Fkd Up By Faith

 FKD UP BY FAITH is back!  My first guest of this new season is the fabulous Rachel Blackman, who describes herself as a somanaut, acrobat of the heart, artist,  somatic educator, somatic coach, theatre maker, and  mentor This was such a great conversation that could have gone on for several hours (and probably will for a few more!)  Rachel shares about growing up with Christian science, and about her evolving spirituality rooted in the earth, in interconnectedness, in the wisdom of the ancestors, in the intelligence of the body, and ultimately, and most fundamentally, in hope. She also very deftly started interviewing me at one point! LINKS Rachel's website - https://www.vibrantbody.co.uk Tiny Failures  - https://www.tinyfailures.com The Somatic School - https://www.thesomaticschool.com Article about Improv and Polyvagal Theory  by Lacy Alana - https://www.yesandbrain.com/blog/improv-and-polyvagal-theory

Piet Ceanadach is a teacher of Paganism, especially the Wiccan and Druid-Craft paths. He is a third-degree Gardnerian High Priest and author of fiction based on Celtic Mythology. He lives in Glasgow. Piet has a great deal of knowledge of religion and spirituality and is a humble teacher and guide. In this episode, Piet shares specifically about his pre-pagan life as a Jehovah's Witness, including a period of personal tragedy. He speaks about many things he is grateful for having received from the JW's and a number of things he is very much happy to have left behind.  Piet's book 'The Daughters of Danu' is available from Moon Books https://www.johnhuntpublishing.com/moon-books/authors/piet-ceanadach and all the usual online places. Piet's new book will be published soon. Piet was also keen to share his late wife's Siusaidh's books https://www.johnhuntpublishing.com/moon-books/authors/siusaidh-ceanadach Jude opens the podcast with the poem 'Spring' by Mary Oliver which you can read here https://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/Poets/O/OliverMary/Spring/index.html

Mark Townsend  (he/him) is an Independent priest, a celebrant, magician, and author of several books including 'The Gospel of Falling Down'  I had a wonderful conversation with Mark about his life and experiences as a Church of England (and now independent) priest and celebrant and about the ministry of being f**k ups for Christ! We spoke about the privilege of being alongside people in their vulnerable and transitional moments, about how our own vulnerabilities and mistakes are the root and strength of authentic ministry. https://www.marktownsendministry.co.uk  Jude reads from 'The Wild Offering Oracle - a 52 Card Deck on Giving it all to God!' by Tosha Silver, and published by Hay House. 

Genevieve (they/them) is the founder of Queer Christians Brighton https://www.facebook.com/queerchristiansbtn Instagram: @queerchristiansbtn I had a wonderful, frank, moving conversation with Genevieve about issues relating to inclusion (or lack of it) in the church, and what it means to be affirmed and affirming. As part of their work with Queer Christians Brighton, (UK)  Genevieve is currently 'reviewing' inclusive churches, 'Trip Advisor' style for their followers.  Content Warning for a frank discussion of mental health, suicide, and 'conversion therapy'  Support Resources Grassroots - Suicide Prevention- Find help now Galop  - The UK’s LGBT+ anti-abuse charity UK based LGBTQ+ Christians seeking inclusive church might want to look at One Body One Faith and Diverse Church MindOut Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans & Queer Mental Health Service - UK LGBTQ- Inclusive Organisations listed on Stonewall UK Resources for LGBTQ People of Faith listed on Stonewall UK

I had a great conversation this week with Stuart Delony. We cover quite a bit of ground  from talking around what it means to 'walk out' the path of Jesus to the purpose of preaching, to the role of ministry, to worship being more than a good song!  Stuart describes himself as a storyteller, seeker, sojourner, question-asker, and provocateur. He’s a former pastor and the creator and host of Snarky Faith Radio, a podcast for the spiritually disenfranchised. It's a space to irreverently wrestle through life, culture and spirituality.  Stuart has a Masters of Global Leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary and lives in Chapel Hill, NC with his wife and kids.   Website: www.SnarkyFaith.com  Facebook: www.facebook.com/snarkyfaith  Twitter: @snarkyfaith   Instagram: @stuartdelony

I had a delightful conversation in this episode with Marc-Henri Sandoz Paradella, who is a psycho-spiritual counsellor, meditation teacher and author of the book Toxic Jesus. Marc lives in Lausanne, Switzerland, and was an evangelical pastor before he began to ask questions...  An experience of cancer in 2018, which caused him to have his leg amputated, led to what he describes as a 'reverse epiphany' where the idea for 'Toxic Jesus' was born.  We talked about the understanding of Grace, about an authentic (non-bypassing) spirituality and about finding ways back to faith after 'deconstruction'. Marc's website is https://en.marchenrisandoz.com/ The book 'Toxic Jesus' can be found in all the usual online outlets.  I read the poem 'Buddha in Glory' by Rainer Maria Rilke which you can read here https://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/Poets/R/RilkeRainerM/BuddhainGlor/index.html Marc read quotes from 'Also Sprach Zarathustra' (Thus Spake Zarathustra) a  treatise by Friedrich Nietzsche, and from the Apocryphal 'Gospel of Thomas'. 

