Time & Other Thieves: Recent Episodes
Sarah B.
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In this episode, I share parts of a conversation I recently had with psychotherapist and organizational consultant Dr. Jeffrey Axelbank. In July of 2025, Jeff was featured in a New York Times article by Ellen Berry titled "The Ghost in the Therapy Room," about therapists who die unexpectedly—or at least their patients don't expect it. These patients are deprived of saying goodbye and otherwise preparing themselves for a profound loss that tends to go unrecognized by society.
Jeff talks with me about his experience of such a loss, after having worked with the same psychoanalyst for 36 years, three sessions a week. He did not know she was dying of pancreatic cancer. He also discusses his earliest experience of psychotherapy, which he sought because he wanted help with a stutter, and about his work as a process group leader and an organizational consultant.
To any therapists listening: I hope this episode will inspire you to be communicative with your patients about your impending death, should you fall ill, and to create a professional will regardless of your age or health status, so that your patients will be better cared for in the event of your unexpected passing.
(If you'd like to listen to the Mount Eerie song I reference in the beginning, here is a Spotify link.)
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In this episode I share parts of a conversation I recently had with Jacob Winkler, founder and facilitator of the Masters of Group Therapy Club, of which I've been a member since August of 2024. I hope you enjoy this tiny sliver of the giant pie that is Jacob's knowledge and wisdom around the human psyche and how to work with it in the context of process groups. He talks about honoring what people are coming in with instead of pushing it to the side in order to stay on task, about the power of the unconscious mind, about writing as a form of self therapy, and about the value in studying one's own irritation with others as a way to help those people become more of themselves.
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In this episode, I explore some of the ideas that Carl Jung expounds upon in his 1933 book, "Modern Man in Search of a Soul." There's the notion that we cannot fully accept others unless we've fully accepted (i.e., loved) ourselves; that the parts of ourselves we deem unacceptable will be banished to the unconscious and wreak havoc in ways we can't control, while we WOULD have more control if we accepted them; that "certainties can arise only through doubt"; and that problems are necessary; problems are what necessitate our growth and expansion. I also talk about what it means to "be oneself" if that self is always changing, like a river. And I discuss the concept of everything containing its opposite, and why I no longer ascribe to the popular Buddhist belief that man's "true nature" is loving-kindness and compassion.
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In this episode I share parts of a conversation I recently had with psychotherapist, process group leader, and group therapy consultant Sara Schreiber. I first met her in August of 2024 in the Masters of Group Therapy Club. Together we explore her approach to facilitating groups, what challenges her most about being a group leader and member, and how her spiritual practice informs her therapy work and everything else in her life. An observer of Orthodox Judaism, Sara answers some questions I have about various religious traditions—including no sex (or even touching of any kind!) before marriage—and shares some of the prayers she says multiple times a day (including one for after using the bathroom) as a way of staying in conversation with God. I felt very happy and peaceful listening to her, and I hope you will, too.
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In this promotional-type bonus episode, I describe the new group I'm starting in late July, which I hope you'll consider joining! There will be two separate cohorts of Time & Other Thieves: A Discussion, Meditation, and Interpersonal Process Group. One group will meet on the last Tuesday of the month from 2:00 to 3:30 PM Eastern Standard Time, and the other on the last Wednesday of the month from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. In each Zoom meeting we'll explore a different book and its corresponding podcast episode. But the primary focus will be the here-and-now emotional, interpersonal experience of participants, with an open invitation to put thoughts and feelings into words as they arise, toward other members. Email me at sarahbsimpson@protonmail.com for more info!
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In this episode I explore some of my favorite ideas from the book "Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit of Zen," by Shunryu Suzuki (edited by Edward Espe Brown). What does it mean to be oneself? How does being oneself relate to the Buddhist notion of emptiness? What is the ultimate goal or purpose of spiritual practice? I'll address these questions and more while also reflecting (yet again) on how these ideas apply to interpersonal process groups.
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In this episode, I explore some of the ideas presented in Howard Thurman's 1949 book, "Jesus and the Disinherited." Bo Aganaba (host of the GoodBeing Podcast) first told me about Thurman and this book (a huge inspiration for MLK Jr.) when I interviewed him back in December. The Baptist minister's thoughts on fear, deception, hate, and love are just as relevant today as they were when he wrote them. I apply some of Thurman's ideas to what's happening in the political realm right now, and of course I can't help but apply others to the work I do as a leader and member of interpersonal process groups. "A complete and devastating sincerity," anyone? Don't mind if I do!
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In this episode I explore some of the ideas in Martin Buber's "I and Thou," which presents the dialogical philosophy for which he's most well known. Given my continued passion for leading and participating in interpersonal process groups, I discuss these ideas through that lens, focusing on how group provides an opportunity to inhabit the You-world instead of the It-world, to encounter and actualize others instead of merely experience or use them. And through that encounter, we contact the eternal in others—and in ourselves. To quote Buber, "I require a You to become; becoming I, I say You.”
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In this episode, I get to explore one of my most favorite topics—group psychotherapy—with two women who are as passionate about the subject as I am: psychologist Sarah Taylor and spiritual director Vanessa Caruso. I met Sarah and Vanessa last summer in the Masters of Group Therapy Club, which continues to meet three times a week via Zoom. In this lively discussion, they talk about their 30-plus years of friendship and how they decided to start facilitating interpersonal process groups together. Among other aspects of group, they explore the sense of abundance that it cultivates, the courage and creativity inherent in the process, and the differences between being a group member and a group leader. If listening to this episode doesn't make you want to join a process group yesterday, I don't know what will.
