Phil and Jen: Recent Episodes
Phil and Jen
This podcast follows the questions about life, spirituality, and relationships. It is conversation meets teaching, storytelling, and interviews with friends about the challenges and joys of continuing to grow in all the areas of our lives.
We each have a next best step before us, but many people struggle with discerning what that is. We are all in different places, but if there is one universal next step, it’s getting really good at accessing the Spirit within and owning your own inner authority. Jen shares practical tips on how to weed through the noise, listen to your intuition, and find the courage to take your next best step.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- How to pay attention to your life and access the Spirit within you
- How to identify your intuition and inner wisdom
- What pitfalls to watch out for when trying to discern your next step
- How to know if you're on the right path
- How to find the courage to take action
As a bonus, Jen leads you through a breath-work meditation to help you get into your body and start tapping into that discernment. Listen now and learn how to discern your next best step!
Celebrating one year of this podcast with what we’ve learned, highs and lows (including some pretty vulnerable moments) and what we are excited about going forward.
If the gospel isn’t good news for all people, it isn’t good news at all.
We talk with our new friend Blake, about how Christianity has been colonized, what that means, and how a decolonized Church would liberate not only the oppressed, but the oppressor. He shares his personal story and talks about his transition from his current pastoral role into the ongoing role of helping the Church decolonize. We talk about the spiritual landscape we are in, how in waking up to the systems of injustice and brokenness within Christianity, many people are actually drawing closer to the heart of God rather than away from it and how the future Church and spirituality will not look like the past.
You can find Blake's work on Instagram at @the_decolonizing_christian
What do we mean when we are talking about integrating mind, body and spirit? What does it mean to live aligned? What do the scriptures have to say about it? What do embodiment modalities like meditation, silence, fasting, breath-work, and cold and heat immersion have to do with any of that? And how does any of that make our lives richer? There’s an invitation to move from being stuck in our heads to a more integrated life.
Throughout history the story of the Gospels has been co-opted by the powerful, and this is continuing to happen in our day.
We talk with Poet and Pastor, Drew Jackson, about his own experience as a Black man navigating the landscape of American life and his poetic telling of the first eight chapters of the Gospel of Luke, centering the theme of liberation and his attempt to recover those voices that have so often been silenced. We discuss what it means to be on the way—in the dirt and dust where things get real and faith puts on flesh.
You can find Drew's work here: https://drewejackson.com/
You can follow Drew on Instagram here: @d.jacksonpoetics
In this one, we talk to thought-leader, Alexander Shaia, aboutQuadratos- a map of our ongoing human experience across life’s four great questions:
How do we face change?
How do we move through suffering?
How do we receive joy?
How do we mature in service?
Alexander talks about how in this framework, the four gospels are delineated as the four strands of the transformational journey that’s true of every wisdom tradition. We discuss how we are collectively in the first two stages and he offers spiritual practices to help you as you move in and through those towards joy and service on the other side.
You can find Alexander's work here: https://www.quadratos.com/
Community After Individuality. Otherwise known as (or originally named) the Power of Presence.
Loneliness is an epidemic. And while we are the most seemingly “connected” we’ve ever been as a society, it’s easy to be in a crowd of people and feel desperately alone. But the antidote to loneliness is presence- both to ourselves and to one another.
There is power in being present to yourself, and an important part of the spiritual journey is learning to own your own authority. Part of that is learning to listen to our bodies and trust what they are telling us, learning to trust the Spirit within us and moving to a deeper integration from belief into embodiment, but at the end of the day it is a personal journey- there really is no plus one. However, on the other side of that individual journey is community. And there’s a power in being present to one another- not needing to fix, but simply sitting in the questions and messiness of life and seeing each other.
“One of the most difficult things is not to change society—but to change yourself.” -NELSON ROLIHLAHLA MANDELA
Talking with author Idelette McVicker about her journey out of whiteness and reckoning with her Apartheid past into becoming a part of repair and restitution. In this powerful conversation, we talk about the connectedness of all humanity, the journey of inner transformation and the path of liberation out of patriarchy.
