Perennial Wisdom

📩 Want daily meditations (and courses) on the art of living? Sign up for Perennial Meditations: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeWelcome to the first episode of a “Best of Series” on In Search of Wisdom. Over the next few weeks — I’ll be rebroadcasting a few of my favorite episodes! In this episode, my guest is Oliver Burkeman, author of Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. Oliver is a British writer, journalist, and longtime writer for the Guardian. In the conversation, Oliver and I discuss:The productivity trapWhy it’s difficult to find time for the meaningful tasks in our lifeThe importance of patienceContemplating our cosmic insignificance Why accepting our mortality can lead to making wiser decisionsLiving in uncertainty and much more. 🦉 For any listeners interested in starting the year with wisdom, I encourage you to register for our upcoming course, Wisdom is the Way: The Timeless Art of Leading a Life. The course is free (and exclusive) for Perennial Meditations members (our daily newsletter on Substack). You can learn more and register here.---🖇️ Stay Connected:Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://instagram.com/PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/ ---🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast:Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

📩 Want daily meditations (and courses) on the art of living? Sign up for Perennial Meditations: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeOn this episode, my guest is Justin Brierley, the author of the new book The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God. Justin is a UK broadcaster, writer, and speaker who was the longtime host of the Unbelievable? Show for Premier Christian Radio. For nearly two decades, Justin has welcomed atheists, agnostics, and Christians to engage in meaningful conversations around science, faith, and culture. He’s heard every argument against the faith yet remains optimistic about a resurgence of belief. In the conversation, Justin and I discuss:Discerning our path in lifeThe “New Atheism” movementCulture and belief in GodSearching for Wisdom (and wrestling with God)Wisdom in daily life, and much more---🖇️ Stay Connected:Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://instagram.com/PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/ ---🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast:Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

📩 Want daily meditations (and courses) on the art of living? Sign up for Perennial Meditations: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeIn this episode, my guest is Prof. Krista Thomason, the author of the new book Dancing with the Devil: Why Bad Feelings Make Life Good. Krista is an associate professor of Philosophy at Swarthmore College. Her writings focus on the philosophy of emotion, moral philosophy, history of philosophy, and political philosophy. (Follow Krista on Twitter & Instagram). In the conversation, Krista and I discuss:Discerning our way in life.Various approaches to emotions across wisdom traditions.Why Montaigne is an influential figure in the book. Common obstacles to feeling our emotions. Why bad feelings make life good, and much more. ---🖇️ Stay Connected:Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://instagram.com/PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/ ---🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast:Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

📩 Want daily meditations (and courses) on the art of living? Sign up for Perennial Meditations: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeIn this episode, my guest is David Fideler, the author of Breakfast with Seneca: A Stoic Guide to the Art of Living. Today’s episode is a rebroadcast since we’re exploring David’s book this month for Reading & the Good Life (for anyone not familiar, you can learn more and sign up for Reading & the Good Life at Perennial Meditations on Substack). David studied ancient religions and philosophies, the history of science, and holds a Ph.D. in philosophy and intellectual history. You can learn more about his work at davidfideler.com.  In the conversation, David and I discuss:The life of SenecaCultivating friendshipNavigating hardshipsOvercoming fear and anxietyWisdom in daily life, and much more---🖇️ Stay Connected:Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://instagram.com/PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/ ---🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast:Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

📩 Want daily meditations (and courses) on the art of living? Sign up for Perennial Meditations: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeIn this episode, I’m sharing a conversation on the practice of gratitude with my good friend Brandon Tumblin; which comes from the Paradoxically Speaking podcast. Throughout the conversation, Brandon and I discuss the difference between gratitude and being grateful and, ultimately, how to avoid taking things for granted. Now as many of you know, the wisdom (or practice) of being grateful appears across wisdom traditions. Although philosophical and spiritual traditions often speak of gratitude in slightly different ways than we do in modern culture. Take this quote from the Benedictine monk Brother David Steindl-Rast, "You think this is just another day in your life. It’s not just another day; it’s the one day. It’s the one day that is given to you today. It’s a gift. It’s the only gift you have right now — and the only appropriate response is gratefulness."***If you’d like to hear more casual conversations like this one and gain access to our daily meditations on the art of living. I encourage you to consider becoming a member of Perennial Meditations on Substack. As many longtime listeners already know, we don’t run ads on any of our podcasts; they are made possible by the generous support of our members. Read this short meditation, How to Take Nothing for Granted to learn more. ---🖇️ Stay Connected:Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://instagram.com/PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/ ---🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast:Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