You can learn more about Sarah and Vanessa's groups here: https://www.sayingtheunsaidgroup.com/
If you'd like to learn more about process groups happening in the Asheville area, you can email me at sarahsimpsoncounseling@gmail.com.
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In this first episode of the new year, I share parts of a conversation I recently had with Bo Aganaba, host of the GoodBeing Podcast and founder and principal at GoodBeing Co. He had me on his podcast a few months back, so now the tables have turned! Bo and I talk about climate change, Christianity, Alan Watts, yoga, time (is it really a thief?), and the importance of play. With musical interludes by Violet Ultraviolet.
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In this episode I explore my thoughts on the 2024 presidential election results, on humanity in general, and how I want to proceed with living my life—with a little help from Chuang Tzu, the ancient Taoist sage.
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In this episode, I share parts of a conversation I recently had with the musician MJ Lenderman, who happens to be a pal of mine. Jake talks about his nervousness around being interviewed, his desire for more solitude, and his perspective on what he calls "micro fame." He also shares some thoughts on the touring lifestyle and how it was made even more challenging when he and his Wednesday bandmate broke up several months ago. Along with fielding my questions, Jake asked me a couple and got me talking about group therapy, as well as my relationship with music of late. With selections from his fantastic new album, "Manning Fireworks."
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In this episode, I share what my experience of Tropical Storm Helene was like as a resident of Western North Carolina. I explore my thoughts and feelings around the different ways that people cope/respond when disaster strikes their community, and I ponder impermanence as a characteristic of existence. (This cloud photo was taken the morning after the storm.)
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In this episode I share a personal essay that I recently performed at the Diana Wortham Theatre in downtown Asheville, as part of an anniversary celebration for Harvest Records. I provide some background on my being included in the event—Found in Sound: Tales from the Record Store Universe—and the very gratifying process of writing (with the help of an excellent developmental editor) "Music as Divine Consolation." It's basically about how profoundly comforting music can be for us life-beleaguered humans.
In this episode I explore my fascination with interpersonal process groups and why I'm so stoked to start one of my own! Using Louis Ormont's book "The Group Therapy Experience" as my focus, I discuss what makes process groups so effective and describe some techniques used by group therapists to deepen connections between members and help them practice new behaviors.
In this spur-of-the-moment (ish) episode, I talk about the Chinese art of placement: feng shui! It literally means "wind" and "water." Merriam-Webster defines "feng shui" as "a Chinese geomantic practice in which a structure or site is chosen or configured so as to harmonize with the spiritual forces that inhabit it." And of course it applies to home interiors, which is what I'll focus on here. It is so very fascinating and fun! And it'll drive you to the point of distraction if you're not careful. That's partly why I made this episode, so I could get some of the feng shui out of my system and make room for other stuff in my head!
In this episode I talk about my decision to stop making these episodes on a monthly basis. Instead, I will do them when the mood strikes! I briefly discuss Thomas Aquinas, who said just a few months before his death in 1274 that his writing labors had ended: "Such things have been revealed to me that all I have written seems as straw." I love that. I also talk a little bit about the political situation in the US and what I think we need to do if DJT gets elected. And I rant about brain-computer interface technology. "You do not have to be good. You do not have to be good..."
In this episode—the shortest one yet!—I talk a little bit about my recent experience of realizing (as a writer) how important and helpful editors are. I also discuss the sewing meditation retreat I did in February. But I didn't feel like going on and on about it or anything else, so I kept things brief. Just a little check-in! Maybe in April I'll have more to say. :)
In this episode, I talk a bit about my tendency to have multiple projects going at once, and how that probably informs a recurring dream I have about never being able to get where I need to be. But mostly I explore some of the ideas put forth in the 1961 book On Becoming a Person, by Carl Rogers. We people are change, embodied. We are always in a state of becoming, so don't go thinking you've become who you're going to be! You'll never become who you're going to be because that would mean there's a goal in mind, some static version of yourself that, once achieved, you'll never stray from. To get the most out of our ever-changing-ness, we need to be open to our experience, and able to share that experience in word and deed with the people we care about. There's a lot more going on in this episode, so give a listen if you wanna!
Happy New Year! In this episode, I briefly discuss the difference between spirituality and religion, share the various challenges that life presented me with in the month of December ("man plans, God laughs"), and talk about the box of my late paternal grandparents' courtship love letters that I acquired over Christmas. I also revisit some of my thoughts and feelings about Christmas and how my attitude about it has changed since last month, and I touch on some of the books I've been reading: The Case for God, by Karen Armstrong; Angle of Repose, by Wallace Stegner; On Becoming a Person, by Carl Rogers; and Branching Streams Flow in the Darkness, by Shunryu Suzuki.
In this episode, I talk about the obligatory gift-giving insanity that is Christmas (reminding you that you don't have to participate!), and I read an essay my husband recently wrote about climate change. I also share my experience of participating in National Novel Writing Month (a.k.a. NaNoWriMo) and of attending my first Buddhist lay minister ordination ceremony. Lastly, I discuss what I've been reading—namely, Thomas Merton's autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain (finally finished it!) and The Sun magazine.
