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

How do you react to being misunderstood? It's pretty rough, right? In this episode of Sunday Sanctuary, Petra Bagust catches up with punk rocker turned Anglican priest, Rev. Spanky Moore, who introduces Petra to an "MRI of the soul" called The Litany of Humility. Sacred texts include works from Eddie Izzard, Nina Simone, Michael Leunig and more. Later in the episode, Petra talks to therapist and author Shirley Pastiroff about where the pain of being misunderstood comes from, and whether seeking to be understood is always the best idea....

Sacred Texts:

Death Star Canteen bit from Eddie Izzard's 2002 show called Circle

'Kangaroo' scene from Denis Villeneuve's film Arrival

Music:

You Are the Gold by Terrible Sons (intro song)

Damaged Goods by Gang of Four

Outro by media puzzle

Pīwari by Christoph El Truento

Close but Not Quite by Everything is Recorded featuring Curtis Mayfield and Sampha

Lalo o le Mauga by SANGUINE

Don't Let Me Be Misunderrstood by Nina Simone

Walk Alone to Hear Thoughts of Your Own by Laura Misch

In this episode, Petra digs into what it looks like to actively care for the world we live in. First up, producer Sam heads to the mighty Waikato to talk to organic farmers Pauline and Sam Hunt. If you've ever wondered what it means to be an organic farmer or what it looks like to practice conservation on working land, this chat is for you.

Later in the episode, Petra talks to Ed Walker, the Executive Director of A Rocha International. A Rocha is a faith-based conservation charity with a presence in over 20 countries around the world.

Sacred Texts:

Feminism, The Body and The Machine by Wendell Berry

Prayer for Nature by Walter Rauschenbusch (used as the benediction)

Music:

Pīwari by Christoph El Truento

Bees by Caribou

Grazing in the Grass by Hugh Masakela

Let the Waves Know by Christoph El Truento and Lucky Lance

Sun Rays Like Stilts by Tommy Guerero

Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) by Marvin Gaye

East Cape by Headland

Cinquante Six by Ali Farka Touré

We don't need to do everything by ourselves. Especially when life gets hard, it is super important to let others in to carry the weight of things together. To guide us in how we might do that, Petra first talks to Irish author and documentary producer Kevin Toolis about his book My Father's Wake. As it turns out, the Irish grieving ritual is packed with moments where people gather around the bereaved. In the second half, we bring back a conversation with former producer Grace McArthur from our 2024 episode on confession. She lays out Brené Brown's wisdom around vulnerability, a key ingredient in sharing the load with others.

A list of bookstores selling Kevin Toolis' book can be found here

Sacred Texts:

• Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
• The film Living, directed by Oliver Hermanus and starring Bill Nighy and Aimee Lou Wood

Music:

• FTA by Whitney
• Ocean City by Gunn-Truscinski Duo
• The Weight by The Band
• Innerspace by The Apples in Stereo
• One by U2
• Pray for Me by SAULT
• Equipoise by Max Roach

In a world of contant busyness and rushing around, it can be really hard to wait. In this episode, producer Sam unpacks his own difficult relationship with waiting and lands on a few questions to help guide his patience. Later on, Petra talks with Nathan McLellan, the CEO of Venn Foundation, about the different scales of waiting and how the biggest, most existential kind of waiting can guide our everday need for patience.

Sacred Texts:

Oh The Places You'll Go by Dr Seuss

What it Means to Wait by John Dennison

Music:

Rock & Roll by The Velvet Underground

Caja de la Sala by Khruangbin

The Guitar is Dead 3 by Horsegirl

Ya Ya Breathe by Bruno Pernadas

It's Going to Take Some Time by Carole King

A Calf Born in Winter by Khruangbin

If Only I Could Wait by Bon Iver and Danielle Haim

Exchange by Massive Attack

What does it mean to be a caregiver? Where does the beauty hide, and how do we manage the difficulty? In this episode, Petra talks with her neighbour, Nick, and Andrea Page, the director of the Salvation Army's Epsom Lodge here in Auckland. Producer Sam also pays a visit to musician C. Zukey to ask about the story behind his 2024 album Stone Fruut.

The hope is that this episode helps caregivers to feel seen and encouraged, as well as building understanding of what it is like in those who aren't caregivers.

Music:

Space 7 by Nala Sinephro

Interlude by Julie Byrne

Statue of a Woman by Novo Amor

Who Knows Where the Time Goes? by Fairport Convention

New Grass by Talk Talk

Water Temple by C. Zukey

Ocean City by Gunn - Truscinski Duo

Petra's full conversation with Pádraig Ó Tuama, from the episode Peace within Chaos.

When everything feels a bit much, how do we find peace within the chaos? In this episode of Sunday Sanctuary, Petra Bagust finally gets a chance to talk with Irish poet Pádraig Ó Tuama about how his history of mediation and writing poetry informs how he looks for peace. Second up is Christchurch-based counsellor Charlotte Cummings. Both Pádraig and Charlotte bring thoughtful, if very different, perspectives on looking for peace within chaos.

Charlotte's podcast, Feel Better, can be found here

Read more of Pádraig's poetry here

Sacred texts:

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

Lessons on Living by Nigel Latta

Practices for Embodied Living by Dr Hillary McBride

Music:

You are the Gold by Terrible Sons

By the Sleepy Lagoon by Eric Coates

East Cape by Headland

The News by Paramore

Walk Alone to Hear Thoughts of Your Own by Laura Misch

Spirit 2.0 by Sampha

Peace Piece by the Bill Evans Trio

Niueans of Ariki Street - Ariki Street - 04 by Hanisi Garue

Petra's full conversation with Professor Niki Harré, from the episode Am I My Brother's Keeper?