Podcasts about sacred text

This week, Casper and Vanessa explore the theme of Trust in Chapter 12 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! They discuss Hermione's planning, Harry's gut, and Kreacher's new attitude! Throughout the episode we consider the question: how can trust help us better navigate life's uncertainties?Thank you to Connie for this week's voicemail! Next week we're reading Chapter 13, The Muggle-Born Registration Commission, through the theme of Ritual.Harry Potter and the Sacred Text is a Not Sorry ProductionFind us at our website | Follow us on Instagram--It's two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only five dollars to join our Patreon for extra content every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Matt and Vanessa explore the theme of Intimacy in Chapter 11 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! They discuss wizarding supremacy's paradoxical enemy, Harry and Lupin's relationship, and fighting with the people you love most! Throughout the episode we consider the question: what is the push and pull dynamic within intimacy?Thank you to our anonymous listener for this week's voicemail! Next week we're reading Chapter 12, Magic is Might, through the theme of Trust.Harry Potter and the Sacred Text is a Not Sorry ProductionFind us at our website | Follow us on Instagram--It's two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only five dollars to join our Patreon for extra content every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Casper and Vanessa explore the theme of Resilience in Chapter 10 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! They discuss Kreacher's titular tale, Mundungus's thievery, and Wormtail's appearance in the chapter! Throughout the episode we consider the question: how does resilience differ from survival?Thank you to Kelsey for this week's voicemail! Next week we're reading Chapter 11, The Bribe, through the theme of Intimacy with Matt Potts.Harry Potter and the Sacred Text is a Not Sorry ProductionFind us at our website | Follow us on Instagram--It's two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only five dollars to join our Patreon for extra content every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every once in a while we like to take a step back from our current chapter, and appreciate some overarching themes and important characters from the series. This week, Vanessa and special guest Hannah McGregor are talking about dragons throughout the series!Harry Potter and the Sacred Text is a Not Sorry ProductionFind us at our website | Follow us on Instagram--It's two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only five dollars to join our Patreon for extra content every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New Book Alert! Written by Mike Rashid King and Foreword by Billy Carson. https://amzn.to/4kcdupdThe Divine Quintessence (The Q): The Sacred Texts of the Infinite God Body by Mike Rashid King is a revolutionary sacred manifesto that unapologetically calls readers to awaken the divine force within themselves. Written with raw intensity, spiritual fire, and scientific clarity, this book is both a profound inner awakening and a strategic life manual for those ready to transcend limitation and reclaim their birthright as sovereign creators.

This week, Casper and special guest Courtney Brown explore the theme of Uncertainty in Chapter 9 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! They discuss Hermione's big bag, Harry's lingering Trace, and the group dynamic in this time of chaos! Throughout the episode we consider the question: how can we prepare for periods of uncertainty?Thank you to our anonymous listener for this week's voicemail! Next week we're reading Chapter 10, Kreacher's Tale, through the theme of Resilience.Harry Potter and the Sacred Text is a Not Sorry ProductionFind us at our website | Follow us on Instagram--It's two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only five dollars to join our Patreon for extra content every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Vanessa and special guest Micaela Blei explore the theme of Storytelling in Chapter 8 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! They discuss Dumbledore's legacy, Krum's wedding experience, and Bill and Fleur's wedding! Throughout the episode we consider the question: how do the stories we tell shape the way we view the world?Thank you to Stacie for this week's voicemail! Next week we're reading Chapter 9, A Place to Hide, with special guest Courtney Brown through the theme of Uncertainty.Harry Potter and the Sacred Text is a Not Sorry ProductionFind us at our website | Follow us on InstagramLearn more about What Matters--It's two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only five dollars to join our Patreon for extra content every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we wrap up our final season of HPST, we're taking a look back at some of our favorite moments! This week we're revisiting our 2021 episode with John Green, talking about hope in the penultimate chapter of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.Harry Potter and the Sacred Text is a Not Sorry ProductionFind us at our website | Follow us on Instagram--It's two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only five dollars to join our Patreon for extra content every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Vanessa and Casper are joined by special guest Hana Thomas Uose as they explore the theme of Progress in Chapter 7 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! They discuss Harry's 17th birthday, Hagrid's unicorns, and Scrimgeour's visit! Throughout the episode we consider the question: what are all the different ways we can measure progress?Thank you to Emily for this week's voicemail! Next week we're reading Chapter 8, The Wedding, with special guest Micaela Blei through the theme of Storytelling.Harry Potter and the Sacred Text is a Not Sorry ProductionFind us at our website | Follow us on Instagram--It's two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only five dollars to join our Patreon for extra content every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Vanessa and Casper explore the theme of Commitment in Chapter 6 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! They discuss the trio's commitments to each other, Molly's parenting, and Voldemort's tunnel vision! Throughout the episode we consider the question: how can we make sure our commitments are serving us?Thank you to Sarah for this week's voicemail! Next week we're reading Chapter 7, The Will of Albus Dumbledore, through the theme of Progress.Harry Potter and the Sacred Text is a Not Sorry ProductionFind us at our website | Follow us on Instagram--It's two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only five dollars to join our Patreon for extra content every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Heath, and Kristen Tideman joined me to unveil the exciting details for Theology Beer Camp 2025 in this lively promotional episode filled with laughter, nostalgia, and anticipation. The hosts reminisce about past camps while revealing this year's Monty Python-inspired theme, "Quest for the Holy Stein," coming to St. Paul, Minnesota this October. With an impressive lineup of theologians, free-flowing beer, and a community-focused approach, this episode captures the unique blend of intellectual engagement and genuine fun that makes Theology Beer Camp a must-attend event for theology nerds and craft beer enthusiasts alike. You can WATCH this conversation on YouTube Key Announcements for Theology Beer Camp 2025: Dates and Location: October 16-18, 2025 in St. Paul, Minnesota Theme: "Theology Beer Camp and the Quest for the Holy Stein"  Early Bird Tickets: Available until May 15th at theologybeercamp2025.com Impressive Speaker Lineup: Including John Dominic Crossan, Kelly Brown Douglas, Reggie Williams, Adam Clark, Jeff Pugh, Casper ter Kulie from Harry Potter and the Sacred Text podcast, Juan and Stacy Floyd-Thomas, and Philip Clayton  Multiple Podcast Participants: Bible for Normal People, Rethinking Faith, Theology on the Rocks, The New Evangelicals, People's Theology, and more Included with Registration: Free beer and non-alcoholic beverages all weekend, breakfast & lunch on Friday and Saturday, snacks and coffee, access to all sessions and activities Special Events: Bottle share, karaoke, cosplay opportunities, regional and affinity group meetups Community Connections: Active Facebook group and Discord server for attendees to connect Virtual Option: Available for those who can't attend in person Theology Beer Camp | St. Paul, MN | October 16-18, 2025 3 Days of Craft Nerdiness with 50+ Theologians & God-Pods and 600 new friends. ONLINE CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT: The Many Faces of Christ Today The question Jesus asked his disciples still resonates today: "Who do you say that I am?" Join our transformative 5-week online learning community as we explore a rich tapestry of contemporary Christologies. Experience how diverse theological voices create a compelling vision of Jesus Christ for today's world. Expand your spiritual horizons. Challenge your assumptions. Enrich your faith. As always, the class is donation-based (including 0), so head over to ManyFacesOfChrist.com for more details and to sign up! _____________________ Hang with 40+ Scholars & Podcasts and 600 people at Theology Beer Camp 2025 (Oct. 16-18) in St. Paul, MN. This podcast is a Homebrewed Christianity production. Follow the Homebrewed Christianity, Theology Nerd Throwdown, & The Rise of Bonhoeffer podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 80,000 other people by joining our Substack - Process This! Get instant access to over 45 classes at www.TheologyClass.com Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Vanessa and special guest Mauricio Bruce explore the theme of Memory in Chapter 5 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! They discuss Hedwig and Moody's deaths, and how the body keeps the score in this chapter! Throughout the episode we consider the question: how does memory push us forward, and when can it hold us back?Learn more about What Matters here.Thank you to Natalie for this week's voicemail! Next week we're reading Chapter 6, The Ghoul in Pyjamas, through the theme of Commitment.Harry Potter and the Sacred Text is a Not Sorry ProductionFind us at our website | Follow us on Instagram--It's two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only five dollars to join our Patreon for extra content every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Chaya Gilboa, a Talmud scholar and activist who grew up in an ultra-Orthodox community in Jerusalem, shares her journey of reclaiming Jewish texts that women were traditionally forbidden to study. The conversation explores the intersection of spirituality, embodiment, and challenging patriarchal systems, as well as how ancient wisdom can provide comfort during times of crisis. Key Topics: Chaya's experience studying Talmud as a revolutionary act The emotional and spiritual dimensions of reclaiming religious texts Integrating body and mind in spiritual and intellectual practice Creating new approaches to ancient texts during crisis and war Balancing calling, career, and family life Notable Quotes: "I was pushed out of the door and I looked for the window to go back in." "I couldn't breathe. I needed to take walks at Ben Gurion University because my body was not even excited, I was uplifted in ways that I didn't even know knowledge could uplift me." "For many years, growing up, I didn't really know my body. We never talked about the body - the body was something that either you are ashamed of or you need to cover." "I'm 41 and it's the first time in my life that I'm in sync with what I love to do, what I'm passionate about, what I'm good at, and what I think the world needs." Chaya's Powerful Question: "What am I chasing after, and what am I running from?" Resources Mentioned: Chaya's beautiful website Follow Chaya on Instagram: @chayagilboa  

