Poema Podcast

This week my friend Douglas Humphreys returns to the show, and we discuss the show 'Obi Wan Kenobi', and the dynamic of the relationship between him and Anakin Skywalker (AKA Darth Vader) in the context of their respective journeys of grief and trauma. We discuss their experiences of grief, including in their own relationship, and the circumstances which contributed to the stories and outcomes of their lives. We talk about how unresolved grief and anger can consume and control us, and harm both ourselves and others - and how this story shows the contrast between this and healthy ways of processing grief, and how it transforms us.

This week Amanda Held Opelt returns to continue our exploration of grief and transformation in pop culture. Today we talk about the contrasting experiences of Loki, brother of Thor and Wanda Maximoff, and how we see this ultimately play out in their respective MCU shows.  We explore how Loki's confrontation with his own trauma, grief, and his actions, ultimately transforms and heals him. In contrast we discuss how Wanda's unhealthy response to trauma and grief causes harm to others, and herself. We then touch on what lessons we can learn from their respective journeys. 

I'm honoured to be joined today on my podcast by anti-racist activist, educator and speaker Tori Williams Douglass.  Tori runs 'White Homework', a resource educating people on anti-racism and whiteness. Today Tori tells us a bit of her story and journey into activism. She then discusses the concept of whiteness, where it originated, where we see it, and the harm it does, individually and societally. Tori also explores where we can see whiteness in ourselves and in the system we live in, and how we can begin to unlearn it and create a more equal, just world.

TW: Stories of acephobia Today Marshall Blount (@AceGentle on twitter) joins me today to share his story of discovering his identity as an asexaul (ace) and his journey into ace & LGBTQI activism.  We talk about the challenges he faced in discovering going public about his ace-ness and how others reacted, how it impacted his mental health, as well as his experiences of acephobia.  We also talk in depth about the activism he's been involved in, including how he obtained a proclamation for Ace Week 2020 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the difference his work is making to ace awareness and equality - as well as words of encouragement for those still exploring their aceness. 

This week, in our 350th episode, Amanda Held Opelt joins me again for the second part of our series on superheroes, grief and modern mythology.  This week we explore the character and story of Superman, in particularly the one we see in the Christopher Reeve movies. He's a character who loses his adoptive father as a teenager, an event which drives him into a life trying to save people, never expressing his emotions, until another event finally unlocks his buried grief. We explore how Superman is a more hopeful character, and how his processing of grief doesn't dilute this, but rather makes him more hopeful, more kind, and more inspirational. We explore what lessons we can learn from his processing of grief, and his character, and why the world needs more people of sincerity and hope.

This week I begin a new series with my friend Amanda Held Opelt to discuss how grief is explored in superhero stories, and how they have become our modern mythology.  Today we focus mainly on Batman, exploring his story sand how his grief transforms and initially controls him, with Batman an expression of his raw grief. We discuss some of the stories in prominent Batman movies, as Bruce Wayne processes his grief and eventually Batman becomes a symbol of hope.  This episode explores how grief can control us if we let it, but if we allow ourselves to process it, it can transform us. 

This week Jenna DeWitt returns to the show for a conversation about Taylor Swift's recent album "Midnights" and the enneagram. Jenna briefly introduces the enneagram and we talk a bit about Taylor's likely enneagram numbers 9 (3w4). Then we explore how this relates to the recent fallout with Ticketmaster regarding her tour. Then we talk about how the album is reflective of Taylor's own personal and creative journey, her lived experiences and how she's often been perceived and treated by the media and those who aren't fans.  We also discuss how many of the challenges she can face are typical of her enneagram number, and end by exploring how all of us, whatever our enneagram number can embrace our identities and move into growth and transformation. 

TW: Spiritual abuse, evangelicalism, toxic religion   Today I'm joined by Carissa (@carissaexplainsnothing) who courageously shares her story, including her deconstruction and experience of toxic religion. She talks about her upbringing with evangelicalism, and a path she began to see as already pre-determined and inevitable. Carissa shares some of the spiritual abuse she experienced, and the grief she experienced leaving evangelicalism behind, and at the end of her marriage. And then she tells us about her experience of deconstruction, the risks and the joys of creating a new life, and discovering who she's always been. 

This week I'm honoured to be joined by Candice Czubernat. She is a therapist (known as @lesbiantherapist on IG), and founder of The Christian Closet, an LGBTQ affirming counseling, coaching and spiritual direction organization. She is also the founder of Gloriously Queer a conference for LGBTQ people of faith developed by LGBTQ people of faith. Today Candice shares her own story, talks about her work and her experiences as a therapist, particuarly focussing on grief. We discuss our various experiences of grief, different types of grief - including loss of loved ones, relationships ending, and the grief of deconstruction - and how we can learn to respond to grief and process grief in healthy ways.

