregational United Church of Christ where she has begun the ordination process. Since 2017, Cassidy has served as the secretary of the International Thomas Merton Society. In 2012, while working as a counselor and reading Thomas Merton's New Seeds of Contemplation, Cassidy made a pilgrimage to all seventeen Trappist/Cistercian Monasteries of the United States. While there, she wrote, interviewed monks and nuns, and photographed her entire experience within these seventeen spaces. Her personal quest for silence was written about in this Des Moines Register feature article by Mike Kilen. Born and raised in Iowa, Cassidy moved to Los Angeles in 2013 to work on the production team of the documentary feature film In Pursuit of Silence. The film's success on the festival circuit and beyond led to its worldwide theatrical release. Her directorial debut short-film, Day of a Stranger, paints an intimate portrait of Thomas Merton's hermitage years and is anticipated for release in the summer of 2020). Find Cassidy here: www.cassidyhall.com Feel free to catch up with us on social media @methodspodcast, or if you'd like, you can support us on Patreon. linktr.ee/methodspodcast www.methodspodcast.com www.patreon.com/methods www.instagram.com/methodspodcast www.facebook.com/methodsthepodcast --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/methods/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/methods/support

Cassidy Hall is an author, filmmaker, podcaster, student, and trained counselor. She works as a Teaching Assistant at Christian Theological Seminary where she is studying for her MDiv and MTS degrees. She also serves as Student Pastor of First Congregational United Church of Christ where she has begun the ordination process. Since 2017, Cassidy has served as the secretary of the International Thomas Merton Society. In 2012, while working as a counselor and reading Thomas Merton's New Seeds of Contemplation, Cassidy made a pilgrimage to all seventeen Trappist/Cistercian Monasteries of the United States. While there, she wrote, interviewed monks and nuns, and photographed her entire experience within these seventeen spaces. Her personal quest for silence was written about in this Des Moines Register feature article by Mike Kilen. Born and raised in Iowa, Cassidy moved to Los Angeles in 2013 to work on the production team of the documentary feature film In Pursuit of Silence. The film's success on the festival circuit and beyond led to its worldwide theatrical release. Her directorial debut short-film, Day of a Stranger, paints an intimate portrait of Thomas Merton's hermitage years and is anticipated for release in the summer of 2020). Find Cassidy here: www.cassidyhall.com Feel free to catch up with us on social media @methodspodcast, or if you'd like, you can support us on Patreon. linktr.ee/methodspodcast www.methodspodcast.com www.patreon.com/methods www.instagram.com/methodspodcast www.facebook.com/methodsthepodcast --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/methods/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/methods/support

To honor the 50th Anniversary of the first Earth Day, and in recognition of the continuing challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Encountering Silence's own Cassidy Hall joins with her colleague at Transcendental Media, Patrick Shen, to announce two special, limited-time opportunities: The movie In Pursuit of Silence — the documentary film that inspired this podcast — is streaming free during this time of crisis, as a gift from the filmmakers to help each of us embrace what this unprecedented season offers. Click here to stream In Pursuit of Silence. The companion book to the film, Notes on Silence, is also available for a limited time for only $2.99 (Kindle edition). Click here to purchase Notes on Silence for $2.99. For today's episode of the podcast, Patrick joins us to speak about the movie, how its message is more important than ever in our world today, and offers some insight into new initiatives he is working on, including a collaborative film project celebrating silence at the break of day called the Dawn Chorus. If we could all learn the work of silence we’d take an awful lot of pressure off of our planet, in terms of ecology, because we wouldn’t be addicted to consumption. And, we wouldn’t be wasting what we waste. … there wouldn’t be this constant seeking seeking seeking for something else to fill up that empty space, when what will fill up the empty space is actually going into the empty space. Again, it’s a paradox. To fill up that empty space, you need to go into the spaciousness of your silence that lives in your heart. 

— Maggie Ross Meme recently seen on Facebook, which Carl alludes to in this episode. …The rush and pressure of modern life are a form, perhaps the most common form, of its innate violence. To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to too many projects, to want to help everyone and everything is to succumb to violence. More than that, it is cooperation in violence. The frenzy of the activist neutralizes his work for peace. It destroys his own inner capacity for peace. It destroys the fruitfulness of his own work, because it kills the root of inner wisdom which makes work fruitful….  —Thomas Merton To hear our previous episodes featuring Patrick Shen, click here and here. A lot of the white noise of the world has fallen away, many of us are hearing our own voices for the first time, we're certainly much louder than before, and I think the film provides some helpful context. — Patrick Shen Some of the resources and authors mentioned in this episode: Patrick Shen (director), In Pursuit of Silence — for a limited time, stream for free at watch.pursuitofsilence.com Cassidy Hall and Patrick Shen, Notes on Silence Maggie Ross, Silence: A User's Guide, Volume 1 Charles Taylor, A Secular Age George Prochnik, In Pursuit of Silence: Listening for Meaning in a World of Noise Thomas Keating, Open Mind Open Heart Howard Cosell, I Never Played the Game Martin Laird, Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation Macrina Weiderkehr, Seven Sacred Pauses: Living Mindfully Through the Hours of the Day Johann Baptist Metz, A Passion for God: The Mystical-Political Dimension of Christianity Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander Julio Vincent Gambuto, Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting Episode 98: In Pursuit of Silence, Earth Day, and the Dawn Chorus: A Conversation with Patrick Shen Hosted by: Kevin Johnson With: Cassidy Hall, Carl McColman Guest: Patrick Shen Date Recorded: April 20, 2020

To honor the 50th Anniversary of the first Earth Day, and in recognition of the continuing challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Encountering Silence's own Cassidy Hall joins with her colleague at Transcendental Media, Patrick Shen, to announce two special, limited-time opportunities: The movie In Pursuit of Silence — the documentary film that inspired this podcast — is streaming free during this time of crisis, as a gift from the filmmakers to help each of us embrace what this unprecedented season offers. Click here to stream In Pursuit of Silence. The companion book to the film, Notes on Silence, is also available for a limited time for only $2.99 (Kindle edition). Click here to purchase Notes on Silence for $2.99. For today's episode of the podcast, Patrick joins us to speak about the movie, how its message is more important than ever in our world today, and offers some insight into new initiatives he is working on, including a collaborative film project celebrating silence at the break of day called the Dawn Chorus. If we could all learn the work of silence we’d take an awful lot of pressure off of our planet, in terms of ecology, because we wouldn’t be addicted to consumption. And, we wouldn’t be wasting what we waste. … there wouldn’t be this constant seeking seeking seeking for something else to fill up that empty space, when what will fill up the empty space is actually going into the empty space. Again, it’s a paradox. To fill up that empty space, you need to go into the spaciousness of your silence that lives in your heart. 

— Maggie Ross Meme recently seen on Facebook, which Carl alludes to in this episode. …The rush and pressure of modern life are a form, perhaps the most common form, of its innate violence. To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to too many projects, to want to help everyone and everything is to succumb to violence. More than that, it is cooperation in violence. The frenzy of the activist neutralizes his work for peace. It destroys his own inner capacity for peace. It destroys the fruitfulness of his own work, because it kills the root of inner wisdom which makes work fruitful….  —Thomas Merton To hear our previous episodes featuring Patrick Shen, click here and here. A lot of the white noise of the world has fallen away, many of us are hearing our own voices for the first time, we're certainly much louder than before, and I think the film provides some helpful context. — Patrick Shen Some of the resources and authors mentioned in this episode: Patrick Shen (director), In Pursuit of Silence — for a limited time, stream for free at watch.pursuitofsilence.com Cassidy Hall and Patrick Shen, Notes on Silence Maggie Ross, Silence: A User's Guide, Volume 1 Charles Taylor, A Secular Age George Prochnik, In Pursuit of Silence: Listening for Meaning in a World of Noise Thomas Keating, Open Mind Open Heart Howard Cosell, I Never Played the Game Martin Laird, Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation Macrina Weiderkehr, Seven Sacred Pauses: Living Mindfully Through the Hours of the Day Johann Baptist Metz, A Passion for God: The Mystical-Political Dimension of Christianity Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander Julio Vincent Gambuto, Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting Episode 98: In Pursuit of Silence, Earth Day, and the Dawn Chorus: A Conversation with Patrick Shen Hosted by: Kevin Johnson With: Cassidy Hall, Carl McColman Guest: Patrick Shen Date Recorded: April 20, 2020

For our latest "Encountering Silence field recording," Cassidy Hall visits the farm of Indiana Quaker author J. Brent Bill for a conversation about silence and other essential elements of life. This is part two of a two-part episode; click here to listen to part one. Cassidy Hall and J. Brent Bill J. Brent Bill is a Quaker minister, retreat leader, and photographer. He's written more than twenty books, including Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Spirituality and Beauty, Truth, Life, and Love: Four Essentials for the Abundant Life. He has served as a local church pastor, denominational executive, seminary faculty member, and go-kart track operator. He lives on Ploughshares Farm, which is forty acres of former farmland being reclaimed to tall grass prairie and native hardwood forest. Finding rhythms of silence throughout our days, our ordinary day, really returns us to center, returns us to God, and keeps us centered. — J. Brent Bill Portrait of J. Brent Bill in coffee, by Chris Hagebak In writing, especially, I need the centeredness of silence, especially in the editing stages, to say 'Is this the right word? What am I conveying here, and am I conveying it in such a way that it can be heard? And the only way I can do that is to look at the words in silence. And I do regard my writing as a form of worship, in an exploration, too, in worship of where God is leading me. — J. Brent Bill Some of the resources and authors we mention in these episodes: J. Brent Bill, Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Spirituality J. Brent Bill, Life Lessons from a Bad Quaker: A Humble Stumble Toward Simplicity and Grace J. Brent Bill and Jennie Isbell, Finding God in the Verbs: Crafting a Fresh Language of Prayer J. Brent Bill, Mind the Light: Learning to See With Spiritual Eyes J. Brent Bill and Beth A. Booram, Awaken Your Senses: Exercises for Exploring the Wonder of God J. Brent Bill, Sacred Compass: The Way of Spiritual Discernment J. Brent Bill, Beauty, Truth, Life, and Love: Four Essentials for the Abundant Life T. Canby Jones, George Fox's Attitude Toward War Thomas Kelly, A Testament of Devotion John Greenleaf Whittier, The Poetry of John Greenleaf Whittier: A Reader's Edition Thomas Merton, Day of a Stranger Patricia Klein et al., Just as We Were: A Nostalgic Look at Growing Up Born Again Episode 86: Beauty, Truth, Life, Love — and Holy Silence: A Conversation with J. Brent Bill (Part Two) Hosted by: Cassidy Hall Date Recorded: December 3, 2019

