The Holden Village Podcast

Building the Society We Deserve with Pastor Terry Kyllo

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0700

As we navigate this unpredictable time, we are working hard to continue to offer safe, creative spaces for learning, play, and building community! Holden Village is excited to announce three spring 2026 facilitator sessions.

The first of these sessions will invite participants to explore how faith, courage, and love of neighbor can help us move towards a society where everyone belongs and everyone can thrive.

Building the Society We Deserve is presented by Paths to Understanding executive director Pastor Terry Kyllo and program director Hannah Hochkeppel. Paths to Understanding is an interfaith nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering community connections and promoting understanding across diverse backgrounds.

Holden Village Advancement Partner Carl Norquist sits down with Terry Kyllo to discuss why working with people of different cultures is a central part of the Christian tradition and strategies for blocking injustice, bridging divides, and building new sustainable systems.

The first of these virtual sessions will take place on April 16. Registration is FREE! You can sign up to participate here.

Reflections from Outgoing Co-Director Stacy Kitahata

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 16:00:00 -0700

In the spirit of renewal, we celebrate the transition of co-directors Stacy, Mark, and Kathie as they conclude their service to Holden Village. To honor this important moment in Holden history, Villagers gathered to celebrate with a weekend of music, dancing, and a blanket ceremony by Vance Blackfox. It was a joyful weekend of celebrating SMK’s leadership and love for the Village!

To reflect on their time as directors of Holden Village, Stacy, Mark, and Kathie each sat down with Creative Tech Ellen Callender to record a special podcast episode. They shared their journey to Holden, favorite stories, hopes for the future, and more.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact socialmedia@holdenvillage.org.

Reflections from Outgoing Co-Director Kathie Bach

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 16:00:00 -0700

Reflections from Outgoing Co-Director Mark Bach

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 16:00:00 -0700

Remembering the 2015 Wolverine Fire: Part One - Spark and Evacuation

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0700

The summer theme for 2025 is Life Anew, recognizing all the ways fire is part of a healthy ecosystem and prepares for the future forest. June 29 was the tenth anniversary of the lightning strike that started the 2015 Wolverine Fire six miles east of the Village. Over the next eight weeks the fire would consume 65,323 acres in the Entiat, Lake Chelan and Railroad Creek watersheds. By the end of July 2015, the Village itself was under threat, and the Forest Service ordered an evacuation.

Roughly 300 people fled the Village during the Wolverine fire. Thanks to determined hotshot crews and Holden's own preventative measures, the Village was spared.

We sat down with former Holden Village directors Chuck Hoffman and Peg Carlson-Hoffman, Incident Commanders Nancy and Marc Rerucha Borges, and current Holden Village Fire Marshal Jeff Pierce to hear their memories of the 2015 Wolverine Fire.

Experience the story from the people who lived through it in part one of this three-part series.

Isaiah Vespers at Holden Village: With a performance by John Hermanson, Maren Haynes Marchesini, and Megan Makeever

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0700

Holden Village debuts a new vespers this summer. “Isaiah: Is This the Fast We Choose?” is a liturgy composed by John Hermanson and edited and arranged by Maren Haynes Marchesini. The music draws from the Book of Isaiah, a collection of prophetic texts in the Jewish canon. The book is referenced frequently in the teaching of Jesus and reveals that justice, liberation, care for immigrants, release of prisoners, redistribution of wealth and critiques of power are at the heart of our theology.

During this episode of the Holden Village Podcast, we’re joined by the three musicians who recognized Isaiah’s unambiguous call to justice and brought the text to life.

John Hermanson is an award-winning songwriter and composer of the acclaimed acoustic duo Storyhill, as well as projects spanning orchestral, world, pop, rock, and indie genres. Raised in the Lutheran church and rooted in prophetic and mystical traditions, his songs raise ancient yet urgent questions about radical love and mutual responsibility.

Maren Haynes Marchesini serves as Director of Worship & Music at Hope Lutheran Church in Bozeman, Montana. Maren is a choral director, cellist, vocalist, composer, and scholar with broad-ranging musical interests. She holds a PhD in Ethnomusicology from the University of Washington where she focused on megachurches, gender, and ritual.

And Megan Makeever lives a multi-pronged life as a professional flutist, multi-instrumentalist, award-winning singer/songwriter, recording artist, and music educator/collaborator. As a performer, Megan plays with various bands, groups, and ensembles in Bozeman, Montana such as the Bozeman Symphony, Montana Ballet Orchestra, Bozeman Chamber Music Project, and the Ellen Theatre Orchestra.

Isaiah was conceived in residencies and commissions in a variety of contexts including Holden Village. It’s available through the Holden store. You can also order your copies here.

Kendra Mylnechuk Potter on Yoga: A How-To For Life

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 13:00:00 -0700

This episode of the Holden Village Podcast features Kendra Mylnechuk Potter (Lummi); a theatre and film artist, birth+death doula, yoga educator, partner, and mother.

Most of her work centers on the mother/child relationship and embodied storytelling, with an awareness that this precious human form is a sacred gift we get to keep learning through again and again. Since 2021, Kendra has delivered keynotes and Q&As at festivals and conferences around the world with “Daughter of a Lost Bird”, a documentary she co-produced and in which she is the protagonist, about being adopted out and reuniting with her birth mother and Lummi community. Through her company Sister Moon Wellness, she shares yoga and doula support, and runs a yoga teacher training and birth doula training. She lives with her husband and 2 children on Bitteroot Salish land in Missoula, MT.

Meisha Wangerin and June Thomassen: The Alternative to Violence Project

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0700

To kick off this season of the Holden Village Podcast, Ellen is joined by Meisha Wangerin and June Thomassen, co-facilitators of a condensed version of the transformative Basic AVP workshop, designed to provide practical tools for conflict resolution, personal growth, and building peaceful communities. The Alternative to Violence Project (AVP) is rooted in experiential learning, offering participants a chance to explore nonviolent communication, self-awareness, and strategies for resolving tension in constructive ways.

Meisha Wangerin (she/her/Queen) is a passionate and driven leader with over 15 years of experience in non-profit and higher education administration. Meisha’s core skills—storytelling, empathy, and relationship-building—are central to her approach in fostering inclusive and transformative environments. She is a Senior Facilitator for Projects for A Civil Society, where she leads Alternatives to Violence (AVP) workshops in local high schools, jails, and maximum-security prisons, focusing on trauma recovery, building self-esteem, improving interpersonal relationships, community building and resolving conflicts verbally.

Eleven years ago in Fairbanks, AK, June Thomasson co-led a revival of the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) in her Quaker meeting, as an outgrowth of the Quaker understanding that there is “That of God” in everyone. After retiring from 30 years of work as a Physician Assistant in Alaska, she returned to Western Washington, where she has been facilitating AVP ever since. June is now the coordinator for AVP in the Monroe state prison complex. She is also on the committee leading the Western WA AVP group, Projects for a Civil Society.

To learn more about AVP, visit https://avpusa.org/

For questions and inquiries, contact socialmedia@holdenvillage.org.

Emilie Teresa Smith and Armando Marquez Ochoa: Liberation and the Church

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 11:00:00 -0700

In the midst of the energy and heat of Abriendo Caminos, two of our teaching faculty, Emilie and Armando, their friend Flor de Marquez, and Kathie Caemmerer-Bach, one of Holden’s Co-Directors join in conversation discussing the Church, Holden and Emilie and Armando’s organization SICSAL. In this episode, Emilie also acts as a Spanish translator for Armando.

Emilie Teresa Smith is an Argentine-born, Canadian-raised, Anglican priest, community activist and writer. She has lived in relationship with peoples of Abya Yala (Latin America) for almost 40 years. As co-president of the Oscar Romero network (SICSAL) she has spent time and supported communities in every region of the south and central continent, and in the Caribbean. Her heart commitment is to the full liberation of all people — and the joy to be found therein!

Armando Marquez Ochoa has been a practitioner of popular education since the birth of the church of the poor in El Salvador in the 1970s. As a young man he accompanied Oscar Romero, and since Romero’s death, Armando has dedicated his life to compiling and sharing the teaching of the now-saint. Armando is the director of the Brother Mercedes Ruiz Foundation, a support network for El Salvador’s Christian Base Communities (CEBs) and co-secretary of the Oscar Romero Network (SICSAL).

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Elisabeth Cherland: Paperless Music

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 13:00:00 -0700

Many things about Holden have changed since the mining days, but one thing remains the same, even in the heat of summer, the pool hall remains cool--an excellent place to escape the midday heat. Nestled in a back room away from the joyous sounds of children bowling and playing ping pong, Elli, a long-term staff member and Elisabeth Cherland, a guest musician from summer 2024 teaching faculty discuss cyclic music, and the humanness of singing and how good it is for our bodies.

Elisabeth Cherland is a fourth-generation choral conductor as well as professor, singer, song leader, violinist, and Lutheran church musician. As Director of Choral Activities at Minnesota State University, Mankato, she teaches courses in choral methods, conducting, private voice, and conducts the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers. Prior to her appointment at MSU she was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Music at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. Dr. Cherland earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting at the University of Washington, a Master of Music Education with Certification degree from VanderCook College of Music, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music and English from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. From classical to folk to hymnody, Elisabeth is most at home singing and playing collaboratively. She lives with her partner Kent and their two sons, Elijah and Leif, in St. Peter, MN. She loves storytelling and story-hearing, doughnuts, bubble tea, laughing, knitting, running (when the temperature is perfect and the course is flat), and sunshine when it’s available.

Pamela Adams: Beaver Detective

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 16:00:00 -0700

This episode is a conversation between Holden Villages Naturalist Nic Caddell and a member of our summer 2024 teaching faculty Pamela Adams, a self-appointed freelance beaver detective. Nic and Pamela discuss the importance of beavers and other keystone species and the art of noticing. At the time of this recording, cottonwood fluff floats in the air and villagers take refuge from the summer heat in our beloved Railroad Creek. We hope you enjoy this snapshot of Holden's summer community.

Pamela Adams is an advocate for beavers rights and riparian and wetland habitat health. As a 2020 graduate of the Beaver Institute’s BeaverCorps national program, she works with non-profits, municipalities, and landowners to develop coexistence strategies such as installing devices that allow humans and beavers to live more harmoniously. Pamela’s own organization, BeaverInsights, utilizes non-invasive videography to gather information about beaver families for educational research. Locations under study include the nearshore of The Elwha River, Olympic Peninsula, Bend, and Corvallis, OR, Seattle, WA, and West Brattleboro, VT. Most currently, Pamela is focused on her two year-long research of the four beaver families living in Longfellow Creek-a 3 mile urban watershed with documented high levels of stormwater pollutants yet full of beavers and wild salmon species currently coexisting for the first time in recent memory.

Anjuli Shah-Johnson

Sun, 27 Aug 2023 15:00:00 -0700

Anjuli Shah-Johnson is a somatic therapist who integrates teachings from the worlds of clinical social work and bodywork in hopes of walking alongside others in finding the paths that connect their body, mind and heart. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Licensed Massage Therapist with specialized training in utilizing therapeutic touch and craniosacral techniques to tend to folks who have experienced trauma and who hope to feel more at home in their lives, relationships and bodies. She deeply values the natural healing powers of the outdoors, humor, touch and being in the presence of animals and integrates all of these into her teaching and individual sessions as much as possible.

After close to 20 years as a social worker, Anjuli has more recently begun to teach and mentor graduate level and pre-licensed therapists at a local university and agency with a special interest in supporting up and coming BIPOC and LGBTQ therapists. She recently integrated Luna, her dog, into her private practice and has witnessed the profound impact of the human-animal bond. She currently lives in Portland, OR with her two awesome kids, husband, dog and cat.

To learn more about her wok, visit www.healingjourneypdx.com.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Background music by Coma-Media: Chill Abstract (Intention).

David Vasquez-Levy

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 12:00:00 -0700

Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy serves as President of Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California –a progressive, multidenominational seminary and center for social justice that prepares theologically and spiritually rooted leaders to work for the well-being of all. A committed pastor, a nationally recognized immigration leader, and a sought after speaker, Vásquez-Levy leads at the intersection of faith, higher education, and social change.

Vásquez-Levy regularly contributes a faith perspective to the national conversation on immigration and is the author of various publications that explore migration stories in sacred texts and in people's lives. He has lived in four countries and taught courses and led international study and service trips across the globe, including a course in France entitled, “Immigration/Refugee Crisis, Religion, Globalization and the Post-Colonial Immersion” and a course in Guatemala entitled: “Guatemala: Roots of Migration.”

John Tirro

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 10:00:00 -0700

John Tirro is Pastor of Worship at St John's Lutheran Church (ELCA), in Knoxville, TN, and a composer of hymns, such as "To You All Hearts Are Open" (Holden Prayer Around the Cross, All Creation Sings). He has written hits for the pop end of Country radio (“So Much for Pretending” for Bryan White. “Imagine That” for Diamond Rio), as well as songs on best-selling albums by LeAnn Rimes and Rascal Flatts.

Trained in classical and jazz piano and voice, he learned guitar while writing on artist’s tour buses and uses all three to lead workshops in new hymns and worship at regional and national church gatherings. John is an experienced band leader, choir director, and record producer; he loves monasteries, mindfulness, and retreats; his music leans toward the contemplative; and his favorite sound is people singing together.

Visit johntirro.com and thereverbcollective.com for bulletin and hymnal accompaniment files.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Holden Main-Street: Nic Caddell

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 20:00:00 -0700

In their time as Holden's naturalist, Nic Caddell has written curriculum, taught classes, and facilitated community conversations that have invited the guests and villagers of Holden Village into richer and more personal relationship with the living beings and processes that compose the Railroad Creek Valley ecosystem. Weaving together their experience working as a field ecologist, their collegiate studies in philosophy and critical queer theory, and their enthusiasm for playful and embodied learning, Nic has deepened our sense of place and prompted us to think critically about the ways we talk about, interact with, and care for the other living beings who call this valley home.

Referenced in this podcast episode: "Queer Theory for Lichens," by David Griffiths. https://core.ac.uk/reader/235683163.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Background music by Tomomi_Kato: The Sound of Water Drops.

Jenine & Laron

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 21:00:00 -0700

Laron has served diverse church ministries, quartet groups, and additional special engagements (funerals, weddings) for approximately 15 years. Laron has also taught students from different background and agents how to play piano by ear. Laron has enjoyed joining various forms of musical needs for diverse communities. Laron is a staunch advocate for learning a wide range of musical styles to enrich the musical experience. Laron has played at Holden village extemporaneously, and thoroughly enjoyed worshipping in the dining hall as the residents gathered around and sang hymns. Laron looks forward to rejoining the Holden community in service for at least 2 weeks in multifaceted ways.

Jenine has served in numerous capacities with various churches as senior praise and worship leader, choir assistant and ministry lead servant for over 15 years. Her vocal influences include Sarah Vaughn, Leah Hathaway, and The Clark Sisters to name a few. Her passion of gospel music is to empower others to utilize their voices as tools to expression, celebration, lament and inspiration as a lifestyle of worshipping God.

Giovana Oaxaca

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 16:00:00 -0700

Giovana Oaxaca (she/her/ella) is the Program Director for Migration Policy with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) D.C. office for Witness in Society. In this role, she works for more just and humane federal immigration policies within a domestic and international context, engagement informed by the experience of Lutheran congregations and ministries, including the ELCA AMMPARO strategy.

Giovana was previously a Government Relations Associate with a Catholic faith-based social justice organization in Washington D.C. Giovana has Bachelor of the Arts degrees in Politics and Government and Economics from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. In her spare time, she enjoys attempting new recipes and exploring town for the best scoop of ice cream.

David Westerlund & Sara McMahon

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0700

Sara is a classically trained actress with tendencies to fly by the seat of her pants, an improv instructor and performer, who teaches others how to enhance listening skills, playfulness, empathy, connectedness, and liberation from fear of failure. She is an emerging papercut artist, whom you can visit at IG @saramacpapercuts.

David delights in listening to the aspirations of leaders and helping them and their teams unlock hidden resources by facilitating meaningful and playful engagement. He enjoys collaborating with clients to design and facilitate retreats that catalyze trust, listening, and possibility - creating a space for both gravity and levity to emerge. He serves leaders and teams primarily in non-profit, business, and government. Find out more at DavidWesterlund.com.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Background music by Alex_MakeMusic: Inspiring Motivational Mood.

Saskia de Vries

Sat, 12 Aug 2023 14:00:00 -0700

Saskia de Vries is a neuroscientist at the Allen Institute in Seattle Washington. Raised in California, she bounced back and forth between the west and east coast for her training, moving to Seattle in 2012 when she joined the Allen Institute. Her research has focused primarily on visual physiology, how the cells and circuits in our eyes and brain transform the visual world into perception. She is also very active in Open Science, creating tools and infrastructure to make scientific data and knowledge more transparent and accessible. She’s a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and is active in her community at Northminster Presbyterian Church. She regularly preaches on the intersection of science and faith. She lives in Seattle with her partner, Colleen, and their very needy dog, Hobbes.

Paul & Carol Hinderlie: Searcher's Check

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 21:00:00 -0700

Paul Hinderlie began his earthly ministry making way too much wine and at the end was grilling fish for breakfast on the beach. Perhaps that's why Paul became a cook.

Carol Lund Hinderlie first came to Holden as a young staff member. Soon thereafter she brought her whole family to visit and work, beginning a long and fulsome history with the Village. She and Paul were married at Holden, spent two years on staff in their twenties, and with friend Tom Ahlstrom served as Executive Directors from 2005 to 2010. They have two daughters, Julia and Katherine, and a son-in-law, Peter.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Background music by SergePavkinMusic: Beautiful Noon.

Krish O'Mara Vignarajah

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 11:00:00 -0700

Krish is the President and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. She previously served in the Obama White House as Policy Director for First Lady Michelle Obama and at the State Department as Senior Advisor under Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of State John Kerry.

Lenny Duncan

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 23:00:00 -0700

Lenny Duncan (they/them) is an artist. Preacher. Esoteric fool. Student Teacher. They produce art and media at the intersections of faith and radical abolitionist dreams in America. Lenny is the auhtor of Dear Church and United States of Grace, and the Forthcoming: Dear Revolutionaries - A Field Guide to the World Beyond the Church. A Phd student in historical and cultural studies of religion, who concentrates their studies in "New Religious Movements." Lenny is originally from West Philadelphia, has hitchiked thousands of miles on American byways, and now makes home in the East Bay.

The Prayer of Jesus from Vespers '23: Bless this Night

Sat, 22 Jul 2023 21:00:00 -0700

Heather, Steve, Mark and Rachel talk with Dev about the Prayer of Jesus...part of the new vespers service (Bless This Night) that was composed and released at Holden Village this year. They reflect on their process and some of the decisions that they made in translating the Lord's Prayer into contemporary language and setting it to music.

The Prayer of Jesus
The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray.
He said, when you pray, pray like this:
O Holy One, who calls me beloved, you are in the air we breathe.
Your name, and all that you have made, is beautiful.
Bring forth your jubilee!
Give life to your dreams in heaven and on earth.
Nourish and sustain our bodies.
Release our debts as we release the debts of others.
Do not let us turn from you.
In hardship and in peril, stay with us.
Amen.

To follow the work of this creative team...see www.fireweedliturgies.com or contact them at fireweedliturgies@gmail.com.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Piano played by Steve Wolbrecht.

Cantors: Hannes Carlsen & Ava Shively.

Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power & Light (WAIPL): AC Churchill

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 20:00:00 -0700

Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power & Light (WAIPL) transforms faith into action for the well-being of communities and the environment. We organize people of faith to advocate for strong environmental policies and provide strategic guidance to religious communities working toward environmental justice.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Background music by Lesfm: Just Relax.

John Beck

Sat, 15 Jul 2023 22:00:00 -0700

John Beck received a BS in Art Education from Western Oregon University, completed a 5th year Art Education program at Portland State University, and received a MA in Education from Portland State University. He is a member of the Oregon Art Education Association as well as the National Art Education Association.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Background music by Daddy_s_Music: Piano Moment.

Cecie Suknaic Saulnier

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 22:00:00 -0700

Cecie Suknaic Saulnier (she/her) was born and raised in Austin, Texas. She has been a part of Lutheran faith communities all of her life, and has been deeply impacted by the love, grace, and commitment of the people who have made up church for her. As a youth and young adult, Cecie felt most at home in church communities - from her weeks at summer camp to weekly Wednesday night youth group in high school to almost daily events with her campus ministry in college.

During her time at undergrad, she discerned a call to ministry. She has been studying at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago since 2019, focusing on feminist theology and growing her voice for the importance of young adult ministry. As a young adult leader in the church, she craves spaces for intentional community, creative worship, and deep conversation. Cecie is currently settling into life in Austin, Texas with her husband, Mike. They both enjoy cooking, baking, time spent with friends and family, live music, and travel.

Monkey (PCT Hiker)

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 21:00:00 -0700

Due to the fires this Summer, many PCT hikers were diverted to the village. As a result, the village was blessed with many a hiker finishing their long journeys. For this episode, we have the amazing Monkey (trail name), who was kind enough to share her stories over tea. Please click on the link below to see how Monkey is raising money to procure more forests in her homeland: the Netherlands.

www.pctree.org

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Background music by Top-Flow-Production: Sunshine Jaunt.

Elise & Sam Maupin

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 21:00:00 -0700

Elise is a Northwest Artist and Instructor. She connects gardening and art through printmaking, painting, photography, and journaling to explore inherent lessons in nature's beauty. Her backgrounds in Montessori education, food sovereignty, and teaching botanical art focus her work into a course curriculum for everyone. Elise started Joyful Plant to inspire you to take more time to learn about yourself as a gardener by increasing nature's importance in our culture through art.

Sam Maupin is a life-long horticultural professional working at The Brothers Greenhouses in Port Orchard, WA. He was raised on a farm where he grew up picking and selling cut flowers and produce at local farmers markets. He studied his calling at WSU, where he graduated with a Horticulture Science degree in 2005. Studies and volunteering abroad in Holland, Costa Rica and South East Asia also shaped Sam's perspectives as a gardener. Sam's personal mission is to help people identify how to make big changes in the world through gardening.

Peeyush Kumar & Marisa Hebb

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 21:00:00 -0700

Peeyush Kumar is a systems scholar of cultures, economics & technology. His primary work is to build social technologies which support in building cultures of harmony, richness and equity. We live in a complex world with unprecedent precarity across both natural and human systems. It needs a holistic approach to bridge across these systems to create a culture of harmony and richness. Currently, he is working as a senior research scientist at Microsoft Research with a focus on food supply chain and energy systems and independent consultant across various aspects such as artificial intelligence, sustainability, resiliency, equity, and efficiency. Peeyush holds a PhD from UW Seattle in Artificial Intelligence and Operations Research.

Marisa Hebb SEP is a trainer and facilitator leading groups in the We are Open Circle method. We are Open Circle guides groups to build collaboration, access collective wisdom, and adapt to change. Marisa is a coach and consultant offering Somatic Experiencing and tools that harmonize the body, psyche, and emotions for greater resilience and integrity. These tools include listening circles, permaculture, song and dance, Systema, peer counseling, and contemplative prayer. Marisa is also currently working as the interim Permaculture Director at Gift of Grace Lutheran Church in Seattle. Marisa grounds her work in over a decade of Contemplative prayer practice and study of Christian Wisdom and monastic traditions in an earth-based context.

E.N. West & Joey Lopez

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 23:00:00 -0700

E.N. West, affectionately known as "E" (they/he), proudly hails from the DC metropolitan area, by way of Alexandria, Virginia. E deeply believes "we are uninhibited when we know our power" and is committed to co-creating a world where everyone intimately knows how powerful they are and directs that power toward collective liberation. They are many things, but at the heart of all of them, they are a community organizer based in Seattle, Washington.

Joey Lopez is a Southern transplant to the Seattle area. Joey has a passion and purpose for building collective power and channeling that power towards collective liberation. Joey believes that alone we are incredibly powerful people, and when we organize that power, our wildest dreams become reality.

For more information on The Church Council of Greater Seattle, check out their website: https://www.thechurchcouncil.org/

For more information on the Faith Land Initiative, visit https://thechurchcouncil.org/faith-land/.

To get involved with our work convening, facilitating and accompany faith communities toward faithful and equitable stewardship of faith-owned land, send us an email at faithland@thechurchcouncil.org.

