Best SDI The Home Of Spiritual Companionship Podcasts (2025)

1
What Happens in Spiritual Direction and Companionship? A Debrief, and What To Expect with Christina Roberts and Matt Whitney – Part Three 15:12

10d ago15:12

15:12

What is spiritual direction or companionship really like? In these episodes, Christina Roberts and Matt Whitney offer each other 30 minutes of real-life spiritual direction—something like a “Fishbowl” experience—so you can listen in on the process as it unfolds. The first episode will have Matt offering spiritual companionship to Christina. The sec…

1
What Happens in Spiritual Direction and Companionship? A Live Session with Christina Roberts and Matt Whitney – Part Two 21:48

10d ago21:48

21:48

What is spiritual direction or companionship really like? In these episodes, Christina Roberts and Matt Whitney offer each other 30 minutes of real-life spiritual direction—something like a “Fishbowl” experience—so you can listen in on the process as it unfolds. The first episode will have Matt offering spiritual companionship to Christina. The sec…

1
What Happens in Spiritual Direction and Companionship? A Live Session with Christina Roberts and Matt Whitney – Part One 26:06

10d ago26:06

26:06

What is spiritual direction or companionship really like? In these episodes, Christina Roberts and Matt Whitney offer each other 30 minutes of real-life spiritual direction—something like a “Fishbowl” experience—so you can listen in on the process as it unfolds. The first episode will have Matt offering spiritual companionship to Christina. The sec…

1
Lucy Abbott Tucker - Sharing about 35 years of SDI, Niagara Falls Conference (Full Conversation) 16:01

5M ago16:01

16:01

“If SDI has done nothing else, and it has done much…but help us to gather together in support of one another, that might have been enough.” So says SDI Co-Founder Lucy Abbott Tucker, perennial teacher, leader and contributor to the SDI community, and keynote speaker at SDI’s 35th Anniversary Conference to be held in Niagara Falls, May 29th-31st, 20…

1
Rev. SeiFu Singh-Molares and Matt Whitney - Using Our Challenges as Gateways to Awareness 21:38

5M ago21:38

21:38

In this 20 minute conversation, SDI Executive Director Rev. SeiFu Singh-Molares and Creative Director Matt Whitney discuss how in challenging times, we can learn how to use these challenges as gateways to deeper awareness, understanding, and spiritual growth. Our work as spiritual directors and companions involves helping others through their own c…

1
Philip Carter - Ordinary Heaven - Exploring Spiritual Direction and the Journey of Human Life - New from SDI Press 29:37

7M ago29:37

29:37

The latest book from SDI Press is now available for pre-order, shipping in November 2024! Ordinary Heaven | Exploring Spiritual Direction and the Journey of Human Life, by Philip Carter, is a quite extraordinary work that lovingly renders a lifetime of spiritual experience and reflection, honoring this very life and the sacred ministry of spiritual…

1
Walking With Spiritual Independents - Perspectives on Seeking Spiritual Freedom 43:41

8M ago43:41

43:41

There are many attempts at categorizing those walking a path of spiritual freedom. We see, and use, broad terms such as ‘Spiritual Independents’, ‘Spiritual but not religious’, or ‘The Nones’. These categories, as any, are ultimately limited. As spiritual directors and companions, we know each person’s spiritual story is unique, regardless of spiri…

1
Kō Sam Tullman - Disease and Dis-Ease on the Spiritual Path 14:28

9M ago14:28

14:28

SDI has launched registration for a new webinar for all spiritual directors and companions, it’s called Disease and Dis-Ease on the Spiritual Path, a series on being a wise companion to yourself and others when the fragility of human life is most evident: in times of illness. Our guide for this series is Kō Sam Tullman, founder of DiabetesSangha an…

1
NEW VIDEO POD - Spiritual Companionship Through Queer Lenses - Larry J Morris III 18:56

11M ago18:56

18:56

We're experimenting with a video version of our podcast on spiritual direction and companionship! In this first video conversation, we chat with Larry J Morris III about the broader themes of our upcoming webinar series, Beyond Binaries: Spiritual Companionship Through Queer Lenses. To watch the video of this conversation, head over to YouTube: htt…

1
Meditation and Mindfulness with the SDI Community - Sean Murphy 20:32

12M ago20:32

20:32

In this week’s episode, SDI’s Creative Director Matt Whitney speaks with Sean Murphy on his upcoming webinar series on Meditation and Mindfulness. To learn more and register, please visit https://www.sdicompanions.org/product/zen-meditation-and-mindfulness-for-spiritual-directors-and-companions/ Sean Tetsudo Murphy, Sensei, is a fully authorized Ze…

1
SDI Solstice Celebrations - Why We Do Them 21:49

12M ago21:49

21:49

This week, through June 24, we are running our Solstice Celebration, which offers 20 percent savings on most everything SDI offers, including memberships. In this conversation with Executive Director Rev. SeiFu, we discuss why we do these celebrations, and how we hope folks benefit. An SDI membership is a particularly valuable and critical way to d…

1
Preview Part 3: New Perspectives on the Enneagram - Chelsea Forbrook, Rev. Nhien Vuong 27:36

1y ago27:36

27:36

This is Part Three of our preview for our next 10-session course, New Perspectives on the Enneagram for Troubled Times, featuring Chelsea Forbrook and Rev. Nhien Vuong. Those familiar with the Enneagram know what a powerful tool for self-discovery and insight it can be. With that in mind we are pleased to announce our latest 10 session course offer…

