Psyche

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Ken Chitwood. Ken is currently doing research on the interesections of ethnography and journalism with the University of Southern California’s Center for Religion and Civic Culture’s Spiritual Exemplars Project and on Latinx Muslim philanthropy with the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative (MPI), an initiative of Lake Institute on Faith and Giving and the Lilly Family S...

This is the third installment of my series with Patrick McGrath-Muñiz exploring the first twenty-two cards or the Major Arcana of the Tarot. Patrick is a professional artist from Puerto Rico. His work has been featured in museums across the country. In this episode, we explore the symbolism and significance of the Popess card. Some of the ideas we explore include: Duality  Death & Life&nb...

In this episode, I speak with Rick Lee James. Rick Lee James is a worship leader, singer and songwriter, speaker, author, and podcast host with over two decades of experience in ministry. In 2021 he enrolled as a graduate student at Loyola University and in 2022 began his clinical pastoral education working for Kettering Health, as an intern hospital chaplain, and as of August 2022, accepted a res...

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Niki Kasumi Clements. Niki is the Watt J. and Lilly G. Jackson Associate Professor of Religion at Rice University. Dr. Clements is an ethicist working on how humans can shape their lives through daily practices and come to critique the social, political, cultural, economic, and ecological factors that render humans differentially vulnerable to structural violence....

In this episode, I am joined by Aaron Inkrott and Amy Galpin. Aaron is the Brew Master at Saint Arnold Brewing Company. Amy is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor in Katy, TX. We have a great conversation about Thich Nhat Hanh's book, "Living Buddha, Living Christ." In this conversation we explore various topics including:  Mindfulness  Peace Discipline  Religion vs a...

In this episode, I have a conversation with James A. Godley. He is a postdoctoral fellow in the Society of Fellows at Dartmouth College. James's work explores mourning as a process of retroactive invention in literary and philosophical works. His current book project, “Unthinkable Loss: Mourning and the Object of Speculation in Nineteenth Century U.S. Literature,” examines how slavery, the privati...

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Jonathan Tran. Originally from Southern California, Jonathan joined Baylor University’s Religion Department in 2006 after completing his graduate studies in theology and ethics at Duke University. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses and his research examines the theological and political implications of human life in language.  Jonathan is the autho...

In this episode, I interview my 8 and 12 year-old sons. They asked to be on the podcast and share their experience of being in a blended family. These boys highlight some of the common struggles like adjusting to a step-parent and getting new siblings. They also highlight some of the benefits of having new people and experiences in their life. This was a fun and light hearted conversation. If you...

This episode is a bit different than previous ones. I interview a young man diagnosed with Autism. For various reasons, it's important to keep his identity and specific details of his story confidential. In this episode, we explore his diagnosis, early bullying, his time in prison, his experience with different therapies, and how he's seeking to defy the odds. He was told by people in his past tha...

In this episode, I interview Lewis Dene. Lewis has worked in the music industry for over 25 years and has club music in his veins. He's a former dance producer at Radio 1, music journalist, broadcaster, remixer and recording artist. With a background in dance promotion and A&R, he has previously worked for Slip N Slide/Kickin Music, and run such seminal brands as the DeepBeats and Mastercuts l...

In this episode, I have a conversation with Matt Cardin. We discuss Alan Watts’s book Beyond Theology: The Art of Godmanship. We explore various themes including: the Creator/creature distinction, the philosophy of nonduality, "scientism", and spiritual disciplines that help us become more "accident prone" to receiving divine grace.  Matt Cardin is a writer and freelance editor living in North Cen...

In this episode, I speak with J. (Jeremy) Strives. J is a professional barber and author living in Houston, Texas. This is a wild conversation! We talk about J's time in prison, his struggle with addiction, becoming a father and the harmful messages men internalize growing up. We even talk about makeup, John Wayne and the "performance" known as masculinity. If you're a guy who's wondering about th...

In this episode, I speak with Angi Lewis. Angi is a professional photographer serving the Houston Market since 2013. These are Angi's words from her website:  Photography has always been my passion. I am a member of PPA ( Professional Photographers of America ) and serve as an Ambassador with both  Partnership Lake Houston  and In The Pink of Health , a non-profit organization...

