Potter's Inn Soul Care Conversations

SHOW NOTES Welcome to our sixth season of the Soul Care Conversations Podcast! Steve is anchoring the season with a thoughtful discussion on our theme of Complex Conversations – and how these conversations can help us buffet the fierce winds that are blowing in our lives. It’s all in learning to live with our soul and mind, while trying to find, with each other, foundational places where we can anchor ourselves. It’s a great discussion and introduction to what this season will be about. Also included is a reading from our new devotional, 365 Days with the Potter, which will be launching this fall with our new Potter’s Inn App!   MENTIONED IN PODCAST Book - Faith After Doubt: Why Your Beliefs Stopped Working and What to Do About It by Brian McLaren Book - Backpacking with the Saints by Beldon Lane Poem read in podcast - The Landscape is my Innerscape by Stephen W. Smith SNEAK PEAK: 30 Days with the Potter Devotional reading - Foundational Love of God   SUPPORT THE PODCAST Donate Here f

SHOW NOTES Important Information Regarding This Particular Podcast:  We do not consider this podcast to be an introduction to the Enneagram. We assume in the podcast that the listener will have some orientation and understanding of the Enneagram. We have listed some books and a previous podcast below for you as resources to discover more about the Enneagram. ————————— In these days of global crisis, we felt it was imperative for us to have a conversation with seasoned experts and trusted authors, Doug and Adele Calhoun on how the Enneagram helps us understand how each of us react differently under stress, fear and the pandemic facing us at the present moment.   For those of you who have been introduced to the Enneagram and understand your own type and the types of those you love who are around you, this podcast will prove valuable, if not invaluable. See if you don’t agree with us while listening! There is something for every single person in this podcast. This is a longer than usual podcast, but worth

This is WEEK 9 of our summer series The Roaring Summer of ‘21 Series: The Best of the Best! We have gone back thru all 5 of our seasons and come up with 10 episodes that have been our most listened to and will be airing those episodes over the next 10 weeks. Today is our 2nd most popular podcast (one more week until #1!) - Cultivating Daily Shalom: Using the Daily Examen with Steve as host. Enjoy!   SHOW NOTES The art of reflecting on our day is almost a lost art in our busy and over-committed life. However, in this week’s podcast, Steve explores an ancient spiritual exercise called The Daily Examen. Steve walks us through five easy steps used to reflect back upon our day, to see where God was in our midst and to foster a heart of gratitude. SHOW NOTES The art of reflecting on our day is almost a lost art in our busy and over-committed life. However, in this week’s podcast, Steve explores an ancient spiritual exercise called The Daily Examen. Steve walks us through five easy steps used to reflect back upon o

This is WEEK 8 of our summer series The Roaring Summer of ‘21 Series: The Best of the Best! We have gone back thru all 5 of our seasons and come up with 10 episodes that have been our most listened to and will be airing those episodes over the next 10 weeks. Today is our 3rd most popular podcast, What is a Soul Friendship? Kaylene was joined by Special Guest Tara Owens in the episode.   SHOW NOTES Today we are talking about friendship. Not just any kind of friendship, but a spiritual, soul friendship. What is a soul friend? (In Gaelic it is known as Anam Cara). And how does it tie in to having a spiritual director? Listen in on this conversation with Kaylene and Tara Owens, founder of Anam Cara Ministry, and learn! RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE PODCAST Today’s Guest - Tara Owens Tara was born in Montreal to British parents who moved to Canada for a better life for their growing family. Canadian by birth and British by blood, she has lived all over the US, and now lives in Colorado Springs,

This is WEEK 7 of our summer series The Roaring Summer of ‘21 Series: The Best of the Best! We have gone back thru all 5 of our seasons and come up with 10 episodes that have been our most listened to and will be airing those episodes over the next 10 weeks. Today is our 4th most popular podcast, and is one of our very first episodes (#2!) - What is Soul Care?   SHOW NOTES Join co-hosts Steve Smith and Joe Chambers as they give more definition to what soul care is and how it relates to… icebergs and the Brooklyn Bridge? Yup, both of those! Steve shows us the stress caused by living divided lives and lays out the importance of caring for all aspects of the human experience: physical, emotional, relational, vocational, and spiritual.   LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE PODCAST Understanding the Soul (with Icebergs illustration): View and Download Here Article: Five Reasons Soul Care Matters by Stephen W. Smith: View and Download Here Poem: For One Who Is Exhausted by John O’Donohue. This poem is a

