Sunday Sanctuary with Petra Bagust

Changing your mind about what you want for dinner is easy. Changing your mind about what you think about someone, how you vote, or what you believe, is not. In this episode of Sunday Sanctuary, Petra talks with friend of the show Spanky Moore and producer Sam talks to Jesuit priest Father Michael Smith in search of some guidance through the process of re-evaluating our opinions.

Music:

Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong by Gene Harris

Bean by Orions Belte

I Might be Wrong by Radiohead

Pine Trees by Mary Lattimore

Can I Change my Mind by Tyrone Davis

Zionsville by Khruangbin

This episode originally came out in 2024

Holding a grudge is a tantalising temptation. Especially when someone has clearly wronged us. After all, they deserve to be held accountable for what they did, right?

In this episode, Petra and her guests explore what the big fuss is with forgiveness. And we’re not just talking about the earth-shattering acts of forgiveness, but garden variety forgiveness that can be weaved into our everyday life as we inevitably bump into the people around us.

Petra talks to counsellor and podcaster, Charlotte Cummings about the emotional world of forgiveness, and Rev Dr Malcolm Gordon about the nuts and bolt of the forgiveness process.

So if you’ve got a grudge that won’t budge, you’ve come to the right place.

Sacred Text:

Excerpt from The Book of Forgiving by Desmond and Mpho tutu.

Rev Malcolm Gordon's Podcast Series:

A Field Guide to Forgiveness

Featured Music:

• The Light by The Album Leaf
• I'm Not Sorry by Morrissey
• Brother by The Brilliance

The role of fathers in our lives can be a mixed bag. There are, of course, tremendous examples of good fatherhood around and yet the brokenness of absent or abusive fathers casts a long shadow.

So what does that mean for our view of God, who is so often referred to as father?

Petra's first guest is John Cowan, a broadcaster, parenting coach, father and grandfather who's spent decades examining family dynamics and can happily provide a bit of encouragement to dads listening.

Sam Bloore also joins us with his thoughts on God as father, and how different framing of the devine can give fresh vitality to our unique spiritual journeys.

Music:

• You are the Gold by Terrible Sons (theme music)
• My Old Man by Mac DeMarco
• Old Man by Neil Young
• Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses

ADHD can make it harder to engage in many spiritual practices that we've been told we should do. What happens, though, when we embrace a more inclusive way of pursuing God? In this episode, 

Petra's first guest is Mark Pierson, a worship curator. He has spent decades designing spaces for people to engage in worship that looks very different to a typical church service. 

Later in the episode, Petra talks to Laidlaw College's Academic Dean, Rev Dr Maja Whitaker, about the research she began after some students came to her and said "hey, this spiritual formation course you're teaching isn't working for us, and here's why..." Maja's work since has lead to a book that will be coming out in November, so keep your ear to the ground for that one.

Music:

• You are the Gold by Terrible Sons
• Innerspace by The Apples in Stereo
• Lalo o le Mauga by SANGUINE
• I'm Only Sleeping by The Beatles
• Free by Florence + The Machine
• Low Tides by Christoph El Truento

We all have rituals. Some might have deep cultural significance, but some we do without realising – like clinking glasses when we meet for a drink. Why has ritual been a central part of every known human society? What do rituals do for us? Are we losing our connection with ritual?  And do we need to rediscover it?

In this insightful episode, Petra and her guests ruminate on the richness of ritual. So light a candle, boil the kettle, take a few deep breaths… and enjoy!

Music:

You are the Gold by Terrible Sons (theme song)

Be Still and Know that I am God, Composition by Roman Hurko, Performed at Church of St. Francis Xavier, New York, Conducted by Michael Zaugg.

Lights Are On – Instrumental, composed by Tom Rosenthal, performed by Edith Whiskers.

Ritual Union by Little Dragon.

Sacred African Music | Ethereal Zulu Humming & Tribal Voices

Judging others is something we all do, and we all want to do less often! "But how!?" we hear you cry!

To begin our exploration of the root of judginess and what we can do tomove past it, Petra has spoken to a crack duo of guests. First up is former Stuff visual journalist, Abigail Dougherty. Abigail describes for Petra how she learnt the need to put aside judgement in her job as a journalist and how her faith has allowed her to keep a more open mind. Next up is Dr Graham Redding, the Douglas Goodfellow lecturer in Chaplaincy Studies at the University of Otago. Graham explores God's judgement of people and whether His character is actually different between the Old Testament and the New Testament of the Bible.

