Poema Podcast

Poema S7 016 | James' Story - hosted by Becky Castle Miller

In this special episode, I sit with Becky Castle Miller and tell my own story.
A story of childhood trauma, multiple grief experiences, and a journey through the unhealth of certainty and spiritual abuse, into deconstructing not just my faith, but my life and my identity.
It's a story of transcendent spiritual experiences, betrayal, suicidal ideation and nearly losing it all.
A journey of healing, transformation and embodiment. 
My story. 

Poema S7 015 | Kelly Wolfe on Lust, Desire and Faith

Today my friend Kelly Wolfe joins me, to talk about sex, desire, lust, masturbation and healthy ways we can connect these with Christian faith. 
We talk about the damage purity culture and shame has done to so many people, and how we need to unlearn this and begin to talk about these subjects openly and honestly, and be honest about our desires and how our bodies work, and need to express themselves sexually. 
Kelly talks openly about how masturbation in the right context can be a healthy expression of our sexuality - and how and why this fits with the way of Jesus and honours how we were created.
Finally, Kelly also discusses the difference between lust and desire, and why we should have no shame in discussing and ethically exploring our sexuality - and why this is a beautiful, divine gift.  
 

Poema S7 014 | Dr Hillary McBride PhD on Grief & the Language of Our Pain

I'm delighted to be joined today by Dr Hillary McBride PhD, therapist, researcher, author and former co-host of The Liturgists podcast (this episode was recorded before she announced her departure).
We just started talking and let the conversation flow - it began by Hillary sharing her own journey and about the experience of being a therapist during a pandemic. 
Hillary and I also talked about where following our curiosity can take us in our lives, conversations, art and our own personal journeys.
She also talks about growth, and how we can often find growth & meaning even in the midst of hardship. Hillary then shares how we need to become familiar with the language of our own pain, and how this can be helpful in our journeys of growth and healing. 
We end by exploring grief in more depth, and how historically we have dealt with grief as a culture and how we can use the energy of grief on a broader scale to bring about cultural change. 
This was hands down one of my all time favourite conversations for the podcast, Hillary is inspiring, wise and encouraging. I'm excited for you to hear this. 
 
 

Poema S7 013 | Anita Grace Brown is a Kamikaze Yogi

Today I'm joined by Yogi and author Anita Grace Brown to hear her story and talk about her work exploring the connections between Christ, Yoga and how this intertwines with our journey of growth.
Anita shares with us how we can use yoga and the story of Jesus to help us enter healthy state of centeredness. She tells us how the human soul might just be God's muscle which we need to work on strengthening - and if we do, we could be transformed. 
Anita believes we are more resilient than we think, and more conscious than we think - and today we explore this.
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Anita's book Kamikaze Yogi is available now!

Poema S7 012 | Dr Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, Ph.D. on Activist Theology, Compassion & Connection

Today I'm joined by Dr Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, Ph.D, Transqueer Activist Latinx Scholar, Public Theologian, and host of the Activist Theology podcast.
Dr Robyn tells their story about their lived experience of living with autism, how they became aware of their diagnosis, and not just freedom it brought but also the grief of realising how this may have impacted others pre-diagnosis. 
They then talk about what this time of lockdown and a global pandemic can teach, and how we can use this time to connect with ourselves each other. We also talk about the pandemic has amplified the flawed, unequal system of capitalism we all live in. Dr Robyn shares how our relationships have been impacted by this mindset, by a transactional model over one of connection and compassion.
Dr Robyn then explores his work, and what action he's been taking & we can take to subvert the system and bring about a more compassionate, connected world.
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Find more of Dr Robyn's work at www.irobyn.com 

Poema S7 011 | Dr Khaleah Bradshaw on Black Women, Patriarchy & Singleness

I'm honoured to be joined by Dr Khaleah Bradshaw, who shares her own story, and also talks about her experiences and research on patriarchy and singleness within the black community. 
We talk about the challenges all single people face, and why it's better to wait and find a partner who's a good match, than rush in. We also discuss how the challenges of breaking down patriarchal systems which can shame people for singleness. 
This was a fun and insightful conversation, which will challenge and inspire. 

Poema S7 010 | Shelley DeJong LPC, CSAC on Addiction, Rock Bottom & Transformation

In this episode I'm joined by certified life coach and therapist Shelley DeJong.
Today Shelley shares her own story of addiction, rock bottom and transformation, and the challenges and stigma she's faced with multiple sclerosis.
She talks about her lowest moments and how she shifted out of those places into recovery and healing, and the lessons she's learned in both her life, and her work now as a therapist and a life coach, about healing and personal transformation.

Poema S7 009 | Jenna DeWitt on Sexuality, Gender Identity & Faith

Today my friend Jenna DeWitt joins me. She tells her story of discovering her own sexual and gender identity having grown up in a more traditional Christian environment.
Jenna shares about the wide variety of types on the asexual spectrum, and how she discovered a community of people just like her, and found a healthy faith community which accepted her. She likens the wide variety in every aspect of creation, planets, plants, races, animals, how all are different yet all are beautiful and belong.
She also talks about the diversity of the divine themselves, and how this should and is reflected in his creation, including humanity. 
This was a wonderful episode to record, Jenna has so much wisdom and insight in this area, take a listen and give her a follow on Twitter at @Jenna_DeWitt.

Poema S7 008 | Matt Nightingale on Coming Out as a Pastor

Today LGBTQI+ pastor Matt Nightingale joins me to tell his story. He shares when he first began to realise he was gay, how this impacted his marriage and his work, and finally coming to the painful and courageous decision to go public, and end his marriage. 
We then discuss the consequences of this for him, his family and his work and how he's now moving into more freedom and creating communities and safe spaces for LGBTQI+ online, and how it's impacted his role as a pastor. 
Matt is so inspiring and courageous, it was amazing to talk to him. 

Poema S7 007 | Alexis De Weese on Creativity as a Spiritual Practice

Today I'm joined by writer, theology and the arts MLitt student & book marketer Alexis De Weese to talk about how creativity & the creative process can be a healthy spiritual practice. 
We both share experiences from our own lives & work where the creative process has allowed us to connect with ourselves and the divine, and how creativity can be a sacred act which opens us up to experience the divine in fresh, and deeply intimate ways.
And Alexis offers practical tips for us to help make creativity a sacred space for us.
This was such a fun, insightful and inspiring conversation, Alexis has such wisdom in this area and it was great to chat to her.