Podcast - Life in the Whirlwind

Episode 63: Everything is Waiting for You

Register for the "Everything is Waiting for You" retreat happening in Philly this Saturday, 4/7 at www.lifeinthewhirlwind.com/events

Episode 62: Does any of this matter?

Like all things we do for a long enough time, I've sometimes found myself asking, "Do these episodes matter? Does anyone really care?" I don't say that with self-pity, but it does cross my mind. It's a human thing to ask this question... "Does what I do matter in the scheme of things?" This episodes spends a moment looking at this question. Come join the conversation. Don't forget to register for the Everything is Waiting for You Spring Retreat . Spots are filling up. Come say yes to participati...

Episode 61: Listen to the body

Travis Betel The body is telling a story. Are you listening? Mentioned in this episode: The Liturgists Podcast, Embodiment episode . (Check out the amazing Hillary McBride reading a poem "Dear Body" at 1:06:43.) ANNOUNCEMENT! Spring retreat registration is open! Visit http://www.lifeinthewhirlwind.com/events/everything-is-waiting today...

Episode 60: Rest in peace, Willow.

Episode 59: Life as practice | visiting voice: Caleb Cliff

For this episode my friend Caleb Cliff joins me to talk about 5 questions regarding how we might see life as practice, not mastery . In addition to some enjoyable conversation, make sure you hear our cool announcement at the end of the episode. Not to mention the global debut of one of Caleb's original songs , "Para" (written specifically for this episode, you all are the first to lay ears on it!). Come join this stimulating conversation as well as talk of future plans. We'd love to hear what YO...

Episode 58: Obstacles

I'm back this week with a three-part reflection on obstacles. Come join the conversation!

Episode 57: The Overview Effect of Dr. King

Dr. King's message of interconnectedness and "zoomed-out-ness" has just as much relevance if not more so today than it ever has. We are faced with incredible threats of division and separation from our fellow human beings that are based on fear, prejudice, and inexcusable ignorance. Today, as we celebrate the life and passions of Dr. King, let's intentionally bring our awareness to his overview of humanity and how crucially interconnected we all actually are.

Episode 56: May no side silence the other

Episode 55: Hello, 2018

This episode (recorded in NYC in a blanket fort, by the way) comes to you right at the edge of a new year. Exploring reasons and motivations to set intentions for new years, please come join this conversation about laying groundwork for growth – instead of setting goals for the new year that will only make you feel empty and inadequate. You are loved and valuable in all your particularity, my friends. If you'd still like to register for the Winter of Listening Retreat on January 6, 2018 in the N...

Episode 54: Releasing Meditation

Christmas can be hard. We often slip back into old relational patterns with family and old friends. We can forget who we truly are, who we've become as we've journeyed deeper into wholeness. This is not permanent, of course, but it can be discouraging. Today's episode (Happy Christmas!) is a meditation that will hopefully help you re-center, moving closer back to your True Self in the midst of this holiday season. You are loved, my friends.

Episode 53: There actually IS something about Mary

If there's a "formula" to being open to transformation, it's seen in Mary – Jesus's mother. In this episode I share the simple but rich things I find in Mary's amazing heart, mind, body, and spirit. I think she's kind of amazing, you'll see. Come join the conversation! Thanks to Sleeping at Last, whose albums I have been playing on neverending repeat the last two weeks, for this beautiful song.

Episode 52: A lot can happen in 52 weeks

Well, we've come this far. Let's keep going! Today we celebrate 52 weeks together on this podcast. Come listen to some of the lessons I've learned (most of which I never could have expected) over the last year, and enjoy one of my all-time favorite songs in the world at the end. Much love, friends! Blessing: "Dare" by Jeff Foster

Episode 51: The Winter of Listening

One last episode before we have our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY! Today's invitation is to something longer and more lasting – to use this coming winter time to give birth to something amazing. Come join the conversation! This episode has real treats from the incredible David Whyte (excerpt from poem found here ) and the musical stylings of the one and only Yael Naïm... (lyrics below). Far, far, there's this little girl She was praying for something to happen to her Everyday she writes words and more wo...

Episode 50: Near life experiences

Sunrise at the cemetery. (c) Heather Drew

Episode 49: Permission is a funny thing

After seeing a live performance of My Fair Lady by the Quintessence Theatre Group in my neighborhood last week, I got to thinking about permission. Who do we give permission to and why? Why and when do we not give ourselves permission when perhaps we should? This episode (with a title inspired by Annie, a faithful listener) explore this and more. Come join the conversation!

Episode 48: The thing about journeys...

Growth always awaits us in life, no doubt. But there are certain times in which we are called to journeys full of trial and questions without answers. So what's happening during those journeys? And how can we stay the course if they're worthwhile? Come join this conversation. P.S. It's almost our 1 year anniversary! I love hearing what this podcast has meant to you (thanks to the many who have written already to tell me). Email me at lifeinthewhirlwind@gmail.com.

Episode 47: The good, the bad, the ugly

Don't we often forget to equate disunity and silencing of one another's stories? I've been thinking a lot lately (and teaching on) trauma, suffering, and telling our stories in truthful, helpful ways. This episode centers around how sharing our pain creates unity in the body of humans. Come join the conversation. Email me if you'd like at lifeinthewhirlwind@gmail.com or leave a comment below at www.lifeinthewhirlwind.com/podcast/episode47 ....

Episode 46: When you know you are rich

Part 5 of the Unity series, this time we begin talking about how all this talk about self–work and –awareness leads to something far greater... we begin to talk about unity–with–other. Come join the conversation! Email thoughts, comments, questions, suggestions, etc to lifeinthewhirlwind@gmail.com. And please visit our donation page at www.lifeinthewhirlwind.com/give and join this project with your generosity!

Episode 45: Protecting the Sacred Flame

The 4th episode in the Unity series, we explore how the deeper self is like a flame that needs to be protected, as well as why and how we might do this protecting. Lyrics for the song at the end can be found by clicking here . (Can you tell I'm pretty proud of the high applicability of this week's song?) Come join the conversation! Here's where you can email me: lifeinthewhirlwind@gmail.com. And here's where you can give a donation to the podcast project if you're loving what you're hearing (or ...

Episode 44: The Reciprocating Self

Part 3 of the Unity series is here! This episode looks at how the dynamic nature of the deeper self is an important factor of self-unity and unity with others. Come join this conversation (and see why I posted a picture of Mary Cassatt's painting Baby's First Caress...). Email anytime. Lifeinthewhirlwind@gmail.com or comment on this episode on the podcast website found at lifeinthewhirlwind.com/podcast.

Episode 43: You Contain Multitudes

Forgive me as I guilelessly steal from Walt Whitman's famous poem, "Song of Myself" for this episode title... (one of my favorites, by the way). I bring you the first episode in the "Unity" series. This one introduces the importance of unity with the Deeper Self, while growing in awareness with its partner, the Surface Self. Come join this conversation! Email me at lifeinthewhirlwind@gmail.com with comments or questions. I always love when you do!...

Episode 42: That Great Unity

This episode embarks us on a journey about Unity – within and between people – and its purpose and qualities. If there's something specific you'd like to explore, identify, etc. over the next few weeks, shoot me an email. Lifeinthewhirlwind@gmail.com. I'd love to hear your ideas and requests.

Episode 41: What IS "the good life"?

How we typically define "the good life" often makes us miss what is actually good about life. We have the job, the car, the relationship, the dog, the house...whatever it is. But do we find connection and purpose in the ordinary beautiful pieces of life? Come join the conversation!

Episode 40: The "suck it up" paradox

Ever go through something difficult and your first impulse was to "suck it up"? We all have had those moments. Come explore important questions about what happens when we "suck it up," and how when we think we're burying something, we're actually doing quite the opposite. Join the conversation! Comment at www.lifeinthewhirlwind.com/podcast/episode40 or email me at lifeinthewhirlwind@gmail.com.

Episode 39: When observing butterflies

In the West (especially America) we tend to follow the compulsion to appear as the "expert" or "capable one." What do we gain and what do we lose from taking this posture as often as we do? What is an alternative and what does it offer instead? Come join the conversation. Emails can be sent to lifeinthewhirlwind@gmail.com. (Yes, even you, Zac...) www.lifeinthewhirlwind.com/podcast/episode39 .

Episode 38: (Be)longing

Everyone, at some point in their lives, has said, "I just want to belong." But what we end up doing in attempts to belong often brings about the exact opposite experience, bringing shame and feelings of rejection. Brené Brown says that fitting in is the enemy of true belonging. In this episode we explore practices and questions that may lead to a greater sense of true belonging. Come join the conversation. Email, comment, ask! Lifeinthewhirlwind@gmail.com.

Episode 37: Contemplation is boring

Have you ever stopped to consider what American culture considers "boring," "wasteful," and/or "inefficient"? (If you listen to this podcast, you probably have, yes.) In this episode we explore why and how these practices are powerfully important are, particularly in a world that calls them not worth our time and energy. Come join the conversation. Comment, email, ask questions, etc. Lifeinthewhirlwind@gmail.com or www.lifeinthewhirlwind.com/podcast/episode37 ....

Episode 36: This is not Heather Drew

I can barely believe it, but I completely FORGOT to post my episode this week...until today. I apologize for the lateness. I'll try to make sure it doesn't happen again. To make up for my tardiness, I have an episode for you that is...well, a little different. You'll have to listen to find out what I mean. (smile) Hope you enjoy, my friends. xoxo

Episode 35: Love's Accountability

Last week, we talked about how love sees. Love itself and those who choose to love us see all the parts of us – those parts we find beautiful and those we find fearsome. This week join the conversation as it takes a shift toward the accountability of love, which is one quality that makes it quite unique. Particularly in light of the tragic demonstrations this weekend in Charlottesville, VA, it's time to talk about the accountability love invites. Excerpt from John Pavlovitz 's blog entry from ye...

Episode 34: Love sees

Love. It's a word and a concept that is overused, misunderstood, and thrown around. It is also something that is naturally part of daily life – sometimes hourly life – yet we don't always know what it means, what it is, or what it is capable of. In this episode, let's explore what Love does (hint: I gave you a sneak peak in the title...!) and how Love's way & how Love itself can transcend the ways in which we have cheapened and misused it. Want to email me? Go for it. Lifeinthewhirlwind@gmai...