Doing the next right thing won't necessarily protect us from harm, regret, or embarrassment. But hopefully, it can be a practice that keeps us present, moving, and from being too hard on ourselves. Listen in.   Links + Resources From This Episode: Souvenirs of Solitude by Brennan Manning Seasons of Your Heart by Macrina Wiederkehr Sign up for my monthly reflection letter Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing  Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download a transcript of this, and every, episode at emilypfreeman.com.

What can we learn about listening from other listening professions? I'm not talking about counselors or therapists, but those whose job it is to hear on behalf of someone else. As a former sign language interpreter turned writer and spiritual director, I'm reflecting on how some of my learned skills in one area of study are now informing my life as a listener in a different way. Perhaps some of these same principles can help you in your own discernment processes. Listen in.   Links + Resources From This Episode: Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing  Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download a transcript of this, and every, episode at emilypfreeman.com.

Shannan Martin is an author passionate about fostering community and connection, as explored in her recent book. She emphasizes the simple yet profound act of starting conversations with a 'hello' to build relationships. The discussion highlights how attentive listening can transform our interactions, promoting understanding amid diversity. Shannan also reflects on her journey from a rural lifestyle to an urban community, stressing the importance of neighborliness that transcends geographical boundaries and the beauty found in the chaos of connection.

It's a question often asked and answered by writers and podcasters alike and it’s easy to see why — it’s simple, it’s direct, and it’s deeply thought provoking. Along with making a list of what I'm learning each season, I also love to make note of what's saving my life. Thanks to Barbara Brown Taylor for bringing this question into the public conversation, and to John Claypool to asking it of her so many years ago. So that's today's episode. Listen in.     Links + Resources From This Episode: Leaving Church by Barbara Taylor Brown My Autumn playlist Myquillyn's playlist Hope You Like Banjos Created Colorful - Use code EPF20 for $20 off your consultation (expires Oct. 31, 2022) What the Heck is EOS? by Gino Wickman and Tom Bouwer Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing  Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download a transcript of this, and every, episode at emilypfreeman.com.

As one season slowly unfolds into the next, I'm paying attention to some of my work and life rhythms and have discovered one thing that's been holding me back from my next right thing. Maybe it's holding you back, too. Listen in.   Links + Resources From This Episode: Episode 185: Why Makers Struggle to Get Things Done Maker's Schedule, Manager's Schedule by Paul Graham Episode 76: Create a Simple Morning Routine Essentialism by Greg McKeown Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing  Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download a transcript of this, and every, episode at emilypfreeman.com.

Today I'm glad to explore a topic that doesn't usually make the headlines in our newsfeeds but one that certainly deserves some airtime in our souls. We're talking about lament -- what it is, why it matters, and who some of our best teachers are in this practice. I'm glad to welcome two guests today to help me host this conversation: Natasha Sistrunk Robinson and Mariah Humphries. Links + Resources From This Episode: Voices of Lament Edited by Natasha Sistrunk Robinson Connect with Natasha and Mariah online Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing  Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download a transcript of this, and every, episode at emilypfreeman.com.

The news of the passing of a public figure can be both sobering and disruptive, no matter how far removed from us they were. How we navigate the loss of a public figure depends on the age of the one who dies, the manner of their death, and the degree to which we paid attention to their work their art, or their life of service. And it depends on us, our experience and perception of this person and their impact on our individual lives and on the arc of history.   When someone who seemed larger than life stops living, there is often a collective pause and there should be. Today let's consider the strange dynamic of reckoning with the loss of a public figure. Listen in.   Links + Resources From This Episode: Marcie Alvis Walker's post about Queen Elizabeth II Guerrillas of Grace by Ted Loder Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing  Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download a transcript of this, and every, episode at emilypfreeman.com.

Exploring the depths of regret and finding peace through compassion and courage. Reflecting on personal experiences and offering wisdom for growth. Embracing regrets as opportunities for learning and transformation. Navigating the journey of regret with grace and self-compassion.

This conversation would be better had face to face and of course one episode won't eliminate the fear of choosing wrong. But it's a worthy conversation to at least begin here, especially considering how prevalent this fear is among many of us. Let's find clarity around what we're talking about when we say we're afraid of choosing wrong. Listen in.   Links + Resources From This Episode: Holy Listening by Margaret Gunther Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing  Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download a transcript of this, and every, episode at emilypfreeman.com.

C.S. Lewis once said to “always prefer the plain, direct word to the long, vague one. Don’t implement promises, but keep them.” What's true for language can also be true for life. Why make something complicated when it can be simple instead? Here are 3 common writing tips given to writers that can be applied to our whole life. Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: Use code TISH22 for 30% off Liturgy of the Ordinary at ivpress.com LitHub: Should You Write What You Know? 31 Authors Weigh In by Emily Temple The Art and Craft of Writing with Ann Kroeker I Guess I Haven't Learned That Yet by Shauna Niequist Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing  Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download a transcript of this, and every, episode at emilypfreeman.com.