This is WEEK 6 of our summer series The Roaring Summer of ‘21 Series: The Best of the Best! We have gone back thru all 5 of our seasons and come up with 10 episodes that have been our most listened to and will be airing those episodes over the next 10 weeks. Today is our 5th most popular podcast, and originally aired just last year in September 2020 - Soul Care in Exhaustion. SHOW NOTES This week’s episode is Steve sharing his recent struggles with exhaustion… that deep in the heart, soul weary exhaustion that many of us are struggling with now. It’s a beautiful episode that will speak to your heart and soul and help you find the unforced rhythms of grace. What Steve did to help his recovery Pulled away from the news Let go of newspaper Limited tv news/ads Delete, snooze, and hide toxic people from social media Took off to Blue Ridge Mountains for time away Made a dam at creek - a symbol for the things damned in him that needed to get out Let nature bring healing and rest Put ourselves

This is WEEK 5 of our summer series The Roaring Summer of ‘21 Series: The Best of the Best! We have gone back thru all 5 of our seasons and come up with 10 episodes that have been our most listened too and will be airing those episodes over the next 10 weeks. Today is our 6th most popular podcast, and originally aired just last year in October, 2021 - Belovedness: The Core Truth that Changes Everything. SHOW NOTES Today’s Verse’s: Mark 1:9-11 (NIV) Friends,  the message of this podcast is a game changer. It’s that profound and it’s that simple.  I’ve spent years of my life and ministry trying to wrap my head and  heart around what I’m talking with you about this week in this particular podcast. For sure, if you listen to one podcast this week—let this ONE be it! Share it with some friends and try to listen to it with your spouse, family, or friends. I’m going to send the link to some specific men and women that I, myself, have been on the journey of understanding the profound truth of what it means to call o

This is WEEK 4 of our summer series The Roaring Summer of ‘21 Series: The Best of the Best! We have gone back thru all 5 of our seasons and come up with 10 episodes that have been our most listened too and will be airing those episodes over the next 10 weeks. Today is our 7th most popular podcast, and originally aired during Season Two in September 2019 - How Jesus Lived in Rhythm.   SHOW NOTES We are looking at the Model of Rhythm in the life of Jesus… the perfect example, the way, the truth, and the life for each of us. This is one of the most important topics we share and a game changer for so many! Steve will then lead us in a reflection on 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 and 1 Corinthians 7:5-6. I Corinthians 2:12-13 (The Message) I Corinthians 7:5-6 (NIV)   RESOURCES/SCRIPTURE MENTIONED IN THE PODCAST FREE DOWNLOAD of the Rhythm Reader, a resource for you to reflect on how to live in Rhythm. Take time to circle or underline key words that stir something inside you while using this resource. Moment to

This is WEEK 3 of our summer series The Roaring Summer of ‘21 Series: The Best of the Best! We have gone back thru all 5 of our seasons and come up with 10 episodes that have been our most listened too and will be airing those episodes over the next 10 weeks. Today is our 8th most popular podcast, and was our 5th episode back in May 2019 - Three Core Questions of Every Soul.   SHOW NOTES In this episode we join Steve and Gwen for two sessions of their Soul Care 101 course recorded at the retreat center known as Potter’s Inn at Aspen Ridge. Enjoy this fireside conversation with pops and crackles from the fireplace, as they examine the three core questions of every soul. In the first session they talk about: Question 1 - Am I Loved? Every person everywhere wants to know if they are loved. Some (or all) of us may have love wounds where we either didn’t get the love we needed or we looked for love in all the wrong places. Learn what it means to be beloved and how to rest in the truth of God’s love for us.   Ques

