Poema Podcast

Poema S8 031 | Marla Taviano on Creativity, Poetry & The Journey To Becoming a Heretic

This week I'm joined by author and poet Marla Taviano, who shares her story about her faith deconstruction, the end of her marriage, and how she found a way to survive and create a new life.
We talk about her recently released book of poetry called 'Unbelieve: Poems on the Journey to Becoming a Heretic', and the creative process behind it.
Marla shares how creativity has become a path to healing & expressing the trauma, grief and pain of her experiences, exploring the questions she had, and lessons she is still learning and unlearning. 

Poema S8 030 | Irene M Cho on the Godfather, Grief & Generational Trauma

This week I welcome back my friend Irene M Cho to the podcast, and we continue our series on pop culture with an examination of the Godfather trilogy, and the arc of Michael Corleone. 
We explore his personal journey and his unhealthy responses to grief and how they defined him - and how they can define us.
We also discuss the generational trauma carried through the Corlene family, and how generational trauma can do so much damage to individuals and families without proper healing work, take us away from our true selves, and lead to tragedy. 

Poema S8 029 | Kevin M Nye on Renewing the Call to End Homelessness

As Poema Podcast returns, I'm joined by my friend Kevin M Nye, and we talk about his book 'Grace Can Lead Us Home: A Christian Call to End Homelessness'. Kevin has worked in the area of homelessness for many years, and today we discuss this is more detail.
Kevin talks about the many myths and misunderstandings around those experiencing homelessness and how these can cause such damage. He also explores the many ways the problem has been tackled, and shares some more new & more helpful approaches which he believes can bring about genuine change. 
The core of Kevin's perspective, is how by simply humanising those who experience homelessness and loving and showing grace towards them, is the first step to reducing homelessness.

Poema S8 028 | Nicki Pappas on Broadening the Narrative

Nicki Pappas, author and podcaster, joins me today to share her deconstruction story. She shares how her lived experiences and rise of Trump challenged her to leave toxic evangelicalism behind, and begin work on what she calls 'broadening the narrative'.
Nicki talks about the the impact this journey has had on her relationships, her marriage, and her mental health. She shares lessons she's learned on her journey, and the process creating spaces in her own life, and in her creative work, for wider conversations.
She tells us how she is exploring new ways of exploring our spirituality, new perspectives, which give us freedom to grow and heal.

Poema S8 027 | April Fiet on the Sacred Pulse

Today I'm joined by author April Fiet, who talks to us about healthy and unhealthy rhythms of life, including harmful ones which have often pushed on us by toxic religion and capitalism.
April shares, sometimes from from her own story, how we can leave these unhealthy rhythms behind, and find healthier rhythms to our lives which connect more us to spirit, and ourselves. She shows us how we can leave perfectionism behind, and how every moment can become sacred.

Poema S8 026 | K.J. Ramsey on Finding Courage in the Midst of Spiritual Abuse

My friend K.J. Ramsey joins me to talk about her new book, 'The Lord is my Courage', The book and this conversation explore how we can discover courage and deeper spiritual connection as we step through faith deconstruction and into freedom from toxic religious systems & the spiritual abuse many of us experienced there.
KJ tells us some of her own experiences of this journey, talking about the impact spiritual abuse toxic religion & leaving it behind can have on our mental and physical health, and relationships.
She then shares how the creative process with this book & her own exploration of this Psalm both liberated, healed, and helped her find a new depth to her connection with the divine - and how it can do so for us.

Poema S8 025 | Jarred the Wyrd Worker on Witchcraft & Paganism

Today on I'm honoured to be joined by my friend Jarred, who tells me his story of discovering his queer identity, and deconstruction, which led him into witchcraft and paganism. 
He shares how this has transformed his life, relationships and spirituality, and some of the challenges he's faced along the way, including the response to his embrace of his true identity and leaving his Christian faith behind.
He is both courageous, honest and compassionate in how he tells us his story and the sharing the wisdom he's learned. 

Poema S8 024 | Kacey on Coming Out & Living Free

Today my beloved friend Kacey returns to the show, to bring us up to date with their story, including their coming out as non-binary and bi, and the impact this has had on them, their life and family, and how her partner supported them with this.
Kacey and I explore the concept of identity and the constructs which can restrict us, and the impact of good embodiment work. And then move to explore how we can live free of those identities and live a healthy, thriving life where we can be fully ourselves. 

Poema S8 023 | Brandan Robertson on Becoming A TikTok Star & Being Filled To Be Emptied

I'm honoured to welcome back my friend, author & activist (and now tik-tok star), Brandan Robertson today. In this episode we talk about his journey in the last year, becoming an advocate for LGBTQIA+ inclusion on Tik Tok & being featured in Rolling Stone.
He also shares his lived experience of unlearning his white male privilege, doing anti-racist work and its role in his deconstruction and personal journey, and the importance of this for all white people. He uses the metaphor of Jesus laying his divinity aside as a metaphor for laying privilege permanently aside for the betterment and liberation of ourselves, and the world.

Poema S8 022 | No Longer Available

For various reasons, this episode is no longer available to listen to.