Podcasts about spiritual directors

At first reading, Isaac's words can sound severe, even shocking. He speaks of idle speech as fornication, unhealthy attachments as adultery, and certain forms of companionship as idolatry. Yet behind these warnings lies something far deeper than moral anxiety. Isaac is not obsessed with sin. He is consumed with the preservation of desire for God. The entire homily is built upon a single conviction: the human heart was created for divine communion, and anything that captures its attention, dissipates its energy, or redirects its longing away from God becomes a threat to its deepest purpose. For Isaac, impurity begins long before outward acts. It begins when the heart loses its simplicity. When affection becomes possessive, when companionship becomes emotionally intoxicating, when curiosity about others replaces watchfulness over oneself, the soul gradually drifts from its center. The danger is not merely moral failure. The danger is fragmentation. This is why Isaac speaks so strongly about particular attachments and associations. He understands that the heart cannot be divided indefinitely. Every affection shapes desire. Every conversation leaves a trace. Every companionship either strengthens recollection of God or weakens it. His concern is especially acute regarding spiritual relationships because these can easily disguise passion beneath the appearance of virtue. A person may speak about holiness while secretly seeking emotional gratification, admiration, dependence, or control. One may appear spiritual while feeding hidden desires. This is why Isaac repeatedly returns to self-deception. The greatest danger is not obvious sin but the passions clothed in religious garments. Against this, Isaac presents another image: the elder who has guarded his heart through silence, purity of thought, humility, and disciplined speech. Such a person no longer seeks particular people to satisfy hidden needs. He loves everyone equally because his heart has become free. Compassion has replaced possession. Love has become universal because it no longer springs from lack. This is the perfection Isaac describes. The issue, then, is not whether one has relationships. It is whether one's relationships nourish the fire of God or extinguish it. For Isaac, solitude is not an end in itself. Silence is not a technique. Withdrawal is not misanthropy. All of these exist to protect a flame. The Holy Spirit has kindled a fire within the heart, and that fire is delicate. Excessive familiarity, endless conversation, emotional entanglements, and worldly distractions scatter the mind and cool the soul. Yet Isaac is careful to make one exception. There are companions who do not extinguish the fire but increase it. There are friendships rooted in God. There are conversations that awaken the soul, expose the passions, deepen humility, and enlarge desire for divine things. Such communion is not a distraction from the spiritual life but one of its greatest supports. The test is simple: after leaving someone's company, does the heart burn more brightly for God or less? Everything in this passage revolves around that question. Isaac's warnings are not expressions of fear. They are acts of protection. He sees the heart as a sanctuary and desire for God as its most precious treasure. Therefore he urges vigilance, not because human relationships are evil, but because divine love is so extraordinarily precious. The entire passage can be reduced to a single plea: Guard the fire. Choose companions who increase it. Flee whatever diminishes it. And allow your love to become so purified that it belongs to everyone because it belongs first to God. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:09:26 James Hickman: Father, I was away for about a year…moved across the county and my faith formation role was on Wednesday evenings 00:09:50 James Hickman: I have loved The Watchful Mind…love your recommendation…summer break 00:11:05 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: https://www.philokaliaministries.org/post/nazareth-and-the-hidden-life 00:12:21 Anna: 91 in GA right now 00:13:28 Anna: My grandpa had his first class relic 00:16:38 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: https://www.philokaliaministries.org/post/nazareth-and-the-hidden-life 00:16:54 Bob Čihák, AZ: P 206, #11, last paragraph, Fr. A said we should get back to the 2nd sentence. 00:31:04 James Hickman: “…his heart is grievously injured.” Is Isaac speaking of the older monk, ie the one at fault? If so, I like Isaac's compassion to warn against the danger the offended faces. We don't want anyone's heart injured, whether a potential offender or a potential victim. 00:37:51 Bob Čihák, AZ: The double negative in the last sentence of the paragraph tends to confuse my weakening mind. 00:42:37 David Swiderski, WI: It is interesting the human brain only matures after 25 years old. I think most parents can capture this as the entire idea of consequences does not develop till after that. That is why around the world to rent a car you need to be 25. I see people below this age as children still developing but I see others that year to live again in a world without consequences. 00:43:05 Anna: Too often we run to therapy versus running to Christ in prayer and confession 00:44:03 una: Can you speak to how to have a solid spiritual friendship between consecrated people or with priests/monks 00:46:14 Nypaver Clan: Reacted to "It is interesting th..." with

Forgiving those who have wronged us is one of the most challenging things to do in apprenticeship to Jesus. It's tempting to rush into surface-level forgiveness in effort to be a “good Christian.” Yet authentic forgiveness requires that we get into our hearts. Often it includes walking through a process of addressing uncomfortable emotions and relational conflict.  Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi share honestly about a recent conflict that happened in their relationship. You'll learn from their example how prayer, reflection, and patience are valuable dimensions of forgiveness that lead to greater growth and freedom. Resources for this Episode: Meet with a Soul Shepherding Spiritual Director Donate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

Here at The Bulletin, our summer programming is underway and we're re-airing our best segments around a theme. This week: Clarissa sits down with author Sara Billups to unpack our collective societal anxiety and how to navigate it in our daily lives. Sheila Wise Rowe chats with Mike and Russell about managing pressure as a ministry leader and Steve Cuss explains healthy ways to handle workplace stress. REFERENCED IN THE EPISODE: Nervous Systems: Spiritual Practices to Calm Anxiety in Your Body, the Church, and Politics by Sara Billups Healing Leadership Trauma by Sheila Wise Rowe and Nicholas Rowe  Being Human with Steve Cuss GO DEEPER WITH THE BULLETIN:  Join the conversation at our Substack. Find us on YouTube. Rate and review the show in your podcast app of choice. ABOUT THE GUESTS:  Sara Billups is a Seattle-based writer and cultural commentator whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Christianity Today, Aspen Ideas, and others. Sara writes Bitter Scroll, a monthly Substack letter and co-hosts the podcast That's the Spirit. She earned a Doctor of Ministry in the Sacred Art of Writing at the Peterson Center for the Christian Imagination at Western Theological Seminary.  Sheila Wise Rowe is a graduate of Tufts University and Cambridge College with a master's degree in counseling psychology. She has over thirty years of experience as a Christian Counselor, Spiritual Director, Educator, Writer, and Speaker. Sheila has counseled women, children, couples, emerging, and established leaders and taught counseling in Massachusetts, Paris France, virtually. And for a decade in Johannesburg, South Africa where she also ministered to homeless and abused women and children. Sheila's essays can be found in numerous blogs, newspapers, journals, and books. In 2020 she authored the award-winning book, Healing Racial Trauma: The Road to Resilience. Recently she wrote Young, Gifted, and Black: A Journey of Lament and Celebration and has co-authored Healing Leadership Trauma. Steve Cuss is a pastor, former chaplain, and founder of Capable Life which helps people lower internal and relational anxiety in the workplace and at home. He is the author of Managing Leadership Anxiety: Yours and Theirs and The Expectation Gap: The Tiny, Vast Space between Our Beliefs and Experience of God. Steve hosts the CT Media podcast, Being Human. ABOUT THE BULLETIN:  The Bulletin is a twice-weekly news analysis podcast from Christianity Today, with editor-at-large Russell Moore. Each episode offers commentary on current events and headlining news with a roundtable of premier guests, and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world   The Bulletin listeners get 25% off CT. Go to https://orderct.com/THEBULLETIN to learn more.    “The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today Host: Leslie Thompson Associate Producers: Alexa Burke and Crystal Dady   Editing and Mix: Kevin Morris Graphic Design: Rick Szuecs Music: Dan Phelps  Executive Producer: Erik Petrik  Senior Producer: Matt Stevens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

God designed us to flourish in “love one another” relationships. That's why it's impossible to cultivate mental health in isolation. Yet all of us know that relationships can be a complicated blessing, with the temptation to keep our hearts hidden or take too much responsibility for others. Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi discuss how to navigate caring for others while also accepting your own limitations and needs. You'll learn how to prioritize the support you need so you can help others carry their burdens without getting drained. Resources for this Episode: Deeply Loved: Receiving and Reflecting God's Great Empathy for You Meet with a Soul Shepherding Spiritual Director Earn a Certificate in Spiritual Direction Donate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