This is WEEK 2 of our summer series The Roaring Summer of ‘21 Series: The Best of the Best! We have gone back thru all 5 of our seasons and come up with 10 episodes that have been our most listened too and will be airing those episodes over the next 10 weeks. Today is our 9th most popular podcast, which was recorded at the beginning of the pandemic and originally aired in March 2020 and called Lamenting through the Pandemic.   SHOW NOTES How can we ever find words for all our groaning’s stirring inside of us? Steve has an engaging and helpful conversation with Tara Owens about Grief, Lament, and the Pandemic. The podcast will offer a unique way to actually write your own lament--to get 'this’ out of you.  We are offering Tara’s guide on Lament “French Pantoum-An Exercise for Lament” in the RESOURCES below that is a guide to help you write your own personal lament. And please head over to our "Soul Care Conversation Facebook Page” and share your lament with us. SPECIAL GUEST TARA OWENS Tara was b

This is the beginning of our summer series The Roaring Summer of ‘21 Series: The Best of the Best! We have gone back thru all 5 of our seasons and come up with 10 episodes that have been our most listened too and will be airing those episodes over the next 10 weeks. Today we start the countdown with #10 - Discernment: The Journey to Discover God’s Will. It was originally aired in May 2019 (our 11th episode!) and Steve chats with Father Tim Corbley about discernment and the Ignatian Exercises. Enjoy as we jump back to 2019! SHOW NOTES All of us are looking to discover God’s will. We all need clarity in making decisions. This exciting conversation between Steve and Father Tim Corbley unpacks spiritual discernment, defined as the art of finding clarity. Through discernment, our goal is to “find God in all things.”  Father Tim was Steve Smith’s spiritual guide for year long journey Steve took in 2017, called The Ignatian Exercises. This conversation is like listening to two seasoned souls talk of

SHOW NOTES Prayer - it eludes people. The original disciples didn’t get prayer. Most of us don’t get it either. And Contemplative Prayer? That really confuses people! The modern world has lost sight of this vital practice. So Steve and Gwen set out to study, learn and even unlearn what they thought they knew about contemplative prayer. The journey was life changing. The book “Ascending the Mountain Within” is the fruit of that long journey, and today we have the privilege of hearing Joe Chambers read the book for us. Please join us! And share with your friends - it’s a book that can change how we all practice prayer. Please Note: This will be our last episode of the season. We will be on break for the summer and look forward to seeing you again for Season 6!    PURCHASE BOOK! Available on Amazon in Kindle and Paperback on Amazon   MENTIONED IN PODCAST “Practice the Presence of God.” - This phrase was coined by Brother Lawrence, a 17th century Carmelite friar. It is also the title

SHOW NOTES How do you “do” the invisible work of caring for your soul? The Soul Care Institute was created to do just that -to help you discover what your soul has been longing for. Kaylene Derksen, the President of the Soul Care Institute (and previous co-host for the podcast!) joins today’s podcast and chats with 3 students who are in the middle of their own journeys. Listen as they describe how they made the decision to join the Soul Care Institute and what they are learning through their journey. Once you have listened to the podcast, go visit SoulCareInstitute.com to learn more about the Institute and to sign up for Cohort 10!   MENTIONED IN PODCAST Soul Care Institute Jeremiah 6:16 (MSG) - “…and you will find rest for your soul.” Lectio Divina Podcast about Lectio Divina DOWNLOAD the Lectio Divina Guide Competitive Edge International Retreat Locations St. Francis Springs Prayer Center, nestled in a forest in North Carolina. Geneva Camp and Retreat Center right on the coast of Lake

SHOW NOTES The Soul Care Conversation in this episode is "Exposing the Soul of the Pastor!"  We live in a day of tension, frustration, and alienation - and no people group faces the brunt of the discord we navigate more than pastors of the local church. We've gathered four pastors to have a candid conversation, which will be a portal for us to listen and understand the soul of the pastor in today's environment. A pastor told me recently that "Pastoring today is like pastoring the United States which is now the fragmented states. We have the Anti-maskers, Pro-Maskers; the Anti this and the Pro that every time we meet. We have Blue people and Red People and every one matters people and I don't give a rip people.” Imagine what this tension does inside the soul of the pastor!  Please help us by sharing this podcast with anyone you know who works in and for the local church. Perhaps this Podcast will help a pastor, somewhere, feel not so alone and or alienated. Perhaps these words and voices might give voice t