When a simple curiosity of well-worn scripture leads to a full-fledged passion, can the pages of history strengthen our faith even more?For family man and dedicated Book of Mormon collector, Robert Messick, the answer is a resounding YES! In this fascinating episode of Latter-day Lights, Robert takes us on a journey through centuries of rare and unique Book of Mormon editions—from early RLDS printings and first-edition 1830 copies, to a near-mythical Deseret Alphabet copy with only 500 ever produced. Robert reveals how these volumes aren't just prized collectibles—they're precious links to the faith, sacrifices, and testimonies of the Saints who came before us.Building on his passion for preserving these sacred artifacts, Robert also introduces The Book of Mormon Census Project, an ambitious effort to track and protect these treasured books worldwide.Robert's testimony shines as a gentle reminder that the Book of Mormon remains a living, unifying force—no matter its publication date, material, or design. Whether you're a history buff, a collector at heart, or simply seeking spiritual uplift, you'll find inspiration in Robert's stories of faith, family, and the timeless power of scripture.*** Please SHARE Robert's story and help us spread hope and light to others. ***To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/g9asiuaih3k-----To FOLLOW Robert's YouTube channel, visit: https://www.youtube.com/@bookofmormoneditionsTo FOLLOW The Book Of Mormon Census Project, visit: https://bookofmormoncensus.com/-----Keep updated with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latter.day.lights/Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylightsAlso, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.#LDSPodcast #ChristianStories #LatterDayLights

This week, Vanessa and Casper explore the theme of Outrage in Chapter 4 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! They discuss the 6 extra Potters, Hedwig's death, and Mundungus's forced service! Throughout the episode we consider the question: how can a series of experiences lead us to a place of outrage?Thank you to Melody for this week's voicemail! Next week we're reading Chapter 5, Fallen Warrior, with special guest Mauricio Bruce through the theme of Memory.Harry Potter and the Sacred Text is a Not Sorry ProductionFind us at our website | Follow us on Instagram--It's two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only five dollars to join our Patreon for extra content every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Vanessa and Casper explore the theme of Vulnerability in Chapter 3 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! They discuss Dudley, Vernon, and Petunia's respective vulnerabilities in this chapter! Throughout the episode we consider the question: how can showing vulnerability invite others to be more vulnerable themselves?Today's episode is dedicated to Judith Giller Leinwahl, who helped shape this show and community.Thank you to Emily for this week's voicemail! Next week we're reading Chapter 4, The Seven Potters, through the theme of outrage.Harry Potter and the Sacred Text is a Not Sorry ProductionFind us at our website | Follow us on Instagram--It's two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only five dollars to join our Patreon for extra content every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Just For This. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  Our guest this week is Rabbi Hara Person, Chief Executive of Central Conference of American Rabbis, the center for lifelong rabbinic learning, professional development, and resources for more than 2,200 rabbis around the world. We discuss the transformative power of women's voices in Torah commentary and Jewish leadership and explore the groundbreaking impact of The Torah: A Women's Commentary, now available for digital use via Sefaria. We also discuss the current U.S. election to the World Zionist Congress; both Rabbi Hirsch and Rabbi Person are members of the Vote Reform slate. Visit www.zionistelection.org to vote or www.vote4reform.org to learn more about the importance of standing up for our Reform values in Israel. View the transcript here. Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast

This week, Vanessa and Casper explore the theme of Boundaries in Chapter 2 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! They discuss Dumbledore's many secrets, Dudley's misunderstood act of kindness, and Hedwig's cage! Throughout the episode we consider the question: how do our boundaries change over time?Thank you to Chelsea for this week's voicemail! Next week we're reading Chapter 3, The Dursleys Departing, through the theme of Vulnerability.Harry Potter and the Sacred Text is a Not Sorry ProductionFind us at our website | Follow us on Instagram--It's two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only five dollars to join our Patreon for extra content every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Vanessa and Casper are joined by special guest Elizabeth Rowe as they explore the theme of Success in Chapter 1 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! They discuss Snape's evolving role as double agent, Voldemort's measures of success, and the Deatheaters' meeting! Throughout the episode we consider the question: how does the way we measure success change over the course of our life?Thank you to Sara for this week's voicemail! Next week we're reading Chapter 2, In Memoriam, through the theme of Boundaries.Learn more about Elizabeth's class here!Harry Potter and the Sacred Text is a Not Sorry ProductionFind us at our website | Follow us on Instagram--It's two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only five dollars to join our Patreon for extra content every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily Hedrick - Resiliency in Tough TimesDIVORCED: Mennonite EvangelicalismEmily Hedrick is a resilience coach specializing in religious trauma and compassion fatigue. A former Mennonite pastor, she holds an M.Div., is an ICF-accredited coach, and is a certified Forward-Facing (R) coach. In addition to being a former guest on the Divorcing Religion Podcast, Emily was a powerful speaker at CORT2022. How to Treat Your Body Like a Sacred Text is Emily's most recent book. Her expertise in trauma recovery, body-based practices, and navigating the impact of toxic religion equips her to empower readers to live beyond burnout and embrace a more meaningful life. In this episode, we discuss how to recognize trauma in our bodies - and what to do about it.FIND EMILY: Website: https://emilyhedrickcoachingandconsulting.com/Socials: @emilyhedrickcc FIND JANICE SELBIE:Janice Selbie's Best-selling book Divorcing Religion: A Memoir and Survival Handbook is now available in the USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DP78TZZF and CANADA https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DP78TZZFEarly Bird tickets are now available for the Shameless Sexuality: Life After Purity Culture conference, happening LIVE in Seattle May 23-25, 2025! Get yours now: https://www.shamelesssexuality.org/Religious Trauma Syndrome Support Group is happening on Tuesdays at 5pm Pacific. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with others for healing and support: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/servicesNeed help on your journey of healing from Religious Trauma? Book a free 20-minute consultation with Janice here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/servicesSign up now for Janice's online Divorcing Religion Workshop starting March 2nd: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/religious-trauma-syndrome-workshopSupport this channel by becoming a Member of the Divorcing Religion YouTube channel! When you support this channel by joining our YouTube membership (starting as low as $3/month) you'll get early access to all of our new content, access to badges and special chat emojis, and more. Every dollar helps, so sign up to be a member today by clicking "Join" under the video.Subscribe to the audio-only version here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/religious-trauma-podcastFollow Janice and Divorcing Religion on Social Media: Mastodon: JaniceSelbie@mas.toThreads: Wisecounsellor@threads.netTwitter: https://twitter.com/divorcereligionTwitter: https://twitter.com/Wise_counsellorTwitter: https://twitter.com/ComeToCORTFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DivorcingReligionTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@janiceselbieInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wisecounsellor/The Divorcing Religion Podcast is for entertainment purposes only. If you need help with your mental health, please consult a qualified, secular, mental health clinician.Podcast by Porthos MediaCopyright 2025www.porthosmedia.netSupport the show

