Episodes — The Growing Edge

Episode 55: A Conversation With Quaker Author Phillip Gulley

In this episode, Parker J. Palmer and Carrie Newcomer have a conversation with author/pastor/theologian Philip Gulley. Gulley is a pastor, an author, a source of wisdom and hope, and a clear and prophetic voice in progressive theology & spiritual activism in these challenging times. He has written 22 books, including the Harmony series recounting life in the eccentric Quaker community of Harmony, Indiana, several collections of essays including the best selling "Porch Talk", and a memoir called "I Love You, Miss Huddleston" which was a finalist for the Thurber Prize for American Humor. In addition, he has co-authored with James Mulholland several works of theology and progressive faith including "If Grace Is True" and "If God Is Love", followed by "If the Church Were Christian".

I hope you’ll join us for a powerful conversation about living authentically into our deepest values and naming the more extreme voices of the Christian Nationalism and Maga Christianity as political movements with little to do with a philosophy of justice, inclusion and radical love.

Phillip has recently joined the Substack platform with “Plain Speech: With Phillip Gulley.” We hope you’ll check out his many works and subscribe to his Substack offerings.

Episode 54: Revisiting A Sand County Almanac"—A Conversation with Leapold Foundation Exec. Director Buddy Huffaker

In this episode Parker J. Palmer and Carrie Newcomer have a conversation with Buddy Huffaker,the Executive Director of the Aldo Leopold Foundation . We discuss the 75th anniversary of Aldos Leapold’s environmental classic A Sand County Almanac. the continuing work of the Leapold Foundation, the concept of Land Ethic, climate change and our individual and community work to heal of our natural world.

Carrie NewcomerJanuary 31, 2024Comment

Rebroadcast of Episode 28 A Reason For Delight - A Conversation With Poet, Ross Gay

In this episode Parker J. Palmer and Carrie Newcomer revisit favorite episode with Author/poet Ross Gay, who has touched countless readers with his books A catalogue of Unabashed Gratitude, Beholding, The Book of Delights, Incitements to Joy, AND The book of (more) delights”. This episode was recorded in December of 2020, and in it we discuss finding, noticing and experiencing delight as a daily practice, joy as an act of resistance and the importance of creating a connection to one another and to the natural world. We’re happy you’re here to join us for this "delightful" and thoughtful conversation.

Parker and I will return with a new episode of the Growing edge on Feb 1, 2024.

Carrie NewcomerNovember 30, 2023

Episode 53: The Inner Roots of Democracy - Holding Difference & Prophetic Voice

In this podcast Parker and Carrie wrestle with when and how we creatively hold the tension of our differences, and when differences are to grievous and do not yield to creative tension holding. We explore the meaning of “We Shall Over Come” and the power of prophetic voice in these challenging times for the democratic system. Carrie also sings the title track “A Great Wild Mercy” from her newest album.

For more about generative spaces for democracy and the common good check out Parker’s book Healing The Heart of Democracy

Episode 52 : The Call to Public Service: A Conversation With Indiana State Senator Shelli Yoder

In this podcast, Carrie and Parker speak with Indiana State Senator, Shelli Yoder. We explore together Shelli’s history and vocation in passionate public service, as well as reclaiming the word politics and politician, holding difference and finding common ground. In a time when the most extreme and strident voices are more likely to get media sound bytes, it was deeply moving and encouraging to be in conversation with someone doing faithful and thoughtful daily work in public service.

For more about generative spaces for democracy and the common good check out Parker’s book Healing The Heart of Democracy

Episode 51: All Real Living Is Meeting: Is Community Possible

In this podcast, Carrie and Parker talk about our individual and collective longing for safe and generative community. We’ve always been tugged between our western culture’s drive toward individuality and our desire for a meaningful life together. In this Post-covid time, people are a little rusty at being in community. We are also reassessing what meaningful community looks like and how we choose to participate. Carrie and Parker explore how meeting happens in the space between us, and how critical it is to be mindful about how we hold that space. Gathering in circles is an ancient practice that is being revived in our time. But not all circles are designed to welcome the soul, and so how we intentionally create those safe and generative spaces?

Episode 50: A Conversation with Scott Russell Sanders, author of “Small Marvels

In this podcast, Carrie and Parker talk with author Scott Russell Sanders about his new book Small Marvels. Scott’s work often explores the spirit of place, our relationship with the natural world, and creating communities of care and generosity rather a culture of fear and division. In this episode we talk about what inspired the stories in this lovely work, and share thoughts about the power of story and creativity. I hope you’ll join us for this heart-opening conversation.

Episode 49: Thanks Robert Frost - Hope for the Future & the Past

Please join us as we explore the poem "Thanks, Robert Frost" by David Ray. Inspired by the poem, we revisit parts of our history and talk about reframing the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what has shaped us. Staying true to the facts as best we can, we explore ways of holding our experiences with greater compassion for others and ourselves, valuing all that we can learn when we’re able to befriend our own and others’ mistakes.

Episode 48: How To Be-A Conversation with Judith Valente & Br. Paul Quenon

Join us for a beautiful conversation with journalist/author/poet, Judith Valente and monk/poet/photographer Brother Paul Quenon. We explore their friendship and creative collaborations as well as what it means to be intentional about “being” in a hectic and often uncertain world.