SHOW NOTES What will church look like and be like in the post pandemic era? We discuss pastors inner worlds and implications for the new wine that is coming! A stirring, provocative conversation which will rattle and stretch us from these two seasoned veterans who work in the subterranean world of helping church leaders!   MEET SPECIAL GUEST DR. CHUCK DEGROAT Chuck is Professor of Counseling and Christian Spirituality at Western Theological Seminary Holland MI, and Co-Founder and a Senior Fellow at Newbigin House of Studies, San Francisco. He is a licensed therapist, author, retreat leader, and spiritual director. Chuck has been married to Sara for 25 years, and has two daughters. Chuck has spent the last 20+ years in a dynamic combination of pastoral ministry, seminary teaching, and clinical counseling.  His books are practical and pastoral, meeting readers at the intersection of our spiritual journeys and the very real struggles we experience. Chuck’s Website Chuck on Twitter Chuc

“No issues touch us more profoundly or more universally. No themes are more inseparably intertwined. No topics caused more controversy. No human realities have greater power to bless or to curse. No three things have been sought after or more in need of a Christian response: money, sex, and power. — Richard Foster, from Challenge of the Disciplined Life: Money, Sex, and Power We are continuing the conversation today with Steve and Special guest Hayne Steen - “The Trap of Money, Sex, and Power, Part 2”   MEET SPECIAL GUEST HAYNE STEEN, MAMFT, LMHC Hayne grew up on the north Florida coast and met his wife at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida where they were both students and Young Life leaders. Since 1992 they have been serving together in full time ministry with Young Life and the local church all over the southeast. Hayne worked in private practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist for six years while co-directing The SoulCare Project, serving as the Director of Counseling and Care.

SHOW NOTES “No issues touch us more profoundly or more universally. No themes are more inseparably intertwined. No topics caused more controversy. No human realities have greater power to bless or to curse. No three things have been sought after or more in need of a Christian response: money, sex, and power." — Richard Foster, from Challenge of the Disciplined Life: Money, Sex, and Power This quote from Richard Foster is the perfect introduction to today’s podcast. Join Steve and Special guest Hayne Steen on today’s new podcast “The Trap of Money, Sex, and Power.”   MEET SPECIAL GUEST HAYNE STEEN, MAMFT, LMHC Hayne grew up on the north Florida coast and met his wife at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida where they were both students and Young Life leaders. Since 1992 they have been serving together in full time ministry with Young Life and the local church all over the southeast. Hayne worked in private practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist for six years while co-directing Th

SHOW NOTES Dear Friends, This podcast is about “The Soul of Sex.”  This is an honest, vulnerable, and transparent conversation. I talk with Jim Cress, a licensed professional and trained counselor who specializes in the soul of sex. PLEASE NOTE: This is a conversation you need to exercise wisdom with in terms of who listens to this. It’s a mature conversation not intended for children. But is is a conversation to enter with your friends and spouse. When we say “where soul meets the world” in this podcast, this is a particular conversation we need to find the light and way forward. Blessings as you listen! Stephen W Smith   Meet Special Guest Jim Cress Jim is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist, Certified Multiple Addictions Therapist, and a Certified Daring Way Facilitator with Dr. Brene’ Brown’s The Daring Way Organization. For three years, he studied with and was trained by Dr. Patrick Carnes, the founder of the sex addiction field. Jim specializes in

SHOW NOTES Gwen and Steve recorded the podcast today about a prayer that took on great meaning and deeper insight during a difficult and dark time. Their conversation today is an exploration of “The Welcome Prayer.” At a dark and tumultuous time in their lives, when they lost their grandson Tommy in death, they slid into a dark night. This one prayer offered light in the darkness. The writer Thomas Keating opened their hearts up to the power of this prayer and the consolation of letting go. To just listen to the podcast is but one thing. But to share with others whom you know need this prayer is sharing the love! Please share!   MENTIONED IN PODCAST The Welcome Prayer by Father Thomas Keating Matthew 6:5-13 (The Message) Lectio Divina   STEVE’S NEW BOOK! ***Available February 15, 2021!*** Solo: Creating Space with God – www.solowithgod.com     SUPPORT THE PODCAST Donate Here for an individual contribution or on Patreon to set up monthly support. CONTACT US po