Dancing With Wisdom

By Dr Sunil RahejaEducation Self-Improvement

Dancing With Wisdom episodes

September 04, 2025 S4E01 Reflections on turning 60
I’m delighted to announce Series 4 of Dancing with Wisdom Podcast is here!
https://youtu.be/Lh761Tpmgog
This season is all about thriving in the second half of life and learning to live in the light of eternity.
To open the series, I sit down with my daughter Nisha for a warm, honest, and often light-hearted conversation reflecting on my recent milestone—turning 60.
Or put another way: rather than counting our days, how do we make our days count?
Our culture often paints aging as decline, but I believe it’s actually an invitation to grow deeper in wisdom, gratitude, and joy.
In our conversation, we touch on the four themes of wisdom from my book
—Being (who am I becoming?),
—Relating (how am I loving those around me?),
—Doing (what meaningful work is mine to do?), and
—Leaving (what legacy will I leave?).
We talk about why leadership is more about influence than titles, and why the hardest person to lead is yourself.
There’s also a moment when I recall being nicknamed “Puddleglum” by my children—a wake-up call to choose gratitude over cynicism.
We talk about how a sciatica scare taught me to care for my body as well as my mind, and how gratitude, practiced daily, shifts life from entitlement to gift.
Looking ahead, you’ll hear from inspiring leaders in later life who are reinventing themselves, deepening relationships, and showing us it’s never too late to grow. Whether you’re younger and want to learn from those who’ve gone ahead, or you’re in your own second half of life seeking encouragement, this series is for you.
Above all, this milestone has reminded me of the eternal perspective: if death isn’t the end, then what matters most is character, love, and faithfulness. In Christ, bad things can turn for good, good things can never be lost, and the best is yet to come.
The video can be accessed above and I also attach the audio podcast below
43 min
August 10, 2023 What does it mean to grow old gracefully?
S3 E11
What does it mean to grow old gracefully?
Welcome to a serious, but light-hearted conversation between two ‘old men’ who at the time of recording were only 69 and 56 years young!
Western culture celebrates and idolises youth. At the same time there is a nagging fear of the process of dying and losing control at the end of life. We anaesthetise and distract that fear with amusement. Indeed the word ‘amusement’ itself means ‘without thinking’.
https://youtu.be/ylArfKOvpok
In this 31 minute conversation Professor John Wyatt and myself joyfully explore what it means:
– to not look to the future with anxiety or even terror.
– the dangers of nostalgia and living in the past.
– from an ancient proverb how light overcomes darkness.
– how to not live in regret
– the importance of not just physical pain at the end of life, but also relational and psychological pain.
– why the fact you are alive means there is more for you to learn and more to give.
– finding confidence in how the good cannot be lost, the evil will be redeemed and the best is yet to come.
31 min
August 08, 2023 Friendship Part 3: The Ultimate Model of Friendship
S3 E10
Is it possible to enjoy lasting friendship – friendship so good that it lasts forever?
In a cynical, complex and challenging world, we might wonder at the idea. Cultural forces of individualism, loneliness and suspicion question the ideal. And personal stories of betrayal and disappointment plague our ability to try or trust again.
https://youtu.be/Bsd4VvitXIc
And yet a model of friendship exists that runs counter to our doubts. It’s a friendship that’s crafted out of the heart of the gospel – meaning that it brings ‘good news’ for friendship.
So in this final episode of our 3-part series we ask …
‘What is it about the good news of Jesus that makes real friendship possible?’
‘What does it look like?’
‘How do we put it into practice?’

The answers unveil the ultimate model for friendship in God HImself. And He makes it possible for us to live lives that celebrate lasting friendships.
Joining us again to help us explore this ‘good news’ is John Wyatt – doctor, author, speaker and research scientist – who brings key insights from his book on friendship.
In the course of the conversation, John paints a picture of gospel-crafted friendships in practical terms. He reveals how modern variants such as ‘mentoring’ and ‘discipling’ pale in comparison. And he helps us see how friendship with God and others can last for eternity.
This is friendship with wisdom.
Do join the conversation.

