The Modern Ascetic

Sarah McGinnis and Taylor Zimmerman
  • 5.0 (16)
  • CHRISTIANITY

Join Sarah McGinnis and Taylor Zimmerman as they explore different topics at the intersection of Christian monastic spirituality and contemporary psychoanalysis. Sarah is an artist, worship leader, and trained in theological studies. Taylor is a pastor, pastoral counselor, and trained in advanced psychotherapy and psychoanalytic theory. Throughout the different episodes, they will bring their expertise and experience together to unpack complex psychoanalytic and theological ideas, provide new language and tools to understand our particular human experiences, and point to the rich spiritual realities underlying it all. Follow us on Instagram: @modernasceticpod Buy Us a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/modpod Music: Sarah McGinnis Artwork: Aaron May

  1. 03/17/2025

    Deadly Sins: Pride (2/2)

    Sarah and Taylor conclude not only their reflection on pride but the whole deadly sins season in this final episode on the twelve steps of humility. This episode includes an emotion that sounds like a Harry Potter spell, commitments to the bit and their consequences, and, perhaps too much, ready laughter. This episode marks the end of our second season. We'll be back in the future with our third season and more psychoanalytic and monastic reflections on contemporary life! We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com   Follow The Modern Ascetic on Instagram: @modernasceticpod Enjoy the episode? Buy Us a Coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/modpod

    1h 30m

  2. 03/03/2025

    Deadly Sins: Pride (1/2)

    Taylor and Sarah begin the end of our season of the vices with a reflection on the special sin of pride, exploring the themes of exception, finitude, and idolatry. This episode includes a distracted Walt Whitman quoter, a sadboi Church Father, and a cheese-hungry songwriter. We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com   Follow The Modern Ascetic on Instagram: @modernasceticpod Enjoy the episode? Buy Us a Coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/modpod

    1h 26m

  3. 02/10/2025

    Deadly Sins: Envy (3/3)

    Sarah and Taylor conclude their discussion of envy by exploring its counter virtue: gratitude—an emotional response to the meeting of a need with no strings attached. This episode includes transcontinental communication, an envious doc who struggles with trainwrecks, and a fast talking mother daughter duo. ("Why did you drop out of Yale?!") We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com   Follow The Modern Ascetic on Instagram: @modernasceticpod Enjoy the episode? Buy Us a Coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/modpod

    1h 19m

  4. 01/27/2025

    Deadly Sins: Envy (2/3)

    Taylor and Sarah continue their discussion of envy delving deep into psychoanalytic theory to explore how our earliest relationships, and our dependency on them, create the conditions for envy later on in life. This episode includes itches being scratched, existential infants, and peacocking. We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com   Follow The Modern Ascetic on Instagram: @modernasceticpod Enjoy the episode? Buy Us a Coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/modpod

    1h 16m

  5. 01/13/2025

    Deadly Sins: Envy (1/3)

    Sarah and Taylor begin their discussion of envy by exploring how the early Christian tradition understood this vice and distinguished it from jealousy and covetousness. This episode includes a series of bad jokes, Sarah's new BMW, and delight in knocking another person down a peg. We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com   Follow The Modern Ascetic on Instagram: @modernasceticpod Enjoy the episode? Buy Us a Coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/modpod

    1h 3m

  6. 12/02/2024

    Deadly Sins: Vainglory (2/2)

    Taylor and Sarah conclude their discussion of vainglory by identifying the narcissistic needs we all have and sharing practices to help cultivate the counter virtue of humility. This episode includes pies and cheesecakes, British punk bands, and a reference to a misunderstood green witch. We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com   Follow The Modern Ascetic on Instagram: @modernasceticpod Enjoy the episode? Buy Us a Coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/modpod

    1h 8m

  7. 11/18/2024

    Deadly Sins: Vainglory (1/2)

    Sarah and Taylor begin their exploration of the complexities of the vice of vainglory—a vice most tempting for the holiest among us—and its connection to the psychoanalytic concept of narcissism. This episode includes AMRAPs, EMOMs, and WODs as well as hotdog loving interviewees and Augustinian locker room talk.  We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com   Follow The Modern Ascetic on Instagram: @modernasceticpod Enjoy the episode? Buy Us a Coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/modpod

    1h 11m

  8. 11/04/2024

    Deadly Sins: Acedia/Sloth (2/2)

    Taylor and Sarah conclude their discussion of acedia with an exploration of the psychoanalytic concept of resistance and the promotion of the counter-virtue of perseverance. This episode includes wannabe standup comedians, the fantasy of homesteading, and ogres? Also there might be a Marvel-style end credit if you stay to the end. ;) We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com   Follow The Modern Ascetic on Instagram: @modernasceticpod Enjoy the episode? Buy Us a Coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/modpod

    1h 10m
See All (29)

5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

Join Sarah McGinnis and Taylor Zimmerman as they explore different topics at the intersection of Christian monastic spirituality and contemporary psychoanalysis. Sarah is an artist, worship leader, and trained in theological studies. Taylor is a pastor, pastoral counselor, and trained in advanced psychotherapy and psychoanalytic theory. Throughout the different episodes, they will bring their expertise and experience together to unpack complex psychoanalytic and theological ideas, provide new language and tools to understand our particular human experiences, and point to the rich spiritual realities underlying it all. Follow us on Instagram: @modernasceticpod Buy Us a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/modpod Music: Sarah McGinnis Artwork: Aaron May

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah McGinnis and Taylor Zimmerman
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    The Modern Ascetic