Feeling Beings Who Think

Feelings and Faith with Fr. Mark Robin Collins

He's back by popular demand! The Rev. Mark Robin Collins joins me to talk about the hard-won wisdom of owning our past, the experiences of great love and great sadness that have shaped who we are and how we work, and how powerful it is when another person validates the feeling of faith in our worthiness. Enjoy!
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Connecting with All Our Parts

You and I spend considerable time each day having an internal conversation that goes like this - one part of me wants to do "this" while another part of me wants to do "that."  Sound familiar? My guest today, is Emily Kokenge, an award-winning brand builder and business leader providing design leadership and business strategy for more than 30 years. Why is she talking to this priest? Because we are both engaged in the work of building people up through coaching and teaching frameworks that help us get in touch with all the parts of who we are.
The parts that feel like an imposter, or confident parts, or the parts we want to avoid all together! Alas, better to dig in and listen and learn from all these varied parts which is what we talk about. I hope this conversation connects with parts of you. Thanks for listening! 
You can learn more about Emily at her website.

Spirituality and Sobriety with Erin Jean Warde

My conversation today is with Erin Jean Warde, Episcopal priest, spiritual director, recovery coach, and author of the soon-to-be-released, “Sober Spirituality.” Erin and I talk about what supports us and what gets in the way of being awake to our lives. We talk about binaries, those dualistic, either/or mindsets that keep us stuck! Stuck when we want to look at our spiritual practices, or when we are scared by the feeling that we want, and don't want, to think about our relationship with alcohol. 
With compassion, humor, and storytelling Erin offers empathy and support for people seeking mind, body, and soul healing. 
You can connect with Erin and her work through her site, her online course, and on Substack.  And you can find her book here and of course, here.

Being Fully Present with The Rev. Steven Paulikas

What absorbs your attention? Where do you find your ‘flow’? My good friend and esteemed colleague The Rev. Steve Paulikas doesn't use the word “flow" in our conversation, but it occurred to me afterward. As I listened to how he eloquently defines the work we priests do when we preside or as he says, “create a container” for people to be together in a unique way, I realized that full presence is not just about worship and it's not just for priests!
It’s a quality of attention we choose when we bring our full selves to where we are and who we are with – like an intentional conversation. Surely this way of being is part of what calls us into vocations, careers, and relationships, where we flow and find meaning. We also have great fun discussing friendship, drag queens, watershed moments, and how love just isn’t a big enough word for all the facets of what we think about that feeling. Enjoy!
The Rev. Steven Paulikas is the rector of All Saints’ Church in Brooklyn. His opinion writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Nation, and others, and his essay on the political response to evil is featured in Modern Ethics in 77 Arguments: A Stone Reader. His doctoral work at the University of Oxford examines the theology of evil in the writings of Paul Ricoeur. Prior to attending seminary, Steven was a journalist based in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Being Connected with Erin Weber-Johnson

How well do you take care of yourself? What have you learned, and what have you unlearned to do what is popularly called "adulting?" I find it hard sometimes! It's so much easier to pin the responsibility on others, to blame partners, parents, or bosses when our needs are not being met. That's not a surprise, discomfort is never comfortable.
My guest today is Erin Weber-Johnson, and we talk about "adulting" and so much more. We talk about feeling our vulnerability at work and the courage it takes to deal with it.  We discuss how our lives surprise and disappoint us. What we feel and think about our worth, our value as human beings. We talk about what we ask our bodies to carry, often unconsciously, and how miraculously healing gestures of connection can be.
Please know that two difficult topics come up in our conversation: suicide and miscarriage. I believe in the support of sharing these stories, and being mindful of when we are at a place to take these stories in.  I hope you enjoy this conversation. Please consider taking a moment to like, rate, and/or subscribe to this podcast wherever you listen!
Erin Weber-Johnson - Bio
Erin Weber-Johnson is Senior Consultant at Vandersall Collective, a faith based, woman-led consulting firm and Primary Faculty of Project Resource. In 2017 she co-founded the Collective Foundation, which worked to address the gap in giving characteristics in faith communities of color. In 2022 she co-founded The Belonging Project, a movement designed to reimagine belonging across the ecclesial landscape.
Previously, Erin worked as the Senior Program Director at the Episcopal Church Foundation, as a grants officer at Trinity Wall Street in New York City, and served as a missionary for the Episcopal Church. She holds a BS from Greenville University, a Masters of Public Administration for NYU and is currently completing a second masters in Religion and Theology from United Theological Seminary.
A published author, she strives to root her work in practical theology while utilizing her experience in the nonprofit sector. Her co-edited book, Crisis and Care: Meditations on Faith and Philanthropy is available through Cascade Books.

