The Way Back Podcast

Kimberly Phinney
  • 5.0 (8)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

WE ARE FOR SEEKERS, BELIEVERS, WANDERERS, & CREATIVES. Join us as we make the journey back to WHOLENESS in a world that has forgotten how. Here, at THE WAY BACK PODCAST (from The Way Back to Ourselves), we are committed to making a community where our members can slow down, take a deep breath, and find the way back to who they were always meant to be. And in that self-discovery, be it spiritual or otherwise, we become better people, parents, leaders, creatives who impact our homes and communities toward a gentler, healthier, and more wholistic tomorrow. thewayback2ourselves.substack.com

  1. JAN 26

    S2:E6- He Saw That It Was Good with Sho Baraka

    The Way Back Podcast is brought to you by TheWayBack2Ourselves.com, with co-host and producer Edward Holmes and founder Kimberly Phinney, an English professor, author, editor, and counselor, who is a doctoral candidate in Community Care and Counseling. Her poetry collections, Of Wings and Dirt and Exalted Ground, are available wherever books are sold. She is an award-winning poet and educator, and her book on art, faith, and belonging will debut with Baker Books in 2027. Come join Kimberly and Edward as they sit down with Sho Baraka & Good Culture, music artist, professor, writer, and editor at Christianity Today. In this timely episode, while the world and our country find themselves in deep turmoil and unrest, Sho unpacks with Kimberly and Edward how creatives and leaders can engage thoughtfully and faithfully with a culture in need. If you are an artist, writer, or leader who is wondering, “How can my craft and care make a real difference in the world today?” then this episode is for you. If you are an artist, writer, or leader wondering, “How do I engage authentically and meaningfully without losing my soul (or mind, for that matter)?” then this episode is for you. So, come, friend, and sit down with us. We think you’ll find some solace and inspiration here. Sho speaks on: -his popular book And He Saw That It Was Good: Reimagining Your Creative Life to Repair a Broken World -his “gold and shadows” theory in art, faith, and culture -how, when, and why an artist should engage with the culture -the deep need for engaged Christian creatives as border walkers and in the church -sustainable rhythms and practices for artmaking and engaging online -what it means to be rooted and real in our stories and art -the power of grittiness and true storytelling in the Bible -his unique perspectives as a creative polymath -and so much more This is an episode you won’t want to miss! You can find Sho Baraka here: Sho Baraka | Creative Christian Lifestyle (3) Instagram Sho Baraka | Facebook LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY HERE: To hear more and connect with our community, please visit www.TheWayBack2Ourselves.com. We offer editing, counseling, teaching, and publishing services, as well as cohorts and retreats. Get full access to My Way Back at thewayback2ourselves.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 2m
  2. S2:E5- Sitting with Your Grief with Natasha Smith

    09/25/2025

    S2:E5- Sitting with Your Grief with Natasha Smith

    The Way Back Podcast is brought to you by TheWayBack2Ourselves.com, with co-host and producer Edward Holmes and founder Kimberly Phinney, an English professor, author, editor, and counselor, who is a doctoral candidate in Community Care and Counseling. Her poetry collections, Of Wings and Dirt and Exalted Ground, are available wherever books are sold. She is an award-winning poet and educator. Come join Kimberly as she sits down with Natasha Smith, certified grief coach, podcaster, and author of Can You Just Sit with Me? and Black Woman Grief. In this timely episode, while the world and our country find themselves in deep turmoil and unrest, Natasha and Kimberly talk about the many ways we experience and survive grief. If you are feeling heavyhearted and a bit lost with everything you see happening—in our world and in your personal journey—then this episode is for you. Come, friend, and sit with us. We think you’ll find some solace here. Natasha speaks on: -her grief story and the powerful lessons she learned -God’s nearness to the brokenhearted -the deep need for Jesus AND counseling -busting grief myths that have been hurting us -Why would a GOOD God allow BAD things to happen to GOOD people? -Can anything good ever come from our grief? -How can we be more present in our grief and the grief of others? -and so much more This is an episode you won't want to miss! You can find Natasha here: https://imnatashasmith.com/ (7) Instagram Can You Just Sit With Me? with Natasha Smith | Substack   LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY HERE: To hear more and connect with our community, please visit www.TheWayBack2Ourselves.com. We offer editing, counseling, teaching, and publishing services, as well as cohorts and retreats. Get full access to My Way Back at thewayback2ourselves.substack.com/subscribe

