Contemplify

"Here is a rosary of soaring myth, gripping narrative, and deep wisdom, all told with breathtaking verve that enchants and sweeps us along, from first word to last. A superb, inspiring read." — Gabor Maté, author of The Myth of Normal Dr. Martin Shaw a writer, mythographer, wilderness guide, and Christian thinker. In our conversation we delve into his latest book, Liturgies of the Wild: Myths That Make Us. A book that any personal library would benefit from. Shaw delivers a rousing grasp of the mythic life from a poetic lens of the dream of Christianity. A master storyteller with wit and wisdom, that will have you smiling as resonant tears well in your eyes.  Visit Dr. Martin Shaw at drmartinshaw.com | IG: @drmartinshaw | Substack: The House of Beasts & Vines Visit contemplify.com for shownotes.

Season 7 is hatching. A series of conversations has come together, mighty and beautiful folks offering feathered insight and story from their unique perch in the world (I am going to shift things up a bit and share a conversation once a month for Season 7).  But first, here and now, Teddy Macker is going to share a piece that gave me goosebumps the first time I encountered it. If Contemplify had a poet laureate, Teddy would surely be it. So sit back and receive this "VISION FOR A NEW CABINET: A Proposal of Possibilities for the Next American President" written and read by Teddy Macker. First episode of Season 7 will land in February.

Musing on obituaries with your name on it.

Remembering Lerita Coleman Brown

Musing on my personal non-liturgical liturgical calendar that runs from December 11 - December 10 each calendar year.

"In radiant, lyrical prose, Gail Straub takes us on a voyage like no other, both into little-known places across the globe and, most memorably, the inner realms of the soul. …..this is a journey that no reader will forget and, I believe, all readers will, in their own way, hope to emulate." — Andrew Carroll Author and empowerment pioneer Gail Straub's latest book Home Inside the Globe: Embracing Our Human Family. This is Gail's second time on Contemplify (hear our first conversation here), and like our previous conversation we find the heart of the conversation in the flow of presence in the sacred. The writing of Gail Straub inspires me to draw from the currents of our shared humanity, to witness and honor the profound connections that transcend all borders. I think she will do the same for you. Visit Gail Straub at gailstraub.com Visit Contemplify.com for shownotes

Mark Longhurst is an author and contemplative guide who has spent years exploring the sacred dimensions of everyday life. In our conversation we talk about his book The Holy Ordinary: A Way to God, a beautiful invitation to discover the divine presence woven throughout our daily movements. Mark draws on his experiences as an activist, pastor, father, husband, art enthusiast as a way to gladly open portals to the sacred. The Holy Ordinary is for all of us mudblood mystics out in the world. Visit Mark Longhrust at Substack | IG: @ordinary.mystic Visit contemplify.com for shownotes.

Haleh Liza Gafori is a translator, performance artist, vocalist, and educator whose work bridges ancient Persian mysticism with contemporary spiritual longing. In our conversation we talk about her latest book Water, a luminous collection of new translations from the 13th-century Persian mystic Rumi, following her acclaimed debut Gold (you can find our first conversation on Gold in the Contemplify archives). I am moved by Haleh's ability to make these masterworks sing, bringing Rumi's timeless wisdom about surrender, divine love, and ecological awakening to this moment. Visit Haleh Liza Gafori at halehliza.com | IG: @halehliza visit contemplify.com for shownotes

“This book is just what the world needs right now. At a time when tensions are hot, divisions are growing, and uncertainty is the order of the day, Sacred Parenting is a call to reconnect with what matters most: our children, our families, ourselves, and our God. The authors offer gentle wisdom and contemplative practices as antidotes to the high-volume, fast-paced, do-or-die world in which we live.” — David M. Csinos, founder and president of Faith Forward, research director for Family Faith Every Day Rev. Dr. Aizaiah G. Yong and Rev. Nereyda “Neddy” Yong, authors, speakers, and incarnational advocates for contemplative parenting. In our conversation we talk about their book Sacred Parenthood: Spiritual Practices for the Highs and Lows of Parenting, a profound exploration of how we can approach raising children as a spiritual practice and sacred calling. Aizaiah is the executive director of @Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research at Saint John’s Abbey and University. Neddy is the Directo

