The Spiritual Embodiment Podcast

Samantha Redondo

Join therapist and coach Samantha Redondo, LMFT as she dives into the intersection of spirituality and embodiment, exploring its significance in personal growth and healing. She discusses the impact of power in this dynamic, particularly in religious contexts, and shares her personal journey with spiritual trauma. These conversations emphasizes the importance of embodiment in connecting with our humanity and the collective experience, while also addressing the dangers of disembodiment in spiritual practices. Ultimately, Samantha advocates for a new way forward that integrates spirituality with embodied practices to foster healing and empowerment.

  1. 23 Oct

    Navigating Spiritual Change and Kinship with Nature with Rev. Caitlyn Ference-Saunders (Part 2)

    In this episode, Sam Redondo interviews Reverend Cait Ference-Saunders about integrating nature into spiritual practice, a relational framework of how we interact with the world, and deconstructing harmful theological concepts. They explore how embodiment, community, and theology shape our relationship with the earth and ourselves. Keywords spirituality, embodiment, nature, theology, ecology, community, transformation, indigenous wisdom, Gaia theory, sacredness. Chapters 00:20 Introduction to Spiritual Embodiment Podcast 00:41 Continuing the Conversation with Cait Ference-Saunders 01:03 Exploring Wonder and Awe 01:31 Nature as a Spiritual Companion 06:32 The Relational Dynamics of Nature 13:29 Habits of Care and Divine Reflection 15:37 Personal Reflection and Theological Insights 17:26 Understanding Evangelicalism and Its Impact 19:20 Navigating Change and Spirituality 21:19 The Fluidity of Existence 22:59 Finding Comfort in Poetry and Community 25:07 Creating Safe Spaces for Connection 27:17 Embracing New Spiritual Environments 28:10 Tools for Navigating Spiritual Spaces 31:08 Balancing Comfort and Discomfort in Faith 34:05 The Power of Connection and Community 37:04 Final Thoughts and Reflections Resources Theology of Failure by Marika Rose Enough is Enough by Dean Detloff and Matt Bernico Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer The Episcopal Church www.traumasensitiveyoga.com/ www.withcait.com Connect on IG! Work with Sam Disclaimer from Cait: "My words are my own and do not reflect an official statement by the Episcopal Church or the breadth of its doctrine. The things I share are from my lived experience as an individual seeker of God, who is also ordained. Not every priest or member of the church will hold the exact positions I do, but holding disparate things in common is a hallmark of my ordaining church."

  2. 15 Oct

    Christianity, Perfomance, and Authentic Faith with Rev. Caitlyn Ference-Saunders (Part 1)

    In this episode, Rev. Cait Ference-Saunders shares her journey from childhood wonder through her experiences in ballet, church, and yoga practice, illustrating how embodiment and faith intertwine. She explores how her roles as a yoga teacher and clergy member inform her understanding of spiritual embodiment and the importance of consent, ritual, and authenticity. In this episode, Cait Ference-Saunders shares her insights on the relationship between institution and power in our life of faith, and reimagining theological concepts as places of empowerment. Keywords spiritual embodiment, faith, trauma-informed yoga, church, identity, ritual, consent, embodiment, Christian tradition, justice spirituality, nature, wonder, awe, integration, collaboration, theology, ecology, embodiment, sacredness Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Cait's journey and background 04:11 The generative power of being stumped and curiosity 06:00 The impact of outdoor life and environment 07:36 College, disorientation, and land as a grounding force 09:07 Embodiment through dance and ballet 09:57 Wonder as curiosity and awe in spiritual life 11:29 Grieving ballet and finding yoga as a new practice 13:41 Body image, diet culture, and societal expectations 15:02 Integrating nature into spiritual and emotional practice 16:41 Performance, perfectionism, and hypervigilance 20:18 Objectification, consent, and embodiment in faith 22:08 Growing up in bifurcated religious environments 22:31 The journey to ordination and body acceptance 24:37 Clergy clothing as ritual and identity 27:54 The risks and rewards of embodying institutional power 28:09 Accepting and embracing authentic impulses in spirituality 30:49 Balancing justice, faith, and systemic harm 33:35 Integrating faith, trauma, and embodiment practices 34:09 The deep feeling nature and empathy for all beings 37:52 The deep weave of faith and lived experience 40:01 Indigenizing place and the responsibility to relate to land 40:14 The role of ritual, clothing, and embodiment in spiritual practice 43:33 Starting points for exploring spirituality and wonder 45:37 Encouragement for those seeking authentic spiritual connection Resources Theology of Failure by Marika Rose Enough is Enough by Dean Detloff and Matt Bernico Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer The Episcopal Church www.traumasensitiveyoga.com/ www.withcait.com Connect on IG! Work with Sam Disclaimer from Cait: "My words are my own and do not reflect an official statement by the Episcopal Church or the breadth of its doctrine. The things I share are from my lived experience as an individual seeker of God, who is also ordained. Not every priest or member of the church will hold the exact positions I do, but holding disparate things in common is a hallmark of my ordaining church."

About

Join therapist and coach Samantha Redondo, LMFT as she dives into the intersection of spirituality and embodiment, exploring its significance in personal growth and healing. She discusses the impact of power in this dynamic, particularly in religious contexts, and shares her personal journey with spiritual trauma. These conversations emphasizes the importance of embodiment in connecting with our humanity and the collective experience, while also addressing the dangers of disembodiment in spiritual practices. Ultimately, Samantha advocates for a new way forward that integrates spirituality with embodied practices to foster healing and empowerment.