Gary Renard Podcast

Episode 40: Our 40th podcast episode begins with Gary recapping his recent, extensive (26-day) trip to Europe, where he visited Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. Even since his return from Europe, Gary (along with Cindy) has already visited Boston and Canada. Gary talks a bit about his plans for traveling less often in the coming year… but admits he and Cindy may just find time to take a relaxing visit to Hawaii sometime this winter! Gene then brings up an interesting upcoming event, "Gary Renard in the Heart of Hollywood", taking place on October 16th (2010), where Gary, along with Cindy, will be speaking and performing over the course of an entire day in a classic theatre one block off Hollywood Blvd. Gary talks a bit about his playing guitar and performing alongside Cindy, and also discusses a new music CD that he and Cindy are producing together. Gary then expands the topic into that of relationships in general, and how, from an ACIM perspective, people can deal with their "worldly" relationships while moving ever closer to "holy relationships." A listener's "question for Gary" is right in alignment with this discussion, as it asks how married guys like Gene and Gary handle the "romantic" aspects of married life, while also dealing with these complex relationships in a Course-centered way. The questioner also asks Gene, "Is forgiveness really the only answer?" Gene's response involves a quote from ACIM Lesson 271, and how forgiveness is ultimately a "letting go" of all illusory perception, in favor of the vision of Christ. Gary's closing thought is for people to remember that when they are thinking of or seeing anyone else, they are seeing God, and not just partially, but in totality; and when we can think of others in this way, we learn that it is the best way to experience ourselves as well.

Episode 39: "Summertime Blues... for the Ego!" This episode was recorded while Gary was "on top of Mount Shasta", which is, as he describes it, "one of the most spiritual places on Earth." Gary talks about the beauty of the area, and about the wonderful people he and Cindy are visiting while there. A trip to Vermont is next on their agenda, to be quickly followed by another visit to Europe, including stops in Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, and Finland. Questions for Gary include: Are other spiritual thought systems, such as Hawaii's Hoʻoponopono, and some systems taught by other ascended masters, anything like the forgiveness-based thought system as taught in A Course in Miracles? Next, if it's true that we are actually projecting everything we seem to see and experience, is it possible to change the dream we seem to see by applying forgiveness to our thoughts? Can we literally create our own "happy dream"? And then: How do we apply forgiveness in a practical way to an immediate and personal situation, where the "issues of the world" are right in our face and demand a world-focused response from us? At the close of the show, Gene and Gary discuss the tentative release date for Gary's long-awaited third book!

Episode 38: "Our Second Podcast at Sea!" Recorded while aboard the beautiful MS Oosterdam, during Gary's cruise to Mexico; also known as the "South of the Border" cruise, alternatively called, "We Don't Need No Steenkeeng Ego!" As you will hear, 'a splendid time was had by All.' Our podcast at sea features a number of Questions for Gary, a great deal of Course-based discussion, and as might be expected, a lot of laughter and joy-filled interaction among all of us who became, as we have on our previous cruises together, just like a loving, extended family. This "live" recording really captures the energy and spontaneity of Gary and Gene creating a podcast with the involvement of a live audience.

Episode 38: "Our Second Podcast at Sea!" Recorded while aboard the beautiful MS Oosterdam, during Gary's cruise to Mexico; also known as the "South of the Border" cruise, alternatively called, "We Don't Need No Steenkeeng Ego!" As you will hear, 'a splendid time was had by All.' Our podcast at sea features a number of Questions for Gary, a great deal of Course-based discussion, and as might be expected, a lot of laughter and joy-filled interaction among all of us who became, as we have on our previous cruises together, just like a loving, extended family. This "live" recording really captures the energy and spontaneity of Gary and Gene creating a podcast with the involvement of a live audience.

Episode 37: "March Madness of the Ego!" As we say, March Madness is a lot of fun for sports fans on Earth... but the madness of the ego is no fun for anybody, anywhere. (This was also the theme of this month's conference call.) Gary starts off this podcast by telling Gene all about Austin, Texas (where he is visiting, as this episode is recorded), and then talks a bit about his recent trip to Mexico City. Also discussed is Gary's workshop in the Florida Keys not long ago (where unfortunately, Gene couldn't join him this time around.) Gary and Gene discuss their March 9th conference call, which opened with the topic of the Madness of the Ego, demonstrating how the ego's thought system is literally insane - and how the Holy Spirit provides an alternate thought system which is, blessedly, quite sane, joyful, and peace-filled. Gary elaborates on the actual "structural" nature of the ego, how it started, and how it operates. He also shares some of his personal history of dealing with negative thinking, and how finding A Course in Miracles was his path out of this kind of unhappiness. The discussion leads into a Question for Gary, which asks, "When does peace actually come? When does the 'happy dream' start?" The answer is that, even though the truth is the same for everybody, each individual's experience of peace being attained via forgiveness will be different; as the Course explains, the curriculum for learning is highly individualized. Right at the end of this episode, Gary's wife Cindy makes an impromptu musical "Hello" for our listeners, just before she and Gary ride into the Texas sunset, and off to another workshop appearance!

