The Evolutionary Revolutionary (Opti-Mystic Ways that Work)

Michael Morrell
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The Evolutionary Revolutionary (Opti-Mystic Ways that Work) is where mystics meet misfits and inner transformation collides with radical action—a podcast exploring the living intersection of ancient wisdom and revolutionary imagination. Host Michael Morrell (co-author of The Divine Dance with Richard Rohr) sits down with muses and musicians, preachers and prophets, theologians and troublemakers who are bridging worlds most people see as separate: the esoteric depths of mystical experience, the mesoteric work of relational and somatic healing, and the exoteric labor of community organizing and social transformation.  Each conversation asks: What does it look like to wake up—really wake up—in a world aching from our collective alienation from the Sacred, from ourselves, from each other, and from our planet? Through vulnerable storytelling, rigorous inquiry, and practical wisdom, these dialogues offer resources for anyone navigating the edge spaces where spiritual depth meets strategic action, where progressive theology embraces contemplative practice, and where holy fools and sacred revolutionaries are quietly unearthing the world we're longing for.  Whether you're a contemplative activist, a mystical misfit, or simply seeking sanity in unsettling times, pull up a chair or meditation mat—the most interesting conversations happen in the corners anyway.

Episodes

  1. Feb 17

    The God Who Never Turns Away: Bradley Jersak on Love, Wrath, and the Gospel in Chairs

    Welcome to the inaugural episode of The Evolutionary Revolutionary: Opti-Mystic Ways That Work where mystics meet misfits and inner transformation collides with radical action. I'm Michael Morrell, and today I'm sitting down with Dr. Bradley Jersak, Principal and Dean of Theology and Culture at St. Stephen's University, whose theological courage has helped countless people reimagine the God revealed in Jesus Christ. In this conversation, Bradley shares the stunning moment when—while praying about something else entirely—he heard a voice say: "Stop telling people I was punishing my son. That's not what was happening." That arresting thought sent him back to Scripture with new eyes, eventually leading to a confrontation with his Orthodox Archbishop who looked at him and said: "You thought God couldn't forgive without appeasing his wrath by punishing his firstborn son? I see your problem. You believe in Molech." The Gospel in Chairs – Bradley's viral presentation contrasting two visions of salvation: one where God turns away from us until Christ's punishment satisfies divine wrath, and another where God never turns away at all, always toward us, always for us. Redefining Divine Wrath – What if wrath isn't God's retributive punishment but the intrinsic consequences of refusing to live in God's mercies? Brad walks us through how early Church fathers read violent Old Testament passages and why literalism betrays the text. The Cross as Identification, Not Substitution – Hear the pastoral story of a woman struggling with addiction who, in prayer, saw Jesus fill a syringe and inject himself with her drugs. It's a haunting image of Christ's radical identification with our suffering—and his power to exchange our poverty for his abundance. Universal Reconciliation – Brad makes his case: "I'm not 'leaning toward' universalism—I'm fully convinced Jesus was right when he said if he's lifted up, he will draw all people to himself." We wrestle with human freedom, divine love, and what happens when perfect love encounters us beyond death. Navigating Empire as Peacemakers – With ICE raids, climate rollbacks, and the criminalization of compassion, how do we resist without mirroring the evil we oppose? Brad offers hard-won wisdom on inner transformation, prophetic minorities, and why megachurches won't save us but small communities of love might. St. Stephen's University MA Programs: ssu.ca/programs/peace-justice Books by Bradley Jersak: Related Reading: This podcast exists at the intersection of esoteric depth, mesoteric healing, and exoteric action—exploring contemplative practice, relational transformation, and community organizing with artists and musicians, preachers and prophets, theologians and troublemakers. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and join our newsletter community at https://mikemorrell.org/bonuschapter/ for weekly explorations of opti-mystic ways that actually work. "We were made for these times. Let's discover together what emerges at the intersection of anticipation, imagination, and radical acceptance." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The God Who Never Turns Away: Bradley Jersak on Love, Wrath, and the Gospel in Chairs