We're still off between seasons, but we though it would be fun to take a look back at our first read through of Book 7, Chapter 1 ahead of our 14th and final season starting back up next week!Harry Potter and the Sacred Text is a Not Sorry ProductionFind us at our website | Follow us on Instagram--It's two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only five dollars to join our Patreon for extra content every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Navy SEAL Alden Mills shares his battle-tested strategies for building mental toughness. — YOU'LL LEARN — 1) How to push past fear 2) How to master the mindset loop 3) How to direct your emotions Subscribe or visit AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ep1040 for clickable versions of the links below. — ABOUT ALDEN — Alden Mills is on a mission to help 100 million people Be Unstoppable. He is a three-time bestselling author, the Inc. 500 CEO of Perfect Fitness, and the founder of multiple businesses. Throughout his time as a businessman founding and leading multiple companies, he has been awarded over 40 patents.A former Navy SEAL, he is a three-time platoon commander and ranked #1 platoon commander each time. Alden teaches people, teams, and organizations to Be Unstoppable. Entrepreneur magazine recently ranked him the #1 top virtual speaker. • Book: Unstoppable Mindset: How to Use What You Have to Get What You Want • Website: Alden-Mills.com • Get a free copy of Randy's e-book by visiting his Contact Form and writing down Pete or Awesome in the “How did you hear about us?” field! — RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW — • Book: A Calendar of Wisdom: Daily Thoughts to Nourish the Soul, Written and Selected from the World's Sacred Texts by Leo Tolstoy • Book: Conscious Leadership: Elevating Humanity Through Business by John Mackey, Steve Mcintosh, and Carter Phipps • Book: Shift: Managing Your Emotions--So They Don't Manage You by Ethan Kross • Past episode: 957: How to Push Past Discomfort and Expand Your Comfort Zone with Dr. Marc Schoen — THANK YOU SPONSORS! — • Earth Breeze. Get 40% off your subscription at earthbreeze.com/AWESOME• BambooHR. See all that BambooHR can do at bamboohr.com/freedemoSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We just dropped one of our favorite episodes so far of Let's Ask Taylor Swift with Vanessa and recent HPST guest host Daniel Schroeder, and since we're off between seasons of HPST we wanted to share that in the feed with you here!Harry Potter and the Sacred Text is a Not Sorry ProductionFind us at our website | Follow us on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanessa and Casper wrap up their discussion of The Half-Blood Prince with a look back on the entire book! They discuss Dumbledore's strengths and weaknesses as a leader, Harry's final year at Hogwarts, and Hermione's unique role in this book. We're off for a few weeks between seasons, but we can't wait to get into Book 7 with you all!Stick around after the episode for a special conversation with Julia Argy about her upcoming writing retreat! Learn more and register on our website.Harry Potter and the Sacred Text is a Not Sorry ProductionFind us at our website | Follow us on Instagram--It's two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only five dollars to join our Patreon for extra content every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Vanessa and Matt explore the theme of Love in Chapter 30 of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince! They discuss Hagrid's role as patron saint of transitions, Bill and Fleur, and Harry's pity for Draco! Throughout the episode we consider the question: how are grief and love interconnected?Thank you to Ellen for this week's voicemail! Next week we're wrapping up Book 6 with Casper.Harry Potter and the Sacred Text is a Not Sorry ProductionFind us at our website | Follow us on Instagram--It's two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only five dollars to join our Patreon for extra content every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Don't Burn the Sacred Text makes its epic return to talk about the penultimate High Republic novel, Tears of the Nameless. Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to support our literacy non-profit that gets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Star Wars books into classrooms.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ One-hundred percent of your donations go directly toward buying and sending books!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ClashingSabers.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Clashing Sabers on Blue Sky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Clashing Sabers on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Star Wars Clashing Sabers Facebook group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠And don't forget to leave us a rating and review on your podcatcher of choice!

Grand tidings and welcome to Season Two, here on Beyond the Seas! On this, our first premiere episode return, we travel across the ocean to the land of Wales: beneath the hills and dingles, mines and mountains, live the Fair Folk of those ancient places. Who are they...and how do they reach out to us--call to us--still?WE ARE GOING TO SALEM!Instagram: @beyondtheseaspodcastEMAIL ME: beyondtheseaspodcast@gmail.comTarot Collaboration: @thefeatherwitchnycPodcast website: https://beyondtheseas.buzzsprout.com/More info: https://www.kierandanaan.com/beyond-the-seasWINE COLLAB!!! 

In this episode of Liturgy and the Canon: A Deeper Look at Sacred Texts, we explore the significance of understanding the early Church's approach to biblical lists and how they shaped the canon of Scripture. I discuss why texts like 1 Clement, the Epistle of Barnabas, and the Shepherd of Hermas appeared in the manuscripts of early Christian communities and what this tells us about the development of the New Testament canon. We delve into the historical context of these writings, why they were revered by early Christians, and how their placement at the end of many early manuscripts reflects their influential, though ultimately non-canonical, status. Join me as we examine how early Christians discerned the sacred texts from the sacred traditions and how their liturgical practices contributed to the shaping of the Christian biblical tradition. If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7 #LiturgyAndTheCanon #EarlyChurch #ChristianCanon #SacredTexts #1Clement #EpistleOfBarnabas #ShepherdOfHermas #EarlyChristianity #NewTestament #ChurchHistory #BiblicalCanon #ChristianWritings #EarlyManuscripts #LiturgyAndScripture #SacredTradition #BiblicalStudies #ChurchFathers #ChristianPodcasts #CanonFormation #ScriptureInWorship