For our latest "Encountering Silence field recording," Cassidy Hall visits the farm of Indiana Quaker author J. Brent Bill for a conversation about silence and other essential elements of life. This is part two of a two-part episode; click here to listen to part one. Cassidy Hall and J. Brent Bill J. Brent Bill is a Quaker minister, retreat leader, and photographer. He's written more than twenty books, including Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Spirituality and Beauty, Truth, Life, and Love: Four Essentials for the Abundant Life. He has served as a local church pastor, denominational executive, seminary faculty member, and go-kart track operator. He lives on Ploughshares Farm, which is forty acres of former farmland being reclaimed to tall grass prairie and native hardwood forest. Finding rhythms of silence throughout our days, our ordinary day, really returns us to center, returns us to God, and keeps us centered. — J. Brent Bill Portrait of J. Brent Bill in coffee, by Chris Hagebak In writing, especially, I need the centeredness of silence, especially in the editing stages, to say 'Is this the right word? What am I conveying here, and am I conveying it in such a way that it can be heard? And the only way I can do that is to look at the words in silence. And I do regard my writing as a form of worship, in an exploration, too, in worship of where God is leading me. — J. Brent Bill Some of the resources and authors we mention in these episodes: J. Brent Bill, Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Spirituality J. Brent Bill, Life Lessons from a Bad Quaker: A Humble Stumble Toward Simplicity and Grace J. Brent Bill and Jennie Isbell, Finding God in the Verbs: Crafting a Fresh Language of Prayer J. Brent Bill, Mind the Light: Learning to See With Spiritual Eyes J. Brent Bill and Beth A. Booram, Awaken Your Senses: Exercises for Exploring the Wonder of God J. Brent Bill, Sacred Compass: The Way of Spiritual Discernment J. Brent Bill, Beauty, Truth, Life, and Love: Four Essentials for the Abundant Life T. Canby Jones, George Fox's Attitude Toward War Thomas Kelly, A Testament of Devotion John Greenleaf Whittier, The Poetry of John Greenleaf Whittier: A Reader's Edition Thomas Merton, Day of a Stranger Patricia Klein et al., Just as We Were: A Nostalgic Look at Growing Up Born Again Episode 86: Beauty, Truth, Life, Love — and Holy Silence: A Conversation with J. Brent Bill (Part Two) Hosted by: Cassidy Hall Date Recorded: December 3, 2019

For our latest "Encountering Silence field recording," Cassidy Hall visits the farm of Indiana Quaker author J. Brent Bill for a conversation about silence and other essential elements of life. This is part one of a two-part episode; the remainder of this interview will be released on our next episode. J. Brent Bill J. Brent Bill is a Quaker minister, retreat leader, and photographer. He's written more than twenty books, including Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Spirituality and Beauty, Truth, Life, and Love: Four Essentials for the Abundant Life. He has served as a local church pastor, denominational executive, seminary faculty member, and go-kart track operator. He lives on Ploughshares Farm, which is forty acres of former farmland being reclaimed to tall grass prairie and native hardwood forest. Finding rhythms of silence throughout our days, our ordinary day, really returns us to center, returns us to God, and keeps us centered. — J. Brent Bill Cassidy Hall and J. Brent Bill In writing, especially, I need the centeredness of silence, especially in the editing stages, to say 'Is this the right word? What am I conveying here, and am I conveying it in such a way that it can be heard? And the only way I can do that is to look at the words in silence. And I do regard my writing as a form of worship, in an exploration, too, in worship of where God is leading me. — J. Brent Bill Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: J. Brent Bill, Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Spirituality J. Brent Bill, Life Lessons from a Bad Quaker: A Humble Stumble Toward Simplicity and Grace J. Brent Bill and Jennie Isbell, Finding God in the Verbs: Crafting a Fresh Language of Prayer J. Brent Bill, Mind the Light: Learning to See With Spiritual Eyes J. Brent Bill and Beth A. Booram, Awaken Your Senses: Exercises for Exploring the Wonder of God J. Brent Bill, Sacred Compass: The Way of Spiritual Discernment J. Brent Bill, Beauty, Truth, Life, and Love: Four Essentials for the Abundant Life T. Canby Jones, George Fox's Attitude Toward War Thomas Kelly, A Testament of Devotion John Greenleaf Whittier, The Poetry of John Greenleaf Whittier: A Reader's Edition Thomas Merton, Day of a Stranger Patricia Klein et al., Just as We Were: A Nostalgic Look at Growing Up Born Again Episode 85: Beauty, Truth, Life, Love — and Holy Silence: A Conversation with J. Brent Bill (Part One) Hosted by: Cassidy Hall Date Recorded: December 3, 2019

For our latest "Encountering Silence field recording," Cassidy Hall visits the farm of Indiana Quaker author J. Brent Bill for a conversation about silence and other essential elements of life. This is part one of a two-part episode; the remainder of this interview will be released on our next episode. J. Brent Bill J. Brent Bill is a Quaker minister, retreat leader, and photographer. He's written more than twenty books, including Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Spirituality and Beauty, Truth, Life, and Love: Four Essentials for the Abundant Life. He has served as a local church pastor, denominational executive, seminary faculty member, and go-kart track operator. He lives on Ploughshares Farm, which is forty acres of former farmland being reclaimed to tall grass prairie and native hardwood forest. Finding rhythms of silence throughout our days, our ordinary day, really returns us to center, returns us to God, and keeps us centered. — J. Brent Bill Cassidy Hall and J. Brent Bill In writing, especially, I need the centeredness of silence, especially in the editing stages, to say 'Is this the right word? What am I conveying here, and am I conveying it in such a way that it can be heard? And the only way I can do that is to look at the words in silence. And I do regard my writing as a form of worship, in an exploration, too, in worship of where God is leading me. — J. Brent Bill Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: J. Brent Bill, Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Spirituality J. Brent Bill, Life Lessons from a Bad Quaker: A Humble Stumble Toward Simplicity and Grace J. Brent Bill and Jennie Isbell, Finding God in the Verbs: Crafting a Fresh Language of Prayer J. Brent Bill, Mind the Light: Learning to See With Spiritual Eyes J. Brent Bill and Beth A. Booram, Awaken Your Senses: Exercises for Exploring the Wonder of God J. Brent Bill, Sacred Compass: The Way of Spiritual Discernment J. Brent Bill, Beauty, Truth, Life, and Love: Four Essentials for the Abundant Life T. Canby Jones, George Fox's Attitude Toward War Thomas Kelly, A Testament of Devotion John Greenleaf Whittier, The Poetry of John Greenleaf Whittier: A Reader's Edition Thomas Merton, Day of a Stranger Patricia Klein et al., Just as We Were: A Nostalgic Look at Growing Up Born Again Episode 85: Beauty, Truth, Life, Love — and Holy Silence: A Conversation with J. Brent Bill (Part One) Hosted by: Cassidy Hall Date Recorded: December 3, 2019

Our conversation with musician, songwriter/poet, and Quaker Carrie Newcomer concludes this week. Carrie continues to share with us her insights into the relationship between poetry and lyrics, between music and silence, between creativity and authenticity — and how love can change everything for the better. Like the first part of this conversation, she also graces us with performance of several of her songs. Whether it's coming through a visual art, through music, through poetry, through dance, or some art form in that sense, or the art form of our lives — every time we speak we are putting a certain spirit into the world; every time, every encounter. — Carrie Newcomer To listen to part one of this interview, click here. Carrie Newcomer's CDs include The Point of Arrival, The Beautiful Not Yet and Kindred Spirits. She has been described as a “prairie mystic” by the Boston Globe and one who “asks all the right questions” by Rolling Stone. She regularly works with Parker J. Palmer, who is collaborating with her on The Growing Edge, a website, podcast, and retreat. Three of Newcomer’s songs are included in Palmer’s most recent book, On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity and Getting Old. "Every time I walk into a room; every time I encounter someone, or I have a conversation, I can step into that space with that internal sense of silence, and waiting; with that internal sense of I'm stepping into this moment in love and blessing." — Carrie Newcomer Carrie lives in the woods of southern Indiana with her husband and two shaggy dogs. Find her online at www.carrienewcomer.com. Visit The Growing Edge at www.newcomerpalmer.com. Cassidy Hall and Carrie Newcomer out for a walk in the beauty of nature. Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: Carrie Newcomer, The Point of Arrival Carrie Newcomer, The Beautiful Not Yet (CD) Carrie Newcomer, The Beautiful Not Yet: Poems, Essays and Lyrics Carrie Newcomer, Kindred Spirits Carrie Newcomer, Everything is Everywhere Carrie Newcomer, A Permeable Life (CD) Carrie Newcomer, A Permeable Life: Poems and Essays Carrie Newcomer, The Gathering of Spirits David Abram, The Spell of the Sensuous Parker J. Palmer, On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity and Getting Old The songs "Writing a Better Story" and "Learning to Sit Without Knowing" are on the album The Point of Arrival. Episode 65: Silence, Song, Blessing and Waiting: A Conversation with Carrie Newcomer (Part Two) Hosted by: Cassidy Hall With: Carl McColman, Kevin Johnson Guest: Carrie Newcomer Date Recorded: May 9, 2019  

Our conversation with musician, songwriter/poet, and Quaker Carrie Newcomer concludes this week. Carrie continues to share with us her insights into the relationship between poetry and lyrics, between music and silence, between creativity and authenticity — and how love can change everything for the better. Like the first part of this conversation, she also graces us with performance of several of her songs. Whether it's coming through a visual art, through music, through poetry, through dance, or some art form in that sense, or the art form of our lives — every time we speak we are putting a certain spirit into the world; every time, every encounter. — Carrie Newcomer To listen to part one of this interview, click here. Carrie Newcomer's CDs include The Point of Arrival, The Beautiful Not Yet and Kindred Spirits. She has been described as a “prairie mystic” by the Boston Globe and one who “asks all the right questions” by Rolling Stone. She regularly works with Parker J. Palmer, who is collaborating with her on The Growing Edge, a website, podcast, and retreat. Three of Newcomer’s songs are included in Palmer’s most recent book, On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity and Getting Old. "Every time I walk into a room; every time I encounter someone, or I have a conversation, I can step into that space with that internal sense of silence, and waiting; with that internal sense of I'm stepping into this moment in love and blessing." — Carrie Newcomer Carrie lives in the woods of southern Indiana with her husband and two shaggy dogs. Find her online at www.carrienewcomer.com. Visit The Growing Edge at www.newcomerpalmer.com. Cassidy Hall and Carrie Newcomer out for a walk in the beauty of nature. Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: Carrie Newcomer, The Point of Arrival Carrie Newcomer, The Beautiful Not Yet (CD) Carrie Newcomer, The Beautiful Not Yet: Poems, Essays and Lyrics Carrie Newcomer, Kindred Spirits Carrie Newcomer, Everything is Everywhere Carrie Newcomer, A Permeable Life (CD) Carrie Newcomer, A Permeable Life: Poems and Essays Carrie Newcomer, The Gathering of Spirits David Abram, The Spell of the Sensuous Parker J. Palmer, On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity and Getting Old The songs "Writing a Better Story" and "Learning to Sit Without Knowing" are on the album The Point of Arrival. Episode 65: Silence, Song, Blessing and Waiting: A Conversation with Carrie Newcomer (Part Two) Hosted by: Cassidy Hall With: Carl McColman, Kevin Johnson Guest: Carrie Newcomer Date Recorded: May 9, 2019  