Dan Castillo & Paul Griffith

Sat, 01 Jul 2023 14:00:00 -0700

Joshua McGuffie

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 23:00:00 -0700

Joshua McGuffie will complete his PhD in the Department of History at UCLA in May 2023. His research focuses on biology, medicine, race, and the environment as they relate to the US Manhattan Project and post-WWII atomic testing. His dissertation, Atomic Salmon: Biology, Medicine, and Ecology in the Medical Section of the Manhattan Project, follows an unlikely group of medical doctors and fisheries biologists as they tried to understand the biological effects of radiation at the dawn of the atomic era. In 2016 he drove over 5,000 miles to visit seven atomic installations and clean-up sites from the Nevada Test Site to Hanford in Washington State. He is passionate about environmental justice.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Background music by SergePavkinMusic: Smooth Waters.

Sara Olson-Smith & Brent Olson

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0700

Sara Olson-Smith is a pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport, Iowa. She is the author of recent Bible studies in the Women of the ELCA's Gather Magazine. In her writing, teaching, and pastoral work she weaves together God's ancient stories in scripture with contemporary struggles, movements, and hopes. In community, we can (re)discover a Spirit-led life of freedom, joy, and care for one another and all creation.

Brent Olson is a professor of Environmental Studies and co-director of the Institute for Mountain Research at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah. His teaching and research is centered on the stories we tell about nature and their implications for our relationships to each-other and the non-human world. These relationships and stories are complex, varied, challenging, and embedded in legacies of slow violence.

In the midst of this injustice and trauma, he works to uncover and share the work of communities that are fostering hope, and the stories that nurture life in the scorched soil. Befitting the overlapping and cascading crises of the Anthropocene, his work refuses simple answers, easy optimism, or quick solutions, instead encouraging students, colleagues, and others to find a richer and deeper hope grounded in communities of knowledge and engagement rooted in playfulness and creativity.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Background music by lemonmusicstudio: Leva - Eternity.

Glocal Music Education

Sun, 25 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0700

Glocal Musician Educators are a group that creates music influenced by global themes in communities throughout North America, the Caribbean, and beyond. Through their intentional diversity—including representation from many countries, denominations, and several cultures—the group embodies ways to stand in mutual solidarity while amplifying marginalized voices.

Glocal Musician Educators are committed to forming local leaders seeking to introduce global themes in their communities. The songs they teach are grounded in the community stories that raise awareness and inspire advocacy. The musicians embody what it means to be Glocal—simultaneously global and local—so we can accompany one another across cultures, even in our own neighborhoods. This episode includes three Glocal musicians: Omar Mixco; Mercy Zou Taithul; and Grace Koch Muchahary.

Laura Mariko Cheifetz

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 23:00:00 -0700

Laura Mariko Cheifetz (she/her) is a queer biracial Presbyterian Church (USA) minister curious about race, gender, identity, public theology, the meaning of citizenship, and fun television shows. She and her partner grew up in opposite parts of the country, met in the middle, and have lived for the past 13 years in the southeast (currently in Nashville, TN). Laura is multiracial Asian American of Japanese and white Jewish descent. She was the fourth generation of her family to be born in California and grew up in eastern Oregon and western Washington. She has worked in theological education, social justice advocacy, and religious publishing.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Background music by Olexy: The Beat of Nature.

Holden Main-street: Affinitea Session II

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 21:00:00 -0700

This Summer Dev hosted a tea and poetry event every Friday in the library. It's aim was to teach and share the ways of gong fu cha (the Chinese ceremonial preparation of tea) while also reading poems and sharing good conversation. This was the second session of the Summer.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Background music by SergePavkinMusic: Field Grass.

Maren Haynes Marchesini

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 22:00:00 -0700

Dr. Maren Haynes Marchesini serves as Director of Worship & Music at Hope Lutheran Church in Bozeman, Montana. Maren is a choral director, cellist, vocalist, composer, and scholar with broad-ranging musical interests. She holds a PhD in Ethnomusicology from the University of Washington where she focused on megachurches, gender, and ritual (specifically at the former Mars Hill Church), and she continues scholarly work in Christian music, ethics, and community, including a current research project at Holden Village.

Maren brings a passion for community singing, diverse musical traditions, improvisation, collaboration, and play. Maren and Dane Ueland are longtime bandmates who have played together for nearly 15 years, and they look forward to reuniting at Holden Village to lead music.

Holden Main-street: Ava Shively

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 10:00:00 -0700

Ava Shively blessed the village with their presence not only as a maverick, but also as an exceptional singer. They were a friend to every villager with their playful and vibrant spirit...and is currently finishing their degree in Art/German. We hope to have their spirit back in the village once this is accomplished.

Prayer Around the Cross

Wed, 31 May 2023 11:00:00 -0700

Once a week, Holden Village initiates a contemplative vespers service titled Prayer Around the Cross. In this service, simple chants are sung while community members and guests are welcome to light a candle in prayer. Our singers this week included the talented Emily Meyer and Eleanor Sherry...and our guests included the schools from our May Youth Program.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Lola Deane

Wed, 10 May 2023 17:00:00 -0700

For this episode we have the amazing Lola Deane, who helped pioneer the Holden Store...as well as Island Books on Mercer Island.

Past - Farm girl, UW Graduate as Family Nurse Practitioner, Wife, Mother, Mercer Island resident 1957-1985 and founder of Island Books, Shaw Island resident 1985-2019. Community Volunteer/Activist.

Present - Mercer Island resident again, still a Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, resident of Covenant Shores, Volunteer at MIYS Thrift Shop in books, and still a Community/Activist with even more issues on my plate.

Future - "Who Knows what the Future Holds?"

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Background music created by: RomanSenykMusic.

Holden Main-Street: Rachel Cornwell

Sat, 06 May 2023 13:00:00 -0700

Welcome to Holden Main Street: a playful podcast series dedicated to capturing the daily life and creative musings of ordinary folk at Holden Village. Who are the people drawn to this wild and uniquely transformative mountain community? How do their descriptions of hilarity, wilderness living, shared work and interior exploration shape the landscape of their time here? Expect to be delighted by improvised stories, poetry readings, the sounds of tea being poured, songs being sung, and bits of whimsy inspired by the moment. Enjoy.

Rachel Cornwell grew up in Bellingham, WA and came to the Holden seeking the peace of nature and community. She often came to the Village as a child with her family and now has become a leader as a fire system technician. Her depth and sense of wonder is unparalleled, which is also complimented by a practicality that allows her to be incredibly reliable.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Music created by Dev.

Holden Main-Street: Tim Carlson

Fri, 05 May 2023 18:00:00 -0700

Welcome to Holden Main Street: a playful podcast series dedicated to capturing the daily life and creative musings of ordinary folk at Holden Village. Who are the people drawn to this wild and uniquely transformative mountain community? How do their descriptions of hilarity, wilderness living, shared work and interior exploration shape the landscape of their time here? Expect to be delighted by improvised stories, poetry readings, the sounds of tea being poured, songs being sung, and bits of whimsy inspired by the moment. Enjoy.

Tim Carlson began his Holden journey in the late eighties with his wife. He has since become a beloved community member and essential carpenter for the village. Tim choose Pachelbel's Canon in D Major specifically for this episode in loving memory of his wife, who passed away in 2017. Holden will forever have both of you in our hearts.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Holden Main-Street: Cataloguing with Kennedy

Fri, 05 May 2023 17:00:00 -0700

Welcome to Holden Main Street: a playful podcast series dedicated to capturing the daily life and creative musings of ordinary folk at Holden Village. Who are the people drawn to this wild and uniquely transformative mountain community? How do their descriptions of hilarity, wilderness living, shared work and interior exploration shape the landscape of their time here? Expect to be delighted by improvised stories, poetry readings, the sounds of tea being poured, songs being sung, and bits of whimsy inspired by the moment. Enjoy.

Kennedy Elholm grew up in Minnesota and came to the Village in 2022. Since then she has become a vital part of the operations team, while also delighting the community with her love of baking and laughter. She is great with the village children, who often flock to her desiring baked goods and fun company.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Music created by Dev.

Introducing Vespers '23: Bless this Night

Tue, 02 May 2023 12:00:00 -0700

Introducing a brand new evening prayer service written by members of the long-term Holden community. This service debuted during May Youth Weekend and seeks to honor night and darkness as times of blessing and renewal in our lives. It also has themes of creation, embodiment, and justice. It will be one part of the musical offerings during Summer 2023.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Piano played by Steve Wolbrecht.

Holden Mainstreet: Hannes/Willow/Nathan (Zebra Mussel Edition)

Mon, 01 May 2023 16:00:00 -0700

Welcome to Holden Main Street: a playful podcast series dedicated to capturing the daily life and creative musings of ordinary folk at Holden Village. Who are the people drawn to this wild and uniquely transformative mountain community? How do their descriptions of hilarity, wilderness living, shared work and interior exploration shape the landscape of their time here? Expect to be delighted by improvised stories, poetry readings, the sounds of tea being poured, songs being sung, and bits of whimsy inspired by the moment. Enjoy.

In this episode we are highlighting three fantastic musicians of the village (Hannes Carlsen /Willow Kitson/Nathan McClure), who had the opportunity to record some Holden original songs earlier this Summer. At this moment, I would love to give a big shout out to Dave Michel...who hauled his precious gear from Minnesota so that the village could have these opportunities. None of this would have been possible without his generosity and skill. This episode contains a fun conversation about how these songs were created...the friendship journey between these villagers...as well as the songs themselves. If you want to hear only the music...check out the Pure Music edition.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Holden Mainstreet: Hannes/Willow/Nathan (Pure Music)

Mon, 01 May 2023 15:00:00 -0700

Welcome to Holden Main Street: a playful podcast series dedicated to capturing the daily life and creative musings of ordinary folk at Holden Village. Who are the people drawn to this wild and uniquely transformative mountain community? How do their descriptions of hilarity, wilderness living, shared work and interior exploration shape the landscape of their time here? Expect to be delighted by improvised stories, poetry readings, the sounds of tea being poured, songs being sung, and bits of whimsy inspired by the moment. Enjoy.

In this episode we are highlighting three fantastic musicians of the village (Hannes Carlsen /Willow Kitson/Nathan McClure), who had the opportunity to record some Holden original songs earlier this Summer. At this moment, I would love to give a big shout out to Dave Michel...who hauled his precious gear from Minnesota so that the village could have these opportunities. None of this would have been possible without his generosity and skill. This episode only contains the music. If you want to hear an in-depth and incredible fun conversation about how these songs were created...check out the Zebra Mussels edition.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Jonah Jensen-Young Staff Story

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0700

During the non-Summer months, Holden village dedicates one Vespers session a week to the lives of villagers. We call this Staff Story and this particular session centered around the current longest tenured villager: Jonah Jensen-Young. This also happened to be his final week in the Village, so it also served as a sincere farewell. In order to succinctly articulate our love for Jonah, I am including part of the official farewell transcript that was spoken of his actual departure, written by our talented Emily Meyer.

Jonah has lived in the Village since the summer of 2018, serving as Media Ministry Head and Librarian, Audio Archivist, Podcasting and most recently, school teacher. Before Jonah was the teacher, he served the Village by supporting A/V, audio archives, videos and podcasts. He has a knack for getting people to tell interesting stories about their lives which he put to good use for podcasts with teaching faculty.

When there were multiple people named Jonah in the Village, he took on the nickname "Mountain Jonah," which perfectly reflects his penchant for outdoor adventures and his extensive knowledge of snow conditions, clouds, birds, wildlife, and more. Jonah's plans for adventures never cease to amaze! If all of the skiing, hiking and literally running out of the Village weren't enough, he even took paragliding lessons last summer! Jonah's discipline to make sure he had enough time each weekend to enjoy nature on an epic adventure, then make time to lesson plan and get everything accomplished for his role as teacher is admirable.

Jonah is a deeply authentic person with such a kind heart and encourages others to bring their real selves to the table. He is a steadying and trustworthy presence here in the village. His check-ins and encouragement were appreciated by many. He’s great at giving support for the little things that others do. The high fives and the way he says “Hey good for you!” or “Way to go!” are powerful words of encouragement. He seems to be happy for people to be on whatever journey they are on and doesn’t compare it to anyone else’s. That’s one of the things that made him such a good community member and such a good teacher.

Jonah is incredibly patient and kind with his school kids. He makes learning fun, and allows plenty of opportunity to impart his love of the outdoors to his kids. He has an incredible skill when it comes to befriending each child, instructing to their needs and passions, and being a core part of the child's sense of home in the community. Jonah normalized curiosity and helped each child find their own unique learner within. He has been an expert in turning the Railroad Creek valley into his classroom.

He took the kids (and sometimes parents!) geo-caching, salmon raising, reindeer herd searching, igloo and yurt hot chocolate-sipping, morel mushroom finding, Domke lake fishing, snow angel-making, lake shore trail hiking and so much more. (The parents note that they are relieved he did not bring the kids along with him during his flight adventures!) These adventures and outings will be remembered by his students for the rest of their lives. One parent notes that being at Holden was the first time they heard their child say they liked school and many adult villagers wish Jonah had been their elementary school teacher.

Be it on the trail, in the (very hot) sauna, or on a couch watching a movie, Jonah is always a rock steady presence, with a playful, loving heart. This village is grateful to have shared many laughs, songs, adventures and hugs with him. He is a one of a kind teacher and person, and will be sorely missed. This valley feels lucky to know you. Just as you have been an important part of all of our journeys, we hope that you will remember Holden as part of your journey.

Background music composed by Zakhar Valaha.

Origins of the Prayer of Good Courage with Nancy Winder (Updated Version)

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 15:00:00 -0700

"I have been coming to Holden since 1971 and became intrigued with the Prayer of Good Courage early on because the prayer has been at Holden since the beginning, in 1963. I have been the unofficial historian of the prayer, especially in telling people who wrote it. It was not written by Marty Haugen, Carroll Hinderlie, Martin Luther, or a Holden committee."

Pastor Nancy Winder has been a weekly preacher for thirty two years, with the last twenty seven as pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Seattle. A sought after preacher, she has written about preaching and worship. Pastor Winder has served on the Augsburg Fortress Board, the Alumni/ae Council of Luther Seminary and is currently chair of the Candidacy Committee of the Northwest Washington Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

A Holden Village Retrospective: Life in the 30's, 40's, and 50's with Ed Miles

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 21:00:00 -0700

Ed Miles lived and worked at the Holden mining community from 1936, fought in World War II, and was an employee of Howe Sound at Holden until the mine closure in 1957. Ed visited Holden Village in the summer of 2021 and was interviewed by Director Mark Bach and archivist Larry Howard during his visit. Ed recounts living first on Honeymoon Heights, then in Chalet 8 with his parents, and then later in the Winston housing tract west of the mining town. He met his wife in the Holden dining room and they raised their family at Holden like many other miner couples of the era.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Being Embodied with Maya Mineoi

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 21:00:00 -0700

"My work is about being embodied, about being connected; whole." Maya Mineoi 三根生真矢 (they/them) comes from a lineage of gardeners, community organizers, and musicians. They are a somatic therapist with a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Maya brings ancestral values of creativity, attentiveness, and slowing down into sessions.

With play and gentleness, participants will attune themselves to their surroundings and their needs for freedom, connection and rest. Maya uses movement, touch, psychosomatic education, imagery, breathwork, and stillness to help each nervous system embody presence. Based on the work of Polyvagal Theory, Internal Family Systems, and Brain-spotting, Maya encourages individuals and collectives to tap into the wealth of information in each body-mind.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Countering Anti-Muslim Bigotry and Reclaiming our Common Humanity with Terry Kyllo

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 09:37:34 -0700

Rev. Terry Kyllo is a Lutheran pastor serving as the director of Paths to Understanding: Bridging Bias and Building Unity. He is the founder of Neighbors in Faith, answering Islamophobia with building the beloved community and recognizing and honoring one another’s humanity. A graduate of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, he began his pastoral career in 1991 and has served in partnership between Episcopalians and Lutherans since 2004.

Terry was the recipient of the Faith Action Network Interfaith Leadership Award in 2016, the Interfaith Leadership Award from the Muslim Association of Puget Sound in 2017, and the Sultan and Saint Peace award in 2017, and the Called to Lead award in 2018 by the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Meet Team Naturaleza with Elisa Lopez and Monica Valle

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 15:43:40 -0700

Through their work with Team Naturaleza, Elisa and Monica are creating a space where the Hispanic/Latinx community can gather, learn about the environment bilingually, and gain a sense of belonging in the outdoors. In this episode, Elisa and Monica talk about what brought them to their work, and their experience spending a week at Holden. Team Naturaleza is one of the recipients of offerings collected at Holden this summer. You can learn more and support them with a donation on their website: https://www.teamnaturaleza.org/

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

A Postcolonial 'Alleluia with Hierald Osorto and Ben Masters

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 16:26:37 -0700

"How do we bring forward a counternarrative to political oppression?"

"Those vestiges of colonialism when empire was present in a particular context, when it left, those forms of knowledge still exist and they're still informing how you make decisions and how you move with one another and we can ask those questions of the Lutheran Church." - Hierald

"I think the questions we were asking around, who benefits from this kind of interpretation, and how does someone's history shape their story? Those are questions I want people to bring back to their communities." - Ben

Hierald Osorto has a passion for stories hidden out of sight, which drives him to work collaboratively and creatively to bring those stories to light. He comes to Holden from Ithaca College, nurturing belonging and meaning-making as Director of Religious and Spiritual Life and Executive Director for Student Equity and Belonging. Assigned to the DC Metro Synod, he will soon be the newest rostered leader in the ELCA. Three words that describe Hierald? Intuitive, insightful innovator.

Ben Masters is a lover of stories and sacred song, and a pastor among those complicated, covenant people called Presbyterians. He comes to Holden with greetings from the farmers, wine-makers, and librarians beside beautiful Seneca Lake. He started baking sourdough bread long before lockdown, but the perfect pie crust still eludes him. Three words that describe Ben? Hopeful, humming homilist.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Walking Each Other Home: Artful Accompaniment with Mylinda Baits and Shabrae Jackson

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 15:00:30 -0700

When we talk about healing, what it means to bring some of our stories or our voice forward ,activating our senses or coming home to the body is one way to do that. Through the arts, it’s entering through another door. – Shabrae

How do we give ourselves permission to play? To stand in that is an act of resistance against a culture of production, of exploitation of labor, of refusal for rest. What difference does this workshop make, what difference does this accompaniment make, if we’re playing together? Because it seems superficial or light, but it really is revolutionary and radical, that sense of presence, and response to what is. - Mylinda

Mylinda currently works with International Ministries ABC-USA as a Global Consultant for Training using the Restorative Arts, sharing effective arts-based healing resources with social change agents, global peacebuilders, faith community leaders, and trauma survivors. Mylinda holds advanced facilitation certifications from Training for Conflict Transformation Trainers, Training for Change, Build A Bridge International, and EXIT (Expressive Arts in Transition). She has been an ordained American Baptist clergywoman for over 30 years.

Shabrae is a trained expressive arts educator working in communities impacted by challenge and crisis. She is co-founder of UMBRAL, a Mexican-based organization engaged in arts-based psychosocial trauma and healing work; currently exploring the intersection of arts, sports, and peace-building with LudArtem, and a Director of training for International based groups and organizations. Shabrae is a certified coach and has facilitation certifications from Training for Conflict Transformation Trainers, and EXIT (Expressive Arts in Transition).

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Faith-Based Accompaniment and Solidarity with Michael Ramos

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 14:15:30 -0700

Michael Ramos came to the Pacific Northwest 37 years ago as a Jesuit Volunteer to work with people on the streets at a day drop-in center in Tacoma. He proceeded to work with housed and un-housed Central American refugees in Seattle. He has continued bringing a faith lens to working alongside people and communities experiencing marginalization for most of the last three decades, and was involved in the formation of the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity.

He currently serves as Executive Director of the Church Council of Greater Seattle. In this capacity, he has been engaged in direct service, education, advocacy, and organizing efforts for living wages, with people experiencing homelessness and alongside recent immigrants.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

The Holy Between Us with Christine Betz Hall

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 15:59:21 -0700

"In my experience of Christianity, we've been a very word-focused people. Word and intellect have been honored above the wisdom of the body and wisdom of the felt sensibilities of our emotions and the vaguer sensibilities of our imaginations and intuitions and sense of prompting, and all the ways the Spirit can work through those other modalities. So yes, we can pray with our bodies. Yes, we can pray with our imagination, we can pray through our feelings and not be overcome by them. All of us, all of our being can show up, be welcomed in the Spirit."

Christine Betz Hall is a Quaker, educator, retreat facilitator, and spiritual director. She founded and facilitates Way of the Spirit—a prayer and study program for growth in spiritual discernment from the wisdom of the Quaker tradition. Her teaching invites attentiveness to the Inward Teacher in ordinary life. Her contemplative, experiential approach assists others to live more fully into their relationships and their spiritual giftedness.

Learn more about Christine's work at goodnewsassociates.org. She will be offering mini-courses on spiritual giftedness this fall, as well as a monthly Koinonia reflection group.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

An Exploration of Theopoetics with Tamisha Tyler

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 12:40:29 -0700

Tamisha Tyler, MDiv (she/her) is Executive Director of Arts, Religion and Culture (ARC) and a Ph.D. candidate studying Theology, Culture, and Ethics. In this conversation, Tamisha talks about finding the field of theopoetics, developing the Subversive Liturgy Project in front of the Pasadena Police Department, and her dissertation, which explores Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower as a work of theopoetics.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Climate Justice as Faith Active in Love with Cynthia Moe-Lobeda

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 12:27:39 -0700

Cynthia Moe-Lobeda is the Founding Director of the Center for Climate Justice and Faith at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS), and a co-founder of Seattle University's Center for Environmental Justice and Sustainability. She has provided education worldwide in theology; ethics; and matters of climate justice and climate racism, eco-feminist theology, and faith-based resistance to systemic oppression. Her Resisting Structural Evil: Love as Ecological-Economic Vocation (Fortress, 2013), won a Nautilus Book Award for social justice.

She is one of 3 North Americans appointed to a global team to advise the World Council of Churches and Lutheran World Federation on their work toward a new international financial architecture. This week, Cynthia offered experiential programming on faith-based climate justice. Her workshops were titled "Beloved Creatures, Created to Love…Yet “Uncreating," "Forging Ways of Living that Enable Earth's Web of Life to Flourish," "Seeds of Hope and Moral-Spiritual Power Rooted in Faith," and "Building on Hope and Moral-Spiritual Power Rooted in Faith."

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Decolonizing the Church and Centering the African-American Experience with Chasity Jones Selenga

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 12:01:28 -0700

Chasity is a new mom with a beautiful baby girl named Lola and is in the Master of Divinity program at Boston University School of Theology. She identifies as a Womanist theologian, a decolonizer, and a liberationist. Originally from Louisiana with a Baptist and missionary background, she is now centrally devoted to Black women’s health and healing. She became a Krista Colleague while a Community Organizer at Faith Action Network in Seattle and Global Ministries in the United Methodist Church. She has recently launched Fourth Wave Revolution to walk with churches, school and medical institutions in the process of decolonization.

For the last five years, she has engaged with sermons, adult Sunday schools, workshops, individual and collective consulting, yoga and mindfulness, support groups, and more. She’s also very interested in understanding how traditional African-oriented practices in spirituality are shunned often within the black church community.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Grappling and Playing with Beloved Liturgies with Liv Larson Andrews

Sat, 28 Aug 2021 15:18:26 -0700

Pastor Liv Larson Andrews talks about her response to this week's programming, which reflected on themes of lightness and darkness in liturgy as well as the story of Hagar, and the experience of trying out new language in the Holden Evening Prayer.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

In the Studio with Kate Egolf - Virtual Programming Week 6

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 11:45:36 -0700

"I realized my first year in this position that art is a muscle that you have to develop and flex and train to be in the flow to produce and cultivate inspiration." ~ Kate Egolf,

PotterHolden Village has long been known for incredible programming, sparking minds and imaginations with insightful and engaging sessions. And now we're bringing Holden programming to you!

Through this Virtual Programming series, we'll profile the amazing work of Holden Village. Journey along with us as we explore the arts, the kitchen, utilities, ceramics, garbology, and more, interviewing staff members and telling the stories of the areas that make Holden Village so special. Come behind the scenes and learn more about the philosophy, grounding, and details of all the work that makes Holden tick. Welcome to Virtual Programming!