Sometimes, the month of January can start to feel like one long dark night.  Many of us step off the carousel of the holiday season feeling a little dizzy and off-kilter. Some of us might even feel a sense of darkness or despair as we thud back into harsh reality (and, in certain parts of the world, deep winter). We may be teetering between hope and despair; grief and gratitude; anger and acceptance. We may feel faith slipping between our fingers; we may find ourselves craving a good, long sleep. Maybe we're in a dark night of the soul. And in today's episode, we'll unpack why maybe that's okay. References: Elf (2003) St. John of the Cross American Humanist Association Vanessa Zoltan's podcasts: Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, Hot and Bothered, The Real Question, Let's Ask Taylor Swift

In today's episode, we embark on a profound journey into the spiritual teachings of David Hoffmeister, a modern-day mystic devoted to living the principles of "A Course in Miracles" (ACIM). With a deep resonance of joy and an ever-present radiance of inner peace, David offers wisdom that bridges ancient teachings and contemporary challenges. His essence embodies the transformative power of forgiveness, trust, and divine guidance.We begin with David's reflection on healing as a “state of perfect love and connectedness.” In his words, “What we're trying to do is let go of all the interference patterns.” This simple yet profound teaching reminds us of the essential work: releasing the past, surrendering egoic attachments, and aligning with Spirit's guidance. It is not about changing the external world but shifting our perception from fear to love.A significant part of our discussion delves into the metaphysical depth of ACIM, which David describes as a mind-training program designed to align us with unconditional love. The practice of forgiveness, as he explains, is not about pardoning someone for what they did but recognizing that “they did not do it” in the ultimate spiritual sense. This shift moves us from a place of judgment to a realm of divine understanding—a core tenet of the Course that liberates us from the chains of the past.We also explore the idea of vulnerability as a pathway to healing. Vulnerability, David shares, is about shedding the protective layers of ego, much like peeling an onion, to reveal the authentic self. This process can be both terrifying and liberating. In the documentary "Take Me Home," which David co-produced, participants courageously practiced radical transparency, confronting their deepest fears and shadows. The result? A transformative experience of inner peace and spiritual awakening.Central to David's teachings is the recognition of our perceptual errors—the illusions we hold about ourselves and the world. He likens these illusions to Plato's allegory of the cave, where shadows on the wall are mistaken for reality. “We need to step into the light,” he says, urging us to release our attachments to the physical and embrace the spiritual. This perspective not only alleviates personal suffering but also fosters a collective awakening.One of the more striking moments in our conversation was David's insight into fear and love. “Your real fear is a fear of love,” he explains. At first, this might seem counterintuitive, but as he elaborates, it becomes clear that our fear stems from the unknown—the vast, infinite love of God that challenges our limited, egoic sense of self. The spiritual journey, then, becomes a process of unlearning fear and embracing the divine.SPIRITUAL TAKEAWAYSForgiveness as Liberation: True forgiveness involves recognizing that no harm was ever done in the ultimate reality. This shifts our perception from grievance to gratitude.Vulnerability as Strength: By shedding our protective layers, we create space for healing and authentic connection with Spirit.Guidance Over Ego: Trusting inner guidance leads us to a life of peace, joy, and divine purpose, free from the confines of egoic identity.David reminds us of the power of trust and surrender. He calls us to live an inspired life, where joy and discovery become our natural states. Through his teachings and the profound insights of "Take Me Home," we are invited to step beyond fear, embrace love, and remember our true essence.Please enjoy my conversation with David Hoffmeister.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/next-level-soul-podcast-with-alex-ferrari--4858435/support.

Prepare to embark on a spiritual and technological journey like no other, as we unveil a groundbreaking fusion of faith and innovation with Michael Whittle.    In this episode, we dive into the fascinating intersection of spirituality and cutting-edge technology, guided by Michael's expertise. We explore how neural networks and AI are transforming the sermon landscape, drawing wisdom from sacred texts and traditions to inspire and guide congregations.    Through in-depth conversations, we uncover the ethical, theological, and practical dimensions of this groundbreaking approach, shedding light on the convergence of faith and innovation in the digital age.    Show Notes: Pulpit AI offers a remarkable solution for enhancing your sermons and discipleship content. By uploading an audio file of your sermon, this service can automatically create a transcript, segment it into chapters, and generate keyword hashtags.   Connect with Michael Whittle and PulpitAI.com Michael Whittle LinkedIn  Michael Whittle Twitter Michael Whittle Instagram   Pulpit AI Instagram Pulpit AI Twitter  Pulpit AI Website   Connect with Nils Smith: Nils Smith WebsiteNils Smith Facebook Nils Smith Twitter Nils Smith Instagram Nils Smith LinkedIn   Amplify Social Media, your trusted partner in navigating the ever-evolving landscape of social media marketing.  Donorbox MinistryMatters Thousands of churches trust Donorbox MinistryMatters to increase tithes and offerings. With comprehensive tools like a lightning-fast donation form, donor-managed recurring giving, the powerful Donorbox Live™ Kiosk app to collect in-person donations, crowdfunding and peer-to-peer functionality, and more, raising more for your church or ministry has never been easier. Discover how Donorbox MinistryMatters can elevate your ministry's impact today. God Listens Digital Prayer Wall empowers churches to foster deep, authentic spiritual connections. Easily submit and respond to prayer requests, track spiritual milestones, and build a supportive community. Designed for modern ministry, it transcends physical barriers, ensuring every member feels connected, heard, and spiritually nurtured.

Laura Carlson Hasler is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies and Jewish Studies  and Alvin H. Rosen Chair of Hebrew Bible at Indiana University. What are teaching strategies when the religious identity of students presents obstacles to learning in religious study courses? How do you teach academic inquiry when curiosity is considered antithetical to faith? What does it mean to teach a student who cannot, by faith tradition, admit not knowing? When students have "ah-hah!" moments - what is the best way to acknowledge their learning and support their faith journey? 

