Best The School for Contemplative Living Podcasts (2025)

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Bonus: Carmen Acevedo Butcher on Brother Lawrence 1:01:03

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5d ago1:01:03

1:01:03

On this special bonus episode, James Finley and Kirsten Oates interview Carmen Acevedo Butcher about her translation of Brother Lawrence's Practice of the Presence. Carmen Acevedo Butcher is an award-winning translator, teacher, poet, and workshop leader. Her Cloud of Unknowing translation received a 46th Georgia Author of the Year Award, and Marti…

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Living Purposefully: Pilates, Passion & Performance 38:28

6d ago38:28

38:28

In this episode Poirsha shares insights into her teaching experience at Equinox as a Senior Pilates instructor and emphasizes the holistic approach by blending Pilates, Yoga, and Weight training. Throughout, she underscores the importance of showing up for oneself to better serve others, highlighting her mission to inspire and motivate through fitn…

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Living From Presence 6:51

11d ago6:51

6:51

If today’s episode spoke to you, I’d love to hear your reflections. You can email me directly through the fan mail link in the show notes — I read every message with gratitude.” Living from Presence The School for Enlightenment™ — The Path of Awakening Living from presence is the moment awareness begins to move through every part of your life. It i…

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The Practice of Presence 7:06

11d ago7:06

7:06

If today’s episode spoke to you, I’d love to hear your reflections. You can email me directly through the fan mail link in the show notes — I read every message with gratitude.” The Practice of Presence The School for Enlightenment™ — The Path of Awakening Presence is not something we visit only in meditation — it is a living practice, woven throug…

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Welcome To The School for Enlightenment -Level 1- The Path of Awakening 2:01

11d ago2:01

2:01

If today’s episode spoke to you, I’d love to hear your reflections. You can email me directly through the fan mail link in the show notes — I read every message with gratitude.” Welcome to The Path of Awakening (Initiate Level) With Smitha Jagadish — Founder of The School for Enlightenment™ Dear One, Welcome to The Path of Awakening. I am Smitha Ja…

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The Shift From Spirituality to Presence 5:01

11d ago5:01

5:01

If today’s episode spoke to you, I’d love to hear your reflections. You can email me directly through the fan mail link in the show notes — I read every message with gratitude.” Introduction — The Path of Awakening Level 1 of The School for Enlightenment™ Awakening is not about reaching a higher state — it is about remembering the stillness that ha…

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What is Presence ? 5:04

11d ago5:04

5:04

If today’s episode spoke to you, I’d love to hear your reflections. You can email me directly through the fan mail link in the show notes — I read every message with gratitude.” What is Presence ? Level 1 — The School for Enlightenment™ The Path of Awakening is a journey into the essence of presence — a space where spirituality becomes lived experi…

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The Power Of Presence 3:05

11d ago3:05

3:05

If today’s episode spoke to you, I’d love to hear your reflections. You can email me directly through the fan mail link in the show notes — I read every message with gratitude.” The Power of Presence The Path of Awakening The School for Enlightenment™ Presence is the essence of awakening — the quiet awareness beneath every thought, emotion, and mov…

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Dialogue 3: Mystical Lineage 1:05:53

12d ago1:05:53

1:05:53

In this third dialogue session Jim and Kirsten will focus on Brother Lawrence's place in our mystical lineage along with his specific connections to Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross. Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about James Finley, visit his faculty profile ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.…

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Contemplation #2- 'Out of the Abyss, and Living in Your Light' 16:34

14d ago16:34

16:34

In this episode of the PoirshaFit Podcast, host Poirsha brings listeners through a vivid imagery-laden journey out of a metaphorical hole, symbolizing personal struggles and eventual triumphs. The narrative teaches the value of patience, persistence, and finding balance between exertion and rest, guided by one's inner light. The episode encourages …

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Sacred Investment & Collective Wealth – Directing Energy into Regeneration and Community 15:53

15d ago15:53

15:53

If today’s episode spoke to you, I’d love to hear your reflections. You can email me directly through the fan mail link in the show notes — I read every message with gratitude.” Sacred Investment & Collective Wealth – Directing Energy into Regeneration and Community (from Sacred Economy: Spiritual Wealth for a New Earth) In this expansive episode o…

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Building a Spiritual Business – Rooting Your Soul Gifts into Service 16:36

15d ago16:36

16:36

If today’s episode spoke to you, I’d love to hear your reflections. You can email me directly through the fan mail link in the show notes — I read every message with gratitude.” Building a Spiritual Business – Rooting Your Soul Gifts into Service (from Sacred Economy: Spiritual Wealth for a New Earth) Your soul gifts were never meant to stay hidden…

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Brother Lawrence: Session 3 40:04