You can find her new book, Recovering Racists- Dismantling White Supremacy and Reclaiming Our Humanity anywhere books are sold.
You can find her online at https://idelette.com/ or on Instagram @idelettemcvicker
Talking with trauma therapist and embodiment coach, Chrissy Powers, about the power of living in connection with our bodies, moving from perfectionism and shame patterns to freedom, her faith transition, spiritual gaslighting, purity culture, and body image.
www.chrissypowers.com
Instagram: @chrissyjpowers
The word heretic has become a dirty word- one that most of us would probably not want to be called. But what does heretic really mean? It turns out that we are all heretics and that maybe it’s not a bad thing after all.
Also, we have some fun free events going on this summer!
Meet Ups. Meet ups are a safe space for those with an expanding faith to connect, process and keep growing in order to live meaningful lives and create a more loving world.
Sat. June 25th 7-9pm
Sat. July 30th 7-9pm
Everyone is welcome, wherever you’re at. There’ll be tacos and margaritas because obviously that just makes it more fun. RSVP herefor the address in Costa Mesa and let us know how many tacos to order.
Raising Humans Meet Ups. We are providing space to engage together with our kids in intentional, meaningful conversation and (some adventurous) experiences to raise whole-hearted, spiritually connected humans.
Who: You and your kids ages 10-18
When: Sat. July 9 9-10:30am, Sat. Aug. 6 9-10:30am
Where: Costa Mesa (top secret location)
RSVP here: Spots limited
Brit spent the first part of her life in the evangelical church and eventually became a pastor at a mega church at the ripe age of 26. After “peaking too soon”, she started to understand more about herself, her dreams and her sexuality. She met a woman named Sami that changed, saved and transformed her whole life. We talk with Brit about how meeting Sami, leaving the church, coming out and getting married have given Brit a deep seated passion for reminding people that choosing freedom is always worth it no matter the cost. We share how our perspectives have changed since originally starting the church that we led and how it’s okay to change your mind, even as people of faith and leaders. We talk about “the fear spiral” and the kinds of fears that keep us from evolving beyond the narratives that have been handed to us by others. We can't avoid or outrun these fears, but if we face them and move through them, we'll find out that it was so worth it!
Brit is a currently a pastor at New Abbey Church, and is a sought after speaker in the areas of personal development, race, gender and sexuality and lives with Sami in southern California with their dog Charles Barkley and their house full of plants that they treat like children.
www.britbarron.com
Instagram @britbarron
Twitter @britbarronco
Do I stay Christian?
In this episode, we talk with author, speaker and activist, Brian McLaren, about this powerful question that a surprising number of people are asking. We discuss the reasons to say no and yes to that question and he ultimately shifts the question to how we stay human.
https://brianmclaren.net/
https://read.macmillan.com/lp/do-i-stay-christian/
When your faith expands, it can feel lonely and disorienting, especially at first.
We are talking about what happens when you learn more and experience more in your faith and then you live according to it- when your faith evolves past the boundaries you once knew.
There’s a grief in the loss of the familiar and the certain- it affects all areas of your life. And there are fears that can come with the growth- even freedom can feel scary.
But it’s all worth it. Our faith can be bigger, wider, more aligned and lead us to a freedom deeper than we ever imagined.
In this episode, we talk with our dear friend, pastor and author- Kevin Sweeney, about what it means to live the spiritual practices of a mystic in our everyday lives. We talk about embracing each moment for exactly what it is and the power and simplicity of stillness. He shares about his journey with mushrooms, the trend of psychedelics and whether it can be helpful in your spiritual journey. We discuss how there’s no substitute for consistent, open-hearted spaces with love and what we are all finding hopeful in this new space we are finding ourselves in. His new book, The Making of Mystic, is out on May 31. Get it!
In the first episode of Season 4 we talk about This New Space we are finding ourselves in spiritually, relationally, politically, economically, technologically, racially- basically every way. We talk about the universal pattern of human spiritual growth and transformation that’s currently unfolding in our world and that we are in the midst of a hinge time. Phil shares some of our personal story about what led us to step out of the church we were leading and into new and unknown spaces. We discuss how deconstruction Christianity is not new, how it’s necessary, but also only part of a process.