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Garbology with Rachael Meadors - Virtual Programming Week 5

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 15:14:42 -0700

"Garbology has increased my understanding of how we get into cycles of consumption and is also a way to be mindful, care for creation, and show respect for the interdependent web of which we are all a part of. " ~ Rachael Meadors, Garbologist

Holden Village has long been known for incredible programming, sparking minds and imaginations with insightful and engaging sessions. And now we're bringing Holden programming to you! Through this Virtual Programming series, we'll profile the amazing work of Holden Village. Journey along with us as we explore the arts, the kitchen, utilities, ceramics, garbology, and more, interviewing staff members and telling the stories of the areas that make Holden Village so special. Come behind the scenes and learn more about the philosophy, grounding, and details of all the work that makes Holden tick. Welcome to Virtual Programming!

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Race, Religion, & Resistance in America with Asa Lee

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 15:24:12 -0700

"We're not always taught how blackness became a thing. How does white become a race? How does black become a race, when race itself has no meaning? It is a social construct. " ~ Asa lee

Rev. Dr. Asa Lee is a socially conscious religious educator and pastoral leader. He is the new President of the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. He is a sought-after lecturer exploring faith in the 21st century; religious difference; and empowering effective church leadership. Having served as a pastor, professor, and nonprofit leader, he is an experienced administrator and communicator that works to educate and promote a more nuanced view of the world through education. He is a married father of four daughters and resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Poems of Praise with Elizabeth Austen

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 10:32:13 -0700

"Writing an ode is a form of meditation and gratitude practice. It's also a method for repairing our relationship with something, someone, someplace, to write in it's praise." ~ Elizabeth Austen

Former Washington State Poet Laureate Elizabeth Austen believes poetry is part of our human birthright. Among the many things poetry can do, she’s most invested in its capacity to confront big questions with intelligence and feeling. Through its intimacy, slowness, and layered silences, poetry can offer moments of stillness and connection in a frantic, clamorous world.

She’s the author of Every Dress a Decision (Blue Begonia Press), which was a finalist for the Washington State Book Award, two chapbooks, and an audio CD. Poems from her next collection-in-progress appeared recently in the New England Review and Spirited Stone: Lessons from Kubota’s Garden. She’s performed her work widely, including at UNESCO in Paris alongside poets from 12 nations and at Poets House in NYC.

For over a decade, she’s facilitated poetry and reflective writing as a tool for self-care at Seattle Children’s Hospital. She’s worked with organizations including Neighborcare and Virginia Mason, using poetry to help clinicians renew their connection to the heart of care, and has lectured on poetry/reflective writing as a tool for resilience at the University of Washington School of Social Work, Kaiser Permanente, and the WCAAP.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Cultivating Native Plants with Amy Tongue - Virtual Programming Week 3

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 07:31:56 -0700

"According to the Audubon society, over the past century, urbanization has taken intact, ecologically productive land and fragmented and transformed it with lawns and exotic ornamental plants. The continental U.S. lost a staggering 150 million acres of habitat and farmland to urban sprawl, and that trend isn't slowing." Amy Tongue, Naturalist

Holden Village has long been known for incredible programming, sparking minds and imaginations with insightful and engaging sessions. And now we're bringing Holden programming to you!

Through this Virtual Programming series, we'll profile the amazing work of Holden Village. Journey along with us as we explore the arts, the kitchen, utilities, ceramics, garbology, and more, interviewing staff members and telling the stories of the areas that make Holden Village so special. Come behind the scenes and learn more about the philosophy, grounding, and details of all the work that makes Holden tick. Welcome to Virtual Programming!

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Questioning our Practices in the Art Studio with Kelly Snyder - Virtual Programming Week 2

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 14:00:04 -0700

"We are focusing on curiosity and making space for questioning our practices, processes, and crafts. That fits into our summer theme of Samaritan Traveler of approaching projects without expectation, and allowing the processes to unfold out of curiosity and play. Then we leave with a deeper understanding of the practice, the materials, and ourselves." ~ Kelly Snyder, Craft Studio Coordinator

Holden Village has long been known for incredible programming, sparking minds and imaginations with insightful and engaging sessions. And now we're bringing Holden programming to you!

Through this Virtual Programming series, we'll profile the amazing work of Holden Village. Journey along with us as we explore the arts, the kitchen, utilities, ceramics, garbology, and more, interviewing staff members and telling the stories of the areas that make Holden Village so special. Come behind the scenes and learn more about the philosophy, grounding, and details of all the work that makes Holden tick.Welcome to Virtual Programming!

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Hellos and Goodbyes with Emer Kate - Virtual Programming Week 1

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 12:00:02 -0700

"There are so many people coming in and out of the village. Hellos and goodbyes are a way to acknowledge the time we have with this group of people as a community, be grateful, try to experience everything as fully as we can (without thinking of the end), be present, and then let go." ~ Emer Kate Sanders, Holden Program Associate

Holden Village has long been known for incredible programming, sparking minds and imaginations with insightful and engaging sessions. And now we're bringing Holden programming to you!

Through this Virtual Programming series, we'll profile the amazing work of Holden Village. Journey along with us as we explore the arts, the kitchen, utilities, ceramics, garbology, and more, interviewing staff members and telling the stories of the areas that make Holden Village so special. Come behind the scenes and learn more about the philosophy, grounding, and details of all the work that makes Holden tick.Welcome to Virtual Programming!

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Human Rights Artist Todd Drake

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 21:52:01 -0700

"I help people tell their story... I've tried to create art that keeps that lens in mind. Anything I make, if it doesn't ring true to the subject that is involved, then I've fallen back into that tourist trap, where I'm assigning meaning to someone's face or life story." ~ Todd Drake

Todd is a human rights artist who paints, prints, photographs, and works with community. Originally from the North Carolina, Drake lives and works in New York City where he creates art addressing human rights issues among marginalized communities. Drake's images speak with content that is both specific and universal and reveals his concern for the most basic of human rights: to be considered fully human.

For more information, visit Todd Drake's website at: https://www.the-equalist.com/homepage

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Good People, Good Food, Good Earth with Chance Voigt

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 11:20:24 -0700

"Holden exists for what Holden does down lake... The food philosophy is here to bring people into a way of thinking about food that they can bring with them when they leave." ~ Chance Voigt

From 2017, Chance worked and lived in the village as the Food Services Coordinator, as well as Community Services Manager. He graduated from Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, California.To learn more about the Holden Kitchen philosophy and local partnerships visit: https://www.holdenvillage.org/about-us/kitchen.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Compassion, Tolerance, and Eastern Practices with Matt Gordon

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 14:16:50 -0700

"Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism offer a strict adherence to non-violence or non-harm, and in that way, these religions really emphasize the community."

Matt and his wife, Miranda, were married in June 2000 and moved from Texas to the Pacific Northwest. IT was there that they fell in love with the outside work and each other. Matt has worked in the arenas of youth and family ministry, new church planting, and as a senior pastor. He graduated from Texas Christian University and Pacific School of Religion, He also teaches religious studies at Linn-Benton Community College. They have three children.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Porch Preservation Project with John, Harrison, and Chris

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 14:46:39 -0700

"We have a treasure. The buildings here are fragile and susceptible to damage and deterioration. It is our privilege to be able care for them and be able to pass them on to next generations." ~ John Lauber

"So many experiences from the people that have come to Holden Village have included a special time on these porches. They in themselves are a sacred space." ~ Chris Gustafson

"If you drive through the countryside and see an old barn, in all likelihood, you start recreating a story of what was in that barn, or why that barn was there, or what was going on at that period of time. It becomes almost a story within a visual. Wouldn't it be nice to leave many of these treasures for future people?" ~ Harrison Goodall

Dr. Harrison Goodall has over forty-eight years of experience with historic structures and facilities management and nearly sixty years of experience in training and education throughout the country. Harrison has been involved in preserving hundreds, if not thousands of historic structures around the nation. A 2016 award from the National Park Service documented that Goodall completed over 135 volunteer historic preservation projects in 55 national parks.

For information about the Harrison Goodall Preservation Fellowship, where graduate students and professionals have the opportunity to pursue projects that contribute to the field of historic preservation, visit https://www.preservationmaryland.org/announcing-the-second-year-of-the-harrison-goodall-preservation-fellowship/

John Lauber is an architectural historian and preservation planner. In the past 30 years, he has worked in the field of historic preservation with a cultural resource management firm, a large engineering company, the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office, the Division of Energy Resources at the Minnesota Department of Commerce, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as starting a consulting practice. For further information, visit https://www.jlauberco.com/

Chris Gustafson attended Clatsop Community College’s Historic Preservation and Restoration Program, in 2009. During his two years he developed his skills in window restoration, preservation, reproductions and crew field management. Once graduating from the Historic Preservation Program, he relocated his family to Albany, Oregon and shortly after created Vintage Window Restoration in May of 2012. Chris loves to educate others in the trade and continues his education on a regular basis both in windows and other aspects of historic preservation. For further information, visit https://vintagewindowrestorationllc.com/

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Creating A Wellness Pod Through A Community Covenant

Thu, 06 May 2021 16:42:42 -0700

"The covenant is more than just a set of rules. The process for creating it was key to healing and developing new relationships and allows a place like Holden to thrive through a spirit of care and compassion for one another." ~ Sarah

Sarah Sherry, Mark Bach, Callie Mabry, and Tori Kerssen-Griep discuss how the village navigated the pandemic and created a wellness pod through a community covenant. In September 2020, the Holden Village community collectively explored the possibility of forming a “pod of wellness” in which everyone who has completed a two-week quarantine without symptoms or illness is considered a member of one household.

With mutual consent, Villagers who have completed the two-week quarantine without symptoms or illness may enter each other’s living spaces and dine, worship, and gather together. In forming a “pod of wellness,” we recognize our interdependence with each other’s actions as we make frequent contact with each other. To access the community covenant, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org/files/7716/1799/4434/Community_Health_Protocols_and_Practices.pdf

To read more about Holden's community health protocols visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org/visit/community-health/

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Food for Thought with Katherine Harris

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 16:06:24 -0700

This podcast is part of a series called Food for Thought. The meal table is a place of gathering, conversation, connection, and nourishment. During the slower winter months, Food For Thought is a weekly practice at Holden Village promoting dialogue in the dining hall. It is grassroots led and infused by the curiosities and passions of the people present in the Valley, inviting Villagers to engage our shared intellect and insight as we discuss a wide range of topics over lunch. It is action-oriented and justice-centered, partnered with a weekly Village "Day of Action" that invites civic and political engagement. Welcome to Food for Thought.

The history of the United Sates is woven with the realities of settler colonialization including forced removal and genocide. Many Indigenous communities today still encounter the struggles and injustice of that history. As people living on stolen land, a practice that we can engage with is that of Land Acknowledgements. Through Land Acknowledgements, Indigenous Peoples are recognized and respected as the original stewards of the land that we occupy. Land Acknowledgements are also a time to express gratitude for the First Nations’ stewardship and wisdom, and to commit to working towards justice and healing.

This Food For Thought (facilitated by Katherine Harris) explores the purpose and practice of Land Acknowledgments.For further exploration on the topic, consider checking out the following resources: A guide to getting to know the land you live on and Land Acknowledgements https://native-land.ca/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/teacher_guide_2019_final.pdf

An interactive map of Indigenous lands around the worldhttps://native-land.ca/ A Land Reparations and Indigenous Solidarity Toolkit https://resourcegeneration.org/land-reparations-indigenous-solidarity-action-guide/

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Holden School Presents 'It Takes a Village' with Eleanor Sherry

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 14:46:46 -0700

"For so many people, the heart of this village is the constant flow of guests and volunteer staff that contribute to daily upkeep, fascinating conversations, and holy hilarity. The big question is do we have anything up here without that?" ~ Eleanor Sherry

Eleanor is a sophomore in the Holden School. As a culminating project, she interviewed villagers about their experiences over the years, capturing multi-generational perspectives about what Holden Village is, was, and continues to be. The four questions asked included: 1) What was a time you feared for your life? 2) What was it like living here as a child? 3) How has the village changed? 4) What keeps you coming back?

The Holden Village School is a public school operated by the Chelan School District under state provisions for schools that are remote but necessary. It meets all state educational requirements and credits earned are transferable. The kindergarten through 12th grade curriculum meets the educational needs of the children of long-term staff families.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Climate Justice and Eco-Theology with Cynthia Moe-Lobeda

Sat, 03 Apr 2021 11:50:11 -0700

"The people that are suffering first and foremost from climate change are predominantly not the ones who are causing it... My colleagues very gently taught me to see climate change as climate colonialism. The high consuming societies and sectors are colonizing the atmosphere with their emissions."

Cynthia Moe-Lobeda has lectured or consulted in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Australia, and North America in theology; ethics; and matters of climate justice and climate racism, moral agency, globalization, economic justice, eco-feminist theology, and faith-based resistance to systemic oppression. Her most recent book, Resisting Structural Evil: Love as Ecological-Economic Vocation, won the Nautilus Award for social justice. She is author or co-author of six volumes and numerous articles and chapters.

Moe-Lobeda is Professor of of Theological and Social Ethics at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Church Divinity School of the Pacific, and the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. She holds a doctoral degree in Christian Ethics from Union Theological Seminary, affiliated with Columbia University. The website for her most recent book is: http://resistingstructuralevil.com/.

She loves hiking in the Cascade Mountains and is learning to relish also the lands of California. Her greatest joys are her husband, Ron; two wonderful sons and wonderful daughter-in-law; and two splendid grandchildren.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Food For Thought with Anneliese Floyd

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 14:08:05 -0700

This podcast is part of a series called Food for Thought. The meal table is a place of gathering, conversation, connection, and nourishment. During the slower months, Food For Thought is a weekly practice at Holden Village promoting dialogue in the dining hall. It is grassroots led and infused by the curiosities and passions of the people present in the Valley, inviting Villagers to engage our shared intellect and insight as we discuss a wide range of topics over lunch. It is action-oriented and justice-centered, partnered with a weekly Village "Day of Action" that invites civic and political engagement. Welcome to Food for Thought.

Today's topic focuses on the ethical decisions made at the federal and state levels regarding vaccinations. Two particular questions stand out: 1) Who, and by what principles, do we make decisions for allocation of scarce resources? 2) From a logistical perspective, is it possible to come up with a completely ethical, just, and equitable distribution of a scarce medical resource?

Anneliese Floyd is a Family Medicine Doctor and has over 16 years of experience in the medical field. Anneliese has been coming to the village since she was a child and in 2021, served as medic. She lives in Bellingham with her husband and two daughters.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Composition, Choir, and Covid-19 with Cooper Sherry

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 20:23:26 -0800

"The goal of each movement is to communicate an impression of some aspect of life in the remote wilderness setting and unique community experience that Holden Village provides."

Cooper Sherry wrote the Holden Piano Suite, a series of reflections in seven movements, during a six-month stay at Holden Village from August to February 2020 - 2021. At home, Cooper is a church music director living in the Pacific Northwest. He has served as a Lutheran church music director for many years, and is an enthusiast of music for the piano, pipe organ, choir, and church congregation. He is married to Sarah Moore Sherry, with whom he writes hymns and songs for worship.

Musical excerpts include- Waking 'Neath the Ridge, Echoes of '86, Compline Part Four Prayers, and Dish Team. To listen to the Holden Piano Suite, visit https://youtu.be/88dqjLcgBD4

To purchase the sheet music visit the Holden Bookstore at https://holdenvillagestore.com/shop/ols/products/holden-piano-suite-by-cooper-sherry

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Trails Crew Work during the Pandemic with Jonah

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 14:40:46 -0800

Holden seeks a Trail Crew Coordinator for the upcoming summer! Visit the following link for more information: http://www.holdenvillage.org/volunteer/short-term-volunteers/

Jonah Jensen-Young currently serves as the podcast author and audio archive assistant. He has lived at Holden the past three years. Beyond the audio work, he helps every summer with trail crews and joining Forest Service projects maintaining and improving trails surrounding the village.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Cascade Wolverine Project and Winter Snowpack with Steph, Drew, and David

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 14:34:40 -0800

"I spent a lot of years skiing near Leavenworth and now, in the past decade, in the Methow Valley. Railroad Creek Valley is a blend of those two snowscapes. The climate here is not quite as cold as the Twisp River, but the snowpack is deeper, and tends to be more consistent than Icicle Creek Canyon." - Drew Lovell

Drew Lovell is a ski guide and avalanche forecaster in the North Cascades, as well as the Alaskan Wrangell-St.Elias region. Educated as a geologist at the University of Montana, Drew has previous experience as a field biologist and currently works as a mountain guide in the non-winter season. For the Gulo team, at work in the formidable North Cascades winter environment, Drew offers expertise with local snowpack, weather, and terrain, and a willingness to fill a backpack with heavy loads, from carcasses to camera equipment.

Stephanie Williams, professional mountain guide and independent field biologist, is the project’s co-founder and manager. Steph earned an undergraduate degree in Biological Science while working as a research assistant in chemical and landscape ecology at Boise State University. She also trained in alpine, rock, and ski guiding with the American Mountain Guides Association. Steph loves exploratory skiing and climbing, particularly in remote terrain, and especially with her husband, Drew Lovell. The Gulo is a perennial source of inspiration.

Photographer, wildlife tracker, field biologist, and co-founder David Moskowitz spearheads the photography for the project and its interface with Conservation Northwest’s ongoing citizen science efforts in the region. David has produced film and authored three books: Caribou Rainforest, Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest, and Wolves in the Land of Salmon. He enjoys long mountain runs, alpine climbing, and backcountry skiing.For more information about their project, visit cascadeswolverineproject.org

Also, contribute to community science by submitting a field observation (tracks or sighting) athttps://forms.gle/VrJeiJNoPhnPF69Q6

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Introducing Stacy, Mark, and Kathie and the 2021 Summer Theme

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 14:00:00 -0800

Kathie Caemmerer-Bach, Mark Bach, and Stacy Kitahata serve as Holden Village Executive Directors. Listen to how they first came to know Holden, what sharing the work of directors is like, as well as hearing about this coming summer's theme, "The Samaritan Traveler - Encounter, Embrace, Embark - Luke 10".

In their shared leadership vision, Kathie, Mark, and Stacy contemplate a Holden Village for the Life of the World. They hold common commitments to nurturing and empowering community that engages diversity, interfaith dialogue, spiritual practice, environmental justice, and holy hilarity.

Kathie, holding an MA in Education, has served in leadership positions with educational institutions both internationally and in the Pacific Northwest. Most recently, as Chief Academic Officer and Head of School for two innovative nationwide school organizations, she has overseen programming, faculty, personnel, and budgeting. Integral to her extensive career has been a lived commitment to educational equity and diversity. A fun Holden connection is that Kathie is the daughter of Richard Caemmerer, the Holden icon who painted the mural on the Village Center ceiling.

Mark, also with an MA in Education, has both taught and worked in administrative roles along with Kathie in Taiwan, Japan, India, and the Seattle area, including work in fundraising, advancement, and partnership management. Most recently, he served as the Vice-Chair for the Grunewald Guild Board of Directors in Leavenworth, Washington and directed product launches with numerous state regulatory agencies for an innovative company transforming professional development across the U.S.

Stacy adds an incredibly important set of skills to the Executive Director team with her Master of Divinity and extensive work with the ELCA, affiliated church organizations, higher education, and a background facilitating organizational change for equity. Stacy has many ecumenical and interfaith connections and experience on multiple Boards and committees.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Utilities Off the Grid with Ian Goller

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 12:22:36 -0800

"The basic idea and why we argue that its more carbon neutral to get our heat from wood rather than diesel, is the distinction between what's called short-cycle and long-cycle carbon. Wood is considered short-cycle carbon because trees are pulling CO2 out of the air. When you burn wood its functioning on a much shorter timescale in regards to circulating CO2. The time scale on which carbon gets stored in fossil fuels is thousands of years as opposed to a couple decades."

Ian Goller completed a B.S. in Anthropology at the University of Chicago with a minor in Physics and a Master's in Environmental Engineering from University of Illinois, focusing on assessment of perennial agriculture systems and corn-soy rotation. Since Fall 2019, Ian serves as Utilities Lead at Holden Village, where he oversees the operation, maintenance, and repair of the water filtration plant, water distribution system, septic/sewage systems, building plumbing, and heating systems.

For an infographic covering Holden's "Off-The-Grid" Utilities, check out Elizabeth Person's page at:http://www.elizabethperson.com/infographics.html

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Socially-Engaged Art with DOEprojekts

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 15:10:12 -0800

Deborah Adams Doering received her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her individual works focus on the relationship of keywords Nature and Technology. Glenn N. Doering received his MS in Biology from Loyola University of Chicago. His individual works explore keywords Biology, Body, and Fashion. He creates unique wearable objects.

Both Deborah and Glenn are founders and lead artists in the socially-engaged art collaborative DOEprojekts. They emphasize both experiences and artifacts as they work with communities and individuals, drawing upon Coreforms and cultural keywords as invitations to interact.

For further information see the following links: http://doeprojekts.org/http://www.doeprojekts.com/

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Food for Thought with Marta and Madi

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 11:04:54 -0800

This podcast is part of a series called Food for Thought. The meal table is a place of gathering, conversation, connection, and nourishment. During the slower winter months, Food For Thought is a weekly practice at Holden Village promoting dialogue in the dining hall. It is grassroots led and infused by the curiosities and passions of the people present in the Valley, inviting Villagers to engage our shared intellect and insight as we discuss a wide range of topics over lunch. It is action-oriented and justice-centered, partnered with a weekly Village "Day of Action" that invites civic and political engagement. Welcome to Food for Thought.

Public education in America has long been described as the great equalizer, but an examination of systematic racism in our school system reveals the opposite. Issues such as inequitable school funding and lack of representation create schools that are ill-equipped to support students of color. This Food for Thought (facilitated by Marta Vegdahl-Crowell and Madi Morrison) explores the disadvantages children of color face in the classroom that can have lifelong impacts.

Help teachers buy supplies for their classrooms: https://www.donorschoose.org/donors/search.html

Read more about what you can do to address racism in schools here: https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/education-k-12/news/2020/07/08/487386/fighting-systemic-racism-k-12-education-helping-allies-move-keyboard-school-board/

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Food for Thought with Marta and Julia

Sat, 02 Jan 2021 17:08:39 -0800

Content warning: colonialism, violence against Indigenous peoples, and themes of traumaThis podcast is part of a series called Food for Thought. The meal table is a place of gathering, conversation, connection, and nourishment. During the slower winter months, Food For Thought is a weekly practice at Holden Village promoting dialogue in the dining hall. It is grassroots led and infused by the curiosities and passions of the people present in the Valley, inviting Villagers to engage our shared intellect and insight as we discuss a wide range of topics over lunch. It is action-oriented and justice-centered, partnered with a weekly Village "Day of Action" that invites civic and political engagement. Welcome to Food for Thought.

The history of the Christian faith in the United States has been closely tied with the genocide and removal of Indigenous peoples across the country, including our own Valley. As a retreat center founded in the Lutheran Church, we want to acknowledge the violence propagated by the Christian church towards Native people as a step in working towards justice.

This Food for Thought (facilitated by Marta Vegdahl-Crowell and Julia Hubbard) delves into this history of oppression, particularly focusing on the Doctrine of Discovery. Many of our materials are pulled from Creation Justice Ministry's service on environmental justice for Indigenous peoples and from the "Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation: A Brief History." We hold gratitude for the Chelan, Wenatchi, and Entiat peoples, whose land we occupy.

For further exploration on the topic, consider checking out the following resources: Learn whose land you have called home. https://native-land.ca/Fundraiser

To obtain a piece of Wenatchi Homelands back: https://www.wenatchiwear.com/donate

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Technology Updates at Holden with Jonah and Corky

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 10:13:35 -0800

"Holden is still very much a place apart in part because of the satellite link - the very thin and slow thread to the outside world. Nonetheless, the goal here for computer technology is to facilitate business and give people more time to enjoy the environment, not to make people stare at a device all the time. The pandemic prompted adaptation. Technology is integrated into the Holden way and is facilitating what Holden does in terms of engaging people in this unique space. I'm not sure we could have envisioned this a year ago."

Corky Searls is a retired geophysicist with a hobby in computer technology. His knowledge in programming, configuration, and security, helped the village maintain a sense of community, by using our network infrastructure, when state protocols required lockdown in our remote community.