In this "bonus" episode, which originally aired in radio format on November 25th, 2021 (and which I've only just now converted to podcast format), I discuss Thanksgiving the holiday, as well as the practice of giving thanks. I explore the history of the holiday, which actually has very little to do with the meal shared by Pilgrims and Wampanoags in 1621. That was more of a celebration than a thanksgiving, as (at least for the Pilgrims) giving thanks typically entailed fasting and quiet contemplation. In reading about the true origins of this holiday, I realized how thoroughly Christian it is, and what a large role religion originally played in US government, and how much more willing to go without certain creature comforts the American people used to be.
In this episode I briefly discuss the bullshit that is war of any kind and I pay brief homage to Matthew Perry (R.I.P.) before reflecting on some favorite passages from Rainer Maria Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet and Mason Currey's Daily Rituals: How Artists Work. In reflecting on what Rilke calls "the happiness of being a beginner," I announce my intention to begin writing a novel this month—and to complete 50,000 words of it—as a first-time participant in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). And in sharing some gems from Daily Rituals, I discuss some of my own sacred routines, as well as some words of wisdom on discipline and inspiration from Gustave Flaubert, Steve Reich, Samuel Beckett, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and Bernard Malamud.
In this episode, I reflect on Jean-Dominique Bauby's memoir, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, focusing particularly on (and reading a large portion of) the chapter titled "Through a Glass, Darkly." (I also talk a little bit about the origin and meaning of that strange phrase.) Bauby had a massive stroke in 1995, at the age 43, and as a result was totally paralyzed (except for his left eyelid) and rendered mute. After exploring his memoir, I then totally change gears and talk about Russell Brand, by way of really talking about civil discourse, or what Dr. Robert Nash calls "moral conversation." I discuss a 1996 article that Nash wrote on the topic and which still very much applies to the modern day.
In this episode, I mostly talk about Luis Rubiales, whom I'd never even heard of prior to the infamous kiss he planted on the lips of Jenni Hermoso after Spain won the World Cup last month. I also talk about the books I've been reading (and listening to), and the recent epiphany I had (again) about meditation.
Don't be fooled by the photo for this episode! I only talk about Make Your Schools Work for a few minutes near the end, but it's the only book I say much of anything about for this installment, and I needed something to take a picture of... I thought about snapping a shot of my bare belly, because I devote a good amount of time to exploring that topic here—women's bellies in general—but that would have felt way too vulnerable in way too many ways! So here I am with my sweet boy dog Tyke and a random-as-hell recent book purchase. In this episode I also talk about my family trip to Topsail Island, my discovery of an implicit bias I carry against women philosophers, some thoughts on climate change, and my continued adversity in the realm of physical health, which has led me to get curious about menopause, and due to my resulting google searches I've been seeing lots of ads aimed at menopausal women and they are BULLSHIT. This episode's got a good long rant about what they call "meno belly"—the extra fat around their middle that many women acquire during menopause. I talk about how this fat serves a valuable, health-supporting purpose, and I denounce the ridiculous notion that menopausal women should have flat stomachs. We shall never again be as we were, y'all. And that can be a beautiful thing!
In this episode, I explore some more ideas from the Alain de Botton book The Consolations of Philosophy, focusing on the surly sentiments of Schopenhauer and on Nietzsche's admonition to "live dangerously!" Happiness isn't about being safe all the time; nor is it about being comfortable or, well, happy. I also talk about the Medicine Buddha and the mantra associated with that archetype: TAYATA, OM BEKADZE, BEKADZE, MAHA BEKADZE, RADZA SAMUNGATE SOHA. I've recently been invoking him/it, trying to support my own healing (the "physical inadequacy" continues!) and that of those I love. Lastly, I discuss some ideas from the book Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit, by Robert E. Kennedy, Jesuit priest and Zen roshi. This episode has bells!
In this episode, I talk about my new fascination with ghostwriting, which has inspired me to listen to Prince Harry's memoir and to read Andre Agassi's autobiography, both of which were ghostwritten by J.R. Moehringer, who recently wrote a compelling article about his ghostwriting experiences in The New Yorker. I also explore my recent attempt at watching The Handmaid's Tale TV series, which I abandoned early on into season two, opting for the novel instead, which I found a much more enjoyable form of entertainment. Another book I discuss is The Consolations of Philosophy, by Alain de Botton, focusing mostly on the section about Seneca, and the consolations he offered for frustration. I talk at great length about my recent, first-ever meditation retreat, the inherent challenges of which were exacerbated first by a head cold and then by biblical rain, chilly temperatures (in late May!), and some unfortunate sleeping accommodations. Lastly, I share my struggles with some recent minor health issues, revisiting de Botton's book and what Montaigne had to say about "physical inadequacy." And in my enduring rebellion against artificial intelligence, I revisit J. Krishnamurti's The Awakening of Intelligence by reading a few passages from it.
In this episode I talk about my first freelance editing gig (and also my last, with this particular company); rant about ChapGPT and AI in general; rave about TOOL's 2001 album, Lateralus; and of course address some ideas from stuff I've been reading, including Pema Chödrön's Start Where You Are.