Silence to guard the flame within

"Holding creates the impossibility of beholding." - Cassidy Hall

Richard Rohr sat down with Cassidy Hall in Chicago last month, at the conference “‘Disappear from View’? Thomas Merton, Fifty Years Later and Beyond” which commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of Merton’s death. If I had to choose between music and silence, I'd always choose silence. — Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM In this informal chat, Fr. Richard and Cassidy reflect on why Merton remains so important a half century after his passing, along with insights into Fr. Richard's sense of hope in our time (spoiler alert: he's impressed with young people today), his thoughts on how Christianity in America has (and has not) been faithful to the teachings of Jesus over the past few decades, thoughts about his own work and legacy, and much more! There's so much creativity in the way we love people and the way we serve people. — Cassidy Hall Listeners of this podcast will recall that we first spoke with Fr. Richard Rohr last spring — that conversation was released as Episode 19. We're all victims of our own culture. — Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM This is a field recording (made in the lobby of Fr. Richard's hotel!) and so there's plenty of background ambient noise — ironic, we know, for a podcast about silence! But we hope that listeners will appreciate this wonderful moment when Fr. Richard spoke with Cassidy in a truly relaxed and candid way. Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: Richard Rohr, Just This Richard Rohr, The Universal Christ Richare Rohr, What Do We Do About the Bible? Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation Meister Eckhart, Selected Writings Peter Enns, The Sin of Certainty Augustine, The Confessions of Saint Augustine Thomas Keating, Open Mind, Open Heart: The Contemplative Dimension of the Gospel Paul Quenon, In Praise of the Useless Life: A Monk’s Memoir Bono (of U2), Bono in Conversation with Michka Assayas Henri Nouwen, Reaching Out Some of Richard Rohr’s other books include: Richard Rohr, Essential Teachings on Love Richard Rohr with Mike Morrell, The Divine Dance: The Trinity and Your Transformation Richard Rohr, Falling Upward Richard Rohr, The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See Richard Rohr, Immortal Diamond Richard Rohr, Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer Richard Rohr, Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality Richard Rohr, Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps Richard Rohr, What the Mystics Know: Seven Pathways to Your Deeper Self Richard Rohr, Silent Compassion: Finding God in Contemplation Richard Rohr and Andreas Ebert, The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective Episode 46: Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM in Conversation with Cassidy Hall in Chicago Hosted by: Cassidy Hall Guest: Father Richard Rohr, OFM Date Recorded: December 7, 2018  

Richard Rohr sat down with Cassidy Hall in Chicago last month, at the conference “‘Disappear from View’? Thomas Merton, Fifty Years Later and Beyond” which commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of Merton’s death. If I had to choose between music and silence, I'd always choose silence. — Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM In this informal chat, Fr. Richard and Cassidy reflect on why Merton remains so important a half century after his passing, along with insights into Fr. Richard's sense of hope in our time (spoiler alert: he's impressed with young people today), his thoughts on how Christianity in America has (and has not) been faithful to the teachings of Jesus over the past few decades, thoughts about his own work and legacy, and much more! There's so much creativity in the way we love people and the way we serve people. — Cassidy Hall Listeners of this podcast will recall that we first spoke with Fr. Richard Rohr last spring — that conversation was released as Episode 19. We're all victims of our own culture. — Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM This is a field recording (made in the lobby of Fr. Richard's hotel!) and so there's plenty of background ambient noise — ironic, we know, for a podcast about silence! But we hope that listeners will appreciate this wonderful moment when Fr. Richard spoke with Cassidy in a truly relaxed and candid way. Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: Richard Rohr, Just This Richard Rohr, The Universal Christ Richare Rohr, What Do We Do About the Bible? Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation Meister Eckhart, Selected Writings Peter Enns, The Sin of Certainty Augustine, The Confessions of Saint Augustine Thomas Keating, Open Mind, Open Heart: The Contemplative Dimension of the Gospel Paul Quenon, In Praise of the Useless Life: A Monk’s Memoir Bono (of U2), Bono in Conversation with Michka Assayas Henri Nouwen, Reaching Out Some of Richard Rohr’s other books include: Richard Rohr, Essential Teachings on Love Richard Rohr with Mike Morrell, The Divine Dance: The Trinity and Your Transformation Richard Rohr, Falling Upward Richard Rohr, The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See Richard Rohr, Immortal Diamond Richard Rohr, Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer Richard Rohr, Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality Richard Rohr, Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps Richard Rohr, What the Mystics Know: Seven Pathways to Your Deeper Self Richard Rohr, Silent Compassion: Finding God in Contemplation Richard Rohr and Andreas Ebert, The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective Episode 46: Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM in Conversation with Cassidy Hall in Chicago Hosted by: Cassidy Hall Guest: Father Richard Rohr, OFM Date Recorded: December 7, 2018  

We are so pleased to welcome Trappist monk and poet Br. Paul Quenon, OCSO, back to Encountering Silence. A while back, Cassidy Hall interviewed brother Paul at his home, Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky (you can listen to that episode by clicking here). Br. Paul, out shopping with Cassidy She ran into Br. Paul again recently while visiting Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, to participate in the conference "'Disappear from View'? Thomas Merton, Fifty Years Later and Beyond" which commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of Merton's death in Bangkok in 1968. If you can breathe comfortably with yourself, you're going to be breathing more comfortably with other people. If you're not comfortable with yourself, how are you going to be comfortable with other people? — Brother Paul Quenon, OCSO Judith Valente interviews Br. Paul Quenon, OCSO at the CTU Conference They sat down for another chance to chat, and here is the recording of that conversation. Some of the resources and authors mentioned in this episode: Paul Quenon, In Praise of the Useless Life: A Monk’s Memoir Paul Quenon, Unquiet Vigil: New and Selected Poems Paul Quenon, Bells of the Hours Paul Quenon, Afternoons with Emily Paul Quenon, Monkswear Paul Quenon, Laughter: My Purgatory Paul Quenon, Terrors of Paradise Paul Quenon with Judith Valente and Michael Bever, The Art of Pausing Episode 32: Silence in Chicago: A Conversation with Paul Quenon, OCSO Hosted by: Cassidy Hall Introduced by: Kevin Johnson Guest: Paul Quenon, OCSO Date Recorded: December 7, 2018

We are so pleased to welcome Trappist monk and poet Br. Paul Quenon, OCSO, back to Encountering Silence. A while back, Cassidy Hall interviewed brother Paul at his home, Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky (you can listen to that episode by clicking here). Br. Paul, out shopping with Cassidy She ran into Br. Paul again recently while visiting Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, to participate in the conference "'Disappear from View'? Thomas Merton, Fifty Years Later and Beyond" which commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of Merton's death in Bangkok in 1968. If you can breathe comfortably with yourself, you're going to be breathing more comfortably with other people. If you're not comfortable with yourself, how are you going to be comfortable with other people? — Brother Paul Quenon, OCSO Judith Valente interviews Br. Paul Quenon, OCSO at the CTU Conference They sat down for another chance to chat, and here is the recording of that conversation. Some of the resources and authors mentioned in this episode: Paul Quenon, In Praise of the Useless Life: A Monk’s Memoir Paul Quenon, Unquiet Vigil: New and Selected Poems Paul Quenon, Bells of the Hours Paul Quenon, Afternoons with Emily Paul Quenon, Monkswear Paul Quenon, Laughter: My Purgatory Paul Quenon, Terrors of Paradise Paul Quenon with Judith Valente and Michael Bever, The Art of Pausing Episode 32: Silence in Chicago: A Conversation with Paul Quenon, OCSO Hosted by: Cassidy Hall Introduced by: Kevin Johnson Guest: Paul Quenon, OCSO Date Recorded: December 7, 2018

Filmmaker, writer, photographer and dear friend, Cassidy Hall, talks about art and giving shape to her corner of the world.

Cassidy Hall, producer, director, writer, and Thomas Merton scholar connect to discuss how she balances the need for rest in her busy, productive world.

Judith Valente is a poet, a journalist, a Benedictine oblate, and the author of books including Atchison Blue: A Search for Silence, a Spiritual Home, and a Living Faith and How to Live: What the Rule of Saint Benedict Teaches Us About Happiness, Meaning and Community. Her books of poetry include Discovering Moons and The Art of Pausing: Meditations for the Overworked and Overwhelmed which she co-authored with Br. Paul Quenon OCSO and Michael Bever. Silence has two sides to it... silence could be very burdensome... so silence also has to be balanced with community. Too much silence can be deafening, it can be stifling to a soul. — Judith Valente Judith shares how a poetry workshop at a monastery led her to a meaningful encounter with silence at midlife — how a room "saturated with silence" introduced her to a maxim from St. Benedict: "At all times, cultivate silence" — thus inviting her to seek rest in solitude and stillness as a response to her busy (and exhausting) life. All poems begin in silence, and the poems themselves are a part of the overall silence that we experience. — Judith Valente She talks about her ancestral ties to Monte Cassino (where St. Benedict founded his last monastery), and how Benedictine spirituality helped to inspire her and her husband to become involved in organic farming. She goes on to reflect how nature, beauty, and poetry are all linked to her spiritual life. She tells some chaarming stories about her fellow poet, the Trappist monk Br. Paul Quenon (who Cassidy Hall interviewed for our episode 32), and about the bullfrogs and cicadas who "sing" to her in the silence of a cabin on her farm, where she often goes to write. Our conversation meanders over the problems associated with social media, poets that Judith loves and a special reading of her poems, "Discovering Moons" and "Lunar Eclipse." Contemplation is a big fat word for gratitude. — Br. Paul Quenon, OCSO Some of the authors and resources mentioned in this episode: Judith Valente, How to Live: What the Rule of Saint Benedict Teaches Us About Happiness, Meaning and Community Judith Valente, Atchison Blue: A Search for Silence, a Spiritual Home, and a Living Faith  Judith Valente, Discovering Moons  Judith Valente, Br. Paul Quenon, and Michael Bever, The Art of Pausing: Meditations for the Overworked and Overwhelmed Judith Valente and Charles Reynard, Twenty Poems to Nourish Your Soul Saint Benedict, The Rule of Saint Benedict Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Personal Writings Wendell Berry, What I Stand On: The Collected Essays Wendell Berry, The Selected Poems Paul Quenon, In Praise of the Useless Life: A Monk’s Memoir Paul Quenon, Unquiet Vigil: New and Selected Poems Sara Maitland, A Book of Silence Judith Valente, Inventing an Alphabet Mary Oliver, Devotions: The Selected Poems Marie Howe, What the Living Do Marie Howe, The Kingdom of Ordinary Time: Poems Poetry is for everyone... Poetry is truly a 'soul friend.' Poems will come back to us when we need to hear their message. They will come back to us at different points in our lives, poems that we've read, poems that we've heard; they are our soul friends.  — Judith Valente Episode 39: Silence, St. Benedict and Writing: A Conversation with Judith Valente Hosted by: Kevin Johnson With: Cassidy Hall, Carl McColman Guest: Judith Valente Date Recorded: October 15, 2018

