Learning How to See with Brian McLaren

What can you do, big or small, to create a positive impact on the planet? In this episode, Brian interviews Scott Smith, a retired wildlife ecologist, about his career in conservation and the importance of protecting the natural world. Scott shares his early love for nature and how it led him to become a wildlife ecologist. He discusses the work of conservation, including habitat preservation, species monitoring, and genetic flow. Scott also highlights the interconnectedness between human society and the environment, emphasizing the need to address poverty, equity, and social justice in conservation efforts. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. If you're in Maryland, check out the events at Trinity Outdoors here.

What sparks your sense of wonder in the natural world? In this episode, we're continuing our exploration of learning how to see like a scientist with botanist and author Susan Tweit. Brian McLaren and Susan Tweit explore how a hike in the Badlands sparked Susan's passion for sharing nature's wonders. In this conversation, they explore the power of science and storytelling as a way of deepening our connection with the Earth and igniting positive action for healing the planet, fueled by both love and grief for the environment. Susan J. Tweit is a plant biologist who began her career working in the wilderness studying wildfires, grizzly bear habitat and sagebrush ecosystems. She turned to writing when she realized she loved telling the stories in the data. She is an award-winning author of twelve books, including a previous memoir, Walking Nature Home, and Bless the Birds: Living with Love in a Time of Dying. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. For more information about Brian's new book, Life After Doom, you can find more information here. To learn more about Susan J Tweit's work, visit her website here. Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Brian to answer about this season? Email us: podcasts@cac.org or leave us voicemail. Questions for this season will only be accepted until June 21st, 2024. This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!

Can we look at nature with both wonder and a scientist's eye? In this episode, we're learning how to see nature from the perspective of a scientist. In Part 1, Author and professor Paul Wallace joins Brian to explore the intersection of science and spirituality in the natural world. Together, they discuss the awe-inspiring scale of the universe, the contemplative nature of scientific inquiry, and the urgent call to protect our dwindling bird populations. Paul Wallace is a physicist, astronomer, and pastor who explores the intersection of science and faith. He is a professor at Agnes Scott College and has a Ph.D. in physics and a Master of Divinity and is passionate about making science and religion accessible to all. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. For more information about Brian's new book, Life After Doom, you can find more information here. To learn more about Paul Wallace's work, visit his website here. Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Brian to answer about this season? Email us: podcasts@cac.org or leave us voicemail. Questions for this season will only be accepted until June 21st, 2024. This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!

What can children teach us about loving nature? In the first episode of season 6, three of Brian’s grandchildren — Ella, Ada, and Lucas — drop by to talk about how to take responsibility and care for the planet. In this conversation, we see the from the perspective of a child as three of Brian's grandchildren highlight the impact of climate change through a shared love of animals and emphasizing the need for a more sustainable and compassionate relationship with nature. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. For more information about Brian's new book, Life After Doom, you can find more information here. Check out Brian's grandkids Newt YouTube channel here. Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Brian to answer about this season? Email us: podcasts@cac.org or leave us voicemail. Questions for this season will only be accepted until June 21st, 2024. This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!

Welcome to the sixth season of Learning How to See which focuses on learning how to see nature in a new way. In this season, we'll look at nature through the lens of a child, a scientist, a lover, a doctor, a seeker, and a gardener. The goal is to develop a deeper connection and appreciation for the natural world. We need to see every tree and stone, every bird and fish, every stream and prairie and star with eyes of love and wonder. That's not just a matter of joy and meaning for our individual lives, it's increasingly a matter of survival for our species. We hope you'll join us for the new seasons of Learning How to See. Resources: Why Don't They Get It? by Brian McLaren can be found here. Cory and the Seventh Story by Brian McLaren can be found here. More info on Life and Doom, the new book by Brian McLaren can be found here.

