Feeling Beings Who Think

Seeking a Life-Giving Life

“If you want to connect with true strength, then you have to find your own weakness." Yes! That is from today's guest, David Achata, an author, coach, trainer, facilitator, speaker, and former pastor. David brings over twenty years of leadership experience to organizations, team development, and training. He is the author of "Embrace What You Don’t Know: A Stupid Guide to Smart Business Leadership" and "Executive Retreats for Busy Business Leaders:How to Achieve More by Working Less"  He lives in the mountains of East Tennessee with his wife and two children. Thanks for listening!
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Connect with David - 
Coaching & leadership development: achatacoaching.com
Books, blogs and more: davidachata.com

Honoring Our Transitions

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." Do you remember that song lyric? It's from the hit tune "Closing Time" by Semisonic, and it summarizes a truth: We don't like focusing on what is ending. We tend to prioritize the new thing and ignore the power endings have. We work hard to stay busy and avoid the wilderness period, which is often between the two.
Today, I'm talking with Lisa Tilstra, Leadership Coach and fellow podcaster, about the Bridges Transition Model for navigating change and honoring transitions in our professional organizations and personal lives. I hope our conversation inspires insight and support for you in whatever transitions you may be moving through.  Thanks for listening. 
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Lisa Tilstra - Bio
Originally from the United States, Lisa has lived and worked in the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, France, and currently, Sri Lanka. Her work extends around the globe. She’s served individual coaching clients from 20+ countries, conducted training in over 30 countries, and had participants in her courses from over 80 countries. Her passion for connecting people and ideas leads her to pursue a deep understanding of culture and how it impacts our connection as humans.  At the heart of her work, she seeks to explore and respect cultural differences, deepen awareness of our similarities, and create ways to communicate with strategic precision for greater connection and understanding.
Lisa learned the power of storytelling firsthand by sharing pieces of her journey of loss and grief.  After losing her first husband to a brain tumor in 2005, storytelling became a pivotal part of her healing and growth.  Many years later, she realized that storytelling was missing from her life and that it could once again be a catalyst for transformation as she sought to overcome depression, stagnation, and feeling completely stuck.  Ever since, she has been focused on intentionally creating ways to incorporate storytelling in her life, both personally and professionally.  And she is passionate about creating spaces that invite others to do the same.
Lisa holds a master's degree from the University of Florida, a certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University, and the designation of Professional Certified Coach (PCC) from the International Coach Federation. She is certified in multiple Leadership assessment tools.  Lisa hosts regular Story Slams in her community and is the host of two podcasts.  The Make Life Less Difficult podcast is her passion project focused on sharing people’s stories to connect and know we aren’t alone in our journeys.  She's an avid nature enthusiast, loves to be in the mountains, is a paragliding pilot, and actively seeks opportunities to test her limits physically and emotionally.  Lisa is married to a US Diplomat (her favorite adventure partner), is an active real estate investor, and owns a boutique real estate investing consulting company.
Click here for Lisa's website.  Click here for Lisa on LinkedIn.
 

Healing What Hurts

My guest is Dr. Jamie Marich, author, speaker, and internationally recognized expert on topics related to EMDR therapy, trauma, addiction, and recovery. She has written numerous books, notably "Trauma and the 12 Steps: An Inclusive Guide to Recovery." 
It takes courage to acknowledge and move through our hurts, and I've learned that compassionate self-examination is vital to our journey toward wholeness and healing, both in our personal and professional lives. Dr. Marich shares some of her courageous life-changing story, and our discussion goes from there. Thanks for listening!
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To find out how you can connect with Dr. Jamie Marich, visit these links:
www.instituteforcreativemindfulness.com
www.traumamadesimple,com
www.jamiemarich.com 
https://redefinetherapy.com/
 
To watch the lecture and Q&A mentioned in the show, click the Events page of St. Thomas Episcopal Church .

Listening to the Gifts of Silence

"Silence is the necessary space around things that allows them to develop and flourish without my pushing." - Richard Rohr. In this solo episode, I share a story that taught me how powerful retreating into silence is for learning how to listen.  Listen in ways that can be attentive, discerning, loving, and open, allowing things to unfold. I hope this encourages you to consider taking time to retreat and listen in your world. Thanks for listening! (quote from Center for Action & Contemplation meditations)
Learn more about me at ariannerice.com
Mentioned in the show - 
Holy Cross Abbey
Abbey of Gethsemani
Mepkin Abbey
Carmelite Monastery of Baltimore

The Questions Separations Bring

Powerful questions provoke introspection and sometimes a reassessment of who we are and who we are becoming. My guest today is the Rev. Derek Miller. And I asked him to be in conversation with me to share and discuss the introspective periods he journeyed through when his denominational identity was shifting and his marriage was ending. Difficult as they are, endings do lead to new beginnings.  Thanks for listening!
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Bio - 
Derek currently serves as the rector at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Old Ellicott City. Though now an Episcopal priest, he’s had a broad, multidenominational background. He was raised in the Baptist church, having both a father and grandfather as Baptist pastors, served in nondenominational churches as a worship leader and local pastor, and has learned and worked cross-denominationally in the Baltimore area for over 15 years, including attending an ecumenical seminary. He has experience in urban ministry work, church revitalization, faith community organizing, advocacy, and nonprofit leadership. He currently lives in Ellicott City with his spouse Kara and their young son, Easton. He enjoys buying books (while also occasionally reading them), playing music, and sharing hand-crafted beverages accompanied by meaningful conversation. Find him on Instagram at @derekhmiller