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Joel Vos. Dr. Vos is a psychologist, philosopher, researcher, lecturer, existential therapist, author, speaker, artist and chair of IMEC International Meaning Events & Communities. In this conversation, we discuss his book The Economics of Meaning In Life: Capitalist Life Syndrome to Meaning-Oriented Economy. We discuss the current mental health crisis caused by o...

In this episode, I talk with Barry Taylor. Barry is a theologian-philosopher, musician, artist, academic and writer who has spent more than thirty years challenging traditional notions of religion and church and creating alternative communities built on the idea that life is uncertain, the future is unwritten and that none of us has the answer. Barry's work collapses the boundaries between the sac...

In this episode, I speak with Tierra Ortiz-Rodriguez on Ecotherapy, Ecopoetry & Mindfulness in Nature. I love learning about new approaches to therapy! Tierra works with diverse populations of clients and communities to actualize ambitious health and wellness goals. Her approach is compassionate, collaborative, strengths-based, and trauma-informed. She integrates nature, mindfulness, and expre...

In this episode, I speak with J.F. Martel. J.F. is a writer on art, culture, religion, and philosophy. We discuss James Hillman's book "A Terrible Love of War." His essays have appeared in online journals such as  Canadian Notes & Queries ,  Reality Sandwich , The Finch , and  Metapsychosis , as well as in print anthologies from Penguin-Tarcher, North Atlantic Books, and Intelle...

I’m really excited about having my friend Dr. Allen Novian back on the podcast.  Allen is a brilliant psychotherapist and a beautiful human being. In this episode, we discuss toxic masculinity and how it contributes to depression and other physical and psychological struggles. After exploring the nature of toxic masculinity, we discuss how to cultivate a healthy masculinity centered arou...

In this episode, I have a conversation with Rayshawn Ledet, head therapist at Mental in Mind and Licensed Clinical social worker in the state of New Jersey. Ray and I talk about the reasons every man should try therapy. We have a discussion about what therapy is and what therapy is not.  If you want to connect with Ray, please visit his website: https://mentalinmind.com. To schedule a fr...

The Magician represents the man who has attained harmony and equilibrium between the spontaneity of the unconscious (in the sense given to it by C.G. Jung) and the deliberate action of the conscious (in the sense of the “I” or ego consciousness). His state of consciousness is the synthesis of the conscious and the unconscious -of creative spontaneity and deliberately executed activity. It is the s...

During times of upheaval and uncertainty, I find that my psyche turns to religious symbolism in search for some transcendent referent to tether my tumultuous emotions. My soul is looking for what philosopher and mathematician Alfred North Whitehead called an immanence of infinitude in the finite. In this episode, I speak with Christian Washington. We have a conversation about our significance as h...

Nature-deficit disorder is the idea that human beings, especially children, are spending less time outdoors than they have in the past, and the belief that this change results in a wide range of behavioral problems. In this episode, I interview August Vandiver. August is the Outdoor Recreation Programmer for the City of Pearland. I love how August describes himself:  "I have a passion for nature t...

The Stoics believed that virtue (arete) was the pursuit of one's full potential. In this episode, I speak with Justin Copeland about the importance of pursuing "male excellence". Justin is the host of Navigating The Intentional Life podcast. He is also involved in an intentional male support group called "The Cigar Room." I hope you are encouraged and challenged by this conversation! Instagram: ju...

In this episode of the podcast, I interview Aaron Inkrott. Aaron is the brewmaster at Saint Arnold Brewing Company, the oldest craft brewery in Texas. We talk about beer as the liquid of life. We have a discussion about camaraderie, the symbol of open tables and the importance of hanging with people who are different than us.  You can follow Aaron on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaron...

In this episode, I speak with David Martin. David is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor. He loves working with people in the areas of counseling and mental health services. He works with other counselors, children, teens, couples, families, and adults struggling with behavioral, emotional, or relational issues. David is the owner of Martin Counseling in Katy, TX. He started this group pr...