Expansion Lab

We each have a next best step before us, but many people struggle with discerning what that is. We are all in different places, but if there is one universal next step, it’s getting really good at accessing the Spirit within and owning your own inner authority. Jen shares practical tips on how to weed through the noise, listen to your intuition, and find the courage to take your next best step.

In this episode, you'll learn:

As a bonus, Jen leads you through a breath-work meditation to help you get into your body and start tapping into that discernment. Listen now and learn how to discern your next best step!

Ep 52- The Growing Up Step

Spiritual formation. 

We grow in steps and stages and often there’s a particular specific step we take- a growing up step. We are in a unique time in the world where people need to grow up-both for ourselves and for each other.

Phil talks about the specific moment in his life when he took a "growing up step" in his spiritual journey. This moment was the passing of his father, and it forced Phil to confront his own father energy and son energy. 

He talks about:

-Where we are being invited to grow up into a new kind of energy in your lives.

-How things change energetically before they change relationally.

-That to create a new life requires that you stop striving for approval and accept that you are already good and loved and accepted and valuable. You don’t have to build anything; you don’t need to prove it or earn it. You simply operate from it.

-How deconstruction is actually about inclusions and expansions; it is about getting bigger.

-If we predetermine what is true in the universe, we may be so focused on defending our current beliefs that we are unable to see the value in new ideas and miss out on opportunities for growth

And finally, he invites us to think about what needs to be included or expanded in our lives. 

Ep 51

You live differently when you come to terms with the fact that you are going to die.

In this podcast, we talk with Kelsey Kappauf, a Certified End of Life Coach and Death Doula, about the importance of befriending death, talking about death openly and honestly, and how doing so can change the way we live now. We are a grief-averse culture, and we generally don't know what to do with the idea of death. But talking about death can help us to live more consciously, at every stage of life.

We talk about:

Kelsey also shares some practices that we can use to examine our relationships with death and live more consciously now including:

Whether you are interested in learning how to live more consciously or find peace in the face of death or if you are looking for ways to support a loved one who is facing death, then this podcast is for you.

You can find Kelsey at:    https://contemplativedying.com/

Ep 51

Letting go is just beneath the surface whenever we feel stuck or frustrated in our lives. Oftentimes, it’s the last thing we want to do, but the thing we most need to do.

We talk with our dear friend, author and pastor Kevin Sweeney about the Joy of Letting Go. 

While Letting go sounds cerebral or heady, it’s actually an embodied act- it’s something you can actually feel and experience with your senses. It’s a relaxing and uncoiling of our vulnerable heart and it can be incredibly hard to do. It can even feel hellish at times. And the only way to get better at letting go is by letting go-nobody else can do that for you. But while it may sound audacious, there is life and joy on the other side of surrender. When we surrender, the path becomes more free for us to give and receive love.

We also talk about:

-Keeping our hearts open despite every reason not to

-The real consequences of letting go

-Being less certain and more free

-Trauma impacting the way you see forever

-Faith is walking to the edge and trusting that it’s a bridge to something better on the other side

-People are scared to grow because when you open up to it, you never really know how far it’s going to go

-The paradox that often, there’s nothing we want nothing more than real transformation, but nothing we resist more than change

-The marker of God in our lives is transformation and love

You can find Kevin’s newest book, The Joy of Letting Go on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1957007362/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&ref_=tmm_pap_swatch_0&sr=

You can find Kevin on Instagram @kevinsweeney1

Ep 49

Women are the largest group of oppressed people on the planet, and that is something we should all care about. We talk with author and podcaster Meghan Tschanz about something that we should all be talking about: the inequity that women face. When we empower and listen to women, we make the world a more loving and equal place. Too often the Church is not concerned with the inequity of women or merely gives lip service to it. We cover some big topics like purity culture, raising kids with healthy sexual ethics, and the link between violence against women and patriarchal societies. But despite all of that, our conversation was full of hope. When we lift up women we all win. This is a conversation we should all be having and we are grateful for people like Meghan leading the charge.

You can find Meghan’s work www.meghantschanz.com 

Meghan is on Instagram @meghantschanz

Ep 48- 20 Mistakes and Learnings from 20 Years of Marriage.

