Best Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw and guests Podcasts (2025)

1
Who Is My Neighbor 20:33

11d ago20:33

20:33

Send us a text Connie Ryan, executive director of Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, highlights "who is our neighbor" in contrast with the message of Christian Nationalism. Support the showBy Various

1
Food, Glorious Food: or, Potlucks We Have Known 17:06

18d ago17:06

17:06

Send us a text with Louise Alcorn and friends When you think of church potlucks, does your mouth water? Member Louise Alcorn and many hungry friends will explore food and community, reminisce about potlucks we have known, and discuss how food has been inextricably linked to community here and forever. Support the show…

1
Our Church as Home and Garden 21:19

26d ago21:19

21:19

Send us a text with Al Powers and Theresa Miller A look at our church home and garden through the lens of history. Support the showBy Various

1
Love at the Center: Confronting Bias, Choosing Courage 14:33

1M ago14:33

14:33

Send us a text with Faithyna Leonard In a world marked by division and unconscious bias, how can we show up with courage, compassion, and love? This Sunday, join us for a powerful reflection on bystander intervention, the ongoing work of justice, and the transformative act of centering love—especially in moments of harm and healing. Support the sho…

1
Internal Community with Elijah Evans 10:39

1M ago10:39

10:39

Send us a text Member Elijah Evans will comment upon the intersection of mental health and spirituality with a service describing how we can nurture the internal communities of which we are all composed. Support the showBy Various

1
Radical Hospitality with David Yurdin 15:18

1M ago15:18

15:18

Send us a text David Yurnan and Urban Bicycle Food Ministry The Urban Bicycle Food Ministry motto is "Provide radical hospitality one burrito at a time." Every Thursday, all year long, members prepare and deliver hundreds of food and personal items by bike and car to people on the streets in metro Des Moines. They might be living under a bridge, in…

1
Transitions Part II 15:02

2M ago15:02

15:02

Send us a text Rev. Meredith Garmon's last words in the pulpit at First Unitarian Church of Des Moines. Transition: it's not the same as change. Change is always happening. But sometimes we change (externally, superficially) in order to not change (truly grow) – we make changes so we can avoid changing. To transition, rather than merely change, is …

1
You Can't Take It With You 33:51

2M ago33:51

33:51

Send us a text with Meredith Garmon What is yours to do? What is your calling — in life? Now? George Kaufman and Moss Hart won't answer that question, but their 1936 play does help frame the question. Support the showBy Various

1
Community 24:56

2M ago24:56

24:56

Send us a text with Rev. Meredith Garmon ft. Church Choir Community is the gift always there — the challenge is to make ourselves able and ready to receive it. Support the showBy Various

1
War, Peace, and Remembrance 24:54

2M ago24:54

24:54

Send us a text ⚠️ Volume Warning: The volume increases significantly around the 12 minute mark. with Rev. Meredith Garmon War has been a significant part of human history — as conflicted as we may feel about that fact. It has shaped us into who we are. Perhaps we can build a world without war, though I'd like to hope we could still have a warrior's…

1
Coming of Age 2025 16:13

3M ago16:13

16:13

Send us a text This Sunday, our Coming of Age students (7th/8th Grade) share their statements of faith and values with the congregation. Join us to learn about our students’ journeys of understanding themselves and their place in the world. Youth Faith Statements: Greta Hayes, Penny Guenther, Oliver Stamper, Simon Forman Support the show…

1
Flowers and Vesak 16:28

3M ago16:28

16:28

Send us a text with Rev Meredith Garmon Vesak is the Buddhist holiday commemorating Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death, as legend has it that Siddhartha Gautama — the Buddha — was born, became enlightened, and died all on the full moon of the lunar month Vesakha. We'll be observing this Buddhist holiday while also having our annual Flower Com…

1
Bone-Deep Hope with Steve Sieck 20:37

3M ago20:37

20:37

Send us a text The work of building the Beloved Community always seems impossible... until it isn't. Join us for a service that affirms our call to Love. Support the showBy Various

1
Counterintuitive Joy with Steve Sieck 20:38

3M ago20:38

20:38

Send us a text What's the natural response, and what's the effective response? Why do we gather together as a church? How do we stay grounded in our values in these difficult times? Join us to explore the power of counterintuitive joy. Support the showBy Various

1
Conflict is a Good Thing 22:34

4M ago22:34

22:34

Send us a text with Rev. Meredith Garmon We pride ourselves on diversity of viewpoints — and that means we're going to see things differently, in ways that sometimes conflict. Through conflict we learn and grow, and, if handled well, bond more deeply. Support the showBy Various

1
Nurturing Nature Through Wonder 26:07

4M ago26:07

26:07

Send us a text with Rev. LoraKim Joyner Experiencing nature can do wonders for ourselves, our relationships, our communities, other beings and the planet. With a dash of intentionality and practice we can grow our wonder, our resilience, and our impact in the world. Join us today to share joyous wonder and to practice connecting to all of life. Sup…