    54 min

  3. 09/04/2025

    S2: E4- The Editors' Roundtable: To the Mountains and the Writing Life

    The Way Back Podcast is brought to you by TheWayBack2Ourselves.com, with co-host and producer Edward Holmes and founder Kimberly Phinney, an English professor, author, editor, and counselor, who is a doctoral candidate in Community Care and Counseling. Her poetry collections, Of Wings and Dirt and Exalted Ground, are available wherever books are sold. She is an award-winning poet and educator. Come join Kimberly as she sits down with the editors of The Way Back to Ourselves Literary Journal from TheWayBack2Ourselves.com to discuss the NEW fall theme, TO THE MOUNTAINS. This episode was produced for our creative community, as we deep-dive into the writing craft, tips, and encouragement. We also discuss what we look for in ideal submissions to our literary journal and what we have been up to creatively. You don’t want to miss this episode. It is so full of light! The editors speak on: -the lit journal theme TO THE MOUNTAINS -offer tips on writing for the journal (and other journals) -describe what they are looking for in your creative work (poetry, prose, photography, fine art, etc.) -provide encouragement and notes on writing craft -give updates on their creative journeys -tell personal stories about what God is teaching them in this season -share about creating and surviving through suffering seasons -and so much more This is an episode you won't want to miss! You can connect with our editors here: Sarah Steele: bysarahsteele.com – Words + Watercolor Kimberly Kralovic: Kimberly Kralovic and (1) Instagram Ashley Whittemore: (1) Instagram Heather Lobe Johnson: (1) Instagram and (1) Instagram   LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY HERE: To hear more and connect with our community, please visit www.TheWayBack2Ourselves.com. We offer editing, counseling, teaching, and publishing services, as well as cohorts and retreats. Get full access to My Way Back at thewayback2ourselves.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 22m
  4. S2:E3- The Locust Years with Paul J. Pastor

    08/21/2025

    S2:E3- The Locust Years with Paul J. Pastor

    The Way Back Podcast is brought to you by TheWayBack2Ourselves.com, with co-host and producer Edward Holmes and founder Kimberly Phinney, an English professor, author, editor, and counselor, completing her doctorate in Community Care and Counseling. Her poetry collections, Of Wings and Dirt and Exalted Ground, are available wherever books are sold. She is an award-winning poet and educator. Come join Kimberly as she sits down with Paul J. Pastor, who is a poet and an executive editor with Nelson Books, a division of Harper Collins. This episode will be a divine gift for those who find themselves walking through difficult years of suffering or call themselves a poet or writer, as we talk about the craft and his new poetry collection, The Locust Years. Paul speaks on: -the deep meaning behind his collection and title -poetics and "seeing" as a poet -suffering and Christian joy -form and function -the power of time and place -poetry as prayer -three specific things poets can do to superpower their craft -then, he performs his poem, "The Sower" -and so much more This is an episode you won't want to miss! You can connect with Paul J. Pastor here: Paul J. Pastor THE ROSE FIRE | Paul J. Pastor | Substack (9) Instagram LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY HERE: To hear more and connect with our community, please visit www.TheWayBack2Ourselves.comGet full access to My Way Back at thewayback2ourselves.substack.com/subscribe. Become a paid subscriber for just $7 a month and get Kimberly Phinney's 4-week writing course, How to Grow Your Writing Life, for FREE. You'll also get a monthly seat to Poetry University on Zoom (live and recorded), where Prof. Phinney teaches you about poetry, writing craft, publishing, Substack, authentic growth and readership, and more. Don't miss out! Our literary journal's fall collection, TO THE MOUNTAINS, is open for submission Sept. 1-Oct. 1, 2025. YOU BELONG HERE. Get full access to My Way Back at thewayback2ourselves.substack.com/subscribe

    57 min
  5. S2:E2- You Have a Calling with Karen Swallow Prior

    08/06/2025

    S2:E2- You Have a Calling with Karen Swallow Prior

    The Way Back Podcast is brought to you by TheWayBack2Ourselves.com with co-host Edward Holmes and founder Kimberly Phinney, an English professor, author, editor, and counselor, earning her doctorate in community care and mental health counseling. Her poetry collections, Of Wings and Dirt and Exalted Ground, are available wherever books are sold. Come join me as I sit down with Dr. Karen Swallow Prior, former professor, author, speaker, and reader. This episode will be a gift for those who are searching for purpose, calling, and all that is true, beautiful, and good, since we are talking about her new book, You Have a Calling. Karen speaks on: -the importance of a calling and the caller -how our identity remains the same as our calling, jobs, and vocations change throughout our lives. -popular myths around passion and calling, and what's really true about our life's work -the necessities of the transcendentals in our pursuits: truth, goodness, and beauty -her writing and teaching career -advice for writers and faithful creatives who have been called -and so much more... This is an episode you won't want to miss! You can connect with Karen Swallow Prior here: About | Karen Swallow Prior (1) The Priory | Karen Swallow Prior | Substack (2) Instagram JOIN OUR GATSBY COHORT: Authentic Christian Community, Christian Literary Journal, Christian Publishing, and more To hear more and connect with our community, visit www.TheWayBack2Ourselves.com Get full access to My Way Back at thewayback2ourselves.substack.com/subscribe

