Everything Belongs: Living the Teachings of Richard Rohr Forward

How do we meet life on its terms instead of ours?In this episode, we're joined by Paula D'Arcy as we continue our chapter-by-chapter exploration of Falling Upward with Chapter 5: "Stumbling Over the Stumbling Stone." We're exploring what it can look like to venture into the luminous dark to find our greatest gifts with a chapter that asks us to lean into our feelings of devastation and loss when life doesn’t go our way. Before we dive in to the interview with Paula, CAC staff catch up with Richard at his hermitage to hear his reflections on the fifth chapter a decade after he originally wrote it.Paula D'Arcy, a writer, retreat leader, and conference and seminar speaker, travels widely in the United States, Canada, and abroad. She is also President of Red Bird Foundation, which supports the growth and spiritual development of those in need as well as those invested in the opening of the heart and the healing of this world.A former psychotherapist who ministered to those facing issues of grief and loss, Paula worked with the Peale Foundation, founded by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, from 1980 until his death in 1993, and has written ten books. Today her work includes leading workshops and retreats related to spirituality, writing, women’s gatherings,( including Women’s Initiation and Rites of Passage), and creating venues where men and women experience an opening of the heart and a change in their way of being in the world. In recent years she has teamed with Richard Rohr to present seminars on the Male/Female Journey and Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life (for tapes from the conference on Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life and to purchase Paula’s books, click here.)Paula also serves as adjunct faculty at Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, TX and Seton Cove Spirituality Center in Austin, TX.Resources: A PDF of the transcript for this episode is available here. Grab a copy of the newly revised version of Falling Upward, with a new foreword by Brené Brown here. To learn more about Paula D'Arcy and Redbird Foundation, visit her website here. Connect with us: Have a question or thought about this season that you'd like to share with us? Email us: podcasts@cac.org Send us a voicemail here: http://www.cac.org/voicemail

In this episode, we're joined by Kate Bowler, PhD. as we continue our chapter-by-chapter exploration of Falling Upward with Chapter 4: "The Tragic Sense of Life." Kate, along with Richard and CAC staff delve into the flaws of the prosperity gospel as well as the importance of finding meaning in suffering. We explore the ways in which love and suffering intertwine, urging honesty during life's hardships, and celebrate the power of community, especially its irreplaceable gift of "unchosen" love. Before we dive in to the interview, staff from the CAC catch up with Richard at his hermitage to hear his reflections on the fourth chapter a decade after he originally wrote it.Kate Bowler, PhD is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, award-winning podcast host, and an Associate Professor of American Religious History at Duke University. She studies the cultural stories we tell ourselves about success, suffering, and whether (or not) we’re capable of change. She is the author of Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel and The Preacher’s Wife: The Precarious Power of Evangelical Women Celebrities. After being unexpectedly diagnosed with Stage IV cancer at age 35, she penned the New York Times bestselling memoir, Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I’ve Loved) and No Cure For Being Human (and Other Truths I Need to Hear). She lives in Durham, North Carolina with her family and continues to teach do-gooders at Duke Divinity School.Resources: A PDF of the transcript for this episode is available here. Grab a copy of the newly revised version of Falling Upward, with a new foreword by Brené Brown here. To learn more about Kate Bowler and her work, visit her website here. Connect with us: Have a question or thought about this season that you'd like to share with us? Email us: podcasts@cac.org Send us a voicemail here: http://www.cac.org/voicemail

"God gives us something better than answers, God gives us people." - Erin Sanzero, our guest today, on the path of falling upward during the first half of life. In this episode, we're joined by Erin Sanzero as we continue our chapter-by-chapter exploration of Falling Upward with Chapter 3: "The First Half of Life." Erin, alongside CAC staff, explore the complexities of the first half of life and the wisdom unveiled during the transition to the second half of life. Together, they reflect on how to embrace the "messy middle", found in-between the first and second half of life, how to forgive the past and engage in spiritual practices along the path of spiritual transformation. Before we dive in to the interview, CAC staff catch up with Richard at his hermitage to hear his reflections on the third chapter a decade after he originally wrote it.Erin Sanzero (she/her) is a "geriatric millennial." She's been a brick-and-mortar business owner, digital entrepreneur, musician, teacher, musical director, opera singer, banjo player, and weightlifter. A passionate believer in the arts, Erin holds a bachelor's in music from Manhattan School of Music and master's in music from Mannes College of Music in New York. Currently pursuing her master's of divinity from Duke University School and seeking ordination in the Presbyterian Church (USA), she is the Director of Sunday Express at Fairfax Presbyterian Church in Fairfax, Virginia. Erin is a 2023 alumna of the Center for Action and Contemplation's Living School.Resources: A PDF of the transcript for this episode is available here. Grab a copy of the newly revised version of Falling Upward, with a new foreword by Brené Brown here. To read Erin's Oneing Article "Midlife Musings", check it out on our website. Connect with us: Have a question or thought about this season that you'd like to share with us? Email us: podcasts@cac.org Send us a voicemail here: http://www.cac.org/voicemail

