In this episode, we sit down with Maureen Shelton — ACPE Certified Educator, CBCT instructor, and co-developer of Compassion-Centered Spiritual Health — to uncover the surprising science behind compassion. Together, we explore how CBCT and CCSH transform chaplaincy from “holding space” into an evidence-based clinical intervention. Learn how compassion reshapes language, reduces patient distress, and even affects chaplains’ well-being.
https://compassion.emory.edu/cbct-compassion-training/index.html

https://ccsh.emory.edu/

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0313602

Connect with Alice and John on social media:

Instagram: @alicetremaine (Alice) @researchchaplain (John)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicetremaine/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaplainbetz/

Leave us a message at the Chaplain's Compass phone number: 502-536-7508

Learn more about chaplaincy at https://www.chaplaincynow.com/ and the association of professional chaplains at https://www.apchaplains.org/

In this powerful episode of Chaplain’s Compass, hosts Alice Tremaine and John Betz sit down with Imam Ayman Soliman, a Muslim chaplain whose remarkable story of faith and resilience has drawn national attention. After surviving persecution and imprisonment in Egypt for his journalism during the Arab Spring, Imam Soliman built a new life in the U.S. as a hospital chaplain — until his asylum was suddenly revoked in 2025, landing him in a maximum-security jail for 72 days. From that cell, he ministered to fellow detainees, turning suffering into service. In this deeply moving conversation, Imam Soliman reflects on the miracle of his release, the interfaith solidarity that saved him, and the sacred work of finding meaning, dignity, and hope in the hardest places.

Connect with Alice and John on social media:

Instagram: @alicetremaine (Alice) @researchchaplain (John)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicetremaine/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaplainbetz/

Leave us a message at the Chaplain's Compass phone number: 502-536-7508

Learn more about chaplaincy at https://www.chaplaincynow.com/ and the association of professional chaplains at https://www.apchaplains.org/

Connect with Alice and John on social media:

Instagram: @alicetremaine (Alice) @researchchaplain (John)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicetremaine/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaplainbetz/

Leave us a message at the Chaplain's Compass phone number: 502-536-7508

Learn more about chaplaincy at https://www.chaplaincynow.com/ and the association of professional chaplains at https://www.apchaplains.org/

What does it mean to provide spiritual care when you don’t believe in God? In this episode of The Chaplain’s Compass, Alice Tremaine and John Betz talk with Chaplain Ben Iten—ACPE educator, hospital chaplain, and Vice President of the Humanist Society. Ben shares his journey from Christian theology to humanist chaplaincy, how meaning-making guides his work, and what it means to serve patients who identify as secular, atheist, or spiritual-but-not-religious.

In this episode of Chaplain's Compass, John Betz and Alice Tremaine engage with Lynnett Glass, the executive director of ACPE. We discuss Lynnett's journey into chaplaincy, the challenges of leadership during a transitional period, and the meaning of accreditation in spiritual care education. Lynnett shares her insights on the impact of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), the need for diversity and inclusion within the field, and the future direction of ACPE as it seeks to reimagine its standards and practices.

Since the recording of this episode, the Association of Professional Chaplains has announced that ACPE has been approved as a provider of CPE for units required towards the application for BCCI certification chaplain under the new APC Provider Criteria.

Find more information about ACPE at https://acpe.edu/

Instagram: @alicetremaine (Alice) @researchchaplain (John)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicetremaine/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaplainbetz/

Leave us a message at the Chaplain's Compass phone number: 502-536-7508

Learn more about chaplaincy at https://www.chaplaincynow.com/ and the association of professional chaplains at https://www.apchaplains.org/

In this episode of Chaplain's Compass, hosts John Betz and Alice Tremaine engage with Brett Baddorf, a chaplain with a unique journey that includes time spent in the icy expanses of Antarctica -- where he served as an unofficial chaplain to a diverse community of researchers and support staff. Brett shares his circuitous path to chaplaincy, the lessons learned from his experiences at the South Pole, and how these experiences shaped his approach to spiritual care in healthcare settings. In this episode, we explore themes of community, isolation, and the integration of spiritual care within interdisciplinary teams. Tune in to hear about the challenges and rewards of ministering in one of the most remote places on Earth and how these lessons apply to everyday chaplaincy work.