For this week's bi-weekly scene study, Matt Potts is back to dissect the ending of Crazy Rich Asians with Vanessa. They discuss why Eleanor gives her approval, the over-the-top engagement party, and Rachel's final outfit. If you want to hear more of Vanessa and Matt, good news! Together they host the podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text.---If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon we have more great romance content including a bonus close scene analysis with Vanessa and Matt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah and Beth reflect on election day, anxiety, and the state of podcasting.TOPICS DISCUSSEDElection Day Check-InPantsuit Politics Turns Nine!Outside of Politics: Self-Care During Election WeekJoin us on Substack for live election night coverage! We'll be in the chat and then live video at 9pm ET.Process your post-election stress with Sarah, Beth, and Vanessa Zoltan of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text! Join us in Boston via live stream on November 7 - for a fun night among friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah and Beth cover the last days of the campaign and what may come next.TOPICS DISCUSSEDClosing Arguments from Harris and TrumpAre the Polls Accurate?Will There Be More Political Violence?Christian Nationalism and TrumpOutside of Politics: The Best Time ZoneJoin us on Substack for live election night coverage! We'll be in the chat and then live video at 9pm ET.Process your post-election stress with Sarah, Beth, and Vanessa Zoltan of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text! Join us in Boston via live stream on November 7 - for a fun night among friends.Visit our website for complete show notes and episode resources. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TOPICS by TIMECODE(2:00) Media Derangement & Delusion Drudge & leftist say Trump threatened Liz Cheney with execution — WATCH what he actually said (7:22) The insane hypocrisy & politicized tyrannyColorado Democrat Secretary of State just committed a worse crime than Tina Peters who was sentenced to 9 years in jailJimmy Kimmel's "joke" is EXACTLY the joke for which a Trump supporter was sentenced to jail…and Kimmel's REALLY WAS A CONSPIRACY (even if not funny or original)Police pretend that have no idea of motive or suspects even though it was written on the device used to torch ballot boxesBill Clinton throws Lala under the bus…the same guy whose manager famously said "it's the economy, stupid"Clinton tells Michigan Muslims that Israel HAS to kill civiliansBible skeptic Ben Shapiro teams up with atheist Sam Harris to push Zionism(32:19) Follow the Money - Corruption to Follow It!Record amount for Senate ($2.5B) so expect TRILLIONS in payouts to donorsHow do Trump & Lala stack up in donors and donations?(51:07) Tucker Carlson's Halloween Story of Demonic AttackDid he miss all the true and more obvious spiritual warfare at FOX?Remember when the "prophets" said Satan got Tucker fired?  They got it exactly backwardsFederal government has begun an experiment (funding) to use children's welfare agency to push gender confusion on children starting at 5Mark Driscoll says "there are no pro-choice Christians in Heaven".  Is he right?Harvard "church" host a "Taylor Swift as Sacred Text" event(1:21:44) Pharma Toxins and Toxic LiesOzempic Ghouls — did you know this stuff is Gila monster poison?While they took mercury out of some vaxes, they put in the flu shots and told pregnant women to take the flu vaxAutism soars even higher as Daily Mail offers nonsense info misdirectionWATCH CNN Kaitlan Collins come after Trump official over vaccine skepticism.  But is it all to cover up Trump's vax worship and make MAGA buy into the illusion?(1:44:01) LIVE comments, questions, and thanks to supporters (1:54:42) ClimateCalifornia now mandates electric motorcyclesUK is astonished at the number and severity of lithium firesUK says stop meat & dairy for green agenda but in the US, WSJ tells people its for their health(2:05:03) INTERVIEW Gerald Celente: Post-Election Trends Gerald Celente, TrendsJournal.com What can we expect with either a Trump or Lala win in…MideastMarketsGold/SilverCBDCRFKj and vaccinesTaxesDeficits/Fed PolicyEnergy or GreenUkraineChinaIf you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-showOr you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to DavidKnight.gold for great deals on physical gold/silverFor 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to TrendsJournal.com and enter the code KNIGHTBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-david-knight-show--2653468/support.

TOPICS by TIMECODE(2:00) Media Derangement & Delusion Drudge & leftist say Trump threatened Liz Cheney with execution — WATCH what he actually said (7:22) The insane hypocrisy & politicized tyrannyColorado Democrat Secretary of State just committed a worse crime than Tina Peters who was sentenced to 9 years in jailJimmy Kimmel's "joke" is EXACTLY the joke for which a Trump supporter was sentenced to jail…and Kimmel's REALLY WAS A CONSPIRACY (even if not funny or original)Police pretend that have no idea of motive or suspects even though it was written on the device used to torch ballot boxesBill Clinton throws Lala under the bus…the same guy whose manager famously said "it's the economy, stupid"Clinton tells Michigan Muslims that Israel HAS to kill civiliansBible skeptic Ben Shapiro teams up with atheist Sam Harris to push Zionism(32:19) Follow the Money - Corruption to Follow It!Record amount for Senate ($2.5B) so expect TRILLIONS in payouts to donorsHow do Trump & Lala stack up in donors and donations?(51:07) Tucker Carlson's Halloween Story of Demonic AttackDid he miss all the true and more obvious spiritual warfare at FOX?Remember when the "prophets" said Satan got Tucker fired?  They got it exactly backwardsFederal government has begun an experiment (funding) to use children's welfare agency to push gender confusion on children starting at 5Mark Driscoll says "there are no pro-choice Christians in Heaven".  Is he right?Harvard "church" host a "Taylor Swift as Sacred Text" event(1:21:44) Pharma Toxins and Toxic LiesOzempic Ghouls — did you know this stuff is Gila monster poison?While they took mercury out of some vaxes, they put in the flu shots and told pregnant women to take the flu vaxAutism soars even higher as Daily Mail offers nonsense info misdirectionWATCH CNN Kaitlan Collins come after Trump official over vaccine skepticism.  But is it all to cover up Trump's vax worship and make MAGA buy into the illusion?(1:44:01) LIVE comments, questions, and thanks to supporters (1:54:42) ClimateCalifornia now mandates electric motorcyclesUK is astonished at the number and severity of lithium firesUK says stop meat & dairy for green agenda but in the US, WSJ tells people its for their health(2:05:03) INTERVIEW Gerald Celente: Post-Election Trends Gerald Celente, TrendsJournal.com What can we expect with either a Trump or Lala win in…MideastMarketsGold/SilverCBDCRFKj and vaccinesTaxesDeficits/Fed PolicyEnergy or GreenUkraineChinaIf you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-showOr you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to DavidKnight.gold for great deals on physical gold/silverFor 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to TrendsJournal.com and enter the code KNIGHTBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-david-knight-show--5282736/support.

