Heart's Desire & Social Change: Recent Episodes
Fr. Daniel Groody, C.S.C.
Meaningful conversations about the things that matter most to people: their purpose, identity, and direction in life. How can we find meaning and mission in a restless world? How can we make good and wise decisions? How do we find the path that leads us to discover the deepest desires of our hearts and our aspirations to make the world a better place? This podcast is designed to help you examine these questions and to explore the terrains of self-awareness, self-development, and self-gift. Hosted by Fr. Dan Groody, Vice President and Associate Provost at the University of Notre Dame. Sponsored by the Inspired Leadership Initiative at the University of Notre Dame. To learn more, go to heartsdesiresocialchange.com and ili.nd.edu.
We are hard at work on season 2! While you await new episodes, we thought that you would enjoy another conversation that Fr. Dan had with Richard Rohr, the renowned Franciscan priest, author, and spiritual teacher. Fr. Richard came to visit us at the University of Notre Dame campus and spoke before a live audience at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.
You can listen to the first half of the conversation in the previous episode, and the full video on YouTube.
Thank you for listening! We want to thank Fr. Richard Rohr for joining us, as well as Lauren Fox and John Groden for producing. We would also like to thank Tom Schreier, Emily Turner, and Ashley Baranowski of the Inspired Leadership Initiative for coordinating the event, as well as the staff of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center and ND Studios for hosting and recording the conversation. We would also like to thank Michael Poffenberger, the Executive Director of Richard’s Center for Action and Contemplation, for collaborating and visiting us at Notre Dame.
If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with your friends and family and consider subscribing wherever podcasts are found.
Resources:
- Decisions by Boris Novak
- The original Great Themes of Scripture tapes have been converted to audiobooks
- And into books on the Old and New Testaments
We are hard at work on season 2! While you await new episodes, we thought that you would enjoy another conversation that Fr. Dan had with Richard Rohr, the renowned Franciscan priest, author, and spiritual teacher. Fr. Richard came to visit us at the University of Notre Dame campus and spoke before a live audience at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.
We will release the second half of the conversation, in which Richard answers questions from the audience, next week.
Thank you for listening! We want to thank Fr. Richard Rohr for joining us, as well as Lauren Fox and John Groden for producing. We would also like to thank Tom Schreier, Emily Turner, and Ashley Baranowski of the Inspired Leadership Initiative for coordinating the event, as well as the staff of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center and ND Studios for hosting and recording the conversation. We would also like to thank Michael Poffenberger, the Executive Director of Richard’s Center for Action and Contemplation, for collaborating and visiting us at Notre Dame.
If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with your friends and family and consider subscribing wherever podcasts are found.
Resources:
- Richard mentions "iPods", by which he meant the CAC's podcast series
- The Pew Research Center study showing that just 1/3 of U.S. Catholics agree that the Eucharist really becomes the body and blood of Christ
- A great primer on the "Teflon-velcro" analogy of the mind
- The poem by Symeon the New Theologian: Hymn 15 in his Hymns of Divine Love
- The spiritual practice of stillness adapted from Psalm 46:10 that concludes this first half of the conversation
Fr. Dan is joined by Lauren Fox and Richard Leider to answer listener questions.
Thank you all for the support throughout our first season! We will taking a brief hiatus as we prepare future episodes.
Resources:
- The McGrath Institute for Church Life's Prayer Enrichment Guidebook that includes a practical explanation of lectio divina
- Fr. Mike Schmitz's Bible in a Year podcast
- The Catholic Lectionary and daily readings
- The Inspired Leadership Initiative
- Clearness Committee Integration
Why are we always busy? What are we missing in our 24/7, always “on” world?
In this re-released episode, Fr. Dan Groody and Richard Leider discuss the themes of silence and solitude, their importance to a good life, and practical ways to implement solitude practice into your own life.
Ask us questions for next week's episode!
Resources:
- The full Paradox of Our Times poem
- Time & Phone Use Log Integration
- Solitude Practice Integration
- Pray as you go app
Fr. Dan and Richard Leider discuss the importance, difficulties, and practices of finding a meaningful calling.
Resources:
- Writing A Personal Creed Integration
- Adam Grant on identity foreclosure
- Ask us questions for a mailbag episode!
Fr. Dan and Richard Leider discuss the importance of a realistic and nuanced perspective on death and mortality. As Fr. John Dunne put it, "If it is that we are to die, how are we called to live?"
We are collecting questions for a bonus listener mailbag episode! Please submit any questions you want to ask Fr. Dan and/or Richard through this form.
Resources:
- Writing Your Own Eulogy Integration
- Observer Editorial: Don’t make us write obituaries.
- David Brooks on résumé and eulogy virtues (video version)
- St. Ignatius' deathbed meditation
- Question submission form
Fr. Dan interviews Richard Rohr, the renowned Franciscan priest, author, and spiritual teacher.
