Sunday Morning Café Podcast

Research is showing that human beings are built for “awe.” Awe can’t be scheduled or grasped, but you can cultivate a discipline of noticing beauty. In this episode, Dr. Tom reads his article published on June 28, 2026, inviting listeners to pay attention, slow down, take in beauty, and practice wonder. View the full article here: https://www.tomwagnerspeaker.com/post/awe-article   Resources &...

What if a soul mate isn’t just “the one,” but one of the many people who help you feel at home in your own life? In this episode, Dr. Tom reads his article published on June 21, 2026, exploring the sacred gift of the soul-mate pod. View the full article here: https://www.tomwagnerspeaker.com/post/soul-mates   Resources & Links Join us live for the 8/2 SMC Event — Resilience & Creativity: A...

A well-written song takes you deeply into the experience of its author while awakening something familiar in your own. In this week’s podcast, Dr. Tom reads his article published on June 14, 2026. His tender and deeply human reflection on his mother’s life invites us to remember the people whose love, laughter, and presence have shaped us. View the full article here: https://www.tomwagnerspeaker.c...

Could years of small surrender prepare you for the hardest letting go? In this episode, Dr. Tom reads his article published on May 31, 2026, continuing Mary’s story of illness, recovery, contemplative prayer, and the kind of peace that does not arrive by accident. View the full article + epilogue here:  https://www.tomwagnerspeaker.com/post/i-shall-die-but-that-is-all-i-shall-do-for-death-the-sequ...

What allows a person to face the possibility of disability or death and still say, “I am at peace”?  In this episode, Dr. Tom reads his article published on May 24, 2026, a reflection on mortality, courage, acceptance, spiritual grounding, and what resilience looks like when life becomes most fragile. This begins the story of Mary and her diagnosis with a rare neurological illness.   View the arti...

“Even If It Kills Me, I’m Not Going Back!”   How does someone heal after experiencing profound trauma? There is a deeper, resilient, and even sacred part of the human spirit that suffering cannot destroy. In this episode, Dr. Tom reads his article published on May 3, 2026, exploring Larry’s pilgrimage to freedom. View the article + discussion questions here: https://www.tomwagnerspeaker.com/post/u...

Even a small, steady experience of love can anchor a person through trauma. In this episode, Dr. Tom reads his article published on April 26, 2026, exploring how that same capacity exists in all of us, both to receive and to give. View the article + discussion questions here: https://www.tomwagnerspeaker.com/post/unbroken-part-two   Resources & Links Join us live for the 8/2 SMC Event with spe...

At this Sunday Morning Café gathering, Dr. Tom Wagner welcomes happiness researcher and Washington University professor Dr. Tim Bono for an evening exploring the journey from post-traumatic stress to post-traumatic growth. Through live music from vocalist Jennifer Theby-Quinn and pianist Carl Pandolfi, guided reflection, and open discussion, participants explore how adversity met with reflection a...

Even in the worst conditions, the human spirit finds ways to survive. In this episode, Dr. Tom reads his article published on April 19, 2026, exploring how those small acts of survival can become the foundation for healing. View the article + discussion questions here: https://www.tomwagnerspeaker.com/post/unbroken   Resources & Links Join us live for the 8/2 SMC Event with special guest Royce...

What if there’s a part of you that already knows how to “keep climbing” when things get hard? In this episode, Dr. Tom reads his article published on April 5, 2026, exploring the resilience woven into every soul. View the article + discussion questions here: https://www.tomwagnerspeaker.com/post/each-and-every-soul-has-some-easter-in-it-no-exceptions   Resources & Links Join us live for the 4/...

Sooner or later, we all find ourselves in the gap between who we hoped to be and how we actually showed up. In this episode, Dr. Tom reads his article published on March 29, 2026, exploring what it means to meet yourself there and how self-compassion can become the beginning of healing. View the article + discussion questions here: https://www.tomwagnerspeaker.com/post/mind-the-gap   Resources &am...