Jonah Mork Snyder graduated from University of Minnesota with a degree in IT Infrastructure and managed the help desk support for the campus. He has served as the IT Lead for the past year, helping to maintain, improve and innovate many village technologies.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Food for Thought with Kelly and Callie

Sun, 06 Dec 2020 14:15:55 -0800

This podcast is part of a series called Food for Thought. The meal table is a place of gathering, conversation, connection, and nourishment. During the slower winter months, Food For Thought is a weekly practice at Holden Village promoting dialogue in the dining hall. It is grassroots led and infused by the curiosities and passions of the people present in the Valley, inviting Villagers to engage our shared intellect and insight as we discuss a wide range of topics over lunch. It is action-oriented and justice-centered, partnered with a weekly Village "Day of Action" that invites civic and political engagement. Welcome to Food for Thought.

Shelter is one of the basic needs for human survival, yet for too many people in the United States, safe, affordable housing is hard to find. Furthermore, the U.S. has a long history of racist housing policies and discrimination that have created significant barriers to housing for people of color. This Food For Thought (facilitated by Callie Mabry and Kelly Snyder) explores the topic of housing in north central Washington as well as the impact of sprawl and tourist economies on the availability of affordable housing.

For further exploration on the topic, consider checking out the following resources: The Affordable Housing Crisis: https://archive.curbed.com/2019/5/15/18617763/affordable-housing-policy-rent-real-estate-apartment

Chelan Valley Housing Trust: https://chelanvalleyhousing.org/

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

The Jesse Tree Tradition with Steve and Amy Tongue

Wed, 25 Nov 2020 16:10:21 -0800

Amy Tongue worked as head of Lawns and Gardens and is the Naturalist for the coming summer. Steve Tongue is currently Operations Manager. They're from Alpena, Michigan on beautiful Thunder Bay of Lake Huron. They first lived at Holden Village in the early 1990s. The Jesse Tree is an Advent tradition during the days leading up to Christmas. It is meant to be done as a daily family devotional, or with a group.

Advent is a time of preparing and waiting. The word "advent" means "coming." The Jesse tree is named from Isaiah 11:1: "Then a shoot will spring up out of the stump of Jesse, and a branch will grow out of his roots." Jesse was the father of Kind David, and Jesus was born into the family tree of David.

For further information about the Jesse Tree tradition, see the following link. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bzuB8O7zXM-UcXldT6JKayLkZEnj4eyz/view?usp=sharing

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Food for Thought with Andrew and Sophia

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 17:07:45 -0800

This podcast marks the start of a series called Food for Thought. The meal table is a place of gathering, conversation, connection, and nourishment. During the slower winter months, Food For Thought is a weekly practice at Holden Village promoting dialogue in the dining hall. It is grassroots led and infused by the curiosities and passions of the people present in the Valley, inviting Villagers to engage our shared intellect and insight as we discuss a wide range of topics over lunch. It is action-oriented and justice-centered, partnered with a weekly Village "Day of Action" that invites civic and political engagement. Welcome to Food for Thought.

Our cells, our bodies, and the Earth consist of 70% water. On a physical, chemical, and spiritual level our lives are shaped by water. This Food For Thought (facilitated by Andrew Zimmerman and Sophia McLaughlin) explores the interrelationship between water and life from a number of perspectives. Bridging aquatic evolution, resource management ethics, and the power of water as metaphor, our conversation was far-reaching and illuminating.

For further exploration on the topic, consider checking out the 2009 documentary titled Tapped, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1344784/

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Holden Fire Systems and Wildfires with Jeff Pierce and Danny Pavek

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 13:41:08 -0700

In the spring of 2015, volunteer fire marshall Jeff Pierce said, "I looked at the Holden leadership and said, we are not going into fire season in a drought year and record temperatures with a 80 percent complete system that's just waiting for a water source...the timing was phenomenal, because we had a functioning system a month before the lightning strike" (that started the Wolverine Creek Fire).

Jeff served 26 years as a driver/engineer for Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue in northern Oregon. Since 1992 he has been working with Holden Village in developing the fire program and improving and building fire systems and staff training in fire protection and response.

Danny Pavek graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota with degrees in chemistry and environmental studies. He has worked at Holden as the Fire Technician since the winter of 2019-2020.

For further information about wildfires, watch Paul Hessburg's "Era of Megafires" https://www.north40productions.com/eom-home

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Quarantine Quarterly with Becca Carcaterra

Thu, 03 Sep 2020 17:06:56 -0700

"There is something about the written word that makes people feel comfortable putting parts of themselves out there that might not come out in small talk or in a conversation in a normal busy summer. Especially with the Village being a safe and intimate community, as we have all gone through the pandemic together. There has been a sense that you can put things out there and know that they will be held and the Q.Q. is a great space for that."

Becca Carcaterra lives at Holden Village and serves on the Human Resources team. She graduated from St. Olaf college with a degree in English. In March, she started the Quarantine Quarterly, a Village newsletter. Now on day 172, the daily publication continues to create community even while Villagers practice social distancing during the pandemic.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Voices Calling for Radical Love and Justice with John Noltner

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 15:39:49 -0700

"We use stories to connect, bridge divides, and build community. Watch and listen to these stories and use them as a lever towards important conversations. Loving one another comes from listening, engagement, and treating every person with respect. This is how we find ways to live better together."

A gifted storyteller, Noltner has worked on four continents, gathering stories of human courage, grace, and resilience. He has produced projects for national magazines, Fortune 500 companies, and non-profit organizations. A Peace of My Mind reflects his belief that art and storytelling can help individuals, organizations and communities articulate their deepest values and encourage action toward building social capital and community connections.

For contributing to John's upcoming project, "Cry Out", click herehttps://igg.me/at/apomm/x#/

For a link to the George Floyd Video, click herehttps://apomm.net/2020/06/11/george-floyd/

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Re-forming Intercultural Relationships with Stacey Kitahata, Claire Smith, and Rediet Mulugeta

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 10:56:20 -0700

"Whiteness perpetuates itself by denying it's existence. That is one of the biggest hurdles to try and overcome. Continue to name whiteness, even when we're uncomfortable talking about it. Avoid the temptation to spin off into generalizations about society or political agendas and own that part of ourselves." ~ Claire Smith

Starting September 2020, Stacy Kitahata (she/her) is Co-Executive Director, Holden Village and Retreat Center, with Kathie and Mark Bach. Stacey is a graduate of UCLA and McCormick Theological Seminary, She comes with over 25 years of leadership experience with faith communities, grassroots organizations and higher education. She served as Dean of Community at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago and as director of the Center for Community Engagement at Trinity Lutheran College. She also served as outreach staff with the synods of Region 1. She currently serves as Program Director for the Krista Foundation for Global Citizenship, designing and conducting intercultural experiential leadership development.

Claire Smith (she/her) holds her BA in English Literature and Hispanic Studies and her Masters of Social Work from the University of Washington. She received her training in intercultural capacity building from the Krista Foundation for Global Citizenship and Kaleidoscope Institute, and has been honing her facilitation practice with an amazing Community of Practice in the Seattle area. Claire spent two years serving with Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest gaining experience advocating with Latinx survivors of intimate partner violence and academically supporting young people on the Crow Reservation in St. Xavier, MT.

Rediet Mulugeta received a BA in Global Development Studies from Seattle Pacific University in 2012, She served in Houston, TX with Mission Year, a yearlong volunteer program. After 2 years developing relationships and working alongside local non-profit organizations, grassroots leaders, and faith communities, Rediet relocated to Chicago, IL to join the national Mission Year staff to coordinate week-long service learning programs in multiple cities. Currently, she oversees and directs the Krista Colleague program with the Krista Foundation for Global Citizenship as Program Associate.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

First Nations Algonquin-Metis and Anishinaabe heritage with Leah Yellowbird

Mon, 13 Jul 2020 13:53:52 -0700

"Take care of your spirit because you're in a world where spirits get eaten. It's easy to drown in day to day monotony and hate. When I got off the boat at Lucerne, I could tell Holden was a place I didn't have to worry. Part of that is the view. The beauty gives everyone a bit of a serene feeling."

Intricate, graceful, thought provoking and prolific – these are all words that have been used to describe the elaborate masterwork of Leah Yellowbird. Originally a traditional bead-worker, she identifies strongly with her First Nations Algonquin-Metis and Anishinaabe heritage. At a young age, Yellowbird learned from her extended family how to follow traditional beading patterns and has been working in this medium her entire life. This knowledge, combined with her creative eye and exploration of color, has spilled over into the realm of painting, and she is now well regarded for her work in all mediums (painting being her most recent).

Yellowbird had her first solo exhibition at the American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO) in 2013 and has since had her work on display at a variety of prominent spaces, including the Macrostie Art Center, Plains Museum of Art, and the Tweed Museum of Art. She was the Grand Rapids artist in residence from 2015 until 2016 there, her studio was open to the public and she created some of her most popular pieces to date.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Holden Mining Days with Betty Frye and Alana Horton

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 16:19:19 -0700

"These were the best 10 years of my life. I loved living here and never felt isolated. Raising children, it was a relief not having to worry about them. We left in 1956. I'm glad Holden lives on, instead of having been wiped out or becoming a ghost town."

Betty Frye worked as a waitress in the dining hall and lived at Holden, with her family between the years of 1945 and 1956. In the village, she met her husband Jack, who worked in the mine, and also raised two kids. Her youngest daughter is Alana Horton. Linda Breitag (interviewer), writes songs (sometimes parodies) and essays (sometimes rants) about life, makes odd stuffed animals and has been a guest village musician many times.

She and her husband Ray Makeever live in Minnesota.To listen to a recording of Jack and Betty answering questions from a Miners Reunion in 1982, visit: Living in Holden during the Mining Days http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/5395

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Good News In A World Of Bad News with Jason Mahn

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 13:19:13 -0700

"When I'm at the correctional facility, it's hard to know who's the teacher and who's the student. One inmate, convicted of murder at age fifteen, had never been involved in gang activity or violence. One year prior to his crime, he was shot eight times outside his house and a police officer, instead of rushing to his aide was standing over him, as he was bleeding on the ground saying, "you see what you gangbangers get?", presupposing that he deserved this, that this was just punishment. It was a self-fulfilling prophecy. This police officer assumed he was involved in this violence and a year later he was and being tried as an adult for murder. The inmate is one of the wisest, most compassionate mentors of men in the prison and of me."

Jason A. Mahn is a professor of religion and director of the Presidential Center for Faith and Learning at Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois. He teaches about God, interfaith cooperation, environmental ethics, social justice, vocation, and religious responses to suffering at Augustana, and also frequently speaks at churches and within Lutheran higher education circles.

He has authored or edited four books, including Becoming a Christian in Christendom: Radical Discipleship and the Way of the Cross in America's “Christian” Culture (Fortress, 2016) and Radical Lutherans/Lutheran Radicals (Cascade, 2017). One of Jason's deep joys is to teach “Creator, Creation, and Calling” to Augustana students at Holden Village during “J-Term” and join them in building igloos, skiing, and stoking the furnace called Dante. Another joy is to return in the summer with his spouse, Rev. Laura Evans Mahn, and their two sons, Asa and Gabe, to teach, hike, laugh, and practice living well.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Religion, Immigration and Race with Jason DeRose

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 05:00:00 -0700

"A congregation decided to stop calling the police, saying that is an act of justice on their part. Things go south, if the people you're calling the police on are African American. There's a tendency to be more afraid and to call the police in unwarranted situations, but also a tendency if those situations involve police that they become violent."

Jason DeRose is Western Bureau Chief and Senior Editor at NPR News. He edits stories from Colorado to Hawaii and oversees national coverage of religion, LGBTQ issues, and Native American issues. Before joining NPR, he was a senior editor and correspondent at WBEZ - Chicago Public Radio, where he covered religion and belief.

He holds a master’s degree from the University of Chicago Divinity School and a bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College. Jason spent many wonderful hours working at his college’s public radio station. Outside of work, he is an overly-active member at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Santa Monica, California, where he chairs the congregation's seminary internship committee. Jason loves reading sad novels but is really quite funny in person.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Re-examining Biblical Stories with Glenn Jordan

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 13:54:13 -0700

Remembering Glenn Jordan by the Corrymeela Community https://www.corrymeela.org/news/184/remembering-glenn-jordan

"In every situation we find ourselves, particularly at the margins of life, we need to evaluate each time in the light of compassion. Stories help us do that by forcing us to think broader, wider, and differently about situations. Stories establish a principle that compassion trumps the law and invite us to bring that principle into the complexity of our everyday life."

Glenn was a public theologian working with Corrymeela, the oldest peace and reconciliation organization in Northern Ireland. Corrymeela's public theology work exists to motivate and support faith groups to widen circles of relationship, trust and witness. He was a Tedx speaker and a writer on evangelical identity in Ireland, and on urban theology and was particularly interested in the power of story to create newness. He blogged on the http://crookedshore.com, named after the place where he lived and walked with his wife and two dogs.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Bridging the Great Racial Divide with Mark Washington and Michael Coffey

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 08:58:45 -0700

"The biblical passage: what men intend for evil, God uses for good, is exactly what has happened in this situation but, I believe there is a lot more good that can be done. There are a lot of other connections and relationships that need to happen. That will only happen when people who are not used to talking to each other begin to connect to one another."

Michael Coffey is the Pastor of First English Lutheran Church, Austin, TX and Author of Renounce, Resist, Rejoice: Being Church in the Age of Trump. Wipf & Stock. 2017 and Mystery without Rhyme or Reason: Poetic Reflections on the Revised Common Lectionary. Wipf & Stock. 2015. Rev. Dr. Mark Washington is the City Manager of Grand Rapids, MI (beginning October 2018) Previously until September 2018 he was the Pastor of Vision of Hope African Methodist Episcopal Church, Austin TX and Assistant City Manager, Austin TX.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Exploring Salvation History with Daniel Castillo

Sat, 16 May 2020 10:45:37 -0700

"My work is in liberation theology and environmental ethics, taking into consideration the relationship between the cries of the earth and poor and what it means to be Christian and living in response to those cries."

Daniel Castillo is an Assistant Professor of Theology at Loyola University Maryland, where he also contributes to the Environmental Studies and Peace & Justice programs. He earned his Ph. D. at the University of Notre Dame in 2014. Dan’s teaching and research focuses on the intersection of liberation theology, environmental ethics, and the theological interpretation of scripture.

He has published essays in these areas in journals such as Theological Studies, Political Theology, and Scripture. His forthcoming book is entitled: An Ecological Theology of Liberation: Salvation and Political Ecology (Orbis Books). Dan lives in Baltimore with his wife Erika and their two children Frances and Martin.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Hallie Parkins on Bach "Cello Suite No. 1"

Mon, 11 May 2020 05:00:14 -0700

Cellist Hallie Parkins is an avid performer, collaborator, and advocate for social justice. She is also a recently ordained pastor at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Tacoma, WA. In 2014, she completed her undergraduate studies at Oberlin Conservatory, where she studied with Darrett Adkins. She also completed a Bachelors of Arts at Oberlin College, studying feminist and womanist religion.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Sharon Varallo Speaks to Mass Incarceration

Thu, 07 May 2020 08:47:16 -0700

"We know globally, the U.S. has five percent of the world's population but twenty percent of the world's incarcerated population. The U.S. puts more people in prison and for longer, compared with any other country."

Sharon received her BA from William and Mary, her MA from North Carolina and her PhD from Ohio State. She teaches in the Department of Communication Studies at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. Her scholarly interests originated in relational communication and include cultural expressions of time.

In recent years her interests have taken a sharp turn toward justice, particularly toward racial and criminal justice and intercultural competence as a gateway toward social justice activism. She has enjoyed teaching and learning in numerous off-campus programs including in Mexico, Peru, China, Japan, Spain, Morocco and the wilderness of Holden Village in winter.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Inspiring Hope and Reformation with Amanda Weber

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 15:50:49 -0700

"Choir is so antithetical to the prison system at large. For so many of these woman, they are entering prison with immense trauma.. What we're seeing is great healing and a lot of skills that are being built around leadership and being in community with people that are different. There is a change in mindset, because as a choir member, you are listening to other people and understanding your voice is contributing to something that is greater than yourself. The experience is helping woman get through their time in a way that's healthier but also hopefully making a difference in their lives once they leave."

Amanda Weber is passionate about uniting music, art and community through her work as an artist and collaborator. Weber's recent focus has been the Voices of Hope, a women’s prison choir at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Shakopee. Founded by Weber in October 2015, the choir has grown from 15 to 50 singers and collaborated with over 200 musicians from the Twin Cities metro area.

Weber’s interest in using music as a tool for social justice grew through her work at Luther Place Memorial Church in Washington, DC, where she founded Bethany’s Women of Praise, a choir for homeless women, in 2008. In addition to her work with marginalized populations, Weber is active as a conductor, singer, pianist, and composer. She currently serves as the Interim Director of Choral Ministries at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Woodcarving with John Thompson

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 16:10:08 -0700

John Thompson has a fine arts degree from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. He started carving in 1990, making a carousel in Missoula Montana. He is now a printmaker that spends most of his time carving wood and some stone carving. He has been teaching printmaking workshops since 1980, and carving workshops since the early 2000s. You can see some of his work at www.hobbyhorsearts.com.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Borderlands, Rituals of Resistance, and Popular Music with Octavio Carrasco

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 15:33:07 -0700

"My goal is to present questions and ideas to get people to talk to each other. What we have in common is greater than what makes us different."

Octavio Pascal Carrasco is a historian of American culture and music with special interest in the processes of social change, cultural resistance, and the religious imagination. As an undergraduate student at Princeton University, he was blessed to work with Dr. Cornel West, exploring the religious dimensions of Tupac Shakur’s music and death. He completed his Masters Degree at Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, CA with Rev. Dr. Gabriella Lettini. As the ’11-’12 Hilda Mason teaching fellow he developed and taught the course Music & Art for Social Change .

He was further blessed to complete his PhD work with Dr. West, Daisy Machado, and Troy Messenger at Union Theological Seminary in NY, focusing on “the long sixties” as a period of profound awakening in American history. Octavio’s primary mode of transportation is walking, using the “eyes in his feet” to remain connected with his surroundings. His academic studies are grounded in his time living in Guatemala, Spain (Barcelona is his favorite world city!) and the Czech Republic. He can be found teaching English as a second language wherever there are students and juggling book loans at ALL the local libraries.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Field Recording with Thomas Rex Beverly

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 19:34:47 -0700

"It's wonderful being able to routinely record here without any sort of noise pollution. In order to have one square inch of natural silence, you need a thousand square miles around you, roughly fifteen miles of silence in any direction. It's really rare to find places that have natural silence."

Thomas Rex Beverly is a field recordist and composer exploring our evolving planet. His mission is to preserve endangered environments through sound in order to raise awareness and inspire people to protect unique acoustic ecosystems. Thomas unites his love of field recording, composition and acoustic ecology in two ways: conserving natural places of solitude in sound libraries and by incorporating field recordings and weather data into his music compositions. Through his art, Thomas works to preserve threatened natural soundscapes for future generations. All sounds excerpts were provided by the artist. For further listening, visit https://thomasrexbeverly.com

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Radio Drama by Holden's School

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 14:56:08 -0700

Students learned about the radio drama format, sound recording and creating effects. The fable, "More Than a Match" is posted by permission from the author Aaron Sheppard. The moral says "offer the world what you expect to receive from it."

The Holden Village School is a public school operated by the Chelan School District under state provisions for schools that are remote but necessary. It meets all state educational requirements and credits earned are transferable. The kindergarten through 12th grade curriculum meets the educational needs of the children of long-term staff families.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Railroad Creek Chamber Music Festival with Janice Gockel

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 15:05:19 -0800

"We get used to the stuffiness of concert halls, but music doesn't have to be that way. Guests attending Holden are hearing chamber music throughout the village at various times of day."

Janice Gockel has enjoyed a lifelong love affair with music. She holds degrees in viola performance and has been inspiring violin and viola students of all ages for more than 40 years. Remembering her own early childhood musical experiences, Janice fell in love with Music Together®. She became a registered Music Together® teacher and has completed advanced Certification training.

Janice is the founder/conductor of Hildman Strings, founder of the Puget Sound Chamber Music Workshop, and was the founder of Music Center of the Northwest. In addition to her busy teaching schedule, Janice is a member of Philharmonia Northwest, plays with Allspice International Folk Dance Band, and especially enjoys playing chamber music. Musical excerpt, Howard Goodall's "Vicar of Dibley" Theme for String Quartet, recorded June 12, 2019 in Chalet 13 as part of the Railroad Creek Chamber Festival.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Looking Ethically with Christa Olson

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 20:42:15 -0800

"Rhetoric provides tools for understanding a world where we can't always know what is true, but must still move forward. We must be critical viewers of images and know the stories and histories behind them, but also know that there's good reason to allow pictures to make us act. It's not naive to be moved."

Christa Olson teaches about writing, rhetoric, and visual culture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she is an Associate Professor of English. In addition to researching 19th and early 20th century visual culture in Latin America, she regularly writes about news photography for a popular audience on the site Reading the Pictures, and she is at work on a book about photography and the contemporary U.S.-Mexico border.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Modern African American Fiction Writers with Paul Olson

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 14:29:36 -0800

"Good literature creates a kind of understanding and empathy, that when it touches your heart, it changes you. It raises consciousness. You are eager to look at all people with different eyes and understand people's stories. Our heart becomes larger. The beauty of simple things that are beyond the practical and institutionalized, provide awesome statements of love and sharing and connectedness to what's really important."

Paul was born in Wisconsin, raised in Minnesota, and college educated (B.A. history & English) at Luther College in Iowa. He then earned a Ph.D. in English at the University of Oregon with a dissertation on African American Literature, and he taught English and coached track at Augustana College in Illinois until recent retirement.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Reformation Through White Anti-Racism with Aana Vigen

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 17:33:21 -0800

"If we stop at reading books, watching documentaries, and having safe conversations with the people we most know, then we will not be able to help much in the cause for racial justice. We all need to be part of this work for the sake of our world, our relationships, and our own moral formation."

Aana Marie Vigen is an Associate Professor of Christian Social Ethics at Loyola University Chicago. She is passionate about advocacy and education on white anti-racism, climate change and Christian moral agency. She is also passionate about her local congregation, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (ELCA). She loves teaching and living in Rogers Park with her wife and son.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Resident Artists Sam Olson and Sam Genualdi

Sat, 18 Jan 2020 22:11:26 -0800

"I'm realizing that a song is a kind of story. Stories are expressions of togetherness. They're all we have to bridge the phenomenal gulf of our experiences. Through story telling, we come close to perceiving together."

Born in Portland, Oregon with Montana roots, Sam Olson, like his poetic aspirations, can't decide if he should wear a Stetson with his raincoat. He gets inspiration from Greyhound windows and dreams. Blessed to join Holden as a 2019 Resident Artist, he wrote about finding salmon in places they shouldn't be.

Check out his work at http://www.ourfeetonearth.com

Sam Genualdi is a composer/songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and artist from Evanston, Illinois. In 2017-18 he traveled the globe studying music for a year on a prestigious Thomas J. Watson Fellowship. His travels took him to the United Kingdom, Armenia, Peru, Brazil, Mozambique, Japan, and Bali where he lived and studied the music of each place. Sam currently serves Holden Village as Village Musician.

Check out his work at https://samgenualdi.comExcerpt from a live recording in the Lift at Holden Village, July 2019

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Cascades Wolverine Project

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 20:39:35 -0800

"We have so many humans on this planet... As we have a stronger and bigger desire to connect with natural places, we need to be careful that we are doing so in a way that is respectful of the other animals that live here."

Stephanie Williams, professional mountain guide and independent field biologist, is the project’s co-founder and manager. Steph earned an undergraduate degree in Biological Science while working as a research assistant in chemical and landscape ecology at Boise State University. She also trained in alpine, rock, and ski guiding with the American Mountain Guides Association. Steph loves exploratory skiing and climbing, particularly in remote terrain, and especially with her husband, Drew Lovell. The Gulo is a perennial source of inspiration.

Photographer, wildlife tracker, field biologist, and co-founder David Moskowitz spearheads the photography for the project and its interface with Conservation Northwest’s ongoing citizen science efforts in the region. David has produced film and authored three books: Caribou Rainforest, Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest, and Wolves in the Land of Salmon. He enjoys long mountain runs, alpine climbing, and backcountry skiing.For more information about their project, visit http://cascadeswolverineproject.org

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Theological Symbolism in the Music of J.S. Bach

Wed, 01 Jan 2020 15:26:24 -0800

"Bach is certainly one of the greatest Lutheran composers ever. However, there are many who think he was not just musician and composer, but equal parts theologian. The main ways he embedded theology into music were through word painting and cross and number symbolism. Bach always signed his manuscripts, SDG "Soli Deo Gloria" to God alone be the glory. The embedded symbolism was intended for God."