Sarah and Beth discuss Michelle Obama, Beyonce, and host a roundtable with our husbandsTOPICS DISCUSSEDBeyonce and Michelle Obama Weigh in on the ElectionTrump's Madison Square Garden RallyA Roundtable with Our HusbandsOutside of Politics: HalloweenSPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:Process your post-election stress with Sarah, Beth, and Vanessa Zoltan of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text! Join us in Boston via live stream on November 7 - for a fun night among friends.Visit our website for complete show notes and episode resources. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah and Beth talk with KY Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and high school student Peter Jefferson about Amendment 2 and the broader national trends around how we fund education.TOPICS DISCUSSEDLt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman on KY Amendment 2Peter Jefferson of the Kentucky Student Voice TeamOutside of Politics: The Failure of MemorySPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:Our Premium Community is now exclusively on Substack! Join Us!If you previously subscribed to Good Morning and More to Say through Apple Podcast Subscriptions, please check your feed for instructions on how to cancel that subscription and get started with us on Substack.Process your post-election stress with Sarah, Beth, and Vanessa Zoltan of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text! Join us in Boston vis live stream on November 7 - for a fun night among friends.Visit our website for complete show notes and episode resources. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah and Beth discuss what might happen after the US presidential election and the results of elections around the world.TOPICS DISCUSSEDWhat can we expect after election day?Global Election Results from 2024Outside of Politics: Should you write your own obituary?SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:Our Premium Community is now exclusively on Substack! Join Us!If you previously subscribed to Good Morning and More to Say through Apple Podcast Subscriptions, please check your feed for instructions on how to cancel that subscription and get started with us on Substack.Process your post-election stress with Sarah, Beth, and Vanessa Zoltan of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text! Join us in Boston vis live stream on November 7 - for a fun night among friends.Visit our website for complete show notes and episode resources. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah and Beth discuss Harris's interview with Brett Baier and recent Trump events.TOPICS DISCUSSEDBrett Baier of Fox News Interviews Kamala Harris How Nine Years Campaigning Has Changed Donald TrumpOutside of Politics: Was Email a Good Idea?SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:Our Premium Community is now exclusively on Substack! Join Us!Process your post-election stress with Sarah, Beth and Vanessa Zoltan of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text! Join us in Boston vis live stream on November 7 - for a fun night among friends.Visit our website for complete show notes and episode resources. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Watch the full episode with Cynthia Larson here: https://youtu.be/o5wm4_DnO70STAY INSPIRED & KEEP EVOLVINGYEWSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/inspiredevolution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's show, we're continuing our discussion and demonstration of how we talk politics with our kids. We are excited to share a conversation today between Brian Tyler Cohen, Sarah, and Sarah's teenage son Griffin. A conversation between a teenage content consumer, the content creator, and the teen's parent is a rare combination - one we think offers a lot of insight. We are thrilled to be hosting a joint live show this November 7th with one of our favorites, Vanessa Zoltan of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text! Join us in Boston - or via live stream - for a fun night among friends.Join us for a live virtual event with the Mormon Women for Ethical Government on Thursday, October 17 at 7pm MT / 9pm ET. All are welcome to join in real-time, but the recording will only be available to MWEG members. Sign up through this link and join us!Visit our website for complete show notes and episode resources. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We get so many questions about how to talk to kids about politics. Today, we're sharing some of what we have learned over the years with our own children, including a demonstration conversation between Beth and her daughter Ellen.TOPICS DISCUSSEDTalking to Your Kids About PoliticsBeth and Ellen Discuss the Presidential DebateOutside of Politics: Screen TimeWe are thrilled to be hosting a joint live show this November 7th with one of our favorites, Vanessa Zoltan of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text! Join us in Boston - or via live stream - for a fun night among friends.Visit our website for complete show notes and episode resources. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah and Beth discuss the longshoreman strike and what it means for the economy and election and then share their interview with Maryland Governor Wes Moore.TOPICS DISCUSSEDLongshoremen's StrikeOur Conversation with Governor Wes MooreSPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:We are thrilled to announce a joint live show this November 7th with one of our favorites, Vanessa Zoltan of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text! Join us in Boston - or via live stream - for a fun night among friends.Visit our website for complete show notes and episode resources. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Senator JD Vance and Governor Tim Walz had a substantive debate on Tuesday night. Sarah and Beth are discussing their reactions and critiques together.TOPICS DISCUSSEDVice Presidential Debate Outside of Politics: Containers and Boundaries in Modern LifeSPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: We are thrilled to announce a joint live show this November 7th with one of our favorites, Vanessa Zoltan of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text! Join us in Boston - or via live stream - for a fun night among friends.Visit our website for complete show notes and episode resources. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Season 12 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning podcast! In episode 345, we continue our 18-week self-leadership series based on Grant Bosnick's tailored approaches. This week, we dive into Chapter 15, exploring the neuroscience of relationships and authenticity. We revisit key insights on relationship-building from past episodes and introduce the concept of authenticity, drawing on reflections from Andrea Samadi and insights from Mohamed Issa's forthcoming book. Learn what authenticity means, how it impacts our lives, and practical steps for fostering genuine connections with others. Discover the balance between the reflexive and reflective systems in our brain, and how understanding these can enhance our social interactions. Reflect on your unique gifts and talents, and find out how to nurture them to build deeper, more authentic relationships. Join us for an enlightening episode that blends neuroscience with practical advice, helping you to live a more authentic life and improve your personal and professional relationships. On today's episode #345 we continue with our 18-Week Self-Leadership Series based on Grant Bosnick's “Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership: A Bite Size Approach Using Psychology and Neuroscience” that we first dove into with our interview on EP #321[i] the end of January. The goal was that each week, we focused on learning something new, (from Grant's book) tied to the most current neuroscience research, that builds off the prior week, to help take us to greater heights in 2024. On today's EPISODE #345 “The Neuroscience of Relationships and Authenticity” we will cover: ✔ A review of one of our FIRST interviews, with Greg Wolcott EP #7, July 2019 on his book Significant 72 ✔ Ch. 15 from Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership book on “Relationships and Authenticity ✔ A review of Mo Issa's definition of Authenticity from his book, The Shift: How to Awaken to the Aliveness Within ✔ The Neuroscience of Our Social Brain ✔ 4 Steps to Building More Authentic Relationships For Today, EPISODE #345, we are moving on to Chapter 15, reviewing “The Neuroscience of Relationships and Authenticity.” We've covered relationships on this podcast, right back to the beginning, with Greg Wolcott EP #7, (July 2019) with his book Significant 72: Unleashing the Power of Relationships in Today's Classrooms. Greg Wolcott, an Assistant Superintendent from Chicago, IL, has dedicated his life to this topic through his work at Signficant72.com.[iii] It's here where you can learn more about Greg's Relationship Mindset Movement, his book, tools, and resources to improve student-teacher relationships in the classroom. Relationships are also one of the six social and emotional competencies that we built our podcast framework upon, knowing how important relationship skills are for our well-being and future success. “Social relationships—both quantity and quality—affect mental health, health behavior, physical health, and (even our) mortality risk.”