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The Growing Edge

Author: Carrie Newcomer & Parker J. Palmer

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The Growing Edge Podcast is hosted by Parker J. Palmer and Carrie Newcomer. In this podcast Carrie, Parker and exciting guests will explore new life on the growing edge - personally, vocationally and politically. What's your growing edge?
65 Episodes
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Join Parker J. Palmer and Carrie Newcomer as they explore peacemaking in divided times with David Lamotte. David has a wide-ranging career as a singer-songwriter with a dozen albums and performances across all fifty states and five continents. He’s the author of four books, including two for children. His latest book, You Are Changing the World Whether You Like It Or Not, serves as a textbook in colleges and universities across the U.S. and in Australia. In 2009-11, David interrupted his music career to accept a Rotary International Peace Fellowship, studying International Relations, Peace and Conflict Resolution at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. His TEDx talks—Why Heroes Don’t Change the World (2024) and Music Can Help Us Understand Peace and Conflict (2017)—have been widely praised. As David writes, “It’s not naive to think you can change the world. It’s naive to think you could possibly be in the world and not change it.” Join us as we talk with a deeply engaged artist and peace-maker from whom we have much to learn.
Today Parker and I will be revisiting our conversation with musician, master songwriter, storyteller, multi-instrumentalist, author, activist, seven-time grammy nominee, John McCutcheon. In this episode we explore the power of story, song and what it means to speak with compassion, clarity and a sense of humor in these challenging times You can hear John’s most recent album "A Field of Stars" on Spotify, Itunes or by checking out his website www.folkmusic.com Parker and I loved this interview and we're so happy to revisit our conversation with John McCutcheon.
Podcast Episode 60: A Conversation with Unitarian Universalist Pastor & Activist Susan Frederick-Gray by Carrie Newcomer & Parker J. Palmer
Please join us for a conversation about historian Timothy Snyder’s book On Tyranny. Carrie and Parker discuss four of the twenty hallmarks of authoritarian governments addressed in Snyder’s clear and informative work. The book is relatively short, but chock-full of insights, stories and practical advice when navigating the very real challenges of our times. We’ll look at the large overarching symptoms of an existential threat to our democracy, but also how to bring it home and to focus upon the power we each have in our daily and personal lives for defending and preserving our most deeply held values, community and national aspirations.
Join Parker and Carrie for a conversation about William Stafford’s poem “Cutting Loose”. In this episode we explore the way that disillusionment or feeling lost can bring with it a powerful sense of reality, faithfulness and new direction. Parker and Carrie talk about their own experiences of feeling lost and listening to the sound of the genuine within them. In these challenging times, this is a poem that has much history and wisdom to share. We hope you’ll join the conversation by listening to the episode and commenting on our Substack Page at https://tinyurl.com/25tmtbhf.
Join Parker and Carrie for a conversation with Notre Dame’s Professor Emeritus of International Peacebuilding, John Paul Lederach, about his Pocket Guide for Facing Down a Civil War. This new booklet draws upon Lederach’s experience as a renowned peace practitioner who has mediated conflicts around the world. Here, he provides thoughtful, sometimes surprising ideas and advice on how to navigate, disrupt and mitigate the patterns that lead to deeper conflict, with attention to what is happening right now in U.S. politics.
This month Parker Palmer is taking a sabbatical. This is a re-broadcasting our June 1 2020 conversation with Author/Activist/Filmmaker Valarie Kaur. In this episode we discuss her book " See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love". Two months after the 2016 election, Valarie spoke words that went viral, offering millions of people a lasting image of hope, the kind of hope we still desperately need today: “The future is dark. But what if this darkness is not the darkness of the tomb but the darkness of the womb?” Those words became the seeds of The Revolutionary Love Project, a movement that continues to reframe and lift up the tradition of nonviolent action for social change for our era. Tested and tempered by suffering, but rising up with hope and joy, Kaur explores with us how to how to love others, love our opponents, and love ourselves in ways that will bring us closer to the Beloved Community. We're proud to call Valarie a friend, and to feature her important work on The Growing Edge.
In this episode, Parker J. Palmer and Carrie Newcomer explore May Sarton’s poem, “An Observation.” Gardening is rich with metaphors for a well-lived life. Amend and prepare the soil. Plant the seeds, tend them, and weed out whatever impedes growth. Marvel at the process and share the harvest: we’re here to feed one another as well as ourselves. “An Observation” offers a less obvious metaphor: a well-lived life needs to be both gentle and strong, tender and fierce. We hope you’ll join us for this rich conversation!
In this episode, Parker J. Palmer and Carrie Newcomer have a conversation with author/pastor/theologian Philip Gulley. Gulley is a pastor, an author, a source of wisdom and hope, and a clear and prophetic voice in progressive theology & spiritual activism in these challenging times. He has written 22 books, including the Harmony series recounting life in the eccentric Quaker community of Harmony, Indiana, several collections of essays including  the best selling "Porch Talk", and a memoir called  "I Love You, Miss Huddleston" which was a finalist for the Thurber Prize for American Humor. In addition, he has co-authored with James Mulholland several works of theology and progressive faith including "If Grace Is True" and "If God Is Love", followed by "If the Church Were Christian". Phillip has recently joined the Substack platform with “Plain Talk: With Phillip Gulley.” We hope you’ll check out his many works and subscribe to his Substack offerings.