What is spiritual direction — and could it be what your soul has been looking for?In this episode, Caro sits down with three trained spiritual directors — Sally Jones, Peter Ellem, and Kym Dixon — for a warm, honest conversation about the ancient practice of spiritual accompaniment. Together they explore what spiritual direction actually is (and isn't), how it differs from therapy or pastoral care, why people seek it out, and what it can offer people navigating faith transitions, religious trauma, or simply a longing for something more. All guests share from their own experience — both as directors and as people who have been directed — and the conversation is rich with hard-won wisdom about the spiritual life.If you've ever felt like you needed a gentle place to land, this one's for you.Want to reach out and let us know your thoughts or suggestions for the show? Send us a message here; we'd love to hear from you.The Spiritual Misfits Survival Guide (FREE): https://www.spiritualmisfits.com.au/survivalguideSign up to our mailing list:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/Join our online Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spiritualmisfitspodcastSupport the pod:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/support-us/View all episodes at: https://spiritualmisfits.buzzsprout.com

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features special guest Lama Justin von Bujdoss. Lama Justin is an American Buddhist teacher, author, and the founder and Spiritual Director of Yangti Yoga Retreat Center. In this episode, host Daniel Aitken and Lama Justin explore the Tibetan Buddhist practice of dark retreat. Lama Justin shares his introduction to Buddhism and dark retreat practice from teachers Ani Dechen Zangmo, Kyabje Pathing Rinpoche,  His Eminence Gyaltsab Rinpoche, and the Ngakpa doctor, Dr. Nida Chenagtsang.  Lama Justin and Daniel also discuss:  The various styles of dark retreat; Lama Justin's experiences with chaplaincy and violence;  rainbow body mindset; and much more! Additional content mentioned in this episode: Check out the Yangti Yoga Retreat Center here The views and opinions expressed on this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Wisdom Publications or any entities they represent. The post Lama Justin von Bujdoss: Dark Retreat (#230) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

Special Guest Nicki Behnke joins us to discuss her role as a Spiritual Director and her powerful Mother's Day message. 

Dr. Matt Fretwell is a global leader, trainer, and author with over 20 years of experience empowering organizations, denominations, and individuals through gospel-centered transformation and innovative leadership. He currently serves as the Spiritual Director in Residency at World Relief and is an adjunct professor at several institutions, including Regent University, where he received the Faculty Award of Excellence in Scholarship in 2022. Dr. Fretwell specializes in organizational growth, strategic partnerships, church planting, leadership development, and fostering multicultural engagement. His work spans the non-profit, academic, and business sectors, where he has consistently driven sustainable change, increased impact, and advanced cross-cultural initiatives. As an advocate for integral mission, multiplication, and spiritual formation, Dr. Fretwell has trained leaders across the globe, developed curriculum, and cultivated growth strategies for organizations with thousands of staff and volunteers. He is an author of over 12 publications, including the three volumes of Multiplying Jesus, Church Planting By Making Disciple-Makers, and a 2024 Lausanne IV Congress white paper contributor. Dr. Fretwell's passion lies in equipping others to lead with authenticity, innovation, and a gospel-centered focus, making an impact in their communities and beyond.

Click here to send me a text message (include your contact info if you want a reply).In inner city parks and in remote forest clearings people are gathering to remember their sacred connection to the Earth. Some call it "worship;" some call it "church." Sarah Lyon meets them there, to guide them to their soul's true home in the wild.More about Sarah: https://www.sarahlyonspiritualdirection.comMore about Wild Church: https://www.wildchurchnetwork.comWild Church, the Books: Church of the Wild: How Nature Invites Us into the Sacred, by Victoria Loorz; Broadleaf Books, 2021; and Field Guide to Church of the Wild, by Victoria Loorz and Valerie Luna Serrels; Broadleaf Books, 2025.Personal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2026

"Wayfinding is the cognitive and corporeal process and experience of locating, following, or discovering a route through and to a given space. It involves both thinking and physically moving through space. It isn't about signs, it's about HOW people navigate from Point A to Point B. It involves: orientation, route decision, route monitoring, and designation recognition" (travelwayfinding.com).On today's show, Spiritual Director, Deborah Gregory, author of "Spiritual Wayfinding: 33 Walking Meditations for Navigating Life with Embodied Wisdom," shares how a fractured ankle taught her to walk, both physically and spiritually, with God in fresh, new ways. She's named each of her 33 walks and invites us to experience the childlike wonder of silly walks, the freedom of yuck walks, the power of Poohstick walks, and so much more!Grab your tennis shoes and walk into a whole new way of finding God's love in your world.Links and Resources from this episodeVisit Deborah's website: Flourish Spiritual DirectionOrder Deb's new book: Spiritual WayfindingRevisit the podcast archives: E244 Jake Eagle, "How A.W.E. Can Heal Your Heart"E214 Lacy Finn Borgo, "Living with Childlike Faith," Part 1E215 Lacy Finn Borgo, "Living with Childlike Faith," Part 2Visit Heartlift Wellness of Substack: More ResourcesRate and Review the Podcast: THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

AbbeyoftheArts.com Abbey of the Arts Wisdom Council member Te Martin reads Cynthia Bailey Manns and invites you into 5 minutes of silence to hold a loving intention for peace, justice, and compassion to flourish in the world. Credits: All texts under fair use or with permission. Cynthia Bailey Manns, “Claimed: A Transformational Journey of Holiness, Wholeness, and Ministry” from Embodied Spirits: The Stories of Spiritual Directors of Color. (Morehouse Publishing, 2014), pg. 64

What happens when an Air Force officer, aerospace engineer, trauma chaplain, and Alzheimer's caregiver sits down to write thrillers? In this deeply moving episode of The Self Esteem and Confidence Mindset, we sit down with Larry Patzer—author of thrillers built on real people's lived situations, nationally certified Spiritual Director, former trauma chaplain, and nine-year Alzheimer's caregiver—to explore how facing life's hardest moments shapes storytelling, builds resilience, and teaches us how to live better.Larry shares wisdom from his unique journey: nineteen years designing high-stakes aerospace intelligence systems where failure wasn't an option, sitting with families in trauma as an on-call chaplain, caring for a loved one through Alzheimer's, and translating all of it into fiction that honors human stakes and the weight of choices. His perspective on consequences, suffering, resilience, and meaning will resonate whether you're a writer, caregiver, person of faith, or anyone navigating life's hardest chapters.You can find more from Larry here:Website: https://coffeecuppublishing.com/Amazon Book link: https://www.amazon.com/PAST-ALWAYS-COMES-BACK-help/dp/1970576243/