Together, they explore Richard's perspective on the true self, forgiveness, the meaning of the cross, and the links between contemplation and action.
We recorded this on location at the Center for Action and Contemplation.
Resources:
- TheNew Yorker profile on Richard
- Richard's Daily Meditations email
- The full video version of the interview
- Richard's perspective on the cross as a message of love, not atonement
- Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams' address to the Synod of Bishops in Rome
- Richard's book on the true self: Immortal Diamond
Fr. Dan talks with Parker Palmer, a writer, speaker, activist, and founder and Senior Partner Emeritus of the Center for Courage & Renewal. They explore how to follow the true calling of one’s heart, the struggles often encountered on the journey to the heart’s desire, and continued discernment through retirement.
Resources:
- Parker Palmer's biography
- Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker Palmer
- On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity, and Getting Old by Parker Palmer
- The Growing Edge with Parker and singer Carrie Newcomer
- Their song, "The Music Will Play On"
We are hard at work on the final few episodes of the first season, which will be released in August. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy revisiting the live events and interviews that helped launch this series.
In this conversation, Fr. Dan talks with Lou Nanni, Vice President for University Relations, about his life and work. Before coming to work at Notre Dame, Lou spent two and half years serving the vulnerable in Chile and served as the Director of the Center for the Homeless in South Bend, Indiana.
Resources:
- Lou Nanni's biography
- The Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society by Henri Nouwen
- Solitude Practice Integration
We are hard at work on the final few episodes of the first season, which will be released in August. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy revisiting the live events and interviews that helped launch this series.
In this conversation, Fr. Dan talks with Sara Martinez Tucker, Notre Dame Fellow and Trustee, about her Heart's Desire journey, spiritual practices, and work for educational access.
Resources:
- Sara Martinez Tucker's biography
- The Inspired Leadership Initiative
- The full video of the conversation
Fr. Dan and Richard Leider discuss the importance of kinship and accompaniment. As Fr. Greg Boyle describes it, “Kinship—not serving the other, but being one with the other. Jesus was not ‘a man for others’; he was one with them. There is a world of difference in that…”
We hope that you can take the opportunity to reflect on a time when you were accompanied well, and on how you can accompany others in the future.
Resources:
- Accompaniment Integration
- LifeLine Exercise
- Bryan Stevenson on the importance of "staying proximate"
- Galilean Journey: The Mexican-American Promise by Fr. Virgilio Elizondo
Fr. Dan and Richard Leider discuss the importance of justice and servant leadership in the search for the Heart's Desire.
Resources:
- Acts of Service or Kindness Integration
- A primer on the Biblical meaning of justice
- Fr. Dan's book on Globalization, Spirituality & Justice
- The South Bend Center for the Homeless
Fr. Dan and Richard Leider discuss the difficulties of loneliness and the importance of genuine connection and community.
Resources:
- Social Connection Integration
- Our adapted 12 Questions to Build Relationships exercise
- The Harvard Study of Adult Development
- The viral TED Talk about the study
- Gerald May's Will and Spirit: A Contemplative Psychology
Fr. Dan and Richard Leider discuss the difficulties and importance of facing fear and anxiety.
Resources:
- Agere Contra Integration
- Failure Résumé
- Flow Résumé
- BioSpirituality and focusing primer
Fr. Dan and Richard Leider discuss the importance of biography and storytelling. At the end of the day, are we living out someone else's story, or our own?
Resources:
- StoryCorps Interview Integration
- StoryCorps TED Talk
- Fr. Dan's short documentary: Return to Rwanda
- Fr. Dan's book: Love Prevails: One Couple's Story of Faith and Survival in the Rwandan Genocide
- Spiritual biographies list that we give the students
Fr. Dan and Richard discuss discernment, decision making, and how we can make wise decisions.
Resources:
- Life Path Conversations Integration
- Life Paths Exercise
- David Brooks on résumé and eulogy virtues (video version)
- Richard's book on purposeful aging
- A primer on Bernard Lonergan
- A viral video explaining the core human psychological needs of autonomy, master, and purpose
Fr. Dan and Richard Leider discuss the importance of freedom, conversion, and Groundhog Day.
Resources:
- Examen & Gratitude Journaling Integration
- Roger Ebert's review of Groundhog Day
- Some seminal excerpts from Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning
- Gerald May's Addiction and Grace
Fr. Dan and Richard Rohr continue their conversation in the second half of our bonus interview. They explore substitutionary atonement theory, the links between contemplation and action, and the dangers of a gospel of perfection.
Resources:
- The full video version of the interview
- Richard's perspective on the cross as a message of love, not atonement
- Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams' address to the Synod of Bishops in Rome
Fr. Dan and Richard discuss the importance and practice of gratitude and grace.
