Holy Rebels Podcast

Nina Hirlaender OFS
  • 5.0 (29)
  • Spirituality
  • Updated Weekly

The Holy Rebels Podcast is for spiritually literate, psychologically aware seekers who want a mature, grounded relationship with God.  Hosted by Nina Hirlaender, Franciscan Sister and mystical theology teacher, this show pulls the Western mystical tradition off the shelf and into the daily grind, with more grace and less spinning.  Each episode blends vivid storytelling with practical formation, so your spiritual life feels alive, connected, and unmistakably real. You will meet mystics like Mary Magdalene, Francis of Assisi, and Teresa of Avila, not as saints on pedestals, but as wise companions for real life.  Expect practices that sharpen discernment, strengthen intuition you can trust, and bring steadier decisions, deeper prayer, and more peace that holds up under pressure.  No fluff, plenty of heart. www.HolyRebelsPodcast.com

  1. Oct 4

    How St. Francis Changed the World (and Isn't Finished)

    Send us Fan Mail Eight hundred years ago this week, St. Francis of Assisi died happily, singing, owning nothing. This year, people stood in line for hours just to see his bones. Why does the world still belong to this barefoot man? In this episode, released during the Church's Jubilee Year of St. Francis marking the 800th anniversary of his death, Nina Hirlaender OFS traces the astonishing legacy of history's most beloved saint: the Canticle of the Creatures that gave Pope Francis's Laudato Si' its name, the science journal that proposed him as the patron saint of ecology, the unarmed walk across Crusade battle lines that made Assisi the world's address for peace, the first nativity scene, and the first stigmata. You'll also find out why Nina became a Franciscan Sister, meet eighteen-year-old Clare of Assisi, who gave up everything to rewrite what was possible for women, and walk through Assisi itself: San Damiano, the Porziuncola, and dinner with the joyful Franciscan Friars. Then the episode turns to you. What has power over you right now: money, status, other people's priorities? Why do you keep saying yes to things your heart already said no to? And why do your best intentions keep losing? Nina asks the question at the center of Francis's revolution and reveals where the honest answer has been hiding all along: somewhere much closer than your thoughts. Plus, registration is now open for the spring 2028 Assisi pilgrimage, and the new Who Is Your Mystic Mentor? Quiz reveals whether Francis is the teacher meant to guide your season. What You'll Learn: How to take your power back from money, status, and other people's priorities, and reconnect with the purpose that actually energizes you (Francis's specialty)How one poor friar shaped 800 years: ecology, interfaith peace, the nativity scene, and a pope's nameThe story of St. Clare of Assisi, the teenage noblewoman who rewrote what was possible for womenWhy willpower fails every time you try to change your life, and what actually works insteadHow to read your inner compass of consolation and desolation, the built-in guidance system that never liesYour Next Steps: Take the Quiz: Who Is Your Mystic Mentor? >>Explore the brand new Mystical Spirituality website >>Watch the full interview 'Living Your Purpose: Nina Hirlaender's Mystical Path Towards Flourishing' >>Support the show Rate, Review & Follow If Holy Rebels has helped you practise your spirituality in real life, would you take 30 seconds to leave a quick rating and review? Your review helps new listeners decide to press play. Not sure what to write? Try one sentence: “Holy Rebels helps me ________.” And hit Follow so new episodes show up automatically in your feed. Show Notes: holyrebelspodcast.com Connect: Instagram | Facebook

  2. Sep 29

    Are Angels Real? What the Mystics Actually Saw

    Send us Fan Mail Are angels real? What does the Bible actually say about angels, and why does nearly every angel in scripture open with the words "Do not be afraid"? Released on the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, this episode takes on the question underneath a lifetime of fascination. Nina Hirlaender OFS explores what angels actually look like to the people who encounter them, including Hildegard of Bingen's answer, which will change how you picture them forever. You'll meet the three archangels the Bible names and discover the gift each one carries for your own spiritual journey. Then things get delightfully surprising. Nina reveals where modern physics and ancient angel teachings converge, on light, on time, and on everything our eyes were never built to see. She offers a grounded way to think about guardian angels, signs, and angel numbers like 11:11, and shares a true miracle story from her pilgrimage in the south of France that you will never forget. Plus, some big news: the gorgeous new Mystical Spirituality website is live, along with a free two-minute quiz that reveals which of the seven great mystic teachers is meant to guide you in this season of your life. What You'll Learn: What angels actually look like, according to the mystics who saw them (hint: it’s nothing like the paintings!)Who the archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael really are, and the three gifts they carry for every spiritual journey: you need all threeWhere modern physics and ancient angel teachings unexpectedly agreeHow to approach guardian angels and angel numbers like 11:11 with both groundedness and wonderYour Next Steps: Take the Quiz: Who Is Your Mystic Mentor? >>Explore the brand new Mystical Spirituality website >>Connect with Nina on Instagram >> Support the show Rate, Review & Follow If Holy Rebels has helped you practise your spirituality in real life, would you take 30 seconds to leave a quick rating and review? Your review helps new listeners decide to press play. Not sure what to write? Try one sentence: “Holy Rebels helps me ________.” And hit Follow so new episodes show up automatically in your feed. Show Notes: holyrebelspodcast.com Connect: Instagram | Facebook