In this episode I talk about my continuing interest in the all things editing and my deepening passion and appreciation for books, both for the education and entertainment they provide and for the quiet and solitude implied by being able to read them. I discuss my ever-evolving relationship to writing, and the realization that just because one is good at something doesn't mean they should make it their life's focus. I also share some of my thoughts and feelings about the recent school shooting in Nashville.
In this episode, I reflect on the living and learning that's happened in the past month in regards to my writing practice, which, as writing practices often do, is informing the rest of my life. Thanks to a book by Philip Gerard called Creative Nonfiction: Researching and Crafting Stories of Real Life, I've decided to incorporate more research into my writing. Two topics I've researched are regret and noise pollution, so I talk about some of those search results. (Did you know that some of the loudest noises humans make, happen under water? It's hideous! People are the worst! The absolute worst!) In this episode I also share some updates on my journey toward becoming a freelance editor.
In this second-ever podcast-only installment of the program, I catch you up on what I've been reading, writing, experiencing (including my first case of COVID), pondering, and witnessing over the last month. Along with continuing to immerse myself in the personal essay as a writing genre, I've been exploring literary editing as a possible new career, so HMU if you need something edited for cheap! This episode also includes a couple of short readings from Denis Johnson's "Train Dreams," more reflections on the book "Awakening the Buddha Within" by Lama Surya Das, and a monologue on the importance of having a regular practice of connecting to one's body and breath. There's also a good long rant near the end about the news media and about why I will never watch the footage of Tyre Nichols -- or anyone -- being murdered.
In this first-ever podcast-only episode of Time & Other Thieves, I share some of my thoughts on Christmas (a.k.a. Guiltmas), New Year's fireworks (condoned aggression), New Year's resolutions (no, thanks), Bodhisattva vows, and what I've been up to since retiring the radio version of this show. I briefly (yay!) discuss some of the key ideas I've flagged so far in my reading of the book Awakening the Buddha Within, by Lama Surya Das, and I read a passage from the beautiful novel Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson. I also talk about how my new life as a disciplined-writer-with-the-goal-to-get-published is going, and the help I'm getting from an anthology called The Art of the Personal Essay, and through reading more literary journals. Lastly, I reiterate the importance of tending to your spiritual self -- the most important work that any of us can do!
This is the FINAL Time & Other Thieves episode that originally aired in radio format. Its broadcast date was December 1st, 2022. In it, I explore some of the ideas presented in Stephen Levine's 1982 book, Who Dies? An Investigation of Conscious Living and Conscious Dying.Thank you for listening!
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on November 10th, 2022, I explore some of the ideas that C.S. Lewis presents in the first three books/sections of Mere Christianity (1952). How is the fact that human beings try to abide by a Moral Law proof of God's existence? Why would God create a species who regularly fails to uphold that law and in the process can do so much harm? How much charity is enough charity? What does it really mean to have faith? To love your neighbor as you love yourself? Give a listen to find out how Lewis answers these questions and more.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on November 3rd, 2022, I explore some of the ideas presented in Part One of "The Spirituality of Imperfection," first published in 1992. We humans are imperfect for a reason; our task as spiritual beings is not to strive for perfection, but to learn how to live with its opposite. In this episode I also talk about my wholly (holy?) imperfect experience regarding a certain Chevy Nova 2. The obsession returned!
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on October 27th, 2022, I revisit the book Addiction to Perfection, by Marion Woodman. The episode I made in 2021 about the first half of this book has received more downloads than any other by a long shot, so I thought listeners might enjoy learning about the ideas that Woodman explores in the second half. I discuss how the masculine and feminine principles are out of balance in this society, and how we as individuals can bring more of the conscious feminine into our lives. The word "perfect" means that something is completely and thoroughly done, which we humans will only be when we're dead, so let's embrace the imperfection of being ALIVE and stop letting the unconscious masculine principle prematurely deaden us! Let's remember that any imperfections we possess, exist within creation itself.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on October 20th, 2022, I share a conversation I recently had with award-winning writer and former NC poet laureate, Joseph Bathanti. Mr. Bathanti also happens to be my all-time favorite college professor (he still teaches at App State) and one of my favorite humans in general. Here he talks about writing as a habit, the role that inspiration plays, the importance of intimately knowing ones geographical place as a writer, how Catholicism still influences his work, why Buddhism appeals to him, and much more -- including the ekphrastic roots of his most recent book of poetry, Light at the Seam, which was largely inspired by a series of photographs taken by Carl Galie. Called "Lost on the Road to Oblivion: The Vanishing Beauty of Coal Country," Galie's photos portray the devastation of mountaintop removal, and in that way they are a form of environmental activism, as are Mr. Bathanti's poems.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on September 29th, 2022, I explore some of the ideas presented in the Week Eleven chapter of "The Artist's Way." I reflect on the Taoist aphorism, "Mind the end as the beginning," along with the importance of having fun on a regular basis, different ways of defining success, and the dangers of resting on our laurels. I also explore Henry David Thoreau's essay "Walking," since Julia Cameron emphasizes the importance of taking regular walks as a way to, in the words of Virginia Woolf, "toss our brain into the air."
