Holy Shenanigans

Tara tells a story of singing nurses, her childhood guitar and how these gifts led her to discover a space of contemplation and prayer - by way of music. She encourages us to listen to the call of Jesus us to look at our hearts, and spend some time wrestling with the questions: Do the words we speak align with sincerity of heart? How do we live with sincerity and authenticity? Simon de Voil, a Sco...

Tara wraps up the "bread of life" series of Jesus stories with a message that his followers find hard to swallow, a story about the Island of Misfit Toys, and a prayer borrowed from St. Patrick. In this episode, Tara references two books: Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving and Finding the Church by Rachel Held Evans and The Celtic Way of Evangelism by George G. Hunter III. Send Tara a...

Tara continues her exploration of the “bread of life” with a challenge to serve and partake of nourishing things that satisfy the deep hungers in our lives and communities. She is joined this week by the Reverend Kwame Pitts, cohost of the Opposite Ends podcast and pastor of the Community of Good Neighbors , Oasis & LuMin in Buffalo, NY. Send Tara a Text Message 🎙️ Exciting news! Tara is recor...

Put your dancin' shoes on! Keith Secola performs his song referenced in last week’s episode, Fry Bread! To learn more about this seven-time Native American Music Award winner’s music, tour schedule and merchandise go to www.secola.com . Send Tara a Text Message 🎙️ Exciting news! Tara is recording a new episode of the Holy Shenanigans Podcast live at the Wild Goose Festival this September 3–6...

Whatcha hungry for? Tara reminisces about music making and community building with Keith Secola. You can purchase music by Keith at www.secola.com . Learn more about the history of fry bread at perpich.mn.gov . This episode of Holy Shenanigans is dedicated to Cassie and the Smith Family. Rest in peace, Cassie. Send Tara a Text Message 🎙️ Exciting news! Tara is recording a new episode of the Holy S...

Tara tells a Jesus story about sharing a lunch and the call to "not be afraid.” Content warning: this episode includes a story of her own cancer diagnosis and treatment.. Included in this podcast is a quote from Kate Bowler's book Everything Happens For A Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved . Kate's newest book, No Cure for Being Human, is just about ready for release and preorders ar...

We all need to take a break… Press the pause button… To rest and recharge… Tara tells a Jesus story about a search for Sabbath. She shares the poem “Shoulders” by poet Naomi Shihab Nye. For more on Naomi's work, follow her on Twitter or visit her page at https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/naomi-shihab-nye . The book referenced in this episode is Let Your Life Speak by Parker Palmer. Send...

Tara tells a story about the power of dance, for foolishness or love, and shares an original song based on a speech by Martin Luther King. Send Tara a Text Message 🎙️ Exciting news! Tara is recording a new episode of the Holy Shenanigans Podcast live at the Wild Goose Festival this September 3–6 at Vanhoy Farms in Harmony, North Carolina! Wild Goose is a faith-inspired festival celebrating social...

Tara meets a gifted seamstress (River Marie Design on FB) who makes bags that lighten the load of life. This gets her thinking about how creativity helps shake off things in life that no longer serve a purpose.  Send Tara a Text Message 🎙️ Exciting news! Tara is recording a new episode of the Holy Shenanigans Podcast live at the Wild Goose Festival this September 3–6 at Vanhoy Farms in Harmony, No...

Tara unpacks the real meaning of grace with a Jesus lesson about healing and shares an original parable called,"The Green Chair."    Send Tara a Text Message 🎙️ Exciting news! Tara is recording a new episode of the Holy Shenanigans Podcast live at the Wild Goose Festival this September 3–6 at Vanhoy Farms in Harmony, North Carolina! Wild Goose is a faith-inspired festival celebrating soc...

This week we face the monsters hiding under our bed as well as the ones in our imagination. This episode reflects on a story about a boat in stormy weather and provides wisdom about leadership and courage from Rabbi Edwin Friedman, Pastor Mark DeVries and Poet & Author Sonya Renee Taylor. Send Tara a Text Message 🎙️ Exciting news! Tara is recording a new episode of the Holy Shenanigans Podcast...

What does a Jesus story about mustard seeds teach us about resilience? Tara tells how an urban sweet corn garden led to her mantra to “grow where she is planted.” Send Tara a Text Message 🎙️ Exciting news! Tara is recording a new episode of the Holy Shenanigans Podcast live at the Wild Goose Festival this September 3–6 at Vanhoy Farms in Harmony, North Carolina! Wild Goose is a faith-inspired fest...

Hear the hot goss about the family drama of Jesus, get an invitation for quick spaghetti & ponder the question “Who is family?” Send Tara a Text Message 🎙️ Exciting news! Tara is recording a new episode of the Holy Shenanigans Podcast live at the Wild Goose Festival this September 3–6 at Vanhoy Farms in Harmony, North Carolina! Wild Goose is a faith-inspired festival celebrating social justice...

