Living Compass Spirituality & Wellness

Scott Stoner
  • 4.8 (22)
  • Religion
  • Updated Semiweekly

The Living Compass Spirituality and Wellness Initiative is a non-profit that creates low-cost, often free, wellness resources, including this podcast, currently used by tens of thousands of adults, teens, parents, faith communities, and organizations around the world. The Rev. Dr. Scott Stoner, the founder of this initiative, is a licensed marriage and family therapist and Episcopal minister. He has over forty years of experience equipping individuals, couples, parents, and families with the tools and inspiration they need to navigate their lives and relationships with awareness and intention.

  1. Jul 8

    "You Don't Have to Sit Still to Be Still."

    Scott talks about two recent experiences he had that reminded him of the power and simplicity of walking meditation. He provides some guidance on how to get started with this practice. Please know, too, that there are several guided walking meditations in the Living Compass app. Download the free app on your phone's app store or find it online at https://app.livingcompass.org. Reach out if you want more guidance on this practice at scott@livingcompass.org.

  2. Jun 30

    "When a Cup of Coffee Is So Much More than a Cup of Coffee," Episode #179, June 30, 2026

    In anticipation of the Fourth of July, Scott shares a "declaration of interdependence," based on his morning meditation with his cup of coffee.

    "When a Cup of Coffee Is So Much More than a Cup of Coffee," Episode #179, June 30, 2026

  3. Jun 25

    "Rooting for One Another," Episode #179, June 26, 2026

    Inspired by joining over 100,000 fans at a World Cup pre-game party and march in Seattle, Scott talks about the spirituality of rooting. The double meaning of "rooting" is explored — meaning to cheer one another on, and to ground us more deeply in our spirituality. The episode invites each of us to think of someone specific in our lives who could use a little rooting on right now.

    "Rooting for One Another," Episode #179, June 26, 2026

  4. Jun 16

    "Keys to the Beautiful Game and a Beautiful Life," Episode #177

    The Beautiful Game: Soccer as a Guide to Living a Beautiful Life Living Compass Spirituality and Wellness Podcast Episode Summary Host Scott Stoner — Episcopal minister, licensed marriage and family therapist, 40-year soccer player, and lifelong fan — draws on the principles of "the beautiful game" to explore what it means to live a beautiful life. Recorded during World Cup season, this episode is an invitation to see the wisdom embedded in the world's most beloved sport. Key Themes 1. Simplicity Soccer is the simplest of games — all you need is a ball and two goals (even makeshift ones made from backpacks or duct-taped newspaper). With only 17 rules, it's accessible to the youngest children and the most resource-limited communities. Scott reflects on a teammate from Indonesia who learned to play with a homemade newspaper ball and garbage can goals — and became one of the finest players Scott has ever shared a field with. The invitation: where might simplicity open up more beauty in your own life? 2. Diversity The World Cup is a living celebration of human diversity. Scott reflects on the remarkable Spain vs. Cabo Verde match — the largest ranking gap in World Cup history — and the overnight fame of Cabo Verde's 40-year-old goalkeeper. He also shares from his own playing community, which includes people from Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, England, South Africa, Peru, Russia, Colombia, and Tunisia. Diversity isn't just welcome in the beautiful game — it's essential to it. The same is true of a beautiful life. 3. Flow Unlike American sports that emphasize constant action and scoring, soccer invites us to appreciate flow — the movement, the playmaking, the improvisational dance of the game. A 0-0 match can be among the most beautiful games ever played. Scott notes that soccer coaches do their real work in practice; during the game itself, the players are in charge. Life, too, calls us into this kind of trust — less micromanaging, more presence and responsiveness. 4. Improvisation Within the flow of the game, players are constantly making real-time decisions without a script. This improvisational quality — responding to what's actually happening rather than what was planned — is as essential to living well as it is to playing well. Reflection Questions Where might you simplify your life to create more beauty? How are you embracing diversity in your relationships and community? Are you focused more on goals and scores, or on the flow of the journey itself? Where is life inviting you to improvise rather than control? Connect with Scott 📧 scott@livingcompass.org 🌐 livingcompass.org The Living Compass Spirituality and Wellness Podcast is rooted in the belief that our spirituality can be a compass in all aspects of our lives.

    "Keys to the Beautiful Game and a Beautiful Life," Episode #177

  5. Jun 9

    "Liminal Time: Honoring the Space Between No Longer and Not Yet," Episode #176, June 9, 2026

    Liminal time is that time between "no longer" and "not yet." It is something we experience in many seasons of our lives — something we see now as we enter the season of graduations and weddings. Other experiences of liminal time, though, come not by choice but by loss. This episode explores how the two most important factors in helping us when we find ourselves in the "in between" times are spirituality and community.

