On the Way Podcast

The Rev'd Dr Sarah Bachelard joins Dom, Sue and Peter in a conversation about the creative possibilities of a contemplative life to ground us in the midst of uncertain times.  How do we find a way in times of anxiety to "be with what is", rather than try to resist what cannot be changed?  Join us as we explore the gifts of silence and stillness to help us to embrace the potentialities of a world reimagined through this experience of pandemic. Sarah is the founder of Benedictus Contemplative Church based in Canberra. She is an Anglican priest, theologian, retreat leader, and author.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peter, Dom and Sue are joined by author and previous podcast guest, Jim Schirmer to talk about being the church in a time where we have to be disciples distanced from one another. What does it mean to be walking the way of the cross in a time of pandemic and to be resurrection people in a time of anxiety? Holy Week presents new challenges as we journey to the cross and the empty tomb in these days before us when themes of life and death are in such vivid focus. This context provides a new vantage point to explore some of the ideas in Jim's book, "The Way of the Rabbi: Stories of Discipleship from the Gospel of Mark." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, what are healthy ways of responding? How do we find ways to be community and be the best humans we can be in a time of anxiety?  Like everyone else, Dom, Sue, and Peter are just coming to terms with the rapidly changing face of a pandemic. In this conversation we are joined by The Rev'd Dr Ann Solari, Deacon at the cathedral and GP who offers medical care to different groups, including amongst people who are homeless. This conversation explores the risks for the most vulnerable and the many facets of the way this pandemic is affecting individuals and societies.  How can we be doing life differently at this time? How could we find the invitation to life in a time of crisis and be communities of love and courage?  (Please note that this conversation was recorded on the 20 March before churches were closed) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is truth? Are our opinions and beliefs being driven by narratives of which we are only dimly aware? What is the role of good journalism in revealing current events and the stories of people we may never know but whose lives are connected with our own or our nation’s story? Peter Greste joins Dom, Peter and Sue to talk about that time in an Egyptian prison, the courage to insist on the freedom of ideas and the healthy nature of scepticism in questions about truth in our time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the West dying for a better story? In this special live podcast recorded at St John’s Cathedral, organisational psychologist Dr Neil Preston joins Dom, Sue and Peter to discuss whether the West has forgotten how to tell its story, and how the crisis of meaning can be traced to the loss of a shared narrative. If this is true, how can the loneliness of an individualistic culture be resisted so we can find our way back to one another? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all carry with us the ego ideal of ourselves and the New Year can be a time when we put more energy into striving to live into that image. But there is also the part of ourselves which is far from our ideal and which we would all rather not face. What does it mean to encounter and make peace with our shadow- as an individual, a community or a nation? Dr George Trippe returns to the podcast to explore Jung’s understanding of the role of the shadow in our lives, the importance of welcoming the whole of ourselves and the power of facing as communities what we would rather not see.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our final interview from the Byron Writers Festival, Dom Fay and Sue Grimmett are joined by Tim Costello to talk about the kind of faith that begets hope, leading us to live everyday lives of love in the ordinary but also in the challenging days before us both individually and as a society. This conversation speaks into the religious freedom debate, the history of ideas in the West, and how we can find ways to step around polarising positions to live as welcoming, engaged communities, transcending all our fears. Tim is formerly a Baptist pastor, CEO of World Vision and now senior fellow for the Australian Centre for Public Christianity.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bruce Pascoe, author of Dark Emu, is popularly recognised as Australia’s most influential indigenous historian and responsible for challenging and revising established accounts of pre-colonial history that depicted Aboriginal people as ‘nothing more than spear-throwing nomads.’ Bruce joins the podcast at the Byron Writers Festival to talk about the ignored and suppressed history of Aborigines cultivating crops, building large villages and creating sophisticated dams and aquaculture systems. He explores with Dom and Sue the power and racism that has controlled the national story and how the Church can move from being part of the problem to part of the solution. This conversation covers some of the history of Aboriginal society as well as exploring the spirituality of truth-telling and the hard and vital work that needs to be done in decolonisation. Bruce Pascoe is an award-winning writer and a Yuin, Bunurong and Tasmanian man. He is a board member of First Languages Australia and Professor of Indigenous Knowledge at the University of Technology Sydney. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the second of the series of recordings from the Byron Writers Festival, Jess Hill joins Sue and Dom to talk about domestic abuse and the systems that enable perpetrators. The conversation explores the frightening realities behind the statistics and how our communities can confront the fear and violence that is present in so many relationships. Jess Hill is an investigative journalist who has been writing about domestic violence since 2014. Prior to this, she was a producer for ABC Radio, a Middle East correspondent and is listed in Foreign Policy's top 100 women to follow. Her reporting on domestic violence has won two Walkley awards, an Amnesty International award and three Our Watch awards. Content warning: This conversation covers topics of domestic abuse and family violence. If you are affected by domestic abuse help is available. The following site provides further information on where to find support both for victims and those who use family violence and are seeking counselling. https://www.whiteribbon.org.au/find-help/domestic-violence-hotlines/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 40- On the Way: How did we get here? Politics, Democracy and Liberation with Jeff Sparrow In the first of this series of recordings from the Byron Writers Festival, Jeff Sparrow joins Dom and Sue to talk about the ideologies of our times that are driving popular political, cultural and religious rhetoric, and how we can reclaim our voice in truthful conversations and liberating community action. Jeff is a writer, editor, broadcaster and author of a number of books including Trigger Warnings: Political Correctness and the Rise of the Right.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.