The Liturgists Podcast

Michael Gungor talks about how he's been church shopping and how the Internet has reacted to it as well as his thoughts and feelings around this unexpected burst of cultural conversation

Sally Kempton (January 15, 1943 – July 10, 2023) was an American swami, author, and spiritual teacher. This interview with Michael Gungor from the final year of Sally's time on this planet covers a range of topics from the divine feminine to kundalini to trans-rational perspective. You can check out more of Sally's work at sallykempton.com

The Sedona Method has helped transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of people around the globe. In this sequel to our original Sedona Method podcast that we released last year, Michael Gungor speaks with Hale Dwoskin, author of the book "The Sedona Method" about blocks to releasing, the nine emotional states, how children know how to do this instinctively, and more.  

In this episode, Michael talks about his discovery about how the most destructive patterns in his history have been rooted in a story of not being enough. This realization has made him refocus his mission to the point that he is restructuring all of his life, work, and business.

Audrey Assad interviews Michael and Lisa Gungor about Gungor’s new record “Love Song to Life.” They talk about music, theology, and some unexpected musical instrumentation.

Can the idea of forgiveness actually be violent? In this episode, Michael talks about Gungor's new single "I Forgive You" and explores the idea of forgiveness looking through the different lenses presented in Marshall Rosenberg's "Nonviolent Communication".

In this bonus episode from the Loving THIS podcast, Michael talks about the meaning and story behind Gungor's new single "A Million I's"

Victoria Loorz, MDiv, is a "wild church pastor," an "eco-spiritual director" and co-founder of several transformation-focused organizations focused on the integration of nature and spirituality.  She feels most alive when collaborating with Mystery and kindred spirits to create opportunities for people to re-member themselves back into intimate, sacred relationship with the rest of the living world.

After twenty years as a pastor of indoor churches, she launched the first Church of the Wild, in Ojai CA and began to meet others with the same sense of call to leave building and expand the Beloved Community beyond our own species. She then co-founded the ecumenical Wild Church Network.

Victoria is co-founder and director of Seminary of the Wild, which is focused on a deep-dive yearlong Eco-Ministry Certificate program for all those who feel called by Earth and Spirit to "restore the great conversation." (Thomas Berry)

In today's episode, Michael talks to Jennifer Dawn Watts, friend of the show and noted faith community leader and therapist, about the idea of The 12 Steps and how they relate to spirituality.

Join us in this special episode where Michael discusses the concept of Praise: what it means to him, what it means in the world, and how you can practice it in your own life

In today’s episode, Michael talks to John Philip Newell, a Celtic teacher and author of spirituality who calls the modern world to reawaken to the sacredness of the earth and every human being. Together, they discuss Celtic Christianity and the modern-day application of its wisdom.

3:00- Michael asks what the scope of Celtic Christianity is

7:50- Michael asks why this wisdom is difficult to practice together

12:50: Michael reads some quotes and John Philip discusses the divine feminine

20:30: Michael and John Philip discuss the intersection between sexuality and spirituality

29:30: Michael asks John Philip what God isn’t

41:00: They discuss distinctions between ego and soul

47:00- Michael asks what the Celtic Christian view of Jesus Christ is

In this episode, Michael speaks with Hale Dwoskin, author of "The Sedona Method: Your Key to Lasting Happiness, Success, Peace and Emotional Well-Being" to discuss his book and the Method as he sees it. The Sedona Method is described as  "a simple, powerful, and easy-to-learn technique that shows you how to uncover your natural ability to let go of any painful or unwanted feeling in the moment."

Some helpful timestamps for this episode:

5:30- Hale describes the Sedona Method

10:00- Hale gives you an interactive analogy for letting go

12:00- Hale begins describing the basic questions of the Method

13:20- Hale begins describing the experience of it

18:30- Michael and Hale discuss the conscious permission to constrict

23:15- Michael discusses how these practices have affected his daily practices

26:00- Hale discusses one of the more shocking revelations of the method

28:00- Hale leads a process for embracing opposites

34:20- Michael allows some time for personal meditation

In the first episode of Season 8, Michael speaks to Derek Webb. Derek Webb is a musician who has always bravely asked the big questions in his music and invited others to do the same. In this episode, Derek and Michael Gungor chat about music, spirituality and why the two have been so intertwined for both of them.