In this episode Parker J. Palmer and Carrie Newcomer have a conversation with Buddy Huffaker,the Executive Director of the Aldo Leopold Foundation . We discuss the 75th anniversary of Aldos Leapold’s environmental classic A Sand County Almanac. the continuing work of the Leapold Foundation, the concept of Land Ethic, climate change and our individual and community work to heal of our natural world.
In this episode Parker J. Palmer and Carrie Newcomer revisit favorite episode with Author/poet Ross Gay, who has touched countless readers with his books A catalogue of Unabashed Gratitude, Beholding, The Book of Delights, Incitements to Joy, AND The book of (more) delights”. This episode was recorded in December of 2020, and in it we discuss finding, noticing and experiencing delight as a daily practice, joy as an act of resistance and the importance of creating a connection to one another and to the natural world. We’re happy you’re here to join us for this "delightful" and thoughtful conversation. Parker and I will return with a new episode of the Growing edge on Feb 1, 2024. And so…welcome to the growing edge
In this podcast Parker and Carrie wrestle with when and how we creatively hold the tension of our differences, and when differences are to grievous and do not yield to creative tension holding. We explore the meaning of “We Shall Over Come” and the power of prophetic voice in these challenging times for the democratic system. Carrie also sings the title track “A Great Wild Mercy” from her newest album. For more about generative spaces for democracy and the common good check out Parker’s book "Healing The Heart of Democracy"
In this podcast, Carrie and Parker speak with Indiana State Senator, Shelli Yoder. We explore together Shelli’s history and vocation in passionate public service, as well as reclaiming the word politics and politician, holding difference and finding common ground. In a time when the most extreme and strident voices are more likely to get media sound bytes, it was deeply moving and encouraging to be in conversation with someone doing faithful and thoughtful daily work in public service. For more about creating generative spaces for democracy and the common good, check out Parker’s book Healing The Heart of Democracy
In this podcast, Carrie and Parker talk about our individual and collective longing for safe and generative community. We’ve always been tugged between our western culture’s drive toward individuality and our desire for a meaningful life together. In this Post-covid time, people are a little rusty at being in community. We are also reassessing what meaningful community looks like and how we choose to participate. Carrie and Parker explore how meeting happens in the space between us, and how critical it is to be mindful about how we hold that space. Gathering in circles is an ancient practice that is being revived in our time. But not all circles are designed to welcome the soul, and so how we intentionally create those safe and generative spaces?
In this podcast, Carrie and Parker talk with author Scott Russell Sanders about his new book Small Marvels. Scott’s work often explores the spirit of place, our relationship with the natural world, and creating communities of care and generosity rather a culture of fear and division. In this episode we talk about what inspired the stories in this lovely work, and share thoughts about the power of story and creativity. I hope you’ll join us for this heart-opening conversation.
Parker and Carrie hope you'll join us as we explore the poem "Thanks, Robert Frost" by David Ray. Inspired by the poem, we revisit parts of our history and talk about reframing the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what has shaped us. Staying true to the facts as best we can, we explore ways of holding our experiences with greater compassion for others and ourselves, valuing all that we can learn when we’re able to befriend our own and others’ mistakes.
Join Parker J Palmer and Carrie Newcomer in conversation with journalist/author/poet, Judith Valente and monk/poet/photographer Brother Paul Quenon. We explore their friendship and creative collaborations as well as what it means to be intentional about “being” in a hectic and often uncertain world. Brother Paul Quenon and Judith Valente are co-authors of the books: How to Be: a Monk and a Journalist Reflect on Living & Dying, Purpose & Prayer, Forgiveness & Friendship; and The Art of Pausing: Meditations for the Overworked and Overwhelmed. You can read more about both authors at www.judithvalente.com and www.monks.org/monks-pages/br-paul
In this conversation with Jerry Colonna—co-founder and CEO of Reboot, an international executive coaching and leadership development firm—we range from childhood wounds and the way they can distort our adult roles, to race in America and role leaders can play in helping to build the Beloved Community. Jerry’s new book “Reunion: Leadership and the Journey to Belonging,” explores how being a better human means the ability to brave the truth and then actively engage in debunking myths of sameness, dismantling “othering" systems, and working directly for the wellbeing of the dispossessed and disinherited.  Please join us for this timely, fascinating, and urgent conversation.
Parker and Carrie talk about the challenges of staying in dialogue during divisive times, how to claim agency and the courage to stay engaged. Many of us were raised with a household rule to never talk about religion or politics in polite company. In this episode we unpack and reframe the true meaning of the words "religion" and "politics". We explore defining politics as not a listing of current events, but as a conversation about the holding of power and religion as not being about the particulars of theology, but as the quest for meaning. By redefining these terms, we might be able to get to places where we can talk about our most deeply held values and beliefs, find common ground and a way forward together. It’s worth a try!
In this episode Parker & Carrie explore how to hold and acknowledge the presence of evil and great goodness in our world. In this honest and open hearted conversation they visit two poems that encourage reflection and insights on this topic, holding the tension of the heaviness we sometimes feel and what we can do in our daily lives to maintain perspective and hope.
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