BONUS EPISODE! Crypto currency- it’s all the talk recently. But what is it and will it really stick around? Phil talks with director of Bitcoin Beach and President of the non-profit Missionsake, Mike Peterson, on our recent trip to Bitcoin Beach in El Salvador about the ways that Bitcoin is transforming and empowering a community by bringing financial inclusion and opportunities to the most marginalized. They talk about the future of the economy, the revolution of decentralized money, the ways in which our world is becoming more deinstitutionalized and why it matters.
To learn more:
https://www.bitcoinbeach.com/
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-06-22/in-el-salvadors-bitcoin-beach
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tatianakoffman/2020/07/14/this-el-salvador-village-adopts-bitcoin-as-money/?sh=156fdd20447b
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/on-the-coast-of-el-salvador-bitcoin-is-becoming-the-standard-2020-01-13
In this one, we have a conversation with our friend Rob Bell about how growth and change work. We talk about how change is baked into the whole of existence and that we are only ever going forward. We discuss what holds people back from making the changes that they want in their lives and how to become aware of and engage your internal life. He shares about what he is seeing right now and some of the beautiful changes he is observing as the last few years have sped up many societal shifts.
In this episode Phil and Jen discuss the changes happening in the Evangelical Church. They talk about how according to a recent NYT article by David Brooks, the future of the Christian church is not going to look like the past and how many people are leaving the Church to keep going- not because they don’t believe in Jesus or have faith, but because they don’t believe the Church actually believes what it teaches. They discuss some recent social commentary about the current form and how the movement of the Spirit is like a river- it will always find a way forward.
Notes & Links: NYT article by David Brooks, Aaron Neiquist IG post, Angora Lake Rock Jumping Spot in Lake Tahoe
In this episode, we talk with Wim Hof and XPT breath-work and recovery instructor, Nolan Kim, about the benefits of breath-work and cold and heat therapy for our mental and overall health. We discuss our experience of attending his Breath and Recovery workshop, the benefits of breathing exercises and cold therapy as well as how to breathe properly. We talk about practical strategies to promote better mental and emotional health and simple ways to calm our nerves in this season we all find ourselves in.
You can find Nolan's work at www.powercoachingnow.com or on Instagram at @powercoachingnow
You have what you need. As you face the world and all that it holds today, disorientation, confusion, and fatigue are common. It is normal to feel overwhelmed or even just tired. In this episode, Phil and Jen talk about the reality that everyone they know (including each other) are tired right now and also how we all have what we need. They talk about tapping into the deep well of the Spirit, allowing emotions to pass through you, the need to be tender with ourselves and others in this time, and how sometimes it takes awhile for your whole self to catch up with change.
As we are talking about growing and making change in ourselves and in the world in any way- (from thought patterns to faith to creative endeavors to habits and on and on), something happens when we step into that. Resistance. No one is exempt from it. Not even Jesus. You cannot escape it. It is baked in to the process. But when you recognize its presence (and power), name it, and face it, it is actually a force that can catapult you on your journey and even let you know that you are on to the right things.
We’re collectively getting sicker as a society, not healthier and in order to find healing, we must start with the soil.
In this episode we talk with Jeff Tkach, about how food is medicine and how it healed his body from disease, how the way we farm affects climate change, and why knowing where your food comes from is important. As Chief Impact Officer for the Rodale Institute (a nonprofit dedicated to growing the organic movement through rigorous research, farmer training, and consumer education), Jeff shares about regenerative organic agriculture and how the great healing of our time begins in the soil — from which all life springs. We discuss practical steps we all can make for health, wholeness and caring for our earth.
In this one, Phil gives a new year sermon on hope. He talks about acceptance (in the hold down), love (and how it shapes our hearts), who we are becoming (and the world it will ultimately create through this), and hope in the midst of uncertain times.