This is a repost of my conversation with Dr. Larry Ward. Dr. Ward passed away on August 19 at his home in Rhode Island. He was a Buddhist teacher, author, and co-founder of The Lotus Institute. He left behind a legacy of peace and advocacy for healing individual and collective trauma. I only ever interacted with Dr. Ward online, but his big soul, wisdom, and laughter came through with so much heart. My daughter and I tuned into his online memorial which held his spirit… we joined in the prayers and listened to the stories from his students, friends, and loved ones, it impacted us both. Dr. Ward’s wife and co-founder of The Lotus Institute, Peggy Rowe, will continue their work. As we lose elders, those we barely know and those we consider kin, a desire to honor them and cherish them in their passing arises, so I am sharing this again. and if you so moved, head over to thelotusinstitute.org and consider supporting their work. With that, please enjoy this rebroadcast of Dr. Ward’s timeless wisdom and joy. Dr. La

“You can trust Amy Frykholm as a modern-day amma who knows the terrain of the soul. Reading Journey to the Wild Heart is like going out to the desert for a word. It helps us slow down, let go, unknow in Silence, and embody Love.― — Carmen Acevedo Butcher, author of Practice of the Presence Amy Frykholm is a writer and journalist who makes her third appearance on Contemplify (round one, round two) to talk about her latest book Journey to the Wild Heart: Four Invitations to Contemplative Living. Amy is an award-winning writer, scholar, and journalist whose work insightfully explores American religion and culture. Her debut novel High Hawk has been long-listed for the 2025 PEN/Hemingway Award.  This is Amy’s third time on Contemplify, so you will not be surprised that in Journey to the Wild Heart Amy weaves together ancient mystics to modern poets and philosophers, inviting readers into deeper knowing through reflection and practice. Visit Amy Frykholm at amyfrykholm.com Visit Contemplify.com for shownotes.

"To read a new and selected collection is to experience the evolution of a voice, in this case an essential voice in American poetry. To sit with the whole of these transportive, immersive poems is to awaken like a wild riparian corridor in spring. Wildflowers on the banks. Birdsong in the branches. The reader’s heart is a bud: open. Beautiful work.” — Chris Dombrowski, The River You Touch   Poet Todd Davis's latest collection is Ditch Memory: New and Selected Poems. This is Todd’s third time on Contemplify, and like the previous conversations we find our charge in the sacred strides of cultivating attention. The poetry of Todd Davis stretches me and helps me scratch the dirt of what is real, to taste and relish my short passage through this world. I think he will do the same for you. Visit Todd Davis at todddavispoet.com Visit contemplify.com for shownotes   Episode Show Notes Works by Todd Davis Ditch Memory: New and Selected Poems Coffin Honey Native Species Winterkill In the Kingdom of the Ditch Todd

"…Swan's book provides an accessible overview of beguine spirituality in the context of their own times…[it] does a good job of explaining both the beguines' spiritual practices and their continuing legacy." — Commonweal Sr. Laura Swan is a Benedictine sister, spiritual director, author, teacher, and archivist. In our conversation we talk about her book The Wisdom of the Beguines: The Forgotten Story of a Medieval Women s Movement. I am fascinated by the Beguine movement as I think it is incredibly instructive for our times. Sr. Laura brings a contagious passion and a catalog of wisdom to the Beguines that I hope seeps into your soul. Can’t wait for you to hear more about the Beguines movement. Visit Sr. Laura Swan at lauraswanosb.com | YouTube: @BenedictineLauraSwan | Facebook: laura.swan.505 Visit Contemplify.com