  3. Mar 22

    Yule: Threshold of Trust | Celtic Wheel of The Year

    Send us Fan Mail The old chapter closed. The new one hasn't opened. And the intelligent, productive part of you is getting restless — because it knows how to act and plan and figure things out. It does not know how to wait. In this eighth and final episode of The Soul's Eight Thresholds of Transformation, Nina Hirlaender OFS arrives at Yule — the Winter Solstice, the longest night, and the turning point where darkness reaches its maximum and the light begins, quietly, to return. Through the Neolithic darkness of West Kennet Long Barrow, a personal story of being forced into stillness during the 2020 pandemic, and the steady theology of Julian of Norwich, Nina explores why this threshold catches high-functioning seekers off guard — and what it means to practice trust when nothing visible confirms progress. This episode completes the full revolution of the Celtic Wheel of the Year and offers a grounded, practical way to inhabit the seasons of your life when clarity hasn't arrived yet and the only honest posture is presence. What You'll Learn: The difference between genuine trust and passive stagnation.What John of the Cross discovered about hope as a loosening of the grip — and how white-knuckling a specific outcome blocks what's actually trying to reach youWhy Julian of Norwich's "All shall be well" is a radical theological claim forged in plague and grief, and how to let it hold you in your own long winterHow a five-thousand-year-old burial chamber engineered for the midwinter sunrise teaches your body what your mind keeps refusing to learnYour Next Steps: The Celtic Shamanism in England pilgrimage (May 23 – June 2, 2026) is now SOLD OUT. To join the waitlist, reply to Nina directly: nina@dancingspirittours.comExplore all Dancing Spirit Tours pilgrimages: https://dancingspirittours.comListen to the full 8-episode series from Episode 1: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/holy-rebels-podcast/id1654779565?i=1000747635070 Support the show Rate, Review & Follow If Holy Rebels has helped you practise your spirituality in real life, would you take 30 seconds to leave a quick rating and review? Your review helps new listeners decide to press play. Not sure what to write? Try one sentence: “Holy Rebels helps me ________.” And hit Follow so new episodes show up automatically in your feed. Show Notes: holyrebelspodcast.com Connect: Instagram | Facebook

  4. Mar 14

    Samhain: Threshold of Shadow | Celtic Wheel of The Year

    Send us Fan Mail A flock of birds joined our drum circle inside a sea cave on the Cornish coast. What they unlocked in ten minutes had taken one woman years to carry alone. In this seventh episode of The Soul's Eight Thresholds of Transformation, Nina Hirlaender OFS guides you through Samhain, the Celtic threshold of shadow — the sacred season when the soul stops moving forward and turns inward to meet its own unfinished stories. Through the extraordinary acoustics of Merlin's Cave at Tintagel and the contemplative wisdom of John of the Cross, Nina explores what becomes possible when you stop avoiding the dark and discover that shadow met with compassion becomes your deepest wisdom. What You'll Learn: The 5 unmistakable signs your soul is asking for the Samhain threshold — and why each one is an invitation, not a warningWhat happened when rock doves joined our drumming circle in Merlin's Cave — and the reconciliation it unlocked for a woman carrying years of unfinished griefWhat John of the Cross actually meant by "the dark night of the soul" — and why it's far more hopeful than popular culture suggestsA five-minute embodied practice for meeting shadow with self-compassion instead of avoidance or dramaYour Next Steps: SOLD OUT! Get on the waitlist for our final Celtic Shamanism in England pilgrimage (May 23 – June 2, 2026): https://dancingspirittours.com/journeys/england/ Support the show Rate, Review & Follow If Holy Rebels has helped you practise your spirituality in real life, would you take 30 seconds to leave a quick rating and review? Your review helps new listeners decide to press play. Not sure what to write? Try one sentence: “Holy Rebels helps me ________.” And hit Follow so new episodes show up automatically in your feed. Show Notes: holyrebelspodcast.com Connect: Instagram | Facebook

