#123: The gifts of neurodiversity (with Daniel Bowman Jr.)

My new friend Daniel Bowman Jr. is my guest this week, and he shares his story of learning he was autistic as an adult. Daniel is an English professor and poet, and he shares the importance of understanding the different ways brains work, the gifts present in neurodiversity, and the importance of moving away from a pathology paradigm. We also discussed the life-giving rhythms of contemplative prayer for folks whose brains desire consistency and repetition. Daniel is the author of On The Spectrum: Autism, Faith, and the Gifts of Neurodiversity.

Jonathan PuddleDecember 2, 2021autism, neurodiversity, poetry, contemplative, disabilities, diversityComment

#111: Cultivating wholeness through spiritual practice (with Lisa Colón DeLay)

This week I am joined by my friend Lisa Colón DeLay to talk about the healing power of spiritual practices. Lisa begins by explaining why we should acknowledge that we live in a white-dominant culture and the importance of learning about non-white spiritual practices, especially embodiment. We discussed a rubric for identifying our core areas of trauma as well as how to move them from areas of non-awareness into conscious awareness, through spiritual practices led by the Holy Spirit. Lisa unpacks many themes from her excellent book, The Wild Land Within: Cultivating Wholeness Through Spiritual Practice, which is an excellent discipleship resource.

Jonathan PuddleApril 30, 2021healing, wholeness, race, white supremacy, diversity, embodiment, discipleship, spiritual practices, trauma, contemplativeComment

#5: I Can Only Imagine / Black Panther (with Priscilla Shirer)

Priscilla Shirer is a phenomenal teacher, author, actress, wife, and mother (though she wouldn't list them in that order herself). Having previously starred in War Room, she plays a small role in I Can Only Imagine, the film which tells the story all about MercyMe's hit song. Priscilla and I discussed minority representation in film and ministry, balancing your career and family goals, and the importance of both excellence and spiritual passion.