Episodes

  • Rev. William H. Lamar on Ancestors, Stories, and Living Resurrection

    Rev. William H. Lamar on Ancestors, Stories, and Living Resurrection
    Jun 21 2026
    On this special Father’s Day episode of Radical Sacred we have the immense privilege of talking to Rev. William Lamar about his beautiful new book Ancestors: Those who Bless us, Curse us, and Hold us. Rev. Lamar talks to us about the importance of intimately knowing and calling upon our ancestors, the perfect memory that water holds, how to listen to the still small voice within us, and the importance of silence, nature, and music. Sitting with Bill for this episode was a profound blessing and we always leave our time with him awake, aware, and more alive. We invite you to check out this fabulous episode and dive deep into the ancestors inviting you back to your truest selves.


    Show Notes:
    • Ancestors: Those who Bless us, Curse us, and Hold us by William Lamar
    • Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, DC
    • I am my Ancestors’ by TaRessa Stovall
    • The DC Church that beat the Proud Boys in Court now Owns Their Name

    Key Topics
    • The biblical transfiguration story as a metaphor for ancestral engagement
    • Water as a symbol of perfect memory and spiritual renewal
    • The internal journey of self-discovery and internal cartography
    • The role of music and storytelling in connecting with ancestors
    • Resurrection as a cosmic and ecological process of renewal

    Chapters
    00:30 The Legacy of Ancestors
    02:56 Introduction to Reverend William H. Lamar IV
    05:41 The Importance of Ancestors in Faith
    07:29 Writing the Book: A Personal Journey
    11:19 The Transfiguration and Ancestral Connections
    16:00 Water as a Symbol of Memory
    22:18 The Role of Music in Spiritual Life
    28:05 Distraction and the Inner Music
    33:16 Finding Connection in Nature
    42:22 Bumping Into Oneself: The Inward Journey
    47:06 The Role of Ancestors in Our Lives
    54:56 Living Resurrection: A Poetic Invitation
    01:05:44 Father's Day Reflections and Ancestral Connections
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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • Mary Fontana on Strangers in the Province of Joy

    Mary Fontana on Strangers in the Province of Joy
    Jun 17 2026
    In this timely episode we visit with the author of Strangers in the Province of Joy: Practicing Radical Hospitality at the US-Mexico Border, Mary Fontana. While in college Mary began a 20+ year relationship with Annunciation House in El Paso which houses and provides care for migrants. This book is all about the important work of Annunciation House, its surprising and tender beginnings, and about the root causes that lead to people leaving their home countries. We talk about liberation theology, the United States complicity in the instability in Central America, and what we can all do to better love our neighbor as ourselves.


    Show Notes:
    • Strangers in the Province of Joy: Practicing Radical Hospitality at the US-Mexico Border
    • Mary Fontana’s Website
    • Annunciation House
    • A Prayer of Shelter and Shadow by Pádraig ó Tuama
    Key Topics:
    • The origins and history of Annunciation House
    • The concept of radical hospitality and its importance
    • Root causes of migration including US foreign policy and climate change
    • The role of personal relationships and presence in service work
    • The intersection of faith, justice, and activism in immigration
    • The ongoing legal challenges faced by organizations like Annunciation House
    • The importance of education and awareness in changing perceptions
    • The spiritual and contemplative practices that sustain service work
    Chapters
    00:30 A Prayer for Shelter and Community
    02:35 Introducing Mary Fontana and Her Work
    05:15 The Role of Annunciation House
    10:02 Understanding Borders: Geographic and Internal
    13:08 Migration as an Earth Right
    17:52 Root Causes of Migration
    22:07 Climate Change and Migration
    26:51 The Politics of Immigration and Othering
    31:39 Emergency Response and Human Connection
    34:17 The Founders' Wisdom and Open-Heartedness
    38:55 The Role of Contemplation in Service
    43:56 Balancing Presence and Productivity
    48:49 Justice and Mercy in Hospitality
    52:10 Spreading Awareness Through Storytelling
    54:15 Radical Hospitality Defined
    58:57 Facing Political Challenges with Resilience
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Encountering Henri Nouwen with Stephen Lazarus

    Encountering Henri Nouwen with Stephen Lazarus
    Jun 10 2026
    We enjoyed this fabulous conversation with Stephen Lazarus! Stephen is the Literary Manager for the Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust and the editor of Encountering Henri: The Living Legacy of Henri Nouwen. We visit about how earnestly and honestly Henri Nouwen lived his life and how impactful and invitational his way of being was. We invite you to live fully and in the spirit of Henri today and everyday! “It is by being awake to God in us that we can increasingly see God in the world around us.”
    Show Notes
    • Encountering Henri: The Living Legacy of Henri Nouwen
    • Cardus NexGen program
    • Henry Nouwen Legacy Trust
    • Comment Magazine
    • Robert and Margaret Jonas - Reviving Creation
    Substack
    • Check out Jenny's weekly reflection on the episode on our Substack.