Since we celebrated our 20 year wedding anniversary this week, we decided to share 20 mistakes and learnings from 20 years of marriage, drawing from our own experiences and our time pastoring and coaching others in relationships. Key mistakes include fighting to win, assuming our partners are the same as us, and making assumptions instead of actively listening.

We talk about the importance of genuine apologies, having fun together, recognizing that marriage is a partnership, and establishing trust through transparency. We share some personal stories and things we’ve learned the hard way and talk about the importance of empathy, communication, and personal growth within a relationship.

Ep 47- David Hayward, aka Naked Pastor.

You know when you feel like you are old friends with someone even though it's the first time you've met? This conversation with David Hayward aka @nakedpastor felt that way. Sharing a similar story, we had a raw conversation swapping accounts about what it has been like to redefine ourselves and discover new freedom along the way.  

We talk about:

Being our authentic selves 

How questions actually reflect spiritual maturity

Deconstruction-how it’s gotten a bad rap, but is a natural part of spiritual growth

Why it’s scary for pastors and spiritual leaders to empower people on their own journey 

How fear and control are powerful motivators, but don’t foster freedom or true growth

Fear based parenting vs. relationship first parenting

David’s story of his changing beliefs changing his marriage

What to do when you and your spouse are on a different spiritual journey

How spiritual independence and community aren’t mutually exclusive

You can find David's work at https://nakedpastor.com/

You can find him on Instagram @nakedpastor

The books referenced in podcast can be found on Amazon:

Til Doubt Do Us Part: When Changing Beliefs Change Your Marriage

https://www.amazon.com/Til-Doubt-Do-Us-Part/dp/B08C97TH22/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=till+doubt+do+us+part&qid=1674767646&sr=8-1

Questions Are The Answer: Naked Pastor and the search for understanding

https://www.amazon.com/Questions-Are-Answer-nakedpastor-understanding/dp/0232531889/ref=pd_bxgy_vft_none_img_sccl_1/142-6878859-1660826?pd_rd_w=MHHxG&content-id=amzn1.sym.7f0cf323-50c6-49e3-b3f9-63546bb79c92&pf_rd_p=7f0cf323-50c6-49e3-b3f9-63546bb79c92&pf_rd_r=C2YVHX7S3201GF7XJAMN&pd_rd_wg=QP63T&pd_rd_r=a62f0a5b-0351-4933-9c84-f8c353c950d6&pd_rd_i=0232531889&psc=1

Ep 46- How to Trust Yourself

Recognizing the Spirit within and your inner authority, instead of trying to please external authorities, is a serious game changer. It's all about inner freedom and owning your own power. But how do you actually do that?

We discuss how getting in touch with your body, listening to your emotions, practicing following your gut instinct, taking time for yourself and having confidence in your own authority help you to trust yourself. And when you are connected with your heart in these ways, it encourages you to live authentically and stay true to yourself. By accessing your inner wisdom, you can make decisions that align with your core values and beliefs and that's where freedom lies.

Ep 45

“It’s not about being better, it’s about being whole.” 

Talking with artist and speaker Scott Erickson about vulnerability and paradox. Vulnerability is not about our limitations, but rather about our relationship with them. Our weaknesses can be avenues for connection with others. Purposeful vulnerability and interdependence builds relationships with others and the world around us. We discuss the paradox that the church has given both wonderful things and broken our hearts, and that despite it all, the Spirit is still moving in people's lives. We talk about a movement towards spirituality that is embodied, integrated, and grounded in meaningful relationships. Scott suggests that paying attention to other narratives in the world can lead to a more loving world, and emphasizes the value of growing older and gaining perspective.

You can find Scott’s work at Scottericksonart.com  

Instagram @scottthepainter 

Ep 44- It's All One Thing.

Your life is all one thing- all the bits and parts. It’s all one thing. We can know about so much, but it’s a whole other thing to integrate that knowledge into our daily lives. There’s growth, but then there’s figuring out how to integrate that growth into your life and how to work it out in the world within and around you. True growth takes time and space. There’s a whole lot of grace and lightness and there’s always going to be more to include. And you have an inner authority. There’s an invitation to a spaciousness to let it marinate into you, patience and confidence because it’s all. one. thing.

Also, after a few month break, we renamed our podcast, Expansion Lab.

We're back!

www.expansionlab.io