The Academy Podcast

In this episode, Claire is joined by Lanecia Rouse Tinsley who is a multidisciplinary visual artist based in Houston, TX, and the owner/creator of LAR Art Studio. Lanecia's portfolio includes a range of work in abstract painting, photography, teaching, writing, and speaking. Lanecia’s work is deeply informed by her studies in sociology, theology, and culture. Her works are products of contemplativ...

Today's conversation is with Amos Disasa, senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Dallas, TX. The conversation, recorded at the end of June, is deep and wide, intense and honest, vulnerable and, at times, terrifying, in the sense that much of what we discuss cuts to the core, inviting deep introspection and authenticity. As Amos says, "We aim to have healthy conversations, not perfect ones."...

Our new music is from today’s conversation partner on the podcast, a Nashville based singer songwriter, Amy Stroup, who graciously offered instrumentals from her songs “Far Side of the Sea,” “Versailles,” and “Fearless” for our podcast episodes going forward. You’ll want to check out all of Amy’s music on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your tunes. This episode sounds a lot like a conve...

In this episode, we’re joined by Ben Boswell, Senior Pastor of Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina and Two-Year Academy #39 graduate. In his role as Senior Minister, Ben works at the intersection of strategic leadership, spiritual formation, and social justice. In addition to pastoral responsibilities, Ben facilitates anti-racism trainings for white dominant congregations called...

In this episode, we’re joined by Sophia Agtarap and Amy Steele of Vanderbilt Divinity School. The Academy and The Upper Room have partnered with both Sophia and Amy and Vanderbilt Divinity School on many endeavors, most recently the viewing and panel discussion of “Backs Against the Wall: The Howard Thurman Story” that included Academy faculty person Luther Smith. What follows is a conversation wi...

Today, Claire is joined by Lisa Yebuah. Their conversation encompasses everything from antiracism to sitting on the mourner’s bench to sabbath as resistance to joy unspeakable joy...and more. Being with Lisa is like all the elements of earth, fire, water, and air decided to have a gathering and they decided to gather and dance inside a person, inside Lisa. She is equal parts fire and water, earth...

In this episode, we’re joined by Dan Wolpert who is Academy faculty, Upper Room Books author, Upper Room eLearning facilitator and teacher, Executive Director and co-founder of MICAH, the Minnesota Institute for Contemplation and Healing, spouse, partner, ally, activist, dad. Dan has been a student of the spiritual life since age 21 and has taught in the fields of psychology and spiritual formatio...

In this episode, Claire is joined by Elaine Heath, Academy faculty, Upper Room Books author, and so much more. Elaine’s scholarly work is interdisciplinary, integrating pastoral, biblical, and spiritual theology in ways that bridge the gap between academy, church, and world. Her current research interests focus on community as a means of healing trauma, emergent forms of Christianity, and alternat...

In this episode, Claire speaks with Roger Owens from his home in Pittsburgh, where he’s now teaching spiritual formation classes to his seminary students online, enjoying family meals with his teenagers again, and discovering that The Academy and its rhythms are a helpful guide in this time of global pandemic...and always. What follows is a conversation with Roger about the expansiveness of God, t...

In this episode Claire talks with Frank Rogers via Zoom about all things spiritual formation, being gentle with ourselves in the midst of difficult emotions, how he found himself working the The Academy, practicing compassion, and more. What follows is an honest conversation with Frank about what it is to be human and healing in these uncertain times. It is full of joy and endless compassion, all...

"Today," our host, Claire, says, "I get to talk with Amy Oden via Zoom about all things spiritual formation, healing in the time of COVID-19, her work with the Academy and why she thinks it’s important, and more. What follows is a conversation with Amy, who is a friend, mentor, and colleague in the way of Love."

In this month's podcast, our host, Claire, talks with Victor Perez via Zoom about all things Bilingual (Spanish + English) Academy #42, which is scheduled to begin in August 2020 in San Antonio, TX, breathing deeply in the midst of a global pandemic, spiritual practice, prayer, family, Puerto Rico, and more. What follows is a conversation about what it is to be human and searching for true connect...