  5. Mar 8

    Autumn Equinox: Threshold of Release | Celtic Wheel of The Year

    Send us Fan Mail There's a version of you that's already over. You can feel it in the quiet dread of playing a role that stopped fitting somewhere along the way. What you haven't done yet is give it a proper ending. In this sixth episode of The Soul's Eight Thresholds of Transformation, Nina Hirlaender OFS takes you inside West Kennet Long Barrow — a 5,000-year-old Neolithic chamber in the English countryside — to explore the Autumn Equinox, the Celtic threshold of release. Through the story of Helen, a professor who spent two years carrying a devastating institutional betrayal entirely alone, Nina traces what becomes possible when you finally set down an identity that's already run its course. Drawing on Thomas Merton's theology of the true self and false self, somatic body wisdom, and the rhythms of autumn itself, this episode offers a grounded path from exhausted performance to genuine, recovered selfhood. What You'll Learn: The somatic signals your body sends when an identity has expired — and why the tiredness you feel isn't physical What Thomas Merton's theology of the true self reveals about which roles actually belong to you and which are performances you've been maintaining out of fearHow mature, conscious release differs from clinging to what's expired or letting go in a panic — and what it feels like when grief and freedom arrive togetherA 5-minute practice for releasing the false self and returning to the true self that remains underneath Your Next Steps: ONE SPOT LEFT! Register for the final Celtic Shamanism in England pilgrimage (May 23 – June 2, 2026): https://dancingspirittours.com/journeys/england/Support the show Rate, Review & Follow If Holy Rebels has helped you practise your spirituality in real life, would you take 30 seconds to leave a quick rating and review? Your review helps new listeners decide to press play. Not sure what to write? Try one sentence: “Holy Rebels helps me ________.” And hit Follow so new episodes show up automatically in your feed. Show Notes: holyrebelspodcast.com Connect: Instagram | Facebook

  6. Mar 2

    Lammas: Threshold of Receiving | Celtic Wheel of The Year

    Send us Fan Mail You've spent decades showing up, giving, and getting it done. So why does actually enjoying what you've built feel like something you still need permission for? In this fifth episode of The Soul's Eight Thresholds of Transformation, Nina Hirlaender OFS walks you through Lammas, the ancient Celtic harvest threshold that asks a question most high-functioning seekers have been avoiding: Are you ready to receive the abundance you've worked so hard for? Through the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey and the story of a physician who hadn't taken a real vacation in eighteen years, Nina explores why receiving feels dangerous to people who've built their identity on being useful, and what happens when you finally let the bread that's already baked actually nourish you. Drawing on the wisdom of Brother Lawrence, Abraham Maslow, and the somatic intelligence of the body, this episode traces how the fear of receiving keeps your spiritual life malnourished and offers a devastatingly simple practice to begin crossing this threshold today. What You'll Learn: Why high-functioning people fear their own greatness — and how that fear quietly starves the soul even in seasons of abundanceThe two patterns that keep seekers stuck at this threshold: treating desire as suspect and staying in perpetual service modeWhat Brother Lawrence discovered about receiving God's presence while peeling potatoes — and why his kitchen spirituality still outpaces elaborate systemsThe body signals that reveal whether you're metabolizing your life or just producing through it Your Next Steps: Register for the final Celtic Shamanism in England pilgrimage (May 23 – June 2, 2026): https://dancingspirittours.com/journeys/england/Watch the free class replay — "The 8 Seasons of the Soul (And How to Know Which One You're In)": https://nina-hirlaender.mykajabi.com/8-seasons-of-the-soul Support the show Rate, Review & Follow If Holy Rebels has helped you practise your spirituality in real life, would you take 30 seconds to leave a quick rating and review? Your review helps new listeners decide to press play. Not sure what to write? Try one sentence: “Holy Rebels helps me ________.” And hit Follow so new episodes show up automatically in your feed. Show Notes: holyrebelspodcast.com Connect: Instagram | Facebook