[iv] If you've taken the leadership self-assessment[v], look to see if Relationships and Authenticity (in Pathway 6, our final pathway in this book study) along with biases, trust and empathy is of a low, medium or high priority for you to focus on this year. I was not surprised to see this pathway is a high area of focus for me. While we have covered relationship building often on this podcast, the one topic we have NOT covered yet is authenticity. This is interesting timing for me, as I'm currently reading a book by a good friend, Mohammed Issa[vi], where he covers the topic of authenticity, in depth. It's the title of chapter 8 of his forthcoming book, The Midlife Shift[vii] (Reclaiming My Authenticity). I remember years before Mo wrote this book, I could tell he was thinking deeply about this topic. In 2021 he sent me a message, and asked me “what does living an authentic life mean to you?” I take questions from Mo seriously over the years. I know he's not messing around. I can go back to my notes from 2021 and I can see that I wrote a few pages of “what authenticity means to me.” These notes are important for today's episode, and when we meet with Mo the middle of next month. I wrote: Authenticity: is being genuine or real. What's authentic for me personally—it's living life according to my values. And this takes ongoing refinement. I know what's important and what drives me daily (health is at the top of my value chart, and I'd never compromise it—it's first, what I focus on the minute I wake up, and close my eyes at the end of each day). Living life authentically for me, is putting health as my backbone of strength, which I've found helps me to skyrocket my personal and professional life. It's been this way for me, for as long as I can remember. Living an authentic original life: means living who I am by design. After health, I prioritize what unique expressions I want in my life—growth/challenge (come next) and these things that I value make me authentic/and uniquely me. I have to fight for these values in my life—to go after them, and keep them at my forefront, because only I know what's best for me here. If I'm not putting health first, (for myself and my family) or learning, growing, researching, and then disseminating/sharing what I've learned, I'm not living my true authentic self. It will hurt my productivity if I compromise who I am, at this granular level. I took some time off from producing episodes earlier this year, and while it was great to have this extra time, I ended up using this time for things that didn't truly make me happy at the soul level, like this work does. What about you? What does authenticity mean to you? How do you know when you are living a truly authentic life? It's eye-opening once we know this about ourselves, so we can course correct, when we veer off this path of authenticity. Do you know what is special about you? What are your unique gift/talent that makes you stand out from others? A talent that you know deep inside that you must keep working and perfecting, as it's this talent that awakens your aliveness? I love how Mo Issa defines authenticity, which shows up as a theme in all his books. After years of self-reflection, Mo believes that “true authenticity means being ourselves—not an imitation of what we think we should be or what others want us to be. We all have a unique gift, and we must find and nurture it.” (Mo Issa, The Shift). Getting back to Chapter 15 of Grant Bosnick's book; what does he have to say about being authentic? Bosnick says that before we can build authentic relationships with others, he has us consider what authenticity means to us first. He says that being authentic is: “being real, being honest and true with yourself, being vulnerable, letting go of your own ego, looking not only at what you like about yourself, but also the “darker part that can be improved or changed (I've heard this called our “shadow work”) and having the courage, humility, and discipline to take a hard look in the mirror at who you are.” (Chapter 15, Relationships, Bosnick). Bosnick covers what holds us back from being authentic and he lists: “fear of being vulnerable, fear of rejection, fear of judgment, fear of abandonment, competitiveness, insecurity, self-protection, jealousy, fear of not being good enough” well I pretty much resonated with the entire list. Some of his list more than others, but right up there, for me, would be “fear of not being good enough” which I've been working on for the past 25 years. When I let go, finally, of caring what other people think of me, it was probably the most freeing experience I've ever felt. Sure, it's nice to be liked by others, but also, to know that not everyone will connect with who I am, the authentic me, and to let go of caring about that, is freeing. Being Authentic: What does this mean to you? Do any of the items on Bosnick's list keep you from being truly authentic?  He asks us some reflection questions: What might be holding you back from being truly authentic? What can you do, even small steps, to help you feel more comfortable with being who you are? Being truly authentic? Being Fake or Superficial Bosnick goes on to describe why some people show up as fake or superficial. I always think of the character Eddie Haskel from the TV Show Leave it to Beaver when I'm thinking of a “fake” person. He was always trying to impress Mrs. Cleaver, and he came across as insincere. We can all spot people like this, and Bosnick reminds us of why people can come across this way. He says that “it's in our comfort zone, we want to be liked, it's easier, our ego gets in the way (and that change can be difficult) when we don't have the courage, humility and discipline needed to take a hard look in the mirror at who we are.” (Chapter 15, Bosnick, Page 177). What are some reasons for not being authentic? Bosnick thinks “insecurity, jealousy, inner competitiveness, fear, self-protection” can keep us from not showing others our true selves, and in turn, we can appear fake or superficial. Brene Brown writes about The Power of Vulnerability[viii] as the “birthplace of joy, belonging, authenticity and love” in her 2012 book, with suggestions for how to prevent us from appearing fake in this process. Her book teaches us “how to practice courage, and accept imperfection, to embrace vulnerability and acknowledge our fears.”[ix] She dives into exploring the power of authenticity, of being true to our feelings, thoughts, and actions as the backbone to living an authentic life. With this in mind, going back to Bosnick's book, he mentions that he struggled with being vulnerable, with letting others see his true authentic self, and felt he needed to protect himself, but when he “let people see the real me. It was so rewarding and felt so good (and) freeing (so he then) decided to have the courage to be authentic and real.” (Chapter 15, Bosnick, Page 177) He was fully aware that some people might not like him, but he knew that was ok, as he knew he would build the right relationships, with those who did. Reflection on Being Authentic He then asks the reader to reflect: What holds you back from truly being authentic? How can you become more comfortable with being authentic? I went back to Mo Issa's definition that we covered in the beginning of this episode that “true authenticity means being ourselves—not an imitation of what we think we should be or what others want us to be. We all have a unique gift, and we must find and nurture it.” (Mo Issa, The Shift). We will go deeper into Mo Issa's work when we meet with him next month, but I think that this is what we are supposed to discover about ourselves (FIRST) through self-awareness, and only then, (once we are clear on who we are) can we build more authentic relationships with others. To close out Bosnick's chapter 15, on relationships and authenticity, he does cover being self-focused vs other-focused, valuing differences, overcoming our own egos, and putting other people first, which was the theme of Simon Sinek's famous book, Leaders Eat Last.[x] Simon Sinek penned this book when he noticed that some teams trusted each other so deeply that they would literally put their lives on the line for each other. Other teams, no matter what incentives were offered, were doomed to infighting, fragmentation and failure. Why Sinek wondered? Well, the answer became clear during a conversation with a Marine Corps general who said "Officers eat last." Sinek watched as the most junior Marines ate first while the most senior Marines took their place at the back of the line. Great leaders sacrifice their own comfort--even their own survival--for the good of those in their care. Bosnick calls this “other focused” and reminds us that “in order to build truly authentic relationships, we need to overcome our own ego and put others first.” (Chapter 15, Bosnick, Page 182). Bosnick does cover the different needs of extroverts and introverts, that we have covered on EP 186[xi] as well as different behavioral styles that can help us to learn how to better interact with other people who have different “styles” than we do. The Neuroscience of Our Social Brain To close out chapter 15, Bosnick goes into the Neuroscience of Our “Social Brain” and covers the story of the famous Phineas Gage, Neuroscience's Most Famous Patient.[xii]  Without going too deep into the neuroscience, Bosnick explains that “we have two systems in our brain: the X-system and the C-system. The X-system (or reflexive system) is automatic, responsive, like/dislike, reward/threat. Since this part of our brain is non-thinking, it's not affected by our mental load. The C-system (or reflective system) is controlled, conscious, with executive function and executive control.” (Chapter 15, Bosnick, Page 186). Motivation and effort are required to engage this part of the brain, and it can be affected by our mental load. X-system (reflexive)=automatic C-system (reflective) =we need motivation and effort to activate The story of Phineas Gage goes like this: “in 1948 in the United States, (he) survived a blast while building a railroad, which shot a tamping iron through the front part of his brain. Remarkably, he survived. However, his behavior had changed. Where before, he was a mild-tempered, respecting person, his behavior was now to seek reward without consequences, operating only by habit, (and he turned) rude…He destroyed the C-system, (his controlled thinking) operating on X-system only. In other words, he had no control over his automatic, reflexive system, and his behavior became unbearable as a result. He treated everybody as an object for his own personal reward.” (Chapter 15, Bosnick, Page 186). The C-system, (that requires motivation and effort to activate) Bosnick explains, is important for self-reflection and understanding self/other relations and occurs in the front (middle) part of our brain. We know this part of our brain as the Default Mode Network[xiii], and the part of our brain where we take breaks for creativity, thinking and learning to occur. He adds to our understanding here by saying that “when the brain is at a resting state, this specific system kicks in, which is focused around social understanding (thinking about yourself, others' thoughts, others' actions etc.).” Bosnick reminds