Explore the transformative power of the hero's journey in personal growth. Reflect on embracing challenges and loss as gateways to authenticity. Discover insights from executive coaches and spiritual directors on falling upward and spiritual exploration. Dive into the role of mentors, somatic practices, and cultural grieving in the journey towards self-discovery and healing.

Join the exploration of two halves of life with Brené Brown and Richard Rohr, discussing identity shifts, embracing paradoxes, vulnerability, and spirituality. Reflect on navigating transitions, vulnerability, shame, and empathy, while embracing mystery and awe in spiritual experiences. Dive into conversations on love, belonging, and the power of raw truth, highlighting personal growth and authentic connections.

"Maybe we should just call this book Tips for the Road, a sort of roadside assistance program." - Richard Rohr, Falling Upward, pg. xv IntroductionIn the final episode of this mini-series, we are giving you a test drive for how an episode will look and feel, with the commentary and banter of the architects behind it from a production and pedagogical standpoint. We thought, what better way to do this than with the introduction to the book of our first season, Falling Upward.Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. Learn more about the behind the scenes of Everything Belongs from the producer, Corey Wayne, here. Connect with us: How'd the series land for you? We'd love to know. Email us: podcasts@cac.org or leave us voicemail. This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!

In this episode, we distill Richard Rohr's teaching philosophy into three animating questions: What do we want to know? How do we want to grow? How do we want to show up in our lives and in the world? These questions serve as foundational guides for embodying incarnational mysticism in our own unique contexts. Join us in Richard's living room as Mike explores these questions with him, while Corey impresses with his Scripture references. Richard's legacy as a spiritual teacher inspires fuller participation in life's cosmic dance, and we gather on the CAC campus to delve into communal wisdom, creating our own contemplative laboratory.Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. Learn more about the behind the scenes of Everything Belongs from the producer, Corey Wayne, here. Connect with us: How'd the series land for you? We'd love to know. Email us: podcasts@cac.org or leave us voicemail. This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!

What is the role of teachers and students on the spiritual path? In this episode, we explore Richard Rohr's evolving role as a spiritual teacher at the CAC, as he gracefully steps back to join the Core Faculty. With Opie by his side and church bells ringing, Richard's infectious smile sets the tone for a conversation that connects us all in the spirit of generosity. We also delve into Brian McLaren's extraordinary vision as the new Dean of Faculty, and hear from Gigi Ross, who brings wisdom to shaping student experiences at the Living School.Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. Learn more about the behind the scenes of Everything Belongs from the producer, Corey Wayne, here. Connect with us: How'd the series land for you? We'd love to know. Email us: podcasts@cac.org or leave us voicemail. This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!

The podcast explores Richard's transition from being the center of attention to joining the circle of teachers and staff. They discuss the importance of stepping back and trusting others' gifts. They also explore the healing power of contemplation and embodied action, as well as the role of good teachers. The hosts bring in Michael, the executive director, to discuss the imagination of what is institutionally possible. They also discuss communal discernment in shaping and co-creating their organization.

Everything Belongs is a show about living the teachings of Richard Rohr forward, co-creating a world where everyone and everything belongs. On future seasons, we'll be making our way through Richard's major teachings. But in this inaugural mini-series, we're focusing on laying the foundations for those seasons by catching up with Richard and various staff members at the Center for Action and Contemplation to gain an understanding for how the CAC is evolving as we water the roots of Richard’s teachings while nourishing new growth at the edges. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. Learn more about the behind the scenes of Everything Belongs from the producer, Corey Wayne, here. Connect with us: How'd the series land for you? We'd love to know. Email us: podcasts@cac.org or leave us voicemail. This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!