Dr. Alexa Doebele is associate professor of music and Director of Choral Activities at Concordia University Wisconsin, where she conducts three choirs in addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in music education, conducting, and choral literature. She is a frequent clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor, and is active as an editor of choral music. Prior to her arrival in Wisconsin, Dr. Doebele served as the Director of Music at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Her research interests intersect with her faith life through her study of the choral music of J. S. Bach and William Byrd.

She is also active as both a solo and choral singer, most recently with Vox Antiqua, an early music ensemble for which she was also the artistic director, and previously with the Milwaukee Choral Artists, the Colorado Conductors’ Chorus, and the Ars Nova Singers. She completed a bachelor’s degree (double major in vocal performance and German language and literature) at Washington University in St. Louis and her Master of Music Education and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees at the University of Colorado.

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Calligraphy with Laura Norton

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 12:55:19 -0800

"Calligraphic words are something to gaze upon. They reach different parts of the heart and mind then when reading words in a traditional font. Adding the visual element gets people to slow down, dwell upon, pay attention to, and perhaps get insights from the words, that they wouldn't have otherwise."Laura Norton is an artist whose spiritual practice includes weekly creating calligraphic designs which are used in churches across the U.S. and Canada, aiming to visually enliven biblical texts from the lectionary. A professional calligrapher, she works with a wide variety of media to add hand-lettered words to paper, silk, windows and walls. In addition to buses, walls and baptismal fonts around Holden Village, her award-winning calligraphy can be seen on a new mural in downtown Bellingham and in her synod’s Advent Devotional, as well as in the book, Backstory Preaching by Lisa Cressman. Laura is on the board of directors and teaches Calligraphy on Silk at the Grunewald Guild, an art & faith retreat center near Leavenworth, WA. At her home church in Bellingham, WA, she founded and serves as chair of Justice Seekers, working on anti-racism (particularly in the ELCA) and such other justice-related issues as are addressed in the Reclaiming Jesus statement. Laura is an enthusiastic mountain trail runner, a parent to two creative adult children, and is married to a fellow former CPA and appreciator of craft beers. Laura's work can be seen at http://www.LettersAloft.com and @lettersaloft on Instagram. To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.orgThe Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. To contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org

Avalanche Awareness with Mr. Em

Sat, 14 Dec 2019 14:02:50 -0800

"I have been doing avalanche awareness education since the seventies and during that time, I've had people come back and tell me what I said in my presentation helped save their life. That is huge payment. I do this work as a volunteer. The community has been good to me and I want to give back. It's like paying rent."Roland Emetaz "Mr. Em" has been coming to Holden Village since 2004. He helped start the Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC) and has been on the board since 1998. Mr. Em is a retired Forester with the US Forest Service, Pacific NW Region, spending his career advocating outdoor safety, quality customer service and teamwork. Mr. Em continues as a volunteer teaching those lessons. He provides avalanche awareness programs on behalf of the NWAC various audiences. He is often on assignment with the Central Washington All Hazards Incident Management Team (one of 54 in the Nation) managing incidents as diverse as wildfires and hurricanes, from the Arctic Circle to the Gulf Coast.Northwest Avalanche Center Websitehttps://www.nwac.us/To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.orgThe Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. To contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org

Clearness Committee with Annemarie Russell and Erik Samuelson

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 16:50:44 -0800

"The Quaker practice called clearness committee is about silence, deeply listening to someone else's story, and cultivating space for the inner teacher to emerge. It's not about telling someone what to do or even helping a person figure a problem out, it's about opening space so they can do the work themselves."Music excerpt from Fireside Concert by Annemarie Russell (guitar/vocal) and Hallie Parkins (cello) August 15, 2019Rev. Erik Samuelson is a minister of Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and a Coach with Vibrant Faith. He has been working in the area of vocational discernment and spiritual formation (particularly in intergenerational and multi-racial communities that engage young adults) for over 10 years. Annemarie Russell is a writer, singer/songwriter, and English teacher whose vocation is helping others give voice to their own stories. She is also a practitioner in the art of accompanying people in vocational discernment and spiritual discovery. Annemarie brings her authenticity and optimism to the work of story sharing, artistic expression and spiritual formation as she seeks to live deeply into the intersection of faith, art and story through her teaching and songwriting.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.orgThe Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. To contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org

Applied Improvisation with David Westerlund

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 15:40:18 -0800

"What fuels and enables great improv are the very same things we need to build relational infrastructure of our organizations. Things like cultivating presence, empathy, supporting each other, and being agile in the moment... Improv is about loosening our grip on control, which can be a difficult thing, but when we experience that in the context of play... it builds that visceral experience of maybe I don't need control in this other situation in work or life."David approaches life and the world with a growing curiosity, wonder, and a posture of "Yes". He savors Ignatian and Jesuit spirituality and longs to enter the Story more each day, sensing the deep, present, joyful Love of Jesus, who calls us Beloved. David lives in Bellingham, Washington and is the founder of BePresentDiscoverJoy. He facilitates improv workshops for non-profits, businesses, schools, churches, and for people who are currently or formerly incarcerated, and in recovery from addiction. His workshops are designed for participants to cultivate presence, discover joy, and build resilience.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.orgThe Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. To contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org

Harp Music Therapy with Laurence Furr

Sat, 16 Nov 2019 15:38:45 -0800

"The more people meditate or have a prayer life, the more unified we become. It is hard to pray or meditate with holding on to anger or hate." Harp music helps us be contemplative, cleansing our soul through immersion in a sound bath. In this podcast, listen to how Laurence Furr became a certified Harp Therapist, followed by the track, "Jasmine" from his album, "Ylang Ylang" * posted with artist permission.Dr. Laurence Furr is Cantor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Ft. Worth, Texas. Dr. Furr is also a Certified Clinical Musician and Certified Therapeutic Harp Practitioner and works as a therapeutic musician at JPS Health Network and Vitas Hospice. His Bachelor of Music degree is in Organ Performance from the University of Texas at Arlington. He later received a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance from Texas Christian University. Dr. Furr earned his Ph.D. at The University of Texas at Arlington.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.orgThe Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. To contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org

The Happiness Machine Fable with Peter Hernes

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 07:41:14 -0800

Our world is dominated by power structures, and the nature of these structures dictate our personal lives, our conflicts, our values, and not surprisingly, our impact on the environment. The Fable of the Happiness Machine is a parable that lays bare the collateral damage of power. Listen to the story and discover it's several different interpretations. Peter Hernes is a professor at the University of California in Davis, CA, specializing in river biogeochemistry, but extending more broadly into any environment that contains naturally formed organic compounds. He teaches a range of courses, ranging from hardcore aqueous geochemistry to water quality geared toward non-science majors to graduate writing courses to first-year seminars on environmental poetry and classic environmental literature. As an avid hiker, his interest in the environment is not just professional, but personal. Prior to landing in Davis, Dr. Hernes completed his bachelor's degree at Luther College, his master's and PhD at the University of Washington in Seattle, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of South Carolina. He and his wife have three children, three dogs, three cats, and more than three bicycles.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.orgLook for us on Apple iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. To contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org

Why Scientific Literacy Matters with Eric Eitrheim

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 17:20:46 -0700

"It's almost like there's this fight or flight instinct associated with new information. Either you can dismiss it, if it challenges your previously held ideologies, that's the flight, or you fight it, where you come up with all the reasons that it can be incorrect... This is called the backfire effect and its terrifying, because if you confront someone with a fact, there's a chance they dig their heels in more."Eric Eitrheim is currently beginning his 3rd year as a faculty member at the University of Central Oklahoma (Oklahoma City, OK) working in various areas of environmental chemistry and radiochemistry. His previous work at the University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA) includes characterization of liquid and solid wastes from unconventional drilling (i.e. hydraulic fracturing.) Notably, he explored TENORM (technologically enhanced naturally-occurring radioactive materials) from flowback water and bit cuttings that are produced in large quantities at each well site. He has previously been to Holden Village as a student at Luther College in Decorah, IA studying Environmental Ethics and later a summer kitchen volunteer. During the Environmental Ethics class, he met his wife Sarah, who also has fond memories of hiking and fellowship at Holden.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.orgTo contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org

An Interim at Shishmaref with John Hergert

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 19:44:25 -0700

"There's a deep sadness, but also this incredible life in them. They love living in that area and the subsistence that is necessary to live there."John has been an ordained pastor for over 35 years in the ELCA. He was raised in a small town in Eastern WA surrounded by bountiful farmland nurtured by the immigrants who came there in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, made up of ethnic Germans who had lived in Russia. John attended Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, Texas receiving a BA in Theology and completed his MDIV at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. He has served congregations in PA, MD, ID, WA and now AK, mostly as a regularly called pastor, but has done four interims, including Shishmaref, AK. He has been actively involved in social justice issues, traveling to South Africa/Namibia during the Apartheid regime. He has marched and spoken at events calling for justice. He was once arrested at the South African Embassy in DC along with 80 other Lutherans. He lived in Holden Village for over a year before, during, and after the Wolverine Fire. John has a passion for writing and speaking truth to power and the Gospel.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.orgTo contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org

Visual Art Inspiring Change with Directors Chuck and Peg

Mon, 07 Oct 2019 12:28:08 -0700

"There isn't better training for leaders than the arts because it enables people to reimagine situations, possibilities, when life seems to constrain and stifle, that creativity can bursts through those walls."Peg is a painter, lettering artist, and designer. She is a graduate of Augustana College and served as an artist and Creative Director for Hallmark Cards for over 21 years. Along with workshop facilitating, her passion for art and faith includes designing spaces and experiential environments for engaging the Holy.Chuck, a painter, designer and workshop facilitator earned his BFA from Miami University and worked as an Associate Creative Director for the Walt Disney Company. He received the Art & Innovation Fellowship and the St. Paul Interfaith Scholarship Award from Luther Seminary, where Chuck completed his Master of Arts in Art and Theology. He was their first full time Artist In Residence. Chuck’s passion for the spiritual in art finds inspiration in the transcending connection of art and prayer, regardless of a person’s cultural background or religious tradition.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.orgTo contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org

Pianist Thomas Schmidt

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 14:34:12 -0700

"Music is one thing that everybody has... Before kids learn the alphabet in preschool, they sing... It's something we certainly have in common. Music gives us a model for a shared love that we can experience together in other things as well."Thomas Schmidt was cantor at St Peter's Lutheran Church in New York City for 25 years until his retirement two years ago. The musical repertoire that he incorporated there ran the gamut from Gregorian and Russian chant to choral masterpieces of every age, including contemporary composers, spirituals and gospel music. As part of his work at St Peter's he wrote a substantial amount of liturgical music as well as works for choir and small choral ensembles. The musical high point of the year was always the singing of Bach's St Matthew Passion on Good Friday. Before his time at St Peter's he was a professor in the music department of Concordia College, Bronxville, NY, for 20 years. In addition, as a professional pianist he toured with the Arden Trio for 25 years and made a number of CDs. He is presently pianist of the Omni Quartet. He has been an active member of ALCM and the AGO, serving as a board member of the ALCM and organist and workshop presenter at various conferences. Musical Excerpts:Frédéric Chopin Prelude E minorSamuel Barber Excursions, Movement IIITo learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.orgTo contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org

Gender Diversity in Christian Communities with Austen Hartke

Mon, 23 Sep 2019 16:24:57 -0700

Austen Hartke is the author of Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians, a new book on theology and personal narratives published by Westminster John Knox Press in 2018. He is also the creator of the YouTube series Transgender and Christian, which seeks to understand, interpret, and share parts of the Bible that relate to gender identity and the lives of transgender individuals. Austen is a graduate of Luther Seminary’s Master of Arts program in Old Testament/Hebrew Bible Studies, and is the winner of the 2014 John Milton Prize in Old Testament Writing from the same institution. He has spoken at conferences all over the country, including The Reformation Project Conferences in 2014 and 2017, the Philadelphia Transgender Wellness Conference in 2016 and 2018, and the 2018 Why Christian Conference. He also enjoys speaking at colleges and universities, and working with gender-diverse youth and families as the Faith Coordinator for the nonprofit group Gender Spectrum. As a transgender person of faith, Austen's greatest passion is helping other trans and gender-non-conforming people see themselves in scripture.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Exploring the Healing Forces of Music with Conie Borchardet

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 11:11:37 -0700

Conie Borchardt (she/her or they/them) is a listener, a vibration, and a heartist working for personal healing and collective liberation. A Gen X-er born to new and old immigrants from Europe and Asia on land first familiar to the Dakota nation and now known as Minnesota, Conie is curious about the influences that form and inform us and telling the stories of where we've been and where we are going. Using sound and song, movement and dance, mindfulness and listening, meditation and ritual, Conie helps individuals and groups center themselves in their present reality and lovingly transforms Pain and Possibility into Power and Progress. Conie is a Full Voice Framework™ coach, Dances of Universal Peace Leader, presenter with Music that Makes Community, spiritual director, labyrinth designer and facilitator, Interplay enthusiast, and visual artist. As a church musician, she stands with the Lutheran choral and organ tradition under her feet and steps forward at St. Mary's Episcopal Church and dinner church Table 229 in St. Paul, MN, to bring community together in meaningful ways with aural tradition song leading skills, an interest in embodied prayer practices, and weaving various musical styles.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

The I-Thou Perspective with Minnie Chung

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 09:14:09 -0700

Minnie Chung has been a Registered Nurse in various fields, i.e. psychiatry, oncology, surgery, ophthalmology, for 18 years. She came into nursing wanting to help others and found joy in doing so. In the process, nevertheless, she herself experienced and also noticed compassion fatigue in many other healthcare providers. She studied bioethics to explore if she could address this issue through ethics but found the topic lacking. Later she realized that what’s missing in healthcare providers is their connection to themselves and to something Greater.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

An Exercise in Reflective Writing with Elizabeth Austen

Sat, 31 Aug 2019 11:32:47 -0700

"I want to share a technique that I teach Health Care Providers. It is a tool to tend to our hearts and stay connected to the heart of care. A way to summon a sense of interest and discovery about our feelings. It's difficult to be judging when you are curious."As the Washington State Poet Laureate for 2014-16, Elizabeth Austen traveled to all of the state's 39 counties, offering writing workshops and giving readings. Her collection Every Dress a Decision (Blue Begonia Press, 2011) was a finalist for the Washington State Book Award. She’s also the author of two chapbooks, The Girl Who Goes Alone (Floating Bridge Press, 2010) and Where Currents Meet (Toadlily Press, 2010). Her poems have been featured on The Writer’s Almanac and Verse Daily, in the Los Angeles Review, Bellingham Review and Willow Springs. She has been featured at Poets House in New York City, Minneapolis's The Loft, the Skagit River Poetry Festival, Spokane's Get Lit!, Seattle's Cheap Wine and Poetry and Bumbershoot, among others. Elizabeth produces poetry programming for NPR-affiliate KUOW 94.9 and earned an MFA at Antioch University Los Angeles. She makes her living at Seattle Children’s Hospital, where she also offers poetry and journaling workshops for the staff.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Tolkien And Lewis, Early Ecologists? with Roy Hammerling

Thu, 29 Aug 2019 07:57:50 -0700

Dr. Roy Hammerling, a PhD graduate of the University of Notre Dame in Church History, has been a Professor of Religion at Concordia College for over 20 years. His books include A History of Prayer: The First to the Fifteenth Century and The Lord’s Prayer in the Early Church: The Pearl of Great Price. He has written articles and lectured on Martin Luther, the history of Christian Spirituality, religion and fantasy, religion and film, Islam, and religion in modern culture. He travels regularly with students and alumni groups for Concordia College across Europe, Turkey, and Egypt.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Collective Liberation with Joe Davis and David Scherer-AGAPE

Thu, 29 Aug 2019 07:56:20 -0700

"We're all woven together in an inextricable garment of destiny... Unity is not something we need to seek, it's something we have to remember. Unity is reality... The question becomes, how are we going to live that out together?"Joe Davis is a nationally touring writer, speaker, and performer based in Minneapolis, MN. He is the frontman of emerging soul, funk, and spoken word ensemble, The Poetic Diaspora, and the co-founder/Artistic Director of H-Cubed: Harrison, Healing, Harmony; a monthly event series centered on healing through the arts. As a student and educator, he has served as a teaching artist at dozens of high schools and universities and most recently as the Artist-in Residence at Luther Seminary, receiving a masters in Theology of the Arts. Combining rapping, dancing, storytelling and his fluency in Spanish, AGAPE* connects with his listeners in a way that they really "get it". His energy is contagious, and his stories of faith transcend differences. Nationally acclaimed, he performs 100 times per year for youth across the United States and has also traveled internationally with his ministry Hip Hop Outreach. Dave is a Gustavus and Luther graduate and also serves as the Contextual Learning Coordinator for Luther Seminary.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.orgTo contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org

Poetry and Personal Journeys with Kai Carlson-Wee

Sun, 11 Aug 2019 11:13:12 -0700

"She had been carrying this poem around with her for so many years. It changed the way I thought about language and art... A lot of times, poetry is a very private thing. People come to poetry to have that personal relationship..."Kai Carlson-Wee is the author of RAIL (BOA Editions, 2018). He has received fellowships from the MacDowell Colony, the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, the Sewanee Writers' Conference, and his work has appeared in Ploughshares, Best New Poets, AGNI, New England Review, The Southern Review, Gulf Coast, and The Missouri Review, which awarded him the 2013 Editor’s Prize. His photography has been featured in Narrative Magazine and his award-winning poetry film, Riding the Highline, has screened at film festivals across the country. A former Wallace Stegner Fellow, he lives in San Francisco and teaches poetry at Stanford University.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.orgThe Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. To contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org

Love In The Bible With Fred Niedner

Fri, 02 Aug 2019 10:55:20 -0700

Dr. Fred Niedner is an ordained Lutheran pastor who spent his adult life teaching biblical studies in Valparaiso University's Department of Theology. In his alleged retirement, he does teaching that requires no grading, writes for multiple publications that support the ministry of proclamation, and risks a fortnightly editorial on the Sunday op-ed page of the Chicago Tribune's northwest Indiana edition (Post-Tribune). He and his family have spent time at Holden regularly since 1992, and Fred served two terms on Holden's board of directors.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Reflections on the Book of Ruth with Glenn Jordan

Fri, 02 Aug 2019 10:49:28 -0700

Glenn is a native of Bray in Co Wicklow in Ireland and has been living in Northern Ireland since 1987. For 15 years he has worked on Skainos Square a transformative urban regeneration project in the inner city of Belfast, Northern Ireland. He is currently pursuing doctoral studies in Isaiah looking at the issue of imagination and community transformation. He enjoys sport, particularly rugby, cycling and football, walking his two dogs, listening to music and blogging on the crooked shore.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Neighbors In Faith With Terry Kyllo

Mon, 22 Jul 2019 10:19:26 -0700

"Dehumanization is on the rise. We have to be really thoughtful in our understanding of what it is and how it functions. Dehumanization is when someone proposes there is an us and them and the them is a threat to the vulnerable, our culture, or our physical existence. When someone proposes a them that might be a threat, the fear becomes real even if the threat isn't."The Rev. Terry Kyllo is a Lutheran pastor serving as the director of Neighbors in Faith. He began this work part-time in September of 2016 and full-time in September 0f 2017. A graduate of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, he has been a pastor since 1991 and has served in partnership between Episcopalians and Lutherans since 2004. He is the author of two books, Being Human and Apprenticeship. Terry was the recipient of the Faith Action Network Interfaith Leadership Award in 2016, the Interfaith Leadership Award from the Muslim Association of Puget Sound in 2017, the Sultan and Saint Peace award in 2017, and the Muslim Association of Puget Sound 2018 “Inbound Good” award for a non-Muslim who benefited the Muslim Community.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.orgThe Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. To contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org

The Vision Of Beloved Community With Asa Lee

Mon, 22 Jul 2019 10:16:21 -0700

"The powerful way in which Dr. King expressed beloved community is that this is hard work, but it is good work and beloved community becomes generative. Yes, it's difficult to talk with family and friends about racism, difficult to be defined, and not be grandiosing yourself, those are hard concepts, but when you do it, the community thrives, it generates itself, people want to be apart of it. This is a really important notion, at a time when we are tearing each other apart, that we can actually find ways to build each other up."Rev. Dr. Lee currently serves as Associate Dean for Campus Life and Director of African American Church Studies at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. He earned the Doctor of Ministry degree in Educational Leadership at Virginia Theological Seminary after having earned his Master of Divinity degree cum Laude from Wesley Theological Seminary. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education, Magna cum Laude from Hampton University. Dr. Lee holds membership in several academic, professional and social organizations, including the Golden Key National Honors Society, Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society, the American Academy of Religion, and is a Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.orgThe Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. To contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org

History and Her Story with Roger Scholtz

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 10:52:24 -0700

Over the past 25 years Scholtz has pastored four congregations in diverse contexts as an ordained minister in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA). He has also served as the interim senior pastor at Hyde Park UMC in Tampa, Florida. He’s passionate about communicating the gospel in ways that bring the scriptures alive for people navigating the challenging intersection of faith and life in our contemporary, ever-changing culture. Scholtz believes that the building of radically inclusive, richly diverse missional communities of reconciliation and hope is a key need for our time. Christ-centered servant leadership, solidarity with the poor, empowering the voiceless, celebrating diversity, non-judgmentalism, compassion for the earth, creative storytelling, laughter and authentic worship are essential values for realizing this vision to which he is deeply committed. Scholtz has a PhD in Biblical Studies, and serves on the faculty as an adjunct at the Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. He is an advocate for the full inclusion of LGBTIQA people within the church, and has been at the forefront of the MCSA’s doctrinal engagement with the LGBTIQA conversation for the past fourteen years. Scholtz is married and has four children (and has the dubious distinction of arguably being the only person to ever go down Africa’s highest water slide in a Carducci suit!)To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Verlon Brown On Homelessness And Harmonica

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 10:48:17 -0700

Verlon Brown works the streets of Seattle with homeless addicted people, the very people his mother told him to avoid. He also serves as pastor at Central Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill. Before moving to Seattle, he worked with homeless people in Washington, D.C. and then served as Holden Village Pastor in the early 1990s. He also plays harmonica in a blue-grass band.Musical Excerpt from Blues Vespers Monday June 24, 2019To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

The Book of Jonah with David Campton

Fri, 28 Jun 2019 10:52:37 -0700

David left his native Belfast in 1985, during the civil conflict in Northern Ireland, never intending to return. He studied biological sciences in Scotland and worked as an actor and director but felt called back home to become a Methodist pastor, with an explicit vocation to peacebuilding and community ministry. He is now Superintendent of Belfast Central Mission, one of the oldest Christian charities in Ireland, delivering care to young and old, but in the course of his ministry he has chaired a number of local and regional community initiatives, facilitates political dialogue and is a director of the 4 Corners Festival, an innovative ecumenical programme of events which encourage the citizens of a still divided Belfast to explore different spaces in the city, physically, ideologically and spiritually. He is a frequent broadcaster on BBC radio and regularly writes liturgical and dramatic resources. He is married to Sally, who works for a housing charity, and they have two children, Owain, a student at Glasgow University and Ciaran, who hopes to start university after the summer. An avid reader, football and rugby fan, he tweets ill-informed opinions on just about anything and sporadically blogs as "Virtual Methodist".To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Animal Sensory Awareness with Justin Kiggins

Fri, 28 Jun 2019 10:23:24 -0700

Justin Kiggins, Ph.D., is a Neuroscientist and open science advocate living and working in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a background in music and engineering, Justin has spent over a decade seeking to understand how the brains of birds and mice makes sense of the world around them... how patterns of light and sound become the meaningful signals in the brain that represents objects, concepts, and ideas. Justin received his PhD in Neurosciences at UC San Diego and currently builds software to help biologists and biomedical scientists share and analyze data.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Eco-Reformation with Jim Martin-Schramm

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 09:17:53 -0700

Jim Martin-Schramm joined the Religion faculty of Luther College in 1993. He is an ordained member of the ELCA and holds a doctorate in Christian Ethics from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He is the author, co-author, or co-editor of several publications including Eco-Reformation: Grace and Hope for a Planet in Peril; Earth Ethics: A Case Method Approach; and Climate Justice: Ethics, Energy, and Climate Policy. Jim served on the inaugural board of the Iowa Wind Energy Association and recently completed terms as chair of the board of Iowa Interfaith Power & Light as well as the Winneshiek Energy District. Jim coordinates the Colleges and Universities page for lutheransrestoringcreation.org, directs energy and climate programming for Luther’s Center for Sustainable Communities, and serves on the board of Luther College Wind Energy Project, LLC. Jim and his wife, Karen, live in Decorah, Iowa.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Reawakening Prophetic and Imaginative Spirituality with Asa Lee

