Of Dust & Divinity

Chris and Kaben pick up after two weeks from the last episode (which was recorded live at Chris's house). We dive into California fire season, Chris's evacuation, and the continued intense threats of fires even after Chris was able to return home. If you're along for the saga of the 1890's jail on Chris's property, you'll want to listen to this one!

Christine and Kaben explore the questions of life through the lens of: does the place make a difference in how we answer the question? Do a farmer and a globe-trotter wrestle with the same fundamental questions about what is a good life and how do we get it? Do two people living on opposite sides of the world have deeply held common ground? And what is it? This episode explores our neighborhoods, parenting, the enneagram, grief, hopes & dreams, and so much more. Enjoy!

What happens when you buy a 100-year-old house that has artifacts on the property that dates back to the 1850s? Chris Quandt (co-host extraordinaire) takes Kaben on a tour of his house, which is exactly that: built in 1921 it celebrates its 100-year birthday this year, and comes with so many more interesting and perplexing items than its age would suggest! If you're fascinated by quirky history, this is your episode!

We go deep into the theological quagmire of building a good life in this episode. Bo Sanders is currently a pastor in Portland, OR, and shares with us wisdom he's gleaned from New York to Los Angeles on how to live an embodied spirituality. We dive into modified theology, earth-awareness, healing springs, and critical race theory. If you want your brain to ooze with heady theological banter, this is your episode.

Chris and Kaben expand on some Instagram stories Kaben did (and saved as a highlight) at the end of April. This episode was recorded the same day the stories were live, so our thoughts are really raw and in-the-moment. We examine the connection between luck and success, why people don't like connecting success to luck, and what drives people to create things in the world with or without luck on their side.

Kendra Williams works for the world's largest search engine and began the organization "Black & Brown In The Middle" (@blacknbrownitm) which elevates and centers non-white voices to bring increasing amounts of beauty and wisdom into the world. Kendra and Kaben went to college together and this conversation gets incredibly vulnerable as we examine the role of tokenism, white supremacy, and spirituality in our own relationship.

Chris and Kaben pick up the second half of their exploration of the human relationship to time, flourishing, and finding meaning in everything. We explore Parkinson's Rule of Work and the Pomodoro Method and tie it into deeper reflections on our connection to the earth and deep time.

Kaben gets together with fellow small business owners Ali (@thewinsomepoppy) and Karen (@lu.and.company) to talk about how one instagram mention from Sharon McMahon (@sharonsaysso) changed the trajectory of our businesses and our future. We talk about life before Sharon, that memorable moment when we saw Sharon with our product on her Instagram stories, and what we're doing now in the wake of all that momentum and hype. Then, about 35 minutes in, Sharon herself drops in on the call!! Sharon spends the second half of the episode encouraging us, listening to us, and offering us valuable insights in how to grow our businesses and how to engage our audiences on social media well. This is one worth listening to all the way through!

Chris and Kaben explore our relationship to time. Why is it that we forget the day of the week on vacation? Does that speak to something deeper in our humanity? Why is it that life seems so long and full as a kid? And how can we begin to participate in life in according to the forms of time by which our bodies are crafted?

Tim Bannister has spent decades living in Kenya, Tanzania, Liberia, and Canada. He's committed to bringing life and health to communities through vibrant soil. In this episode, Tim recounts example after example of how, following a few simple practices which he outlines, marginal soil can be transformed into highly productive and luscious soil. This is definitely one to listen to more than once!