The Growing Edge

Please join us for a conversation about historian Timothy Snyder’s book On Tyranny. Carrie and Parker discuss four of the twenty hallmarks of authoritarian governments addressed in Snyder’s clear and informative work. The book is relatively short, but chock-full of insights, stories and practical advice when navigating the very real challenges of our times. We’ll look at the large overarching symptoms of an existential threat to our democracy, but also how to bring it home and to focus upon the power we each have in our daily and personal lives for defending and preserving our most deeply held values, community and national aspirations.

Join Parker and Carrie for a conversation about William Stafford’s poem “Cutting Loose”. In this episode we explore the way that disillusionment or feeling lost can bring with it a powerful sense of reality, faithfulness and new direction. Parker and Carrie talk about their own experiences of feeling lost and listening to the sound of the genuine within them. In these challenging times, this is a poem that has much history and wisdom to share. We hope you’ll join the conversation by listening to the episode and commenting on our Substack Page at https://tinyurl.com/25tmtbhf.

Join Parker and Carrie for a conversation with Notre Dame’s Professor Emeritus of International Peacebuilding, John Paul Lederach, about his Pocket Guide for Facing Down a Civil War. This new booklet draws upon Lederach’s experience as a renowned peace practitioner who has mediated conflicts around the world. Here, he provides thoughtful, sometimes surprising ideas and advice on how to navigate, disrupt and mitigate the patterns that lead to deeper conflict, with attention to what is happening right now in U.S. politics.

This month Parker Palmer is taking a sabbatical. This is a re-broadcasting our June 1 2020 conversation with Author/Activist/Filmmaker Valarie Kaur. In this episode we discuss her book " See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love". Two months after the 2016 election, Valarie spoke words that went viral, offering millions of people a lasting image of hope, the kind of hope we still desperately need today: “The future is dark. But what if this darkness is not the darkness of the tomb but the darkness of the womb?” Those words became the seeds of The Revolutionary Love Project, a movement that continues to reframe and lift up the tradition of nonviolent action for social change for our era. Tested and tempered by suffering, but rising up with hope and joy, Kaur explores with us how to how to love others, love our opponents, and love ourselves in ways that will bring us closer to the Beloved Community. We're proud to call Valarie a friend, and to feature her important work on The Growing Edge.

In this episode, Parker J. Palmer and Carrie Newcomer explore May Sarton’s poem, “An Observation.” Gardening is rich with metaphors for a well-lived life. Amend and prepare the soil. Plant the seeds, tend them, and weed out whatever impedes growth. Marvel at the process and share the harvest: we’re here to feed one another as well as ourselves. “An Observation” offers a less obvious metaphor: a well-lived life needs to be both gentle and strong, tender and fierce. We hope you’ll join us for this rich conversation!

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

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.

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. And so…welcome to the growing edge

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"

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 creating generative spaces for democracy and the common good, check out Parker’s book Healing The Heart of Democracy