SoulStream, Living from the Heart Podcast

Deepen your connection to God, yourself, and others.
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On the SoulStream “Living from the Heart” podcast, we explore encountering God personally, integrating body, soul, mind, and spirit to live authentically in Christ. We discuss becoming open to God’s presence, overcoming obstacles, embracing transformation into Jesus’ image, and cultivating supportive practices. Additionally, we delve into understanding prayer as responsive to the Holy Spirit, ancient practices, and living out contemplative prayer to love neighbors, care for the earth, and seek justice. soulstream926.substack.com

  1. The Making of Modern Spiritual Direction with Paul Burgmayer

    May 7

    The Making of Modern Spiritual Direction with Paul Burgmayer

    Welcome to the SoulStream Living from the Heart podcast, a space where we slow down, listen deeply, and explore the sacred invitations woven through ordinary life. Today, we’re joined by Paul Burgmayer, a spiritual director, supervisor, musician, former scientist and educator, and the author of the new book, The Making of Modern Spiritual Direction, which is available now. In this conversation, Paul brings a thoughtful and grounded perspective to the practice of spiritual direction, including its history, its evolving shape, and the ways it invites us to pay attention to the movement of God in our lives. Together, we explore the relationship between thinking and feeling, the gift of deep listening, the wisdom found in contemplative practice, and the importance of finding our own authentic voice on the spiritual journey. Whether you are a spiritual director, a seeker, or simply someone longing for a more attentive and wholehearted way of living, we hope this conversation offers companionship, insight, and an invitation to listen more deeply. Links: Paul Burgmayer SoulStream.org The last SoulStream Living from the Heart podcast on SubStack: Living from the Heart with Brent Unrau and Cherie Tetz This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit soulstream926.substack.com

    40 min
  2. Living from the Heart: Celebrating 50 Conversations

    May 4

    Living from the Heart: Celebrating 50 Conversations

    Welcome to SoulStream Living from the Heart, a space where we slow down, listen deeply, and explore what it means to live with authenticity, compassion, and connection. Today’s episode feels a little special. This is our 50th episode, and it’s a chance to pause, to give thanks, and to reflect on the many stories, voices, and shared moments that have brought us here. SoulStream is a contemplative community rooted in love, presence, and discernment. We believe transformation happens through honest connection with ourselves, with others, and with God, and that transformation unfolds gently when we learn to listen well. In this episode, we are joined by Cat Anderson, Board Chair of SoulStream, and John Lunn, Executive Director. Together, we will explore the heart of this community and the journey that continues to shape it. Links: SoulStream.org The last SoulStream Living from the Heart podcast on SubStack: Resting in the Mystery: Suhail Stephen on Spiritual Direction, Contemplative Listening, and the Love of God This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit soulstream926.substack.com

    50 min

  3. Apr 27

    Living from the Heart with Brent Unrau and Cherie Tetz

    Welcome to the SoulStream Living from the Heart podcast, a space where we slow down, listen deeply, and explore what it means to live with greater authenticity, compassion, and connection. Today, we’re joined by two wonderful guides on this journey, Brent Unrau and Cherie Tetz. Both are longtime facilitators with SoulStream’s Living from the Heart program, and they bring years of experience in spiritual direction and contemplative practice. In this conversation, they share not only their wisdom but also their personal stories of transformation and the courage to live more deeply from the heart. Links: The Living from the Heart Program SoulStream.org The last SoulStream Living from the Heart podcast on SubStack: Living from the Heart: Celebrating 50 Conversations This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit soulstream926.substack.com

    41 min

  4. Mar 31

    Resting in the Mystery: Suhail Stephen on Spiritual Direction, Contemplative Listening, and the Love of God

    In this episode of the SoulStream: Living from the Heart podcast, Rod sits down with Suhail Stephen, spiritual director, pastor of West End Abbey in Winnipeg, and founder of the School of Mercy and Justice, for a conversation about what it means to be present to God and to others. Suhail shares his origin story in spiritual direction: a “magnetic attraction” to something he couldn’t yet name, rooted in a deep desire to experience God and to accompany others in that same experience. He reflects on his first experiences of receiving spiritual direction, which felt like discovering a missing puzzle piece, a space to be listened to without an agenda, and how that experience changed him. Suhail also comments on what makes listening such a profoundly loving act, why the gap between our theology and our lived experience of God is one of the most common places people get stuck, and how healing our image of God is often at the heart of spiritual transformation. Suhail closes with a beautiful set of Lenten reflection questions for the community and a personal answer to what “living from the heart” means: keeping the love of God at the center, and living as authentically as possible from who God has made you to be. Topics in this episode: spiritual direction, contemplative prayer, listening, discernment, charismatic and contemplative spirituality, image of God, Lent, embodiment, vocation Links: Listen with Love PodcastWest End Abbeywritingisprayer.com SoulStream.org The last SoulStream Living from the Heart podcast on SoulStream: Walking the Stations: An Immersive Encounter Through Art and Faith This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit soulstream926.substack.com

    44 min

  5. Mar 21

    Walking the Stations: An Immersive Encounter Through Art and Faith

    What if the story of the cross wasn’t just something from the past… but something you could step into and experience right now? In this episode, we spend time with Sacred Journeys, a deeply moving art exhibit by textile artist Karen Brodie. Through quilted panels, personal reflections, and simple spiritual practices, the Stations of the Cross come alive. I’m joined by SoulStream partner Kim Alexis and curator Angela Clarke as we walk through the exhibit and reflect on how this experience draws you in not just to observe the story of Jesus but to feel it and see yourself in it. We also talk about simple practices like reflection and journaling that help us slow down, pay attention, and live more honestly from the heart. Links: Sacred Journeys with Textile Artist Karen Brodie Karen Brodie SoulStream.org The last SoulStream Living from the Heart podcast on SoulStream: Experiencing God’s Love: The Transforming Power of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit soulstream926.substack.com