Judith Valente is a poet, a journalist, a Benedictine oblate, and the author of books including Atchison Blue: A Search for Silence, a Spiritual Home, and a Living Faith and How to Live: What the Rule of Saint Benedict Teaches Us About Happiness, Meaning and Community. Her books of poetry include Discovering Moons and The Art of Pausing: Meditations for the Overworked and Overwhelmed which she co-authored with Br. Paul Quenon OCSO and Michael Bever. Silence has two sides to it... silence could be very burdensome... so silence also has to be balanced with community. Too much silence can be deafening, it can be stifling to a soul. — Judith Valente Judith shares how a poetry workshop at a monastery led her to a meaningful encounter with silence at midlife — how a room "saturated with silence" introduced her to a maxim from St. Benedict: "At all times, cultivate silence" — thus inviting her to seek rest in solitude and stillness as a response to her busy (and exhausting) life. All poems begin in silence, and the poems themselves are a part of the overall silence that we experience. — Judith Valente She talks about her ancestral ties to Monte Cassino (where St. Benedict founded his last monastery), and how Benedictine spirituality helped to inspire her and her husband to become involved in organic farming. She goes on to reflect how nature, beauty, and poetry are all linked to her spiritual life. She tells some chaarming stories about her fellow poet, the Trappist monk Br. Paul Quenon (who Cassidy Hall interviewed for our episode 32), and about the bullfrogs and cicadas who "sing" to her in the silence of a cabin on her farm, where she often goes to write. Our conversation meanders over the problems associated with social media, poets that Judith loves and a special reading of her poems, "Discovering Moons" and "Lunar Eclipse." Contemplation is a big fat word for gratitude. — Br. Paul Quenon, OCSO Some of the authors and resources mentioned in this episode: Judith Valente, How to Live: What the Rule of Saint Benedict Teaches Us About Happiness, Meaning and Community Judith Valente, Atchison Blue: A Search for Silence, a Spiritual Home, and a Living Faith  Judith Valente, Discovering Moons  Judith Valente, Br. Paul Quenon, and Michael Bever, The Art of Pausing: Meditations for the Overworked and Overwhelmed Judith Valente and Charles Reynard, Twenty Poems to Nourish Your Soul Saint Benedict, The Rule of Saint Benedict Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Personal Writings Wendell Berry, What I Stand On: The Collected Essays Wendell Berry, The Selected Poems Paul Quenon, In Praise of the Useless Life: A Monk’s Memoir Paul Quenon, Unquiet Vigil: New and Selected Poems Sara Maitland, A Book of Silence Judith Valente, Inventing an Alphabet Mary Oliver, Devotions: The Selected Poems Marie Howe, What the Living Do Marie Howe, The Kingdom of Ordinary Time: Poems Poetry is for everyone... Poetry is truly a 'soul friend.' Poems will come back to us when we need to hear their message. They will come back to us at different points in our lives, poems that we've read, poems that we've heard; they are our soul friends.  — Judith Valente Episode 39: Silence, St. Benedict and Writing: A Conversation with Judith Valente Hosted by: Kevin Johnson With: Cassidy Hall, Carl McColman Guest: Judith Valente Date Recorded: October 15, 2018

Poet, photographer, and memoirist Br. Paul Quenon, OCSO sat down to chat with Cassidy Hall this past July when she was visiting Gethsemani Abbey. Author of several volumes of poetry including Unquiet Vigil: New and Selected Poems, Br. Paul is also the author of a newly published autobiography, In Praise of the Useless Life: A Monk's Memoir. His memoir is a delightful and charming story of monastic life not only as a forum for deep spiritual exploration, but also as the foundation for a life devoted to music, art, and especially poetry. Cassidy and Brother Paul Brother Paul entered monastic life in 1958, when he was only 17 years old — back before the reforms of the Second Vatical Council, when the life of a Trappist was even more austere than it is today. His novice master turned out to be Thomas Merton, who eventually became an inspiration to Brother Paul not only as a monk, but as a writer. In their conversation, Cassidy and Brother Paul discuss his life story, his experience as a monk, as a writer, and as a lover of nature. He enthuses on his special love for the poet Emily Dickinson, and shares the poem of hers which convinced him that she was a mystic (#315). He also offers a 'sneak peek' of his current writing, sharing some poems he is currently writing. Through it all, in the heart of his rich and cultured life, silence has been his constant companion. There is a kind of silence which comes from stilling the mind, and you can develop that capacity, how to not fight thoughts so much as set them aside... if you want to be free, free your mind... instead of fighting the thoughts you just stand above them like on a bridge and watch the water flow by... but then there is a kind of silence that descends upon you, and it's like the presence... it happens on its own, and that's really special. You may get that, or you may not get it... it's not a matter of looking for it, because if you're looking for it, than you're thinking of something, you have an expectation and you're dealing with your expectation. — Brother Paul Quenon, OCSO Some of the resources and authors mentioned in this episode: Paul Quenon, In Praise of the Useless Life: A Monk's Memoir Paul Quenon, Unquiet Vigil: New and Selected Poems Paul Quenon, Bells of the Hours Paul Quenon, Afternoons with Emily Paul Quenon, Monkswear Paul Quenon, Laughter: My Purgatory Paul Quenon, Terrors of Paradise Paul Quenon with Judith Valente and Michael Bever, The Art of Pausing Kathleen Norris, The Cloister Walk Thomas Merton, The Seven Storey Mountain Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ Pico Iyer, The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere Dianne Aprile, The Abbey of Gethsemani: Place of Peace and Paradox John Eudes Bamberger, Thomas Merton: Prophet of Renewal Kathleen Norris, Acedia and Me: A Marriage, Monks, and a Writer's Life Emily Dickinson, The Complete Poems Robert Morneau, A New Heart: Eleven Qualities of Holiness Jessica Powers, The Selected Poetry Rainer Maria Rilke, Selected Poetry Guerric of Igny, Liturgical Sermons Volume One Gregory of Naziansus, Festal Orations Gregory of Nyssa, From Glory to Glory Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire Gary Snyder, The Gary Snyder Reader Fenton Johnson, Everywhere Home The Grail Psalms: A Liturgical Psalter The opposite of faith is indifference. — Br. Paul Quenon, OCSO Filmmaker Patrick Shen, Brother Paul, and Cassidy Hall on the porch of Thomas Merton's hermitage, on the grounds of Gethsemani Abbey. Episode 32: Silence and Poetry at Gethsemani Abbey: A Conversation with Paul Quenon, OCSO Hosted by: Cassidy Hall

Poet, photographer, and memoirist Br. Paul Quenon, OCSO sat down to chat with Cassidy Hall this past July when she was visiting Gethsemani Abbey. Author of several volumes of poetry including Unquiet Vigil: New and Selected Poems, Br. Paul is also the author of a newly published autobiography, In Praise of the Useless Life: A Monk's Memoir. His memoir is a delightful and charming story of monastic life not only as a forum for deep spiritual exploration, but also as the foundation for a life devoted to music, art, and especially poetry. Cassidy and Brother Paul Brother Paul entered monastic life in 1958, when he was only 17 years old — back before the reforms of the Second Vatical Council, when the life of a Trappist was even more austere than it is today. His novice master turned out to be Thomas Merton, who eventually became an inspiration to Brother Paul not only as a monk, but as a writer. In their conversation, Cassidy and Brother Paul discuss his life story, his experience as a monk, as a writer, and as a lover of nature. He enthuses on his special love for the poet Emily Dickinson, and shares the poem of hers which convinced him that she was a mystic (#315). He also offers a 'sneak peek' of his current writing, sharing some poems he is currently writing. Through it all, in the heart of his rich and cultured life, silence has been his constant companion. There is a kind of silence which comes from stilling the mind, and you can develop that capacity, how to not fight thoughts so much as set them aside... if you want to be free, free your mind... instead of fighting the thoughts you just stand above them like on a bridge and watch the water flow by... but then there is a kind of silence that descends upon you, and it's like the presence... it happens on its own, and that's really special. You may get that, or you may not get it... it's not a matter of looking for it, because if you're looking for it, than you're thinking of something, you have an expectation and you're dealing with your expectation. — Brother Paul Quenon, OCSO Some of the resources and authors mentioned in this episode: Paul Quenon, In Praise of the Useless Life: A Monk's Memoir Paul Quenon, Unquiet Vigil: New and Selected Poems Paul Quenon, Bells of the Hours Paul Quenon, Afternoons with Emily Paul Quenon, Monkswear Paul Quenon, Laughter: My Purgatory Paul Quenon, Terrors of Paradise Paul Quenon with Judith Valente and Michael Bever, The Art of Pausing Kathleen Norris, The Cloister Walk Thomas Merton, The Seven Storey Mountain Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ Pico Iyer, The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere Dianne Aprile, The Abbey of Gethsemani: Place of Peace and Paradox John Eudes Bamberger, Thomas Merton: Prophet of Renewal Kathleen Norris, Acedia and Me: A Marriage, Monks, and a Writer's Life Emily Dickinson, The Complete Poems Robert Morneau, A New Heart: Eleven Qualities of Holiness Jessica Powers, The Selected Poetry Rainer Maria Rilke, Selected Poetry Guerric of Igny, Liturgical Sermons Volume One Gregory of Naziansus, Festal Orations Gregory of Nyssa, From Glory to Glory Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire Gary Snyder, The Gary Snyder Reader Fenton Johnson, Everywhere Home The Grail Psalms: A Liturgical Psalter The opposite of faith is indifference. — Br. Paul Quenon, OCSO Filmmaker Patrick Shen, Brother Paul, and Cassidy Hall on the porch of Thomas Merton's hermitage, on the grounds of Gethsemani Abbey. Episode 32: Silence and Poetry at Gethsemani Abbey: A Conversation with Paul Quenon, OCSO Hosted by: Cassidy Hall Introduced by: Kevin Johnson Guest: Paul Quenon, OCSO Date Recorded: July 4, 2018

