Épisodes

  • Wes Granberg-Michaelson Reshapes Our Definitions of Pilgrimage

    Wes Granberg-Michaelson Reshapes Our Definitions of Pilgrimage
    Jun 25 2025
    Our journey with season 2 continues to meander in beautiful and unexpected ways as we have the extreme privilege of speaking with author, pastor, theologian, and someone well seasoned in the art of pilgrimage: Wes Granberg-Michaelson! Wes blows our minds and invites us into new and deeper understandings of pilgrimage. We delve into pilgrimage as response to empire, important movements that are inviting us back to our truest selves, and what can undergird us in the uncertain times we find ourselves in. This expansive conversation was a gift to us as are all of you, dear listeners! Thanks for making season 2 a wild and lovely pilgrimage.
    Cool stuff we mention in this week’s episode (or meant to anyways):
    • The Wandering Mind: What Medieval Monks did about Mental Distraction by: Jamie Kreiner
    • Wesley Granberg-Michaelson Sojourners
    • Without Oars: Casting Off into a Life of Pilgrimage
    • The Soulwork of Justice: Four Movements of Contemplative Action
    • A Strategy for Christian Witness against Trump’s Autocracy
    • Summer Stars by: Carl Sandberg

    Chapters
    00:00 Introduction to Radical Sacred and Summer Solstice
    01:47 Meeting Wes Granberg-Michelson
    02:24 Wes's Journey as a Pilgrim
    07:43 Understanding Pilgrimage and Its Dual Nature
    09:51 Integrating Internal and External Journeys
    16:23 Intentionality in Pilgrimage
    25:36 Four Movements of Pilgrimage
    31:44 Navigating the Crisis in Seminaries
    36:11 Creating a Holding Space for Spiritual Growth
    39:50 Walking Away from Empire: The Power of Pilgrimage
    50:33 The Role of Nature in Spiritual Connection
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    1 h
  • Walking Together, Apart

    Walking Together, Apart
    Jun 18 2025
    Today we leave our pent up indoor spaces and venture out for a walk together, apart. Can walking bring us closer when there’s literal distance between us? Can walking help us bridge the gap between our heart and our actions? Between where we are and where we’re meant to be? We talk about this season, the places and spaces we’ve been, our fabulous guests who’ve invited us into our own pilgrimages, and how we’re doing with all that’s shifting and changing.

    Join us Saturday June 21st at 8 am for a Conscious Nature Stroll!
    Choose your favorite walking spot or find one brand new! Season 2 is drawing to a close and a lot of pilgrimaging has occurred for us since September. We’d love to walk together, apart as we reflect on all that’s been and that’s yet to come.

    We invite you to bring your favorite pal (dog or human, your choice), your favorite poem of the moment to begin your time, turn your phone to silent, and reflect on one or two of the questions below as you walk:
    1. What is drawing my eye to beauty this morning and where in my life am I being invited to bring forth, protect, or create beauty?
    2. What is drawing my eye to suffering this morning and where in my life am I being invited to relieve suffering? Suffering in my community, in myself, in the space I’m walking?
    3. What journey in your life is ending or needs to end? Reflect on it.
    4. What pilgrimage is on your horizon? What is something new calling to you?

    Walk for however long and you’d like and share your reflections with us on Substack or Instagram. Thank you for walking with us this season!


    Chapters
    00:00 The Power of Walking and Connection
    05:43 Embracing Change and New Beginnings
    12:01 The Journey of Pilgrimage and Intention
    17:45 Attention and Awareness in Nature
    23:40 Navigating Endings and New Opportunities
    30:57 Embracing Change and New Beginnings
    37:02 Creating Without Fear: The Joy of Expression
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    45 min
  • Carolyn Whitney-Brown's Journey with Henri Nouwen

    Carolyn Whitney-Brown's Journey with Henri Nouwen
    Jun 11 2025
    Carolyn Whitney-Brown joins us in this playful and imaginative conversation around her and Henri Nouwen’s book Flying, Falling, Catching: An Unlikely Story of Finding Freedom. Written more than 2 decades after his death and centered around Henri’s late in life experiences with the trapeze group the Flying Rodelighs, this book is a joyous invitation to expand our horizons and to follow our curiosity. What new, high flying adventures might be calling to you? Where are the communities in our lives that encourage us to live fully? Carolyn, Henri, and the Flying Rodleighs invite us all to be joyful risk takers, rooted deeply in self and community.