What if we could reimagine the future of storytelling? In the last episode of Season 5 of Learning How to See, join in the conversation about how to create a new kind of space in which we can all participate in shifting our world towards greater Love and justice. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. To learn more about Gareth Higgins, click here. To learn more about Brian McLaren, click here. To explore the seven stories in more depth, visit the website here. You'll find details about the children's book, essays for adults, and more. Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Brian or Gareth to answer about the seven stories? Email us: podcasts@cac.org or leave us voicemail. Questions for this season will only be accepted until November 22nd, 2023. This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!

How do you embrace the wisdom of letting go? In this episode, Brian and Gareth explore the power of sharing to explore the Accumulation Story, a justification of our human need to hold onto things, people, and circumstances. Gareth explains: “This is a story about money and fear. It's a story about being possessed by things rather than enjoying and sharing them. And it's a story nested within a bigger story about how sometimes when we think we have more, we actually have less.” Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. To learn more about Gareth Higgins, click here. To learn more about Brian McLaren, click here. To explore the seven stories in more depth, visit the website here. You'll find details about the children's book, essays for adults, and more. Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Brian or Gareth to answer about the seven stories? Email us: podcasts@cac.org or leave us voicemail. Questions for this season will only be accepted until November 22nd, 2023. This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!

How do you tell the story of a time you have been wronged or betrayed? Many of us experience victimization. But when does "victim" become an outdated part of our identity? Brian McLaren offers us: “If victims allow themselves to take an offramp from their victimizing stories, they embrace another way to define their lives.” We're continuing forward with powerful explorations of storytelling as resilience and transformation. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. To learn more about Gareth Higgins, click here. To learn more about Brian McLaren, click here. To explore the seven stories in more depth, visit the website here. You'll find details about the children's book, essays for adults, and more. Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Brian or Gareth to answer about the seven stories? Email us: podcasts@cac.org or leave us voicemail. Questions for this season will only be accepted until November 22nd, 2023. This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!

“To be fully in the world is to believe that we can love other people and places more than we fear them.” –Gareth Higgins Have you convinced yourself that you are better off alone? Today we're exploring the dynamics of the Isolation Story — the belief that we can avoid pain by avoiding others. As Gareth Higgins explains, “While it may not be physically violent, the Isolation Story is more than harmful, because it does two things. First, it moves us toward less connection with others, and therefore less community and support when we need it. And second, it turns life grey, where we miss out on the gifts of the rainbow.” Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. To learn more about Gareth Higgins, click here. To learn more about Brian McLaren, click here. To explore the seven stories in more depth, visit the website here. You'll find details about the children's book, essays for adults, and more. Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Brian or Gareth to answer about the seven stories? Email us: podcasts@cac.org or leave us voicemail. Questions for this season will only be accepted until November 22nd, 2023. This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!

“Almost everybody who does evil has convinced themselves that they are doing good.” —Brian McLaren Have you ever convinced yourself that an unloving act was justified? In this episode, we're asking ourselves the tough questions and peeling back the layers of the Purification Story — a narrative with complex dynamics that can lead us to harmful interactions with others and ourselves. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. To learn more about Gareth Higgins, click here. To learn more about Brian McLaren, click here. To explore the seven stories in more depth, visit the website here. You'll find details about the children's book, essays for adults, and more. Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Brian or Gareth to answer about the seven stories? Email us: podcasts@cac.org or leave us voicemail. Questions for this season will only be accepted until November 22nd, 2023. This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!

“If you want a better world, tell a better story — especially one that centers justice without vengeance.” –Gareth Higgins How do we tell stories that offer us the best chance of creating a more peaceful and loving reality? In this episode of Learning How to See, we're exploring stories of revolution. Although these tales often contain values of heroism and liberty, they are more likely to feed into the cycle of violence rather than end it. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. To learn more about Gareth Higgins, click here. To learn more about Brian McLaren, click here. To explore the seven stories in more depth, visit the website here. You'll find details about the children's book, essays for adults, and more. Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Brian or Gareth to answer about the seven stories? Email us: podcasts@cac.org or leave us voicemail. Questions for this season will only be accepted until November 22nd, 2023. This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!