    42 min

  6. Mar 10

    Experiencing God’s Love: The Transforming Power of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises

    In this conversation, we speak with spiritual directors Esther Hizsa and Jan Evans about the transformative journey of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises in Daily Life, often called the 19th Annotation. They share how this ancient spiritual practice invites people into a deeper relationship with God through daily prayer, imagination, reflection, and weekly spiritual direction over the course of several months. Esther and Jan reflect on their own experiences with the exercises and how they helped them discern major life decisions, grow in trust, and encounter God’s love in deeply personal ways. They also describe how companioning others through the exercises can lead to profound healing, renewed freedom, and a clearer sense of purpose. The conversation explores practical elements of the Ignatian tradition such as imaginative prayer, the daily Examen, and learning to discern God’s voice in everyday life. Through moving stories and real examples, Esther and Jan illustrate how these practices help people navigate grief, uncertainty, and life transitions while discovering God is present in all things. If you’ve ever wondered how contemplative prayer works in real life or how ancient spiritual wisdom can shape modern faith, this episode offers a thoughtful and hopeful invitation into the journey. Related Links: Sowing Seeds of Hope and Resilience in Times of UncertaintyApril 24, 2026 – April 26, 2026. Join spiritual directors Jan Evans and Esther Hizsa for a weekend retreat engaging in God’s dream for our world by planting and nurturing seeds of community, compassion, creativity, and connectedness. Learn More. Ignatian Spiritual Exercises Q&A – May 25, 2026, at 4 pm PT/7 pm ET. Jan and Esther are hosting a time to answer any questions you may have about SoulStream’s offering of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. Learn More. SoulStream Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. SoulStream offers accompaniment in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. September 21, 2026, to May 29, 2027. Learn More. The last SoulStream Living from the Heart podcast on SoulStream: Contemplation, Nature, and the Healing Path This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit soulstream926.substack.com

    53 min

  7. Feb 20

    Contemplation, Nature, and the Healing Path

    Pearl Nieuwenhuis, a spiritual director with an MA in spiritual formation, shares her profound journey from an internal struggle to co-facilitating "the art of spiritual direction." She speaks to finding God's mystery in the ordinary and the profound transformative effects of contemplative practices. The Evolving Nature of Spiritual DirectionPearl recounts her early experience of spiritual direction and contrasts it with SoulStream’s approach.Nature as a Deep Contemplative PracticeDiscover how early morning walks transformed Pearl's spiritual life, revealing nature as a source of wholeness, healing, and expansive love. She shares touching encounters with the moon and empathetic trees that offered profound spiritual insights.Staying with the Heart's Deeper InvitationExplore the challenge of resisting our human tendency to "figure things out" and "grab and go" when encountering deeper spiritual truths. Pearl shares a personal journey of recognizing and healing old wounds by choosing to stay present with God's immense, unwavering love. Resources Mentioned * Soulstream.org * Pearl’s SoulStream Spiritual Direction Page * FCJ Center (Calgary convent) * The Art of Spiritual Direction * Living from the Heart (course) * Jeff and Steve (”The Imbach Brothers”) * Focusing training (practice) * Gustav Tibonin (author/quote) The last SoulStream Living from the Heart podcast on SoulStream: Trusting the Quiet Work of Love This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit soulstream926.substack.com

    41 min

  8. Jan 22

    Trusting the Quiet Work of Love

    On the SoulStream Living from the Heart podcast, we sit down with teacher and spiritual director Laurel Pritchard for a thoughtful conversation about listening, contemplation, and living from the heart. Laurel reflects on how spiritual direction found her during a season of intense study, silence, and a longing for deeper conversation, and how contemplation for her has become less about adding and more about letting go. We talk about the rare gift of being truly heard, learning to live with uncertainty, and meeting our thoughts and emotions with kindness. Resources mentioned in the conversation • SoulStreamA community offering training, courses, and retreats in spiritual direction and contemplative practice. • Regent CollegeA graduate school of theology where Laurel studied during a formative season of her spiritual journey. • Thomas KeatingTrappist monk and teacher of centering prayer • Centering PrayerA contemplative prayer practice rooted in silence and consent to God’s presence and action. • Spiritual DirectionA contemplative practice of listening and companionship focused on noticing God’s movement in everyday life. • The EnneagramA personality framework Laurel references, particularly identifying with Enneagram Type Four. • Desmond TutuReferenced for his wisdom around holding the pain of the world with prayer and compassion. • Brian DoerksenMentioned in a story about embracing the life we are given without wishing for another. The last Living from the Heart podcast episode on SubStack: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit soulstream926.substack.com

    36 min
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About

On the SoulStream “Living from the Heart” podcast, we explore encountering God personally, integrating body, soul, mind, and spirit to live authentically in Christ. We discuss becoming open to God’s presence, overcoming obstacles, embracing transformation into Jesus’ image, and cultivating supportive practices. Additionally, we delve into understanding prayer as responsive to the Holy Spirit, ancient practices, and living out contemplative prayer to love neighbors, care for the earth, and seek justice. soulstream926.substack.com

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