19d ago40:04

40:04

This is the third session which focuses on Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley reads passages from Carmen Acevedo Butcher's translation of Brother Lawrence's Practice of the Presence, reflects on core themes, and finishes with a meditative practice. Resources: Turning to the Myst…

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Contemplation #1- "Breath by Breath: Climbing Your Rope of Life" 19:28

20d ago19:28

19:28

In this episode of the Poirsha Fit Podcast, Poirsha shares a personal conversation with a coworker struggling with addiction and seeking change, highlighting the need for internal happiness and self-motivation. Poirsha reflects on her own journey of overcoming career challenges, self-doubt, and maintaining perseverance. She narrates a prose titled …

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The Heart of Exchange – Reciprocity, Generosity, and Energy Flow in Giving & Receiving 11:00

20d ago11:00

11:00

If today’s episode spoke to you, I’d love to hear your reflections. You can email me directly through the fan mail link in the show notes — I read every message with gratitude.” The Heart of Exchange – Reciprocity, Generosity, and Energy Flow in Giving & Receiving (from Sacred Economy: Spiritual Wealth for a New Earth) In this heart-opening episode…

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Dialogue 2: All for All 53:03

26d ago53:03

53:03

In this second dialogue session Jim and Kirsten focus on the letters of Brother Lawrence. Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about James Finley, visit his faculty profile ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. The transcript for this episode can be found here. The book we will be using this season can be ⁠fo…

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Soul Gifts as True Wealth – Moving from “Jobs” to Callings 17:18

27d ago17:18

17:18

If today’s episode spoke to you, I’d love to hear your reflections. You can email me directly through the fan mail link in the show notes — I read every message with gratitude.” Soul Gifts as True Wealth – Moving from “Jobs” to Callings (from my book Sacred Economy: Spiritual Wealth for a New Earth) In this inspiring episode of the Sacred Economy P…

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How to Reclaim Your Feminine and Masculine Energy 14:55

28d ago14:55

14:55

If today’s episode spoke to you, I’d love to hear your reflections. You can email me directly through the fan mail link in the show notes — I read every message with gratitude.” How to Reclaim Your Feminine and Masculine Energy Balancing Inner Energies for Wholeness and Peace In this episode, we explore the path of reclaiming both feminine and masc…

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Understanding the distinction from a Strong Man/Woman to a Secure Man/Woman 4:41

1M ago4:41

4:41

If today’s episode spoke to you, I’d love to hear your reflections. You can email me directly through the fan mail link in the show notes — I read every message with gratitude.” The podcast discusses the energy states in men and women, focusing on the transition from being a strong individual to a secure one. A strong person, whether male or female…

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You Can Do it ALL: Heal Yourself with Mindful Movement Practices 42:39

1M ago42:39

42:39

Hello Fitletes! Poirsha is BAAAAACCCKKKK! In this episode, Poirsha discusses her return after a seven-month hiatus, emphasizing her commitment to holistic wellness guided by mindfulness and natural healing. She reflects on personal experiences, including her admiration for multi-talented individuals like Jennifer Lopez and Jamie Foxx, and her own j…

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Brother Lawrence: Session 2 42:07

1M ago42:07

42:07

This is the second session which focuses on Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley reads passages from Carmen Acevedo Butcher's translation of Brother Lawrence's Practice of the Presence, reflects on core themes, and finishes with a meditative practice. Resources: Turning to the Mys…

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Healing Your Relationship With Money- Releasing Guilt,Shame, and Scarcity Wounds 14:56

1M ago14:56

14:56

If today’s episode spoke to you, I’d love to hear your reflections. You can email me directly through the fan mail link in the show notes — I read every message with gratitude.” Episode 2: Healing Your Relationship with Money – Releasing Guilt, Shame, and Scarcity Wounds In this episode of the Sacred Economy Podcast, we journey into one of the deep…

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Dialogue 1: Everything is Possible 54:11

1M ago54:11

54:11

In this first dialogue session Jim and Kirsten focus on the maxims of Brother Lawrence. Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about James Finley, visit his faculty profile ⁠here⁠. The transcript for this episode can be found here. The book we will be using this season can be found h…

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Scarcity vs Abundance - Fear vs trust, the foundation of Sacred Economy 17:36

1M ago17:36

17:36

If today’s episode spoke to you, I’d love to hear your reflections. You can email me directly through the fan mail link in the show notes — I read every message with gratitude.” Episode Summary In this episode of The School for Enlightenment Podcast, Smitha Jagadish explores one of the most important transformations of our time: moving from scarcit…

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Brother Lawrence: Session 1 32:48