Being Content With Who You Are with Greg Cochran

Just what is it about our feelings that we do not want to feel? Is it that we are reminded of our imperfections, lack of control, and inability to manage everything - even ourselves - despite our most glorious efforts? And how much of what we think about our feelings have we examined? To see or try to see where our resistance comes from?
My guest today is Greg Cochran, and like me, some of his early experiences led him to wander away – and directly leave – ingrained teachings about what he was and wasn't supposed to feel and what he was supposed to think about those feelings. Now, in the words of the poet Rumi, he welcomes all of it.
I think this conversation supports us in learning how we can welcome all of who we are - and find, a way to connect with "our desire to move towards wholeness, however, we name that wholeness." Yes – and yes. I'm so grateful he welcomed being in conversation with me.
Greg Cochran - Bio
Greg Cochran is a spiritual companion; executive director at Well for the Journey in Lutherville, MD; adjunct staff for Shalem Institute’s Spiritual Guidance Program in Washington, D.C. and for PASEO Spiritual Direction Program in Idaho; and a minister. He is a woodworker, a photographer, a sojourner with and within Creation, a husband, dad, friend, and a pilgrim in this world. 

Being a Priest with Fr. Cathie Caimano

For women, titles can be complicated - especially in the church. My guest today is Father Cathie Caimano, a colleague, friend, and the first ordained woman I ever saw behind the altar and in a pulpit at church. Back then, I tell her, that rocked my inner Roman Catholic world! In today's conversation, we talk about being women priests, why she goes by Fr. Cathie, online dating, and of course, some of the dreams we have for a more expansive faith community. Regardless of your profession and whether or not church is a part of your world I think you will enjoy listening to her story of calling and career and the ways in which she lives into her intuitive sense of sharing her gifts.
Thanks for listening and please - subscribe and share if you're enjoying Feeling Beings Who Think!
Bio - Fr. Cathie Caimano
The Rev. Cathie Caimano, ‘Fr. Cathie’, is an Episcopal priest and CEO (‘Chief Optimism Evangelist’) of Free Range Priest, empowering clergy and congregations to reimagine ministry in the digital age. She’s also the founder of the online community Bring Church to People, for ministers ‘doing’ and being church in new ways. She believes we’re in the resurrection business. She lives with her husband and adorable Great Dane near Charlotte, NC, and gets all her best ideas while running.
The two churches we discuss are St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Durham, NC and The Church of the Holy Trinity in NYC.

Being Called To Companion with Lisa Tilstra

What is your calling? Do you have more than one? Is your calling what drives your career? How about your vocation? When I was a kid, I thought we got one – one calling, one career - and our job was too perfect it. It didn’t turn out that way – thank God. And I share that sentiment with many friends and colleagues.
In my conversation today with Lisa Tilstra, a leadership coach, consultant, facilitator, and creator and host of the podcast “Make Life Less Difficult," I ask her to share some of her story about one of her earliest professional titles – that of chaplain.
Google chaplain, and you’ll discover a chaplain is a spiritual companion. Ordination isn’t the point or a necessity – what is necessary is a heart that is drawn to bear witness to the holy humanity within each one of us. Humanity we choose to share in our stories.
Lisa, in my opinion, is still a spiritual companion, if not technically, a chaplain. She lives into a purposeful calling to encourage people to share their stories in varied formats, workshops and conversations. What a gift and a joy to learn more about the thoughts and feelings that came from those experiences and to find those places of support and resonance that come through intentional conversation. 
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, conducting training in over 30 countries, and had participants in her courses from over 80 countries.Lisa summarizes her work via a quote by Mary Anne Evans (aka George Eliot): "What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?" She hosts a podcast, Make Life Less Difficult, that is based on exploring what it means to make life less difficult for each other. Lisa is married to John, a US Diplomat. Together, they enjoy paragliding, rock climbing, sailing, outdoor adventuring, travel, and managing a real estate investment business.
Click here for Lisa's website.  Click here for Lisa on LinkedIn.
Lisa's podcast, Make Life Less Difficult, can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
Click here for the conversation with Greg Boyle and Krista Tippett that Lisa and I discussed!

Being Genuine with the Rev. Mark Robin Collins

Theologian and author Howard Thurman once said, "We are attracted to the sound of the genuine." Episcopal priest and my good friend and colleague, the Rev. Mark Robin Collins is about as genuine as it gets. I hope you enjoy his wit and wisdom as much as I do as we share what we think about the energizing and perplexing feelings we have as pastors in a genuinely challenging time for the church - along with some other topics like parents, grief, and that imposter syndrome!
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.
 

Introduction to Feeling Beings Who Think!

Here's a little bit about my podcast project, who I am and what I'm doing here. Thanks for listening!