The Growing Edge

Carrie and Parker have a conversation about the Inner work of democracy and the common good with Preeta Bansal. Preeta was Solicitor General of the State of New York, then as General Counsel in the Obama White House, where she played a major role in the Office of Management and Budget during the financial collapse of 2008. Preeta now finding expression in ServiceSpace, an ecosystem in which she is a global anchor and volunteer and which draws upon network science, the role of emerging technologies, and the work of inner transformation.

Gregory Ellison II, a professor and author who focuses on faith and justice, shares insights from his new book, Anchored in the Current. He discusses Howard Thurman’s profound influence on personal growth and activism. The conversation explores the need to engage with both light and darkness in society today, while celebrating Thurman’s legacy in promoting nonviolence and unity. Ellison emphasizes the importance of empathy and dialogue across differences to foster social justice, encouraging listeners to embark on transformative journeys inspired by Thurman’s teachings.

In this Growing Edge Podcast, we explore mortality, living with presence in the pandemic, the importance of creativity and collaboration—and we debut our new single, "The Music Will Play On” (lyrics by Parker, music by Carrie).

The July Growing Edge Podcast features a poem that illumines the American uprising for racial justice and our role in it. Carrie and Parker explore William Stafford’s poem, "A Ritual to Read to Each Other". Taking one verse at a time, they talk about the light the poem sheds on this moment of national awakening and our response to it. The work now required to rid the U.S. of structural racism has been left undone for 240 years—the road ahead is long and we need light along the way. Photo by Tobias Adams Conversation Starters about The Growing Edge Podcasts (for individual reflection and groups) are available for free download at www.newcomerpalmer.com

In this Growing Edge Podcast, Parker and Carrie talk with author, attorney, filmmaker, and activist Valarie Kaur. In her new book, See No Stranger: A Memoir & Manifesto of Revolutionary Love, Valarie invites us to a revised and renewed version of the historic nonviolent movement for social change.

In this Growing Edge Podcast Parker J. Palmer & Carrie Newcomer have an open hearted conversation about maintaining hope in the time of covid-19. They describe the many layers that come up when we ask one another, "How are you?" There are conversation starter pdf on the Growing Edge website to discuss the topic of this conversation with others in your life.

Carrie and Parker explore many questions about living with uncertainty, disruption, and revelation in this time of coronavirus. What helps us grow and still our hearts?  What comes up personally and emotionally when we slow down? What do we have no control over, and what is in our realm of care and influence? What experiences in the past can help us navigate what we are experiencing now? What new understanding and skills might we acquire. How do we respond to this new window into what it means to be "at risk”? On the other side of this experience, what opening, what invitation to see and do things differently might we embrace? Image for this podcast by Quint Buchholz: Giacomond, 1984 No restrictions on further use.

Carrie and Parker have a heart opening conversation with musicians Karin Bergquist & Linford Detweiler (Over The Rhine). They explore the creative process, the spiritual and personal threads that run through their music, balancing inward and outward engagement, creating community and “thin places in the world.” We discuss of three of their beautiful songs, “Betting on the Muse” “Broken Angels” and “Meet Me At The Edge Of The World.”

In this episode Carrie and Parker explore Wendell Berry's poem "The Wild Geese" and that what we need is here, within us and between us.

Join Parker and Carrie as they explore the idea of New Year’s Revolutions. At the turn of the year many of us engage in the cultural practice of New Year's resolutions. Often these intentions have to do with visiting the gym more frequently, diet or creating a more desirable habit to replace an old one. But what would it be like to begin the year with with a series of New Year's revolutions? What is a New Year's revolution and how could this new way of looking at intention and change be of benefit in the coming year? We hope you'll listen and download our conversation starter pdf, and engage in your own New Year's Revolution conversations by visiting our website www.newcomerpalmer.com/podcast In this episode is a BRAND NEW unrecorded song by Carrie Newcomer called "On The Day You Were Born"