Poema Podcast
Episodes
Wednesday Aug 28, 2019
Poema S5 027 | Try Softer with Aundi Kolber
Wednesday Aug 28, 2019
Wednesday Aug 28, 2019
Therapist and author Aundi Kolber joins me today. Aundi is also a trauma survivor, and in this episode she shares her personal story of growing up with an alcoholic parent, difficult relationships with a parent and how this has impacted her spirituality, her career and her own parenting.
Aundi explores in depth the concept of 'Trying Softer' and what it can mean for us. She shares some fascinating neurological insights into how our mind and body are not just connected, but one, and how they interact with our spirituality. Then she explains how all three of these areas can impact our mental health.
Aundi also shares the common problems she encounters as a therapist and shares the key lessons she's learned, and we also discuss the unique mental health challenges of being a mother.
Aundi has so much wisdom and experience around mental health, recovering from trauma and how this impacts our personal and spiritual journeys, this is well worth a listen. Her book, 'Try Softer', is available for pre-order now.
Wednesday Aug 21, 2019
Poema S5 026 | Stephanie Tait on The View From Rock Bottom
Wednesday Aug 21, 2019
Wednesday Aug 21, 2019
Author, speaker, disability advocate and trauma survivor Stephanie Tait is my guest today. Stephanie has a challenging, discomforting and yet inspiring story. Stephanie is a trauma survivor in active treatment for C-PTSD, and also has lyme disease which remained undiagnosed through her childhood well into adulthood.
The response from much of the evangelical church, who wished to hide the suffering, not speak or accept the truth about the unanswered prayers and struggles Stephanie was enduring, had huge implications for her life and her spiritual journey.
Stephanie shares this story, and explains what she believes is sorely lacking in our trending conversations around Christianity – to partner sound theology and practice with the unashamed acceptance of struggle in the present tense. This is a raw, honest and challenging conversation, from a voice all of us need to hear.
To read the story in more detail, you can also read Stephanie's book 'The View From Rock Bottom', available now.
Wednesday Aug 14, 2019
Poema S5 025 | We Too - Mary DeMuth on Sexual Abuse in the Church
Wednesday Aug 14, 2019
Wednesday Aug 14, 2019
**Trigger Warning: Sexual abuse, harassment, physical abuse**
Mary DeMuth, author, speaker and advocate, is my guest today as we explore and discuss the very real issue of sexual abuse and harassment within the church, as she discusses in her new book 'Me Too'. Mary speaks with great candor and empathy about her own experiences with sexual abuse and the depth of this problem in the Christian church today.
In our conversation, and in her new book 'We Too', she encourages the church she loves to rise up and face the very real evil of sexual abuse and harassment, and shares practical steps churches and pastoral teams can take to confront and deal with this effectively in their own communities and to end this evil going forward. We discuss the impact abuse can have on its victims and how to effectively deal with these consequences.
We also explore what the Bible says to the sexually exploited, what harms and what empowers those who have been traumatized by abuse, and how Jesus provides us a relational framework that welcomes victims.
You can find out more information on this issue and Mary's book, and get free resources, at metoo.org.
Wednesday Aug 07, 2019
Poema S5 024 | Kevin Garcia on Jesus & Tarot
Wednesday Aug 07, 2019
Wednesday Aug 07, 2019
Today author, podcaster and coach Kevin Garcia is my guest. In this episode we explore how tarot readings can help us deepen our relationship and connections not just to Jesus and the divine, but also our truest selves.
Kevin unpacks some of the myths and misunderstandings around tarot and explains how he has used it to deepen his faith and his spirituality, to examine and build a deeper connection to himself. Kevin explores how our we need to engage with our imaginations more in order to grow both spiritually and personally, and we overlap into grief, encountering lost loved ones, transcendent experiences and much much more.
Kevin has so much wisdom and insight into the spiritual journey and discovering our truest selves. This conversation was hugely transformative for me personally, and I'd highly recommend both this episode and Kevin's work.