We're back! The first episode of FUBF for 2022 with Mairtin McNamara.  I spent a wonderful, gentle and mindful hour speaking to Mairtin, who is an Irish martial artist and movement practitioner living and working (as an engineer) in Antwerp, Belgium.  Mairtin spoke about his early immersion in Catholicism, and about giving the 'perfect' confession. Our conversation moved into compassion, what it means to be 'decent' in our interactions, and how our spiritual practice informs all of that. A rich and engaging conversation that I am sure will give you food for thought.  I shared the poem 'How to Be Alone', by Padraig O'Tuoma. A Poetry Film by Leo G Franchi of Padraig reading his poem can be found here https://youtu.be/HgZT6UJocRs Mairtin shared one of his own poems 'Walls' which you can see at https://www.instagram.com/p/CARLml_BEo5/?utm_medium=copy_link&fbclid=IwAR0DXLTliK4J5xOWJDDDxgoKSu85BMxuN0wsVAJw7uF9DEdY4YF9YH9AxGw He is also running a  weekend workshop - "Re-Awakening, Care & Touch" -  with Rachel Blackman in Brighton on 30th April & 1st May 2022 link below. https://vibrantbeing.vibrantbody.co.uk/courses/re-awakening-care-touch-a-weekend-workshop?fbclid=IwAR07ybBdLwQZj-Qr2f-HD-Y7El3I-kbF4duqxjUD53N8oFSRk9OxJLydPRQ

This is our fourth and final 'reflections' episode for the period of Advent and Midwinter, and it is a wonderful double feature! Roger Wolsey - who was the very first guest on the podcast returns with a  really beautiful reflection on the Advent candle themes of hope, love, joy, and peace. Roger is a United Methodist pastor based in Colorado, and author of the book 'Kissing Fish - Christianity for People Who don't Like Christianity'  We then hear from Chris Brown - a UK-based freelance facilitator specialising in LGBTQ+ inclusion, mental health, and suicide prevention - who joined me back in episode 5. Chris reflects on this period of Midwinter and the themes of the Winter Solstice, and ends with a lovely song/duet with Hannah-Rose Tristram.    Episode 1 with Roger Wolsey - https://anchor.fm/fkdupbyfaith/episodes/Episode-1-with-Roger-Wolsey-e10htdr Episode 5  with Chris Brown - https://anchor.fm/fkdupbyfaith/episodes/Episode-5---with-Chris-Brown-e127aio Roger's website: https://www.rogerwolsey.com Chris's website: http://www.chrisbrown.uk.com/ Hannah- Rose Tristram's website: https://getbrightonsinging.com The FUBF theme music is by David Goodall https://soundsmove.com The piano accompaniment of 'In The Bleak Midwinter' is from the UMC https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/articles/piano-accompaniment-recordings

In this, the third of our special episodes for the period of Advent and midwinter, we hear from Jack Mason-Goodall, who was a guest on episode 15. You can listen to that episode again here https://anchor.fm/fkdupbyfaith/episodes/Episode-15---With-Jack-Mason-Goodall-e187594/a-a6kk44k Jude begins this episode with a reflection on candles,  and Jack shares an utterly gorgeous reading of the poem 'Until we Could' by Richard Blanco. You can read more about the origin of the poem at 'Freedom to Marry' here http://www.freedomtomarry.org/blog/entry/watch-freedom-to-marrys-until-we-could-by-inaugural-poet-richard-blanc

In this second of our special episodes for the period of Advent and midwinter, we hear a wonderful reflection from Oskar Marchock. Oskar was my guest on episode 7 which you might want to listen to again here https://anchor.fm/fkdupbyfaith/episodes/Episode-7---With-Oskar-Marchock-e134alg Jude shares the poem 'O Radix' by Malcolm Guite which you can read on Malcolm's blog here https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/2020/12/19/o-radix-a-third-advent-reflection-and-sonnet-9/ You can hear the episode of the Church Times podcast which features this and the other antiphons here https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2021/26-november/audio-video/podcast/listen-again-malcolm-guite-o-come-o-come-a-journey-through-the-advent-antiphons The FUBF theme music is by David Goodall https://soundsmove.com The piano version of 'O Come Emmanuel' is by K. Jason French on Bandcamp https://kjasonfrench.bandcamp.com/track/o-come-o-come-emmanuel-solo-piano

A slight detour for FUBF for a few weeks. Indulge us.  For the period of Advent, a few previous guests are recording reflections on the themes of hope, healing, reconciliation and forgiveness. In this first, beautiful and mindful reflection, we hear from Dawn Lister, who was my guest back in episode 4. Dawn is a Yoga and Mindfulness teacher and co-owner of Anahata Yoga Centre in Leigh on Sea. She is a Mum and a writer who is currently working on a memoir about her experiences of growing up as a Jehovah's Witness. The poem Jude shares is 'The Gift' by Mary Oliver The FUBF theme music is by David Goodall https://soundsmove.com  The piano accompaniment of 'In The Bleak Midwinter' is from the UMC https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/articles/piano-accompaniment-recordings