us to “stare out the window and do nothing and (says) your life will thank you, and it will help you to build more authentic relationships. This was the whole idea behind EP 48[xiv], on Using Brain Network Theory to Stay Productive During Times of Chaos. Bosnick Reminds Us to Go Slow to Go Fast I can't even tell you how many times I have heard the phrase “go slow, to go fast” this week, and here it is at the end of chapter 15. Bosnick says that “in order to build truly authentic relationships with people, we need to go slow, to go fast.” He suggests that we “slow down the conversation with people, truly listen to them empathetically and be fully present with them. This will build the relationship to be deeper…go slow with the conversation and communication in order to go fast with the depth of the relationship.” (Chapter 15, Bosnick, Page 187). Reflection Activity: Building More Authentic Relationships Bosnick suggests the following reflection activity for building more authentic relationships. Think of a person in your business, or personal life, that you would like to build a more authentic relationship with. How would you describe them? Are they introverted/extroverted? What are their behavior styles? How do they approach authenticity and relationships? Let your brain go into your Default Mode Network. Stare out of a window and think: what could you do to build a more authentic relationship with each of the people you are thinking of? How can you go slow to go fast? I will add one final step, that came from the quote from Mo Issa and suggest that once we have done the work ourselves, and know what makes us truly authentic, we know our own unique gifts and talents, and we continue to nurture and grow them, we can next look outward, and recognize the unique talents and gifts in others. We covered this practice extensively on EP 214 with Dr. Marie Gervais[xv], by learning to see the “spirit” in others. I'm confident that by practicing these steps, with each person we want to build a deeper, more authentic relationship with, (whether in our personal or professional lives) that we will notice strides of improvement, once we have identified and appreciated our own authenticity and uniqueness. Then, we can recognize it in others for the magic to occur.  REVIEW AND CONCLUSION To review and conclude this week's episode #345 on “The Neuroscience of Relationships and Authenticity” we covered: ✔ Mo Issa's definition of authenticity from his book The Shift: How to Awaken the Aliveness from Within Mo believes that “true authenticity means being ourselves—not an imitation of what we think we should be or what others want us to be. We all have a unique gift, and we must find and nurture it.” (Mo Issa, The Shift). ✔ Andrea's reflection from 2021 when Mo Issa asked her “what does authenticity mean to you?” What's authentic for me—it's living life according to my values. Living who I am by design. If I'm not putting health first, (for myself and my family) or learning, growing, researching, and then disseminating/sharing what I've learned, I'm not living my true authentic self. It will hurt my productivity if I compromise who I am, at this granular level. ✔ We ask the reader to consider: What makes YOU authentic? ✔ How do you know when you are living a truly authentic life? ✔ Have you identified your unique gifts or talents that make you stand out from others? ✔ Do you know what might be holding you back from being truly authentic? ✔ The Neuroscience of Our Social Brain “We have two systems in our brain: the X-system and the C-system. The X-system (or reflexive system) is automatic, responsive, like/dislike, reward/threat. The C-system (or reflective system) is controlled, conscious, with executive function and executive control.” (Chapter 15, Bosnick, Page 186). Motivation and effort are required to engage this part of the brain. The story of Phineas Gage who destroyed the C-system, in his brain and was operating on X-system only. In other words he had no control over his automatic, reflexive system, and his behavior became unbearable as a result. The C-system, (that requires motivation and effort to activate) we learned, is important for self-reflection and understanding self/other. We know this part of our brain as the Default Mode Network[xvi], and the part of our brain where we take breaks for creativity, thinking and learning to occur. “When the brain is at a resting state, this specific system kicks in, which is focused around social understanding (thinking about yourself, others' thoughts, others' actions etc.).” We learned to get into this resting state by “staring out of a window and do nothing (except reflecting on what else we can do to improve our relationships) and this knowledge that we uncover will help us to build more authentic relationships. We learned to slow down the conversation with people, truly listen to them empathetically and be fully present with them. This will build the relationship to be deeper…go slow with the conversation and communication in order to go fast with the depth of the relationship.” (Chapter 15, Bosnick, Page 186). ✔ 4 Steps to Building More Authentic Relationships Think of a person in your business, or personal life, that you would like to build a more authentic relationship with. Get to know them on a deeper level. How would you describe them? Are they introverted/extroverted? How do they approach authenticity and relationships? Let your brain go into your Default Mode Network. Stare out of a window and think: what could you do to build a more authentic relationship with each of the people you are thinking of? How can you go slow with your conversation to go fast with the depth of the relationship? And finally, we looked at the quote from Mo Issa that suggests that once we have done the work ourselves, and know what makes us truly authentic, once we know our own unique gifts and talents, and we continue to nurture and grow them, next, we can look outward, and recognize the unique talents and gifts in others. I will close out this episode with a quote from Mo Issa's second book, The Shift that says “we all have a primal need to belong—a human urge to be part of something larger than us. We fulfill that need when we connect authentically to exchange energy and feel seen, heard and valued.” (Mo Issa) Let me know what you think. Did this episode help you to improve your authenticity, and deepen your relationships? I know this episode will take time to practice and refine. It's taken me my lifetime so far to fully embrace my unique talents and gifts, where I recognize my own authenticity. Now I've got the rest of my life to take this understanding and help me to build stronger, deeper relationships with others. And with that thought, I'll see you next time where we will cover chapter 16 from Grant Bosnick's Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership, on biases. REFERENCES: [i] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #321 with Grant ‘Upbeat' Bosnick  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/insights-from-grant-upbeat-bosnick/ [ii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #7 with Greg Wolcott on “Building Relationships in Today's Classrooms”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/greg-wolcott-on-building-relationships-in-todays-classrooms/ [iii] www.significant72.com [iv] Social Relationships and Health:  A Flashpoint for Health Policy Published August 4, 2011, by Debra Umberson and Jennifer Karas Montez  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3150158/ [v] Self-Assessment for Grant Bosnick's book https://www.selfleadershipassessment.com/ [vi] www.mo-issa.com   [vii] The Midlife Shift by Mo Issa https://www.mo-issa.com/book (COMING SOON). [viii] The Power of Vulnerability by Brene Brown https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Power-of-Vulnerability-Audiobook/ [ix] The Power of Vulnerability by Brene Brown https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/the-power-of-vulnerability-en [x] Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek 2014, https://www.amazon.com/Leaders-Eat-Last-Together-Others/dp/1591845327 [xi] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE 186 on “Using Neuroscience to Understand the Introverted vs Extroverted Brain” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/brain-fact-friday-on-using-neuroscience-to-understand-the-introverted-and-extroverted-brain/ [xii]Phineas Gage, Neuroscience's Most Famous Patient https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/phineas-gage-neurosciences-most-famous-patient-11390067/ [xiii] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #48 “Brain Network Theory” https://www.achieveit360.com/brain-network-theory-using-neuroscience-to-stay-productive-during-times-of-change-and-chaos/ [xiv] IBID [xv]Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #214 on “The Spirit of Work: Connecting Science and Business Practices and Sacred Texts for a Happier and Healthier Workplace”  https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/marie-gervais-phd-on-the-spirit-of-work-connecting-science-business-practices-and-sacred-texts-for-a-happier-and-more-productive-workplace/ [xvi] Neuroscience Meets SEL Podcast EPISODE #48 “Brain Network Theory” https://www.achieveit360.com/brain-network-theory-using-neuroscience-to-stay-productive-during-times-of-change-and-chaos/    

Episode 146 - DG Hollums - Using Sacred Texts for Transformation by Temple Beth Shalom

PP#29 - Sacred Texts of War with Dr. Melinda Keenan by Cristina Mendonsa

Bhakti Mamtora (Ph.D., Religion, University of Florida) is Assistant Professor of South Asian Religions in the Department of Religious Studies and Classics at the University of Arizona. Broadly, her research interests include print culture, book history, migration, and transnational religion. Her current book project employs archival, textual, and ethnographic methods to examine the genesis and reception of the Swāmīnī Vāto in the Swaminarayan Sampraday during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. She has published journal articles in Fieldwork in Religion and Postscripts: The Journal of Sacred Texts, Cultural Histories, and Contemporary Contexts, and entries in Hinduism in Five Minutes and Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Visit Sacred Writes: https://www.sacred-writes.org/acls-cohort-winter-2024