Theologian Bo Karen Lee joins Ryan McAnnally-Linz to explore how the multiple layers of trauma—pandemic grief, racialized violence, intergenerational wounding, vicarious suffering—can be met by the resources of Ignatian spirituality and contemplative prayer. Writing and teaching at the intersection of Christian formation and social justice, Lee brings both scholarly precision and uncommon personal candor to one of the most urgent conversations in theology today. "Trauma tends to isolate and alienate us from our siblings, our human siblings. But ironically, this witnessing of one another's pain is the source of healing. So it has the very opposite effect of what is needed for it to be healed." In this conversation, Lee reflects on the spiritual journey from what one author calls "alarmed aloneness" toward becoming beloved—seen, held, and gazed upon with love. Together they discuss the overlapping layers of collective, personal, racialized, and intergenerational trauma shaping contemporary life; attachment theory and its parallels with spiritual formation; the Ignatian tradition of imaginative, contemplative prayer; the still face experiment and the theology of the loving gaze; and why the church has something singular to offer the trauma crisis of our time. Episode Highlights "We are quite sure we're alone in the world and no one really sees us, no one truly cares and no one can be trusted. You're alone, overwhelmed, and helpless." "Trauma tends to isolate and alienate us from our siblings, our human siblings. But ironically, this witnessing of one another's pain is the source of healing. So it has the very opposite effect of what is needed for it to be healed." "I need to be held, but it's this illusory figure that holds me, because I have shut myself off to the very things that could help me, because no one is to be trusted." "I've seen too much hope, and too much beauty, and too much healing walking through the spiritual exercises that I can no longer despair that trauma has the final word." "Gazing upon the God who gazes upon me with love. That is contemplative prayer." About Bo Karen Lee Bo Karen Lee is Associate Professor of Spiritual Theology and Christian Formation at Princeton Theological Seminary, where she teaches contemplative theology, Ignatian spirituality, and the relationship between prayer and social justice. A leading voice in the integration of trauma studies and Christian formation, she brings the Ignatian tradition into conversation with psychology, attachment theory, and the lived experience of racialized communities. Her work draws on the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola to offer resources for healing that are both theologically grounded and pastorally immediate. She directs retreatants in the nineteenth annotation of the Spiritual Exercises and works regularly with spiritual directors trained in the Ignatian tradition. Helpful Links and Resources Bessel van der Kolk, Traumatic Stress: The Effects of Overwhelming Experience on Mind, Body, and Society https://www.amazon.com/Traumatic-Stress-Overwhelming-Experience-Society/dp/1572300485 Bessel van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-score Resmaa Menakem, My Grandmother's Hands https://www.resmaa.com/resources Kathy Weingarten, Common Shock: Witnessing Violence Every Day https://www.kathyweingarten.com David Fleming SJ, Draw Me Into Your Friendship https://www.amazon.com/Draw-Me-Into-Your-Friendship/dp/0912422904 Ignatius of Loyola, The Spiritual Exercises https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-spiritual-exercises/ Edward Tronick, Still Face Experiment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apzXGEbZht0 Find a Spiritual Director https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/making-good-decisions/find-a-spiritual-director/ Show Notes Trauma defined: "terror triggered by an inescapably stressful event that overwhelms existing coping mechanisms" — Bessel van der Kolk Layers of trauma: collective pandemic grief, personal wounding, racialized violence, intergenerational encoding, vicarious/secondary trauma Global pandemic as collective trauma — threat of death, forced isolation, planetary-scale overwhelm Racialized trauma and AAPI hate incidents — one in five AAPI individuals reported a hate incident in the U.S. in a 15-month window (as of late 2021) My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem — racialized trauma encoded in bodies and communities https://www.resmaa.com/resources Cumulative microaggressions — daily small injuries can produce PTSD-level effects over time; growing body of clinical literature Secondary/vicarious trauma — hearing others' suffering reactivates unresolved wounds in caregivers and companions "Double jeopardy" — Kathy Weingarten's term for caregivers whose own past traumas are reactivated while supporting others Five professions at highest risk: clergy, health workers, teachers, police, journalists — context for the Great Resignation "Alarmed aloneness" — the net effect of trauma: certainty that no one sees you, no one cares, no one can be trusted "Trauma tends to isolate and alienate us from our siblings, our human siblings. But ironically, this witnessing of one another's pain is the source of healing." The orphan image: a girl in a Middle Eastern orphanage draws a chalk mother around her fetal body — illusory comfort as portrait of traumatic isolation Intergenerational trauma — encoded in DNA; personal testimony about learning her own mother was nearly killed as an infant, its echo across generations Kintsugi as healing metaphor — the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with gold; grief before repair, not a race to be fixed Robert Stolorow's concept: finding a "relational home" for traumatic suffering — the necessity of being witnessed Ignatius of Loyola — 16th-century Spanish soldier wounded by cannonball; encountered the living Christ through Ludolph of Saxony's Vita Christi during convalescence The Spiritual Exercises: a four-week manual for imaginative prayer — beloved and broken, walking with Christ through ministry, suffering, resurrection https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-spiritual-exercises/ Ignatian contemplative prayer defined: "gazing upon the God who gazes upon me with love" — kataphatic, embodied, not requiring stillness or silence Still Face Experiment (Edward Tronick) — infant distress when a loving mother goes blank; evidence that the gaze of love is neurologically and psychologically foundational https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apzXGEbZht0 Attachment theory and spiritual formation — earned secure attachment: what unhealthy early bonding cannot provide, sustained relationship with God can "I've seen too much hope, and too much beauty, and too much healing walking through the spiritual exercises that I can no longer despair that trauma has the final word." Personal testimony: AAPI hate crimes, night terrors, contemplative prayer with a spiritual director; a vision of Mary, the wailing women, and the crucified Christ "Bo, they killed me too" — Christ's words in a contemplative vision; solidarity as the beginning of bearable grief Sartre's "hell is other people" reframed — parasitic dependence on others' approval vs. the freedom of knowing how God gazes upon you Resources for beginning: David Fleming's Draw Me Into Your Friendship; finding a spiritual director trained in Ignatian spirituality; Jesuit retreat centers #TraumaHealing #IgnatianSpirituality #ContemplativePrayer #ChristianFormation #SpiritualTheology #MentalHealthAndFaith #RacializedTrauma #AttachmentTheory #ForTheLifeOfTheWorld #YaleDivinity Production Notes This podcast featured Bo Karen Lee Edited and Produced by Evan Rosa Hosted by Evan Rosa Production Assistance by Annie Trowbridge and Luke Stringer A Production of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture at Yale Divinity School https://faith.yale.edu/about Support For the Life of the World podcast by giving to the Yale Center for Faith & Culture: https://faith.yale.edu/give

What does it mean to belong to God when the structures of faith you once trusted begin to fall apart? In this episode, Loren talks with Kara Root—pastor, spiritual director, and author of The Deepest Belonging and A Pilgrimage into Letting Go—about faith, loss, and the surprising ways God rebuilds belief when certainty collapses. Drawing from her own journey through the unraveling of a ministry-centered evangelical world, Kara reflects on how faith can be rebuilt from the ground up through pilgrimage, prayer, and honest encounters with suffering. The conversation explores the difference between inherited faith and lived faith, and why belonging to God often emerges most clearly when our illusions fall away. They also discuss the role of Sabbath rest, spiritual practices, and pastoral leadership in helping congregations navigate seasons of change and uncertainty. This episode offers a reflective and hopeful conversation about letting go of what no longer holds—and discovering the deeper belonging God offers in its place. Together they explore: How faith can be rebuilt after the collapse of inherited religious systems The spiritual significance of pilgrimage and letting go Why belonging to God is deeper than belonging to institutions The role of Sabbath, prayer, and spiritual practices in sustaining faith How pastors and churches navigate seasons of change and uncertainty   Rev. Kara K. Root is the author of The Deepest Belonging (2021), Receiving This Life: (2023), and A Pilgrimage Into Letting Go (2025, with husband, Andy). ​Pastor of Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis, MN, a Christian community that shapes its life around worship, hospitality and Sabbath rest, she is a trained Spiritual Director and Certified Educator in the PCUSA.  Being mom to two intrepid young adults (and a goofy dog), and wife and proofreader to a wily theologian, spices up her vocational calling and keeps her fully immersed in life.   She has written for Sparkhouse, Working Preacher, Christian Century, Christianity Today, Faith and Leadership, Patheos and more. Kara leads retreats and workshops on sabbath rest, prayer practices, and church leadership and transformation.  ​​Kara and her husband, Andy, lead workshops and speak together through Root Creative, inc.   Mentioned Resources:

The demands of life and ministry have taught most of us to prioritize doing over being. Yet eventually we realize that “trying harder” doesn't satisfy our deepest longing for a flourishing relationship with Jesus. Thankfully the Good Shepherd meets us at “the end of ourselves” and invites us into spacious places of renewal. ​Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Kristi talks to Ron Thompson, a pastor with 30+ years of experience who also serves as a Sr. Spiritual Director on our staff. Ron shares how coming on a Soul Shepherding retreat helped him become enthralled with Jesus, find freedom from depression, and transform how he cares for others in partnership with Christ. Friend, we pray that you can also go deeper in Jesus' grace on a retreat.  Resources for this Episode: Attend a Soul Shepherding Retreat Earn a Certificate in Spiritual Direction Meet with a Soul Shepherding Spiritual Director Donate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

Join Dan Burke as he talks with Dr. Anthony Lilles on how to discern if you should change your spiritual director and how to know when to change! Resources: Spiritual Warfare and Discernment of Spirits - video series Discernment of Spirits for Beginners - Dr. Mary Ruth Hackett & Dan Burke Into the Deep - video series Finding Peace in the Storm - Dan Burke Into the Deep – Dan Burke Spiritual Warfare and the Discernment of Spirits - Dan Burke The Contemplative Rosary - Dan Burke and Connie Rossini A Catholic Guide to Mindfulness - Susan Brinkmann OCDS SpiritualDirection.com/Events - website Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation EWTN Religious Catalogue – online

Preaching from her experience as a Black, lay Catholic woman, Dr. Valerie D. Lewis-Mosley offers a reflection on listening to Jesus, embracing the cross with love, and claiming our place in God's ongoing work of transfiguration: "It is this willingness to embrace the cross, the Mount Calvary experience that provides the ultimate transfiguration of our souls and spirits in the Resurrection." Valerie D. Lewis-Mosely, RN, OPA, is the retired Director of Religious Education at the Church of Christ the King - Jersey City, New Jersey, a historical Black Catholic Parish. She now serves in various capacities across the nation as a mentor to youth and young adults; evangelist, retreat leader and revivalist and public speaker, life coach and Spiritual Director. She is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Theology at Caldwell University, Caldwell, New Jersey, and Xavier University of Louisiana Institute for Black Catholic Studies. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/03012026 to learn more about Valerie, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

"No work takes deep root, or has real stability, or will perpetuate itself, unless the apostle has begotten the interior life in other souls. Naturally, he cannot do this unless he himself is strong in the inner life." This episode concludes Part Four of the classic work by the French Trappist monk, Dom Jean-Baptiste Chautard (1858-1935). Among other things, there is featured an illuminating description of the progressive stages of conversion, which Dom Chautard includes as an aid for spiritual directors. Episode 4: Part Four (sections e - g) 00:00 - Intro 00:39 - e. Because the Interior Life Begets Interior Life, Its Results Upon Souls Are Deep and Lasting 20:09 - f. Importance of the Formation of “Shock Troops” and of Spiritual Direction 46:12 - (Stages of Conversion - Categories for Spiritual Directors) 57:48 - g. The Entire Success of the Apostolate Depends on One Thing: An Interior Life Centered on the Blessed Eucharist This work will be released in its entirety in episodic format. Links The Soul of the Apostolate full text: https://www.cmri.org/0-olmc-mission/catholic-books/soul_of_the_apostolate.pdf SUBSCRIBE to Catholic Culture Audiobooks https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-culture-audiobooks/id1482214268 SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter http://www.catholicculture.org/newsletter DONATE at http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio Theme music: "2 Part Invention", composed by Mark Christopher Brandt, performed by Thomas Mirus. ©️2019 Heart of the Lion Publishing Co./BMI. All rights reserved.