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on October 6th, 2022, I explore some of the ideas presented in the final, Week Twelve chapter of "The Artist's Way." I also reflect on the course as a whole, and how I expect it will impact my life moving forward.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on September 22nd, 2022, I continue my exploration of "The Artist's Way," focusing on what Julia Cameron calls "creative droughts" (inevitable in any artistic life), toxic behavioral patterns that keep up creatively blocked (workaholism, anyone?), and competition. I also discuss in depth my somewhat random obsession with a 1966 Chevy Nova 2, which I even test drove, as well as my first bad fall on roller skates. Sometimes pursuing fun means we get hurt, and then we must decide if the risk of injury is worth the potential for fun. The jury's still out in this case!
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on September 15th, 2022, I discuss some of the ideas presented in the Week Nine chapter of "The Artist's Way," mostly focusing on one of the tasks for that week, which involves looking at older creative works that Julia Cameron might consider "creative U-turns" -- pieces that might have been aborted or abandoned too quickly. I share some of these pieces with you, including the first real song I ever wrote!
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on September 8th, 2022, I continue my exploration of the Artist's Way, discussing some key ideas from the Week Eight chapter of the book and my experience of completing that week. I especially focus on what Julia Cameron has to say about creative injury, reframing loss as gain, and asking "what next" instead of "why me." There's also a good long rant about people abusing the phrases "sort of" and "kind of," and I explore a somewhat random obsession with a 1966 Volvo Amazon.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on June 30th, 2022, I explore some of the ideas presented in the book No Recipe: Cooking As Spiritual Practice, by Zen priest and chef (and author of The Tassajara Bread Book) Edward Espe Brown. It might just inspire you to engage more fully with your life-force energy!
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on September 1st, 2022, I reflect on Week 7 of The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron. For me, part of "discovering and recovering my creative self" has involved purchasing a pair of roller-skates! I talk about my first few forays on the skates, along with some key ideas from the Week 7 chapter of the A.W., including the notion of "getting something down" as opposed to "thinking something up" -- of being the instrument more than the author of our creative work -- as well as jealousy, perfectionism, and risk-taking. I also share some of my thoughts on an archival (1964) profile of Bob Dylan, which ran in this August 29th's issue of the New Yorker magazine.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on August 25th, 2022, I explore the Week Six chapter of The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron, which focuses on recovering a sense of abundance. I reflect on her experience of completing the tasks and exercises for that week of the 12-week course for "discovering and recovering your creative self." One of the primary tasks for Week Six is counting -- that is, counting every dollar and cent you spend for a week, and what you spend it on. To what extent does your spending reflect your artistic and spiritual values?
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on June 23rd, 2022, I continue talking about some of the ideas that Wendell Berry explores in his 2017 essay anthology, The World-Ending Fire. Topics include but aren't limited to: how we must change our individual ways of living if we wish to change the world; how we must stop being violent towards the earth if we wish to end any other types of violence; the importance of work--especially working with one's hands; the importance of family work; the difference between "freedom" and independence; and how "more, faster, easier" should not be the defining features of what we call "progress."
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on June 16th, 2022, and is the first of two installments on the writings of American novelist, poet, essayist, environmental activist, cultural critic, and farmer Wendell Berry, I also share parts of a conversation I had with KP Whaley and Ed Graves, co-owners of Tiny Bridge Farm in Hendersonville, NC. KP is also the General Manager at Asheville FM, the station that broadcasts Time & Other Thieves! He and his husband Ed were gracious enough to have me out to their farm and share what they've learned about the modern agrarian lifestyle and the importance of community. This episode also contains lots of ranting about air travel!
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on August 18th, 2022, I explore the chapters for Weeks Four AND Five of The Artist's Way, which focus on recovering a sense of integrity and possibility, respectively. I share my experience of continuing to do the artist dates and the morning pages, as well as a whole week of READING DEPRIVATION and how the Artist's Way informed my recent road trip to Canada with my dad.
In this episode, which originally aired on June 9th, 2022, I explore some of the ideas presented in the first 100 pages of Jeanne de Salzmann's book, The Reality of Being: The Fourth Way of Gurdjieff. Such concepts include the "ordinary I" or "individual self," the relationship between information and intelligence, the perpetual oldness of thought, the importance of connecting with one's body in order to know one's truth, how tension in the body prevents such knowing, how we ARE what we observe, and what de Salzmann calls "the most important question of my life."
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on August 4th, 2022, I discuss some of the ideas that Julia Cameron explores in the Week Three chapter of The Artist's Way, which focuses on recovering a sense of power. What role does anger play in creativity? Can you believe in synchronicity without believing in a God of some kind? I also talk about the damaging effects of shame, and how to deal with criticism effectively. And I share my experience of doing Week Three of the Artist's Way, including my evolving relationship with the daily morning pages and where I went on this week's artist date.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on May 19th, 2022, I reflect on some of the ideas presented in the 1971 spiritual classic, Be Here Now, by Ram Dass. I especially focus on the notion of life as a drama (a game, a dance), on making everything we do a spiritual practice/sadhana, on the unparalleled importance of working on oneself, on conscious protest, and, of course, on being here now.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on July 28th, 2022, I explore some of the ideas presented in the Week Two chapter of The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron. This chapter is all about recovering a sense of identity. Topics include "crazymakers," self-doubt, the healing power of giving our full attention to something, and the importance of experiencing delight. I will also reflect on my process of doing the tasks and exercises for Week Two, as well as my artist date for this week and my evolving relationship with the morning pages.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on May 5th, 2022, I geek out on the more philosophical aspects of Seinfeld -- both the sitcom and the man himself. Along with drawing on the book, Seinfeld and Philosophy: A Book About Everything and Nothing, I discuss Seinfeld's unique perspective on life as portrayed in various episodes of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee and a couple of his recent stand-up specials. I also discuss the spiritual side of Seinfeld and other characteristics that make him a modern-day wise man (and not just a wise guy).