Episode 37: "March Madness of the Ego!" As we say, March Madness is a lot of fun for sports fans on Earth... but the madness of the ego is no fun for anybody, anywhere. (This was also the theme of this month's conference call.) Gary starts off this podcast by telling Gene all about Austin, Texas (where he is visiting, as this episode is recorded), and then talks a bit about his recent trip to Mexico City. Also discussed is Gary's workshop in the Florida Keys not long ago (where unfortunately, Gene couldn't join him this time around.) Gary and Gene discuss their March 9th conference call, which opened with the topic of the Madness of the Ego, demonstrating how the ego's thought system is literally insane - and how the Holy Spirit provides an alternate thought system which is, blessedly, quite sane, joyful, and peace-filled. Gary elaborates on the actual "structural" nature of the ego, how it started, and how it operates. He also shares some of his personal history of dealing with negative thinking, and how finding A Course in Miracles was his path out of this kind of unhappiness. The discussion leads into a Question for Gary, which asks, "When does peace actually come? When does the 'happy dream' start?" The answer is that, even though the truth is the same for everybody, each individual's experience of peace being attained via forgiveness will be different; as the Course explains, the curriculum for learning is highly individualized. Right at the end of this episode, Gary's wife Cindy makes an impromptu musical "Hello" for our listeners, just before she and Gary ride into the Texas sunset, and off to another workshop appearance!

Episode 36: "Make this year different!" The theme of this first podcast of 2010 takes its cue from the ACIM statement: "Make this year different, by making it all the same." Gary starts off with a brief account of spending New Year's Eve in Honolulu (and their incredible fireworks displays), and then Gary and Gene spend a little time discussing the recent earthquake in Haiti... and how we can use a Course perspective to try to bring a sense of peace to a seemingly tragic set of circumstances. First 'question for Gary' asks: how do we know that after we "awaken", we won't continue to review the dream for infinity? Another question asks about the Course's views on addictions: are addictions also just part of the dream?

Episode 35: "The Christmas 2009 Podcast." This episode begins with some sounds of the season (listen, you'll see), and it is almost instantly interrupted by the arrival to Gary's house of both Cindy and her sister Jackie, who take the opportunity to wish all our podcast listeners a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Gary puts everybody into the Christmas Spirit by recounting one of his favorite quotes from A Course in Miracles which includes, "The sign of Christmas is a star, a light in darkness." There's a very brief chat about Gary's upcoming holiday travels, the next conference call, and the "No Steenkin' Ego" cruise to Mexico in April 2010. First 'question for Gary' asks about the audio recordings of DU as well as the other books. Gene and Gary answer with an announcement regarding this: a soon-to-be released audio-CD set which will present 2 hours of previously unrecorded material from DU and YIR! Next question asks about the animals (pets) in our lives; do they also make spiritual progress while they are alive, and what will happen to them after we eventually transition to the awareness of Heaven? Gene asks Gary to close out this episode (our last podcast for 2009) with some appropriate thoughts; Gary's answer involves the importance of Faith in maintaining our relationship with the Holy Spirit, and continuing to maintain progress in our practice of Forgiveness.

Episode 35: "The Christmas 2009 Podcast." This episode begins with some sounds of the season (listen, you'll see), and it is almost instantly interrupted by the arrival to Gary's house of both Cindy and her sister Jackie, who take the opportunity to wish all our podcast listeners a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Gary puts everybody into the Christmas Spirit by recounting one of his favorite quotes from A Course in Miracles which includes, "The sign of Christmas is a star, a light in darkness." There's a very brief chat about Gary's upcoming holiday travels, the next conference call, and the "No Steenkin' Ego" cruise to Mexico in April 2010. First 'question for Gary' asks about the audio recordings of DU as well as the other books. Gene and Gary answer with an announcement regarding this: a soon-to-be released audio-CD set which will present 2 hours of previously unrecorded material from DU and YIR! Next question asks about the animals (pets) in our lives; do they also make spiritual progress while they are alive, and what will happen to them after we eventually transition to the awareness of Heaven? Gene asks Gary to close out this episode (our last podcast for 2009) with some appropriate thoughts; Gary's answer involves the importance of Faith in maintaining our relationship with the Holy Spirit, and continuing to maintain progress in our practice of Forgiveness.

Episode 34: "Giving Thanks to the Holy Spirit". This Thanksgiving Podcast begins with Gary briefly telling Gene about his recent trip to Australia (and it's been 5 years since he was there last.) During the past 5 years, Gary's audience in Australia has grown substantially, and these podcasts are very popular Down Under, as well! The guys then chat a bit about the upcoming conference call on Nov. 30. Gary talks about going out (right after recording this show) to see the film, 2012, which apparently has a scene in which Gary's book "Your Immortal Reality" is seen sitting on a desk! (One would hope that alone would be enough to save the world...) Next up: Questions for Gary. First question asks Gary to summarize the relationship between our experiences of unity (or separation) with those around us, and our awareness of our relationship with God. Next question inquires about the nature of déja vu. The answer involves the Course's teaching that we are actually reviewing all that has already gone by. This episode closes out with some thoughts on Thanksgiving, and how important it is to maintain an attitude of gratitude not just at this time of year, but all throughout our lives.