Support Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://libri-vox.org/donateThe Ascent of Mount Carmel (Part 1)Saint John of the Cross (1542 - 1591)Translated by David Lewis (1814 - 1895)The Ascent of Mount Carmel is one of the timeless classics of Christian contemplation, radical in its time and deeply influential in the world today. St John of the Cross and St Teresa of Avila worked together to reform the Carmelite Order in the Roman Catholic Church, in which he is honored as one of the Doctors of the Church. An active priest and teacher in his lifetime, this work is considered primary source material the training of Spiritual Directors, and an essential set of guidelines for all students of Revelation through Divine Love. Read by ( Ed Humpal)Genre(s): Christianity - OtherLanguage: EnglishKeyword(s): christian (192), mysticism (40), spiritual life (7), roman catholic (6), camelite (2), divine love (2), spiritual direction (1), divine union (1), apophatic theology (1)Support Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://libri-vox.org/donate

Support Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://libri-vox.org/donateThe Ascent of Mount Carmel (Part 2)⁠Saint John of the Cross (1542 - 1591)⁠Translated by ⁠David Lewis (1814 - 1895)⁠The Ascent of Mount Carmel is one of the timeless classics of Christian contemplation, radical in its time and deeply influential in the world today. St John of the Cross and St Teresa of Avila worked together to reform the Carmelite Order in the Roman Catholic Church, in which he is honored as one of the Doctors of the Church. An active priest and teacher in his lifetime, this work is considered primary source material the training of Spiritual Directors, and an essential set of guidelines for all students of Revelation through Divine Love. Read by ( Ed Humpal)Genre(s): Christianity - OtherLanguage: EnglishKeyword(s): ⁠christian⁠ (192), ⁠mysticism⁠ (40), ⁠spiritual life⁠ (7), ⁠roman catholic⁠ (6), ⁠camelite⁠ (2), ⁠divine love⁠ (2), spiritual direction (1), divine union (1), apophatic theology (1)Support Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://libri-vox.org/donate

As the Church marks Temperance Sunday on the eve of Lent, Fr Robert McCabe, Spiritual Director of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association of the Sacred Heart, reflects on the true meaning of temperance as a cardinal virtue, and its relevance in a culture of overindulgence. Tracing the movement's roots to Father Theobald Mathew and Father […] L'articolo Temperance Sunday: A Lenten Call to Solidarity and Self-Control – Fr Robert McCabe proviene da Radio Maria.

Steve Smith is a friend of mine. He runs Potter's Inn, which provides soul care. Much of Steve's time is spent with people running large organizations, from mega church pastors to Fortune 500 CEOs. People who as Steve says, live much of their lives in the white water of life. And living this way takes a toll on your soul. Years ago, I actually argued with Steve. I said I was living in a way to keep myself strong so I could endure the constant white water. And I did. Until I couldn't. Until I burnt out and caused plenty of collateral damage in my life. Recently Steve sent me a book of poetry he had written. He's published many books, but with poetry he feels he can say more with less. The book is called, Greening: Poems In The Unfolding Of Our Lives. And the focus is on unfolding through the seasons and reasons of our lives. Steve has walked intimately with so many people. Dramatically successful people as our culture tends to define success. But Steve walks with them as their lives unravel and their identities unfold. In recent years, Steve has had some losses and gone through his own unfolding. As my own life has unfolded, I brought Steve on to discuss some of the concepts of his poetry book, and his life experience. Greening is a term he relates to our flourishing, vitality, well-being, and emotional health. As a speaker, spiritual director, and author, Steve offers soul care and spiritual care through many avenues. Find him at pottersinn.com Sign up for your $1/month trial period at shopify.com/kevin Go to shipstation.com and use code KEVIN to start your free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There comes a moment in many of our lives when we begin to notice that the way we love has been shaped by pain we haven't fully tended to. Old wounds resurface, familiar patterns repeat, and our unhealed places begin to influence how we show up in relationships. In this conversation with spiritual director Barb Boatner, we explore how healing changes the way we love. Barb talks about learning to love from a place of presence rather than self-protection, and how pain doesn't disappear when it's avoided, but often leaks out sideways -- impacting those closest to us. She also shares why healing is not peripheral to faith, but central to spiritual formation. Together, we reflect on how healing opens us to deeper connection: with God, with others, and with the people we love. I hope you'll listen in. Thought-provoking quotes: “The way we love is shaped either by our wounds or by our healing.” - Barb Boatner "Curiosity instead of judgment changes everything.” - Barb Boatner “I can't change what happened to me. But I can change how I relate to it. Healing is learning to stay with myself in kindness." - Barb Boatner Get Faith & Feeling's weekly resource email Watch this episode on YouTube Grab a copy of my book Stop Saying I'm Fine Connect with me on my website Find me on Instagram @__taylorjoy__ Key words: healing journey, befriending yourself, self compassion, curiosity, self awareness, emotional wounds, emotional regulation, spiritual formation, wisdom, spiritual integration, spiritual maturity, emotional health, personal growth, spiritual director, Barb Boatner

Mother Miriam Live - January 29th, 2026 Mother speaks about St. Francis DeSales and how he became her spiritual advisor from heaven. Mother responds to emails relating to the Traditional Latin Mass.

In this mini-episode of The Afterlight Podcast with Lauren Grace, author Brandy Anderson shares how her late grandmother first introduced her to the idea of reincarnation — a concept that wasn't part of her worldview before their communication across the veil. She explains that reincarnation is real, but it's a conscious choice made from the perspective of the higher self, not the personality we know in human form. Brandy describes reincarnation as part of the soul's process of becoming, where we return to integrate lessons left unresolved. This is an excerpt from our full-length episode: An incredible story of speaking with spirit and receiving messages from the afterlife with Brandy Anderson https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-y3idb-19942ec ----more---- Welcome to The Afterlight Podcast with Lauren Grace, a spiritual podcast full of stories and conversations that prove we're never alone. Lauren Grace, host of The Afterlight Podcast, is a high-impact coach and medium dedicated to helping professionals deepen their connection to their soul so they can experience more freedom, fulfillment, and purpose. The Afterlight Podcast with Lauren Grace aims to inspire and educate. Remember, you are the authority on your own life. While we encourage you to take what resonates, we also urge you to do your own research and consult with qualified professionals for advice on your personal situation. The opinions shared by guests are their own, and any advice by our guests or Lauren Grace is not a substitute for professional guidance. The Afterlight Podcast: The Afterlight Podcast on Social: @theafterlightpodcast To be a guest, apply here: theafterlightpodcast.com Sign up for our newsletter: laurengraceinspirations.com/contact Connect with Lauren Grace, Lauren Grace Inspirations: Lauren on Social: @LaurenGraceInspirations Website: laurengraceinspirations.com Disclaimer: Lauren Grace, Lauren Grace Inspirations, and The Afterlight Podcast are not licensed counselors, medical professionals, or financial advisors. Any information or advice provided during the Podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical, legal, financial, or psychiatric advice. Always seek the advice of qualified professionals regarding any specific questions or concerns you may have. Meet Brandy Brandy Anderson is a Spiritual Director, Jungian Coach, and Silver Nau tilus award–winning author of Through the Veil: A Glimpse Into the Afterlife.  As the founder of Anderson Alchemy, Brandy guides others through the transformative process of shadow work, spiritual awakening, and inner alchemy—helping seekers integrate the mystical and the psychological into everyday life. Contact Brandy: https://andersonalchemy.com Get the book: https://andersonalchemy.com/through-the-veil

