Episodes

The Camino de Santigo, also known as The Way of St. James, dates back to the 10th century and has been long considered one of the most important pilgrimages in Christendom.Exploracast is pleased to welcome our guest, Scott Wojahn, who completed one of the routes earlier this year. Listen to histhoughtful reflection on what was found on this pilgrimage and in many ways, what he continues to discover these months later.

Oxford Languages defines lamentation as "The passionate expression of grief or sorrow, weeping". In this episode, we have a passionate (maybe even a bit heated!) discussion about how to fully express "grief or sorrow" without falling prey to the urge to throw in the towel and give up trying to change what's bothering us if it is, in fact, changeable.

It's easy to get overwhelmed at how things are in the world right now. That makes it understandable and, in some ways, reasonable to feel like checking out and avoiding all the mess. We get it. In this episode, the Exploracast teamsteps back for a moment to offer a more general but also personal view to how we, as caring citizens like you, experience this difficult time.

There are many old narratives on what it means to be a "real man". We all know the long lists of what real men do and don't do, express and can't express. feel and shouldn't feel. The question is whether this so-called "toxic masculinity" is ultimately healthy and good for the person who approaches life this way or the people with whom they are closelyassociated.

There has been a growing movement for the last several decades in favor of decreasing the barriers between church and state, mostly from some sects of the christian churchand those who would use it for political gain. Secularism is seen as the primary reason we struggle as a nation and that what we really need to do is "put God back into" the political arena. Is this a good thing or is it a means by which freedoms are ultimately diminished and more people have less say?

I believe that the only way things don't ultimately get better in a difficult time like this is when people lose hope and disengage in working to make the world a better place. So, in today's podcast we discuss the powerful value of hope and the kind of hope that strengthens us and motivates positive change.

Who do you trust to tell you the truth outside of your closest friends and family? Are you operating on a basic assumption that people in power are as prone to telling lies as much as they are the truth? Maybe the path to power nowadays,unfortunately, includes a willingness to lie when it is more expedient than truth telling.

At first glance, most everyone would say that the empathizing with another person is a good thing; to understand how they feel and even share some of thosefeelings. Nowadays, however, there are more and more voices that are suggesting that to empathize with others is the path of giving too much away or letting people get away with the things they do. Remember Jean Valjean? He was hungry and stole food. Do we justify it because he was starving, or do we believe that stealing is wrong no matter th...

It used to be that a lot of one's identity was wrapped up inwhat one did for a living. For many people that remains true and not so much along gender lines as it used to be. Is this a bad thing? Is it bad to achieve and feel pride in one's achievements? Can it go too far and what happens whenone retires or can no longer do that thing which supplied identity? These are the questions that drive today's conversation.

Where is home for you? Is it a place? Is it a group of people? Is it a state of mind? Maybe you're feeling a little "homeless" in some ways at this point in your journey. Today's episode takes on this very nuanced and emotionally fraught subject of the "longing for home".

In honor of the recent passing of Pope Francis, we thought it good to spend a moment reflecting on his story and legacy, even from three non-Catholics. We also talk about the messages and attitudes that connect him with many leadersof spiritual movements throughout history. Finally, we wonder, if these messages and attitudes are so respected as righteous, why are we not doing a better job of seeking to live up to them in these strange days.

Part of the normal human experience is sometimes feeling less than others but it seems now days that the messages of less-than are permeating society. There are sharper lines being drawn between "good enough" versus "never good enough" people. Issues of race, gender, sexuality, country of origin, religion, wealth, political affiliation, and so many others have become measuring sticks of human worthiness. What do you think Mr. Rogers would say about that? I think it would make him very, very sad.

Has the world finally killed kindness or is it possible for it to again be on the rise? Is it possible to be kind and strong at the same time or does one necessarily preclude the other? We talk about kindness with the deep hope that it is not dead, and that it can yet be a healthy AND functional way to live.

In this episode, we take on what might be the elephant in the room. We are, admittedly, from that demographic that has held power in this country for a long, long time. We're white, we're male, and we're certainly NOT young! Does the worldwant/need more of the same old same old or could we perhaps offer up something a little different despite how we look and sound? You decide!

Since and because of the Covid 19 pandemic, Americans have grown more and more disconnected and isolated from one another. But this "epidemic of loneliness" has its beginnings years before that. Among other things, the wonderful tech advances that define the last several decades have brought and grown difficult and unintended consequences. These consequences are experienced on personal, local, and global scales. Our mental health, physical health, and relational health is under assault as well a...

We are built to connect and be in relationship with others. Very few people actually thrive alone but we also know that sometimes being in relationship is not easy and even takes some very intentional work. We believe that there are things that, though they may be difficult to do, are things that strengthen, deepen, and secure those relationships that matter most to us. Here are our initial thoughts on thesubject along with some ideas that might lead you to a more productive relational path.

What do you do or what do you stop doing when it feels likethe world is burning? Regardless of ideologies and political positions, most would agree that things seem mighty rough "out there" right now. So many people are feeling overwhelmed at the very least and sometimes evendevastated. Listen to our discussion in response to a very timely question from one of our listeners.

We again use a Ted Lasso quote to get the conversation started. We wonder what optimism is including can one who has their "head in the sand" and denies reality truly be optimistic. Do optimists take more risks? Is this a wise mindset? All this and more in this next Exploracast!

One of the many things the great Ted Lasso told us is that "happiness is a choice." But is it really possible to be happy in this crazy world? Is it possible to be happy while being fully aware all the things around that are difficult, sad, and tragic? Disease. war, conflict, divisiveness, political and social upheaval, and global climate change are for real, and yet Ted has the audacity to suggest that we can choose to be happy!

Everyone knows the word mindfulness and pretty much what it means. Still, something counselors and therapists often see while working with people is that what is known and what is actually practiced is not always the same. Listen to our discussion of some of the nuances of mindfulness and then take the challenge to do a better job in 2025 of being more present in your life and relationships.

We are born being curious about everything! But it seems that over time, many people grow comfortable with what they already know and what makes them feel safe and in control. But is it not true that when we stop learning, we have stopped growing? In this episode of Exploracast, we consider the importance of and hinderances to being and remaining curious.

We generally think of trauma and PTSD in relation to people like soldiers and survivors of other horrific events. This is certainly true, but it is also true that our world, society in general, politics, international war and unrest, climate change, or the pandemic and all that came out of that has been traumatizing to most, if not all of us. Dealing with it healthily requires a lot of honesty and courage.

Most of us were taught to have humility as a foundational value. But what if we work so hard to remain humble and not come off as conceited that we limit what we are capable of doing and downplay who we are capable of being? It's an interesting and, we believe, important tension to acknowledge. Do you play small unnecessarily or do you "think too highly" of yourself?

The industrial revolution began around 1900. As nuclear families began to move away to larger cities for work, one of the major consequences was some loss of the centrality of the extended family. How can we as a society reclaim the importance of the elders' wisdom and how do we as the elders understand and respectfully convey what they need to hear.