In this bonus episode for Samhain, I talk to Vicki McFall, who is a Scottish Wiccan/Pagan. Like me, Vicki has some reservations about people (In Vicki's words, the 'dabblers') adopting or cherry-picking Celtic religious festivals (and other practices) who don't always have the accompanying spiritual practice to keep them grounded, safe, and respectful. She also has a go at online 'mediums', makers of 'spell candles', and non-indigenous co-opters of indigenous sacred practices and objects.  Vicki's common sense and straight-talking ordinary-ness shed some light on common misconceptions about Pagans, Wiccans, witches, and their practices. Jude reads the 'Threshold Invocation for The Festival of Samhain' from the 'Celtic Devotional' by Caitlin Matthews.  

 Rachel Cotton is an Atheist Buddhist with Jewish roots,  an autistic parent of autistic kids, and chair of Autistic Pride Reading. http://www.autisticpridereading.co.uk In this fascinating conversation, Rachel very generously shares her faith history: her father's Judaism;  her own journey from Atheism to Tibetan Buddhism (indeed, both); her fear of death; and her love of archeology.  Jude shares Jane Hirshfield's poem 'To Hear the Falling World' which you can read on Poetry Chaikhana  https://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/Poets/H/HirshfieldJa/ToHearFallin/index.html  Rachel shares Thich Nhat Hanh's translation of  the Heart Sutra https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/letters/thich-nhat-hanh-new-heart-sutra-translation/

 Jack Mason-Goodall is a psychologist and psychotherapist in training, who specialises in working with autistic children and families.   We covered a lot of ground in this uplifting conservation, but significantly,  this was the first conversation (but most definitely not the last) on this podcast, about being  F****d up by a yoga community! Jude shares the poem 'I Live in the Woods of My Words' by Hannah Emerson https://hannah-emerson.com 

Naomi Wood  (she/they)  is a Brighton-based writer, poet, performance artist, and workshop leader. We had a fantastic conversation about (you guessed it) being Fkd Up by the Evangelical Church, about expressions of faith, finding the sacred in nature, and -  of course -  about poetry! Naomi shares two spoken word pieces in the podcast. Jude shares Seamus Heaney's poem 'Postcript' at the top of the show.  Naomi's website is http://www.naomiwoodmodel.com Instagram @naomiwoodwrites and @iamnaomiwood Brighton Feminist Bookshop https://thefeministbookshop.com/ Hammer and Tongue - poetry slam http://www.hammerandtongue.com/brighton/

In this lively conversation, multi-media artist, Jet Black talks to me about her Jewish upbringing and the importance of being a culturally and ethnic (but not religious) Jew.   She shares candidly about the recent death of her mother, and the anxiety of choosing an appropriately Jewish headstone amidst a plethora of opinions.  Jude shares the poem 'Freedom' by Denise Levertov Jet shares a verse from 'Night Comes On' by Leonard Cohen 

It was an incredible treat to speak to poet John McCullough. John is an award-winning writer, poet, and creative writing tutor, who won the Hawthornden prize for literature in 2020 for his third collection of poetry 'Reckless Paper Birds'.  In this episode, we talk about poetry (obvs!) as well as spirituality (and the connection between the two) about mental health, queer spirituality, more poetry, and John's early church experiences as a choirboy. I share John's poem 'Sometimes I am Visited by a Church of Rain' which is from his second collection 'Spacecraft'. John shares his poem 'Soulcraft' from his third collection 'Reckless Paper Birds'. Both are published by Penned in the Margins and can be found in all the usual book-selling places.  https://www.johnmccullough.co.uk http://www.pennedinthemargins.co.uk/index.php/2017/12/john-mccullough/

Olivia talks about her neurodivergent experience of feeling separate and about addiction, trauma, and finding healing through the Twelve Steps of Al Anon.  She remains just Olivia to honour Twelve Step anonymity.   Content/Trigger warning for a brief discussion of sexual assault.  Jude shares the poem 'God Says Yes to Me' by Kaylin Haught  Olivia shares 'Desiderata' by Max Ehrmann

Rachel Sparks is a dancer, dance teacher, and heart-centered embodiment educator. https://www.rachelsparksdance.co.uk In this gentle and intimate conversation with Rachel, she talks about love and loss, and about moving away from Evangelical Christianity towards a more holistic and embodied spirituality grounded in nature. Jude shares an excerpt from Kae Tempest's poem 'These things I Know'

In this episode, I chat with Mary Louder, who is an Osteopathic Physician and Integrative Medicine Practitioner living in Michigan USA. Mary talks about her FOUR (4!) baptisms, and how involvement with one faith group at university nearly cost her her medical career.  The poem shared at the beginning is 'Sometimes' by David Whyte, who can watch/listen to reciting the poem here https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=469467607104905 The song shared by Mary at the end is 'The River Jordan' by May Erlewine. You can listen to  it on Youtube here https://youtu.be/-qszjgLWl1k you can read the lyrics here https://www.last.fm/music/May+Erlewine/_/The+River+Jordan/+lyrics