Tara tells a story filled with mystery and courage, shares some remembrances of books and bonfires and wraps up with a poem by Matrin Niemoller. This episode also includes a quote from holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel. Send Tara a Text Message 🎙️ Exciting news! Tara is recording a new episode of the Holy Shenanigans Podcast live at the Wild Goose Festival this September 3–6 at Vanhoy Farms in Harmo...

A Hype Squad for NOW. In this week's podcast, we take a pause from past and future thinking and take the role of being hype squad advocates for the present. Tara reflects on a quote from David Whyte by way of Christine Valters Painter's book,. Sacred Time, and shares an original song, See, Breathe, to aid you in a moment to enjoy the gift of the present. Send Tara a Text Message 🎙️ Excit...

Embrace your weird, hear a story about wasabi and enjoy a new poem called Roy G Biv (a submission to Moleskin and Vocal Media's Poetry Challenge). Submissions are being accepted until May 16th, 2021. Google "Moleskin Vocal Poetry Challenge" for more information if you’re interested!  Send Tara a Text Message 🎙️ Exciting news! Tara is recording a new episode of the Holy Shenanigans P...

Tara tells a Jesus story about real love, the unlimited possibilities of Lego builds, thanks the Moms who provide them & shares a song called Hats. Send Tara a Text Message 🎙️ Exciting news! Tara is recording a new episode of the Holy Shenanigans Podcast live at the Wild Goose Festival this September 3–6 at Vanhoy Farms in Harmony, North Carolina! Wild Goose is a faith-inspired festival celebr...

A few weeks prior to the verdict in the George Floyd murder trial, David Gray wrote a reflection entitled "Preparing for Daycare" about how his family moves through the world because of complex systems of racism and oppression. The post quickly went viral across Facebook, where Tara saw it in her news feed. This week, Tara passes the mic to David for his thoughts about how to work toward...

Tara tells a Jesus story about a good shepherd, a 100-day dress challenge and the unexpected gifts of friendship it brings. For more about her experience with the #onehundreddaydresschallenge go to http://www.instagram.com/holyshenaniganspodcast/ or look up more info at wooland.com This week's poem: 100 days Can I wear the same dress for 100 days? What an absurd question.  Why ever would I tr...

Tara shares a song in honor of a friend who showed up 100% and invites you to reflect on those “bright spots” in your life. Send Tara a Text Message 🎙️ Exciting news! Tara is recording a new episode of the Holy Shenanigans Podcast live at the Wild Goose Festival this September 3–6 at Vanhoy Farms in Harmony, North Carolina! Wild Goose is a faith-inspired festival celebrating social justice, creati...

Tara reminisces about discovering jelly beans as a child, tells a story about a curious follower of Jesus, and shares John O’Donohue’s poem, Matins, from his book The Space Between Us. To learn more about John O"Donohue's poetry, check out: www.johnodonohue.com. Send Tara a Text Message 🎙️ Exciting news! Tara is recording a new episode of the Holy Shenanigans Podcast live at the Wild Goo...

In the Easter episode of Holy Shenanigans, Tara tells a story about cross-carrying Simon and how 15 years of car repairs led to new life. Included in this episode are mentions of the famous Fred Rogers "Helpers" quote and a brief excerpt from author Cleo Wade's book Heart Talk. For more information on Ms. Wade's work, go to: cleowade.com. Send Tara a Text Message 🎙️ Exciting ne...

Tara talks about the power of outsiders to hack systems of injustice, her first hand experience as a spiritual lightning rod, and the challenge of Brendan the Navigator to live a risky life. Resources in this episode include Stacy Abrams’ Lead from Outside & Northumbria Community’s Celtic Daily Prayer. Send Tara a Text Message 🎙️ Exciting news! Tara is recording a new episode of the Holy Shena...

Tara talks about the challenge of really seeing people and is joined by special guest Roger Hutchison. You can get a sneak peek at Roger's new book, Face: A Love Story, at: https://www.flipsnack.com/AE9A9F7EFB5/face-a-love-story.html References in this episode include Parker Palmer's Courage to Teach and Jewel's song lyric to the song One of Us. Send Tara a Text Message 🎙️ Exciting...

Tara tells a story of how a football game led her on a search for the whole story of John 3:16 AND 17 and how a visit to a monastery gave her the tools to seek peace in a time of conflict…  To read more about the “slave bible” referenced in this episode, see: npr.org/2018/12/09/674995075/slave-bible-from-the-1800s-omitted-key-passages-that-could-incite-rebellion … The poem by Joseph Seamon Cotter...