The Godspeed Institute

"It started because we were friends." In this timely show, Caer Hallundbaek speaks with Rev. Canon Gina Gilland Campbell of Washington National Cathedral. In this engaging hour, Campbell shares in depth regarding the Muslim prayer service at 'the nation's spiritual home' that became more controversial than expected, and how it came about. Other topics include her journey into ministry, inspirations and challenges, and the vision and goals of the Cathedral in years to come.

Clark Strand is a teacher, journalist, and former Zen Buddhist monk who previously served as senior editor of the magazine Tricycle: The Buddhist Review. He is the author of the books How to Believe in God: Whether You Believe in Religion or Not and Meditation without Gurus.  His latest book is Waking the Buddha: How the Most Dynamic and Empowering Buddhist Movement in History Is Changing Our Concept of Religion. The group is the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), the largest Buddhist movement in the world today, with over 12 million members. SGI bases itself on the teachings of Nichiren, the 13th-century Japanese Buddhist reformer. Through his book, Strand offers broad insight into how and why the Soka Gakkai, with its practical applications and egalitarian approach, is redefining not just Buddhism, but religion itself. For more information, visit www.godspeedinstitute.com.

Gola Wolfson Richards holds a BA in Human Development Psychology, a Master’s in Theology / Philosophy and Psychology of Change in The Book of Changes. His career in Human Development spans more than four decades. He has lectured on ContemplativeEducation for Global Conflict-Resolution for Dartmouth College's NovelaSymposium, Duke University Graduate School for Environmental Engineering, TheUniversity of Maine's first International Peace Conference, the C.G. JungSociety at Bowdoin College, Education for Peace at the University of Montana inMissoula, and has participated as the Maine faculty of "Religion and theChallenge of America." Wolf hosts the "Speaking for Virtue" radio broadcast from theUniversity of Southern Maine, featuring early 20th century poetry and prose byauthors such as Frank Crane and Edgar Guest. In this engaging hour, Wolf joins Caer to talk about consciousness,change, sage qualities and character, his organization Broadcast Wisdom, andmuch more. For more information, visit www.godspeedinstitute.com

Stewart Bitkoff holds a doctorate in education and is an avid student of Sufi Mysticism and the Perennial Philosophy. He is the author of 'A Commuter's Guide to Enlightenment,' 'Sufism for the Western Seeker,' and The Ferryman's Dream.' Bitkoff is a frequent  contributor to “Sufism: An Inquiry” and “Sacred Journey Magazine” and writes for multiple online entities, including the Philadelphia Spirituality Examiner, Wisdom Magazine, New Age Journal, and more. In this engaging hour he discusses his latest book, 'Beyond the River's Gate,' a spiritual Q&A on life's most essential questions, from the Sufi perspective. For more information, visit www.godspeedinstitute.com and  stewartbitkoff.com

Yahia Lababidi is an Egyptian-American thinker and poet, nominated for a Pushcart Prize by World Literature Today magazine. 
Lababidi's first book Signposts to Elsewhere, was selected as a 2008 Book of the Year by British publication The Independent. Signposts was followed by well-received collections of literary and cultural essays, Trial by Ink: From Nietzsche to Belly Dancing; a book of poetry titled Fever Dreams; and a series of literary dialogues with Alex Stein, The Artist as Mystic:  Conversations with Yahia Lababidi. Lababidi was chosen as a Juror for the 2012 Neustadt International Prize for Literature.   His latest is a remarkable new collection of short poems, BARELY THERE, which he discusses with Caer in in this hour. For more information visit the Godspeed Institute.

Darrell Bock is Executive Director of Cultural Engagement, and Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. Former president of the Evangelical Theological Society, he is an internationally-renowned Biblical scholar and a widely known author of over 30 books on Biblical topics. The New York Times bestselling author of Breaking the DaVinci Code, his latest book is Truth Matters: Confident Faith in a Confusing World. Topics in this hour include: The reasons for writing Truth Matters, a book aimed at guiding youth; his story of coming to faith as an adult; the larger questions the church often doesn't answer for young people; depicting faith and Jesus in the media, including biblically-based films and the effectiveness of secular films; US culture and faith; whether Christianity is 'credible'; thoughts on providing youth a quake-proof foundation for a reasoned faith; youth leaving church and then returning later when they become parents; defending faith; and much more. For more information visit Darrell Bock.  To learn more, visit the Godspeed Institute.