Some helpful timestamps for this episode:

2:30- Derek Webb introduces himself

5:00- Michael and Derek discuss their similar music careers

9:00- Derek talks about meaning

13:00- Michael talks about ambiguity in Christian art

21:30- Michael asks how spirituality and music are intertwined in Derek’s music

31:00- Derek talks about the difficulties of moving between and beyond spirituality

40:30- Derek talks about limitations in art

46:00- Derek tells a story about limits in creation

50:15- Michael asks where Derek’s art is now

57:00- Michael begin interrogating the idea of “belief”

1:06:15- Derek talks about the utility of language without reverence

1:10:00- Derek talks about his philosophical position with his new album “The Jesus Hypothesis”

In this final episode of Season 7, Symposium member Briana Lynn and Michael Gungor have a fun, lighthearted conversation about the belief, play, and why we tried to do what we did in this last season of the podcast.

Peter Rollins returns to the Liturgists podcast to disagree with Michael about reality being “One” and, of course, to have some good laughs while doing so.

As season 7 draws to a close, Michael talks about the mission of the Liturgists and where things are headed.

We've lot a lot of listeners and patrons this season. Perhaps not surprisingly, reframing Christianity to be seen as nondual spiritual technologies is not everyone's cup of tea. (Neither is Michael Gungor) But we also want you to know that we hear you and that there's space for you and your disagreement here too. In this episode, Michael talks with an old Christian music buddy (and Liturgists podcast listener), Jimmy Needham, about why they disagree about the content of this season.

Does the concept of salvation have any use if we don’t see it as a ticket to some other worldly existence after we die? Does the progressive notion of “freedom” that is so related to morality, justice, money, and power imply that we should all be more like Bezos or Trump? What is enlightenment and does anybody actually get to be enlightened? These are a few of the questions we tackle in this raw and powerful conversation between Michael Gungor, Emily Capshaw, and Mason Smith.

The Liturgists forms its first faux ecumenical theological council as Rev. Brianna Lynn, Mason Smith, Emily Capshaw, Latifah Alattas, Chris Davies and Michael Gungor have a fun, lively discussion about the Trinity and what, if any, value it has as a spiritual technology beyond the oppressive patriarchal usages that are so common historically.

Who or what is Satan? What is the nature of evil and what is the best way to interact with it in ourselves and in others? What is “existential kink”? These are just a few of the sorts of things we get into on this fun and wildly heretical episode featuring Caroline Elliot (author of the book “Existential Kink: Unmask Your Shadow and Embrace Your Power; a Method for Getting What You Want by Getting Off on What You Don’t”), Mason Smith, Emily Capshaw, and Michael Gungor.

Singing together is not only a potentially powerful spiritual technology and form of spiritual community, but it’s good for you! Studies have shown singing to be linked to lower stress, better moods, more of a sense of connection, and many more benefits.

In this bonus podcast, we are announcing a last minute event (next Thursday, July 1) where you can come meet some like-minded spiritual people as well as be led by Michael Gungor in some simple chants, songs and musical experiences that are designed to draw one into deep presence and embodiment. No religious belief is necessary to enjoy and reap the benefits of this powerful spiritual practice.

The story of a “hell” is present in many religious traditions, but how does that impact the way we experience the present moment? What really is hell? And what do we do about all of the fear and shame it causes, even if we don’t logically believe in it? 

In this episode, Emily Capshaw, Michael Gungor, Jamie Lee Finch, and Audrey Assad all share how the story of hell has shifted for them.

Everything that takes form, dies. Religion can at times help us cope with Death, but are there any downsides to creating beliefs about death? What did Jesus really mean when he spoke of conquering death? In this Episode, Michael Gungor, Emily Capshaw, Rev. Briana Lynn, and Death Doulas Caroline Lee and Alua Arthur explore these questions to understand how we can relieve some of the fear, shame and suffering that exists around Death.

For more about Going With Grace and the work of Alua (@going_with_grace) and Caroline (@howcarolinecarolines), visit www.goingwithgrace.com