Welcome to The Contemplative Life!

Episodes

258
Aug. 4, 2026

Ep 258 Summer Wisdom Shorts: The Third Chair

Join us for our Summer Wisdom Shorts where we share brief thoughts for you to ponder each week. Spiritual Guidance Masterminds: robertscontemplative@gmail.com Sign up for our newsletter: https://thecontemplativelife.substack.com/subscribe Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
257
July 22, 2026

Ep 257 Summer Wisdom Shorts: When Life Feels Like a Junk Drawer

Join us for our Summer Wisdom Shorts where we share brief thoughts for you to ponder each week. Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
256
July 14, 2026

Ep 256 Summer Wisdom Shorts: Benefits of Body Doubling

Join us for our Summer Wisdom Shorts where we share brief thoughts for you to ponder each week. Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
255
July 7, 2026

Ep 255 Summer Wisdom Shorts: Ostrich Syndrome

Join us for our Summer Wisdom Shorts where we share brief thoughts for you to ponder each week. Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
254
June 25, 2026

Ep 254 Summer Wisdom Shorts: The Freedom of Iteration

Join us for our Summer Wisdom Shorts where we share brief thoughts for you to ponder each week. Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
253
June 16, 2026

Ep 253 Summer Wisdom Shorts: 10x and 1/10

Join us for our Summer Wisdom Shorts where we share brief thoughts for you to ponder each week. Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
252
June 10, 2026

Ep 252 Summer Wisdom Shorts: When Spiritual Practices Fizzle Out

Join us for our Summer Wisdom Shorts where we share brief thoughts for you to ponder each week. Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
251
June 2, 2026

Ep 251: Summer Wisdom Shorts: 4 Common Reasons For Spiritual Direction

Join us for our Summer Wisdom Shorts where we share brief thoughts for you to ponder each week. Mentioned in today's episode: For those interested in a checking out spiritual direction to see what it's like contact robertscontemplative@gmail.com to learn more. Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
May 27, 2026

Summer Wisdom Shorts: Hustle Burnout Vs. Zombie Burnout

Join us for our Summer Wisdom Shorts where we share brief thoughts of wisdom for you to ponder. Mentioned in today's episode: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
May 12, 2026

Spiritual Conversations with Children (with Terra McDaniel)

Today we welcome Terra McDaniel to the podcast. Terra inspires us to engage kids in spiritual conversations through her stories and experiences. She offers simple moments and invitations that feel attainable even for toddlers. For those looking to go deeper on this topic, check out her training program and resources listed below. https://www.terramcdaniel.com/ https://www.companioningcenter.org/course/scwc-app-2026 BOOKS MENTIONED IN TODAY'S EPISODE: Tiny Perfect Things Wonder Walkers Noticin...
248
April 28, 2026

Ep 248 Spiritual Direction in a Homeless Shelter (with Lacy Finn Borgo)

Today we have an inspiring conversation with Lacy Finn Borgo. Lacy is an author, spiritual director and teacher who shares beautiful stories of spiritual companionship with children in transitional housing. Her work can be found at gooddirtministries.org Mentioned in today's podcast: Suno AI Riverdance Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
April 14, 2026

E 247 Fixing vs Serving and Empowering

Often with good intentions, we can easily find ourselves in fix it mode with people we care about in our lives. Today we take a look at how to move from fixing into serving and empowering. Mentioned on today's episode: Spindrift Ginger Lime Mule Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
March 31, 2026

Ep 246: Blast From The Past: Hero/Heroine Journey

Today we conclude our Blast From the Past looking at a literary arc called the Hero/Heroine Journey popularized by Joseph Campbell. Join us as we share how this framework was a helpful part of our spiritual formation. Mentioned in this episode: Brami pasta Rao's sauce Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
March 17, 2026

E 245: A Fresh Take On St Patrick’s Day

As we celebrate the legacy of St. Patrick on March 17, we are looking through the perspective of dreams, forgiveness and spiritual innovation. Join us as we revisit a previous episode diving into his mystical life. Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
March 4, 2026