    Show Notes:
    • L'Arche Daybreak
    • Flying, Falling, Catching: An Unlikely Story of Finding Freedom
    • Carolyn’s Website
    Chapters
    00:00 The Poetic Prelude: Icarus and Love
    01:24 Introducing Carolyn Whitney: A Journey with Henry Nowen
    02:29 Creative Exploration: Writing and Illustrating Together
    04:38 Joyful Risk-Taking: Embracing Change in Uncertain Times
    09:11 The Trapeze: A Metaphor for Community and Connection
    15:15 Balancing Joy and Angst: The Duality of Henry Nowen
    18:47 Surprises in the Process: Reflecting on Henry's Legacy
    21:18 Henry as a Guide: Lessons from a Life of Pilgrimage
    27:04 The Role of Discipline: Structure in Creativity
    31:31 Overcoming Inner Criticism: The Voices in Our Heads
    34:46 Community and Creativity: Finding Support in Unlikely Places
    40:03 The Artist's Role: Bringing Hope Through Creativity
    44:51 Embracing Our Ancestors: The Interplay of Joy and Woe
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    46 min
  • Honest Endings, Gilead, and Easter Wrestling with Rev. Rebecca Anderson and Rev. Vince Amlin

    Honest Endings, Gilead, and Easter Wrestling with Rev. Rebecca Anderson and Rev. Vince Amlin
    Jun 4 2025
    This week we are joined by Rev. Rebecca Anderson and Rev. Vince Amlin of Bethany United Church of Christ in Chicago. We chat about partnership, creating healing spaces, and learning to move with the seasons of life and the ebbs and flows of our invitations from Spirit. Vince and Rebecca share about their journey with and honest ending of their beloved, queer, storytelling, bar-meeting church, Gilead. Every pilgrimage has a beginning and an end. What might we learn from ending things intentionally and with the Cosmic Christ in mind? And how might the things that truly matter to us transcend literal endings?

    Cool stuff we mention in this week’s episode (or meant to anyways):
    • Bethany United Church of Christ (Find Vince and Rebecca here)
    • Earshot Stories
    • Vince Pilgrimages
    • What Sucks About the Afterlife by Andrea Gibson

    Chapters
    00:00 Reflections on the Afterlife and Personal Growth
    02:06 Introduction to Gilead Church and Its Mission
    03:47 Founding Stories: The Birth of Gilead Church
    07:15 The Significance of the Name 'Gilead'
    08:54 Queerness and Storytelling: Core Values of Gilead
    15:53 Understanding Pilgrimage in the Context of Gilead
    16:35 The Essence of Pilgrimage
    20:52 Intentionality in Community
    27:10 Embracing Endings with Grace
    33:20 Transformative Experiences and Future Directions
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    45 min
  • The Intersection of Science and Spirituality Through the Life of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

    The Intersection of Science and Spirituality Through the Life of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
    May 28 2025
    We are thrilled to chat with Frank and Mary Frost who are partners in life and film making! Today we talk about their fabulous, Emmy nominated, documentary about French scientist and Jesuit Priest, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. Teilhard was a feminist, a visionary thinker, a paleontologist, and a man way before his time. When met with new information that challenged his religious ideals, he didn’t shrink, but he expanded to meet the moment. What might we learn from his ecstatic, open hearted way of moving through the world? Might Teilhard have something to teach us about the intersection of science and spirituality? Join this week's conversation to find out!

    Cool stuff we mention in this week’s episode (or meant to anyways):
    • Documentary - Teilhard: Visionary Scientist
    • Teilhard Project
    • American Teilhard Association
    • Divine Milieu
    Chapters
    00:00 The Vision of Teilhard de Chardin
    05:32 The Journey of Filmmaking and Discovery
    09:37 The Relevance of Teilhard Today
    14:35 Loyalty and Steadfastness in Faith
    20:27 The Complexity of Love and Relationships
    24:07 Expanding Spirit and Curiosity
    25:55 The Omega Point and Spirit-Matter Unity
    28:17 The Omega Point and Evolution
    31:41 Feminism and the Eternal Feminine
    35:49 Paleolithic Emotions and Modern Challenges
    39:49 Ecstasy and the Mystical Experience
    45:04 Pilgrimage and the Search for the Divine
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    53 min
  • Chelan Harkin and the Ecstatic Path

    Chelan Harkin and the Ecstatic Path
    May 21 2025
    Chelan Harkin joins us today on this meandering and moving conversation about the path of ecstatic movement. When we dial in to our truest selves, what mystical downloads from the universe might we receive? When we follow desire, where might our destination be? And how can a seemingly small act, like learning to trust the gentle nudges of the universe, lead us back to us? Spending time with Chelan is like diving into the deep waters she’s named after, it’s inviting and cool and totally refreshing. We hope you’ll dive in with us, into all the spaces and places that make you, you.