In this episode, we talk with Tod Bolsinger (of Fuller Seminary) about leading and growing through change. With his unique lens as a seminary professor (former VP of Fuller), transformational/adaptive leadership guru, pastor of 27 years, and church consultant/executive coach working with countless congregations and organizations across the country, we discuss with Tod what he sees happening in the current Christian landscape and future spirituality of America. We talk about the need for developing resilience and an adaptive capacity to cut through resistance in order to lead in the face of the many changes we are facing today. He offers practical steps for resilience and hope as we all step into a new future.
In this Episode, Phil talks with Jen about her first marathon over the weekend. She flew in late the night before and they sat down first thing in the morning to discuss what a profound impact the entire experience had on her. They talk about the training and race experience and all of the parallels and learnings for daily life. They talk about working through panic, trusting the process, surrender, the power of words and journeying with others, how expectations can rob us of our joy, how resting can feel counterintuitive when you are pushing towards a goal and how far we have all come in the last few years. So- listen in and be inspired to focus on your next step, whatever that may be.
In this episode, Phil and Jen talk with Trace Bell and Tina Olson about helping people connect their spirituality to all the aspects of their lives. Consciousness, Spiral Dynamics, liminal space, deconstruction, reconstruction, fostering our kids’ spiritual lives, and growth- this one hits so many topics!
For more from Trace check out www.tracebelll.com and from Tina check out www.tinamarieolsen.com.
In this episode, Phil and Jen talk about how approaching life with more curiosity and less judgement has the power to change the world. They discuss how a curious approach to our interior lives, engaging with others, faith, and the world is an outlook that you can choose to lean into that also just so happens to be a really fun way to live.
In this episode, Phil and Jen have a conversation with speaker and coach Sonja Pemberton about dispelling the myth of the other.
Sonja talks about how accepting others requires us to do the deep work of accepting ourselves. She discusses the importance of investigating the origins of our beliefs and behaviors in order to approach others without judgment.
You can find what Sonja is up to at her website https://www.sonjapemberton.com and register for her Master Class on dispelling the myth of the other at https://www.sonjapemberton.com/masterclass-registration
In this one, Phil and Jen talk about the different traps we can fall into when we are trying to make changes in our lives. This episode is a part the How to Reimagine Your Life audio download. They talk about the trap of living by the “shoulds”, how perspective is key to making meaningful change in our lives and how sometimes the only thing that really needs to change is the story we're telling ourselves, how to evaluate our pace of life to create rhythm and rest, and how unforgiveness will keep us in a prison of our own making.
Also-if you liked this podcast, be sure to check out the Self-Guided Audio Download of How to Reimagine Your Life for purchase at philandjenwood.com or go to the website and sign up for the email list for a free copy.
In this one, Phil and Jen reflect on the paradox that life is short so we can activate and make the changes we want for our lives and for the world around us. And also, it’s long. The circumstances we are in now won’t last forever and it’s not too late to make changes- there’s hope and so much possibility and we can begin again and again.
In this episode, Phil and Jen interview New York Times best selling author, Frank Schaeffer. Frank shares personal stories and wisdom about redefining success, loving the people around you well and finding real joy. With a wealth of experience and knowledge, Frank speaks into post-pandemic life and invites us all to lean into what matters most.
In this episode, Phil and Jen talk about the various responses that can happen when we are presented with new information. They discuss the value of the Bible. And they talk about a path to holding and engaging it in ways that breathe life, liberation and hope.
In this episode, Phil and Jen talk about how we hold the Bible and why it matters. They discuss inspiration, interpretation, and authority. They talk about the ways the Bible has been weaponized and used in harmful ways as a result of how it was held. They discuss freeing the Bible from what it was never intended to be. They address the question: Is the Bible God-breathed? And finally, they discuss embodiment, what it means and the freedom that comes with it.
In this episode, Phil and Jen talk about the ways the Bible and the movement have grown and changed over time. They discuss the History of the Bible, the process of people capturing what they sensed God doing over time and how it evolved. They discuss what kind of scriptures Jesus had in his time and how technological advances and societal shifts changed people’s access to the Bible and their view of God. They talk about how growth and change is actually baked into the whole movement and how we are invited to embrace it rather than fear it. And they discuss the Bible’s lasting influence and the hope and freedom they find from it: especially the idea of embodying the messages today.