In this mini-episode of The Afterlight Podcast with Lauren Grace, Lauren revisits a powerful moment from her full conversation with Spiritual Director and author Brandy Anderson.   Brandy shares how true shadow work means bringing the light of awareness into those hidden places so we can respond rather than react — and live with greater clarity and compassion.   Drawing on her communication with her late grandmother, Brandy reflects on what happens when we cross without doing that inner work, and why awareness now makes for a gentler transition later.   This is an excerpt from our full-length episode: An incredible story of speaking with spirit and receiving messages from the afterlife with Brandy Anderson https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-y3idb-19942ec   ----more---- Welcome to The Afterlight Podcast with Lauren Grace, a spiritual podcast full of stories and conversations that prove we're never alone. Lauren Grace, host of The Afterlight Podcast, is a high-impact coach and medium dedicated to helping professionals deepen their connection to their soul so they can experience more freedom, fulfillment, and purpose. The Afterlight Podcast with Lauren Grace aims to inspire and educate. Remember, you are the authority on your own life. While we encourage you to take what resonates, we also urge you to do your own research and consult with qualified professionals for advice on your personal situation. The opinions shared by guests are their own, and any advice by our guests or Lauren Grace is not a substitute for professional guidance. The Afterlight Podcast: The Afterlight Podcast on Social: @theafterlightpodcast To be a guest, apply here: theafterlightpodcast.com Sign up for our newsletter: laurengraceinspirations.com/contact Connect with Lauren Grace, Lauren Grace Inspirations: Lauren on Social: @LaurenGraceInspirations Website: laurengraceinspirations.com Disclaimer: Lauren Grace, Lauren Grace Inspirations, and The Afterlight Podcast are not licensed counselors, medical professionals, or financial advisors. Any information or advice provided during the Podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical, legal, financial, or psychiatric advice. Always seek the advice of qualified professionals regarding any specific questions or concerns you may have. Meet Brandy Brandy Anderson is a Spiritual Director, Jungian Coach, and Silver Nau tilus award–winning author of Through the Veil: A Glimpse Into the Afterlife.  As the founder of Anderson Alchemy, Brandy guides others through the transformative process of shadow work, spiritual awakening, and inner alchemy—helping seekers integrate the mystical and the psychological into everyday life. Contact Brandy: https://andersonalchemy.com Get the book: https://andersonalchemy.com/through-the-veil

What if faith was never meant to be complicated?In this honest episode of the Collide Podcast, we sit down with Kelsey Jenney, a longtime Young Life staff member, speaker, and certified Spiritual Director, to talk about what it looks like to keep our relationship with God simple - especially in seasons when prayers feel unanswered and hope feels hard to hold. Through meaningful conversation (and a little talk about guacamole, hummus, and peanut butter), we explore what it looks like to welcome God into the ache, practice the ministry of presence, and rest in a faith rooted in relationship rather than striving. Whether you're weary, questioning, or longing for deeper connection, this episode will remind you that God is near—and simplicity can be sacred.Meet Kelsey JenneyKelsey is a longtime Young Life staff member with over 20 years of ministry experience, currently serving in disability ministry through Young Life Capernaum while also traveling, speaking, and hosting retreats. She is a certified Spiritual Director and is pursuing a Master's in Spiritual Formation at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Kelsey is passionate about prayer, spiritual formation, and creating space for authentic encounters with God rooted in presence rather than performance.In This Episode, You'll LearnWhy keeping the gospel simple matters in real lifeA mantra to hold onto when prayers feel unansweredHow to hold hope in the ache without rushing past painWhat the ministry of presence looks like in everyday faithHow imaginative prayer and spiritual consent invite deeper connection with GodAll the Best – Connect with Jesus and find peace through guided reflections on Mary and Martha's story, helping you overcome distraction, worry, and comparison.Personal and Powerful Bible Study - Explores how God shows up in our lives in ways that are both deeply personal and undeniably powerful.Connect with Jenny - Website | InstagramConnect with Willow - Website | Instagram | FacebookPre-Order Willow's New Book! Collide: Running into Healing When Life Hands You HurtFollow and Support Collide

In this powerful episode of the Dead America Podcast, host Ed Watters sits down with Jessica Morris—author, spiritual director, and survivor—to explore her extraordinary journey from addiction and turmoil to faith, healing, and spiritual rebirth. Jessica's story begins with a painful childhood shaped by the chaos of growing up as the daughter of an alcoholic minister. Her early years were marked by confusion, anger, and a deep struggle to understand God's love in the midst of suffering. Through raw honesty and heartfelt storytelling, Jessica shares how her battles with addiction forced her to confront not only her past but also her beliefs about God, purpose, and identity. Writing became her refuge, a place where she could process her pain and begin to rediscover her voice. A pivotal encounter with Jesus transformed everything, leading Jessica into a profound spiritual awakening that reshaped her life. She opens up about the moment she surrendered, the path of recovery that followed, and the redemption she found through faith, community, and inner work. Listeners will gain insight into: • The impact of childhood trauma and spiritual confusion • How addiction can become a catalyst for transformation • The healing power of writing and self-reflection • Jessica's encounter with Jesus and her spiritual rebirth • The role of faith, surrender, and purpose in long-term recovery • Her mission to guide others as a spiritual director Jessica's message is one of hope, courage, and divine guidance. Her journey reminds us that healing is possible, purpose can rise from pain, and spiritual awakening often begins in the darkest places. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking inspiration, faith-based healing, or a deeper understanding of spiritual transformation. Website https://jessicalmorris.com/ Social media links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-l-morris-39201879/ FB: Higher Powered - Jessica L. Morris IG & Threads: @jessica.l.morris TikTok: @missdaisylove Keywords: Jessica Morris, Dead America Podcast, Ed Watters, spiritual awakening, addiction recovery, childhood trauma, alcoholic minister, faith healing, spiritual director, redemption, writing for healing, Jesus encounter, spiritual rebirth, overcoming addiction, purpose and faith.

What if the fastest way to calm anxiety, shift your nervous system, and reconnect with others was already happening—right under your nose? In this powerful conversation, I'm joined by Jessica Dibb, Founder, Spiritual Director, and Principal Teacher of Inspiration Consciousness School and author of Breathwork and Psychotherapy. Together, we explore how breath is not just a tool for relaxation—but a direct bridge between physiology, psychology, and healing. Jessica shares why breath is the fastest way to create a state change, how every breath is psychophysiological, and why emerging science shows specific breathing patterns can significantly reduce anxiety—sometimes more effectively than meditation or yoga alone. You'll also hear about: ✦ Stanford research comparing box breathing, cyclical hyperventilation, and cyclical sighing✦ Why some people struggle to inhale or hold their breath—and what that reveals✦ How becoming a friend to your breath creates grounding and emotional safety✦ The idea of "The Big Breath"—bridging ancient wisdom and modern neuroscience✦ Resonance research from the HeartMath Institute✦ How breath affects not just you—but those around you✦ A moving client story where breathwork helped shift asthma into remission✦ Breathwork as a universal human language of healing✦ The Universal Breathing Declaration, co-created with Jack Kornfield This episode offers both science-grounded insight and lived, embodied wisdom, showing how breathwork supports emotional regulation, physical health, flow states, and deep human connection. Whether you're navigating anxiety, chronic stress, illness, or simply longing for more steadiness in a fearful world—this conversation reminds you that healing begins with the breath you're already taking.  

The Follow Podcast is Back for Season Six - Follow Fresh! It was great to kick off this new collection of episodes with a deeply thoughtful conversation with a deeply thoughtful person, Pauline Peneycad. A practicing Spiritual Director and the mind behind the design for our upcoming Follow Wednesdays (link below). Season #6: Follow Fresh - Following along with the OneChurch.to teaching series "new." in January 2026 - we're learning new ways to pray, to rest, to do community and to give. These conversations are jumping off into more personal or deep ways of exploring the same ideas. *Stuff We Mentioned* [or wished we did] - Follow Wednesdays: https://1church.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3187098 - Andrei Rublev's "Trinity" painting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_(Andrei_Rublev) ----- The Follow Podcast is an honest and open conversation for anyone actively learning to live like Jesus. Check out the related weekend teaching, "A New Way to Pray": https://youtu.be/Hacq--qeH0U Submit your own question for the follow podcast here: https://onechurch.to/followpodcast