30 min
August 01, 2023Friendship Part 2: When Wisdom Meets the Dark Side of Friendship
S3 E09
There is a dark side to friendship that destroys relationships and damages people.
In this 2nd episode of our 3-part series on friendship, we look at how we can apply wisdom to guard against friendship’s dark side.
Joining us again to help unpack this critical issue is John Wyatt – doctor, author, speaker and research scientist – who brings key insights from his book on friendship.
https://youtu.be/XOSb8ENMMLs
John gives context to the ways our ideas of friendship are shaped. He lays out several warning signs of unhealthy friendships. And he provides 3 boundaries to safeguard healthy friendships.
This helps us to:
Recognise the warning signs
Read them in context
Find the right way forward
As a result, we learn how to apply wisdom and strengthen our friendships as a force for good rather than evil.
Do join us for this important conversation.
29 min
July 31, 2023 Friendship Part 1: What Happens When Friendship Meets Wisdom
S3 E08
Friendship allows us to be the best of ourselves. It confirms what we know to be true – that we were made for relationships. Yet many people lack friendship in their lives. They lack the skills to develop close friendships. And so they lack the meaning that friendships bring. Why is this so? What can we do about it? And where can we find the answers?
https://youtu.be/C1PogGJwGJk
To help us explore this vital topic, we are joined in conversation by John Wyatt – doctor, author, speaker and research scientist – who brings key insights from his book on friendship.
Through the discussion we learn that wisdom has a lot to say about building close friendships. It shows us how to measure the health of our relationships and find deeper connections. And it helps us make sense of what it means to be human through the bonds we form.
In this first episode of a 3-part series, we rediscover the potential of friendships. We gain a deeper understanding of why we often struggle with friendship within our cultural context. And we see that in spite of cynical views and complex issues surrounding friendship in general, applying wisdom to our own friendships can have transformative effects.
As you will discover, John’s experiences and studies in friendship will enrich your own – leading to the genuine relationships we all long to have.
Do join us in the conversation …

27 min
July 14, 2023 5 uncomfortable truths that hold the seeds of wisdom
S3 07
The path to a fulfilling life isn’t always what it seems. Our culture tells us that:
You can be successful and relax
You’re important
You can do what you want
You can have control
The world’s your oyster
But how well do these messages measure up to reality? Are we dancing with wisdom or with danger when we adopt them for ourselves?
https://youtu.be/2lt9291dThg

In this podcast we look at 5 key truths that challenge the cultural messages we can so easily absorb – the types of messages that often lead to bad or unintended outcomes.
These truths may be ‘uncomfortable’ but they hold the seeds of wisdom for our lives. They state that:
Life is hard
You are not important
Your life is not about you
You are not in control
You are going to die
When we learn to face these truths, we are on the path towards greater joy, encouragement and fulfilment. Indeed, it turns out there’s power in embracing what’s uncomfortable.
Do join the conversation and discover how to live a more fruitful life with these seeds of wisdom.

29 min
March 22, 2023 What do you consider success?
S3 E6
This is the third and final podcast of a three part series interviewing Mark Greene, author of “Thank God It’s Monday: Flourishing in Your Workplace”. Do watch or listen to part one and part two if you haven’t seen them yet.
https://youtu.be/8WQK00Ee12Q
God is interested in all of our life including the work we are doing. Our work can be an opportunity to bless and serve others in the midst of our more mundane responsibilities.
In this conversation we get to know and understand Mark better as we ask him the following questions:
1. What is the greatest lesson you have learnt?
2. Your greatest successes and why?
3. How has failure shaped your life?
4. What do you see as your greatest strengths?
5. Who have been your mentors and role models?
6. What these days makes your heart beat faster?
7. What have you read that we should read?
8. What have you done that we should do?
9. What growing up was your picture of God?
10. If you had unlimited time and money with no responsibilities what would you do?
Watch or listen to this podcast now to hear the whole discussion.
28 min
September 08, 2022 How can you make your work life more fulfilling?
S3 E05
We continue our conversation with Mark Greene, author of the book “Thank God It’s Monday: Flourishing in Your Workplace”. Mark is passionate about whole life integration so that our faith and work are not separate from each other, but a continuation of who I am.. This is the second of a three-part interview with him.
Do watch the first part here if you haven’t already seen it.
https://youtu.be/mNS1OvLVjmQ

