Public Good — Episodes — The Growing Edge

Episode 52 : The Call to Public Service: A Conversation With Indiana State Senator Shelli Yoder

In this podcast, Carrie and Parker speak with Indiana State Senator, Shelli Yoder. We explore together Shelli’s history and vocation in passionate public service, as well as reclaiming the word politics and politician, holding difference and finding common ground. In a time when the most extreme and strident voices are more likely to get media sound bytes, it was deeply moving and encouraging to be in conversation with someone doing faithful and thoughtful daily work in public service.

For more about generative spaces for democracy and the common good check out Parker’s book Healing The Heart of Democracy

Episode 36: Until Now Creativity & The Growing Edge

In this episode Parker and Carrie take a moment to talk about Carrie's newest companion projects Until Now CD & Until Now: New Poems.
They discuss the themes that run through these two companion pieces; resilience and uncertainty, loss, discover and being in process. They discuss how creativity can be expressed in a traditional art form, but also in how we approach our relationships, parenting, community, vocation and as a spiritual practice. We'll be giving a sneak peek listen to the new songs and poetry before it's release date, September 10, 2021

Episode 32: Identity, Resilience & Spiritual Calling - A Conversation with Dr. Luther E. Smith, Jr.

For our May, 2021 podcast, we welcome Dr. Luther E. Smith Jr., Professor Emeritus at Candler Seminary, author, educator, pastor, mystic, and elder. In this episode we talk about how identity is shaped and expanded and how conversations about race could be more authentic and powerful. We also explore what it meant for him to follow a spiritual calling and the experiences that led him to his friendship and academic study of author and mystic, Howard Thurman.

Episode 30: From Polarization to Healing, with John Paul Lederach

For our March, 2021 podcast, we welcome John Paul Lederach, Professor Emeritus of International Peacebuilding, and internationally respected expert in conflict transformation. John Paul describes the stages that lead to violence in a society, as well as the ways people heal and create communal networks of change. Please join us for this insightful conversation. "Peacebuilding is walking toward a horizon. You never really reach the end of that walk, but it gives you an orientation.”

To check out his many wonderful books click HERE

Episode 29: The Handing Over Time

In this episode, Carrie and Parker reflect upon the happenings of 2020. They discuss challenges we've faced in the past year as well as focus and evidence for hope in the new year. They explore the idea of living in the "Tragic Gap" and living into creative citizenry. They read Mary Oliver's lovely poem "Starlings in Winter" and discuss grief and getting past it, and what is is putting lift into their boots. Carrie sings, the song “The Handing Over Time” by Carrie Newcomer and Gary Walters

Episode 27: Where Do We Go From Here - A Post-Election Conversation With Parker & Carrie

In this episode, Carrie and Parker ask how We the People can help renew the American body politic post-election. How do we have open-hearted conversations across lines of difference, without blinking facts or backing away from critical issues of equity and justice? As we step into the future, knowing we will help create it one way or another, how do we ground ourselves to do the hard work ahead, holding to hope and joy as we go?

Episode 26: From Heartland to White House & Back—A Dialogue with Preeta Bansal

Carrie and Parker talk with Preeta about the Inner work of democracy and serving the common good. A constitutional lawyer from Harvard Law School, Preeta served as General Counsel in the Obama White House, where she played a major role in the Office of Management and Budget following the financial collapse of 2008. Having returned to her hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska, Preeta now finds expression for her call to public service via ServiceSpace, a fascinating international network of citizens animated by their desire to serve the common good through volunteerism.

Podcast Archives

Hope is holding a creative tension between what is and what could and should be, each day doing something to narrow the distance between the two. —Parker J. Palmer