Today I'm joined by returning guests Trace Bell and Tina Olsen to discuss grief and the spirituality of dogs.  Tina shares her experience of grief, and both her and Trace share their experiences with dogs, and learning and understanding their consciousness and building relationship with them, and how this can improve our mental health. They discuss how dogs can be extra intuitive and aware of our emotions and needs almost before we are, and what this can teach us about learning to listen to our own intuition and our relationship with the earth.

In this week's episode author Amanda Held Opelt joins me to discuss the cultural and historical impact of the Black Death during the 1300's.  We discuss the collective grief and trauma experienced by the countries impacted by the Black Death, and the longer term consequences for the church, culture and ultimately the history of western culture. We explore the consequences of collective cultural grief and trauma, and talk about what the potential long term impact of COVID has and potentially will be for the world and our culture as a whole. 

In today's episode we return to our irregular pop culture series, with author Marla Taviano joining me to discuss the popular show - and one of our favourites - Schitts Creek.  We talk about the various character arcs, and how these explore personal deconstruction and transformation after a major life change. We also explore the culture of the show which normalised LGBTQ inclusion and was such an inspiration to the LGBTQ community. This was such a fun episode to record, any fan of the show will enjoy it (and even those who don't know the show). 

I'm honoured to be joined today by my friend, colleague Maria Francesca French today. Maria is a professor, theologian, author and coach, exploring all things Christian and post-Christian.  Today she shares her personal journey, and talks about her first book, Safer than the Known Way, and we discuss together the root of the term deconstruction. We explore the concept of event, and how event begins an unravelling which takes us on a journey into what is called deconstruction, which goes way beyond the boundaries of religion and belief, and helps us explore, question and understand our very identity. This was such a great conversation, Maria has such knowledge, wisdom and lived experience in this area.  **** I highly recommend checking out Maria's book 'Safer than the Known Way', available at all online booksellers now.  

**Trigger warning: religious abuse, toxic religion** Today author and podcaster Nikki Pappas joins us to talk about her book "As Familiar As Family: Leaving Toxic Religion". Nikki tells us her powerful story of how she experienced abuse as love from a young age, being brought up in an evangelical family, being groomed for unhealthy relationships and toxic religion.  She talks about she finally broke free of toxic religion, the challenges and the cost - and the freedom she discovered. 

Today author, YouTuber and public theologian Damon Garcia is my guest, as we explore the call of Jesus to social activism. Damon shares his own spiritual journey, and how he discovered a Jesus who takes sides with the marginalised and the oppressed and who fights for their liberation. Damon then explores how we need to follow this example, in the oppressive systems we currently find ourselves in, and take a stand for marginalised, oppressed peoples. 

Today my friend author, podcaster and tik tok star Rev Brandan Robertson joins me to talk about his new book 'Dry Bones and Holy Wars'. In this episode he and I explore how the teachings of Jesus can inspire us bring social and spiritual renewal in a world engulfed by toxic systems of oppression, and where there is so much grief, trauma, inequality, and marginalisation. Brandan talks about what a healthy, deconstructed Jesus spirituality can look like, and how the community of Jesus followers need to reform, evolve and grow to be able to bring about the social and spiritual renewal the world so desperately needs. 

**TW: Eating disorder**   This week author, podcaster & speaker Jackie Gronlund (she/her) is my guest. Jackie shares her story, talking about her relationship with her body, and learning self acceptance.  Jackie talks about the challenges of living with an eating disorder and other coping mechanisms and escapes, and how this impacted her life, spirituality, relationships with others. and her relationship with her body. Jackie shares her journey of discovering healing through a healthy relationship with her body, and how this helped her find peace in herself and in her true identity - and how we can do the same.   Find more of Jackie's work at jackiegronlund.com

Today my friend, podcaster, coach, speaker and author Rev Sarah Heath returns to Poema! In this episode we catch up with what she's been up to, and she shares the story of how she chose to leave working in ordained ministry to create a life which was truly her own, and becoming fully embodied in her vocation and her life.  Sarah talks about the challenges of moving out of ordained ministry, and the risks, the difficulties - and the rewards, of choosing to live fully in tune with ourselves. Sarah also shares how these choices have been influenced by, and have themselves impacted her own spiritual journey. Sarah's story is  a great example of what it means for us create our own lives and tell our story our own way, and how this can transform us.

I'm honoured to be joined by Thomas Floyd LCMHC, a psychologist and therapist. He tells us a little of his story, and then we explore the connections between the process of deconstruction and issues of co-dependency and attachment types in relationships of all kinds  We talk about how toxic religious systems can teach us co-dependency and unhealthy attachment models, and how we can unlearn these to have healthy relationships and communities. 

Honoured today to be joined by my friend Erin Green M.Div (she/they). Erin is a queer activist and scholar. Today their share their story of deconstruction, and discovery and exploration of their queer identity. They discuss how they reconciled the two, how this impacted their life, faith & relationships, in particular their relationship with Christianity & the church, and finding healthy community.