"The most secure place you can ever be is in prison." This quote from Amanda's father helped her realize that "security" isn't always the right thing to seek. Questing freedom for the soul may sometimes feel like the least secure thing to do. Amanda Fong, Community Engagement Supervisor at the Three Rivers Park District, and I weave through topics like burnout, quitting-versus-failing, noticing when humility can become selfishness, and experiencing the freedom that can be found in mindful presence. The poem I quote is "For the Students," by Emily Lygren. You can see her published work, What We Were Born For, here. The book I reference is Range by David Epstein. You can find that here. Here is a rundown of what to expect: 3:00 - Girls Adventure Camp 12:30 - Soul freedom 15:00 - Early signs of burnout 21:00 - What is a real job anyway? 26:00 - When the soul screams, NO! 30:00 - #HighAchiever pressure 41:00 - Inner Voice Clarity 47:00 - Childhood outdoor experiences 53:00 - When can humility become selfishness? 55:00 - "Nothing about us without us" 1:04 - Stewarding the soul 1:10 - Web of gratitude 1:15 - Emily Lygren's, "For the Students" This show might leave you jazzed about helping marginalized folks get into nature for equitable and uplifting experiences. If so, consider offering Three Rivers a small donation by clicking ⁠here⁠. My lovely friend Ian Crawford's composition of "Waters" is heard in the intro and outro. Learn more about Ian ⁠here⁠.

Gay, Puerto Rican speaker and storyteller, Jean Carlos (@jeancarlosnow) and I discuss what he believes matters. We both identify as queer Christians and we've had to grapple with how to have our queerness and a relationship with the Divine. We also dance around topics like getting over the fear of following a calling, being the right kind of loud voice, and recognizing when our own high standards for ourselves might not always be the best influence on others. You can hear Jean Carlos preach online on January 14, 2024 via New City Church's livestream, or you can just go to his website at www.jeancarlos.org to catch it later. The music from today's show is by Ian Crawford. He's an incredibly creative musician who I've watched play the French horn and the keyboard while also intermixing stand-up comedy. ⁠Check him out!⁠ He's a hilarious, kind, and artistic human worth having between your ears.

Join us in a discussion with domestic violence advocate expert, Elsa Swenson, in a discussion about how she learned how to operate from love rather than from judgment. "The first time that I dabbled in [victim advocacy] was working with people who were severely mentally ill…all of them had been abused in some capacity. That job helped me recognize that every word you say can do damage or convey love and acceptance…that was one of the most formative jobs I’ve ever had. Those women will never know how much they shaped my life.” - Elsa Swenson 3:00 Leadership lessons learned via humility (from an Enneagram Type 3 perspective) 10:00 Creating and holding space in difficult situations 15:00 Challenging dualistic thinking in victim advocacy settings 19:00 Even the nameless shape our Becoming 22:00 Defensive love-- can it become mismanaged? 26:00 But what about the kids? When does the victim shift to the villain? 30:00 When awareness calls you to trudge against the status quo The music from today's show is by Ian Crawford. He's an incredibly creative musician who I've watched play the French horn and the keyboard while also intermixing stand-up comedy. Check him out! He's a hilarious, kind, and artistic human worth having between your ears. The organization we mentioned is Missions Inc. Programs. You can learn more about their good work here. If you think or know you might be a victim of violence, Text START to 88788 or call 1-800-799-7233

Can pursuing joy lead to greater self-compassion, and if so, does that lead to greater kindness in the world? Why do some people's dreams get stuck in idea phase when others are able to push through? Is it really all about intrinsic drive or is there an interpersonal element we could explore more? As Tracing Inspiration enters its first season in January 2024, I wanted to give you a bit of a rundown of what to expect in Season One. 0:43 - Show Format 2:00 - The Knots of Progress 4:30 - What's Joy got to do with it? 8:00 - The Influence of Others in Pursuing Joy 11:30 - Gratitude Journey + The Guiding Question Welcome to the unfolding. Kind thanks to my friend Ian Crawford for the use of his custom track, Waters. If you're looking for a chill vibe to soothe your soul, ⁠check him out⁠.