As a peace activist, biographer, and lover of silence, author Jim Forest's deep humility and sincere way of being reveal to us much about listening, truly seeing, and deeply caring for our fellow human beings. "The day starts in silence... and silence normally — not always, but normally — opens the door to prayer, so prayer and silence are very connected; sometimes the prayer is silence." — Jim Forest Jim Forest, speaking at the Voices of Peace conference. Describing himself as "an undergraduate student at Dorothy Day university" — and noting that he doesn't think he will ever graduate! — Jim Forest tells the story of a truly remarkable life — the child of American communists growing up in the 1950s, he tried his hand in the U.S. Navy but soon dropped out from the service to immerse himself in the world of the Catholic Worker Movement and anti-war activism, that led him to (among other things) co-founding the Catholic Peace Fellowship after the "Spiritual Roots of Peacemaking" retreat convened by Thomas Merton in 1964. "Like arrows, words point, but they are not the target." — Jim Forest Cassidy Hall recorded this conversation while participating in the "Voices of Peace" conference in Toronto in April 2018. Their gentle and intimate conversation explores art, philosophy, politics, the Eucharist, and spirituality — and how silence dances through all these dimensions of life. Cassidy Hall and Jim Forest With stories about legendary figures like peace activist A. J. Muste, Henri Nouwen, Thich Nhat Hanh, and (of course) Thomas Merton, this conversation provides deep and rich insight into a man who not only knew some of the great peace activists of the twentieth century, but who was indeed one of their number. "Without silence, we don't hear anything." — Jim Forest Some of the resources and authors mentioned in this episode: Jim Forest, The Ladder of the Beatitudes Jim Forest, Praying with Icons Jim Forest, Road to Emmaus Jim Forest, Living with Wisdom: A Life of Thomas Merton Jim Forest, All is Grace:  A Biography of Dorothy Day Jim Forest, At Play in the Lion's Den: A Biography and Memoir of Daniel Berrigan Thomas Merton, Essential Writings Dorothy Day, Loaves and Fishes Daniel Berrigan, Essential Writings Thich Nhat Hanh, Essential Writings Cassidy Hall and Patrick Shen, Notes on Silence Patrick Shen (dir.), In Pursuit of Silence Jim Forest, The Root of War is Fear: Thomas Merton's Advice to Peacemakers A. J. Muste, Nonviolence in an Aggressive World Thomas Merton, The Literary Essays (Includes "The Message to Poets") Dorothy Day, The Long Loneliness Henri Nouwen, Reaching Out Jim Forest, Saint George and the Dragon Jim Forest, Saint Nicholas and the Nine Gold Coins Jim Forest, Silent as a Stone: Mother Maria of Paris and the Trash Can Rescue Visit Jim and Nancy Forest's website www.jimandnancyforest.com. Episode 20: Silence and Peacemaking: A Conversation with Jim Forest Hosted by: Cassidy Hall Introduced by: Kevin Johnson Guest: Jim Forest Date Recorded: April 27, 2018 It's cold in Toronto, even in the spring!

As a peace activist, biographer, and lover of silence, author Jim Forest's deep humility and sincere way of being reveal to us much about listening, truly seeing, and deeply caring for our fellow human beings. "The day starts in silence... and silence normally — not always, but normally — opens the door to prayer, so prayer and silence are very connected; sometimes the prayer is silence." — Jim Forest Jim Forest, speaking at the Voices of Peace conference. Describing himself as "an undergraduate student at Dorothy Day university" — and noting that he doesn't think he will ever graduate! — Jim Forest tells the story of a truly remarkable life — the child of American communists growing up in the 1950s, he tried his hand in the U.S. Navy but soon dropped out from the service to immerse himself in the world of the Catholic Worker Movement and anti-war activism, that led him to (among other things) co-founding the Catholic Peace Fellowship after the "Spiritual Roots of Peacemaking" retreat convened by Thomas Merton in 1964. "Like arrows, words point, but they are not the target." — Jim Forest Cassidy Hall recorded this conversation while participating in the "Voices of Peace" conference in Toronto in April 2018. Their gentle and intimate conversation explores art, philosophy, politics, the Eucharist, and spirituality — and how silence dances through all these dimensions of life. Cassidy Hall and Jim Forest With stories about legendary figures like peace activist A. J. Muste, Henri Nouwen, Thich Nhat Hanh, and (of course) Thomas Merton, this conversation provides deep and rich insight into a man who not only knew some of the great peace activists of the twentieth century, but who was indeed one of their number. "Without silence, we don't hear anything." — Jim Forest Some of the resources and authors mentioned in this episode: Jim Forest, The Ladder of the Beatitudes Jim Forest, Praying with Icons Jim Forest, Road to Emmaus Jim Forest, Living with Wisdom: A Life of Thomas Merton Jim Forest, All is Grace:  A Biography of Dorothy Day Jim Forest, At Play in the Lion's Den: A Biography and Memoir of Daniel Berrigan Thomas Merton, Essential Writings Dorothy Day, Loaves and Fishes Daniel Berrigan, Essential Writings Thich Nhat Hanh, Essential Writings Cassidy Hall and Patrick Shen, Notes on Silence Patrick Shen (dir.), In Pursuit of Silence Jim Forest, The Root of War is Fear: Thomas Merton's Advice to Peacemakers A. J. Muste, Nonviolence in an Aggressive World Thomas Merton, The Literary Essays (Includes "The Message to Poets") Dorothy Day, The Long Loneliness Henri Nouwen, Reaching Out Jim Forest, Saint George and the Dragon Jim Forest, Saint Nicholas and the Nine Gold Coins Jim Forest, Silent as a Stone: Mother Maria of Paris and the Trash Can Rescue Visit Jim and Nancy Forest's website www.jimandnancyforest.com. Episode 20: Silence and Peacemaking: A Conversation with Jim Forest Hosted by: Cassidy Hall Introduced by: Kevin Johnson Guest: Jim Forest Date Recorded: April 27, 2018 It's cold in Toronto, even in the spring!

This week we have our first "return" guest, as Patrick Shen joins us again to discuss the new book he co-wrote and co-edited with Cassidy Hall, Notes on Silence. Describing the book as an "entry point" into silence, Patrick and Cassidy share with Kevin and Carl how the book functions as a companion to their documentary film In Pursuit of Silence — and how it is simply a work of art in its own right. Silence is always over-stated — and under-said. — Cassidy Hall     Notes on Silence features a selection of essays by both authors exploring silence, and their relationship to silence, from a variety of angles. The book also includes transcripts of interviews from a variety of persons who are featured in the film: theologians, psychologists, artists, educators, and others who have many interesting things to say about silence and the noise in our contemporary habitat. Since only a portion of each interview could be included in the film, these transcripts provide a wealth of information for anyone who wants to go deeper in his or her pursuit of silence. A monk from New Mellerey Abbey, Father Alberic, said to me, 'Silence is a place of infinite possibility.' Silence is also a place of infinite language, because there is no proper language — there is no official way to box it in." — Cassidy Hall Notes on Silence also contains a generous selection of beautiful (and deeply contemplative photos) taken by both Cassidy and Patrick. As each of them shares thoughts on one of their favorite photos in the book, they give insight into how image as well as words can testify to the beauty of silence, and of our capacity for wonder at, and in, silence. Alas, we cannot know for certain, the cosmos demands that we surrender to its majesty, and we must take our seat at the feet of doubt. — Patrick Shen Some of the resources and authors mentioned in this episode: Cassidy Hall and Patrick Shen, Notes on Silence Patrick Shen (director), In Pursuit of Silence Jonatha Brooks, 10¢ Wings (includes the song "Landmine," quoted in this episode) Richard Rohr, Essential Teachings on Love The Desert Fathers and Mothers, Early Christian Wisdom Sayings Laurie Anderson, Big Science (includes the song "From the Air," quoted in this episode) Absolute silence would be a state of lifelessness. Our relationship with silence is always filtered through sound in some way, shape or form. — Carl McColman Episode 17: Notes on Silence Hosted by: Kevin Johnson With: Cassidy Hall, Carl McColman Guest: Patrick Shen Date Recorded: March 29, 2018  

This week we have our first "return" guest, as Patrick Shen joins us again to discuss the new book he co-wrote and co-edited with Cassidy Hall, Notes on Silence. Describing the book as an "entry point" into silence, Patrick and Cassidy share with Kevin and Carl how the book functions as a companion to their documentary film In Pursuit of Silence — and how it is simply a work of art in its own right. Silence is always over-stated — and under-said. — Cassidy Hall     Notes on Silence features a selection of essays by both authors exploring silence, and their relationship to silence, from a variety of angles. The book also includes transcripts of interviews from a variety of persons who are featured in the film: theologians, psychologists, artists, educators, and others who have many interesting things to say about silence and the noise in our contemporary habitat. Since only a portion of each interview could be included in the film, these transcripts provide a wealth of information for anyone who wants to go deeper in his or her pursuit of silence. A monk from New Mellerey Abbey, Father Alberic, said to me, 'Silence is a place of infinite possibility.' Silence is also a place of infinite language, because there is no proper language — there is no official way to box it in." — Cassidy Hall Notes on Silence also contains a generous selection of beautiful (and deeply contemplative photos) taken by both Cassidy and Patrick. As each of them shares thoughts on one of their favorite photos in the book, they give insight into how image as well as words can testify to the beauty of silence, and of our capacity for wonder at, and in, silence. Alas, we cannot know for certain, the cosmos demands that we surrender to its majesty, and we must take our seat at the feet of doubt. — Patrick Shen Some of the resources and authors mentioned in this episode: Cassidy Hall and Patrick Shen, Notes on Silence Patrick Shen (director), In Pursuit of Silence Jonatha Brooks, 10¢ Wings (includes the song "Landmine," quoted in this episode) Richard Rohr, Essential Teachings on Love The Desert Fathers and Mothers, Early Christian Wisdom Sayings Laurie Anderson, Big Science (includes the song "From the Air," quoted in this episode) Absolute silence would be a state of lifelessness. Our relationship with silence is always filtered through sound in some way, shape or form. — Carl McColman Episode 17: Notes on Silence Hosted by: Kevin Johnson With: Cassidy Hall, Carl McColman Guest: Patrick Shen Date Recorded: March 29, 2018  

This week marks the first Encountering Silence "Field Recording" in which one member of our team (in this case, Cassidy Hall) records a face-to-face interview with a person whose life is deeply engaged with silence. Today's episode features Cassidy in conversation with a Benedictine monk, Fr. Stephanos Pedrano, OSB. Cassidy Hall and Fr. Stephanos Pedrano, OSB Father Stephanos is a monk of Prince of Peace Abbey in Oceanside, California. The Encountering Silence team met Fr. Stephanos online, through a small social media group for artists, writers, and others who explore the intersection between art, spirituality, justice, and authenticity. In that context Fr. Stephanos is a voice of calm, deep spirituality, and good humor. Since he lives so close to Cassidy Hall, it seemed natural for her to pay him a visit, and during her time at the monastery, to record the interview which we are now sharing with you as our 11th episode. Even though this is the third episode to feature an interview on the podcast, it is actually the first interview to have been recorded (back in October of last year). Fr. Stephanos tells his story, from his early yearning for liturgy and community, to discovering intentional silence through prayer, to eventually discerning his call to monastic life — which in turn took him to the threshold of silence. He reflects on how the wisdom of Saint Benedict has shaped the monastic experience of silence, and the relationship between silence and love. He goes on to talk about Mother Teresa — a modern saint who "suffered" the silence of God, whose voice fell into absence as she responded to her vocation to serve the poorest of the poor. He explores some of the "silent wisdom" of the Rule of Saint Benedict, such as can be found in Benedict's twelve steps of humility — which on the surface seems so counterintuitive to the values of our age, but actually points to treasures such as the spiritual beauty of silencing one's own ego, in response to the love of God. Fr. Stephanos also explores why the word "contemplation" never appears in the Rule of Saint Benedict, and also talks about the heart of lectio divina, the deeply contemplative monastic practice of meditative reading of scripture, and how silence has given him insight into the dynamics of his own personality — and into love. Monks are men of silence, but they are also men of many words... primarily the Psalms. — Fr. Stephanos Pedranos Some of the resources and authors mentioned in this episode: Thomas Merton, Essential Writings The Liturgy of the Hours The Rule of Saint Benedict Mary Oliver, Devotions: The Selected Poems Mother Teresa, Come Be My Light Michael Casey, Sacred Reading: the Ancient Art of Lectio Divina In the picture we see Cassidy and Fr. Stephanos enjoying a beer from the Almanac Beer Company, a California microbrewery. Episode 10: Silence in the Cloister: A Conversation with Fr. Stephanos Pedrano, OSB Hosted by: Cassidy Hall Introduced by: Kevin Johnson Guest: Fr. Stephanos Pedrano, OSB Date Recorded: October 25, 2017  