  7. Feb 24

    Summer Solstice: Threshold of Radiance | Celtic Wheel of The Year

    Send us Fan Mail You've been the strong one for so long you've forgotten what it feels like to be held. And your body is starting to keep score. Sound familiar? In Episode 4 of The Soul's 8 Thresholds of Transformation, Nina Hirlaender OFS takes you to St Michael's Mount off the coast of Cornwall, where the land itself asks you a pointed question: Are you shining, or are you burning out? This is the Summer Solstice threshold — the place where your full visibility, leadership, and power either become sustainable or consume you. Drawing on the theology of Julian of Norwich, the calm authority of Archangel Michael, and a story from a pilgrim named Margaret who realized she'd been "fighting like she was afraid she'd lose," Nina offers a grounded path to radiance that includes receiving, not just giving. You'll leave with a five-minute practice that trains your nervous system to hold power without strain. What You'll Learn: Why your success feels hollow when your body is running on adrenaline and your joy has quietly disappeared. The moment on St Michael's Mount that shows you exactly how you approach every challenge in your lifeWhat Julian of Norwich understood about power and tenderness that most modern leaders get dangerously wrongA five-minute practice that rewires your nervous system to hold visibility without grippingThe one shift that turns overgiving from a fear response into genuine, sustainable strength Your Next Steps: Watch the free class replay: "The 8 Seasons of the Soul (And How to Know Which One You're In)": https://nina-hirlaender.mykajabi.com/8-seasons-of-the-soul Register for the final Celtic Shamanism in England pilgrimage (May 23 – June 2, 2026): https://dancingspirittours.com/journeys/england/Book a call with Nina: https://calendly.com/nina-hirlaender/15min Support the show Rate, Review & Follow If Holy Rebels has helped you practise your spirituality in real life, would you take 30 seconds to leave a quick rating and review? Your review helps new listeners decide to press play. Not sure what to write? Try one sentence: “Holy Rebels helps me ________.” And hit Follow so new episodes show up automatically in your feed. Show Notes: holyrebelspodcast.com Connect: Instagram | Facebook

  8. Feb 15

    Beltane: Threshold of Joy | Celtic Wheel of The Year

    Send us Fan Mail There's a waterfall hidden in the woods of Cornwall that makes grandmothers kick off their boots and dance on wet stones. Something about this place strips away the performance — and gives you permission you didn't know you needed. In episode 3 of The Soul's 8 Thresholds of Transformation, Nina Hirlaender OFS guides you across the Beltane threshold: the return of desire, creative energy, and embodied joy. She explores what happens when longing wakes up after a long silence — and why so many seekers either shame their desire into submission or scatter it through impulsive action. Drawing on Francis of Assisi as the Mystic of Joy and the theological concept of incarnational joy, Nina makes a compelling case: joy is not a reward for getting your life right. It's one of the clearest ways your heart tells the truth. What You'll Learn: What your body is actually telling you when restlessness, longing, or creative heat suddenly shows upThe hidden reason your spiritual life feels exhausting (it's not what you think)Two common traps that keep seekers stuck at this threshold — and the one shift that changes everythingWhat Francis of Assisi understood about desire that most modern spirituality gets completely wrongA five-minute practice that can bring joy back into your body today — no waterfall required Your Next Steps: Register for the Free Live Class: "The 8 Seasons of the Soul (And How to Know Which One You're In)" >> https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/H4M-xN9DSyS_uicdJdjjTQJoin the final Celtic Shamanism in England pilgrimage (May 23 – June 2, 2026)>> https://dancingspirittours.com/journeys/england/ Support the show Rate, Review & Follow If Holy Rebels has helped you practise your spirituality in real life, would you take 30 seconds to leave a quick rating and review? Your review helps new listeners decide to press play. Not sure what to write? Try one sentence: “Holy Rebels helps me ________.” And hit Follow so new episodes show up automatically in your feed. Show Notes: holyrebelspodcast.com Connect: Instagram | Facebook

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About

The Holy Rebels Podcast is for spiritually literate, psychologically aware seekers who want a mature, grounded relationship with God.  Hosted by Nina Hirlaender, Franciscan Sister and mystical theology teacher, this show pulls the Western mystical tradition off the shelf and into the daily grind, with more grace and less spinning.  Each episode blends vivid storytelling with practical formation, so your spiritual life feels alive, connected, and unmistakably real. You will meet mystics like Mary Magdalene, Francis of Assisi, and Teresa of Avila, not as saints on pedestals, but as wise companions for real life.  Expect practices that sharpen discernment, strengthen intuition you can trust, and bring steadier decisions, deeper prayer, and more peace that holds up under pressure.  No fluff, plenty of heart. www.HolyRebelsPodcast.com

Information

  • Creator
    Nina Hirlaender OFS
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Holy Rebels Podcast
  • Show Website
    Holy Rebels Podcast

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