Stephen Olsson is director of the acclaimed series Global Spirit, which has been called the first internal travel series on national television. Global Spirit is an inquiry into humankind's belief systems, wisdom traditions and states of consciousness, presented by John Cleese and hosted by author and spiritual seeker Phil Cousineau. Stephen’s work has won numerous national and international awards including the National Emmy Award for Outstanding Director, the Du-Pont Columbia Award for Excellence in broadcast journalism and the George Foster Peabody Award. Formerly, Olsson was co-founder and former vice president of Original Programming at Link TV, where he produced a number of original programs and television series, including the Peabody award-winning Mosaic: World News from the Middle East. He holds a Master’s degree in Visual Anthropology and Communications from Temple University. Topics in this hour include: his early interest in rituals through the Jesuits; travel in India; the forming of Cultural Educational Media in 1983; John Cleese; Global Spirit; Sufism; Rumi's accessibility in the West; unity consciousness; Olsson's other projects; technology; and much more. Topics in this hour include: his early interest in rituals through the Jesuits; travel in India; the forming of Cultural Educational Media in 1983; John Cleese; the development of Global Spirit; Sufism; Rumi's accessibility in the West; unity consciousness; Olsson's other current projects; the effect of technology on the spiritual conversation; and much more. For more information visit godspeedinstitute.com

Pastor Chantel Renee Wright loves God, Music and Children—and her life is dedicated to the pursuit of all three. She is the founder and director of the non-profit organization, Songs of Solomon: An Inspirational Ensemble, Inc., and her exquisite gospel choir fires up the soul and transforms hearts, one performance at a time. The Ensemble has toured the United States and Canada and has performed with opera’s great Jessye Norman and with Elton John at Radio City Music Hall. Today the Ensemble finds itself as a mainstay at the world famous Carnegie Hall. But most of all, the choir is committed to spreading the Good News.  Wright is pastor and founder of Pneuma Ministries in Harlem, and lends her gifts to the vocal music department of the Steinhardt School of Music at New York University. Prior, she served as Director of the Girls’ Choir of Harlem; Artistic Director of the Queens Symphony Orchestra Youth Gospel Choir; and is a recipient of the New York Times Teachers Who Matter Most award. A native of Chicago, she received her formal education at VanderCook College of Music. Topics in this engaging hour include: the choir's recent performance in Rockport, Maine; the role music played in Chantel's childhood; how music saved her; the founding of the Ensemble; challenges and failures; a complete turnaround in life; the tradition of gospel music; and much more. For more information, visit godspeedinstitute.com    

What is Interspirituality?  It is a term you may be hearing more often these days – as there is a growing awareness of interspiritual wisdom and expression. Joining us to talk about it this episode is Mirabai Starr. Mirabai Starr is an adjunct professor of philosophy and world religions at the University of New Mexico-Taos.  A writer, speaker and translator, she is well known to readers for her acclaimed translations of the mystic works Dark Night of the Soul by John of the Cross, and The Interior Castle and The Book of My Life by Teresa of Avila. Her latest book is God of Love, a passionate and personal exploration of the interconnected wisdom of the three Abrahamic faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Topics in this lively hour include: Interspirituality, from The Mystic Heart; Interspirituality as compared to interfaith dialogue; Mirabai's experience through childhood; her lifelong interspiritual practice; multiple religious belonging; utilizing practices from different faiths; Llama Foundation; spirituality beyond religion; "spiritual not religious"; union with God; social justice; youth; and much more. For more information, please visit www.godspeedinstitute.com and http://www.mirabaistarr.com/

We celebrate the anniversary of the death of beloved Sufi mystic Rumi with an engaging and educational hour about Sufism and his work. Dr. Jawid Mojaddedi is associate professor in the Department of Religion at Rutgers University where he offers courses on Rumi, Sufism, and Islam. A native of Afghanistan, he was raised in Great Britain where he completed his education, and in the US continued postdoctoral research at Columbia University and Princeton’s Institute for Advanced Study. He is the author of The Biographical Tradition in Sufism and Classical Islam: A Sourcebook of Religious Literature. For his translations of Rumi’s Masnavi, he was awarded the Lois Roth Prize for excellence in translation by the American Institute of Iranian Studies.  His latest book, which we explore in this hour, is Beyond Dogma: Rumi's Teachings on Friendship with God and Early Sufi Theories. Beyond Dogma has been published in the U.K. and is now available in the United States. For more information, visit www.godspeedinstitute.com.