“Stories shape our reality, whether they are true or not.” —Gareth Higgins What if you told the story of your life differently? Explore the powerful influence of stories in shaping our experiences in the newest season of Learning How to See with Brian McLaren and Gareth Higgins. In this episode, we explore the Domination Story, a way of understanding our world that distorts our relationships with others and the Earth. Learn how to identify and shift this kind of story so that you can experience a truer and more loving reality. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. To learn more about Gareth Higgins, click here. To learn more about Brian McLaren, click here. To explore the seven stories in more depth, visit the website here. You'll find details about the children's book, essays for adults, and more. Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Brian or Gareth to answer about the seven stories? Email us: podcasts@cac.org or leave us voicemail. Questions for this season will only be accepted until November 22nd, 2023. This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!

“Becoming conscious of the stories we’re telling can be lifesaving to individuals and entire cultures.”—Gareth Higgins How do you recount life’s biggest triumphs and failures? What about your deepest loves and biggest betrayals? In this season, we'll be exploring the power of storytelling to help create a more just and loving world. This season, Brian McLaren dives into conversation with the co-host for this season, Gareth Higgins. Gareth is a writer and speaker who works in peace building and violence reduction in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Together, Brian and Gareth invite you to explore the story patterns that can lead us towards — and away from — a more equitable and loving future. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. To learn more about Gareth Higgins, click here. To learn more about Brian McLaren, click here. To explore the seven stories in more depth, visit the website here. You'll find details about the children's book, essays for adults, and more. Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Brian or Gareth to answer about the seven stories? Email us: podcasts@cac.org or leave us voicemail. Questions for this season will only be accepted until November 22nd, 2023. This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!

Have your spiritual views impacted your romantic relationships? In the next episode of our listener questions series, Brian and the team examine how our faith often impacts our relationships. Together, they respond to listener questions from a variety of backgrounds and experiences to help the listeners understand how to navigate the challenges these situations can bring. Today’s conversation sensitively explores these complex dynamics in intimate relationships. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here.

In this third episode of listener questions, Brian and the team respond to questions that came in centered around Jesus and theology. A listener writes, “I've been questioning the virgin birth and resurrection. As of now, I believe that Jesus was an amazing prophet who was so in touch with God’s spirit that he could do miracles, and his teachings were life changing. Would you let me know how you feel about my thoughts?” Brian and the team responds by discussing the differences between “fact” and “truth.” Together, they explore the power of Mary saying “yes” to God’s calling, even though it meant painfully going against cultural norms. The team also dives into various atonement theories in theology. Listen now! Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here.

What does community look like when our faith shifts? “If I support my grandson who is gay, what do I do with my Catholic faith?” Brian, and the team from the Center for Action and Contemplation reflect on questions that came in around community. Resources: A transcript for this episode can be found here.

The topic of questions related to this listener questions episode is on actions and beliefs, and if God intervenes. Listeners wrote in with questions such as: “Does God intervene? Does Jesus heal? What am I doing when I pray for people? What precisely is the gospel? If I only had more faith, prayed the right prayer, and believed the Bible literally, maybe these awful things like the death of my young sister-in-law may not have happened.” Brian, and the team from the Center for Action and Contemplation reflect on these questions. Resources: A transcript for this episode can be found here.

Who reminds you of who you really are—even during dark times? Jacqui and Barbara are back, together, to explore ways to stay human amid fear and uncertainty. In this last episode exploring the chapters of 'How', these conversation partners explore the importance of humanity at the core of an authentic faith journey. Whether or not you continue to call yourself Christian—or a member of any other faith—how do we retain the courage to see the world as it truly is? Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here.

What is your response when your faith tradition demands that you deny reality? Barbara Brown Taylor is back to discuss the importance of embracing “what is” more than adhering to our beliefs. This episode is based on 27th chapter of Do I Stay Christian?, Stay Loyal to Reality. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here.

How do you stand for what you believe without making others wrong? In this episode, Rev. Jacqui Lewis joins Brian again to discuss how we can declare our beliefs with love—and why it is essential for the healing of our communities and our planet. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. Throughout this season, as questions or thoughts arise, we'd love to hear from you. You can contact us by leaving a voicemail or emailing us at podcasts@cac.org