Episode 47: Reunion—A Conversation with Jerry Colonna

In this conversation with Jerry Colonna—co-founder and CEO of Reboot, an international executive coaching and leadership development firm—we range from childhood wounds and the way they can distort our adult roles, to race in America and role leaders can play in helping to build the Beloved Community. Jerry’s new book “Reunion: Leadership and the Journey to Belonging,” explores how being a better human means the ability to brave the truth and then actively engage in debunking myths of sameness, dismantling “othering" systems, and working directly for the wellbeing of the dispossessed and disinherited. Please join us for this timely, fascinating, and urgent conversation

Carrie NewcomerSeptember 30, 2022Parker J. Palmer, Carrie Newcomer, jerry Colonna, Reboot, belovedcommunity, socialjustice, Spirituality

Episode 46: Reforming What Was Deformed

Parker and Carrie talk about the challenges of staying in dialogue during divisive times, how to claim agency and the courage to stay engaged. Many of us were raised with a household rule to never talk about religion or politics in polite company. In this episode we unpack and reframe the true meaning of the words "religion" and "politics". We explore defining politics as not a listing of current events, but as a conversation about the holding of power and religion as not being about the particulars of theology, but as the quest for meaning. By redefining these terms, we might be able to get to places where we can talk about our most deeply held values and beliefs, find common ground and a way forward together. It’s worth a try!

Carrie NewcomerJuly 31, 2022

Episode 45: The Presence of Evil, the Promise of Loving Kindness

Parker & Carrie talk about holding and acknowledging the simultaneous presence of great evil and great goodness in our world. In this open-hearted conversation, they visit two poems that encourage reflection and insights on this topic, holding the tension between the helplessness we sometimes feel and our need to maintain hope and agency. Below is the first poem we read in the podcast.

Carrie NewcomerJune 3, 2022 Comments

Episode 44: Memory, Witness & Lessons From Elie Wiesel's Classroom - A Conversation With Ariel Burger

This month on The Growing Edge Podcast Parker and Carrie have a conversation with Ariel Burger, author, teacher and artist whose work integrates spirituality, the arts and strategies for social change. An Orthodox-trained rabbi, Ariel received his PhD in Jewish Studies and Conflict Resolution under Elie Wiesel. Together we explore topics from his book Witness: Lessons from Elie Wiesel's Classroom, his work as founding director and senior scholar of the Witness Institute, the nature of hope, navigating conflict and the powerful intersection of spirituality and art. We believe this conversation will inspire and offer compelling ideas ponder.

You can learn more about Ariel Burger, The Witness Project at the links below

Official Ariel Burger Website Here

The Witness Institute Here

A Gallery of Art Work By Ariel Burger Here

Episode 43:Rebroadcast -From Polarization to Healing: A Conversation About Conflict Transformation W/ John Paul Lederach

This month on The Growing Edge Podcast we will be revisiting our Feb 2021 conversation with John Paul Lederach, Professor Emeritus of International Peace Building, and internationally respected expert in conflict transformation. John Paul describes the stages that lead to violence in a society, as well as the ways people heal and create communal networks of change. In a time when we are all deeply concerned about the tragic violence happening The Ukraine, The Growing Edge is revisiting this Powerful conversation about how hope for a more peaceful world happens in daily and personal ways as well as through community, national and global efforts.

Episode 42: A Conversation With Poet Lynn Ungar

In this episode, Carrie & Parker welcome poet Lynn Ungar. In 2020 Her poem "Pandemic" went viral and introduce her insightful, spiritual, wry and sometimes political writing to a wider audience. We consider two different poems and discuss the role of the artist in public discourse.

Carrie NewcomerFebruary 28, 2022

Episode 41: Hope At The Margins - A Conversation With Theologian/Author Diana Butler Bass

In this episode Parker & Carrie discuss spirituality, justice and living authentically with author and theologian, Diana Butler Bass. Diana talks about her history as a person of faith, the challenges for woman in theological settings, her writing and work with "The Cottage" as an ongoing exploration what it means to live a life of revolutionary love.

Carrie NewcomerFebruary 1, 2022DianaButlerBass, #parkerjpalmer, #carrienewcomer Comments

Episode 40: How To Fly - A Conversation With Author/Poet Barbara Kingsolver

In this episode Carrie & Parker welcome Author/Poet Barbara Kingsolver. Together they discuss the natural world, mortality, the promise of ambiguity, the pleasure of making, the writer's life, knitting and her new book of luminous poetry How To Fly (in Ten Thousands Easy Lessons.

Episode 39: The Gift Of Presence with Poet & Educator Naomi Shihab Nye

This month on The Growing Edge podcast we revisit our December 2018 conversation with poet Naomi Shihab Nye. Naomi has received numerous honors for her work, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Book Critics Circle, and the Isabella Gardner Poetry Award. She is currently the Poetry Foundation’s Young People’s Poet Laureate. In this conversation we read and discuss her luminous poem, “Shoulders” and explore the gift of being present to the small moments of our lives. We loved this conversation, and still treasure the life-giving ideas and stories that came up as we talked. Warmest Greetings of the season from The Growing Edge, and a lovely gift of wisdom from Naomi Shihab Nye!

Carrie NewcomerNovember 30, 2021

Episode 38: The Angels & The Furies

In this episode Carrie and Parker discuss May Sarton's powerful poem, "The Angels & The Furies." In this conversation we talk about the angels and furies of our nature. In these times when many of us are wrestling with what to do with our furies in life giving ways, what does it mean to be "perfectly human but never perfect"? How do we also incline our heads and notice where the graces of our lives appear and support our own better angels? And finally, how do we balance the both/and of our lives.

Carrie NewcomerOctober 31, 2021

Episode 37: Notes In The Margins & The Red Thread - A Conversation With Parker J. Palmer

In this episode Carrie and Parker continue their conversation about creativity and the undivided life, writing from the "margins", following a call to and beyond the growing edge, and the red threads that run through Parker's work over the past 50 years. This podcast also features one of Parker's poems, "The Poem I Would Have Writ."

Carrie NewcomerSeptember 30, 2021Comment

Podcast Archives

Hope is holding a creative tension between what is and what could and should be, each day doing something to narrow the distance between the two. —Parker J. Palmer