Join us for on hour with Rev Fletcher Harper about GreenFaith, a non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire, educate and mobilize people of diverse religious backgrounds for environmental leadership. GreenFaith believes that protecting the earth is a religious value, and that environmental stewardship is a moral responsibility. Their work is based on beliefs shared by the world’s great religions – and their executive director is Rev. Fletcher Harper. An Episcopal priest, Rev. Harper is an award-winning spiritual writer and nationally-recognized preacher on the environment. He teaches and speaks at houses of worship nationwide about the moral, spiritual basis for environmental stewardship and justice. A graduate of Princeton and Union Theological Seminary, he served as a parish priest for ten years and in leadership positions in the Episcopal Church before becoming GreenFaith’s Executive Director.

The Isle of Iona is a small island off the west coast of Scotland with a rich spiritual history. As early as the year 563 the Isle was a site for a Celtic monastery. In the middle ages it was the site of a Benedictine abbey and over the centuries has attracted many thousands of people on their own pilgrim journeys. Today the isle is the center of the Iona Community, a dispersed Christian ecumenical community working for peace and social justice, rebuilding of community and the renewal of worship.  To learn more about the Iona Community, Caer Hallundbaek speaks with Reverend Kathleen Roney and Reverend Matilda Chase. Topics in this hour include: How both women came to be affiliated with the Iona Community; how the community developed; the community's areas of concern and effort; banking; spirituality in the work place; the New World Foundation; Oasis; Kirkridge; the Iona Community Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation commitment; their Family Groups; the role of money; ecumenical and interfaith focus. The program features the song "If You Come and Follow Me (The Summons)," a meaningful song to the community. Also, Caer announces and shares from her gorgeous new book, INSPIRED RELATIONSHIPS: 7 Saints' Real-Life Lessons on How to Live, Love and Work, available here.

In her new book, The Jew Named Jesus, Rebekah Simon-Peter says that "Jesus was born a Jew, raised a Jew, lived a Jew, died a Jew, and resurrected a Jew. He was no backsliding Jew, but an observant Jew. He honored and observed the Sabbath and the Jewish holidays. But most of all, he honored and observed the Torah, the Hebrew Bible, or what we call the Old Testament. How could he do anything but love his own people?” Simon-Peter, an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church, was born and raised a Jew, first Reform then later Orthodox. She challenges Christians to rethink Jesus’ identity as a Jew, and in the process, to consider ways traditional Christian theology has contributed to anti-Semitism. Enjoy Caer Hallundbaek's lively interview with Rebekah Simon-Peter and recall the significance of Jesus' Jewish identity and how to better connect with it through scripture, dialogue and ritual. For more information, contact the Godspeed Institute.

Benedictine spirituality began in the 4th Century, is known for its hospitality - and it is a tradition that remains strong today.  Joiin Caer as she speaks with Sr. Ellen Stephen of the Order of St Helena, a community of Benedictine sisters in the Episcopal tradition, from her 50 years of "welcoming the stranger." Caer also shares from her new book, Inspired Relationships: 7 Saints' Real-Life Lessons on How to Live, Love and Work. Topics in this engaging hour include St. Benedict, founder of western monasticism; St. Helena; saints. Francis and Clare of Assisi; balanced spirituality; ordained women in the Episcopal church; spiritual direction; the diversity of the sisters; the order's history; silence; the role of the monk; and much more. For more information, visit the Godspeed Institute and the Order of St. Helena.

In this lively hour, author and professor Stewart Bitkoff shares with Caer from his new book on the Secret Teachings - and where they are today. Explore the "Elixir," the Perennial Philosophy, the hidden way of inner knowing that has been with us for ages -- and how we can apply it today. Learn how this mystical spiritual message speaks to and unites all faiths. Dr. Stewart Bitkoff holds a doctorate in education and is an avid student of Sufi Mysticism and the Perennial Philosophy. He is the author of The Ferryman’s Dream, A Commuter's Guide to Enlightenment, and Sufism for the Western Seeker, which was nominated as Book of the Year by 'ForeWord Magazine' in the Adult Non Fiction Religious category. http://www.stewartbitkoff.com/ http://kirkridge.org/ http://godspeedinstitute.com/