    Key Topics
    • Henry Nowen's impact on spiritual life
    • The concept of woundedness and healing
    • Divine invitations and unexpected encounters
    • Henry Nowen's influence on peacemaking and justice
    • The importance of authentic identity in faith
    Chapters
    00:30 The Poetic Introduction to Love
    02:38 Introducing Stephen Lazarus and His Journey
    04:37 Encountering Henry Nowen: A Personal Connection
    08:06 Who Was Henry Nowen?
    10:04 The Humanity of Henry Nowen
    16:00 Divine Invitations Through Henry's Work
    20:47 The Communion of Saints and Connection to Ancestors
    24:13 Contemplating Memories of Henry
    28:47 Surprising Stories from the Book
    30:37 Embracing Our Imperfections
    34:25 Awakening to the Divine
    34:59 The Meandering Path to Home
    39:21 Engaging with the Common Good
    43:55 Wounded vs. Broken: A Theological Perspective
    49:03 Finding Identity in a Polarized World
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    56 mins
  • Paldrom Collins on Girl in a Box

    Paldrom Collins on Girl in a Box
    Jun 3 2026
    We had a lovely conversation with the author of Girl in a Box, Paldrom Collins! Paldrom’s memoir walks us through her early days as a young woman who is seeking her own path in Oklahoma to her time in a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery in New York. Paldrom’s path is winding, full of wisdom, compassion, and the most surprising twists and turns. We enjoyed this insightful and honest chat about following yearning and trusting self.

    Show Notes:
    • Only Breath by Rumi
    • paldrom.com
    • Girl in a Box by: Paldrom Collins
    • How the Worst Day of My Life Became the Best by: Andrea Gibson
    Takeaways
    • Following your inner knowing can lead to unexpected paths and growth
    • Ritual and repetition serve as somatic practices that deepen spiritual awareness
    • Non-dualism emphasizes interconnectedness beyond dualistic thinking
    • Reciprocity is rooted in the natural interconnectedness of all life
    • Embracing resistance and difficulty can hone spiritual resilience
    Chapters
    00:30 Transforming Pain into Art
    02:36 The Journey of Becoming Findable
    03:34 The Call to Write: A Spiritual Journey
    06:59 Exploring Spiritual Backgrounds
    09:23 The Meandering Path of Spirituality
    12:46 Rituals and Repetition in Spiritual Practice
    18:04 Interfaith Dialogues: Buddhism and Christianity
    22:02 The Quest for Acceptance and Worthiness
    26:11 Understanding Tibetan Buddhism's Teachings
    30:34 Navigating Dualism and Non-Dualism
    32:40 Reciprocity in Spiritual Journeys
    34:39 The Knowing Beyond Knowing
    37:23 Embracing the Unknown
    42:22 Yearning and Creativity
    45:12 Responding to Suffering in the World
    47:31 The Ongoing Story of Life
    51:04 Finding Shelter in Each Other's Stories
    Show More Show Less
    54 mins
  • Day Schildkret on Morning Altars and the Importance of Ritual

    Day Schildkret on Morning Altars and the Importance of Ritual
    May 27 2026
    This week our minds are blown and our hearts are expanded by Day Schildkret, author, artist and teacher behind the Morning Altars movement, who inspires tens of thousands of people to make life more beautiful and meaningful through ritual, nature and art. Day talks to us about ritual, meaning making, presence, beauty, remembering, curiosity and more in this gorgeous conversation.

    Show Notes:
    • Morning Altars
    • Day’s Books and Art
    • Teacher Training
    • Day’s Instagram
    • Grief Ritual Series
    Key Topics
    • The origin story of Morning Altars and its healing modality
    • The role of thresholds and thresholds in personal transformation
    • The importance of meaning making and ritual in everyday life
    • Reciprocity and the back-and-forth of giving and receiving
    • The relationship between vulnerability, nature, and ritual
    Chapters
    00:30 The Power of Ritual and Nature
    01:44 Thresholds and Transitions in Life
    10:32 Meaning Making Through Creativity
    14:46 Rituals: Boundaries and Simplicity
    18:21 Cultural Challenges to Rituals
    22:12 Personal Journey with Rituals
    23:48 Exploring Sacred Ground and Relationships
    27:56 The Concept of Reciprocity in Rituals
    32:35 Vulnerability and Connection with Nature
    36:45 Grief and the Role of Ritual
    41:30 Grief as an Invitation to Transformation
    44:51 Creating Alternative Spaces in a Capitalist World
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    52 mins
  • Erica Smith on the Purity Culture Recovery Guide

    Erica Smith on the Purity Culture Recovery Guide
    May 20 2026
    Erica Smith, Sex Educator and author of the Purity Culture Recovery Guide joins us today on the pod! Erica’s invitational and open hearted writing explores the harms of Purity Culture and gives pathways to healing for those of us raised in it. Erica is a wealth of shame free sex information and this book is a must read for all people seeking a healthy, open hearted relationship to their bodies and their sexuality.