  2. 12/27/2025

    Becoming Good Ancestors: Daniel Foor on Healing, Lineage, and the Work of Repair

    Welcome to The Evolutionary Revolutionary: Opti-Mystic Ways That Work—where ancient wisdom meets radical action, and contemplative practice dances with community transformation. I'm Michael Morrell, and here I'm in conversation with Dr. Daniel Foor, author of Ancestral Medicine: Rituals for Personal and Family Healing and founder of Ancestral Medicine, a global community of practitioners doing ancestral lineage healing work. What if your ancestors aren't mere memories, but living presences who can still offer—and receive—healing? If you grew up a Protestant (and further fundie) Christian like me, that question might trigger alarm bells. Isn't this necromancy? Isn't this everything our preachers warned us against? Yet something in us longs for this connection—lighting candles for departed loved ones, sensing a grandmother's prayers still holding us, feeling the weight of history moving through our bodies. We're living in times when the past feels unbearably present. We're reckoning with histories of violence and colonization. We're watching our elders die, sometimes alone. We're inheriting a planet in crisis and wondering: what kind of ancestors will we be? Daniel's work suggests we don't have to navigate these waters alone. There might be wisdom, healing, and even repair available through renewed relationship with those who came before us—and with those who will come after. Questions This Episode Addresses: * How do we relate to ancestors without 'worshiping' them? * Can ancestor work coexist with monotheistic faith? * How do we face violence and colonization in our lineages? * What does it mean to embrace (not flee from) our ancestral debts? * How does personal spiritual work connect to systemic change? * What's our specific role in the 'holy catastrophe' of our times? * How do we prepare to be good ancestors ourselves? Tune in and let us know what you think! For complete show notes, go here. Exclusive Offers for Listeners: 🎁 Special Collaboration Page Visit our dedicated landing page with all resources, offers, and free materials named below: https://ancestralmedicine.org/ancestral-medicine-across-traditions-daniel-foor-michael-morrell-interview 🌟 30% Off Ancestral Lineage Healing Course (Through January 13th) This is THE foundational course—the OG online ancestor course that thousands of people have taken and loved. Ancestral Lineage Healing is what Ancestral Medicine is most known for: a beloved, trusted journey into conscious relationship with your blood lineages. Learn more and enroll here. 💫 15% Off Any First-Time Purchase (Through March) Explore their full calendar of offerings—they add new courses almost monthly! Whether you're drawn to ancestral work, ritual practice, or earth-honoring spirituality, there's something for everyone. Use these codes at checkout: optimystic15 (for single payments) optimystic15-pmts (for payment plans) Select and check out here. 📖 Free Chapters from Ancestral Medicine Download free chapters from Daniel's book to get a taste of the core teachings and decide if this work resonates with you. Available here. 🔰 New to This Work? Start Here: Foundations of Ritual is a lovely entry point for newcomers, especially apt for folks looking for an off-ramp/on-ramp between old religion and new spirituality. It provides grounding in ritual safety and practice that can support whatever spiritual path you're walking. Explore Foundations of Ritual here. Connect with The Evolutionary Revolutionary: This podcast explores contemplative practice, relational transformation, and community organizing at the intersection of esoteric depth, mesoteric healing, and exoteric action. We're building a community of mystics and misfits, preachers and prophets, artists and activists—all seeking opti-mystic ways that actually work. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and join our newsletter community for weekly explorations of ancient wisdom meeting radical action, right here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Becoming Good Ancestors: Daniel Foor on Healing, Lineage, and the Work of Repair
  • 2 Episodes

About

The Evolutionary Revolutionary (Opti-Mystic Ways that Work) is where mystics meet misfits and inner transformation collides with radical action—a podcast exploring the living intersection of ancient wisdom and revolutionary imagination. Host Michael Morrell (co-author of The Divine Dance with Richard Rohr) sits down with muses and musicians, preachers and prophets, theologians and troublemakers who are bridging worlds most people see as separate: the esoteric depths of mystical experience, the mesoteric work of relational and somatic healing, and the exoteric labor of community organizing and social transformation.  Each conversation asks: What does it look like to wake up—really wake up—in a world aching from our collective alienation from the Sacred, from ourselves, from each other, and from our planet? Through vulnerable storytelling, rigorous inquiry, and practical wisdom, these dialogues offer resources for anyone navigating the edge spaces where spiritual depth meets strategic action, where progressive theology embraces contemplative practice, and where holy fools and sacred revolutionaries are quietly unearthing the world we're longing for.  Whether you're a contemplative activist, a mystical misfit, or simply seeking sanity in unsettling times, pull up a chair or meditation mat—the most interesting conversations happen in the corners anyway.

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