The death of a loved one can have such a profound effect on one’s perception of life on earth as we know it. Death can make us question the reason for our existence, why we are here, what is our purpose and why on earth do we live only to die? In 2007, filmmaker and editor Michael Habernig endured a large number of deaths family members, friends and pets in a short period of time. These events sent him on a journey to study and investigate what happens to people after they die. Michael began to explore the concept of life after death through renowned authors like Wayne Dyer, Fred Alan Wolf and Gregg Braden. By “accident” he stumbled upon interviews with Albert Taylor, William Buhlman and Thomas Campbell.  He began searches on Astral Projection and Out of Body Experiences, leading him to remote viewing, multiple dimensions and past life regressions.  Through the work of Brian Weiss and Michael Newton, Michael entered the realm of spirit guides, angels and healing. He decided to share what he learned by producing a film about death and reincarnation. He reached out to April Hannah, a holistic healer with a counseling practice first as an interviewee. But she became a producer and the two have created a series of films, The Path Trilogy – to help others understand these transitions. Michael and April join Caer for an intimate conversation. Caer concludes the program with her "Tip for Your Spiritual Tool Belt," a reflection on Teresa of Avila's breakthrough around co-dependent relationships, from her upcoming book Inspired Relationships. For more information, visit the Godspeed Institute.

Rev. Carol Richardson is a Christian minister with a gift for healing and celestial communications. Born to missionary parents on the equator in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and raised in three African countries and three different states in the U.S., Carol started out with an interest in public health, receiving her Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas Christian University and her Master of Public Health degree from The University of Texas. During this time, she married, had two children, and was widowed at the age of 28. Feeling called to Christian ministry after her husband’s sudden death by cerebral aneurysm at the age of 34, she received her Master of Divinity degree from Vanderbilt in December1993 and was ordained the following year into the Disciples of Christ Church. Carol is now a practitioner at the Washington Institute of Medicine in Washington, DC, as well as a teacher at the Light Worker Training Institute, where she holds classes as well as an Interfaith Light Circle Meditation Group. She is the author of the books Aging Well – Be Your Best Self Forever, and Exodus 2012: A Mission to Save the Earth. For more information, visit godspeedinstitute.com.

An atheist, Siegfried Gold took up prayer out of desperation. Overweight by 110 pounds and depressed, the 45-year-old software designer saw himself drifting from his wife and young son. He joined a 12-step program for food addiction that required — as many 12-step programs do — a recognition of God, or a Higher Power, and a spiritual approach to living. Four years later, Gold is trim, far happier in his relationships and free of a lifelong ennui. He credits a rigorous prayer routine — morning, night and before each meal — to a vivid goddess that doesn’t exist.  While Gold doesn’t believe there is some supernatural being out there attending to his prayers, he describes himself as nonetheless having had a “conversion” that can be characterized only as a “miracle.”  His life has been mysteriously transformed, he says, by the power of asking. -This, from an article about Mr. Gold by Michelle Boorstein in the Washington Post.  He joins Caer today to share about his journey. For more information visit godspeedinstitute.com.

Whoever is initiated by us and follows us and loves us, whether he is near or far, wherever he is, even if he is in the East and we are in the West, we nourish from the stream of love and give him light in his daily life. In this quote from one of the great Naqshbandi Sufi masters we have a description of one of the natural laws of the universe: how one action affects another, at varying distances. How does this apply to spiritual learning? Dr. Stewart Bitkoff holds a doctorate in education and is an avid student of Sufi Mysticism and the Perennial Philosophy. He is the author of The Ferryman’s Dream, A Commuter's Guide to Enlightenment, and Sufism for the Western Seeker, which was nominated as Book of the Year by 'ForeWord Magazine' in the Adult Non Fiction Religious category. Dr. Bitkoff is a frequent contributor to “Sufism: An Inquiry” and “Sacred Journey Magazine” and writes for multiple online entities, including the Philadelphia Spirituality Examiner, Wisdom Magazine, New Age Journal, and more. In this show we  explore spirituality as the ultimate kind of “distance learning.” For more information visit www.godspeedinstitute.com.

Join Caer for a moving Mother's Day hour with Mary Lou Quinlan - leading authority on women and bestselling author of The God Box:  Sharing My Mother's Gift of Faith, Love and Letting Go. Mary Lou is the author of three breakthrough books, including What She’s Not Telling You, Time Off for Good Behavior, and Just Ask a Woman. She’s written inspirational features for Real Simple, O, the Oprah magazine, and a monthly career advice column for MORE.  She’s appeared as a correspondent on the CBS Early Show, among many media appearances. Her latest book is The God Box, Sharing My Mother’s Gift of Faith, Love and Letting Go, which we explore in this hour. Mary Lou holds an MBA from Fordham University and an Honorary Doctorate in Communications from her alma mater, Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia where she earned a B. A. in English. For more information, visit  Just Ask a Woman and The God Box Project. Also visit the Godspeed Institute.