Resources:
- Gratitude Letter Integration
- Examen & Gratitude Journal Integration
- Jean Valjean and the Bishop in Les Misérables
- Harvard Study of Adult Development TED Talk
- A primer on post-traumatic growth
- Examples of the gratitude letter exercise
- Brother Steindl-Rast's TED Talk on gratitude
Fr. Dan interviews Richard Rohr, the renowned Franciscan priest, author, and spiritual teacher.
In this first half of the interview, they discuss Richard's perspective on the true self, the shadow, and forgiveness.
We recorded this on location at the Center for Action and Contemplation.
Resources:
- TheNew Yorker profile on Richard
- Richard's Daily Meditations email
- Richard's book on the true self: Immortal Diamond
Fr. Dan and Richard explore the differences of the Heart's Desire and the heart's desires. They also discuss the importance and practice of forgiveness.
Resources:
- Forgiveness Exercise Integration
- A primer on apophatic vs. kataphatictheology
- Joseph Campbell's Power of Myth
- More on Pope Francis describing himself as a sinner
- David Brooks on the difference between résumé and eulogy virtues (TED Talk version)
Fr. Dan and Richard discuss the themes of the True and False Selves. Whose story are you living - yours, or someone else's?
Resources:
- Clearness Committee Integration
- A primer on Thomas Merton's conception of the True and False Selves
- Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life by William Deresiewicz
What is most important in my life? How can I connect my inner values with my outer life?
Fr. Dan Groody and Richard Leider discuss the themes of values and culture, their importance to a good life, and practical ways to use your strengths and values in your everyday life.
Resources:
- Signature Strengths Integration
- VIA Character Strengths Survey
- Philippe Petit and the Twin Towers walk
- St. Ignatius' death bed meditation
- The Courage to Be by Paul Tillich
- A recent primer on Fr. John Dunne
- Repacking Your Bags: Lighten Your Load for the Rest of Your Life by Richard Leider
- Erik Erikson and identity
Why are we always busy? What are we missing in our 24/7, always “on” world?
In this episode, Fr. Dan Groody and Richard Leider discuss the themes of silence and solitude, their importance to a good life, and practical ways to implement solitude practice into your own life.
Resources:
- The full Paradox of Our Times poem
- Time & Phone Use Log Integration
- Solitude Practice Integration
- Pray as you go app
Host Fr. Dan Groody discusses his vision for the podcast with Dan Allen, the Associate Director of Spirituality and Service at the Notre Dame Alumni Association and host of of the Everyday Holiness Podcast.
Together they explore Fr. Dan’s story and what led him to this work. They also discuss what the “Heart’s Desire” is and the undergraduate course that inspired the podcast.
Resources mentioned:
- The podcast website, which can be found at heartsdesiresocialchange.com or go.nd.edu/HeartsDesireSocialChange.
- Fr. Dan mentions that the course has "Rewirements" inspired by the popular Yale course on the Science of Well-Being.
- We have since rebranded these exercises as our own "Integrations", which are actionable challenges to incorporate the content into everyday life. The exercises are based on time-tested spiritual and psychological practices that correspond to the topic of each episode.
- Fr. Dan mentions that a producer taught with ACE, the Alliance for Catholic Education. Learn more at ace.nd.edu.
The podcast is sponsored by the Inspired Leadership Initiative at the University of Notre Dame; to learn more visit ili.nd.edu.
Fr. Dan introduces his co-host Richard Leider to the podcast. An international bestselling author, Richard is founder of INVENTURE-The Purpose Company, where the mission is to help people “unlock the power of purpose”.
Widely viewed as a “pioneer” of the global purpose movement, Richard has worked with a broad array of organizations from AARP to the NFL to the U.S. State Department. His work is regularly featured in many media sources including the PBS Special - “The Power of Purpose”. Along the way, Richard has written ten books, including Repacking Your Bags and The Power of Purpose, both considered classics in the personal growth field. In addition, Richard is serving this year as a Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study at the University of Notre Dame in partnership with the Inspired Leadership Initiative.
Fr. Dan and Richard discuss Richard’s story and work, as well as the connection between purpose and the Heart’s Desire.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
- Time an Phone Use Log
- Integration explainer on the website
- Richard's website
The podcast is sponsored by the Inspired Leadership Initiative at the University of Notre Dame, to learn more visit ili.nd.edu.
Meaningful conversations about the things that matter most to people: their purpose, identity, and direction in life. How can we find meaning and mission in a restless world? How can we make good and wise decisions? How do we find the path that leads us to discover the deepest desires of our hearts and our aspirations to make the world a better place?
This podcast is designed to help you examine these questions and to explore the terrains of self-awareness, self-development, and self-gift. Hosted by Fr. Dan Groody, Vice President and Associate Provost at the University of Notre Dame.
Learn more at our website, heartsdesiresocialchange.com. Watch the video version of this trailer here.