If you're interested, here is Abigail's portfolio

Sacred texts:

This scene from Ted Lasso where Ted plays darts against former AFC Richmond owner, Rupert.

Music:

You are the Gold by Terrible Sons (theme song)

Grazing in the Grass by Hugh Masekela

Peace Blossom Boogie by Babe Rainbow

You're So Vain by Carly Simon

Tumutumu Mauga by SANGUINE

Changes by David Bowie

Equipoise by Max Roach

"Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It is a covenant between equals." - Father Gregory Boyle. This is the quote that guided this episode of Sunday Sanctuary. Petra gets into the history behind this quote, and along the way, talks with social worker Aaron Hendry of Kick Back and Sr Margaret-Anne of the Sisters of Compassion in Wellington.

Sacred Text:

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (The 2024 film adaptation with Killian Murphy is well worth watching!)

Music:

You Are The Gold by Terrible Sons (intro song)

A Message Especially from God by Robert Vanderbilt and the Foundation of Souls

Girl by Jamie xx

Talk by Coldplay

Zionsville by Khruangbin

Rescue Blues by Craig Finn

Oh My God by Kevin Morby

Slider - Lorenzo Saxophone Dub by This Is The Kit

 

 

To Give, Or Not To Give? That is the question Petra is looking into on this episode. First up, Te Waka McLeod tells Petra how she was shaped by the generosity of her māmā. In the second half, Petra talks to others in the Love It Media staff team about their experiences of giving and receiving. In-between, there is a reading from Robin Wall-Kimmerer's book 'Braiding Sweetgrass' and music from Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Natalie Merchant.

Sacred Texts:

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall-Kimmerer

Songs:

International Flight by Nathan Haines

Beans by Orions Belte

Give It Away by Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Clair e Lune by Claude Debussy

Exchange by Massive Attack

Kind and Generous by Natalie Merchant

Statue of a Woman by Novo Amor

Tesifa by Laney Tripp

 

We're all disciplined at some things and not at others, right? Self-discipline is not a very popular topic to explore, but in this episode we push forward anyway! Producer Sam starts by talking to cook and author Nici Wickes and human behaviour specialist Hayden Brown about the way that the theory of self-discipline translates to reality. Later on, Petra ropes in Frank Ritchie to unpack what it means to be spiritually disciplined, and why you might be doing better at it than you think.....

Sacred Texts:

Annie MacManus' interview with Femi Koleoso on her podcast Changes

Music:

• Space is the Place by Ezra Collective
• NIUEANS OF ARIKI STREET - HOME - 01 by Hanisi Garue
• Raisins Under the Sun by Yussef Dayes ft. Shabaka Hutchings
• Frolic by Jake Xerxes Fussel
• Running Out of Time by Paramore
• Shakara by Ezra Collective ft. Kokoroko
• Morning Ritual by Casual Healing
• Ocean City by Gunn - Truscinski Duo

Hayden Brown's podcast is called Breakthrough with Hayden Brown | Website | Spotify

Isn’t having a good old belly laugh just the best thing?! Humour brightens up our lives. It’s fun, frivolous, fanciful, frolicsome, farcical and, well, freakin’ funny. But what if humour is also foundational to our flourishing and fulfilment?

This week we’re taking humour seriously. We talk to psychologist Nettie Cullen about what humour does for us and Petra sits down with her old comedy mate, David Downs, who used humour to get through an otherwise grim cancer journey. And we even hear from some of you, accosted by us while relaxing in a park.

Oh and we promise you a hearty helping of hilarity along the way!

 

Comedy Clips:

James Acaster - Undercover Cop bit

Sarah Pascoe - ADHD Diagnosis bit

Jerry Seinfeld - It Is What it Is bit

Guy Montgomery - A Problem Shared bit

 

Podcast Clips:

The Imperfects - Shane Jacobson Episode

 

Music:

You Are the Gold by Terrible Sons (intro song)

She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain - from The Topp Twins Music for Kids

Have You Fed Baby Huey Today by Surprise Chef

Business Time by Flight of the Conchords from HBO One Night Stand

The Mantra by Vulfmon, Devon Yesberger and Noé Socha