    Show Notes:
    • The Purity Culture Recovery Guide by Erica Smith
    • Linda Kay Klein Pure: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Shamed a Generation of Young Women and How I Broke Free
    • Netflix Documentary - Trust Me: The False Prophet
    • Purityculturedropout.com
    • Erica’s Instagram
    Key Topics
    • Impact of Purity Culture on Sexuality
    • Healing from Religious Shame
    • Sexual Rights and Autonomy
    • Creating Safe Spaces for Healing
    • Men's Group and Vulnerability
    Chapters
    00:10 The Power of Love Poetry
    02:45 Introducing Erica Smith: A Journey into Sex Education
    04:30 From Casual Christianity to Sex Education
    10:38 Understanding Purity Culture: A Deep Dive
    13:00 The Impact of Purity Culture on Relationships
    17:02 The Broader Effects of Purity Culture
    20:52 Healing from Shame: The Purity Culture Dropout Program
    27:24 Creating a Safe Space for Conversations
    27:52 The Birth of the Purity Culture Recovery Guide
    30:18 Responses to the Book: A Positive Reception
    33:01 The Sexual Bill of Rights: Empowering Individuals
    33:05 Understanding Sexual Rights and Respect
    35:41 The Importance of Men's Groups
    39:33 Exploring Vulnerability in Masculinity
    43:41 Forgiveness and Healing in Masculinity
    47:24 Inviting Others Out of Purity Culture
    51:00 The Benefits of Healthy Sexuality
    Show More Show Less
    58 mins
  • Traumatized Church with Scot McKnight and Adrienne Gibson

    Traumatized Church with Scot McKnight and Adrienne Gibson
    May 13 2026
    Fabulous time today visiting with authors Adrienne Gibson and Scot McKnight on their new book Traumatized Church: What Paul's Relationship with the Corinthian Church Teaches Us About Helping Those Who are Hurting. Adrienne brings the perspective of a licensed therapist and Scot the knowledge of a New Testament scholar and together they have written a really hopeful and informative book on trauma, the church, Paul and the Corinthians, and on individual and collective healing. A must listen for anyone working in the church or who loves the church!

    Show Notes:
    • Paul and Thecla from 2nd century
    • Traumatized Church
    • Valor Counseling - Adrienne’s Practice in Mesa, Arizona
    • Scot Mcknight on Substack
    • Scot’s books
    Key Topics
    • Trauma in the church and its impact
    • Paul's vulnerability and trauma as a leader
    • Trauma-informed and trauma-sensitive church practices

    Chapters
    00:00 The Peace of Wild Things
    02:06 Introducing the Authors and Their Journey
    09:31 Understanding Trauma
    11:47 The Church as a Traumatic Space
    15:45 Becoming Trauma-Informed
    19:16 Transforming Pain: Insights from Paul and the Corinthians
    27:57 Understanding Paul's Humanity
    30:46 The Impact of Trauma on Leadership
    35:47 The Role of Pastors in Modern Churches
    41:34 Breaking the Cycle of Harm in Churches
    45:25 The Importance of Trauma Awareness in Ministry
    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
  • Victoria Loorz and Valerie Luna Serrels on Sacred Conversations

    Victoria Loorz and Valerie Luna Serrels on Sacred Conversations
    May 6 2026
    Today on the pod sisters, co-authors, and co-founders of Wild Church Network and The Center for Wild Spirituality Valerie Luna Serrels and Victoria Loorz join us in sacred conversation. In this lovely conversation we visit about unlearning patriarchal ways of being, the importance of deep noticing, the reemergence of reciprocal relationships with the human and more than human world, and the mycelial network that connects us all. This is such an important and expansive conversation for the wild times we find ourselves in!

    Show Notes:
    • Margaret Wheatley - Using Emergence to Take Social Innovation to Scale
    • Dean Radin, PhD - IONS
    • The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist
    • The Great AI Unraveling: Tristan Harris on Sounds of SAND
    • The Holy Wild Podcast
    • Wild Church Network
    • Wild Church Online
    • Why I Should Hike Every Day No Matter What by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
    Key Topics
    • The roots and growth of the Center for Wild Spirituality and Wild Church Network
    • The paradigm shift towards interconnectedness and emergence in spirituality
    • The biomimicry and feminist principles guiding wild church structures
    • The role of love, love as awareness, and sacred reciprocity in transformation
    • Science and spirituality: understanding the impact of consciousness on the physical world
    • The importance of community, unlearning, and vulnerability in spiritual evolution
    Chapters
    00:00 The Power of Nature and Freedom
    03:49 Introduction to the Wild Church Network
    06:54 Roots of the Center for Wild Spirituality
    09:42 Emergence and Community Building
    12:32 Biomimicry and Networking
    15:27 The Role of Feminine Leadership
    18:37 The Importance of Listening and Awareness
    21:25 Love and Change in the World
    24:11 Worldview Shift and Sacred Reciprocity
    27:24 Personal Journeys of Undoing
    30:06 The Journey of Trust and Passion
    36:42 Navigating Personal Struggles and Community Support
    39:07 The Journey of Acceptance and Grief
    43:45 Understanding Burnout and Resilience
    47:28 The Sacredness of Life's Challenges
    50:29 Awareness and Renewal in the Face of Grief
    54:51 Emerging Futures and the Balance of Hope and Grief
    58:47 Choosing Love Amidst Uncertainty
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 4 mins