As the years go on, something in you will either settle…or awaken. In this episode, Dr. Tom reads his article published on March 22, 2026, exploring the choice between comfort and contribution, and what it means to grow older with purpose, wisdom, and intention. Through reflections on everyday moments, inner tension, and the call to “generativity,” this episode invites you to consider how you want...

Faith traditions speak often about welcoming the stranger and the alien in our midst. In this episode, Dr. Tom reads his article published on March 15, 2026, reflecting on a prayer service outside an immigration detention center and exploring what it means to see the stranger—and not look away. View the article + discussion questions here: https://www.tomwagnerspeaker.com/post/exodus Resources &am...

We may not always live on the mountaintop, but we can live in memory of it. In this episode, Dr. Tom reads his article published on March 8, 2026, exploring how even though moments of awe fade, we can intentionally remember them and let them guide how we see life and people. View the article + discussion questions here: https://www.tomwagnerspeaker.com/post/living-in-memory-of-the-mountaintops   R...

Recorded live at a Sunday Morning Café event, this contemplative meditation features musician Lynn O’Brien leading a simple, chant-like refrain: “I have everything I need in this moment right now.” As the chant unfolds — naming love, peace, friends, and joy — it echoes the ancient rhythm of monastic prayer. Dr. Tom Wagner introduces the meditation, recalling the sacred chanting of monasteries and...

In this brief meditation from a live Sunday Morning Café gathering, Dr. Tom Wagner introduces a simple chant led by musician Lynn O’Brien. Tom invites you to sit comfortably, take three centering breaths, and allow the poetry of Lynn’s voice to carry you deeper. When the chant ends, remain in sacred silence for a moment before closing in a way that honors your own spirituality. A one-minute reset...

At this Sunday Morning Café gathering, Dr. Tom Wagner and his wife, Dr. Lisa Moscoso, explore what it means to build whole-hearted relationships — whether married, single, or somewhere in between. Through personal stories, live audience dialogue, and music from featured artist Lynn O’Brien, they reflect on how intimacy grows through vulnerability, gratitude, honest repair, and spiritual grounding....

At this Sunday Morning Café gathering, Dr. Tom Wagner explores how everyday gratitude practices cultivate resilience—especially during the holidays. Framed by personal “foundational stories” and research insights, Tom introduces the idea of doing intentional “beauty checks,” a practice of stopping to notice and savor what’s good even in hard moments. The evening blends music, guided reflection, sm...

Episode 3 SMC Event: Courageous Conversations Join Dr. Tom Wagner at the September Sunday Morning Cafe event, a gathering where adults of all ages explore connection, reflection, and personal growth. In this episode, Dr. Tom and his daughter Annalise Wagner introduce the topic “Courageous Conversations.” Attendees share candid stories about family dynamics, the challenges of difficult relationship...

Join Dr. Tom Wagner as he reflects on his journey through South Africa, sharing encounters with remarkable individuals whose names carry stories of patience, resilience, and quiet courage. In this episode, you’ll hear how listening attentively to another’s story—and allowing yourself to be known—can open the door to deeper connection. Key Takeaways Every name carries a story—taking the time to kno...

Join Dr. Tom Wagner at the sold-out inaugural Sunday Morning Cafe, a space designed for adults of all ages to reset, connect deeply, and build resilience. In this episode you’ll explore with Dr. Tom and the 90 attendees how to create ‘thin places’—spaces where we feel closer to the Sacred—through heartfelt stories from family and friends and live music performances that lift the spirit. Key Takeaw...

Welcome to the Sunday Morning Café Podcast with Dr. Tom Wagner! What started as a blog for two decades is now a podcast. Tune in for reflections you can enjoy while doing chores, commuting, or on the go. This episode introduces the podcast format, which will include similar reflections and discussion questions to the blog, as well as guest conversations to deepen insights. Whether you’re new to Su...