The Chaplain's Compass

What happens when your calling begins to evolve? In this episode of The Chaplain’s Compass, hosts Alice Tremaine and John Betz welcome Alyssa Foll for a thoughtful conversation about career pivots, vocational discernment, and the many ways chaplains can expand their impact beyond traditional bedside care. Drawing from her journey from healthcare chaplain to Director of Ministry Formation at Ascens...

In this episode of The Chaplain’s Compass, hosts Alice Tremaine and John Betz welcome Daniella Mestyanek Young for a fascinating conversation about cults, coercive leadership, spiritual struggle, and the universal human need for belonging. Daniella shares her extraordinary journey from growing up in the Children of God movement to becoming a U.S. Army intelligence officer and one of today’s leadin...

In this episode of The Chaplain’s Compass, hosts John Betz and Alice Tremaine sit down with Kate Meyer, a chaplain, licensed professional counselor, and prolific author specializing in the intersection of faith and bereavement. Kate describes her vocational path as a journey into "soul work," detailing how she eventually merged her background in ordained ministry with clinical counseling to better...

In this episode of The Chaplain’s Compass, hosts John Betz and Alice Tremaine explore the heart of professional chaplaincy with guests Martha and Michael, two experienced chaplains shaping the future of the field. They dive into what makes an effective mentor, how to approach board certification with confidence, and why understanding your “why” is key to demonstrating competency. Martha and Michae...

Is science enough for total healing? Dr. Alex Lion and Dr. Anastasia Holman reveal how Spiritual Care in Healthcare is the secret to supporting clinical teams and patients in crisis. Modern medicine often focuses on the cure, but what happens when the goal is healing the whole person? In this episode of The Chaplain’s Compass, hosts Rev. Alice Tremaine and Rev. John Betz explore the "Team-Based Sp...

In this episode, we sit down with Maureen Shelton — ACPE Certified Educator, CBCT instructor, and co-developer of Compassion-Centered Spiritual Health — to uncover the surprising science behind compassion. Together, we explore how CBCT and CCSH transform chaplaincy from “holding space” into an evidence-based clinical intervention. Learn how compassion reshapes language, reduces patient distress, a...

In this powerful episode of Chaplain’s Compass, hosts Alice Tremaine and John Betz sit down with Imam Ayman Soliman, a Muslim chaplain whose remarkable story of faith and resilience has drawn national attention. After surviving persecution and imprisonment in Egypt for his journalism during the Arab Spring, Imam Soliman built a new life in the U.S. as a hospital chaplain — until his asylum was sud...

APC President Rev. Inetta Reddell joins The Chaplain’s Compass to talk formation, leadership, and what’s next for professional chaplaincy. From CPE roots in prison ministry and Level I trauma to board leadership, Rev. Reddell shares how authenticity, collaboration, and a “posture of learning” shape care at the bedside and in the boardroom. Listen for a candid discussion on integrating authenticity...

What does it mean to provide spiritual care when you don’t believe in God? In this episode of The Chaplain’s Compass, Alice Tremaine and John Betz talk with Chaplain Ben Iten—ACPE educator, hospital chaplain, and Vice President of the Humanist Society. Ben shares his journey from Christian theology to humanist chaplaincy, how meaning-making guides his work, and what it means to serve patients who...

In this episode of Chaplain's Compass, John Betz and Alice Tremaine engage with Lynnett Glass, the executive director of ACPE. We discuss Lynnett's journey into chaplaincy, the challenges of leadership during a transitional period, and the meaning of accreditation in spiritual care education. Lynnett shares her insights on the impact of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), the need for diversity and...

In this episode of Chaplain's Compass, hosts John Betz and Alice Tremaine engage with Brett Baddorf, a chaplain with a unique journey that includes time spent in the icy expanses of Antarctica -- where he served as an unofficial chaplain to a diverse community of researchers and support staff. Brett shares his circuitous path to chaplaincy, the lessons learned from his experiences at the South Pol...

Join Alice and John as they kick off 2025 with an inspiring conversation with Dr. Kelsey White, the first female editor-in-chief of the Journal of Healthcare Chaplaincy. Kelsey shares her passion for spiritual care and journey into research, as well as insights into the evolving landscape of chaplaincy research. In this episode, we discuss common pitfalls and the importance of collaboration in res...

In this episode, we connect with Gudrun Ernstson (Sweeden) and Remy Jacobs (Netherlands) about their experiences with chaplaincy in their countries, and what they learned at the 2024 European Network of Healthcare Chaplaincy consultation. We discuss the impact of trauma on our work and the importance of self-care. Gudrun Ernstson has been a healthcare chaplain for 24 years, serving at an emergency...

Meet Patricia (Kim) Palmer, Maureen Shelton and Jennifer Mascaro! In this episode, we delve into Cognitively Based Compassion Training (CBCT®) and Compassion-Centered Spiritual Health (CCSH®), and how they can inform and transform chaplaincy practice. Note: We had some technical issues with Maureen Shelton's sound, and unfortunately were unable to capture the important pieces that she said. Howeve...

In this episode, Chaplain (Colonel) Mark Lee and Chaplain (Colonel) Ibraheem Raheem share the unique role of chaplains in the military as well as the unique aspects of the Army's CPE program, including leadership skills and speaking truth to power. Connect with Alice and John on social media: Instagram: @alicetremaine (Alice) @researchchaplain (John) https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicetremaine/ http...

In this episode, Stephen Lewis, a board-certified chaplain at UC San Diego Health and co-convener of the Transforming Chaplaincy Psychedelic Care Network, discusses the use of psychedelics in spiritual care and mental health. He shares his personal journey into chaplaincy and his interest in psychedelics, highlighting the transformative and mystical experiences reported by participants in research...

Do you ever get nervous when patients or care recipients bring up politics? In this episode, we talk with Nicholas Collura, Director of the Radius Program at MIT, and the author of "When Patients Talk Politics: Opportunities for Recontextualizing Ministerial Theory and Practice." Nicholas helps us reframe expressions about politics into opportunities for spiritual assessment. Connect with Alice an...

In this episode, we interview Stacy Auld, Chair of the Commission of Certification at BCCI, about the new rubric for chaplaincy board certification. Stacy talks about her journey to chaplaincy, her role with the Commission of Certification, and changes to the board certification process. Connect with Alice and John on social media: Instagram: @alicetremaine (Alice) @researchchaplain (John) https:/...

Chaplains Alice Tremaine and John Betz share some of the chaplaincy encounters that have made an impact on them -- the formative, the difficult and the odd or unusual. Connect with Alice and John on social media: Instagram: @alicetremaine (Alice) @researchchaplain (John) https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicetremaine/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaplainbetz/ Leave us a message at the Chaplain's Compas...

Welcome to the first episode of The Chaplain's Compass! Get acquainted with co-hosts Alice Tremaine and John Betz, and their hopes for the podcast in this introductory episode. Connect with Alice and John on social media: Instagram: @alicetremaine (Alice) @researchchaplain (John) https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicetremaine/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaplainbetz/ Leave us a message at the Chaplain...

This podcast can count towards CE credit for BCCI certified chaplains under Methodology 1- Attending Educational Events. Each 15-minutes = .25 CE's.