Wisdom involves bringing all of life under the authority of God. How do we do that in a way that can also brings meaning, purpose and fun?
In our conversation we relate the four pillars of wisdom (being, relating, doing and leaving) to the following questions:
Is God really interested in all areas of our lives?
How can we look at our work beyond something just to pay the bills?
How can I grow in confidence that my work really matters and makes a difference?
In this conversation and the next Mark and I explore how the whole of our lives can be lived with an eternal perspective.
26 min
August 30, 2022 A conversation with Mark Greene on his life and motivation
S3 E04
How can the work I do better reflect the person I am and aspire to be?
To help us answer that question we have the privilege of interviewing Mark Greene. Mark is currently Mission Champion at the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity. He is also author of the book “Thank God It’s Monday: Flourishing in Your Workplace”.
https://youtu.be/3fPgJlLfplI
Here is some more background on Mark from his bio that we unpack:
“Mark grew up Jewish and joyous in North-West London. In his last month at university God wooed him not his kingdom and he went on to work for ten years in advertising in London and in New York. Gripped by a desire to dig into God’s word, he took a career break to study at the London School of Theology. The career break turned into a career change and he ended up on the staff, teaching Communications and Engaging with Contemporary Culture, and serving as Vice Principal.
He joined the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity in 1999, eager to focus on the call to see all God’s people empowered to live their whole lives – Monday to Saturday as well as Sunday – in dynamic and fruitful relationship with Christ. His other books include Probably the Best Idea in the World, Fruitfulness on the Front Line, Adventure and the million-copy selling The Servant Queen and the King She Serves which explores the faith of Queen Elizabeth II.
Mark’s married to Katriina, a Finn, and they have three splendidly different adult children. He enjoys films and fiction (a lot) and does a passable imitation of Mr Bean and a terrible one of Sean Connery. His wife wishes it were the other way round. His children wish he wouldn’t do either.”
Do join us in this fascinating conversation on Mark’s life as we unpack what it means to live life as an integrated whole encompassing body, mind and spirit.
The quote from L P Jacks we mention is:
“A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play; his labour and his leisure; his mind and his body; his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both.”

25 min
July 14, 2022 The Wonder of Wisdom in a Cynical World
S3 E3
The way we look at the world and ourselves profoundly impacts the way we live our lives.
In a world of so much cynicism, complexity and confusion, wisdom can help us move forward with less emotional baggage and more hope, awe and wonder with the daily decisions we have to make.
How can we unpack what we mean by wonder?
In this podcast conversation we explore the following quotation from Proverbs 30:18-19. This carefully crafted saying has been described as a testimony to wonder and an exercise in wondering:
“Three things are too wonderful for me;
four things I do not understand:
the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
and the way of a man with a woman.”
https://youtu.be/1fqFa-VJscw
Can you grasp something of this wonder by the four examples poetically described in nature around us?
Here is how one Bible commentator, William Brown describes it:
“How are they possible, these baffling means of movement? What do they share in common: soaring eagles, slithering snakes, floating ships and love-making couples? Each example by itself arrests the attention but together they conjure a world of wonder. The proverb’s appeal derives from its power to elicit bewildered curiosity. To presume that a tidy solution lies behind these four disparate images would run counter to the sage’s own confession of befuddled awe. These ‘four things,’ the sage testifies will always retain an element of mystery regardless of how much is known about them, no matter how well each ‘way’ can be explained. Such is the sage’s testimony: there is nothing quite like ships, snakes and sex (not to mentions soaring raptors) to provoke a sense of wonder.”
On one level so ordinary, but if we pause to consider each they are profoundly mysterious and deeply curious, stirring inner longings in a way that can be hard to express.
Exploring wisdom is also like observing different facets of a diamond.
In our conversation we also unpack the three Biblical books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Job that each give a different perspective on wisdom.
The bright young teacher of Proverbs wants to show us that there is wise order to the way the world runs.
The middle aged cynic of Ecclesiastes tries to explore wisdom ‘under the sun’ without an eternal perspective and becomes increasingly confused by what seem to be the simple answers of Proverbs.
Job, the seasoned old man who has gone through the good, bad and ugly of life reminds us how wisdom is often hidden.
To be wise we need to grasp all three perspectives from this endlessly fascinating diamond.
Do join us in our conversation to learn how wonder can help you overcome a cynical world.
26 min