    "Liminal Time: Honoring the Space Between No Longer and Not Yet," Episode #176, June 9, 2026

  6. May 29

    "Is Your Recreation Truly Re-Creative?" Episode #175, May 26, 2026

    Is Your Recreation Truly Re-Creative? As summer begins, host Scott Stoner invites listeners to reflect on a simple but important question: Is your recreation actually restoring you — or are you just zoning out? Scott distinguishes between mindlessly scrolling or numbing out (easy to do, but not truly restorative) and activities that create genuine flow — that quality of being so present and engaged that you lose track of time. For Scott, those activities are playing mandolin at bluegrass jams and riding his bike. Both draw him fully into the moment and replenish him body, mind, and spirit. This idea of true rest has deep roots. Sabbath — woven into the founding traditions of Judaism and Christianity — is ancient wisdom about the necessity of restoration. When we neglect it, the signs show up across all dimensions of our wellbeing: emotional flatness, spiritual dryness, physical depletion, relational withdrawal. A simple practice to try this week: Choose one dimension of your wellbeing — physical, emotional, spiritual, or relational — and do one thing that is genuinely replenishing for that area. You already know what it is. The challenge is simply remembering and then choosing it. Bonus points if one activity nourishes more than one dimension at once. The Living Compass app offers courses, self-guided retreats, and guided meditations. Find it at app.livingcompass.org or in any app store. Questions or reflections? Reach Scott at scott@livingcompass.org.

    "Is Your Recreation Truly Re-Creative?" Episode #175, May 26, 2026

  7. May 18

    "Beginner's Mind: The Spiritual Practice of Not Knowing," Episode 174, May 18, 2026

    Beginner's Mind: The Spiritual Practice of Not Knowing Living Compass Spirituality and Wellness Podcast Episode Summary What if not knowing were a gift rather than a failure? In this episode, Scott Stoner explores the Zen concept of beginner's mind — the practice of approaching life's questions with openness, humility, and curiosity rather than the pressure to have all the answers. Drawing on decades of experience as both a therapist and Episcopal priest, Scott shares how embracing "not knowing" has transformed the way he accompanies others — and himself — through life's deepest challenges. In This Episode A story from Scott's therapy practice about a man in midlife — and the reminder that every person's story is truly unique, heard for the first time How Scott's approach shifted over the years from giving answers to holding space for deeper wisdom to emerge The Zen teaching: "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; in the expert's mind there are few" How "expert mind" can show up as "should" language — and why that closes us off to possibility The connection between beginner's mind and the Quaker wisdom that "way will open" An invitation to trust the deeper wisdom already within you Reflection Questions Where in your life right now might a beginner's mind open up new possibilities? When you face uncertainty, do you tend toward "expert mind" — trying to force clarity or resolution? What helps you practice not knowing? Quote of the Episode "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities. In the expert's mind there are few." Connect with Scott Questions or reflections? Scott welcomes your emails at scott@livingcompass.org

    "Beginner's Mind: The Spiritual Practice of Not Knowing," Episode 174, May 18, 2026

  8. May 11

    "No Ahead, No Behind: What Trees Can Teach Us About Sacred Timing," Episode #173

    Show Notes In this episode, Scott reflects on one of spring's most quietly profound lessons: that trees bud in their own time, on their own internal rhythm — and that the same is true for each of us. Walking near the Ice Age Trail and in his own neighborhood, Scott has noticed that even two trees of the same species, standing side by side, can be weeks apart in their budding. One is fully leafing out while the other shows barely a sign of life. And yet neither is ahead or behind. Each is simply following its own inner clock. This observation opens into a deeper invitation: to release the pressure we place on ourselves — and on others — to bud on our timeline. Whether we're longing for clarity, resolution, healing, or change in our own lives or in someone we love, the wisdom of the trees reminds us that we cannot force the budding. We can only trust it. Scott draws on several threads woven throughout the Living Compass community: The Quaker saying "Way will open" — revisited from a recent episode, and deepened here through the image of a tree's patient, unhurried unfolding. Coaching youth soccer — a vivid reminder that children, like trees, bud in dramatically different ways and timeframes, physically, emotionally, and in skill — and that the difference is not a deficit but a beautiful symphony. The hidden life of trees — recent research showing that trees in distress are actually supported by neighboring trees through their root systems, sending nutrients underground. Not competition, but communion. That underground network becomes a metaphor for the Living Compass community itself — people whose roots, Scott reflects, are by divine design interconnected, supporting one another as the life force moves through each of us in its own time. The episode closes with a gentle reframe: we are not the creators of our own growth. We are the receivers. The river is flowing. Our calling is not to force it, but to trust it. Please know that a seven-minute Guided Meditation is offered on this same theme in our Living Compass app.  See below for how to access the app--you can also access it here at: https://app.livingcompass.org Connect with Scott about this episode or your own journey with integrating spirituality and well-being at scott@livingcompass.org The Living Compass mobile app with Guided Meditations, Courses, Self-Guided Retreats, and Contemplative Practices is available through any mobile app store (Apple or Google) or online at our web app--here are the links for each. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/living-compass/id6738334257 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.livingcompass&hl=en https://app.livingcompass.org

    "No Ahead, No Behind: What Trees Can Teach Us About Sacred Timing," Episode #173
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4.8
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

The Living Compass Spirituality and Wellness Initiative is a non-profit that creates low-cost, often free, wellness resources, including this podcast, currently used by tens of thousands of adults, teens, parents, faith communities, and organizations around the world. The Rev. Dr. Scott Stoner, the founder of this initiative, is a licensed marriage and family therapist and Episcopal minister. He has over forty years of experience equipping individuals, couples, parents, and families with the tools and inspiration they need to navigate their lives and relationships with awareness and intention.

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