This week marks the first Encountering Silence "Field Recording" in which one member of our team (in this case, Cassidy Hall) records a face-to-face interview with a person whose life is deeply engaged with silence. Today's episode features Cassidy in conversation with a Benedictine monk, Fr. Stephanos Pedrano, OSB. Cassidy Hall and Fr. Stephanos Pedrano, OSB Father Stephanos is a monk of Prince of Peace Abbey in Oceanside, California. The Encountering Silence team met Fr. Stephanos online, through a small social media group for artists, writers, and others who explore the intersection between art, spirituality, justice, and authenticity. In that context Fr. Stephanos is a voice of calm, deep spirituality, and good humor. Since he lives so close to Cassidy Hall, it seemed natural for her to pay him a visit, and during her time at the monastery, to record the interview which we are now sharing with you as our 11th episode. Even though this is the third episode to feature an interview on the podcast, it is actually the first interview to have been recorded (back in October of last year). Fr. Stephanos tells his story, from his early yearning for liturgy and community, to discovering intentional silence through prayer, to eventually discerning his call to monastic life — which in turn took him to the threshold of silence. He reflects on how the wisdom of Saint Benedict has shaped the monastic experience of silence, and the relationship between silence and love. He goes on to talk about Mother Teresa — a modern saint who "suffered" the silence of God, whose voice fell into absence as she responded to her vocation to serve the poorest of the poor. He explores some of the "silent wisdom" of the Rule of Saint Benedict, such as can be found in Benedict's twelve steps of humility — which on the surface seems so counterintuitive to the values of our age, but actually points to treasures such as the spiritual beauty of silencing one's own ego, in response to the love of God. Fr. Stephanos also explores why the word "contemplation" never appears in the Rule of Saint Benedict, and also talks about the heart of lectio divina, the deeply contemplative monastic practice of meditative reading of scripture, and how silence has given him insight into the dynamics of his own personality — and into love. Monks are men of silence, but they are also men of many words... primarily the Psalms. — Fr. Stephanos Pedranos Some of the resources and authors mentioned in this episode: Thomas Merton, Essential Writings The Liturgy of the Hours The Rule of Saint Benedict Mary Oliver, Devotions: The Selected Poems Mother Teresa, Come Be My Light Michael Casey, Sacred Reading: the Ancient Art of Lectio Divina In the picture we see Cassidy and Fr. Stephanos enjoying a beer from the Almanac Beer Company, a California microbrewery. Episode 10: Silence in the Cloister: A Conversation with Fr. Stephanos Pedrano, OSB Hosted by: Cassidy Hall Introduced by: Kevin Johnson Guest: Fr. Stephanos Pedrano, OSB Date Recorded: October 25, 2017  

With this episode, Encountering Silence features our first conversation with a special guest — Patrick Shen, the director of the luminous and thought-provoking documentary film In Pursuit of Silence, which he describes as "a meditative exploration of our relationship with silence and the impact of noise on our lives." Incidentally, the three hosts of Encountering Silence first met each other through Maggie Ross as a result of her being interviewed for this film, so it's fair to say that the film is the raison d'être for this podcast. I'm just not that interested in making films anymore that add more to the noise. I'm interested in making films that point to this realm beyond the words, beyond the imagery. — Patrick Shen Patrick shares with us how he came to be inspired to create his movie, the unlikely role that heavy metal music played in his early life (helping push him to an appreciation of silence!), to the "existential curiosity" that propelled his creativity as a filmmaker. Our conversation explores the relationship between silence and death, the tension between the spirituality of the creative search and the work the creative process itself; how his relationship with silence is changing the way he works, and much more. We all get this idea that silence is this magical sort of space, this magical material; and we want it to be infused in our daily life, we want it to be infused with every breath that we take and every moment of our day, and so I've become really fascinated with this idea of work evolving from that place, rather than the work imitating or being a representation of that engagement. — Patrick Shen Patrick Shen's award-winning films, including Flight from Death: The Quest for Immortality, The Philosopher Kings, and La Source, have been screened at over a hundred and twenty film festivals across the globe and broadcast in over twenty-five territories. He was the recipient of the 2009 Emerging Cinematic Vision Award from Camden International Film Festival. Since 2012 Patrick has been lecturing and teaching filmmaking workshops all over the globe as a film envoy for the U.S. State Department and the USC School of Cinematic Arts for their American Film Showcase. His latest film In Pursuit of Silence premiered to sold-out audiences in November 2015 at the Copenhagen International Film Festival. A companion book to the film, Notes from Silence, will be released in February 2018. Find Patrick Shen online at www.patrickshen.com or www.transcendentalmedia.com.   A lot of us when we step into silence, at least initially, find our narratives or identity stripped away, and it's a lot like a little death of sorts, and it's terrifying. — Patrick Shen Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: Patrick Shen, dir., Flight from Death: The Quest for Immortality Patrick Shen, dir., The Philosopher Kings Patrick Shen, dir.,  La Source Patrick Shen, dir., In Pursuit of Silence Philip Gröning, dir., Into Great Silence John Cage, Silence: Lectures and Writings Nathaniel Dorsky, Devotional Cinema Megadeath, Greatest Hits Metallica, Metallica Ernest Becker, The Denial of Death Kathleen Dowling Singh, The Grace in Dying Patrick Shen and Cassidy Hall, Notes from Silence Max Picard, The World of Silence Catherine Doherty, Poustinia Henry David Thoreau, Walden and Other Writings Monica Furlong, Contemplating Now Rumi, The Essential Rumi Maggie Ross, Writing the Icon of the Heart Pico Iyer, The Art of Stillness Episode 7: Creating in Silence: A Conversation with Patrick Shen Hosted by: Cassidy Hall

With this episode, Encountering Silence features our first conversation with a special guest — Patrick Shen, the director of the luminous and thought-provoking documentary film In Pursuit of Silence, which he describes as "a meditative exploration of our relationship with silence and the impact of noise on our lives." Incidentally, the three hosts of Encountering Silence first met each other through Maggie Ross as a result of her being interviewed for this film, so it's fair to say that the film is the raison d'être for this podcast. I'm just not that interested in making films anymore that add more to the noise. I'm interested in making films that point to this realm beyond the words, beyond the imagery. — Patrick Shen Patrick shares with us how he came to be inspired to create his movie, the unlikely role that heavy metal music played in his early life (helping push him to an appreciation of silence!), to the "existential curiosity" that propelled his creativity as a filmmaker. Our conversation explores the relationship between silence and death, the tension between the spirituality of the creative search and the work the creative process itself; how his relationship with silence is changing the way he works, and much more. We all get this idea that silence is this magical sort of space, this magical material; and we want it to be infused in our daily life, we want it to be infused with every breath that we take and every moment of our day, and so I've become really fascinated with this idea of work evolving from that place, rather than the work imitating or being a representation of that engagement. — Patrick Shen Patrick Shen's award-winning films, including Flight from Death: The Quest for Immortality, The Philosopher Kings, and La Source, have been screened at over a hundred and twenty film festivals across the globe and broadcast in over twenty-five territories. He was the recipient of the 2009 Emerging Cinematic Vision Award from Camden International Film Festival. Since 2012 Patrick has been lecturing and teaching filmmaking workshops all over the globe as a film envoy for the U.S. State Department and the USC School of Cinematic Arts for their American Film Showcase. His latest film In Pursuit of Silence premiered to sold-out audiences in November 2015 at the Copenhagen International Film Festival. A companion book to the film, Notes from Silence, will be released in February 2018. Find Patrick Shen online at www.patrickshen.com or www.transcendentalmedia.com.   A lot of us when we step into silence, at least initially, find our narratives or identity stripped away, and it's a lot like a little death of sorts, and it's terrifying. — Patrick Shen Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: Patrick Shen, dir., Flight from Death: The Quest for Immortality Patrick Shen, dir., The Philosopher Kings Patrick Shen, dir.,  La Source Patrick Shen, dir., In Pursuit of Silence Philip Gröning, dir., Into Great Silence John Cage, Silence: Lectures and Writings Nathaniel Dorsky, Devotional Cinema Megadeath, Greatest Hits Metallica, Metallica Ernest Becker, The Denial of Death Kathleen Dowling Singh, The Grace in Dying Patrick Shen and Cassidy Hall, Notes from Silence Max Picard, The World of Silence Catherine Doherty, Poustinia Henry David Thoreau, Walden and Other Writings Monica Furlong, Contemplating Now Rumi, The Essential Rumi Maggie Ross, Writing the Icon of the Heart Pico Iyer, The Art of Stillness Episode 7: Creating in Silence: A Conversation with Patrick Shen Hosted by: Cassidy Hall With: Carl McColman and Kevin Johnson Guest: Patrick Shen Date Recorded: January 12, 2018 IN PURSUIT OF SILENCE Trailer from Cinema Guild on Vimeo.