Patrick Boland is an author, teacher, coach, and consultant. In our conversation we talk about his book The Contemplative Leader: Uncover the Power of Presence and Connection. Patrick is a whipsmart, strategic thinker with a contemplative heart and presence. Patrick's atypical approach to leadership brings a new vitality to leadership development. Visit Patrick Boland at thecontemplativeleader.com | IG: @contemplativeleader | Substack: thecontemplativeleader.substack.com

Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault is a mystic, teacher, writer, Episcopal priest. In our conversation we talk about her book Thomas Keating: The Making of a Modern Mystic. A book that should not have, but did, surprise me with its brilliance in understanding the route Thomast Keating took on (and off) wellworn mystical maps. And Cynthia has had an outsized impact on my life over the years, yes in her books, but in a word here or there that opened a new direction or portal of insight. Visit Cynthia Bourgeault at cynthiabourgeault.org

“Practice simply is one intensification of what is natural and around us all the time. Practice is to life as poetry is to spoken language. So as poetry is the practice of language, “practice” is the practice of life.” - Gary Snyder SEASON 6 TRAILER  contemplify.com

On this last episode of Season Five of Contemplify, we welcome Rev., Dr. Peter Traben Haas. Rev., Dr. Peter Traben Haas rises each morning watching the light shade from dark to dawn and the still silence births words. His aim as a pastor and writer is to deepen spiritual fecundity by exploring biblical wisdom, verse by verse. He is an ordained Teaching Pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and earned a B.A. from Moody Bible, an M.Div. from Princeton Seminary, and a Doctorate of Ministry from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Peter is the author of multiple books and is widely known for his series of profound daily prayers in Paraclete Press' book series Centering Prayers, which is the center of our conversation today. . Peter and I talk about prayer as abiding, centering, and radiating, Peter’s unfolding journey since we last spoke, the ripening role of the Advent season, and so much more. Visit Peter Traben Haas at christchurchtelluride.com | ayearintheschoolofjesus.com Visit Contemplify at contemp

Backporch Advent Outpost with Hadewijch and the Mother of Love visit contemplify.com

"I love Katherine May’s new book, Enchantment.… It’s a beautiful offering of light, truth and charm in these strange, dark times." — Anne Lamott Katherine May is an internationally bestselling author and podcaster living in Whitstable, UK. Her most recent book, Enchantment became an instant New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller. Her internationally bestselling hybrid memoir Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times was adapted as BBC Radio 4’s Book of the Week, and was shortlisted for the Porchlight and Barnes and Noble Book of the Year. The Electricity of Every Living Thing, her memoir of a midlife autism diagnosis was adapted as an audio drama by Audible. Katherine’s podcast, How We Live Now, ranks in the top 1% worldwide, and she has been a guest presenter for On Being’s The Future of Hope series. Katherine lives with her husband, son, two cats and a dog. She loves walking, sea-swimming and pickling slightly unappealing things. Katherine and I talk about tasting words, the wisdom of

"Andrew Krivak is a novelist, poet, and memoirist whose work has been compared to William Faulkner’s in its rich sense of place, to Wendell Berry’s in its attentiveness to natural beauty, and to Cormac McCarthy’s in its deep investigation of violence and myth. Yet all of Krivak’s writing, and especially his fiction, presents a truly singular vision." — Image Journal You might remember my last conversation with Andrew Krivak on his novel, The Bear. In addition to The Bear, Andrew has written a trio of books on a family lineage, beginning with The Sojourn (a National Book Award Finalist), The Signal Flame, and Like the Appearance of Horses. It is this latest book, Like the Appearance of Horses that we zero in on today. He holds a BA from St. John’s College, Annapolis; an MFA in poetry from Columbia University; an MA in philosophy from Fordham; and a PhD in literary modernism from Rutgers. Currently, Andrew is a volunteer discussion facilitator in the New Hampshire Department of Corrections Family Connections Ce