    48 min
  6. Season 2: E1- Take What You Need with Aundi Kolber

    07/29/2025

    Season 2: E1- Take What You Need with Aundi Kolber

    The Way Back Podcast is brought to you by TheWayBack2Ourselves.com with co-host Edward Holmes and founder Kimberly Phinney, an English professor, author, editor, and counselor, earning her doctorate in community care and mental health counseling. Her poetry collections, Of Wings and Dirt and Exalted Ground, are available wherever books are sold. Come join me as I sit down with Aundi Kolber, author, speaker, and counselor. This episode comes at “such a time as this,” as we talk about her new book, Take What You Need. Aundi speaks on: -healing from trauma -the integration of faith and mental health -her new books, Take What You Need -her previous book, Try Softer and Strong Like Water -healing from church hurt -her writing rhythms -hope and healing in the face of suffering This is an episode you won't want to miss! You can connect with Aundi Kolber here: Aundi Kolber - therapist + author (6) Instagram (1) Take What You Need with Aundi Kolber | Aundi Kolber, Therapist+Author | Substack Get full access to My Way Back at thewayback2ourselves.substack.com/subscribe

    58 min

  7. 05/28/2025

    CULTIVATE 25 Live Chat and Q&A with Deidre Braley

    What a fun time we had tonight, talking all things Cultivate 25 and The Way Back to Ourselves with Deidre Braley. Thank you Terence Lester, Ph.D., Dena Dyer, Mariana Herrera Mosli, Susie Teramura, Matthew Nash, Joseph Massey, and many others for tuning in to our live video! Listen in to learn all about Cultivate 25 and www.TheWayBack2Ourselves.com. We share a discount code to save $10 off Cultivate 25 tickets, which is live and recorded June 20-22. Your ticket price covers both. Grab your tickets and see the speaker line-up and topics HERE. Tonight was an extra busy night because we also kicked off Poetry University with our paid subscribers. It was such a powerful and informative time. About 20 of our 60 paid subscribers were able to attend. Look for the video and notes later this week as a paid subscriber post! If you’d like to watch the Poetry University course or attend our next meet-up on June 30th at 8:30 pm EST, then become a paid subscriber below for just $6 a month. Thank you for being amazing readers, friends, community members, encouragers, and more! You are so deeply appreciated and loved. You belong here, me Get full access to My Way Back at thewayback2ourselves.substack.com/subscribe

    28 min
  8. Episode #14: All God's Children with Dr. Terence Lester

    10/13/2024

    Episode #14: All God's Children with Dr. Terence Lester

    The Way Back Podcast is brought to you by www.TheWayBack2Ourselves.com and is hosted by founder Kimberly Phinney, English professor, author, editor, and counselor, earning her doctorate in community care and mental health counseling. You can get her debut poetry collection, Of Wings and Dirt with Wipf and Stock Publishers on Amazon and wherever books are sold. Come join me as I sit down and talk with Dr. Terence Lester, author, speaker, minister, professor, and founder of Love Beyond Walls. This episode comes at “such a time as this,” as we talk about empathy, compassion, and faith and how vital those qualities are as we all strive together to be people and communities of belonging. Dr. Terence Lester speaks on: -His inspirational “from streets to scholarship” story -His recent book, All God’s Children -Homeplace and homelessness - The “posture of love” and the “power of the one” -Loving your neighbor and their neighborhood -The role of distance and proximity in our lives -Reconciliation, inclusion, and justice -The role of an authentic faith in healing longstanding division -Suffering, perseverance, and hope This is an episode you won't want to miss! You can connect with Dr. Terence Lester here: Terence Lester – Writer. Storyteller. Public Scholar. Terence Lester, Ph.D. (@imterencelester) • Instagram photos and videos And get his books here: Amazon.com: Terence Lester: books, biography, latest update Donate to Love Beyond Walls here: LoveBeyondWalls – A Movement of Doers Get full access to My Way Back at thewayback2ourselves.substack.com/subscribe

    39 min
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5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

WE ARE FOR SEEKERS, BELIEVERS, WANDERERS, & CREATIVES. Join us as we make the journey back to WHOLENESS in a world that has forgotten how. Here, at THE WAY BACK PODCAST (from The Way Back to Ourselves), we are committed to making a community where our members can slow down, take a deep breath, and find the way back to who they were always meant to be. And in that self-discovery, be it spiritual or otherwise, we become better people, parents, leaders, creatives who impact our homes and communities toward a gentler, healthier, and more wholistic tomorrow. thewayback2ourselves.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Kimberly Phinney
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Kimberly Phinney
  • Show Website
    The Way Back Podcast