Join Alice and John as they kick off 2025 with an inspiring conversation with Dr. Kelsey White, the first female editor-in-chief of the Journal of Healthcare Chaplaincy. Kelsey shares her passion for spiritual care and journey into research, as well as insights into the evolving landscape of chaplaincy research. In this episode, we discuss common pitfalls and the importance of collaboration in research, the need for chaplains to write about their innovative practices, and how chaplains can get involved in research. Kelsey also explains the publication process for research articles, and shares insights into educational pathways for aspiring researchers. We hope our listeners will feel empowered to submit their work for publication after listening to this episode. You can contact Dr. Kelsey White at [email protected]

In this episode, we connect with Gudrun Ernstson (Sweeden) and Remy Jacobs (Netherlands) about their experiences with chaplaincy in their countries, and what they learned at the 2024 European Network of Healthcare Chaplaincy consultation. We discuss the impact of trauma on our work and the importance of self-care.

Gudrun Ernstson has been a healthcare chaplain for 24 years, serving at an emergency hospital and a children's hospital in Sweden. In her work, she cares for patients, relatives, and hospital staff.

Remy Jacobs served as a Catholic priest in the parish for 8 years before becoming a chaplain, caring for older adults. He lives in Rotterdam with his partner Richard.

Connect with Alice and John on social media:

Instagram: @alicetremaine (Alice) @researchchaplain (John)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicetremaine/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaplainbetz/

Leave us a message at the Chaplain's Compass phone number: 502-536-7508

Learn more about chaplaincy at https://www.chaplaincynow.com/ and the association of professional chaplains at https://www.apchaplains.org/

Meet Patricia (Kim) Palmer, Maureen Shelton and Jennifer Mascaro! In this episode, we delve into Cognitively Based Compassion Training (CBCT®) and Compassion-Centered Spiritual Health (CCSH®), and how they can inform and transform chaplaincy practice.

Note: We had some technical issues with Maureen Shelton's sound, and unfortunately were unable to capture the important pieces that she said. However, we plan on having a follow up episode with those with Cognitively-Based Compassion Training®, Compassion-Centered Spiritual Health (CCSH®) where Maureen can lend her voice again, but this time for all to hear.

Maureen has some excellent podcast episodes on Compassion-Centered Spiritual Health (CCSH) under the Podcast section of Events | Emory University | Atlanta GA.

Read more about CBCT® at CBCT® | Cognitively-Based Compassion Training - Emory University and in the article below. Membership with the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) includes access to the Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy.

The reference for the article in this Podcast is the following: Mascaro, J. S., Florian, M. P., Brauer, E., Palmer, P. K., Ash, M. J., Shelton, M., … Grant, G. H. (2024). A mixed-method evaluation of implementation determinants for chaplain intervention in a hospital setting. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 30(3), 226–244. https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2024.2323375

Connect with Alice and John on social media:

Instagram: @alicetremaine (Alice) @researchchaplain (John)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicetremaine/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaplainbetz/

Leave us a message at the Chaplain's Compass phone number: 502-536-7508

Learn more about chaplaincy at https://www.chaplaincynow.com/ and the association of professional chaplains at https://www.apchaplains.org/

In this episode, Chaplain (Colonel) Mark Lee and Chaplain (Colonel) Ibraheem Raheem share the unique role of chaplains in the military as well as the unique aspects of the Army's CPE program, including leadership skills and speaking truth to power.

Connect with Alice and John on social media:

Instagram: @alicetremaine (Alice) @researchchaplain (John)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicetremaine/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaplainbetz/

Leave us a message at the Chaplain's Compass phone number: 502-536-7508

Learn more about chaplaincy at https://www.chaplaincynow.com/ and the association of professional chaplains at https://www.apchaplains.org/