In this episode, Phil and Jen talk about how the average household has 9 copies of the Bible and purchases another one every year, how people have a high esteem for it and yet the fact that many (if not most) don’t actually read it. They discuss the impact of consumerism on the Bible and how our expectations of the Bible don’t actually match up to our experience of it. They talk about how many would rather buy another copy than read one. They discuss the disconnect between our expectations and our experience of the Bible and ways to set the it Free (and in doing so set ourselves free).
In this episode called “What is It?” we talk about why we are still having a discussion about a several thousand year old book, what it is, empire, authority and power. We discuss its history, how it (and the way we hold it) has evolved significantly over the last 2,000 years, and also the ways it has been weaponized and abused. We talk about setting the Bible (and ourselves) free in order to hold it and engage it in ways that bring life and hope and that helps us to embody the life that it contains.
In this last season, Phil and Jen have grabbed onto a phrase and idea that has become super helpful to them- “The Pivot”. The Pivot in life is the times when things don’t work out as planned and we have to make a change, or when we get more information and change our minds about something, or when we realize something isn’t working for us and decide to make a change. Those are all pivots. But the art of pivoting isn’t just an action- it’s a mentality. It’s a way operating and holding it all loosely. When we don’t grip our lives to death, then when things don’t work out as planned, we can just roll with it so much easier. Living more open handed with the ability to easily pivot and make adjustments is like flowing in a beautiful river rather than constantly trying to steer it- it’s just a more enjoyable ride.
In this episode, Phil and Jen share their own story from the last 9 months and how they’ve had a full-on marriage renaissance. They share how, after stepping out of the church they were leading, Phil began to see Jen in a fresh way and that in turn made her see him in a whole new light. It was like they were dating and getting to know each other all over again. They share how they leaned into what at first they stumbled into and how it’s made all the difference in their relationship. They remind us that all relationships require us to do our own inner work, require a ton of grace and that, wherever you are at, you can begin again and again and again.
In this episode, Phil and Jen discuss cultural expectations and the pressure to do life at a pace that is often not sustainable. They talk about times when they chose a pace of life that was unhealthy and about the opportunity we all have to choose the pace of life that works for us- especially coming out of a cultural reset. They discuss the concept of what they call The Vortex- a strong gravitational pull into a busy, fast-paced life. The Vortex can pull us in even when we are intentionally trying to live at a healthy, relaxed pace. They offer practical ways to slow your roll and live more aligned so that you can live your life in line with your priorities and what (and who) really matters to you.
Everybody has a perspective, the lens through which they see and the perspective from which they operate, but our perspective is also a choice. In this episode, Phil and Jen talk about how our perspective shapes reality. The way that we choose to think about things and the narratives we tell ourselves changes how we experience our lives. Our perspective shapes how we move and interact with the world. Each day can be shaped entirely by the view point in which we approach it, which means our reality is partly shaped by the WAY we see things. Ultimately, we can shape our reality by how we choose our perspective.
In this episode, Jen shares about setting down things in your life that are not yours to carry and how to travel lightly. Phil listens and then asks Jen some questions about how to practically examine our lives, discern what is ours to carry, and then how to set down heavy weights in our lives and not keep picking them back up.
This podcast is about the thing that is hardest to define. The thing that holds all things together. The Spirit of God. In this one, Jen interviews Phil about how to follow the Spirit and intentional practices for being guided by the Spirit in our lives.
In this episode, Phil and Jen discuss liminal space (times when the old thing is done, but the new is not yet) and how we are currently in a communal liminal space. They make observations about what happens in times of transition and provide helpful ways to grow and be encouraged in times of liminality.
In this episode Phil and Jen talk about this unique time where so much of life has been disrupted and shifted from a global pandemic and massive upheaval. They talk about their reimagining experience in the last six months of their own lives and discuss the opportunity for a full reset and a chance to evaluate the way we are approaching everything: work, education, spirituality, pace, mental health, social structure and injustices, as well as your own personal lives.