📩 Want daily meditations (and courses) on the art of living? Sign up for Perennial Meditations: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeIn this episode, my guest is Helen Russell, the author of How to Be Sad. Helen is a journalist, speaker, and bestselling author. Her first book, The Year of Living Danishly, became an international bestseller and was optioned for television. She’s spent the last ten years studying cultural approaches to emotions and speaks about her work internationally.  In the conversation, Helen and I discuss:The meaning of sadnessGrief and depressionMaking space for sadnessAccepting how the world worksThe perils of perfectionismWisdom in daily life, and much more***Learn more about Helen’s work at helenrussell.co.uk/ and check out the documentary, A Short History of Sadness, mentioned in the conversation.---🖇️ Stay Connected:Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://instagram.com/PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/ ---🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast:Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

📩 Want daily meditations (and courses) on the art of living? Sign up for Perennial Meditations: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeIn this episode, my guest is George Weigel, the author of Letters to a Young Catholic. George Weigel is a Distinguished Senior Fellow of Washington’s Ethics and Public Policy Center. He is a Catholic theologian and author of more than 30 books. His other works include Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II, Lessons in Hope, To Sanctify the World, and many others.   In the conversation, George and I discuss:Seeing ClearlyFlannery O’Connor and the Perils of NihilismMaking sense of sufferingBoth/And ThinkingThe wisdom of humilityThe role of beauty and much more---🖇️ Stay Connected:Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://instagram.com/PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/ ---🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast:Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts

📩 Want daily meditations (and courses) on the art of living? Sign up for Perennial Meditations: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeIn this episode, my guest is Dr. Michael Ward, the author of After Humanity: A Guide to C.S. Lewis’s The Abolition of Man. Today’s episode is a rebroadcast since we’re exploring The Abolition of Man this month for Reading & the Good Life. Michael is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford and Professor of Apologetics at Houston Baptist University. You can learn more about Michael and his work at michaelward.net.  In the conversation, Michael and I discuss:C.S. Lewis and why he is an important figure todayLewis’s book The Abolition of ManThe objectivity of valueThe problem of subjectivismIntegrating our rational and emotional nature and much more ---🖇️ Stay Connected:Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://instagram.com/PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/ ---🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast:Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcast

📩 Want daily meditations (and courses) on the art of living? Sign up for Perennial Meditations: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeIn this episode, my guest is Simon Drew from the Walled Garden Philosophical Society. As many of you know, Simon is a friend, poet, musician, philosopher, and someone deeply interested in life’s questions. Today’s episode is Part IV of our series called Living the Questions. The title is inspired by a famous quote from the poet Rainer Maria Rilke, who wrote in Letters to a Young Poet, “Live the questions for now. Perhaps then, without even noticing it, you will gradually come, on some far-off day, to live your way into the answer.”Listen to the previous episodes in the series: Listen to Part 1: https://perennial.substack.com/p/living-the-questionsListen to Part 2: https://perennial.substack.com/p/living-the-questions-how-to-liveListen to Part 3: https://perennial.substack.com/p/living-the-questions-what-is-wisdom  ---🖇️ Stay Connected:Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://instagram.com/PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/ ---🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast:Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcast

📩 Want daily meditations (and courses) on the art of living? Sign up for Perennial Meditations: https://perennial.substack.com/subscribeIn this episode, my guest is Dr. Brian Russell, a return guest to the show and author of the new book Astonished by the Word. Brian is a professor of biblical studies and a transformational coach for pastors and spiritually-minded professionals. Brian is truly one of our wise elders here on the podcast. In previous episodes, we discussed his book Centering Prayer and explored topics like discernment and the wisdom of forgiveness.  In this episode, expect to learn about:Deep transformationGrowing in loveForgiveness and acceptanceThe wisdom of “And”Scripture and stillnessSpiritual journaling, and much more.---🖇️ Stay Connected:Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerennialPodsInstagram: https://instagram.com/PerennialPodsWebsite: https://www.perennialleader.com/ ---🦉 Additional Resources Related to the Podcast:Explore the Perennial Meditations archive: https://perennial.substack.com/archiveListen to more podcasts: https://www.perennialleader.com/podcasts