Expectations and Resentments

“Sometimes our most delusional fantasies are not about what we expect in the future but what we think happened in the past.” Today my guest is the Rev. Mark Collins, and we are talking about expectations, resentments, and the supportive framework of 12-step spirituality in daily living.  And, if you haven't yet, consider listening to my previous conversation with Mark on Shame and Healing.
Thanks for listening!
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Bio
The Rev. Mark Robin Collins is an Episcopal priest and rector of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Glen Rock, New Jersey. He serves on the Commission on Ministry for the Diocese of Newark and is co-chair of the diocese’s Strategic Visioning process. Previously, he served at Christ & St. Stephen’s and Church of the Holy Trinity in Manhattan after graduating from General Theological Seminary in New York with prizes for preaching and church history. His seminary experience included study at Canterbury Cathedral in England as a Canterbury Scholar. Mark’s other ministries include being a parish Stewardship consultant and leading retreats for LGBTQ+ people recovering from addiction.
Prior to seminary, Mark worked as a fundraiser for the International Rescue Committee, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and City Harvest. Mark has been an abortion rights advocate and clinic defender, AIDS activist and fundraiser, and an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. He and his husband Denton will celebrate the 27th year of their relationship later this year. Yes, that is a slight Southern accent -- Mark is originally from Memphis, Tennessee.
 

The Habits We Choose

Our habits shape who we are becoming. Some habits we choose and some habits choose us. Today I’m speaking with the Rev. James Farwell an Episcopal priest, professor, and author and we're discussing his latest book "Ritual Excellence: Best Practices for Leading and Planning Liturgy" I hope whether or not you are someone who leads liturgy you still take a listen! Because the rituals that we choose to inhabit are can expand, shape and change our ways of being. 
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Bio
The Rev. James W. Farwell is the Professor of Theology and Liturgy at Virginia Theological Seminary and holds the H. Boone Chair of Liturgics at The General Theological Seminary. His fields of expertise include liturgical and sacramental theology and practice; liturgy, suffering, and trauma; and Christian comparative theology with special attention to the tradition of Soto Zen Buddhism.
Dr. Farwell holds the Ph.D. in Theological Studies from Emory University. He is amember of the American Academy of Liturgy; the Society for Comparative Theology; and he convenes the Anglican Consortium of the North American Academy of Liturgy. His most recent publications include the Seabury Press book, "Ritual Excellence: Best Practices for Leading and Planning Liturgy."

We Heal Through Community

"I don’t know how we get whole without community and connection," says my partner in this conversation, the Rev. Jered Weber-Johnson - and I would wholeheartedly agree! I hope you enjoy this episode, and I'm grateful you are here. Thank you for listening. Please take a moment to like, follow, and/or share this episode!
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Bio
The Rev. Jered Weber Johnson was called to St. John’s, St. Paul, MN to be the Rector in the spring of 2011 – and as he describes it, coming to St. John’s was like “coming home.”  As the priest in charge of the parish, Jered oversees the operations of the church, the staff, the finances, and fundraising, as well as the spiritual life and care of the congregation.  Jered also preaches regularly, teaches, celebrates the Eucharist and presides at other worship along with our associate rector, does regular pastoral care, and chairs vestry, the lay governing board of the parish.
Before moving to Minnesota, Jered served at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, which is located close to the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.  Previously, Jered also served at St. Paul’s Chapel at Ground Zero and Trinity Wall Street in New York City.  While in New York he received his Master of Divinity from The General Theological Seminary.  Jered and his wife Erin were sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia in western Washington, to serve as missionaries with the Episcopal Church’s Young Adult Service Corp in northern Taiwan.
To learn more about Jered and the church he serves, click here.

Learning To Listen

There is wisdom in ourselves, in our communities, and in the faithful work of showing up, day by day, year in and year out - if we make time to hear it. Today, my guest is the Rev. Stephanie Allen, Canon for Leadership Development in the Diocese of East Carolina, and learning to listen well is just some of what we talk about.  Thanks for listening! Please take a moment to like, share or write a brief review.
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Bio - The Rev. Canon Stephanie Allen
Stephanie Allen is a priest in the Episcopal Church.  She has been Rector of Church of the Nativity in Raleigh, NC for the past twelve years, but will be leaving shortly to serve as Canon for Leadership Development for the Diocese of East Carolina. She holds an undergraduate degree in Theater Arts from the University of the South, Sewanee and an M.Div. from The General Episcopal Seminary in New York. Wife to Michael and mother to two awesome young adults, Stephanie likes to knit with expensive yarn, read cheap novels published on kindle, and walk her ridiculous, poorly trained hound dog who is the best dog ever.

What Our Promises Teach Us

Today my guest is the Rev. Mary Foulke! Thanks for listening.
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Bio - The Rev. Mary Foulke
The Reverend Mary Foulke, Ed.D. is an educator and social justice advocate. She has been the Rector of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Harlem since 2014. Since entering professional ministry in 1989, she has sought to articulate a religious/spiritual perspective that is open, intelligent and humble. She helps churches to build communities in which differences are recognized, understood, engaged and celebrated, and where creative/wholistic social action and service are developed and supported. She has worked on the Upper East Side, Wellesley, MA, Pasadena CA, Greenwich Village, with congregations large and small. She has also learned from and taught every age group from pre-k to seminary/graduate school about religion, education and resisting all forms of oppression.