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 09:05:00 -0700

Rev. Dr. Lee currently serves as Associate Dean for Community Life and Director of African American Church Studies at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. He has spent twenty years in congregational life as a worship leader, Christian educator, and pastoral leader. He works with churches, and denominational leaders on matters of Christian formation, leadership education and faithful diversity outreach. He earned the Doctor of Ministry degree in Educational Leadership at Virginia Theological Seminary after having earned his Master of Divinity degree cum Laude from Wesley Theological Seminary. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education, Magna cum Laude from Hampton University.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Spirituality through Calligraphy with Laura Norton

Sun, 16 Jun 2019 12:09:38 -0700

Laura Norton is a Bellingham, WA artist whose “grace and grit in modern calligraphy” bring alive words of justice and faith using bamboo and metal pens, goose quills, sable brushes, Japanese stick ink, wax, and acrylic—on walls, windows, silk, clothing, and paper. In addition to teaching art and calligraphy, she delights in giving presentations on the arts’ connection to faith and justice. Laura’s art for the Revised Common Lectionary has been used by congregations throughout the U.S. as well as the U.K. and Australia and she continues the joy-filled discipline of creating new calligraphic designs weekly for subscribers of many denominations. She has participated in numerous international calligraphy conferences and has studied with master calligraphers from around the world, including Donald Jackson, artistic director of the Saint John’s Bible and Scribe to the Queen Elizabeth II. Her two-year experience traveling through all 48 contiguous states in an RV with her young family shaped her sense of adventure and of kinship with people of all socioeconomic levels. Laura currently serves as Chair of the Justice Committee at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Bellingham, WA and on the Board of Grunewald Guild in Plain, WA.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Films of Complex Faith with Seth McClellan

Sun, 16 Jun 2019 12:07:28 -0700

Seth McClellan has made documentary and fictional films that have played at many film festivals and on TV, including King in Chicago about Dr. King’s work with the Chicago Freedom Movement and Little Wound’s Warriors about youth on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He also teaches at Triton College and lives in Oak Park, just outside of Chicago.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

What is White Talk and How to Avoid It with Jeff Kerssen-Griep

Sat, 01 Jun 2019 14:35:20 -0700

"White talk involves routines in speaking that sound like they are advancing the conversation, but really are ending the conversation. These patterns are ways of saying I don't want to talk about this. I'm skeptical about it. I'm a good person. I'm not going to understand this stuff at a systemic level, so I'm responding to it as though it's about the person I am and the choices I'm making."Jeff Kerssen-Griep is a Professor of Communication at the University of Portland, where he especially enjoys teaching Intercultural, Interpersonal, and Barrier-crossing communication courses. His research and workshops help teachers and other group leaders see and shape the skilled interactions that drive engaged, diverse learning/work environments. He also backs contra dance fiddlers on guitar in the PNW bands Joyride and Wild Hair. He lives in Vancouver, WA.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.orgThe Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. To contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org

Tanzania friends Moses and Eliud

Thu, 16 May 2019 09:22:26 -0700

Moses’s basic theological training was in Makumira Univesity College of The Tumaini University from 1997 to 2002, where he graduated with Bachelor of Divinity. He was ordained in 2002. His first appointment was Tumaini Lutheran Seminary from 2002 to 2004. He was assigned to teach both the Bible School and Secondary School. He taught Basic Mathematics and Bible Knowledge in Secondary school and Theological subjects in the Bible School. In 2004 – 2006, he attended the Norwegian Lutheran School of Theology, receiving a Masters of Philosophy in Theology. In 2006 to 2008 Moses worked as General Secretary of Ulanga Kilombero Diocese of The Evangelical Lutheran in Tanzania. He was elected the Assistant to the Bishop of Ulanga Kilombero Diocese of the ELCT in September 2007 and re-elected in 2011 and 2015.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Checking My Privilege with Jeff Kerssen-Griep

Thu, 16 May 2019 09:18:33 -0700

Jeff Kerssen-Griep is a Professor of Communication at the University of Portland, where he especially enjoys teaching Intercultural, Interpersonal, and Barrier-crossing communication courses. His research and workshops help teachers and other group leaders see and shape the skilled interactions that drive engaged, diverse learning/work environments. He also backs contra dance fiddlers on guitar in the PNW bands Joyride and Wild Hair. He lives in Vancouver, WA.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Poems of Love and Praise with Rebecca Wee

Sun, 05 May 2019 12:27:43 -0700

Professor Rebecca Wee has taught poetry, creative nonfiction, composition, and literature courses at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL since 1994. Wee has been a published poet since 2001 and a mother since 2003. In 2015 she married to Bradley Levinson, a professor of education and anthropology, and she hails from a family of teachers, Lutheran pastors, poets, ranchers, and politicians.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Reforming the Stories We Tell with Kaethe Schwehn

Sun, 05 May 2019 12:14:16 -0700

Kaethe Schwehn is the author of the post-apocalyptic novel The Rending and the Nest, a collection of poems entitled Tanka & Me, and a memoir, Tailings, which details a year she spent living at Holden from 2001-2002. Kaethe teaches at St. Olaf College and lives in Northfield with her husband and two children.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

The U.S./Mexico Border: Inequality, Resistance, and Sanctuary

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 13:20:54 -0700

Katie Sharar has lived and worked in the U.S./Mexico borderlands since 2003. In this place, she has studied, taught college and adult basic education, accompanied people leaving detention and migrating from south to north, and crossed herself between Mexico and the U.S. thousands of times. She grew up in California, attended college in Minnesota, and moved immediately after graduation to El Paso/Juarez to live in solidarity with migrants in a Catholic Worker inspired house of hospitality. She then worked with immigrant families (mothers and children) recently released from a detention facility in Austin, Texas, before moving to Guatemala to accompany human rights advocates there. In 2008, she moved to Tucson, where she currently resides, to pursue a graduate degree. She has stayed because it is home, and to participate in the rhythms of the beautiful, inspiring, and heartbreaking place.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Borders and the Bible with Sara Schultz

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 13:15:13 -0700

Sara currently serves as the Director of Admission at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) in Berkeley, CA, where she has the privilege of accompanying people in vocational discernment. She received her Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York in 2014 and a Certificate of Advanced Theological Studies from PLTS in 2017. She has worked as a legal assistant and as a Spanish/ English translator for an immigration law firm and is passionate about immigrant and refugee rights. Sara has lived in Ecuador, Argentina, and most recently in Chile, where she served as the intern at the Iglesia Evangélica Luterana el Buen Samaritano in Peñalolén, Santiago.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Reincorporating: Improv as a Tool for Mutual Transformation

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 09:47:25 -0700

David approaches life and the world with a growing curiosity, wonder, and a posture of “yes.” He savors Ignatian and Jesuit spirituality and longs to enter the Story more each day, sensing the deep, present, joyful Love of Jesus, who calls us Beloved. David serves as the Director of Development at Tierra Nueva – a non-profit ministry that comes alongside incarcerated and immigrant people in the Skagit Valley of Washington State. In 2011 he began taking improv classes from the Upfront Theatre in Bellingham, where he resides. Last year he received a Pastoral Study Project grant from the Louisville Institute to explore the impact of improv with those on the margins and those in the mainstream church. He’s been delighted to discover that the more he explores this world of improv, the larger it becomes.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Multiplicity as Way of Life and Way of Life

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 09:44:18 -0700

Rev. Dr. Cynthia Linder comes from a Midwestern family with a crazy-quilted immigrant background (her grandfather was a Palestinian immigrant; her grandmother was from Italy.) Despite the homogeneity of her 1950s small town, she was deeply shaped by her grandparents’ diverse cultures—their plural languages, Mediterranean music and foods, and their spiritual and religious sensibilities. This textured upbringing funded her abiding delight in ambiguity and multiplicity: she studied theology and psychology; attended a college of the church (St. Olaf College) and a “secular” research university (the University of Chicago); was ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and trained as a psychotherapist; and was a pastor in small town Oregon for 16 years while serving as a hospice chaplain and a pastoral psychotherapist. She returned to the Divinity School at Chicago in 2002 to direct its ministry program, which opened its doors to students from a wide variety of faith traditions a few years later. She currently teaches worship practices, spiritual care and counseling, and community leadership to students who come from many different Christian denominations, as well as Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucian traditions. Linder’s research is fueled by her long-standing interest in the complicated ways that human beings “tell themselves” how our various communities shape us through story and embodied practices, and how, in our current climate or rapid change, these communities can learn to honor and embrace difference.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Engaging Community with Jeanine Reardon and Julie Boleyn

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 15:57:59 -0700

The Rev. Julie Boleyn is a pastor in Berwyn, Illinois, a town of approximately 56,000 people. She serves as pastor to both Unity Lutheran, and Comunidad Unida (a new bilingual, intercultural worshiping community). Under her leadership Unity Lutheran launched Awake! Time to Rise, a community development organization that specializes in education and engagement. This organization has incubated other groups, of which Julie has been a part. This includes Berwyn Comunidad en Accíon, a group that has organized around social justice issues in Berwyn, including facilitating the passage of a Welcoming City Ordinance, and increasing the minimum wage. The group is currently working to support DACA recipients, and other immigrants. Julie lives in Berwyn with her spouse, Jeanine Reardon, and their 8-year-old daughter Madelyn.The Rev. Jeanine Reardon is a pastor serving as a Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor. In her work, she helps her students understand their own gifts as resource in their ministry. She also serves Berwyn on city council as the 3rd Ward Alderman. She uses her gifts as a chaplain in tending to the heartbreak and hope of the community, helping the community connect across difference. Jeanine was elected as part of a slate of candidates that drastically improved the diversity of civic leadership, raising up Latino and gay and lesbian candidates for service.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Faith and Politics with John Marty

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 15:48:22 -0700

John is a Minnesota state senator and a strong advocate for government ethics, social and economic justice, and environmental stewardship of the planet. John works for public policies that serve the entire community, especially the homeless, those without healthcare and other vulnerable people. His focus is on prevention, addressing challenges up front, to build a better future and prevent problems before they start. Senator Marty co-chaired a Legislative Commission on Ending Poverty. He is the author of Healing Health Care, a book spelling out a path to replace our dysfunctional health insurance system with health care for all, saving money while improving health. John and his wife Connie have a long-term connection to Holden. He is a graduate of St. Olaf College with a B.A. in Ethics, and they live in Roseville.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Mindfulness in Policing with Richard Goerling

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 15:15:12 -0700

Richard has served in law enforcement for over two decades. He’s held both federal and municipal level positions in a variety of investigative and operational assignments. Richard has spearheaded the introduction of mindfulness into policing as part of a larger cultural transformation toward a compassionate, skillful and resilient warrior ethos. He is a thought leader in resiliency, performance, leading change and community building in policing. Richard served in the United States Coast Guard Reserve for 27 years, both active and reserve, retiring in 2015 at the rank of Commander while assigned to Coast Guard Sector Charleston, SC. His early active-duty tours included serving as an officer aboard a high endurance cutter, and as an instructor at the Coast Guard’s maritime law enforcement academy. He serves as an affiliate assistant professor in the Graduate School of Psychology at Pacific University in Oregon and serves as a co-investigator in a current NIH funded study looking at mindfulness in policing. Richard completed a year-long training program at the University of California at Los Angeles, Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC) under the direction of Diana Winston, Dr. Susan Smalley, and Dr. Marvin Belzer. He is a Certified Mindfulness Facilitator through UCLA.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Reclaiming the Middle Ground with Laura Gifford

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 15:10:23 -0700

Dr. Laura Gifford is a candidate for Word and Service ministry in the ELCA and a scholar of American political history. Currently a student at Portland Seminary, she holds a Ph.D. in American history from the University of California, Los Angeles, and she taught history courses for several years at George Fox University and other northwest Oregon colleges. Her academic publications include books and articles on post-World War II American politics with a focus upon the history of party politics and growing political polarization. She has also published articles in Lutheran denominational magazines for both children and adults. Her call to pursue ministry rests in the conviction that moving beyond a zero-sum politics of scarcity toward a worldview of abundance requires engaging mind, body, and spirit. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, daughter, and large orange cat. A member of Resurrection Lutheran Church, Gifford enjoys jogging, hiking, reading, British TV, and volunteering at the Oregon Historical Society.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Unearned Intimacies with Jason DeRose

Mon, 18 Mar 2019 12:42:56 -0700

Jason DeRose loves audio storytelling. He began listening to public radio as a young child in the back seat of his parents’ car and began making radio himself in high school. He went to St. Olaf College and the University of Chicago Divinity School. Now, he’s the Western Bureau Chief and Senior Editor for Religion and LGBTQ Issues at NPR News, where he’s worked for more than a decade. He’s a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Santa Monica, where he chairs the congregation’s Seminary Internship Committee. He likes doing yoga, lifting weights, cooking dinner, and reading novels. He lives in Santa Monica with his husband Willis and their dog Ajax. They grow Meyer lemons on the balcony.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Finding Faith in Feathered Friends with Holly Hughes

Wed, 13 Mar 2019 21:00:00 -0700

"When I look back on my life, I see that birds have always been part of my family, speaking to me, sometimes directly, sometimes indirectly... I can't imagine my life without birds, even if their presence is fleeting. They are my family, my relations, without them the world would be a less vibrant, less musical place." from Passings - Holly J. Hughes.

Holly is a writing teacher, poet and essayist with a long-time interest in writing, nature and contemplative practice. She has taught writing workshops at Fishtrap, the Rainier Writers Workshop, and Edmonds Write on the Sound, as well as teaching at Edmonds Community College, where she co-directed the Convergence Writer’s Series.

Her fine-art chapbook Passings received an American Book Award in 2017. A former commercial salmon fisherman and mariner, she has spent 30 summers working in Alaska, most recently as a naturalist, and currently divides her time between Indianola and Chimacum, Washington.

https://www.hollyjhughes.com/

To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.

Modern Food Systems with Katie Monsen

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 15:29:20 -0700

Katie Monsen is a lecturer in Environmental Studies and the Rachel Carson College at the University of California Santa Cruz, where she earned her PhD. She grew up in Spokane, Washington, attended Pacific Lutheran University, and also lived in Iowa while earning her master's degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. She has fallen in love with food systems and ecosystems from the Pacific Northwest to the Midwest to California's Central Coast and beyond, and loves to help others fall in love with them, too. Katie teaches courses in sustainability, freshwater ecology, agroecology, and climate change, making space for her students to get their hands dirty and their feet wet as much as possible. On the side she keeps her own hands busy by cooking, knitting, crocheting, and gardening, spending time outside with her husband and daughters, and reading.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Genetic Technologies with Marc Marenco

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 15:24:53 -0700

Dr. Marc Marenco is a member of the philosophy department at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. He teaches courses in bioethics as well as philosophy of religion, science and religion, and First Year Seminar. He took his first graduate degree from Yale Divinity School in 1983 (M.Div.) followed by a degree in philosophy from Oxford in 1992. (D.Phil.) With a colleague in biology (Lisa Sardinia) he was awarded a $257,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to work for two years with twenty-one religious communities in the greater Portland area in Oregon. The program was adapted for use by the Canadian Council of Churches. Marenco lives in Forest Grove with his wife, Ale, and their son, Paul. His wife is a molecular biologist. His son... is not. He is a fanatical longboard enthusiast and discovered in addition to dubstep he digs Chopin and Beethoven (alright... and Scott Joplin). Marenco also has a daughter, Dascha, who will graduate from Pacific University this year in International Business. Marenco looks forward to hosting an exchange student from Costa Rica soon.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Conflict is Inevitable, War is a Choice with Kathy Beckwith

Sun, 03 Mar 2019 18:48:34 -0800

Kathy Beckwith is a mediator from Dayton, Oregon, having worked with both school mediation training (K-12) and community mediation programs. She has mediated in parent/teen, victim/offender, and neighborhood mediation, and volunteers as a school mediation coach. A longtime peace advocate, Kathy became concerned about America’s strong reliance on war to resolve international conflict. Concern led to research and study and finally to the book A Mighty Case Against War: What America Missed in US History Class and What We (All) Can Do Now, published in 2016. Kathy is also author of the picture book Playing War; a young adult novel, Critical Mass, dealing with sexual abuse in the lives of teens; and three books relating to problem-solving – If You Choose Not to Hit, The Mediators, and a curriculum guide for elementary schools. Kathy is a graduate of Northwest Nazarene University. She has worked as a Peace Corps Volunteer, caregiver in a residential home for boys, secretary for a geological exploration office, college Director of Financial Aid, and teacher at an international school in South India. She is a mom and grandma, and loves to pick wild blackberries and turn them into pie.It's time to abandon war. There are alternatives. | Kathy Beckwith | TEDxMcMinnville Talk https://youtu.be/4lt03g2hSHkTo learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Illness and Healing with Barbara Rossing

Sun, 03 Mar 2019 18:40:08 -0800

Barbara Rossing first came to Holden as Waitri in 1973 and also served as Village pastor 1986-88. She is professor of New Testament at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, where she also directs the seminary’s environmental ministry emphasis. Her publications include The Rapture Exposed: The Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation (Basic Books, 2004); Journeys Through Revelation: Apocalyptic Hope for Today (Presbyterian Church USA, 2010); “Revelation” in The Fortress Commentary on the Bible (2014), and articles and book chapters on the Bible and ecology, including the Lutheran World Federation's publication "Creation-- Not For Sale." She chairs the Society of Biblical Literature's Ecological Hermeneutics section, and is active in public theology in both the scholarly academy and the church, working on climate change and the Bible. She loves working on the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017, including ecumenical responses to Pope Francis’s encyclical letter on climate change. She received the MDiv degree from Yale University Divinity School, and the ThD from Harvard University.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Racism in America with Kris Voss-Rothmeier

Sun, 10 Feb 2019 15:48:40 -0800

Rev. Kris Voss-Rothmeier is a Presbyterian minister and middle school teacher in Portland, Oregon. Right after college, Kris worked and lived in a homeless shelter through a volunteer organization in an inner-city neighborhood in Washington, DC. He also worked as a full-time volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in San Antonio, TX and Baltimore, MD before living at Holden Village as the fire chief from 1990 to 1992. He and his wife, Susan, met at Holden in 1991. He began seminary at San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1992 and spent his internship year in the Philippines in 1994. Upon graduation, he pastored two multi-racial churches in St. Louis, Missouri in the late 1990s. In 1997, Kris was trained as an anti-racism workshop leader in St. Louis through the National Conference for Community and Justice and has preached and led workshops on anti-racism themes since then. In 2000, he and Susan moved to Portland where he served as Associate Pastor for youth and Christian Education at Milwaukie Presbyterian Church for five years. In 2006, he earned his M.Ed from Portland State University and he currently teaches Social Studies at Clear Creek Middle School in Gresham, Oregon. Clear Creek has a very diverse student population where white students are the minority. In June 2017, he completed a year-long course of study at the University of Portland which focused on equity training for educators. His wife works in the Multnomah County Library as a social worker. Their two children, Henry and Ellie, are both adopted from the Philippines and attend schools in Portland.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Creativity and Faith with Will Chiles

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 11:26:13 -0800

Will Chiles is a graduate of Missouri State University with a degree in music and religious studies. He has also studied victim/offender mediation, dead languages, and Music Learning Theory. After graduating from MSU, Will worked as a cook, Wilderness First Responder, and liturgical composer in the Cascade Mountains at Holden Village, Washington. After spending a time as a cook in Wisconsin, he helped build a Net-Zero Energy/LEED Certified/Smart/tornado resistant house for his uncle (Rockspan.com). In the fall of 2014, he was a Banff Centre Artist in Residence."St. James Infirmary" recorded August 1, 2018 at the Lift, Holden Village.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Nature Journals with Matt Hinkley

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 10:45:15 -0800

Matt Hinkley has been a teacher for 13 years and grew up hiking the Cascades. He loves spending time in nature and has a passion for outdoor field science education that gives learners the tools to discover their own passion for the natural world. He’s taught science in grades 7-12 in middle and high schools in Berkeley and Seattle. He added AP Environmental Science to the Seattle Public Schools’ catalog in 2008 and taught it at Nathan Hale High School, and was honored as the 2017 Distinguished Educator of the Year in Berkeley schools. He has presented at the meeting of the North American Association of Environmental Education and has written teaching guides for the American Federation of Teachers’ science cadre. Hinkley has taught nature journaling in the schoolyard and on field trips for his students, and he has facilitated professional development for K-8 teachers about nature journaling and other science teaching topics. He works to include all of his students and to promote the abilities of students from underserved populations, and is an activist for social justice through his union. Most of all, he loves being outdoors with a bunch of students – whether they’re children, adults, colleagues, clients, and whether they feel brand new to nature or are seasoned naturalists – he loves being outdoors and seeing his students discover their own passion for the natural world.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Interfaith with Rabbi Yohanna Kinberg

Thu, 24 Jan 2019 13:26:04 -0800

Rabbi Yohanna Kinberg has served as Kol Ami's rabbi since 2014. Before coming to Kol Ami, she was an assistant rabbi and director of education at Temple B’nai Torah in Bellevue, Washington for 11 years. Rabbi Kinberg is a graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and a member of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association. She is involved with JStreet, Jewish Federation, Jewish Family Services, Faith Action Network, the Institute for Jewish Spirituality and a variety of other organizations working towards peace, justice, sustainability, and interfaith connections.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Interfaith with Imam Adam Jamal

Thu, 24 Jan 2019 13:24:32 -0800

Imam Adam Jamal is the Executive Director of Education and Assistant Imam at the Muslim Association of Puget Sound or MAPS in Redmond, WA. He was born and raised in Houston, Texas. He truly believes in the ability of faith to bring communities together. His current focus at MAPS is to help American Muslim youth face the challenges of growing up in a climate of rising Islamophobia. With his traditional training in Islam and a Master’s in Education, he hopes to dispel stereotypes and misconceptions about Islam and Muslims.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Interfaith with Rev. Terry Kyllo

Thu, 24 Jan 2019 13:14:34 -0800

The Rev. Terry Kyllo is an ELCA pastor serving as the director of Neighbors in Faith an interfaith effort to recognize Muslims as neighbors and partners in building a more peaceful world, authorized by the Episcopal and Lutheran churches in western Washington. A graduate of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, he has been a pastor since 1991 and has served in partnership between Episcopalians and Lutherans since 2004. He is the author of two books, Being Human and Apprenticeship. He feels that interfaith dialogue is essential in learning to live with each other given our cultural differences. He and his wife Sheryl live in Anacortes, WA. They have two daughters. Terry was the recipient of the Faith Action Network Interfaith Leadership Award in 2016, the Interfaith Leadership Award from the Muslim Association of Puget Sound in 2017, and the Sultan and Saint Peace award in 2017.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

From Incarceration to Re-formation

Fri, 18 Jan 2019 09:25:01 -0800

Jennifer is Assistant Director of Snohomish County Public Defender Association and an affiliate Instructor of Law at University of Washington overseeing the Street Law Clinic. Snohomish County Public Defender Association provides legal defense to indigent people accused of crimes. The Street Law Clinic is an outreach program for law students to educate high school students in basic concepts of law.Rachel Forde has an attorney at the Snohomish County Public Defender Association for 12 years. She received a Washington Defender Association President’s Award in 2007 and served on the WDA Board of Directors from 2008-2013. She currently serves on the Washington State Bar Association Legislative Committee. She is a 2005 graduate of Indiana University School of Law in Bloomington, IN. Rachel also has an extensive background in politics including working for Gore, Kerry and Obama presidential campaigns.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Zero Waste and the Geography of Garbage with Jen Blecha

Tue, 08 Jan 2019 10:59:54 -0800

Jen Blecha is on the Geography & Environment faculty at San Francisco State University, where she teaches about food sovereignty, sustainable agriculture, environmental justice, and waste reduction. Taking students on field trips to farms, markets, restaurants, landfills, and wastewater treatment plants has made her think a lot about the “urban metabolism” ~ what goes in and what goes out. A lifelong Lutheran, she is currently a member of St Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco, where she enjoys roles in the choir, the Vestry, and as a lay deacon. Jen was part of Holden’s Winter Community in 1992-93.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Courage in Fearful Times with Anthony Bateza