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on July 21st, 2022, I reflect on some of the ideas presented in the "Week One" chapter of The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity, by Julia Cameron. I mostly focus on the concept of the shadow artist (someone who pursues a life path that is similar or parallel to the actual art they want to be pursuing, but not the art itself) and the notion of artist abuse (which is what we inflict on ourselves when we criticize our artistic efforts). I also talk about my history as a creative writer and my experience of fulfilling this week's A.W. responsibilities: writing my daily morning pages, taking myself on an artist date, and doing a few of the other "tasks" that Cameron provides at the end of the chapter.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on July 14th, 2022, I explore some of the ideas presented in the introductory chapters of The Artist's Way, which is both a book (1992) and a twelve-week course for "discovering and recovering your creative self." I will be making my way through the course, and in the next twelve episodes will reflect on my experience of doing the daily morning pages (that's three pages of longhand writing done upon first waking), the weekly artist date (taking myself on a solo outing that will somehow feed my creative spirit), and the various other tasks and exercises that Cameron provides in each week's chapter. Each of us humans is a creation of the Great Creator, and as such we are meant to create things ourselves. The Artist's Way, a "spiritual path to higher creativity," provides tools for allowing us to do just that.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on April 28th, 2022, I share my conversation with chronic pain recovery coach Lily Oster. Together we explore some of the concepts presented in the book The Way Out, by Alan Gordon, and Lily explains the phenomenon of neuroplastic pain (a.k.a. mind-body pain), how to determine if you have it (most chronic pain IS neuroplastic), and how to get the hell out of it. Hint: it's basically a spiritual thing.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on April 21st, 2022, I explore some of the ideas presented in the book How To Be Sick, by Toni Bernhard. A long-time meditator and Buddhist practitioner, Bernhard got mysteriously ill on a trip to Paris and remained ill for twenty years and counting. This experience brought her even closer to the Buddha's teachings on suffering and the cessation of suffering. Other topics include but are not limited to the three marks of existence, the brahma viharas or sublime states, and Byron Katie's The Work.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on April 14th, 2022, I explore some of the religious and spiritual concepts that J.D. Salinger dramatizes in his 1961 book, Franny and Zooey, which centers on another book called The Way of a Pilgrim, written in the 1800s by an anonymous Russian peasant who's obsessed with the Jesus Prayer and how to repeat it incessantly. The Franny character in Salinger's book develops her own obsession and winds up having an existential break-down. Through a tour-de-force of mansplaining about religion and "true ego," her brother Zooey helps Franny snap out of it and see that "everybody is Seymour's Fat Lady."
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format in two parts on March 31st and April 7th, 2022, I explore some of the ideas presented in the 1957 book, The Divine Milieu, by French Jesuit priest, scientist, paleontologist, theologian, philosopher and teacher, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. Topics include but are not limited to: the divinisation of our activities (the things that we make happen), the divinisation of our passivities (the things that happen to us), the notion of a Cosmic Christ and how we create Him by meeting our own highest potential, and "passivities of growth" and "passivities of diminishment."
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on March 17th, 2022, I celebrate my 40th birthday by reflecting on some of the ideas presented in Kathleen Dowling Singh's book, The Grace in Aging.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on March 3rd, 2022, I explore some of the ideas presented in William Styron's 1990 book, Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness. I also talk about Virginia Woolf's experiences with depression, as presented in Hermione Lee's biography of her, and about Francis Weller's perspective on the illness, as presented in his book The Wild Edge of Sorrow.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on February 24th, 2022, I explore some of the ideas presented in the book AND the documentary film, "How To Cook Your Life." The book was first published in 1970 by Zen priest and origami Master Kōshō Uchiyama Rōshi; it consists of his translation of and commentary on Dōgen Zenji's 13th century text, the "Tenzo Kyōkun", or "Instructions for the Zen Cook." The film "How To Cook Your Life" (2007) is about modern-day Zen priest and chef Edward Espe Brown, most known for his Tassajara Bread Book (1970). It documents Brown leading a couple of week-long cooking classes at a Zen center in Austria and at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center in California. I'll reflect on what Dōgen, Uchiyama, and Brown have to say about cooking as a spiritual activity, and how when we work on food, we're also working on ourselves. As Brown asks, "Is food precious? Is food worth caring about? Are YOU precious? Are YOU worth caring about?"
In this episode, which originally aired on February 17th, 2022, I reflect on some of the ideas presented in the 2021 book, Warmth: Coming of Age at the End of Our World, by Daniel Sherrell. Warmth is a memoir in the form of a letter to Sherrell's as-yet-unborn child, about his climate change activism and his emotional reckoning with everything "the Problem" implies, including the ethics of bringing a child into this rapidly changing, increasingly dangerous world.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on February 10th, 2022, I share parts of my recent conversation with my friend Suni Pillay, who uses the I Ching, or Book of Changes, as a divination tool/oracle on a daily basis and therefore knows a lot about it. Suni will discuss some of the I Ching's history and the myriad reasons for its enduring appeal, especially for those interested in Confucianism and ancient China. Together we ask the I Ching some questions and see what wisdom it has to impart. "It furthers one to have somewhere to go. It furthers one to cross the great water."