Who are your "silence heroes" — persons, living or dead, famous or obscure, who inspired or mentored or otherwise encouraged your encounter, and/or ongoing relationship, with silence? This is the question that the three co-hosts of this podcast explore in this episode. Cassidy, Carl and Kevin talk about the spiritual leaders, mystics, poets, writers, and other key figures who have helped us to "meet" silence more fully in our lives. When you really meet silence, when you really encounter silence, it reminds you that you're good enough, as is — whatever you're doing, whoever you are, it reminds you that you're good enough, because it is a place of love, it is a place of self-encounter, it is a place of the encounter of the Divine, of God. — Cassidy Hall We talk about how our silence heroes inspire us — how they encourage us to love, to embrace nature, to write and enjoy poetry, to be sacred nonconformists, to preserve stillness,  teach us how to talk about silence (or how to be silent with silence!), give us both theoretical and practical approaches to silence — all the while using their lyrical and poetic voices to encourage us to be, likewise, the "poets of our own lives" — lives in which silence "allows our own selves to actually come forward and speak." We are all poets of our own lives and silence allows our own selves to actually come forward and speak. — Kevin Johnson Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: Thomas Merton, Day of a Stranger Mary Oliver, Devotions: The Selected Poems Sara Maitland, A Book of Silence Martin Laird, Into the Silent Land Elias Marechal, Tears of an Innocent God Maggie Ross, Silence, Volume 1: Process Maggie Ross, Silence, Volume 2: Application Maggie Ross, Seasons of Death and Life: A Wilderness Memoir Rowan Williams, Silence and Honey Cakes Desert Fathers and Mothers, The Wisdom of the Desert (edited by Thomas Merton) Thomas Merton, Love and Living Walt Whitman, The Complete Poems Paul Tillich, The Courage to Be Thomas Merton, Raids on the Unspeakable Thomas Merton, The Literary Essays of Thomas Merton J. K. Rowling, The Harry Potter Collection At one point Carl mentions Martin Thornton when he's actually talking about Martin Laird, so in all fairness to his Freudian slip, here's a book worth reading from that author: Martin Thornton, Christian Proficiency Silence is the tomb of Christ —  a place of infinite possibility. — A Monk of New Melleray Abbey Kevin Johnson is a university professor, writer, speaker, and retreat leader based in Connecticut. Cassidy Hall is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Carl McColman is an author, catechist, and retreat leader based in Atlanta. For language to be sane, it needs to be suffused with silence; and for silence to be accessible, it needs to be held in language... to be a human being who wishes to enter deeply into the cave of silence, our sherpa will be language. — Carl McColman Episode 6: Our Silence Heroes Hosted by: Kevin Johnson With: Cassidy Hall and Carl McColman Date Recorded: November 13, 2017

Who are your "silence heroes" — persons, living or dead, famous or obscure, who inspired or mentored or otherwise encouraged your encounter, and/or ongoing relationship, with silence? This is the question that the three co-hosts of this podcast explore in this episode. Cassidy, Carl and Kevin talk about the spiritual leaders, mystics, poets, writers, and other key figures who have helped us to "meet" silence more fully in our lives. When you really meet silence, when you really encounter silence, it reminds you that you're good enough, as is — whatever you're doing, whoever you are, it reminds you that you're good enough, because it is a place of love, it is a place of self-encounter, it is a place of the encounter of the Divine, of God. — Cassidy Hall We talk about how our silence heroes inspire us — how they encourage us to love, to embrace nature, to write and enjoy poetry, to be sacred nonconformists, to preserve stillness,  teach us how to talk about silence (or how to be silent with silence!), give us both theoretical and practical approaches to silence — all the while using their lyrical and poetic voices to encourage us to be, likewise, the "poets of our own lives" — lives in which silence "allows our own selves to actually come forward and speak." We are all poets of our own lives and silence allows our own selves to actually come forward and speak. — Kevin Johnson Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: Thomas Merton, Day of a Stranger Mary Oliver, Devotions: The Selected Poems Sara Maitland, A Book of Silence Martin Laird, Into the Silent Land Elias Marechal, Tears of an Innocent God Maggie Ross, Silence, Volume 1: Process Maggie Ross, Silence, Volume 2: Application Maggie Ross, Seasons of Death and Life: A Wilderness Memoir Rowan Williams, Silence and Honey Cakes Desert Fathers and Mothers, The Wisdom of the Desert (edited by Thomas Merton) Thomas Merton, Love and Living Walt Whitman, The Complete Poems Paul Tillich, The Courage to Be Thomas Merton, Raids on the Unspeakable Thomas Merton, The Literary Essays of Thomas Merton J. K. Rowling, The Harry Potter Collection At one point Carl mentions Martin Thornton when he's actually talking about Martin Laird, so in all fairness to his Freudian slip, here's a book worth reading from that author: Martin Thornton, Christian Proficiency Silence is the tomb of Christ —  a place of infinite possibility. — A Monk of New Melleray Abbey Kevin Johnson is a university professor, writer, speaker, and retreat leader based in Connecticut. Cassidy Hall is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Carl McColman is an author, catechist, and retreat leader based in Atlanta. For language to be sane, it needs to be suffused with silence; and for silence to be accessible, it needs to be held in language... to be a human being who wishes to enter deeply into the cave of silence, our sherpa will be language. — Carl McColman Episode 6: Our Silence Heroes Hosted by: Kevin Johnson With: Cassidy Hall and Carl McColman Date Recorded: November 13, 2017

Continuing the conversation that began with Episodes 1 and 2, we now turn to the question of how our relationship to silence can evolve over time. We take a closer look at how encountering silence has nurtured our faith in God — and how monasteries, churches, museums, the wilderness, and even a documentary film has played a role in our lives as each of us has "pursued" silence (or, perhaps we should say, how silence has pursued us). We explore how silence has been a teacher to each of us, teaching us the ways of silence, teaching us to simply "let silence be" and approach it in a spirit of humility and openness. We discuss the limitations of academic scholarship (at least in terms of relating to silence), the challenge of moving beyond dualisting thinking when relating to silence, and how essential art and poetry have been to us when it comes to our evolving relationship with silence — and our shared recognition that there is a deep intimacy between silence and beauty. We also look at silence as the center around which aesthetics, theology, and liturgy all revolve — each points back to the silence, which in turn "hosts" each of these ways of human knowing and expression. Silence for me has always been wrapped up with the question of the Divine. — Kevin Johnson It's so interesting to engage with a material that is not a material. It's like clothing a bodiless body. you can't do it, but we're forever trying. That's why this keeps constantly pointing me back to God because it's another aspect of my life that certainty always fails me. It's in the unknowing that I know. It's in my extreme amount of doubt that my faith is. It's the tension pieces, the paradox pieces. — Cassidy Hall Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: Patrick Shen (director), In Pursuit of Silence (Documentary Film) Tilden Edwards, Embracing the Call to Spiritual Depth Gerald G. May, Will and Spirit: A Contemplative Psychology Martin Laird, Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation Elias Marechal, Tears of An Innocent God: Conversations on Silence, Kindness and Prayer Alex Lu, Soundtrack for In Pursuit of Silence Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke, 1892-1910 Hans Urs Von Balthazar, The Glory of the Lord: A Theological Aesthetics Karl Rahner, Encounters with Silence Bernard McGinn, ed., The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism Evagrius Ponticus, The Praktikos & Chapters on Prayer Christian Bobin, The Eighth Day: Selected Writings Carl quotes Acts 17:28: "In Him we live and move and have our being" — which comes from a sermon of Saint Paul, who in turn is quoting the pagan poet Epimenides. The words are printed on the page just as the space between the ink is the page. It's all the page. There is a real presence of silence in the most ear-splitting noise. — Carl McColman Kevin Johnson is a university professor, writer, speaker, and retreat leader based in Connecticut. Cassidy Hall is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Carl McColman is an author, catechist, and retreat leader based in Atlanta. Episode 4: Encountering Silence As Adults Hosted by: Carl McColman With: Cassidy Hall and Kevin Johnson Date Recorded: October 23, 2017

The Holiday Season can be joyful and/or stressful, which means this is a time when silence remains as important as ever.  Join us for this special episode where Cassidy, Kevin and Carl talk about how we nurture a contemplative dimension to our holiday experience, without getting moralistic or legalistic about silence, but also retaining a sense of just how vital silence is to us at this time of the year. In this episode, we explore how silence is devalued in our culture (and why we need to resist that cultural prejudice), the relationship between silence and intentionality, how "letting go" is a portal into silence, the danger of "the materialism of information," how the spiritual concept of incarnation takes us outside of our comfort zone, how the body is our best friend for surviving the holidays, and much more. When we name silence, we lose it... As soon as we touch the word urgency to the lips of silence, we lose a sincere intimacy. So how do we maintain silence as urgent and important in our lives without making it legalistic, or precisely what it isn't? — Cassidy Hall Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: Marvin C. Shaw, The Paradox of Intention Thomas Merton, Literary Essays Ernest Wood, A Zen Dictionary Lao-Tzu, Tao Te Ching Caryll Houselander, The Reed of God Pico Iyer, The Art of Stillness Gerald May, Will and Spirit: A Contemplative Psychology Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back Thomas Keating, Open Mind, Open Heart: The Contemplative Dimension of the Gospel Meister Eckhart, The Complete Mystical Works The Zen Proverb ("Quit Trying; Quit Trying Not to Try; Quit Quitting") shows up in: Carl McColman, Answering the Contemplative Call And one more book that this episode makes us think of: David Bentley Hart, The Experience of God: Being, Consciousness, Bliss You actually have to stop trying... if you attempt to be silent, if you make it an urgent goal, well then you never get there, silence never actually comes, there has to be kind of a letting go. — Kevin Johnson Kevin Johnson is a university professor, writer, speaker, and retreat leader based in Connecticut. Cassidy Hall is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Carl McColman is an author, catechist, and retreat leader based in Atlanta. Episode 3: Encountering Silence During the Holidays Hosted by: Cassidy Hall With: Kevin Johnson and Carl McColman Date Recorded: December 19, 2017 Note: our next episode will be released on or about January 3, 2018. In the meantime, we wish you a merry Christmas (or the joyful observance of the holiday of your tradition) and a very happy new year.  

How do we encounter silence in our teen years? Alone, or with others? In the woods, or at a church? With a sense of ecstasy, or perhaps even a healthy dose of "adolescent angst"? In this episode we continue the conversation about "meeting" silence in the days of our youth, this week focusing on our adolescence. Like in the previous episode, such encounters carry a variety of meanings and invitations into deeper reflection, including: The relationship between silence, nature, solitude, and spirit (Spirit); How silence can emerge out of even a noisy time in one's life; How silence transcends religion and spirituality to be a universal gift; How silence can meet us even in unintended ways and settings; The surprising way silence comes to us in mystical ways — and how even the most exalted mystical "experience" seems to carry its own challenges or difficulties; Pondering the relationship between silence and questions. I was immediately filled with questions, and I was immediately filled with, 'Why? What did I just do? Why did I do it?' and looking back upon that, to me, that was God in that experience — the questions; because I've always been a curious person, because God was in that mystery and the silence and the loneliness of that moment. — Cassidy Hall Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: Augustine, The Confessions of Saint Augustine Carl McColman, The Aspiring Mystic: Practical Steps for Spiritual Seekers Some of the albums Carl loved as a teenager include: Elton John, Greatest Hits Emerson Lake & Palmer, Self-Titled Genesis, Foxtrot Renaissance, Ashes Are Burning Yes, Tales From Topographic Oceans And while we didn't mention them in this episode, our favorite monastic author and favorite documentary on silence always deserve a shout out: Thomas Merton, Dialogues with Silence Patrick Shen (director), In Pursuit of Silence It's beyond words, there's no way to describe this, but it really did make me feel that the world was a lot weirder than I thought it was, for the very first time, and I realized that my categories didn't make sense... — Kevin Johnson Photo by Cassidy Hall Kevin Johnson is a university professor, writer, speaker, and retreat leader based in Connecticut. Cassidy Hall is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Carl McColman is an author, catechist, and retreat leader based in Atlanta. Episode 2: Encountering Silence In Adolescence Hosted by: Kevin Johnson With: Cassidy Hall and Carl McColman Date Recorded: October 10, 2017