Our host, Claire, describes this month's podcast saying, "In this month’s podcast, I sit down with Marjorie Thompson, who is a longtime Academy faculty person, author, and my personal spiritual director. In light of the recent tornadoes that devastated parts of Nashville and Tennessee, as well as growing concerns about the coronavirus throughout the world and a politically charged election season...

In this month’s podcast, our host, Claire, sits down with Academy Director, Johnny Sears, for a conversation on all things spiritual formation, family, poetry, leadership, and life. He and I are what we like to call soul siblings—much more than colleagues, although we’re that to each other, too. We get to lead The Academy together, and it is truly a gift. We hope you enjoy listening in on our conv...

This month’s podcast features teaching from Rabbi David Horowitz at Two-Year Academy #41 in Alabama where he taught on Hebrew Spirituality. With his sharp wit, expansive knowledge, and deep compassion, Rabbi David offers us a place to listen, learn, and let go into the presence and breath of God. Rabbi David still resides in Akron, OH with his wife, Toby, and spends his time gushing about his gran...

This month’s podcast features teaching from Jane Vennard from Two-Year Academy #38 in Nebraska when she offered insight, invitation, and reflection into the important topic of spirituality and embodiment. Offering listeners questions about how and when and where we honor, pay attention, and care for our bodies, Jane’s teaching is a master class in spiritual direction, an invitation for all of us t...

This month’s podcast features a conversation between Academy Podcast Host and Associate Director, Claire McKeever-Burgett, and Academy Worship Leader, Upper Room Books author, and Director of Prayer and Worship Life at The Upper Room, Beth Richardson. They talk about everything from Academy worship to spiritual formation in a divided world, church, and culture to geographical landscapes of faith t...

This month’s podcast features teaching from Roger Owens at Two-Year Academy #36 in San Antonio, TX where he taught on “Traditions of Christian Spirituality.” Walking us through the Ignatian spiritual practice of “Examen,” Roger illumines an age-old exercise that is applicable and perhaps even essential in our modern lives. Featured on this podcast before, Roger continues to offer us guidance and w...

This month, we’re throwin’ it back for summer, encouraging you to listen and re-listen to our top 9 episodes from days gone by. Healing and Wholeness with Sister Kathleen Flood; The Pilgrim's Path with Loyd Allen; The Word of God in Me with Grace Imathiu; Bearing Witness with Ray Buckley; Hospitality as a Spiritual Practice by Amy Oden; Spiritual Friendship and Shared Vocation, Honoring Our Ancest...

This month’s podcast features teaching from Elaine Heath at a 2014 Five-Day Academy in North Carolina, where she offered a series of lectures entitled, “The Way of Wisdom.” Serving as faculty for many Academies throughout the years, Elaine, through her writing, teaching, and presence, offers us hope in the midst of despair, wisdom in the midst of foolishness, and mercy in the midst of judgment.

This month’s podcast features teaching from Don Saliers on the liturgy of the Psalms, offered at a Five-Day Academy in 2015 in Alabama. Calling us to the depths of the human heart, Don illumines the Psalms as a “school of prayer” that invites humanity to operate at full stretch and to use language to talk about God that is language of the heart. The Psalms are where we find such language to guide...

Walking Gently on the Ground of Experience by The Academy for Spiritual Formation

Nurturing and Enhancing Life by The Academy for Spiritual Formation

This month’s podcast features teaching from Grace Imathiu at a 2015 Five-Day Academy in Nebraska on the topic of “The Word of God in Me.” Grace uses the story of the rich young ruler in Mark, chapter 10 to reveal how when we find ourselves in scripture, we find ourselves connected to our faith in new and transformative ways. Grace considers the world as her parish. As an African who is married to...

In this month’s podcast, our host, Claire McKeever-Burgett had the honor of interviewing Dana Trent, Academy faculty, Upper Room Books author, and professor of world religions and critical thinking at Wake Tech Community College. Dana is also an ordained Baptist minister and former hospital chaplain, and her work has appeared on Time.com, and in Religion News Service, Sojourners, Religion Dispatch...