Thu, 03 Jan 2019 14:10:48 -0800

Anthony Bateza earned degrees from Iowa State University (B.S, 2002), Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (M.Div., 2006), and Princeton Theological Seminary (Ph.D., 2017). Dr. Bateza is a specialist in Martin Luther, moral theology and Christian ethics. His research examines Luther’s understanding of human agency and his relationship with the virtue tradition. His other scholarly interests include the broader Augustinian tradition, the impact of Luther’s thought on 19th century philosophy, and questions of race, identity, and social justice. Anthony is an ordained pastor in the Lutheran Church (ELCA). He lives in Northfield with his wife, Cynthia, and two young children, Austen and Magdalene. In his free time he enjoys cycling, board games, gardening and cooking.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Anthropology, Archeology, and Reformation with Cecilia Porter

Mon, 31 Dec 2018 13:11:55 -0800

Cecilia Porter holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Victoria, and a master’s degree in archaeology from the University of Calgary. In between she worked on the central coast of BC on archaeological projects that made it a priority to collaborate with indigenous nations and work within their frameworks. For her Masters degree her research once again focused on working with an indigenous nation, this time the Inuit of northern Hudson Bay who wished to reach beyond their remote Arctic location to tell their youth and all the world about their impressive history, in order to bridge gaps between peoples. This work is important on an international level because knowledge and understanding fights racism and discrimination. Porter has traveled extensively to places such as Africa, South America, Greenland and tiny indigenous villages in the Canadian Arctic and northwest coast, expanding her worldview.To visit Cecilia's Masters work, a panoramic interactive tour of Arvia'juaq, in the Canadian Arctic, visit: http://www.aina.ucalgary.ca/arviajuaq/Tour.htmlTo learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

The Adaptive Change Facing the Church with David Nagler

Wed, 19 Dec 2018 13:08:39 -0800

Pastor David Nagler is a born and raised Southern Californian. His degrees are from Humboldt State University, University of Redlands, and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. He has served congregations in Encinitas, San Diego, and Bend, Oregon. For 2 years, he served in Madagascar in a project that started interfaith dialogue between Christian and Muslim communities. From 2012 until January of 2015 he was the CEO and Pastor for Central City Lutheran Mission in San Bernardino. CCLM is a social ministry of the ELCA that provides housing, food, education, health care, and empowerment for the most vulnerable people in a city of extreme poverty. Currently he serves as pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Pacific Beach, California. He has twin daughters and is married to Ivy Nagler who teaches yoga and economics for the University of Redlands.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Fear and Fear Not with Bishop Elizabeth Eaton

Sun, 16 Dec 2018 15:28:26 -0800

Elected as the ELCA’s fourth presiding bishop at the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the Rev. Elizabeth Eaton earned a Master of Divinity degree from Harvard Divinity School and a Bachelor of Music Education from the College of Wooster. Ordained in 1981, Eaton served three congregations in Ohio before being elected bishop of the ELCA Northeastern Ohio Synod in 2006 and re-elected in May 2013. Eaton’s four emphases for the ELCA are: We are church. We are Lutheran. We are church together. We are church for the sake of the world. These four emphases are fundamental to identifying who the ELCA is. In 2015, under Eaton’s leadership, the ELCA underwent an extensive vision process to help this church journey faithfully and effectively together in the years ahead. The process resulted in Future Directions 2025, a strategic framework that serves shared leadership across the ELCA to realize common aspirations and better face the challenges of this church. In addition, with Eaton’s guidance, the ELCA launched Bishop Eaton’s Leadership Initiative, which encourages all ELCA members to seek out and inspire gifted people in our congregations and communities to consider a call to the ministry of the gospel. Eaton also called together a task force in 2016 to draft a policy statement for inter-religious relations in the ELCA. As the chief ecumenical officer of the ELCA, she represents this church in a wide range of ecumenical and interfaith settings. She is the vice president for North America on the Council of The Lutheran World Federation and serves on the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA Governing Board and Development Committee, and Religions for Peace USA Council of Presidents. As presiding bishop, Eaton travels extensively, representing the ELCA in a variety of capacities. This has included a visit to a Syrian refugee camp, commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation with Lutherans from around the world in Namibia and participating in an ecumenical service commemorating the Reformation in the Lund, Sweden, cathedral with Pope Francis. Eaton’s husband is the Rev. T. Conrad Selnick, an Episcopal priest. They are parents of two adult children, Rebeckah and Susannah.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Singing Good Courage with Elizabeth Damico

Thu, 13 Dec 2018 14:28:12 -0800

Elizabeth served as Village Musician in 2011. She graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. Elizabeth spent time working in music ministry for Pacific Lutheran University and congregations in Tacoma, Washington, Grand Forks, North Dakota and in Minneapolis. She studied at Luther Seminary and was called by Holden Village to be associate pastor in 2013.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

The Idea of the Promised Land with Doug Thorpe

Thu, 13 Dec 2018 08:33:47 -0800

Dr. Doug Thorpe has been teaching in Christian higher ed for 35 years in literature and creative writing and has four books published. He has done volunteer work with Earth Ministry, a Christian based national environmental nonprofit. He serves as co-chair of the board of Friends of Sabeel North America, also a Christian based nonprofit working on peace and justice in the holy land, and serves on the board of Pongo, a nonprofit using poetry writing workshops with incarcerated teens.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Poetry Re-Forms our Relationship to Nature with Kate Thorpe

Wed, 28 Nov 2018 07:15:20 -0800

Kate Thorpe is a doctoral candidate in English at Princeton University. Her dissertation seeks to reexamine the trope of personification in eighteenth-century poetry from Milton to Wordsworth. She is also currently completing a poetic manuscript, The Marriage of Art and Industry, about the transformation of post-industrial architecture through art in the Ruhrgebiet, Germany based on research conducted on a Fulbright Fellowship. Kate received an M.F.A. from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and her poems have appeared in American Letters & Commentary, Court Green, Volt, and WSQ, among other literary journals. Kate teaches as a preceptor at Princeton, and has taught literature and creative writing courses at the University of Iowa, Wesleyan University, and the Technical University in Dortmund, Germany.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Come Out My People with Wes Howard-Brook

Sun, 25 Nov 2018 16:09:33 -0800

Wes Howard-Brook has been teaching, writing and living at the intersection of church, academy and the world since 1988. After a career as an attorney for the US federal government and Washington state governments, Wes left law practice in 1985 to earn a Master of Divinity degree at Seattle University. He has been teaching Bible and theology at Seattle University since 2003. He has written, co-written or co-edited seven books, including two on the Gospel of John: Becoming Children of God: John’s Gospel and Radical Discipleship and John’s Gospel and the Renewal of the Church. He is co-author of Unveiling Empire: Reading Revelation Then and Now. Wes’ recent project is the two-volumes “Come Out, My People!:” God’s Call Out of Empire In the Bible and Beyond. and Empire Baptized: How “Christianity” Embraced What Jesus Rejected, 2nd-5th Centuries. He has also written for numerous publications, including Sojourners, The Other Side, Tikkun Daily, and several Catholic Worker newspapers.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Howard Thurman Speaks to the Contemporary Christian

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 10:37:12 -0800

Ridgeway Addison is an educator and researcher in the fields of spirituality, theology, and ethics. He is a specialist on the American minister and public theologian Howard Thurman. Thurman's own interest during his life in Christian mysticism and nonviolence, contemplative pedagogy, and interreligious encounter and dialogue inform and inspire Dr. Addison's current work in these areas. Currently working as an adjunct Assistant Professor at Georgetown University’s School of Nursing & Health Studies, Dr. Addison was the first theologian to serve on the SNHS full-time faculty (2011-2015). He teaches in both undergraduate and graduate programs offering two primary courses—Religious Perspectives on the Problem of Suffering and Health Care Ethics. Dr. Addison is an ordained Baptist minister associated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Alliance of Baptists. He brings his 22 years of experience in pastoral ministry, including 12 years of Protestant Chaplaincy work at Georgetown, to his work as an educator. Dr. Addison currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Washington Theological Consortium and is active in the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation’s programming. A musician and composer, he regularly incorporates music and other arts into his teaching, speaking, and scholarship. He is married to the Reverend Sarah Scherschligt, lead pastor and head of staff at Peace Lutheran Church, Alexandria, VA. They have two young daughters, Magdalene and Lydia.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Aging with Dignity with Steve Arnold

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 10:22:57 -0800

Dr. Steve Arnold is a Deacon of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is a member of the Lutheran Diaconal Association community. Steve is certified as a Director of Christian Education and as a Lutheran Teacher. He has served the Church through parish ministry, teaching at a Lutheran high school, and serving on the faculty of a Lutheran university where he taught parish leadership and lifespan faith formation. Steve currently serves as a Chaplain at a senior living facility that encompasses assisted living, memory care, transitional care and long term care. Steve is trained as a certified dementia practitioner and as a Spiritual Director, in the Christian tradition. Steve is noted as a teacher, retreat leader, speaker, author, chaplain, tour leader and bridge-builder. His work has included a number of cross-cultural and international experiences of bringing Christians together from around the world to learn and grow together. Steve’s doctoral work and research are in the areas of adult development, with emphases in gerontology. Specific application of these studies have been made to transitions in faith formation throughout the lifespan. Special focus in the research has been to equip adults for developing increased responsibility for personal life and development in the third-third of life.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Being Creation's Advocate with Mary Hess

Thu, 01 Nov 2018 14:33:07 -0700

Mary Hess has been an environmental engineer for the last 32 years. She has assisted communities with public health issues and industries with environmental policy paradigm shifts. She has mentored children and adults in developing healthy visions for themselves and our world. Although she does not have an education degree, she has enthusiastically taught Sunday school at Christ The Servant Lutheran Church, Math and Chemistry afterschool programs, Environmental Education at Lutherwood, various subjects as a Girl Scout Leader, and many young adults how to be ethical environmental engineers. Her call to be an environmental advocate for God’s Creation started when she was 12 years old.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Spoken Word Poetry with Joe Davis

Mon, 22 Oct 2018 10:10:27 -0700

Joe Davis is a nationally-touring writer, speaker, and performer based in Minneapolis, MN. He is the frontman of emerging soul, funk, and spoken word ensemble, The Poetic Diaspora, and the co-founder and Artistic Director of H-Cubed: Harrison, Healing, and Harmony, a monthly event series centered on healing through the arts. As a student and educator, he has served as teaching artist at dozens of high schools and universities, most recently the Artist-in- Residence at Luther Seminary, receiving a masters in Theology of the Arts.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Peace of My Mind with John Noltner

Sun, 14 Oct 2018 15:57:21 -0700

"I was frustrated with the quality of our national dialogue and concerned with all of the things that ask us to look at what separates us. I wondered if I could use my photography and storytelling instead to look at what connect us."John is a Minnesota-based photographer. For 25 years he has made images for national magazines, Fortune 500 companies, and non-profit organizations. In 2009 he founded A Peace of My Mind, a multimedia arts project that explores our common humanity through portraits and storytelling as he asks people from across the country to consider the simple question, “What does peace mean to you?”A Peace of My Mind Website https://apomm.net/To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.orgThe Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. To contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org

Becoming an Irish Poet with Pádraig Ó Tuama

Mon, 03 Sep 2018 17:33:24 -0700

"Lyrical poetry carries at it's heart the radical belief that the self narrating I can have something to offer the wide world. That the individual might say, I have something to say, and it might not be just for yourself, it might somehow be a place in which many peoples find deep narrative echo of their own lives."Poet, theologian and group worker, Pádraig has worked with groups in Ireland, Britain, the US and Australia. With interests in storytelling, group work, theology and conflict, Pádraig lectures, leads retreats and writes both poetry and prose. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Divinity from Maryvale Institute, Birmingham (validated by Pontifical College, Maynooth) and a Masters of Theology from Queens University Belfast.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.orgThe Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. To contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org

Grandpa's Letter with Larry Rasmussen

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 10:39:23 -0700

"The early Anthropocene is where I leave my life behind and you begin yours. You cannot know what I would give so you did not live out your days on this trajectory of climate instability, mass uncertainty, and breath taking extinction across the community of life. I pray that you are able to bring adaptation from distress. What I know, is that Anthropocene citizens who continue Holocene habits, doom their children. Nonetheless, the world has not stopped being beautiful, so claim the beauty that is. Beauty is it's own resistance."Larry L. Rasmussen is Reinhold Niebuhr Professor Emeritus of Social Ethics, Union Theological Seminary, New York City. His book, Earth-Honoring Faith: Religious Ethics in a New Key, received the Nautilus Book Awards as the Gold Prize winner for Ecology/Environment and as the Grand Prize winner for best 2014 book overall. He has been the organizer of the decade project on Earth-Honoring Faith at Ghost Ranch. An earlier volume, Earth Community, Earth Ethics, won the prestigious Grawemeyer Award in Religion of 1997. He served as a member of the Science, Ethics, and Religion Advisory Committee of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and was a recipient of a Henry Luce Fellowship in Theology, 1998-99, the Burnice Fjellman Award for Distinguished Christian Ministries in Higher Education, the Joseph Sittler Award for Outstanding Leadership in Theological Education, and the UNITAS (Distinguished Alumnus) Award from Union Theological Seminary, New York. From 1990-2000 he served as co-moderator of the World Council of Churches unit, Justice, Peace, Creation. He and Nyla live in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They are Santa Fe County Master Gardeners.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.orgThe Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. To contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org

Fear Not – Struggles and Suffering with Gary Mason

Fri, 17 Aug 2018 12:25:06 -0700

Rev. Dr. Gary Mason is a Methodist minister and directs a conflict transformation organisation based in Belfast called "Rethinking Conflict." Prior to this he spent 27 years as a Methodist clergy person in parish ministry in Belfast and has played an integral role in the Northern Irish peace process. He played a key role in establishing the Skainos project which is a world class urban centre developed in a post conflict society as a model of co existence and shared space, it is acknowledged as the largest faith-based redevelopment project in Western Europe. Mason is a close advisor to Protestant ex-combatants on the civilianisation efforts of paramilitaries. He was instrumental in facilitating negotiations with paramilitaries and government officials, and in 2007 his contribution was formally recognised by the Queen. In 2009, Mason’s church was the stage from which Loyalist paramilitaries announced their weapons decommissioning. Mason has lectured in political and academic forums throughout Europe, South Africa, the Middle East and the U.S.A. on lessons from the Irish peace process. He has been interviewed on CNN, BBC, ITV and various radio programs. He holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Ulster, completed his theological studies at Queens University, and a Bachelor’s in Business Studies from the University of Ulster. Gary is a Research Fellow at the Kennedy Institute for Conflict Intervention at Maynooth University in Ireland. He is a Adjunct Professor at the Candler School of theology at Emory University in Atlanta lecturing on reconciliation peace-building, the history of the N Ireland conflict, racism, sectarianism and conflict transformation.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Acting and Singing Thecla: Her Story Comes Alive with Natalie Perkins

Mon, 30 Jul 2018 09:55:34 -0700

Natalie Renee Perkins is a professional performer and proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association. She has traveled internationally with two major cruise lines, toured the country with Hairspray and RENT, been a featured singer with multiple symphony orchestras, and performs regularly with the USO Show Troupe. This past year she has been seen as "Deloris" in Sister Act, "Annie" in It Shoulda Been You and returned to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s holiday production– Yuletide Celebration– for the second year in a row. Natalie received her Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York where she focused on Theology and the Arts– with Womanism, Scripturalization, and extra canonical texts at the heart of her studies. During her time at Union, she composed original music from the text of six of the Odes of Solomon. She now engages our earliest tradition with our contemporary society through a social justice lens as a writer (contributor for the Daily Guideposts), lecturer, preacher, chaplain (NYU) and composer. She is also a co-founder of the newly formed Tanho Center. Additionally, she facilitates discussions on social equality (specifically but not limited to race/racism). Her insatiable curiosity regarding our earliest Jesus-following tradition led her professor, Hal Taussig, to introduce her to the Westar Institute. She began working with this institute as a founding member of their Praxis Forum (formerly Young Leaders in Religion) in 2014 and is working on a podcast, called Better Not Mention It, that aims to bridge the gap between religious scholarship and the general population. In Acting and Singing Thecla, Natalie, produces a short musical in a week about the first and second century story of Thecla, a young woman who rejects family and battles violent Roman government to join the Apostle Paul to become a teacher and healer like him. Song excerpt from Thecla by Natalie Perkins and John HermansonTo learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

The Acts of Thecla with Hal Taussig

Mon, 30 Jul 2018 09:48:29 -0700

Hal Taussig is visiting Professor of New Testament at Union Theological Seminary in New York, where he has taught masters and doctoral level studies since 1998. He also is Professor of Early Christianity at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia. He has retired from 30+ years as a United Methodist pastor, and now is specially assigned by his bishop as a consultant to local congregations. One of the favorite stories from the first two centuries of the Jesus movements is the Acts of Thecla, a vibrant story of a young woman who rejects her family and battles the government in order to join the Apostle Paul to become a teacher and healer like him. Hal examines the social and spiritual meanings of this narrative for both the ancient Christ movements and for the 21st century.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Reforming worship with Mindy Roll

Thu, 26 Jul 2018 12:15:10 -0700

Pastor Mindy Roll is the Lutheran Campus Pastor at Texas A&M and Blinn College, a ministry known as Treehouse, where she has served since 2010. She is a 2007 graduate of Yale Divinity School (M.Div), a 2011 graduate of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (STM, Pastoral Theology), and is currently working on a DMin at Brite Divinity School. Mindy is married to Tom Ham, an architect (they first met at Holden!), and they have two small children, Andrew (4) and Linden (2).To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Cultures of Time with Sharon Varallo

Mon, 02 Jul 2018 13:40:42 -0700

Sharon Varallo teaches in the Department of Communication Studies at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. Her scholarly interests originated in relational communication and include cultural expressions of time. In recent years her interests have taken a sharp turn toward justice, particularly toward racial and criminal justice and intercultural competence as a gateway toward social justice activism. She has enjoyed teaching and learning in numerous off-campus programs (including in Mexico, Peru, China, Japan, Spain, Morocco and the wilderness of Holden Village in winter).To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Re-Forming Biblical Reading with Carl Hughes

Mon, 25 Jun 2018 16:06:58 -0700

Dr. Carl S. Hughes teaches historical and constructive theology at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, TX. His interests focus on the legacies and challenges of the Lutheran theological tradition and how they relate to struggles for justice in society today. He is currently working on a book on how Luther’s theology of the cross can inform biblical interpretation so that it promotes spiritual growth and social transformation, particularly in matters related to race. Hughes is the author of Kierkegaard and the Staging of Desire: Rhetoric and Performance in a Theology of Eros (Fordham University Press, 2014) and a contributor to Radical Lutherans/Lutheran Radicals, edited by Jason Mahn (Cascade, 2017).To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Maasai Way of Life With Killing'ot Lembikas and Travis Houle

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 20:35:55 -0700

Killing’ot Lembikas grew up a Maasai boy in tropical savanna in Tanzania. Apart from primary education in early years, he went to school in Maasai land, in the first secondary school built in Maasai land in Ngorongoro District in Tanzania and succeeded to university level education in another part of Tanzania. At the time all he knew was about his cultural background in the natural environment in the dispersals of the Serengeti tropical savanna and wellbeing as a Maasai boy and a Shepard had a sense of dreams and survival in his life. Maasai proverbs in habitat and survival, at the windows of cow dung houses while experiencing the sound of nature and textbooks in classrooms in modern journey of his education, all had made him sure that he understood something behind the forces of social changes while also being a human entity in so many different ways which made him proud to be a Maasai boy. The role of his life was to attend his livestock as a brave Shepard boy, as a nomadic pastoralist, which, based on natural environmental conservation and interactions with nature for survival in a sense of accessing the natural resources and what nature gave him as Maasai, was dear. Passing the Maasai rituals from different stages of the rites has equipped Lembikas to know all the traditions, norms and values of the Maasai society. He was among the Moran (warrior) in society, and brought cattle to be grazed near the borders of Serengeti National Park during warrior hood. He participated in the delegation of killing a lion several times, as a tradition and rite passage of the Maasai warrior. His bachelor’s degree in History and English has been a cornerstone to his professionalism and skills. Teaching History of Africa, European societies and the United States is pretty significant to his skills of learning about economic activities, culture, heritages, social changes, progress and development of different models. English has also been a significant subject in learning language itself, literature and restoring the same literature of his culture in relation to other literatures of oral and written traditions. Other skills of wildlife, environment and conservation has made his journey of learning, teaching and helping others in dialogues, research and documentations.Trained in his undergraduate as a scientist, Travis Houle is now working to use listening, communicating, and teaching as a means to building bridges between each other and the natural world around us. The world is in the midst of a moral, ecological, and spiritual crisis. As change occurs across our planet, it is paramount that we better understand and listen to the voice of peoples, ecosystems, & our hearts, equipping these voices with the means to a brighter future. Most recently working as the Naturalist at Holden, he has worked to try and bridge diverse perspectives on environmental issues, connecting people with the natural world through educational sessions. His history with Killing’ot Lembikas is as a friend and student. Lembikas was a guide and teacher for Houle’s study group which visited northern Tanzania as a J-Term program from Luther College. After graduating college, Houle traveled to Lembikas’ village (boma) in the bush, less than 5 miles from the border of the Serengeti, for his wedding & to learn more about Maasai culture. Now, Houle is working to help connect Lembikas with teachers and schools within the United States, as Houle sees him as a potentially huge force for change in Tanzania. Houle plans to support Lembikas’ teaching at Holden, help to bridge differences between cultures, and help to add context to Lembikas’ situation. In order to work towards diversity, we need to concede our own place and support those who deserve to be lifted up.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Paideia discussion method with Sharriah Armstrong

Tue, 05 Jun 2018 11:41:28 -0700

Sharriah Armstrong is a language arts instructor-turned-yoga instructor working to bring calm and wellness into the lives of those who sacrifice their own health while caring for others. While on hiatus from the high school classroom, she continues to support classroom teachers as a teacher trainer for the Paideia Program at Augsburg University. She is passionate about the Paideia Program because of its impact on social justice in the classroom and its ability to give all students a voice while improving reading and critical thinking skills. Sharriah earned her B.A. in English from the University of Minnesota and her Master of Arts in Education from Augsburg University. Throughout her career she has enjoyed teaching in a variety of Minnesota districts including the Mounds View, Edina, and Minnetonka as well as pre-licensure experience teaching EFL in Buenos Aires, Argentina.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Polarization in American Politics with Prof. David Canon

Tue, 29 May 2018 17:07:58 -0700

David Canon is a professor in the political science department at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He served as chair of the department from 2014-2017. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and previously taught at Duke University. He also served as the Distinguished Fulbright Chair in Tübingen, Germany in 2011-2012 and Debrecen, Hungary in 2003-2004. His teaching and research interests are in American political institutions, especially Congress. His more specific research interests include election administration, racial representation, partisan realignments, political careers, and the historical study of Congress (especially congressional committees). He is author of Race, Redistricting, and Representation (University of Chicago Press, 1999, winner of the Richard F. Fenno award for the best book on legislative politics), The Dysfunctional Congress? The Individual Roots of an Institutional Dilemma (with Ken Mayer; Westview Press, 1999), Actors, Athletes, and Astronauts: Political Amateurs in the U.S. Congress (University of Chicago Press, 1990), American Politics Today (with William Bianco, WW Norton, 2017), several edited books, and various articles and book chapters. He co-edits a book series on legislative politics with the University of Michigan Press and also served as the Congress editor of Legislative Studies Quarterly. In September he will be the editor of the Election Law Journal. His has won several teaching awards, including the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award.He has been married to his wife Sarah for 30 years and they have three children. David and Sarah are members of Advent Lutheran Church in Madison.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Everyday Ministry with Rev. Dwight Dubois

Sat, 19 May 2018 11:25:14 -0700

Rev. Dwight Dubois is a parish pastor who has been through a personal re-formation. Returning to seminary several years ago to earn an STM (in missiology), Dubois sought to understand the mission of the church with an eye toward how the church might be renewed. As the director of Grand View University’s Center for Renewal he was led to a re-examination of the priesthood of all believers. His recent book, The Scattering: Imagining a Church that Connects Faith and Life, summarizes his findings: “the church” is first and foremost “the people” (not the institution) and more ministry takes place in our daily lives than could possibly take place in the institution, yet we rarely give people credit for that ministry or equip ourselves for it. In recent years, in addition to experimenting with this topic as an interim pastor, Dubois has also been teaching pastors, seminary students, and lay people at Wartburg Seminary, Luther Seminary, the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center, and through a variety of speaking and consulting engagements. He seeks to reform the church so that the service by the baptized in the arenas of daily life becomes the central focus of the church’s mission.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Feminist Theology and Christ as Doula with Anna Mercedes

