Episodes

Send us a text This week’s title says it all. Oftentimes, we hear people try to describe spiritual direction by likening it to something that is “similar but different.” And so this week, we offer up a working definition for spiritual direction, talk about why the word “direction” is a bit of a misnomer, and then share a bit about what sorts of things we might actually do during a spiritual direction session. Join us for an insider look at the experience of spiritual direction. Additional R...

Send us a text Human nature tends to be such that we want to figure out who we are, who “our people'' are, and then settle into whatever feels easiest and most familiar. What’s more, psychologically speaking, our brains appear to be hard-wired to seek out people who look, think, behave, and even believe similarly to ourselves. But on the other side of that coin, an increasing number of people are discovering that an even deeper faith life has become possible by leaning into differences and ev...

Send us a text Today we’re joined by Nicki Nelson, Director of Spiritual Guidance Initiatives at the Siena Retreat Center in Racine, Wisconsin, who is sharing with us today about how caretaking has a way of bringing us to the edges of ourselves. At the end of the day, it turns out, we need a way to both nurture ourselves as well as those we’re caring for. Join us as Nicki shares with vulnerability and wisdom about how the pressures of caretaking build up, what happens at the brain level, and ...

Send us a text The (Spiritual) Wilderness is often associated with times of dryness. It may be that we come to find ourselves thrust suddenly into this world by way of suffering, trauma, and loss. We may experience it alone or in community with others. But however we arrive there, it would seem that the Wilderness cannot be avoided. And so, on this week’s podcast, we talk about what might be possible during those seasons. Can we rely on something deeper inside ourselves? Can we shift our poin...

Send us a text Money can be a challenging topic, fraught with emotions and baggage that we may or may not even be aware of. But on this week’s podcast, we talk about the value of having a safe space to become still, to look at our values, and to become aware of where our notions and feelings about money are coming from. In that sort of environment, we have the freedom to become gentle with ourselves, to name what we have learned, and to gain a sense of clarity around what is needed financiall...

Send us a text Today we’re joined by Kristina’s longtime friend, Jason Ruona, in talking about the benefits of having virtual opportunities to connect spiritually. It’s not uncommon for people to wonder if there are too many barriers to online engagement, and so today, we take some time to talk both about why virtual connection has offered us meaningful space to connect spiritually as well as what sorts of things we’ve done to keep barriers to a minimum. Join us as Jason shares a bit about th...

Send us a text Today we’re taking some time for a little behind-the-scenes glimpse: Who are we? What has our spiritual journey been? How did Foundry Spiritual Center, the sponsor of our podcast, come to be? Join us as we think through the desires of our hearts that have led us to this particular moment now. And then, maybe take some time for some soul searching of your own. Check out the other offerings of Foundry Spiritual Center. Give space and time for the Divine Spark within to speak to t...

Send us a text Fasting can occur in many forms, both for religious and non-religious reasons. And, as we’ll explore on the podcast, there are many personal and communal benefits that can come from it. But also, as we’ll discover today, it’s not uncommon to find that fasting has been something that has required journey as our faith lives have evolved. It’s been helpful to ask questions like: What do I want to become aware of? What intentions am I looking to set? Join us as we talk about the ga...

Send us a text Today we’re joined by Jon Anderson, executive director of Collaboration Project, who’s sharing with us the win-win rewards that come when we put relationships first, listen carefully to one another, and allow good work in the community to emerge from a sense of meaningful partnership. Do you sometimes feel like you’re spinning your wheels trying to be helpful in the world around you? Maybe you like the idea of collaboration, but the barriers have been too great. Join us as Jon ...

Send us a text On this week’s podcast, we take a moment to become aware of - and to celebrate - the spring equinox and how the seasons of life can be teachers for us along the way in our own journeys. And boy the spring does not disappoint! Perhaps you're in a season of contemplating balance in your life? Maybe there’s something new that is ready to bud. Or, as is true for some of us, could it be that you’re not ready for the hustle and bustle that comes with longer days and shorter nights? J...

Send us a text Today we are joined by Zil Eiler, an intuitive business coach and mentor who is sharing with us about how to “get unstuck,” whether those points of struggle are about our decisions, our circumstances, our relationships, or something else. This 20-minute interview is jam-packed with tips on how to reframe your thinking, how to increase your experience of joy, how to follow your intuition, and what to do when you’re feeling overwhelmed by the decisions you need to make. Additio...

Send us a text Spiritual bypassing can take many forms. We may find ourselves avoiding difficult emotions or trying to explain-away negative experiences. And in truth, spiritual bypassing turns out to be the opposite of the connection we seek, ultimately leading us to feel emotionally confused or worse. On this week’s podcast, we take a look at some of the common phrases we might hear or say when spiritual bypassing is at play. Join us as we talk about ways to work through what we’re experien...