    Cool stuff we mention in this week’s episode (or meant to anyways):
    • Chelan Harkin Poetry
    • Find Chelan’s Events on her FB page
    • Chelan’s books
    • Hypno-therapy
    • Somatic Therapy
    • To live in this World by Mary Oliver
    Chapters
    00:00 The Ecstatic Spark of Creativity
    02:39 The Journey of a Poet: From Hesitation to Expression
    05:34 The Prayer Experiment: Connecting with the Muse
    08:27 The Cosmic Connection: Co-authoring with Daniel Ladinsky
    10:26 Listening to the Nudges: Intuition and Inner Guidance
    11:35 The Pilgrimage of Refining: Embracing Pain for Growth
    17:09 Nature as a Healing Force: Reconnecting with the Earth
    21:57 Somatic Practices: Grounding in the Body
    27:09 Finding Home in Nature: Personal Connections to the Land
    28:33 Connecting with Nature and Desire
    32:51 The Power of Surrender and Flow
    36:14 The Evolution of God and Language
    41:42 Myths and Collective Consciousness
    46:01 Guides and Mentorship on the Journey

    Announcement
    Radical Sacred will be at this year's Wild Goose Festival leading a nature walk we are calling, "Walking the Illuminated Path: A Conscious Stroll in Nature." Using the practice of terra divina (reading nature as a sacred text) we will go for a conscious nature walk employing our 5 senses. When we slow down and center nature what might we hear from the Divine? From the depths of our own heart? From the earth? Invitations from our still wild selves are waiting for us in nature. How will we respond?

    If you'd like to join us August 28-31 in Harmony, NC Radical Sacred listeners get a discount on their registration. When checking out use code A-RS for $50 off the total price.
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    53 min
  • Dr. Tamice Spencer-Helms is a Social Alchemist and Lover of Trees

    Dr. Tamice Spencer-Helms is a Social Alchemist and Lover of Trees
    May 14 2025
    Today we go on a journey back to our truest selves with Dr. Tamice Spencer-Helms. They talk to us about finding uncoerced worship amongst the redwood trees, the beauty in connecting with other folks who invite us into our own aliveness, and all the ways we are being asked to remember that we ARE nature. What if we started actually emulating Jesus? What beauty and healing could come from us wandering around in wild spaces with our weird friends? Tamice shares about finding a deep well of courage from their ancestors and from within in one of our favorite interviews of Season 2.
    Cool stuff we mention this episode (or meant to anyways):
    • Tamice Namae Speaks
    • Website
    • R.E.S.T. Mixtape
    • Faith Unleavened The Wilderness Between Trayvon Martin & George Floyd
    • Texas Methodist Foundation
    • Christian Community Development Association
    • Ryan Coogler
    • Snake Plant by: KB Brookins
    • Phygital Preaching Fellows

    Chapters
    00:00 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Growth
    03:02 Embracing Ancestry and Nature
    05:53 Navigating Identity and Belonging
    09:04 The Power of Non-Coercive Worship
    12:03 Reconnecting with Intuition
    14:57 Expanding Spiritual Frameworks
    17:54 The Great Awakening and Community
    20:57 Wandering Together in Faith
    30:07 The Power of Community and Flock Religion
    31:04 The Hush Harbor: A Historical Perspective
    34:47 Resurrection Technology: The Impulse for Freedom
    42:34 Courage in the Face of Adversity
    48:59 Rethinking Freedom and Resistance
    54:52 Wrestling with Scripture and Spirituality
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    53 min
  • Bill Holston Believes in Safe Housing for All

    Bill Holston Believes in Safe Housing for All
    May 7 2025
    Bill Holston, CEO of Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center, joins us today on the pod! We hear from Bill about eviction advocacy, the importance of all people having access to representation and safe housing, as well as how he finds connection and rest in nature during these trying times. What can we learn when we reflect on the slow movement of the trout lily? Bill reminds us that oftentimes advocacy work begins with noticing what’s happening in our towns and to our neighbors. What have you noticed lately that breaks your heart or invites you into advocacy?
    By all means, pay attention, and get started on the good work of doing your good work, friends.

    Cool stuff we mention this episode (or meant to anyways):
    • Human Rights Initiative of North Texas
    • Faith Commons
    • Eviction Advocacy Center - Donate to help support Bill’s work on evictions
    • Spring Creek Forest Preserve
    • Greenland Hills Methodist Church
    • Book - The Myth of Certainty by Daniel Taylor
    • Mission Tejas State Park
    • Deep Vellum Publishing
    • Vaclav Havel Quote - The Politics of Hope chapter from Disturbing the Peace
    • Bill Holston on Instagram for nature pictures
    • May by Mary Oliver

    Chapters
    00:00 The Beauty of Nature and Spirituality
    03:04 Pilgrimage: A Journey of Purpose
    06:02 Nature's Influence on Personal Growth
    09:01 Justice and Advocacy: A Life's Calling
    11:49 Faith and Activism: A Complex Relationship
    14:51 Dallas: A City of History and Justice
    18:10 Nature's Tenacity and Fragility
    21:05 The Importance of Companionship in the Journey
    33:45 Finding a Church That Aligns with Values
    34:10 The Role of Churches in Social Justice
    36:34 The Gap Between Desire and Action
    39:18 Practical Solutions for Asylum Seekers
    42:08 Finding Beauty in Nature
    46:30 The Power of Small Actions
    49:42 Navigating Hope and Despair
    52:43 Understanding Hope vs. Optimism
    55:35 Connecting with Community and Nature
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    1 h