1
Who Cares? 19:46

4M ago19:46

19:46

Send us a text with Rev. Meredith Garmon Our April theme is Caring. Everybody cares about something, but do we care for ourselves, others, and our world in the most effective ways? Support the showBy Various

1
Standing Tall: Reflections on Dignity 3:47

5M ago3:47

3:47

Send us a text Elijah Evans, a member of our Celebrant Team, shares a reflection on Dignity. Support the showBy Various

1
Common Read: Authentic Selves 25:32

5M ago25:32

25:32

Send us a text with Rev. Meredith Garmon The book, Authentic Selves, is more than an introduction to gender identity. It will be useful to those seeking to promote our shared values: our places within an interdependent web of existence; the inherent worth and dignity of all people, whatever their identity or life experiences; and justice and compas…

1
Money, Money, Money 24:13

5M ago24:13

24:13

Send us a text with Rev. Meredith Garmon Wealth tends to have the effect of disconnecting us from others. Intentional generosity counteracts that effect. Support the showBy Various

1
Dignity 22:16

5M ago22:16

22:16

Send us a text with Meredith Garmon There's widespread agreement that it's vitally important. But ask us what exactly it is and we're often a bit stymied. Support the showBy Various

1
UU Uses of the Bible 24:41

6M ago24:41

24:41

Send us a text with Rev. Meredith Garmon It's our culture's central religious and spiritual text. And it does have some great stories. Even the parts we tend to like the least have some lessons for us. Support the showBy Various

1
You, UU, and Social Justice 27:10

6M ago27:10

27:10

Send us a text with Meredith Garmon The realm of Social Justice has many regions. Support the showBy Various

1
Borders and Belonging 23:30

6M ago23:30

23:30

Send us a text with Rev. Meredith Garmon As a new wave of cruelty toward immigrants unleashes harms and anxiety, what is ours to do? Perhaps some guidance be found in an ancient story. Zoom for the Service: Support the showBy Various

1
Desert Theory 25:09

6M ago25:09

25:09

Send us a text with Rev. Meredith Garmon We'll be exploring Desert Theory —which is pronounced like the sweet dish at the end of a meal and is spelled like an arid region. But desert theory is about neither of those. It's aboutdeservingness. What theory of deservingness do we follow? Support the show…

1
Crossing the Line 24:09

6M ago24:09

24:09

Send us a text with Rev. Meredith Garmon Negotiating the boundaries to respect and the borders to cross. Support the showBy Various

1
Acceptance & Resistance 20:42

7M ago20:42

20:42

Send us a text with Rev. Meredith Garmon There's acceptance. Then there's resistance to acceptance. Then there's resistance with acceptance. Support the showBy Various

1
Freedom? 22:54

7M ago22:54

22:54

Send us a text with Rev. Meredith Garmon Even if determinism is true, one of the determinants at work on us is a concept of freedom. But what is it? Support the showBy Various

1
The Vow-Powered Life 20:05

7M ago20:05

20:05

Send us a text with Rev. Meredith Garmon New Year's resolutions are famously short-lived. Still, it's helpful to reflect on what changes you want to make. It helps to put those changes in the context of the overall purpose of your life. Which begs the question: What is the overall purpose of your life? Support the show…

1
Christmas Eve Service 2024 24:57

7M ago24:57

24:57

Send us a text Celebrate the season at our Christmas Eve Service, where we’ll share the story of Jesus’ birth through fun and unique perspectives—including the wise musings of a curious camel! Come experience the wonder and magic of Christmas Eve! Support the showBy Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw and guests

1
Christmas Pageant 9:03

7M ago9:03

9:03

Send us a text Join us for a heartwarming Christmas Pageant Service as we celebrate the season with a joyful retelling of the Nativity story! Featuring participation from all ages, music, and festive cheer, this beloved tradition brings the spirit of Christmas to life. Come be a part of the magic and wonder! Support the show…

1
Awe and Wonder 23:16

8M ago23:16

23:16

Send us a text with Rev. Meredith Garmon We probably would agree that we could use a little more wonder in our lives. But why? And how? Support the showBy Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw and guests

1
There is No God, and She is Always with You 21:14

9M ago21:14

21:14

Send us a text with Rev. Meredith Garmon The living tradition we share draws from many sources. One of them, explicit in the UUA bylaws adopted in 1985, is: "Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason ad the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of mind a spirit." We'll celebrate our humanist heritage, exploring…

1
Pardon, Forgiveness, Reconciliation 22:49

9M ago22:49

22:49

Send us a text with Rev. Meredith Garmon The living tradition we share draws from many sources. One of them, explicit in the UUA bylaws adopted in 1985, is: "Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason ad the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of mind a spirit." We'll celebrate our humanist heritage, exploring…