Send us a text This week, we are joined by Kristen Emerson, licensed social worker and founder of Breaking Light Counseling who is sharing with us about the impacts of grief, loss, and trauma. Many of us experienced the effects of cumulative grief as we struggled to adjust and adapt during the height of the pandemic. We were often forced to forego the usual rituals and outlets for processing our losses, both in our homes and in our institutions. Join us as Kristen shares her wisdom with us re...

Send us a text On this week’s podcast, we’re taking some time to talk about how rituals can help us find our empowered voices - particularly in those moments where we just don’t feel permission to have a voice. Do you sometimes struggle with a negative ticker-tape of words going through your head? Maybe you truly feel that something isn’t right but, for whatever reason, you just can’t seem to find it within yourself to speak up. Today’s podcast talks about ways to strengthen this aspect of wh...

Send us a text Today we’re talking about the expansiveness of self-care because, as it turns out, there are no less than six types of Self-Care. What we need in one season of life may look very different from what we need in another. What our internal list of “shoulds” tells us we ought to be doing may or may not be what we really need in order to nourish our souls right now. And so join us as we talk about what it looks like to offer kindness to our whole selves and to grow into being able t...

Send us a text At first blush, it may feel like an easy yes to imagine that gratitude and hope can co-exist. But on today’s podcast, we ask the question: Is it true? Can we hold space for the things we hope for? Or does having hopes make us ungrateful? We further ask the question: What is hope anyways? And if we were to have hopes, how do we have hopes in a way that doesn’t devastate our day-to-day experience? Join us as we explore the many questions connected to, “Can Gratitude and Hope Co-Exis...

Send us a text What does it mean to have contemplative practices in college? Today we’re joined by Evan Digman, a senior at UW-Madison, who’s talking to us about his spirituality journey - from his first experience of guided meditation in middle school to now. Do you sometimes wonder how to manage the stresses of day-to-day life, feel the need to consider what sort of community could be meaningfully supportive to you, or ask yourself where you’d even get the time to have a meaningful spiritua...

Send us a text Feeling overwhelmed is unavoidable. On today’s podcast, we talk about how to live in the midst of our overwhelm as well as what we can do to ease the pain of it. Have you ever felt yourself begin to spiral? Maybe you had a physical reaction, like an upset stomach or a racing heart. Or perhaps your thoughts were the thing to start racing. For many of us, overwhelm is wrapped in imagining our worst-case scenarios or supposing we don’t have what it takes to handle what’s com...

Send us a text Today we’re joined by Ann Kowaliczko as she shares her wisdom about the vast and ancient topic of chakras. In this episode, we ask Ann many questions: What is a chakra? How do you access the energy of chakras? What caused you - a person who didn’t grow up hearing about chakras - to pay attention to them? Ann graciously answers our questions, while also pointing out her desire not to steal or misappropriate the traditions and practices of others. Check out our “Additional Resour...

Send us a text On this week’s podcast, each of us shares a bit about our deep love and appreciation for retreats - and in a variety of ways! Join us as we talk about best practices for preparing, what to do if you don’t feel like you have the time, and why different seasons of your life may call for a different sort of retreat. Additional Resources Website: Foundry Spiritual Center - Tailor-Made Retreats Water Filtration: Spring Well Water Filtration Systems #SpiritualPractice #Retr...

Send us a text On this week’s podcast, each of us takes a moment to share things we are excited about as we enter into the New Year. Join us as we discover together that, while some of us have plans that involve our family and friends, others of us intend to spend some time in reflection by ourselves. Can you guess who is who? Additional Resources Video: Bringing Eco Spirituality into Your Home Video: Earth Altars Aim to Offer a Path to Healing #Traditions #Ritual #Resolutions #Eart...

Send us a text Taking a moment to pause is a practice that can enrich both our inner and our outer lives. Have you ever finished a meal only to feel like you hadn’t even tasted it? Maybe you know all too well the experience of running from one thing to the next. Do you ever feel pressed for answers you don’t have? Pauses allow us the time we need in order to process our experiences, feel our emotions, and become more appreciative of the people around us. Join us as we explore - and celebrate ...

Send us a text Did you know that childhood memories can be insightful and generative parts of your prayer times? In one moment, perhaps they help us identify a long-standing pattern. But in another moment, perhaps they connect us more profoundly to our interests, or even allow us to reconsider the meaning of a particular life event. Join us as we talk about the value of embracing the entirety, the preciousness, of our life story. Additional Resources Podcast: Ep 21: The Sacred Space Inside To...

Send us a text Lectio Divina is a Latin phrase that literally translates to mean “Divine Reading.” It’s a contemplative practice that can help us slow down and immerse ourselves in what we’re seeing (and hearing) on the page, which often leads to experiences of deeper spiritual connection. Whether you’ve been engaging forms of Divina for many years, only recently, or have never given it a try, may this week’s reflection be an inspiration to all of us. Additional Resources Website: www.e...