2M ago32:48

32:48

This is the first session which focuses on Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley reads passages from Carmen Acevedo Butcher's translation of Brother Lawrence's Practice of the Presence, reflects on core themes, and finishes with a meditative practice. Resources: Turning to the Myst…

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Turning to Brother Lawrence 46:42

2M ago46:42

46:42

Welcome to Season 12 of Turning to the Mystics. This season we are turning to Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection for spiritual guidance. In this episode, James Finley and Kirsten Oates cover the life and person of Brother Lawrence and discuss how we can work with his ideas to transform our lives. Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by …

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Coming Soon: Turning to Brother Lawrence 5:11

2M ago5:11

5:11

Season 12 of Turning to the Mystics will continue with our next mystic, Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection. Our journey begins on September 8, 2025. Resources: Pick up a copy of Brother Lawrence's Practice of the Presence as translated by Carmen Acevedo Butcher: ⁠hereBy Center for Action and Contemplation

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Gabriel Marcel: Listener Questions 1:18:49

5M ago1:18:49

1:18:49

In this episode, Kirsten and Jim answer listener questions from Season 11, focusing on the teachings of Gabriel Marcel. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. Connect with us: This podcast is made possible thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contem…

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A Coaching Session on Gabriel Marcel 1:02:52

5M ago1:02:52

1:02:52

In this special episode, Jim and Kirsten review the season and offer a way for us to turn to Gabriel Marcel for guidance on our own spiritual path. Resource Section: A transcript for this episode can be found here. A link to the Oneing article Kirsten mentions can be found here. An information sheet on Lectio practice can be found ⁠here⁠. The book …

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Bonus: Greg Sadler on Gabriel Marcel 57:07

6M ago57:07

57:07

On this special bonus episode, James Finley and Kirsten Oates interview Greg Sadler about the philosophy of Gabriel Marcel, with special attention paid to Marcel's ideas on fidelity, hope, and love. Greg Sadler is the president of ReasonIO, associate editor of Stoicism Today, an APPA-certified philosophical counselor, an adjunct professor at Milwau…

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Dialogue 4: Love 56:39

6M ago56:39

56:39

In this fourth dialogue session Jim and Kirsten focus on the theme of Love within the thoughts and teachings of Gabriel Marcel. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. The book we will be using this season can be⁠ ⁠⁠found here⁠. Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Jim or Kirsten to answer about this season? Email us: ⁠…

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Gabriel Marcel: Session 4 34:14

6M ago34:14

34:14

This is the fourth session that focuses on the philosophy of Gabriel Marcel. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley reads passages from Kenneth T. Gallagher's The Philosophy of Gabriel Marcel, reflects on the qualitative essence of the spirit of this text, and finishes with a meditative practice. Resources: Turning to t…

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Dialogue 3: Hope 1:01:07

6M ago1:01:07

1:01:07

In this third dialogue session Jim and Kirsten focus on the theme of Hope within the thoughts and teachings of Gabriel Marcel. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. The book we will be using this season can be found here. Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Jim or Kirsten to answer about this season? Email us: podcas…

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Gabriel Marcel: Session 3 34:52

6M ago34:52

34:52

This is the third session that focuses on the philosophy of Gabriel Marcel. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley reads passages from Kenneth T. Gallagher's The Philosophy of Gabriel Marcel, reflects on the qualitative essence of the spirit of this text, and finishes with a meditative practice. Resources: Turning to th…

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Dialogue 2: Fidelity 58:02

7M ago58:02

58:02

In this second dialogue session Jim and Kirsten focus on the theme of Fidelity within the thoughts and teachings of Gabriel Marcel. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. The book we will be using this season can be found here. Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Jim or Kirsten to answer about this season? Email us: p…

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Gabriel Marcel: Session 2 33:31

7M ago33:31

33:31

This is the second session that focuses on the philosophy of Gabriel Marcel. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley reads passages from Kenneth T. Gallagher's The Philosophy of Gabriel Marcel, reflects on the qualitative essence of the spirit of this text, and finishes with a meditative practice. Resources: Turning to t…

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Dialogue 1: Core Themes 53:50

7M ago53:50

53:50

In this first dialogue session Jim and Kirsten focus on core themes from Gabriel Marcel. Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about James Finley, visit his faculty profile here. The transcript for this episode can be found here. The book we will be using this season can be found he…

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Gabriel Marcel: Session 1 31:38

7M ago31:38

31:38

This is the first session that focuses on philosopher Gabriel Marcel. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley reads passages from Kenneth T. Gallagher's work, The Philosophy of Gabriel Marcel, reflects on core themes from Marcel, and finishes with a meditative practice. Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by t…

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Turning to Gabriel Marcel 42:02