1
Reason 22:18

9M ago22:18

22:18

Send us a text with Rev. Meredith Garmon Our November theme is Reason. We're not very good at it. We can train ourselves to be better at it, but do we want to? Support the showBy Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw and guests

1
Día De Los Muertos 19:27

9M ago19:27

19:27

Send us a text with Rev. Meredith Garmon Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a festive celebration in memory of those who have died. Its origins in Mesoamerica go back over 3000 years, even though it was shaped by two Roman Catholic holidays: All Saints Day (November 1) and All Souls Day (November 2). We will honor this tradition and reflect on…

1
Climate Justice Revival 22:52

9M ago22:52

22:52

Send us a text with Rev. Meredith Garmon Come be a part of something bigger than yourself. Climate Justice intersects with all other forms of justice– economic justice, racial justice, social justice and more. Together we are enough! Support the showBy Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw and guests

1
Our Universalist Heritage 22:58

10M ago22:58

22:58

Send us a text with Meredith Garmon We're still living out lessons the great Universalist Minister Hosea Ballou (1771-1852) preached. Support the showBy Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw and guests

1
Healing Religion’s Harms with Paul Nelson 14:48

10M ago14:48

14:48

Send us a text Paul Nelson is a member of First Unitarian Church, and was formerly an ELCA/Lutheran pastor (1994-2009). He is looking forward to offering some thoughts on our monthly theme, "Fear." Support the showBy Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw and guests

1
What Are We Afraid Of? 21:42

10M ago21:42

21:42

Send us a text with Meredith Garmon Our theme for October is "fear." We all fear. What lessons can we learn from fear — and how can we prevent it from hijacking our better judgment? Support the showBy Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw and guests

1
On Repentance and Repair with Rev. Meredith Garmon 23:30

10M ago23:30

23:30

Send us a text We'll be looking at Danya Ruttenberg's insights from her book "On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World." The book is the UUA Common Read for 2023-24. Support the showBy Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw and guests

1
God the Adjective 22:15

11M ago22:15

22:15

Send us a text "God" is, most usually and commonly, a noun. Last week we explored how to think of "god" as a verb. This week we'll look at the adjective option. It’s not about what exists; it’s about the qualities of existence: is it wondrous, mysterious, beautiful, awesome? Those adjectives are the crux of the matter. Support the show…

1
Gathering In with Meredith 18:29

11M ago18:29

18:29

Send us a text We gathered to celebrate the church year ahead in the waning days of summer (autumn begins on September 22). Each brought a small sample of water to represent the last 12 weeks. We then reflected together on our September theme: hospitality. Support the showBy Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw and guests

1
Universalism and Labor Day 22:10

11M ago22:10

22:10

Send us a text with Rev. Meredith Garmon Railcar magnate George Pullman was a Universalist, born and bred. He had a certain recognizable Universalist idealism – but it went horribly, instructively, awry. As a result, we have Labor Day. Support the showBy Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw and guests

1
Cherry Picking My Journey with Louise Alcorn 19:06

12M ago19:06

19:06

Send us a text Member Louise Alcorn will discuss growing up Unitarian Universalist, the confusion and freedoms that brought, and how she "cherry-picked" her way to now. Support the showBy Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw and guests

1
Grit and Grace - Resilience Through Balance with Sarah Chang 16:18

12M ago16:18

16:18

Send us a text It’s often at life’s extremes of joy and pain that we become most in tune with our spirituality or at least experience a strengthened drive to seek meaning. Sarah will reflect on this and how her beliefs have helped her weather the storms of life and find hope. Support the showBy Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw and guests

1
Life is a Relay Race with Al Powers 20:32

12M ago20:32

20:32

Send us a text Al Powers’ story of his journey to becoming a UU and Humanist, and his reflections on what Humanism means to him today Support the showBy Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw and guests

1
A Long and Winding Road Less Taken with Bill Brauch 14:15

1y ago14:15

14:15

Send us a text Bill Brauch’s reflection on the pathway of his own free and responsible search for truth and meaning. Support the showBy Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw and guests

1
Navigating Queer Faith with Faithyna Leonard 6:35

1y ago6:35

6:35

Send us a text In a world where spirituality and self-identity often find themselves at odds, queer individuals have faced the challenge of balancing their faith and self-identity. Today's speaker, our very own Faith Formation and Congregational Life Coordinator, Faithyna Leonard, will discuss her path navigating her spiritual journey while learnin…

1
P(r)aying Attention with Elliot Nolte 11:35

1y ago11:35

11:35

Send us a text Join Elliott Nolte for an exploration of developing a personal prayer practice based on attentiveness to story and spirit. Support the showBy Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw and guests

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw And Guests Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide