Tracing Inspiration

Anisa Ali is a longtime friend whom I recently reconnected with through my new role in state government. We discovered that we now work in similar fields, and by what felt like divine timing, our paths crossed again as she began exploring the Enneagram. After seeing a post I shared about my wife Chelsea’s… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get ac...

Singer/songwriter/educator Sarina Partridge joins me in a conversation about the tedious path of following a calling. Sarina went from wacky math teacher in Minnesota, to a world-traveling song leader who uses harmony circles as a way to build community as well as to resist conditioned impulses to "disappear the self." She encountered setbacks so great that she even thought the dream of singing ha...

Cozy up with tea (or —if you’re more like me— queue this one up for your next car ride or long run) because this giggly, joyful, deep conversation with Presbyterian pastor Luna Gebbengreen covers so many universally applicable themes, namely: learning to trust, love, and stick with ourselves, even when it would be easier to self-abandon. This isn’t one I can chop into sound bytes or give you a tim...

"Everything you want and desire— like really, really want— it's inside. It's not on the outside." -Milton C. Stewart But where are the keys that unlock the passage to the inside? And how do we access the freedom needed to pull the inside out into the world? Milton C. Stewart, MBA, is a coach who uses the Enneagram to help people see their patterns, motivations, and fears. Finding internal freedom...

What does it mean to actually allow love — not just believe in it, but allow myself to receive it? In this conversation, I sit down with Phil Gebbengreen, pastor at Edgcumbe Presbyterian Church in St. Paul and staff with the Enneagram Prison Project, to talk about worthiness, judgment, the prison of our own making, and how resting in love is actually quite contagious. Find more at Waking Up for Wo...

What happens when we slow down long enough to notice what’s actually happening inside us during the workday? In this conversation, I sit down with creative arts therapist Talia Smigielski to explore the surprising power of two paid hours a month spent in structured reflection. We trace how a small organizational investment in employees can quietly reshape identity, leadership, and self-compassion...

I’m joined by Paul Meunuier, Executive Director of YIPA and founder of The Professional Youth Worker . This was a ton of fun for me and such an honor to get to talk with a wise friend about the contrast between living for a resume versus living for a eulogy. We discussed the journey of finding passion and purpose, the significance of aligning our values with life choices, and the challenges of nav...

In this episode of  Tracing Inspiration , I share a personal reflection on moving through the world with courage and heart. From a pivotal moment in my new role, I explore the power of heart-led leadership—especially in times of uncertainty and systemic change. I want to remind you that no matter where you are, you have the power to make choices that honor compassion, justice, and creativity. Thro...

In this episode, I talk with Colin Anderson , founder of Eureka Compass Vegan Food , who is revolutionizing food justice in the Twin Cities with his powerful message: "WE FEED US!" Now in year #8 of providing FREE community meals and vegan shopping markets, Colin shares his journey and passion for sustainable food systems that support both community members and local farmers. Free vegan...

My friend and former colleague/boss Katy Daniels and discuss her "points of justice" that I steer her outer action in the world and helped me experience a work environment that welcomed all of me, quirky parts included. We touch on resiliency, addiction and recovery, queerness as well as gender in the workplace, influences of early adulthood adversity, and showing up authentically as our full selv...

If you're needing a gentle dose of encouragement, I think you might like today's conversation. Themes in today's episode include: Healing happens in community Mental health and subsequent "stuck" loops Saying 'yes' when the heart tugs us forward Journeying in and through the heart Finding wholeness and goodness within Reshaping scary early life relationships with god figures Non-western healing mo...

Luke Myers, is a man who lives, acts, and speaks with with great intention. In this episode, Luke and I discuss the impact of Luke's early life experiences with parental loss, ethical dilemmas in choosing the right career track, sobriety, toxic masculinity, gender expression, and sobriety. Here is a run down of what to expect: 3:00 Ethical dilemmas in higher education & career choices 9:00 Inf...

"If we [queer people] don't express truth as deeply as we have experienced it, and in community with each other, then we will always be beholden to the dysfunction of the most homophobic person in the room." - Tyler Sit (7:45) United Methodist Pastor, church planter, and published author Tyler Sit joins me to discuss radical new ways for viewing Christian theology, rituals, and ancestral heritage...

This one feels raw -- super vulnerable. Meet Tina Currie of Norm Hann Expeditions in Squamish, British Columbia. Tina was my standup paddleboard instructor on a Howe Sound expedition in 2022. Through our unplanned, entirely serendipitous intersection on the water, I learned something new about joy that I've been (sometimes tentatively, sometimes courageously) pursuing since. We reunite on recordin...

"The most secure place you can ever be is in prison." This quote from Amanda's father helped her realize that "security" isn't always the right thing to seek. Questing freedom for the soul may sometimes feel like the least secure thing to do. Amanda Fong, Community Engagement Supervisor at the Three Rivers Park District, and I weave through topics like burnout , quittin...

Gay, Puerto Rican speaker and storyteller, Jean Carlos ( @jeancarlosnow ) and I discuss what Jean Carlos believes matters. Both of us identify as queer Christians and have had to grapple with how to have queerness and a relationship with the Divine. You can hear Jean Carlos preach online on January 14, 2024 via New City Church's livestream , or you can just go to his website at www.jeancarlos.org...

Join James Whitt with domestic violence advocate Elsa Swenson in a discussion about how she learned how to operate from love rather than from judgment. "The first time that I dabbled in [victim advocacy] was working with people who were severely mentally ill…all of them had been abused in some capacity. That job helped me recognize that every word you say can do damage or convey love and acce...

Can pursuing joy lead to greater self-compassion, and if so, does that lead to greater kindness in the world? Why do some people's dreams get stuck in idea phase when others are able to push through? Is it really all about intrinsic drive or is there an interpersonal element we could explore more? As Tracing Inspiration enters its first season in January 2024, I wanted to give you a bit of a r...