Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around a lake.

Wallace Stevens

A Podcast for Budding Contemplatives & Back Porch Philosophers

Welcome and feel free to wander about and explore the contemplative landscape. As with any unknown terrain, it can be tricky to know where to begin. But know this—each episode of Contemplify is handmade with the intent to kindle the examined life for contemplatives in the world (…that’d be you). This mission has been pursued in a delightfully puttering fashion through personal musings, conversations with contemplatives, and the odd voicemail exchange with a kindred soul. 

Below you will find a sampling of spirited conversations shared around the Contemplify fire.

Musings

Personal reflections on the contemplative rhythms in my life

~ Life of a Day Series (6 episodes): With the Liturgy of the Hours as a structure, I share my reflections on embodying a contemplative rhythm in the so called humdrum of daily life
~ The Mystery Never Leaves You Alone: A letter to my yet-to-be-born son

Conversations

Conversations with contemplative teachers in the world, seeking union with Mystery as agents of cultural change in the world

~ The Other is Us: Connecting to Knowledge, Wisdom and One Another with Barbara A. Holmes
~ Enlightenment Through Endarkment, or Bumbling Our Way to Possible Magic with Teddy Macker (Author of This World)’
~ How Death Prepares You For Life: Buddhist Teacher Frank Ostaseski on The Five Invitations
~ Contemplative Happy Hour | Tessa Bielecki
~ Thomas Merton, Wisdom Sophia and a Dash of Pink Floyd with Christopher Pramuk

As an outdoor dog, I relish the contemplative conversations I’ve shared with the priest-in-the-woods, poet-on-the-water, and the changemaker-on-the-mountainside. There are many artists who have shaped the speech of Contemplify by their relationship to bodies, chant, barn boots, radical dharma, or are simply easy keepers. It was Thomas Merton who opened the gate for me to the fullness of the contemplative field: his hospitality, art, and love of Bob Dylan. I’ve raised many a pints in reverence–in a toast–to Merton’s guidance from the other side of the dirt.

I’m grateful for the glasses I’ve clinked with wisdom keepers in philosophy, mindfulness, psychology, business, deep work, parenting, midlife, enneagram, adventure and travel.

And sometimes I exchange voicemails with folks I admire.

There is a lot to experience here at Contemplify. Trust your instincts and fan the internal fire within. Pour a glass of something tasty and see where these conversations take you. Stay awhile. Feel free to reach out to offer a toast, a word of reflection or quote a mystic poet from bygone years.

Cheers,
Paul