E 244 Blast from the Past: Delirious? And Others

We are continuing our series called Blast from the Past where we are looking at various books, ideas, experiences that shaped our earlier years of formation. Today we talk about Delerious? and other bands who have influenced us. (And we do sound a bit like hippies in the process…) MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE Episode 209 Modern Contemplatives: Waterdeep Prizefighter : Mumford and Sons Please check out Christina’s Activity Prayer Book for children: My Spiritual Journey Some of our show notes c...
Feb. 18, 2026

E 243 Blast From the Past: Making of A Leader

Join our series "Blast from the Past" as we look at spiritual formation ideas, books and experiences from our earlier decades that we are revisiting on the podcast. Today's "blast from the past" takes us to a book that was foundational in our early 20's called The Making of A Leader by Robert Clinton. Clinton discusses 6 stages of leadership that correlate with decades of our life and offer some interesting perspective. Mentioned in today's episode: Liturgies of the Wild ...
Feb. 4, 2026

E 242 How Do We Measure Spiritual Health?

Today we explore ways we might approach looking at our spiritual health. How do we measure that which does not have clear bio markers like we have with our physical health? Join us as we look at some possible ways to look at ongoing spiritual health and wellness and please reach out at thecontemplativelife.net to share some of your thoughts. Please check out Christina’s Activity Prayer Book for children: My Spiritual Journey Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want ...
Jan. 21, 2026

E 241 Surprising Wisdom From Gen Z Trends

Today we look at 4 pieces of wisdom from Gen Z. Let’s take a look at what’s trending and how this ancient wisdom shows up in the modern lives of teens. Mentioned in today’s episode: The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks Casper Bed What I’m Into: Courting the Wild Twin by Martin Shaw Liturgies of the Wild by Martin Shaw Zoe Health app Please check out Christina’s Activity Prayer Book for children: My Spiritual Journey Please check out Christina’s Activity Prayer Book for chi...
Jan. 6, 2026

E 240 3 Views of Time

As we start a new year, managing time is often a topic of discussion and resolution. Today we take a look at 3 different views of time and how it weaves in with a contemplative life. Mentioned in today’s episode: Poem from the book, To Bless the Space Between Us Please check out Christina’s Activity Prayer Book for children: My Spiritual Journey Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost t...
Dec. 23, 2025

E 239 6 Benefits of Being Unbalanced

Today we take a different approach from the popular message of living a balanced life and explore the topic of unbalance. We hope it will inspire us to move from feeling swept away with stress and obligations to a life of intention and choice. Mentioned in today’s episode: Christina released a book in partnership with Spiritual Directors International called My Spiritual Journey. From the SDI Website: My Spiritual Journey cultivates the practices of deep listening, gentleness, ...
Dec. 9, 2025

E 238 Contemplative Kids (+ Christina’s Book Release)

Today we are excited to share that Christina released a book in partnership with Spiritual Directors International called My Spiritual Journey. From the SDI Website: My Spiritual Journey cultivates the practices of deep listening, gentleness, and contemplation, allowing kids to form their own words, pictures, or quiet reflection to cultivate trust with themselves and the Divine. To order a copy for yourself or those you wish to support spiritually check out Amazon Or SDI Press Some of our sh...
Nov. 25, 2025

E 237 The Practice of Enoughness

Today we explore the idea of inner and outer enoughness. What defines our sense of enough? What are some practices to help us recalibrate towards a sense of enoughness? Join as we explore the importance of this practice in our daily lives. Mentioned in today’s episode: ADVENT CALENDARS Beauty Advent calendars Gemstone Advent calendars Tea Advent calendars Chocolate Advent calendars Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get...
Nov. 11, 2025

E 236 8 Ways Spiritual Direction Has Changed Me

Today we look at 8 ways spiritual direction has personally changed our lives as we’ve engaged in this practice for well over a decade. We hope it can spark something in our listeners who may be considering finding a spiritual director, getting trained in spiritual direction or to use as a resource to share with someone who may benefit from spiritual direction. Mentioned in today’s episode: Egyptian Licorice tea Mica Powder Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save yo...
Oct. 28, 2025

E 235 Theology of Pause

Today we explore ancient wisdom around pause and the significance it has in our modern lives. As we share historical context and practical ideas, we hope you are inspired to engage new ways of pause in your own life. Mentioned in this episode: Ep 178 Contemplative Figures: Desert Fathers and Mothers Ep 133 St. Benedict: Mystics/Contemplatives Exploration Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extr...