Words From Silence: A Contemplative Podcast

Lindsay L. O’Connor

Finding healing and wholeness in relation to God, self, others, and creation through contemplative action lindsayloconnor.substack.com

  1. 04/29/2025

    Episode 17: The Magic of Knowing What You Want

    I’m delighted to share this interview with certified leadership coach, consultant, and author Tracey Gee! You’ll want to hear this insightful conversation about her book, The Magic of Knowing What You Want: A Practical Guide to Unearthing the Wisdom of Your Desires. One of the questions I ask people in spiritual direction that often seems to catch them off guard is, “What do you want?” Depending on our social location and culture, many of us have been taught that our desires are irrelevant, untrustworthy, selfish, wrong, or even evil. However, to be human is to have desires, and often surface-level desires point to deeper needs that are valid and important. Getting in touch with our desires allows us room to access and name our needs, which then gives us more agency in determining how we want those needs to be met in ways that align with our values and lived reality instead of letting them subconsciously run the show. Naming our desires can be difficult when we have been socialized not to prioritize knowing and naming what we want. Tracey Gee’s book, The Magic of Knowing What You Want, provides a practical guide for how to begin. More about Tracey… Tracey Gee is a certified leadership coach and consultant dedicated to guiding individuals toward transformative self-awareness and meaningful personal and professional growth. As an author, Tracey draws insight from her extensive experience across workshops, speaking engagements, and personalized coaching sessions. She is also a certified facilitator in four frameworks—Gallup CliftonStrengths, Working Genius, Enneagram, and Cultural Intelligence. Her diverse clientele includes UC Berkeley, Firm Foundation, AltaMed, Nomi Network, and the Miami Heat. Tracey is originally from the Bay Area of California and now lives in Los Angeles with her husband, children, and dog, Kona. She loves coffee shops and every dog she's ever met. You can find her online at: https://traceygee.me Get full access to Words From Silence at lindsayloconnor.substack.com/subscribe

    36 min
  2. 04/22/2025

    Episode 16: Sacred Stories: Depression, Tending Mental Health, & Transformation

    I’m grateful for this opportunity to share with you the sacred story of my dear friend, spiritual director Marian Schulze! Marian and I graduated together from the same spiritual direction program and became fast friends about three years ago, when the program began. We are both Enneagram 6s, and I loved talking with Marian about the interaction of our Enneagram number with our spiritual growth. In today’s conversation, Marian shares about her journey of healing from depression that had led to a mental health crisis. We discuss tending mental health and what is meant by ongoing transformation. This is a tender, difficult but hopeful and needed conversation. As a content warning, we will be discussion depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, so please take care of yourself however you need. More about Marian: Marian is a trained Spiritual Director in the Dallas area. She received her Certificate of Spiritual Direction from Perkins School of Theology. All of life is a conversation with the Divine, and she is passionate about helping others listen and discern the spiritual wisdom in everyday moments. She is also trained in the Internal Family Systems model. IFS is a transformative tool that conceives of every human being as a system of inner parts led by a core Self. The Self represents the true essence in each of us that is calm, compassionate, confident, and capable of understanding and healing the different parts of our personality.  Marian is the founder of Frisco Fastpacs, a non-profit that provides weekend meals to 1,000 children in her local community who are at risk of going hungry when school is not in session.  Marian and her husband, Brad, have 4 adult children and enjoy spending as much time with them as they will allow. In her free time, you’re likely to find her on a walking trail, with her nose in a book, or trying a new recipe she found on Pinterest. To learn more about Marian or inquire about spiritual direction, connect with her at marianschulze.com. Get full access to Words From Silence at lindsayloconnor.substack.com/subscribe

    49 min
  3. 04/15/2025

    Episode 15: Poetry & Contemplative Activism

    For this episode, I had the privilege of talking with poet, speaker, and public theologian Drew Jackson about poetry, spiritual practices, and contemplative activism. If you’ve followed my Instagram profile any length of time or have met with me in spiritual direction, you have probably heard me reference Drew as my favorite poet. Stick around to the end of the episode, and you’ll get to hear him read one of my favorite poems that I love to read as a blessing in spiritual direction. Drew Jackson is the author of God Speaks Through Wombs: Poems on God’s Unexpected Coming, which was a finalist for the Christian Book Award, and Touch the Earth: Poems on The Way. His work has appeared in Oneing from the Center for Action and Contemplation, The Isolation Journals with Suleika Jaouad, Christianity Today, Made for Pax, The Journal from the Centre for Public Christianity, Fathom Magazine, and other publications. Drew was a contributing artist on Jon Batiste’s Grammy-nominated album World Music Radio, and also appeared in the award-winning documentary American Symphony on Netflix. Drew is also a co-host of the Everything Belongs podcast from the Center for Action and Contemplation. Drew received his B.A. in Political Science from the Univ. of Chicago and his M.A. in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. He currently works as the Managing Director of Mission Integration for the Center for Action and Contemplation, and lives in Brooklyn, NY with his wife and daughters. I would love to hear from you! What resonated with you from this conversation? Get full access to Words From Silence at lindsayloconnor.substack.com/subscribe

    43 min
  4. Episode 13: Spiritual Direction, Beauty, & Resistance

    03/11/2025

    Episode 13: Spiritual Direction, Beauty, & Resistance

    Have you wondered what exactly spiritual direction is? This one’s for you! This week’s episode features spiritual director Emily Turner Watson, a beautiful soul who is sharing a bit about her journey with spiritual direction. We talked about how she draws on a diversity of experiences in various faith communities, both in her own life and in her heritage, in her work of spiritual direction. We also discussed the Enneagram and how Emily’s unique gifts (as someone who leads with type 4) help and inform her work as a spiritual director. I loved hearing Emily’s thoughts and wisdom on the role of slowing down and tuning into the body and to beauty as acts of resistance. More about Emily… Emily Turner Watson is a writer and spiritual director living in Dallas, Texas. She spent the first part of her professional journey working in communications and fundraising in both leadership and support roles at non-profits in Dallas and Washington, D.C. In 2018, Emily received her Certification in Spiritual Direction from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University and in March 2020, felt called to focus full-time on writing and spiritual direction services. As a deep listener, Emily loves creating space for participants in spiritual direction as together they notice, ponder, question and celebrate the Holy. She guides individuals to listen and make sense of their divine wiring and identity in God taking great joy in gently encouraging directees to explore areas of their life where they feel stuck and/or disconnected from themselves, the Holy and the world around them. She's also the host for "Tending Spaces to Bear Spiritual Fruit," a podcast produced by Retreat House Spirituality Center. In times of margin, Emily enjoys spending time with her husband Michael, family, cooking, reading, traveling and getting outside in nature. To learn more, visit her website www.emilylaneturner.com. Get full access to Words From Silence at lindsayloconnor.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 3m
5
out of 5
4 Ratings

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Finding healing and wholeness in relation to God, self, others, and creation through contemplative action lindsayloconnor.substack.com