In this episode, which originally aired on February 3rd, 2022, I reflect on some of the ideas presented in May Sarton's 1973 book, Journal of a Solitude. Themes discussed include writing, the artistic lifestyle, love and relationships, aging, suffering, the gifts of Nature, and of course, solitude. Sweet, sweet, precious solitude. But also the difficulties therein.
In this episode, which originally aired on January 27th, 2022, I share my conversation with Intuitive Eating, body image, and self-trust coach, Naomi Katz. Naomi will explain the 10 principles of Intuitive Eating, the harmful messages of diet culture, and why she is unequivocally against intentional weight loss of any kind. She'll also talk about her own podcast, which she cohosts with Sadie Simpson, called "Satisfaction Factor."
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on January 20th, 2022, I explore some of the ideas presented in Sigmund Freud's 1930 book, Civilization and Its Discontents, including but not limited to: the purpose of human life, the frustration of dealing with other humans, how we tend to cope with that frustration, the role of technology (what Freud called our "auxiliary organs"), mankind's inclination toward aggression, Thanatos (the death drive), Eros (the life drive), and how civilization would probably be “most successful if no attention had to be paid to the happiness of the individual.”
In this episode, which originally aired on January 13th, 2022, I share my conversation with Asheville-based mother, writer, and veterinarian, Cat Ashe. Cat's daughter Hazel was diagnosed with leukemia in December of 2019), and in January of 2017, Cat's infant son, James, died of Trisomy 18. So she knows her way around grief and hardship, and I was curious to hear how she was doing, how she's gotten through it all, and how her perspective on life has changed as a result of her experiences.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on August 19th, 2021, I share my conversation with homesteader, letterpress artist, and musician Sally Anne Morgan. We discuss some of the ideas presented in the book The Good Life, by Scott and Helen Nearing, and some of the insights Sally has gained from her life of gardening and animal husbandry in Alexander, NC. Featuring music from Sally's album Thread.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on December 30th, 2021, I explore some of the ideas presented in the book The Seeking Heart, a collection of spiritual letters written in the early 1700's by French Catholic theologian and Archbishop of Cambrai, Francois Fénelon. I translate Fénelon's decidedly Christian way of talking about the benevolent function of hardship into a more secular, universalist language. I also talk about dying to the self and turning towards God (a.k.a. the Present Moment, the Great Mystery, the True Self, the Ground of Being, etc.), and about the importance of gratitude.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on December 23rd, 2021, I share my conversation with the oh-so-delightful award-winning sociolinguist Walt Wolfram. A long-time professor at NCSU (where I took one of his classes some years ago), Walt was one of the early pioneers in the study of urban African American English through his work in Detroit in 1969. Since the 1960s he has authored or co-authored 20 books and more than 300 articles on variation in American English. He's also produced a ton of documentaries. This guy loves dialects, and North Carolina has more dialect diversity than any other state in the country. Language is the coolest!
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on July 22nd, 2021, I share my conversation with Lily Oster, who has a Master's in Divinity from Harvard Divinity School and a PhD in Religious Studies from Emory University, where she wrote her dissertation on nature and the erotic. Linda Hogan's book Dwellings: A Spiritual History of the Living World, and Audre Lorde's essay "Uses of the Erotic" will guide our discussion. Lily will also explain the fascinating field of study known as post-human ecological theory.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on September 23rd, 2021, I share my conversation with Ali McGhee, who is a core faculty member at The Enneagram School of Awakening in Asheville, NC. Ali will discuss this wisdom system, model of the human psyche, and typology of nine interconnected personality types and how we can use it to transcend fixation and get back to Essence.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on December 9th, 2021, I explore some ideas from the book Internal Family Systems Therapy, by Richard C. Schwartz. According to IFS, we all have at least 5-15 different "parts" (subpersonalities) within us. Some are Managers, some are Firefighters, and some are the reason that Managers and Firefighters exist in the first place: Exiles. The goal of IFS therapy is to help these parts trust the Self. BYOBF! (Be Your Own Best Friend!) Distinguish your true voice from the many false (misguided, protective, frightened, hurt) voices you've internalized. I will also explore, through an IFS lens, some of my experience of having an eating disorder many years ago as an adolescent.
In this episode, which originally aired on December 2nd, 2021, I share my recent conversation with hospice chaplain Laura McBane. Laura will talk about her experiences in the death and dying field, why she chose that work (actually, she didn't), and how her Fourth Way spiritual practice supports her. Though she is a chaplain and went to seminary in NYC (she's currently in the Hudson Valley area but used to live in Sylva, NC, where she owned a restaurant for many years), Laura is not religious. I believe her to be very cool!
In this episode, which originally aired on November 18th, 2021, I explore some of the ideas presented in Marion Woodman's 1982 book, Addiction to Perfection. How do you feel toward your feminine side? People who identify as male, this question applies to you, too! We all have masculine and feminine principles working within us, but in this society the masculine is running the show. Woodman was a Jungian analyst whose work focused on reviving what she called the "conscious feminine." This revival is needed now more than ever! Masculine energy is not bad in and of itself, but it must be balanced with the feminine or things go haywire. We need more yin with our yang! More anima with our animus! And hey -- listening is an inherently feminine skill, so you can practice it by tuning in. Extra anima points for those who listen while doing nothing else! The feminine principle is not a fan of multi-tasking...