Last May, America Magazine ran an article entitled “Dungeons & Dragons—and Jesuits” by Robert Buckland, a Jesuit in formation. Buckland admits to being a longtime fan of D&D, but even he is surprised by how popular the game has become — and in the most surprising of places. Buckland describes how this role-playing game that was once shunned by religious communities is now aiding in the imaginative and moral formation of young men in religious life. “Playing D&D,” Buckland writes, “can reveal dimensions of character that might otherwise remain hidden in the structured environment of houses for religious formation.” Today's host, Eric Clayton, was enchanted by this argument; Buckland's essay has stayed with him for these many months since. And it's perhaps thanks to Buckland's writing that he then encountered today's guest: Dr. Susan Haarman. Dr. Haarman is the associate director at Loyola University Chicago's Center for Engaged Learning, Teaching and Scholarship. In that role, she facilitates the university's service-learning program and publishes on community-based learning. But her real love is the research she conducts into the capacity of tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons as formative tools for civic identity and imagination. Most important for today's conversation, Susan wrote a chapter entitled “Roll for Discernment: Dungeon Master as St. Ignatius' Spiritual Director” in the 2025 book “Theology, Religion and Dungeons and Dragons: Explorations of the Sacred through Fantasy Worlds.” Susan will be a panelist at an upcoming conference co-sponsored by the Jesuit Media Lab and Loyola University Chicago's Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage, and it was in preparing for that conference that Eric read Susan's work and wanted to talk with her more for our podcast. You might be tempted to think that D&D is something just for fantasy nerds, but as Susan so passionately details, games like Dungeons & Dragons are really experiences in shared storytelling, in co-creating and inhabiting a common space in which our imaginations — and our ability to cultivate empathy and understanding — run wild. Whether you're a long-time fan of role-playing games or just hearing about them for the first time today, we think you're going to enjoy this conversation. And, if you do, we encourage you to check out the links in our show notes—there you'll find a link to the America Magazine article, the anthology in which Susan's chapter appears and the homepage for our upcoming in-person conference on March 14th—“A Faith that Builds Worlds: The Catholic Imagination and Speculative Storytelling.” We hope to see you there. * “Dungeons & Dragons—and Jesuits” | https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2025/05/29/dungeons- dragons-religious-life-250622/ “Theology, Religions and Dungeons & Dragons” | https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/theology-religion-and-dungeons--dragons-9781978716025/ “A Faith that Builds Worlds: The Catholic Imagination and Speculative Storytelling” | https://sites.google.com/view/a-faith-that-builds-worlds/home?authuser=0

All grief is hard. Yet suicide loss carries with it a stigma that can make it even more challenging to find the healing you're desperate for. In today's episode, I talk with Victoria Myers about her experience with suicide loss and how God met her as she journaled. She shares things like how she and her husband grieved differently, different tools she used as she grieved her loss, and why suicide loss can be extra challenging (though not impossible) to heal from. Plus, she offers three journaling prompts for anyone experiencing grief from the loss of a loved one.   CONNECT WITH VICTORIA ·       Website ·       Book: God, You're Fired (Amazon affiliate link) ·       Free Curated Resource Booklet  _____ RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episodes 9 and 10: Supporting a Friend Through Grief (And Walking Through It Yourself) with Karen Altizer ·       Episode 61: Perceiving God's Presence and Love with Spiritual Director and Author Sharon Garlough Brown ·       Episode 102: Sitting with Others in their Grief and Loss with Grief Coach Julie Lynn Ashley ______ >> Grief Journal Prompts http://lovedoesthat.org/griefjournal  >> Journal Gently Program: 8 week writing program to start healing from grief and trauma http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently  >> Book Kari as a speaker for your next event: http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

Listen to Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide President and Spiritual Director, Bro. Eddie C. Villanueva, as he shares the Ultimate Gift that broke through our dark world, bringing light and all the other immeasurable gifts to mankind. Our Christmas prayer is for everyone to be instruments of breakthrough, reflecting the generous heart of our Savior, Jesus Christ. A Blessed Christmas to all!

Craig Bullock (aka Isha Das) is the Spiritual Director of the Assisi Institute in Rochester, New York, where he integrates mystical Christianity and teachings from the Kriya Yoga tradition. He has an advanced degree in religious studies from the University of Notre Dame and another in clinical psychology from Duquesne University. He is also an authorized Kriya Yoga teacher, having been trained by Roy Eugene Davis, who was a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda. In addition to his transformational work with students at the Assisi Institute, Craig is a retired psychotherapist, a public speaker, and an author. His books include Open Wider the Door: The Integration of Kriya Yoga and Mystical Christianity, and his latest, Merchant to Mystic: The Hero's Journey of St. Francis of Assisi. We talked about his work integrating east and west and, mainly, the spiritual journey of St. Francis and lessons we can all learn from his story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If your head's starting to spin as you think about this year as a whole and turning the page to 2026, just hang on. We're going to help take off the pressure to figure out and reflect on the whole year by the end of this month. It's a process and we're going to start by answering the question, “How do I find the next right thing for next year?” Today I get to talk to my friend and America's favorite Spiritual Director, Emily P. Freeman. This is her 5th time here on That Sounds Fun which means she's officially a member of the Hall of Fun. Today's she helping us figure out: How we take the pressure off of January to have our whole year solved What steps we can take (and questions we can ask) to help us figure out how to process the season  The practice of caring without carrying  And the practice of releasing something everyday As you walk through Advent, you also will love her Advent Collection. You can find that on her Quiet Collection App! You're going to need your notes for this one, so grab your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we're on page 128. . . . . . Want to watch this episode? Watch on your Spotify App, or head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . If you enjoyed this episode, I think you'd also love: Don't Rush Your Reset with Emily Ley- Episode 1003 Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! Ritual: My friends get 25% off your first month at Ritual.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Thrive Causemetics: Go to thrivecausemetics.com/TSF for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order.  Antique Candle Co: Use code “thatsoundsfun” to get a free Gift Set on any order of $40 or more through Dec 15 at ⁠antiquecandleco.com⁠.  Shopify: Sign up for your free trial and start selling today at ⁠Shopify.com/soundsfun⁠. NIV Application Bible: If you're looking for a new Bible or know someone you'd like to gift a Bible to, I highly recommend the ⁠NIV Application Bible⁠! Wonder Project: Start your free trial, and choose the annual subscription at watch.thewonderproject.com/thatsoundsfun. Capstone Wellness: Learn more at ⁠capstonewellness.com/thatsoundsfun⁠. Helix Sleep: Go to⁠ helixsleep.com/thatsoundsfun⁠ for 20% off sitewide. NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. #thatsoundsfunpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Those who have been saved by Jesus are not only living with the gift of salvation, but are also given a divine authority—that is, to live a life of breakthrough. It is a life that breaks into victory, breaks through spiritual apathy, breaks out of comfort zones, and breaks forth into new places and spaces with bold, Spirit‑empowered witness. It is a position of greater revival for families, the church, and the nation.In this podcast, hear the 47th‑anniversary message of Jesus Is Lord Church's President and Spiritual Director, Bishop Bro. Eddie C. Villanueva, as he preaches God's powerful Word and allow the mighty move of the Holy Spirit to usher you into breakthrough.

Send us a textIn this episode, Susan and Cliff sit down with spiritual director Anne Russell Bradley for a rich conversation about the practice of spiritual direction. Together, they explore what spiritual direction is (and isn't), how it creates sacred space for listening to God, and why this ancient practice can be such a life-giving companion on our faith journey. If you've ever wondered what spiritual direction looks like or how it might support your own formation, this conversation is a beautiful place to start.Rev. Anne-Russell Bradley contact information: soulspeak.csd@gmail.comFinding a Spiritual Director:https://www.sdicompanions.org/find-a-spiritual-director-companion/https://directory.transformingcenter.orgSuggested reading:Soul Feast by Marjorie ThompsonRight Here, Right Now by Amy G. OdenEmotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter ScezzeroThanks for listening to the Embodied Holiness Podcast. We invite you to join the community on Facebook and Instagram @embodiedholiness. Embodied Holiness is a ministry of Parkway Heights United Methodist Church in Hattiesburg, MS. If you're in the Hattiesburg area and are looking for a church home, we'd love to meet you and welcome you to the family. You can find out more about Parkway Heights at our website.

Thomas Cole is the Director of the Center forSpiritual Direction at Congregation Beth Israel in Houston and EmeritusProfessor at the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics at McGovern MedicalSchool. His books and films include The Journey of Life, OldMan Country, and the award-winning documentary The Strange Demise of Jim Crow. Dr. Cole's research and films have been featured by The New York Times, NPR, PBS, and even the United Nations. In recent years, his journey has turned deeply spiritual—integrating mindfulness, prayer, and compassion into his work as a Spiritual Director. He's currently writing a spiritual memoir titled My Journey to the Angels: Toward a Spiritual Renewal.thomasrcole.comamazon.com/author/thomascoleTo connect with Pooja: www.poojachilukuri.com

In this BONUS episode (before season 8 starts), host Geoff Holsclaw starts experimenting with regular guest hosts to dive deeper into certain topics.This episode sees the return of David Clayton, a spiritual director, supervisor of spiritual directors, and a trained behavior analyst and facilitator of psychological safety. David will bring us the "voices from the Kellia"—the monastic "cells" in the heart of the desert. As a twist of sorts, we believe the insights of Christian asceticism and monasticism still speak wisdom into our modern life (even our corporate and business lives). This time we focus on the role of spiritual direction, connecting it to friendship, vulnerability, and psychological safety. This episode sets the stage for ongoing discussions with David and promises practical advice for spiritual and personal development.David Clayton is a Spiritual Director and Supervisor of Directors. He is a trained Behaviour Analyst, and is a Facilitator of Psychological Safety. Learn more at Monos-Collective.Dive deeper in our new book, Landscapes of the Soul: How the Science and Spirituality of Attachment Can Move You into Confident Faith, Courage, and Connection, and learn about our trainings and other resources at embodiedfaith.life.Stay Connected: Check out our Attaching to God 6-Week Learning Cohort. Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources. Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).