How do we encounter silence in our teen years? Alone, or with others? In the woods, or at a church? With a sense of ecstasy, or perhaps even a healthy dose of "adolescent angst"? In this episode we continue the conversation about "meeting" silence in the days of our youth, this week focusing on our adolescence. Like in the previous episode, such encounters carry a variety of meanings and invitations into deeper reflection, including: The relationship between silence, nature, solitude, and spirit (Spirit); How silence can emerge out of even a noisy time in one's life; How silence transcends religion and spirituality to be a universal gift; How silence can meet us even in unintended ways and settings; The surprising way silence comes to us in mystical ways — and how even the most exalted mystical "experience" seems to carry its own challenges or difficulties; Pondering the relationship between silence and questions. I was immediately filled with questions, and I was immediately filled with, 'Why? What did I just do? Why did I do it?' and looking back upon that, to me, that was God in that experience — the questions; because I've always been a curious person, because God was in that mystery and the silence and the loneliness of that moment. — Cassidy Hall Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: Augustine, The Confessions of Saint Augustine Carl McColman, The Aspiring Mystic: Practical Steps for Spiritual Seekers Some of the albums Carl loved as a teenager include: Elton John, Greatest Hits Emerson Lake & Palmer, Self-Titled Genesis, Foxtrot Renaissance, Ashes Are Burning Yes, Tales From Topographic Oceans And while we didn't mention them in this episode, our favorite monastic author and favorite documentary on silence always deserve a shout out: Thomas Merton, Dialogues with Silence Patrick Shen (director), In Pursuit of Silence It's beyond words, there's no way to describe this, but it really did make me feel that the world was a lot weirder than I thought it was, for the very first time, and I realized that my categories didn't make sense... — Kevin Johnson Photo by Cassidy Hall Kevin Johnson is a university professor, writer, speaker, and retreat leader based in Connecticut. Cassidy Hall is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Carl McColman is an author, catechist, and retreat leader based in Atlanta. Episode 2: Encountering Silence In Adolescence Hosted by: Kevin Johnson With: Cassidy Hall and Carl McColman Date Recorded: October 10, 2017

What do you remember about encountering silence in your childhood? In this episode we explore our first memories of "meeting" silence in childhood, moments in time where, whether in solitude or with others, whether near or far from home, whether shaped by emotional confusion or a sense of simply being present, something graced and mysterious intruded upon our awareness and brought us face to face, not only with the beauty of silence, but also with the mystery of our own deepest and truest selves. From a lakeside in Virginia, to a Connecticut playground, to a prairie in Iowa, each of our memories involves being out-of-doors. And each of us struggles to put into words what ultimately seems to remain elusive, beyond what language can contain. I all of a sudden felt extremely safe, completely at home, and there was a sense of I was much bigger than my body, that like somehow I was more than what I thought I was, and... I guess the word is 'presence,' a sense of that I just felt very — that there was something, there was more there than me. — Kevin Johnson As our conversation weaves in and around our shared, remembered moments of encounter, we talk about what it means to be present in our bodies, a sense of timelessness or eternity that sometimes seems to accompany the encounter with silence, and the dance of deep feeling, "not-knowing," and longing that shaped our most profound moments of silence — even at a very early age. Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: e. e. cummings, "A Poet's Advice to Students" in A Miscellany (Revised) The Desert Fathers and Mothers: Early Christian Wisdom Sayings Helen Lees, Silence in Schools C. S. Lewis, "Afterward' in The Pilgrim's Regress Gerald May, Addiction and Grace Gerald May, Will and Spirit: A Contemplative Psychology Patrick Shen (director), In Pursuit of Silence documentary film Margery (aka "Carl's cat") Kevin Johnson is a university professor, writer, speaker, and retreat leader based in Connecticut. Cassidy Hall is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Carl McColman is an author, catechist, and retreat leader based in Atlanta. Episode 1: Encountering Silence in Childhood Hosted by: Cassidy Hall With: Carl McColman and Kevin Johnson Date Recorded: October 2, 2017

What do you remember about encountering silence in your childhood? In this episode we explore our first memories of "meeting" silence in childhood, moments in time where, whether in solitude or with others, whether near or far from home, whether shaped by emotional confusion or a sense of simply being present, something graced and mysterious intruded upon our awareness and brought us face to face, not only with the beauty of silence, but also with the mystery of our own deepest and truest selves. From a lakeside in Virginia, to a Connecticut playground, to a prairie in Iowa, each of our memories involves being out-of-doors. And each of us struggles to put into words what ultimately seems to remain elusive, beyond what language can contain. I all of a sudden felt extremely safe, completely at home, and there was a sense of I was much bigger than my body, that like somehow I was more than what I thought I was, and... I guess the word is 'presence,' a sense of that I just felt very — that there was something, there was more there than me. — Kevin Johnson As our conversation weaves in and around our shared, remembered moments of encounter, we talk about what it means to be present in our bodies, a sense of timelessness or eternity that sometimes seems to accompany the encounter with silence, and the dance of deep feeling, "not-knowing," and longing that shaped our most profound moments of silence — even at a very early age. Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: e. e. cummings, "A Poet's Advice to Students" in A Miscellany (Revised) The Desert Fathers and Mothers: Early Christian Wisdom Sayings Helen Lees, Silence in Schools C. S. Lewis, "Afterward' in The Pilgrim's Regress Gerald May, Addiction and Grace Gerald May, Will and Spirit: A Contemplative Psychology Patrick Shen (director), In Pursuit of Silence documentary film Margery (aka "Carl's cat") Kevin Johnson is a university professor, writer, speaker, and retreat leader based in Connecticut. Cassidy Hall is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Carl McColman is an author, catechist, and retreat leader based in Atlanta. Episode 1: Encountering Silence in Childhood Hosted by: Cassidy Hall With: Carl McColman and Kevin Johnson Date Recorded: October 2, 2017

Meet Kevin Johnson, Cassidy Hall, and Carl McColman. We are the hosts and co-creators of Encountering Silence. This podcast emerged from our friendship, the friendship of three people with a shared interest in the many important ways silence makes a difference our lives — looking at silence in terms of spirituality, of health, of art and aesthetics, of psychology and wisdom. Silence matters, and yet it is a difficult topic to talk about, let alone to deeply and truly understand. We realize that "talking about silence" is paradoxical, and yet we think it's also vital, especially given how increasingly noisy our society is. We hope that this pilot episode represents the first few words in an ongoing conversation about what silence is, why silence matters, and how we can all learn to encounter silence more truly and deeply. Some of the resources we mention in this episode: Martin Buber, I and Thou Audre Lorde, Your Silence Will Not Protect You Jean-Luc Marion, God Without Being Thomas Merton, Selected Essays Maggie Ross, Silence: A User's Guide, Volume 2: Application Patrick Shen (director), In Pursuit of Silence documentary film Our dream for this podcast is to make connections — with people everywhere who love silence, who seek more silence in our lives, who wish to understand and appreciate more fully and be able to speak of the gift of silence in our lives more beautifully. We hope you will connect with us, not only by subscribing to the podcast through iTunes or Google Play, but also by connecting with us via our Facebook Page or Twitter. Thank you. Kevin Johnson is a university professor, writer, speaker, and retreat leader based on the Connecticut shoreline. Cassidy Hall is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Carl McColman is a contemplative author, speaker, retreat leader, and spiritual companion based in Atlanta. Carl, Cassidy, and Kevin (photo by Fran McColman) Episode 0: Pilot Episode Hosted by: Carl McColman With: Cassidy Hall and Kevin Johnson Date Recorded: September 25, 2017

Meet Kevin Johnson, Cassidy Hall, and Carl McColman. We are the hosts and co-creators of Encountering Silence. This podcast emerged from our friendship, the friendship of three people with a shared interest in the many important ways silence makes a difference our lives — looking at silence in terms of spirituality, of health, of art and aesthetics, of psychology and wisdom. Silence matters, and yet it is a difficult topic to talk about, let alone to deeply and truly understand. We realize that "talking about silence" is paradoxical, and yet we think it's also vital, especially given how increasingly noisy our society is. We hope that this pilot episode represents the first few words in an ongoing conversation about what silence is, why silence matters, and how we can all learn to encounter silence more truly and deeply. Some of the resources we mention in this episode: Martin Buber, I and Thou Audre Lorde, Your Silence Will Not Protect You Jean-Luc Marion, God Without Being Thomas Merton, Selected Essays Maggie Ross, Silence: A User's Guide, Volume 2: Application Patrick Shen (director), In Pursuit of Silence documentary film Our dream for this podcast is to make connections — with people everywhere who love silence, who seek more silence in our lives, who wish to understand and appreciate more fully and be able to speak of the gift of silence in our lives more beautifully. We hope you will connect with us, not only by subscribing to the podcast through iTunes or Google Play, but also by connecting with us via our Facebook Page or Twitter. Thank you. Kevin Johnson is a university professor, writer, speaker, and retreat leader based on the Connecticut shoreline. Cassidy Hall is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Carl McColman is a contemplative author, speaker, retreat leader, and spiritual companion based in Atlanta. Carl, Cassidy, and Kevin (photo by Fran McColman) Episode 0: Pilot Episode Hosted by: Carl McColman With: Cassidy Hall and Kevin Johnson Date Recorded: September 25, 2017

Coming Soon: A Podcast on All Things Silence. This little snippet of audio bliss comes from the very first day that the Encountering Silence team — Cassidy Hall, Kevin Johnson, and Carl McColman — actually recorded what would become our "pilot episode" (scheduled to be released next month, December 2017). Here we are still finding our way around our respective microphones, and discovering our collective "voice" as the hosts of our new podcast. This may not tell you a lot about the content of our podcast — for that, let's just say if it has something to do with silence, sooner or later we hope to explore it — but this will, we hope, give you a glimpse into our process — as co-explorers of silence, and perhaps even more important, as friends. What can we say about our podcast? We are drawn to the mystery and spirituality of silence. We believe silence is beautiful, is peaceful, is conducive (and indeed essential) to both mental and physical health, and has an important role to play in our individual and communal search for meaning, for identity, for relationship, and even for love. We are all Christians (2 Catholics and 1 Episcopalian), so we also believe that silence helps us to respond to God, and indeed that silence is a gift from God. But this podcast is not just a "Christian" or even "religious" podcast: we are all drawn to interfaith dialogue and interspirituality, to mysticism and contemplation, to art and poetry, to the silence of the forest and of the library, the silence of the cathedral and the desert, the silence of a winter night and a sleeping child. Silence touches our lives in so many ways, and yet we live in a culture that has seemed to banish silence from so many corners of our life. What does that mean? And how will the increasing noisiness of our world impact our lives: our sense of serenity, our ability to listen to one another, our sense of purpose and identity and self-worth? So many questions, so many areas for exploration and discovery. If any of this resonates with you, we hope that you will join us — let us be together, for we all are Encountering Silence.

Matthew 5:1-12 Photo: by Cassidy Hall, at LAX Sun Jan 29, 2017