What if your vocation isn’t a job or title but a response to love? In this moving conversation, Friar Nicolas Maria Rivera shares how a healing at 19 led him to a life shaped by Saint Francis, simplicity, and service.

From his journey through multiple faith traditions to his life as a queer Franciscan friar in downtown Denver, Nicolas explores vocation as something everyone has. This episode invites you to see your own calling not as something distant but as something already present in your daily life.

What if following Jesus didn’t mean signing up for a religion, but learning a way of living, rooted in compassion, simplicity, and deep connection with others and the earth? In this episode, we explore the radical love Jesus showed to outsiders and misfits, how he resisted judgment and embraced mercy, and the quiet spirituality he practiced in nature. It’s an invitation to return to what’s real, not dogma, but presence.

What if God isn’t a one-way message, but a Conversation that never stopped?

In this episode of Neon Alchemist, we explore the ancient Greek word Logos from John 1 and how it might mean more than just “Word.” Could it mean Conversation? And what does that change about prayer, creation, and the Christ who walked among us?

Join us for a mystical deep dive that blends biblical Greek, Richard Rohr’s Universal Christ, the mystics, and a few jokes about squirrels and sacred side-eyes.

Whether you're spiritually curious, mystically inclined, or just love a good theological twist, this episode invites you into the divine dialogue already unfolding around you.

Is it possible that God is showing up... where you least expect it?

In this gentle and slightly mischievous episode of Neon Alchemist, Brother Jay takes us on a contemplative stroll through sidewalk violets, kitchen sinks, cab rides, and even a Taco Bell — yes, really — to explore the idea that the whole world might be sacramental.

Rooted in the earthy spirituality of St. Francis, the poetry of Mary Oliver, and a good dash of holy humor, this episode invites you to notice the sacred in the overlooked and ordinary. Along the way, you'll hear short stories of surprise encounters with grace, reflections on what a sacrament really is, and a reminder that sometimes God doesn't kick the door down... sometimes God just quietly rises through the cracks.

If you've ever felt a flicker of holiness in a weedy garden, a hospital hallway, or a spoonful of lentils, this one's for you.

In this tender reflection, Brother Jay shares his quiet return to the Christian path through sacred rhythms, the Daily Office, and the healing mystery of the Eucharist. For anyone who has wandered, wondered, or felt too far from faith, this episode offers a gentle invitation to come home—not with certainty, but with peace. You were never lost. The table was always set. And you are already welcome.

What if the wilderness isn’t punishment, but invitation? In this episode, we wander through the spiritual landscapes of uncertainty, doubt, and dryness—those seasons when the old compass stops working and the path disappears beneath our feet. Drawing from Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness, the wisdom of mystics, and our own very human struggles, we ask: What happens when we stop trying to get somewhere and just let the wilderness do its work?

This is for anyone who's feeling spiritually stuck, tired, or in-between. There’s wisdom here, in the sand and silence. You’re not lost—you’re being reshaped.

Follow Us!

This episode explores what happens after spiritual deconstruction—when the dust settles and the work of rebuilding begins. With warmth, wit, and honesty, it reflects on how faith can be reclaimed, reimagined, and reconstructed without shame or fear. For anyone navigating a new spiritual path or finding beauty in old truths with fresh eyes, this episode offers insight and encouragement.

What does it mean to follow Jesus in a Sufi way? In this episode of Neon Alchemist, I sit down with poet and beekeeper Chris Isa Muscat, whose journey is shaped by the mystical heart of God. We explore his spiritual path, the wisdom of Sufi and Christian mystics, and how love and longing fuel the search for the Divine. Tune in for a deep, soulful, and poetic conversation.

In this episode the Neon Alchemist interviews Luke Bricker, a former pastor who grew up in evangelical mega-churches. Bricker recounts his journey of deconstructing his inherited faith. He discusses his early beliefs, teenage rebellion, and the experiences that led him to a different understanding of Christianity and spirituality. The conversation explores his transition from traditional evangelicalism to a more interspiritual perspective, touching on topics like his views on Jesus, spiritual practices like meditation, and his current work in spiritual direction. Bricker also shares insights on navigating deconstruction, including its impact on relationships and community.

Bricker is currently a minister of the Current Collective which can be found at https://thisiscurrent.org

What exactly is a spiritual coach, and how does coaching help people navigate life’s toughest challenges? In this episode, Neon Alchemist sits down with Tamisha Arrendell, a spiritual coach specializing in working with men and relationship dynamics. From breaking unhealthy patterns to finding deeper connection and purpose, we explore how spiritual and life coaching works, why it’s not just therapy with incense, and how real transformation happens when people are ready to do the inner work. Insightful, engaging, and maybe a little uncomfortable (in the best way)—this is a conversation you don’t want to miss!