The Spiritual Exercises offer an experiential process of pondering (originally in a silent retreat of some 30 days) the Bible story, focusing on observing in prayer how the creation and fall led to Jesus' incarnation and earthly ministry, His redeeming sacrifice, resurrection and ascension. The aim is to integrate the personal, social and spiritual dimensions of life, and so arrive at a renewed Christian vision and vitality. This talk will explain the process of undertaking the exercises and discuss an evangelical Biblical approach to this discipleship tool created within the Catholic Church and how it fits with Schaeffer's legacy of ‘all of life' Christianity.Please note that the ideas expressed in this lecture do not necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship.For more resources, visit the L'Abri Ideas Library at labriideaslibrary.org. The library contains over two thousand lectures and discussions that explore questions about the reality and relevance of Christianity. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit englishlabri.substack.com

Professional therapists from our community join host Evan Gratz on the Point Loma Church Podcast to further discuss the topics covered in the Hard Feelings Sermon Series. Look for "Point Loma Church" wherever you get your podcasts. The podcast is also available in video form on our YouTube Channel Evan Gratz, Director of Community Life, welcomes Spiritual Director, Lynn Ziegenfuss, where they discuss different prayer practices to help calm and give perspectives to our hard feelings. Additional resources related to this week's topic: Prayer of Examen The Welcoming Prayer  Daily Prayer App  Referral list for Spiritual Directors at The Grafted Life  

In this episode, Fred interviews Hunt Priest - Former Episcopal Priest, Psychedelics Researcher, Advocate & Spiritual Director at: https://www.ligare.org/ Hunt is former rector of Saint Peters Episcopal Church, Savannah, GA. Hunt is founder & executive director of Ligare, focusing on the healing power of psychedelics in a legal Christian framework. Hunt was a participant in the Johns Hopkins/NYU “Psilocybin for Religious Leaders Study” in 2016. Meet Hunt: ...In early 2016, I was a fortunate participant in a psilocybin study involving religious professionals. My encounters with psilocybin opened me to the healing and consciousness-raising power of sacred plants and fungi and their connection to my own Christian practice. The epiphanies forever changed the trajectory of my work. Through Ligare, I want the healing potential of these sacred plants to be in the toolkits of all who are healers of bodies, minds, and souls. A significant part of my work, and Ligare's, entails actively collaborating to bridge the knowledge gap between psychedelic research and religious and spiritual communities. Theses substances are powerful, so safety is of utmost concern.

Do you ever feel as if you're too busy to meditate, or that you're simply not very good at it? This is something that so many people experience, yet today's guest believes that this is ONLY because of a fundamental misunderstanding about what meditation really is.   Henry Shukman is an authorised Zen Master and Spiritual Director of the Mountain Cloud Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Over the years, Henry has taught meditation at organisations including Google, Harvard Business School and the Esalen Institute, AND he is also the co-founder of ‘The Way' meditation app, which offers a unique pathway of training designed to help people deepen their practice. Henry is ALSO an award-winning poet and the author of several books, including his latest ‘Original Love: The Four Inns on the Path of Awakening', which explores meditation as a path to compassion, healing and presence. In our conversation, we explore how meditation can reconnect us with kindness, compassion and a deeper sense of being alive, including: Why meditation isn't about achieving something new, but about rediscovering love – whether that's compassion for ourselves, care for others or a deeper sense of connection with life itself How even just five minutes each day can begin to calm the nervous system, ease stress and help us feel more present Why kindness and compassion sit at the heart of health and happiness, and how practices like meditation help us embody them more fullyHenry's personal story of living with severe eczema, and how meditation helped him transform both his physical health and his relationship with himself The “four inns” of meditation – mindfulness, support, absorption and awakening – and how they offer a clear and practical roadmap for practice Practical, accessible ways to bring meditation into life, from stacking it with other habits to finding moments of stillness amid a busy day This episode is a great reminder that meditation isn't about adding another chore to your list or trying to empty your mind of all thoughts. Many people find it difficult at first and assume they're not cut out for it, but as Henry explains, there's no such thing as a bad meditation – the only one that doesn't count is the one you don't do. It's about pausing, being still and coming back to the peace and presence that are part of being human. In a world that constantly pushes us to do more, Henry's message is a reassuring one: that peace, kindness and love are not rewards to be earned, but parts of who we already are. Reading Henry's most recent book had a profound impact on me, and I hope that this conversation brings you some of the same insight and inspiration. I hope you enjoy listening. Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.   Thanks to our sponsors: https://drinkag1.com/livemore https://airbnb.co.uk/host https://www.boncharge.com/livemore https://www.vivobarefoot.com/livemore   Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/590   DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this web page is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

In this episode of The Afterlight Podcast with Lauren Grace, Lauren is joined by Spiritual Director, Jungian coach, and author Brandy Anderson to explore what lies beyond the veil. Brandy shares her extraordinary experiences of receiving messages from her late grandmother through everyday devices — a Roku TV and even a small printer — moments that opened a door to healing, forgiveness, and a deeper understanding of the soul's continuity. Together, Lauren and Brandy dive into the process of crossing over, exploring reincarnation, the light of awareness, the purpose of life, and why it's essential to look within now. They talk about how shadow work prepares us for peace and why connection with our passed-over loved ones, including pets, never really ends — it simply changes form. This is a conversation about life after death, love that transcends form, and the power of awareness to bridge the worlds of spirit and self. ----more---- Welcome to The Afterlight Podcast with Lauren Grace, a spiritual podcast full of stories and conversations that prove we're never alone. Lauren Grace, host of The Afterlight Podcast, is a high-impact coach and medium dedicated to helping professionals deepen their connection to their soul so they can experience more freedom, fulfillment, and purpose. The Afterlight Podcast with Lauren Grace aims to inspire and educate. Remember, you are the authority on your own life. While we encourage you to take what resonates, we also urge you to do your own research and consult with qualified professionals for advice on your personal situation. The opinions shared by guests are their own, and any advice by our guests or Lauren Grace is not a substitute for professional guidance. The Afterlight Podcast: The Afterlight Podcast on Social: @theafterlightpodcast To be a guest, apply here: theafterlightpodcast.com Sign up for our newsletter: laurengraceinspirations.com/contact Connect with Lauren Grace, Lauren Grace Inspirations: Lauren on Social: @LaurenGraceInspirations Website: laurengraceinspirations.com Disclaimer: Lauren Grace, Lauren Grace Inspirations, and The Afterlight Podcast are not licensed counselors, medical professionals, or financial advisors. Any information or advice provided during the Podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical, legal, financial, or psychiatric advice. Always seek the advice of qualified professionals regarding any specific questions or concerns you may have. Meet Brandy Brandy Anderson is a Spiritual Director, Jungian Coach, and Silver Nau tilus award–winning author of Through the Veil: A Glimpse Into the Afterlife.  As the founder of Anderson Alchemy, Brandy guides others through the transformative process of shadow work, spiritual awakening, and inner alchemy—helping seekers integrate the mystical and the psychological into everyday life. Contact Brandy: https://andersonalchemy.com Get the book: https://andersonalchemy.com/through-the-veil

There comes a moment in many of our lives when the faith we once held with certainty begins to shift. The language that once felt alive starts to feel distant. And the ways we used to connect with God stop working the same way. In this conversation with spiritual director with Grace Cabalka, we explore what it can look like to walk through a spiritual wilderness — and to not just to survive it, but to be transformed by it. Grace shares her own story of a crisis of faith, the role of community in this season of shattering, and the personal practices and postures that became good companions along the way. Together, we talk about the slow, tender work of listening, leaning into vulnerability, and learning to make space for the mystery of God in new ways. Listen in. Thought-provoking quotes: "For a long time, Taylor, I couldn't read the Bible. I couldn't pray because I didn't have words. So I literally would just go get in my chair, my brown leather chair that I still have it and sit in there in the morning. And I couldn't have my quiet time. I just didn't have the tools. They were all broken. And so I just would sit there and say, Lord, I'm here." - Grace Cabalka "My foundation wasn't as solid as I thought it was. And I didn't get wiped away, but I did crumble. And then that had to be rebuilt really on the foundation of love and acceptance, and that God is for me all the time and nothing can ever separate us from his love ever, ever, ever. And that's what drives us and motivates us. That's what Paul said. His love is what compels me. Not the guilt, not the shame, not the rules, but his love." - Grace Cabalka "I think that there can be easier ways to get through the wilderness if you can find a hand to hold, find someone to walk with you along with the Holy Spirit. But those first few moments and days and weeks are very dark and it's very scary and it's very lonely. And I would just encourage you to just show up to those emotions, show up to yourself, and don't shame yourself for it. You've done nothing wrong." - Grace Cabalka Get Faith & Feeling's weekly resource email Watch this episode on YouTube Grab a copy of my book Stop Saying I'm Fine Connect with me on my website Find me on Instagram @__taylorjoy__