8M ago42:02

42:02

Welcome to Season 11 of Turning to the Mystics. This season we are turning to philosopher Gabriel Marcel for spiritual guidance. In this episode, James Finley and Kirsten Oates cover the life and person of Marcel and discuss how we can work with his ideas to transform our lives. Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Actio…

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Box Breathing to Calm the Mind 20:06

8M ago20:06

20:06

Today's episode is about using this breathing technique to help de-stress, calm the body and mind to feel more grounded. This breathing technique in Yoga is called 'Sama or Vritti Pranayama.' Therapists and singers use this to help calm clients and to expand breathing capacity. Enjoy your rejuvenated experience! Take a class! Take a Yoga or Pilates…

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My Story: From Fit to Fat to Fit 52:51

8M ago52:51

52:51

Poirsha shares her personal life story of growing up as a Fit, athletic kid, to entering adulthood and becoming overweight, struggling for many years and finally making decisions which brought her back to being Fit. Her story is very relatable. She found a successful formula and has maintained her fitness thus far, for 9 years. She hopes that you t…

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Coming Soon: Turning to Gabriel Marcel 2:52

8M ago2:52

2:52

Season 11 of Turning to the Mystics will continue with our next mystic, Gabriel Marcel. Our journey begins on March 17, 2025. Resources: Pick up a copy ofThe Philosophy of Gabriel Marcel by Kenneth T. Gallagher: here Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Jim or Kirsten to answer about this season? Email us: [email protected] Send us a voicemai…

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Commit to 3 Months, then... 59:43

9M ago59:43

59:43

Poirsha trains a diverse group of humans. People of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities & various economic backgrounds. They all have at least 1 thing in common; the desire to look in the mirror and see the body that they desire. Most want to look tone with no flab or fat. Poirsha explains that the way to achieving a desired physique must first begin wi…

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Is it Possible to Love other Humans Unconditionally? 52:47

9M ago52:47

52:47

This is a question Poirsha's philosophical mind has grappled with for many years. She's pondered, theorized and arrived at a conclusion that she still debates. Arguments for and against are valid. Listen to her point of view and share yours with her! She'd love to hear different POV's. Email: [email protected] DM on IG: @poirshafitpodcast Fermen…

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How To: Overcome Fitness Struggles w/Unwavering Commitment 59:06

9M ago59:06

59:06

Enjoy this discussion with Poirsha on how to get back to prioritizing your Fitness. She highlights conversations she has with newer and long time clients on how to stay committed to their Fitness routine for their present and future selves. She coaches you how to get out of your stuck rut of living in the past and wishing you were young again, and …

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Crushing Our Fitness Goals for 2025! 52:01

9M ago52:01

52:01

The New Year has been less than exciting for us LA peeps. I vote it begins Feb 1! That is the day 'The PoirshaFit Club' will launch. It is an online monthly membership community, led by Poirsha. It is a team of people looking to finally achieve, accomplish, crush their fitness goals! Poirsha has gotten a head start by setting her consecutive jump r…

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LA is Burning & We are Hurting #SocalStrong 54:21

10M ago54:21

54:21

They've called the Palisades Fire, 'The Most Destructive Fire in LA's History.' 'Eaton Fire' in Altadena is the 4th Most Destructive in LA History. Poirsha lives smack dab in the middle of all of the Fires, and talks about her experience this past week with the winds, fires and working in the Fire Zones. She shares how living a Holistic Lifestyle, …

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An Introduction to Yoga, Pilates, Mindfulness & Ayurveda 1:10:31

10M ago1:10:31

1:10:31

This is a RE-RELEASE of Episode 1 of Season 1 from 10/26/24. It disappeared from Apple Playlist, so it is back for all of you who need a proper introduction into the Wonderful World of Holistic Healing Practices!!! If you need to improve your GUT HEALTH, you need PROBIOTICS. I recommend EATING & DRINKING them daily. Visit: FERMENTINGFAIRY.COM, USE …

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Seasonal Lifestyle Changes for Balanced Mind & Body 59:55

10M ago59:55

59:55

Enjoy this Episode where Poirsha shares Ayurvedic Wisdom for how to maintain a healthy fit mind and body throughout Seasonal Changes. Synchronizing your life routine with the rising and setting of the Sun may just be the re ordering you need to feel more in tune and connected with yourself and others! If you need to improve your GUT HEALTH, you nee…

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Nose or Mouth Breathing? Which is Better? 19:52

10M ago19:52

19:52

Many people ask me which is the proper way to breathe. Is it in through the nose and out the mouth, or just the mouth? Let's find out!! In today's breathing meditation, we will practice several breathing techniques. Poirsha explains why breathing a certain way is preferred to the other. Connect & Collaborate with Poirsha Email- [email protected]…

The School For Contemplative Living Podcasts