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on November 11th, 2021, I explore some of the ideas presented in Chögyam's Trungpa's 1969 book, Meditation in Action. Trungpa's approach to meditation is about as open and curiosity-driven as they come, and if it doesn't inspire you to get on the cushion, I don't know what will. But then, as the title of this book suggests, meditation isn't just about sitting...
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on October 14th, 2021, I share my conversation with Asheville-based psychiatric nurse practitioner (and my friend) Leif Johnson. Leif is fascinated by the framework of the Big Five Personality Traits: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. We explore all of these and how understanding them could revolutionize the way we help people with mental health issues develop more adaptive ways of thinking and behaving.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on October 21st, 2021, I talk about some of my favorite ideas from Henry David Thoreau's Walden, a reflection on simple living in natural surroundings. I reflect on what Thoreau has to say about work/labor, charity/altruism, monuments, newspapers, prejudice, and what it really means to be successful.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on October 7th, 2021, I talk about Jack Kerouac's religious life, and how Catholicism and Buddhism, and his attempts to integrate the two, influenced his writing. I’ll be sharing passages from the Master’s thesis of my sister, Emily Simpson, who tracks Kerouac's spiritual conflict as it’s revealed in the novels Visions of Gerard, The Dharma Bums and Big Sur.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on September 30th, 2021, I explore some of the ideas put forth in the "America" section of J. Krishnamurti's 1973 book, The Awakening of Intelligence. What does it mean to really see something, and not just the "image" of that thing? Is there such a thing as a thought that isn't old? What is Krishnamurti getting at when he says "the observer is the observed"? This one gets a bit trippy at times! M.C. Escher would approve.
In this episode, which originally aired on March 10th, 2022, I share my conversation with Asheville-based psychotherapist Melissa Lopez. Melissa is in training to be a sex therapist, so that's what we're talking about, but in the larger context of the erotic, or Divine Eros, which Melissa broadly defines as "experiencing life through the senses." We discuss erotophobia and other ways that sex and shame get linked in our culture, along with how we humans tend to deny ourselves pleasure, and the role that nature has played in Melissa's own awakening around the erotic, among other topics.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on September 16th, 2021, I celebrate my one-year anniversary of being social media-free! I deleted my personal Facebook and Instagram accounts on September 16th of 2020, after watching The Social Dilemma on Netflix, and I have no regrets! I'll talk about what going without the drug of social media has taught me about my own mind, and the various dangerous implicit messages that social media sends us by simply existing.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on September 9th, 2021, I talk about a treatise called The Book of Divine Consolation, which was written by German Dominican theologian, philosopher and mystic, Meister Eckhart, around the year 1308. In it, Eckhart provides “some thirty topics that ought readily to console a rational man in his sorrow.” Give it a listen if you need some soothing.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on September 2nd, 2021, I share a conversation I had with my good friend since middle school, Mike Thor. Mike was paralyzed from the neck down in a motorcycle accident in November of 2015. We'll talk about the very unique perspective he has on the nature of existence, as a result of his condition.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on August 26th, 2021, I share a conversation I had with my husband, Whitman Bolles, about what he's learned in researching climate science over the past decade or so. I also talk on my own about the spiritual challenge of climate change, via a discussion of Joanna Macy's Work That Reconnects, and Jem Bendell's ideas on Deep Adaptation.
In this episode, which originally aired on August 12th, 2021, I talk about diaries, and how I came to be obsessed with them after inheriting some of my late paternal grandmother's diaries in the fall of 2016. I also reference Arnold Bennett's essay, "The Diary Habit," and the book If You Want to Write, by Brenda Ueland.
In this episode, which originally aired on July 29th, 2021, I explore some of the ideas presented in Bernard Basset's charming 1962 book, We Neurotics: A Handbook for the Halfmad. I especially focus on the benefits of lying on the floor every day, but I also discuss the importance of not thinking too much and of having a sense of humor about oneself.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on July 15th, 2021, I explore some of the ideas presented in the book Meditations, written by 2nd century Roman Emperor and brilliant Stoic philosopher, Marcus Aurelius. I especially focus on what Marcus had to say about death.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on July 1st, 2021, I reflect on some of the ideas presented in the 1956 book, The Art of Loving, by Erich Fromm.
In this episode I explore some of the ideas presented in the 1960 book Summerhill: A Radical Approach to Child Rearing, and I also share parts of my conversation with Asheville mother and child educator, Jess Spear. Freedom, discipline, punishment, sex, and other topics are discussed.
In this premier episode of Time & Other Thieves, which originally aired in radio format on June 10th, 2021, I explore some of the ideas presented in the book that set me down my current spiritual/philosophical path: Anthony de Mello's Awareness: The Perils and Opportunities of Reality.
In this episode, which originally aired in radio format on December 16th, 2021, I share my conversation with religion scholar and alchemical artist, Avi Lipton. His "Elixir Quest" painting is pictured here. Avi talks about spiritual alchemy and how it applies to his artwork and to the experience of being (truly) alive and getting back to Essence. He holds a PhD in Religious Studies from UNC and is also a practicing Sufi, so I ask him to share some of what he knows about Islam, too.