What would happen if you spent three hours a day for 10 months in deep spiritual contemplation while living your regular life?Robin Kencel, Miss Connecticut Senior America 2025 and top real estate professional, joins Art to share her transformative 10-month journey through Ignatian spiritual exercises. Spending three hours daily in contemplation and prayer, Robin discovered how intensive spiritual practice can soften hearts and transform relationships. Her path led from considering religious life as a nun to becoming a spiritual director, helping others navigate their own sacred journeys. "I would probably say buckle up," she advises those embarking on spiritual surrender. Robin's story illuminates how seeing God in all things - from nature's beauty to life's hardest moments - can shift us from fear-based living to trust in divine will. A powerful conversation about finding grace in life's messiest transitions.Robin Kencel is Miss Connecticut Senior America 2025, a founding real estate broker for Compass in Greenwich, Connecticut, and ranked in the top 1.5% of all agents nationally. A six-time U.S. Pro-Am ballroom dance champion, Robin combines her leadership skills, creativity, and deep spirituality in everything she undertakes. As a certified spiritual director trained in Ignatian practices, she helps others navigate their spiritual journeys through one-on-one direction and group experiences. Robin draws on her transformative 10-month spiritual exercises to offer strategic expertise, refined service, and intuitive guidance in both her professional and spiritual work.About The Show: The Life in Transition, hosted by Art Blanchford focuses on making the most of the changes we're given every week. Art has been through hundreds of transitions in his life. Many have been difficult, but all have led to a depth and richness he could never have imagined. On the podcast Art explores how to create more love and joy in life, no matter what transitions we go through. Art is married to his lifelong partner, a proud father of three and a long-time adventurer and global business executive. He is the founder and leader of the Midlife Transition Mastery Community. Learn more about the MLTM Community here: www.lifeintransition.online.In This Episode: (00:00) Opening: Robin's Spiritual Awakening Journey(11:24) MidLife Transition Mastery Ad(12:26) Daily Spiritual Practices and The Examen(18:51) Becoming a Spiritual Director(26:17) Discerning God's Will in Life Decisions(32:39) Seeing God in Human Interactions(34:50) Transition Mastery Coaching Ad(37:12) Philosophy of Life and Legacy(41:10) Tools for Navigating Transitions(45:12) Closing: Living with CompassionLike, subscribe, and send us your comments and feedback.Resources:Website: https://robinkencel.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robinkencel/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-kencel/X: https://x.com/KencelRobin, @KencelRobinFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/robinkencelgreenwich/Email Art BlanchfordLife in Transition WebsiteLife in Transition on IGLife in Transition on FBJoin Our Community: https://www.lifeintransition.online/My new book PURPOSEFUL LIVING is out now. Order it now: https://www.amazon.com/PURPOSEFUL-LIVING-Wisdom-Coming-Complex/dp/1963913922Explore our website https://lifeintransitionpodcast.com/ for more in-depth information and resources, and to download the 8-step guide to mastering mid-life transitions.The views and opinions expressed on the Life In Transition podcast are solely those of the author and guests and should not be attributed to any other individual or entity. This podcast is an independent production of Life In Transition Podcast, and the podcast production is an original work of the author. All rights of ownership and reproduction are retained—copyright 2025.

Today on Karl and Crew, we discussed the importance of separating ourselves from bad influences. As followers of Christ, it’s crucial to surround ourselves with a community of fellow Christ-followers, as being surrounded by a worldly community can significantly influence our walk with Christ. We see this affirmed in 1 Kings 12, where we see how a young king, Rehboam, took the advice of bad influencers, and it led to destruction. We then turned to the phone lines to hear stories about good and bad influences from our listeners. Then we had Dr. Geoff and Cyd Holsclaws join us to talk about the intersection of faith, neuroscience, and spiritual formation. The Holsclaws are hosts of the podcast Attaching to God and wrote the book, “Landscapes of the Soul: How the Science and Spirituality of Attachment Can Move You into Confident Faith, Courage, and Connection.” Dr. Geoff has also authored several other books and is a visiting professor of theology at Western Theological Seminary. At the same time, Dr. Cyd is a Spiritual Director and a trauma-informed, Jesus-centered, professional certified coach with the International Coaching Federation. She is also a Certified NLP Master Practitioner and Master Coach. We also had Asheritah Ciuciu join us to talk about being sensitive to the presence of God in our lives and embracing it. Asheritah is a national speaker, bestselling author, and founder of One Thing Alone Ministries, an online ministry that helps overwhelmed women find joy in Jesus. She also has a YouTube Channel where she posts guided prayers, bible tips, and other resourceful videos. She has also authored several books, including “Delighting in Jesus-Rhythms to Restore Joy When You Feel Burdened, Broken, or Burned-Out.” You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Caller segment ( Stories Bad influences) [08:03- 20:07] Dr. Geoff and Cyd Holsclaw Interview (Faith, Neuroscience and Spiritual Formation) [20:11- 35:31] Asheritah Ciuciu Interview (Delighting in God) [38:15-52:33] Good and Bad Influences Devotion [55:43- 1:00:12] Caller segment ( Stories about Good Advice) [1:00:15- 1:05:12] Karl and Crew airs live weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. Central Time. Click this link for ways to listen in your area! https://www.moodyradio.org/ways-to-listen/ Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's our first episode back after our summer hiatus and I'm so glad to welcome my friend, partner, and husband, John P. Freeman. (Yes, his middle initial really is P!) Aside from being my biggest cheerleader, John is also a pastor who served for 12 years in two different churches as a youth pastor until 12 years ago when he walked out of the room of official church ministry and walked into the room of our actual home where he worked for several years as a stay-at-home dad. For the last decade, he's been  running his own nonprofit called Grace Discipleship, where he offers soul care and spiritual direction for couples, pastors, and Gen Z high school and college students. On this first episode of this next season of the podcast, we'll cover some questions you submitted about spiritual direction, family life, and life with God. Plus John will share which episodes of this podcast are his personal favorite. Listen in.   LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Episode 294: Standing at the Threshold with Lowland Hum Episode 319 Finding Vocational Clarity with Parker J. Palmer Episode 23: Release Your Agenda The Listening Life by Adam McHugh Learn more about John's work Find a Spiritual Director through Anam Cara FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" This episode is transcribed on YouTube and Apple Podcasts.

This summer, while I continue to heal from surgery and dream up Season 6, I am re-airing our most popular series: Creative Archetypes! If you are unfamiliar with the Enneagram, you can listen to the intro episode from the original 2023 series here. And if you are familiar and know your number, might I suggest you listen to each episode (even those that aren't about your number) to develop empathy and understanding of those who see the world differently. The Enneagram is a powerful tool for personal and relationship transformation, for artists and everyone! If you have episode ideas, dream guest suggestions, or other feedback for me, drop me an email hello@artistsforjoy.org Original Show Notes: In this episode of our Creative Archetypes Series, Merideth chats with Enneagram 5s about their internal experience as artists. Guests Marsha Crockett (spiritual director and author), Kate Riney (creative marketing strategist, content creator, storyteller, and coach), and Morgan Strehlow (literary agent and freelance author) chat about the castles 5s create in their minds, how to overcome analysis paralysis, and the 5s secret weapon in the creative process: enthusiasm. Plus, our favorite Enneagram coach, Lee Fields of Enneagrammatic, pops on to share some insights, including how to be a good friend to a 5. Invitation: Follow your enthusiasm wherever it goes. Ask: "What am I curious about? What is that thing, maybe random or seemingly silly, that I really care about?" Do some research about it and explore it, let your enthusiasm lead the way. After you do some research, call your favorite friend and share with them what you are learning. Marsha Crockett, Spiritual Director and Author Kate Riney, Content Creator, Storyteller, and Coach Morgan Strehlow, Literary Agent and Freelance Author (including Morgan's manuscript wishlist) David Gate Enneagram Poems Enneagram Workshop with Artists for Joy Buy Merideth a coffee