Sat, 12 May 2018 09:16:27 -0700

Anna Mercedes teaches contemporary theology, gender studies, and peace studies at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University in central Minnesota. She has loved doing theology in or near the outdoors since her childhood experiences of outdoor ministry. She is a candidate for ordination in the ELCA. She wrote a book called Power For: Feminism and Christ's Self-Giving (T&T Clark, 2011).To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo hear more from Anna Mercedes, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/6803

The Holden Mine Remediation Project with Mario Isaias-Vera

Sat, 05 May 2018 09:21:49 -0700

Mario is an Environmental Engineer with the US Forest Service and has oversight responsibility for the mine remediation project at Holden Village.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Building Bridges Between Activism and Faith with Anna Czarnik-Neimeyer

Sat, 28 Apr 2018 09:10:20 -0700

Anna Czarnik-Neimeyer, MA, is a social justice educator & writer, and founder/CEO of Bridgebuilder Consulting, bridging divisions to build better organizations. Czarnik-Neimeyer cultivates unlikely comrades through trainings, keynotes, courses, scholarly writing, and popular press, towards innovation at corporations, schools, churches, nonprofits, and publications. Former board member at the bell hooks Institute at Berea College, KY and OUT There Adventures, her own work has been published through Ms. Magazine, American Camp Association, USA Today, Sojourners, Teaching Tolerance (Southern Poverty Law Center), Religion News Service, and Parker Palmer's Center for Courage & Renewal. To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo hear more from Anna Czarnik-Neimeyer, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/14823

Planting Sequoias with Glenn Jordan

Sat, 21 Apr 2018 09:55:56 -0700

Glenn is a native of Bray in Co Wicklow in Ireland and has been living in Northern Ireland since 1987. For 15 years he has worked on Skainos Square, a transformative urban regeneration project in the inner city of Belfast, Northern Ireland. He is currently pursuing doctoral studies in Isaiah looking at the issue of imagination and community transformation. To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo hear more from Glenn Jourdan, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/17720

Community Singing with Liz Rog

Sat, 14 Apr 2018 14:53:13 -0700

Song leader Liz Rog of Decorah, Iowa believes that everyone can sing and loves to twine voices of all generations. Liz uses group singing as a tool for building community and for restoring our sense of belonging and connection in the world. Her song circles offer a safe, fun, and supported space where all voices are welcome. When we sing together in simple harmony, we build bridges of acceptance, compassion, and joy.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo learn more about Community Singing, visit:Threshold Choir: https://thresholdchoir.org/Ubuntu Choir Network: www.ubuntuchoirs.net/Music that Makes Community: https://www.musicthatmakescommunity.org/

Jesus' Teachings on Judgment with Mark Gravrock

Sat, 31 Mar 2018 15:12:07 -0700

Mark taught Old Testament and New Testament Greek at Lutheran Bible Institute / Trinity Lutheran College in Seattle.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo hear more from Mark Gravrock, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/17215

Recycling and Garbology with Terrill Chang

Sat, 24 Mar 2018 09:15:55 -0700

Terrill is a mostly-retired environmental engineer from the Seattle area who specializes in solid waste management. He was involved in the planning and design of large and small waste facilities in Washington and currently consults for the Chehalis tribe and Orcas (Island) Recycling Services. Since 1979 he has been a member of Holden’s Science & Technology committee and an advisor to the Garbologist, working on the old landfill, the corral composters, the earth tub composters, the incinerator, and the cardboard baler. He authored the Village’s Solid Waste Management Plan (2014) and was involved in the design of the new garbo facilities constructed in late 2016. To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo hear more from Terrill Chang, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/924

Wilderness and the Environment with Emily Swanson

Sat, 17 Mar 2018 15:40:10 -0700

Emily Swanson is interested in the ways that language choices can influence our cultural, political, and physical world. She earned her Ph.D. in English from the University of Minnesota in 2007, with a dissertation titled, "Natural Arguments: Popular Discourse and Environmental Legislation, 1945-2007," and she spent two summers as a National Park Service ranger at Glacier National Park. She teaches writing at Anoka Technical College, where she aims to empower her students to be confident writers. She has presented at the Under Western Skies conferences and the Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment conferences. When she is not teaching, she enjoys being active in the outdoors with her family.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo hear more from Emily Swanson, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/17802

Madagascar and Mandroso with Kirsten Laderach

Sat, 10 Mar 2018 09:59:34 -0800

Kirsten is a minster of word and sacrament with the ELCA. She is currently living and working in Madagascar as the Country Coordinator for YAGM (Young Adults in Global Mission), a program of the ELCA. She is living in Antananarivo, the country’s capital and travels throughout the island supporting young adult volunteers and the work of church accompaniment.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo hear more from Kirsten Laderach, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/17846

Wisdom Literature and the Natural World with Ben Stewart

Sat, 03 Mar 2018 09:18:23 -0800

Ben teaches worship and ecotheology at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago where he is professor and director of advanced studies. After serving as Village pastor in 2000-2003, he studied at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (STM) and Emory University (PhD). His first book, A Watered Garden: Christian Worship and Earth’s Ecology, was published in 2011. His research on the natural burial movement recently included a 300 mile backpacking trip visiting dozens of backcountry wilderness cemeteries in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo hear more from Ben Stewart, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/3298

April Fool's Day with 2017 Artist in Residence- Hal Baum

Fri, 02 Mar 2018 12:02:18 -0800

Making Art at Holden with 2017 Artist in Residence- Carrie Larson

Sat, 24 Feb 2018 09:38:25 -0800

The Holden Village Artist Residency in Ecology, Spirituality, and Social Justice awards professional artists the opportunity to work and live for six weeks in the remote mountain community of Holden Village.With a new set of Holden Village Artists in Residence arriving this week, tune in to hear from 2017 Artist in Residence: Carrie Larson!Carrie Larson, a visual artist currently based in Hoquiam, Washington, has always called the Northwest home. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1993 from Whitman College in Walla Walla, where she was privileged to study art under Keiko Hara. There she was introduced to Book Arts as a means of expression—a foundation that continues to influence the permutations of her art-making. Her work has been exhibited in solo shows locally and juried shows nationally, while her artist’s books are held in the library collections of Baylor, Indiana and Yale Universities.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo see Carrie's work, visit: http://carriellarson.com/

Making Music at Holden with 2017 Artists in Residence- The Living Arrows

Sat, 24 Feb 2018 09:35:10 -0800

The Holden Village Artist Residency in Ecology, Spirituality, and Social Justice awards professional artists the opportunity to work and live for six weeks in the remote mountain community of Holden Village.With a new set of Holden Village Artists in Residence arriving this week, tune in to hear from 2017 Artists in Residence: The Living Arrows!The Living Arrows are Traesti, Loren, and Alexandra, a musical triohailing from Bellingham, WA. Through evocative lyrics & harmonies,lilting saxophone sounds, dreamy guitar-scapes, and driving rhythms,they explore the range of the human experience. Inspired by the Pacific Northwest bioregion and the loving community in which theythrive, they aim to cultivate creativity and rouse the spirit whereverthey roam. To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo hear more from The Living Arrows, visit: https://thelivingarrows.bandcamp.com/

The Spirit of Listening with David Hahn

Sat, 17 Feb 2018 09:13:06 -0800

Rev. David Hahn Ph.D. serves an assistant of the bishop of the Northwest Washington synod. He has served a variety of congregational settings in the Southwest. He’s an adjunct faculty at Luther Seminary teaching courses in the Missional Church, and Evangelism in Contemporary Contexts. He is keen on a theology of listening and how listening invites a new imagination for participating more fully with the Spirit’s life in our world. David is not new to the Holden community, and throughout the years has been present as a volunteer and guest.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo hear more from David Hahn, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/14842

The Art of the Map with Elizabeth Person

Sat, 10 Feb 2018 08:53:53 -0800

Elizabeth Person is an illustrator and designer based in Everett, Washington. Using pen and watercolor, she sketches from life and creates "illustrative infographics," featuring Northwest themes and geography. Her artwork can be spotted on event posters, at northwest art festivals, in Metsker Maps of Seattle and on the blog Live in Everett. She has served as a Cultural Arts Commissioner for the City of Everett since 2011. In the winter/spring of 2015 she was thrilled to be an Artist-in-Resident at Holden Village. Her love for maps may result from her tendency to get lost.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo view more from Elizabeth Person, visit: elizabethperson.com

Biblical Sibling Rivalries with Paul Rohde

Sat, 03 Feb 2018 08:41:00 -0800

Paul is campus pastor at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD. His passion is narrative theology. He tells his students he studies it to convince them their lives are stories and not answers because the Gospel itself is a story. He taught at Holden for the first time in 1993 and returned in various capacities every year until 2012. To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo hear more from Paul Rohde, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/2930

Poetry at Holden with Rebecca Wee

Sat, 27 Jan 2018 08:58:37 -0800

Rebecca is a poet and an English/creative writing professor at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL, where she has been teaching since 1994. Her poetry collection, Uncertain Grace, won the Hayden Carruth Award for New and Emerging Poets in 2001. In 2001 she was also awarded a Witter Bynner Fellowship by U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins and the Library of Congress, and she has served as the 2nd poet laureate of the Quad Cities. Her work has been published in journals and anthologies including Ploughshares and the Iowa Review, and she had an impatiently languishing second manuscript waiting for attention, titled Instead.

Liturgical Art with Jannele Mastin

Sun, 21 Jan 2018 07:54:04 -0800

Exploring the intersection of worship and immersive creative experience, Jannele Mastin has been creating large scale artwork to illuminate teaching, worship and provoke deeper thought into God’s ways for over 20 years. Jannele has worked as a Senior Art Director for print, digital media and 3-D product in Kansas City while coordinating visual art opportunities and creating mixed media work for Jacob’s Well Church and other venues.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org

A History of Racism with Kris Voss-Rothmeier

Sat, 13 Jan 2018 08:55:08 -0800

Rev. Kris Voss-Rothmeier is a Presbyterian minister and middle school teacher in Portland, Oregon. In 1997, Kris was trained as an anti-racism workshop leader in St. Louis through the National Conference for Community and Justice and has preached and led workshops on anti-racism themes since then. In June 2017, he will complete a year-long course of study at the University of Portland which focuses on equity training for educators.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo hear more from Kris Voss-Rothmeier, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/3481

Crossing Boundaries with Ron Young

Sat, 06 Jan 2018 14:13:00 -0800

Currently, Ron serves as Consultant for Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious leaders of the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East. He and his wife lived in Jordan for three years, representing Quakers, and regularly visited Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Egypt, Syria and Lebanon. Ron has led a dozen interfaith trips to the region. His memoir, Crossing Boundaries in the Americas, Vietnam and the Middle East, was published in 2014.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo hear more from Ron Young, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/3746

The Book of Job and the Earth with Kathryn Schifferdecker

Sat, 30 Dec 2017 09:00:06 -0800

Kathryn Schifferdecker is an Associate Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. She is also an ordained ELCA pastor, having served rural parishes in Iowa and Wisconsin. Her teaching interests include biblical narrative, creation theology, preaching, and questions of suffering. Kathryn is married to Doug Steinke and they have three children – Esther, Isaac, and Sarah (yes, all Old Testament names). Kathryn loves hiking, backpacking, gardening, and keeping Sabbath.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo hear more from Kathryn Schifferdecker, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/17775

The Footprint of Our Food with Katie Monsen

Sat, 23 Dec 2017 11:16:46 -0800

Katie Monsen is a lecturer in Environmental Studies at the University of California Santa Cruz, where she teaches courses in agroecology, climate, freshwater ecology, and watersheds. She also teaches the introductory course for the Sustainability minor and with the Rachel Carson College. To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo hear more from Katie Monsen, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/17751

The Spirituality of Water with Jourdan Imani Keith

Sat, 16 Dec 2017 11:42:48 -0800

Jourdan Imani Keith is a contributing writer for Orion Magazine. Her TEDx Talk "Your Body of Water" is the theme for King County's 2016-2017 Poetry on Buses program. As Seattle Public Library’s first naturalist-in-Residence she designed "Natural Literacy," linking environmental and early childhood literacy. Keith’s essay collection, Tugging at the Web, is forthcoming from University of Washington Press.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgFor more from Jourdan Imani Keith, visit: https://jourdankeith.wordpress.com/

A Peace of My Mind with John Noltner

Sat, 09 Dec 2017 09:59:54 -0800

John is a Minnesota-based photographer. For 25 years he has made images for national magazines, Fortune 500 companies, and non-profit organizations. In 2009 he founded A Peace of My Mind, a multimedia arts project that explores our common humanity through portraits and storytelling as he asks people from across the country to consider the simple question, “What does peace mean to you?”To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo hear more from John Noltner, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/14958To learn more about the A Peace of My Mind project, visit: https://apomm.net/

Holden: The Mine and the Village with Linda Jensen

Sat, 02 Dec 2017 08:46:58 -0800

Linda first arrived in Holden as a child in August of 1951 when the Village was a mining community. Linda has volunteered with museum projects since 1999. Her goal is to help people understand the activities and folks who are part of the 100 plus years of history in this beautiful valley.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo hear more from Linda Jensen, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/4001

Recreating our Vision for Social Change with Senator John Marty

Sat, 18 Nov 2017 09:31:59 -0800

John Marty is a state senator in Minnesota who works for public policies that serve the entire community, especially the homeless, those without healthcare and other vulnerable people. He believes we can build a more peaceful and just society that protects the environment and leaves a better world for future generations. John is the author of a recent book, Healing Health Care, which offers a roadmap to universal health care.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo hear more from John Marty, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/6001

Poetry with Elizabeth Austen

Fri, 10 Nov 2017 14:01:56 -0800

"Every Dress a Decision is a poem from my collection that I often think of when I'm here at Holden, because I love to hike here. So many other people hike here and then there's always that question of do we hike alone? This poem is called the girl who goes alone."As the Washington State Poet Laureate for 2014-16, Elizabeth Austen traveled to all of the state's 39 counties, offering writing workshops and giving readings. Her collection Every Dress a Decision (Blue Begonia Press, 2011) was a finalist for the Washington State Book Award. She’s also the author of two chapbooks, The Girl Who Goes Alone (Floating Bridge Press, 2010) and Where Currents Meet (Toadlily Press, 2010). She makes her living at Seattle Children’s Hospital, where she also offers poetry and journaling workshops for the staff.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.orgThe Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. To contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org

Vocation with Bishop Patricia Lull

Sat, 04 Nov 2017 11:53:33 -0700

Patricia Lull serves as the bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod of the ELCA. She acquired nearly four decades of experience in parish ministry, campus ministry, seminary administration and a faith-based non-profit before taking on the role of bishop. With a longstanding interest in the creative convergence of theology, cultural phenomena and the ongoing reformation of the church, in recent months she has been chewing on a new understanding of vocation, suited to the global and political realities of this century.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo hear more from Bishop Lull, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/4159

Dialogue with Jeff Kerssen-Griep

Sat, 28 Oct 2017 08:40:05 -0700

Jeff Kerssen-Griep, Ph.D. is Professor of Communication at the University of Portland (Portland, OR), teaching Communication across Barriers and Intercultural Communication, plus Interpersonal, Team, Public, and Instructional Communication (his specialty). His work explores communication practices (such as facework) that sustain authentic connections and socially just attitudes.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo hear more from Jeff Kerssen-Griep, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/2002

The Best Cup of Tea with Elly McHan

Tue, 24 Oct 2017 15:02:11 -0700

Elly serves as Campus Pastor at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, a college of the ELCA. Her first call with the Evangelical Lutheran Church was in Jordan and the Holy Land, living in Palestine for two years. Elly also served and worked with congregations in Oslo, Norway and Salzburg, Austria. To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org

Deep Time and Environmental Ethics with Dan Spencer

Sat, 14 Oct 2017 10:03:08 -0700

"Biomimicry is thinking about design that's inspired by nature. Since the industrial revolution, humans have been relying on fossil fuel technologies requiring heat, beat, and treat methods. Meaning, in order to support new technologies and get our new devices and materials, we subject products to very high temperatures, pressure, and often times, toxic chemicals, all of which consume unsustainable amounts of energy . The genius of life is that nature is able to design all the things it needs to survive and thrive within the constraints of the ambient atmosphere and environment. Using biomimicry to rethink our energy needs and develop technology is a way to address the climate crisis."Dan Spencer is Professor of Environmental Studies and has taught at The University of Montana since 2002. Some of his areas of teaching and research interest include ecological ethics, ethical issues in ecological restoration, and globalization, justice, and environmental issues in Latin America and Southeast Asia. He is the author of Gay and Gaia: Ethics, Ecology, and the Erotic, and most recently co-authored a book with Laura Stivers and Jim Martin-Schramm: Earth Ethics: A Case Method Approach.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.orgThe Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. To contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org

Where Do I Find Happiness? with Gary Mason

Mon, 09 Oct 2017 09:36:02 -0700

Rev. Dr. Gary Mason is a Methodist minister and directs a conflict transformation organization based in Belfast called "Rethinking Conflict." Prior to this he spent 27 years as a Methodist clergy person in parish ministry in Belfast and has played an integral role in the Northern Irish peace process.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo hear more from Gary Mason, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/17734

River Biogeochemistry and its Lessons with Peter Hernes

Sat, 30 Sep 2017 09:49:40 -0700

Peter Hernes is a professor at the University of California in Davis, CA, specializing in river biogeochemistry, but extending more broadly into any environment that contains naturally formed organic compounds. As an avid hiker, his interest in the environment is not just professional, but personal. To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo listen to more from Peter Hernes, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/5796

Calligraphy with Laura Norton

Sun, 17 Sep 2017 16:25:22 -0700

Laura Norton is a letter arts practitioner and calligraphy specialist based in Bellingham, WA.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo see Laura Norton's work, visit: www.LettersAloft.com

Gender Diversity and Inclusivity with Kristen Benson

Mon, 04 Sep 2017 08:25:03 -0700

Kristen Benson is an Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Science at North Dakota State University and licensed marriage and family therapist. Kristen focuses on providing inclusive and supportive therapy to LGBTQ people and relationships.To find out more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo hear more from Kristen Benson, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/17680

Energy and the Universe with Katrina Hay

Sun, 27 Aug 2017 10:52:32 -0700

Katrina Hay is an associate Professor of Physics at Pacific Lutheran University, and author of the children's book "Little Bear’s Big Night Sky".To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo hear more from Katrina Hay, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/17706

Calling in White Christians: Responding to Charlottesville with Chris Scharen

Sun, 20 Aug 2017 10:35:45 -0700

Join Chris Scharen for a reflection on Christianity and whiteness recorded just a week after the tragic events of Charlottesville. Quote: "So on the one hand you have President Trump now articulating this one view speaking to this white population that’s anxious about what their perception is that they’re losing and saying I’m gonna give you your power back…and then on the other hand, you have a whole bunch of really coalitions of both people of color and progressive white people who are pushing against that…and one of the symbolic places where this has centered is public monuments."Chris Scharen is the Vice President of Applied Research and the Center for the Study of Theological Education at Auburn Theological Seminary of New York. He is the author of Someone’s Got To Care: The Roots and Hip Hop as Prophetic Vocation and co-authored Christian Practical Wisdom: What it is, Why it matters and Fieldwork in Theology: Exploring the Social Context of God’s Work in the World .He is currently writing After Laura, a book that is part memoir and part theological engagement with white racial identity.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo listen to more from Chris Scharen, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/3043

Menstrual Hygiene Management in Rural Kenya with Molly Secor-Turner

Tue, 15 Aug 2017 08:35:59 -0700

Associate Professor, School of Nursing & Department of Public Health at North Dakota State University and Director of Programs for the non-profit organization, For the Good PERIOD. Her work bridges the universal experience of adolescence from rural North Dakota, to rural Kenya, to high-risk youth in Fargo.To find out more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo find out more about Molly Secor-Turner and For the Good PERIOD, visit: www.forthegoodperiod.orgTo hear more from Molly Secor-Turner, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/17780

Bi-vocational Theology with Hal Taussig

Mon, 31 Jul 2017 11:01:42 -0700

Hal Taussig is Visiting Professor of New Testament at Union Theological Seminary in New York, where he has taught since 1998. He also is Professor of Early Christianity at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia. He has retired from 30+ years as a United Methodist pastor and now is specially assigned by his bishop as a consultant to local congregations. Among his 14 authored books is the recent A New New Testament: A Bible for the 21st Century Combining Traditional and Newly Discovered Texts.Learn more about Holden Village: www.holdenvillage.orgListen to more from Hal Taussig: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/8807

The Widow with Alan Storey

Sun, 09 Jul 2017 10:13:48 -0700

"The widow is the reality and the metaphor of all vulnerable peoples and if the widow is not cared for, if we don't prioritize the vulnerable, then all of society will collapse. But the converse is equally true and promising, that if we look after the widow, then society will develop, because it will be built on justice."Alan is a Gospel story-teller located in Cape Town South Africa. Alan serves in and through the Central Methodist Mission and is an ordained Methodist minister. Alan was the last conscientious objector brought to trial in Apartheid South Africa for refusing military conscription. Alan specializes in facilitating Diversity Engagement encounters.Listen to more from Alan Storey: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/presenter/alanstoreyTo learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to other audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.orgThe Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. To contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org

Eco-Reformation with Barbara Rossing

Wed, 05 Jul 2017 10:44:56 -0700

Barbara Rossing is a professor of New Testament at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, where she also directs the seminary’s environmental ministry emphasis. To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.orgTo listen to more from Barbara Rossing, visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org/node/2935

Life through a Poetic Lens with Joe Davis

Tue, 06 Jun 2017 15:15:12 -0700

Joe Davis is a spoken word poet and community organizer with a gift for bringing people together around story and song. To find out more about the Village go to http://www.holdenvillage.org/. To learn more about Joe Davis go to http://www.joedavispoetry.com/.

Creative Road to New Orleans with Rachel Kurtz

Tue, 06 Jun 2017 15:04:01 -0700

Listen to Rachel's story about her creative process that lead her to the New Orleans National Youth Rally. To find out more about the Village go to http://www.holdenvillage.org/. To learn more about Rachel Kurtz's story visit http://www.rachelkurtz.org/.

Praying with the Earth with Ben Stewart

Fri, 19 Aug 2016 15:42:44 -0700

To learn more about Holden Village visit http://www.holdenvillage.org/

100 Years of the National Park Service with Jere Krakow

Fri, 19 Aug 2016 12:07:01 -0700

To find out more about Holden Village visit http://www.holdenvillage.org/Listen to Jere's teaching sessions at Holden:http://archive.ncrl.org/holden/01_Kr%20Je%202016-01.mp3http://archive.ncrl.org/holden/01_Kr%20Je%202016-02.mp3

Photography and Theology with Emilie Bouvier

Tue, 16 Aug 2016 11:32:30 -0700

See Emilie's work at www.emiliebouvier.comListen to Emilie's teaching sessions at Holden:http://archive.ncrl.org/holden/01_Bo%20Em%202016-01.mp3http://archive.ncrl.org/holden/01_Bo%20Em%202016-02.mp3http://archive.ncrl.org/holden/01_Bo%20Em%202016-03.mp3To find out more about Holden visit http://www.holdenvillage.org/

Mindful Meditation with Suba Nadarajah

Mon, 15 Aug 2016 14:06:16 -0700

"Meditation is simply allowing us time to pause and breathe, a place in our mind where there is no judgment and no reservations. A place only to allow us to be peaceful, happy, healthier and a better us." Subashini (Suba) Nadarajah is the Global Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at VMLY&R. She is responsible for promoting and celebrating diversity to increase cultural literacy, awareness, and acceptance within VMLY&R and through partnerships. Suba has also been an adjunct professor at the Kansas City Art Institute, where she taught branding and design systems. She believes that art and design, combined with storytelling, give our world a sense of connectivity. They're universal languages that bring people together. Sharing art is one of her utmost fundamental beliefs. When not at VMLY&R or teaching, Suba is a closet architect who designed her own home where she resides with her 7-year-old rescue blue merle sheltie. Her home was even featured in Dwell's online article "Your Rooms We Love." She is an aspiring equestrian, a world traveler, a photographer, an avid walker, and a Pilates lover who finds balance in life through meditation and living mindfully. Guiding meditation and sharing how to live a mindful life has become one of Suba's many life aspirations. In a recent KC TED Talk, she discussed how powerful our breath can be when we are mindful of its virtues and powers.To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.orgThe Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. To contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org