1
Preview Part 2: New Perspectives on the Enneagram - Allen Proctor, Erlina Edwards, Ben Campbell 23:51

1y ago23:51

23:51

This is Part Two of our preview for our next 10-session course, New Perspectives on the Enneagram for Troubled Times, featuring Allen Proctor, Erlina Edwards, and Ben Campbell. Those familiar with the Enneagram know what a powerful tool for self-discovery and insight it can be. With that in mind we are pleased to announce our latest 10 session cour…

1
Preview Part 1: New Perspectives on the Enneagram - Sandra Smith and Dina ElBadry 18:41

1y ago18:41

18:41

Those familiar with the Enneagram know what a powerful tool for self-discovery and insight it can be. With that in mind we are pleased to announce our latest 10 session course offering from SDI – New Perspectives on the Enneagram for Spiritual Directors and Companions. This unique online course offering from SDI offers spiritual directors and compa…

1
SDI's 2024 Online Conference: Navigating the Global Dark Night of the Soul of Spiritual Directors and Companions 18:06

1+ y ago18:06

18:06

In this week's episode, Rev. SeiFu speaks with Matt Whitney on SDI's 2024 online conference. Our conference theme this year is “Navigating the Global Dark Night of the Soul of Spiritual Directors and Companions.” We will create an opening and a field for spiritual directors and companions to listen, and speak, into the hardships, struggles, and opp…

1
What is Spiritual Companionship? 41:40

1+ y ago41:40

41:40

In this chat with Executive Director Rev. SeiFu Singh-Molares, we explore some nuts-and-bolts questions about spiritual companionship. What is spiritual companionship? How does it work? Who is it for? Why would someone need spiritual companionship? How does it differ from working with a mental health professional? What is considered "on the table" …

1
SDI Affinity Groups with Ravi Verma 17:57

1+ y ago17:57

17:57

SDI Communities are SDI-sponsored, often locally-run groups of spiritual companions. These people gather either regionally, or based on a shared commonality, on a regular basis to connect, support one another, network, share contemplative time and practice new skills in spiritual care. An SDI Community can operate anywhere in the world. Let us know…

1
An Ordinary Conversation about Waking Up - Jennifer ”Jinks” Hoffmann 42:19

1+ y ago42:19

42:19

We are pleased to offer this recent conversation with Jennifer "Jinks" Hoffmann, author of The Light of God's Shadow - Musings, Stories, and Poems on Waking Up, from SDI Press Books. We discuss poetry and creativity, death, finding God in all things - in other words, just an "ordinary" conversation from the Home of Spiritual Companionship :) --- In…

1
Forest Bathing Sounds and Storytelling -An Audio Reflection (and Invitation to Join us in March 2024!) 25:12

1+ y ago25:12

25:12

In March 2023 during our Forest Bathing Retreat in North Carolina, I (Matt Whitney) made some recordings of our time together - sounds of the forest, some testimonials and poetry by participants, and a bit of audio from our facilitators Jeanette Banashak and Simon De Voil. With our next retreat upcoming in March 2024, I finally got around to organi…

1
A History of Spiritual Direction and Supervision - Paul Burgmayer 38:21

1+ y ago38:21

38:21

In this week’s episode, Matt Whitney speaks with Paul Burgmayer on a History of Spiritual Direction and Supervision that he has been working on. Paul is working on a comprehensive history of spiritual direction and supervision in North America, and is seeking assistance with anything that can help him fill in the gaps in his research. If you can he…

1
Desert Spirituality - Preview with Tessa Bielecki and Fr. Dave Denny 16:35

1+ y ago16:35

16:35

To preview their upcoming 4-part webinar for SDI on Desert Spirituality, we invite you to enjoy this quick session with Tessa Bielecki and Fr. David Denny. And, we hope you will consider joining us for a full four part series on Desert Spirituality beginning November 1st (all sessions recorded). https://www.sdicompanions.org/product/desert-wisdom-f…

1
Elaine Fourie - Working with Trauma, Mysticism, and Walking with a Partner with Illness 26:15

2y ago26:15

26:15

In this episode I have a lovely conversation with Elaine Fourie, from Durban, South Africa. Elaine is an SDI Member, a regular Media Reviewer of spiritual and contemplative books for Presence Journal. She is a trained trauma-informed psychologist before retiring from that role. We talk about working with trauma as spiritual companions and seeing tr…

1
Henri Nouwen and Spiritual Companionship - A Reflection 9:48

2y ago9:48

9:48

Hi Friends. Matt Whitney here. I thought for the podcast I would do a reading of a reflection I wrote for our SDI Listen publication, which comes out quarterly. It's about something Henri Nouwen wrote in his book The Inner Voice of Love. I hope you enjoy the reading, and the written reflection is below. SDI has thousands of spiritual directors, com…

1
Using the Enneagram to Name, Tame, and Transform Your Inner Critic with Chelsea Forbrook 26:09

2y ago26:09

26:09

Chelsea Forbrook is the President of Enneagram Minnesota and is a Spiritual Director and Enneagram Educator based in Minneapolis, MN. She teaches a 10 month experiential Enneagram Course and hosts a podcast called “The Enneagram of Essence.” Chelsea is author of the book, “Blessing My Demons: How to Name, Tame & Transform Your Inner Critic,” which …

1
Rev. SeiFu and Matt Whitney on Belonging - Part 2 15:00

2y ago15:00

15:00

In this week's episode, SDI's Rev. SeiFu and Matt Whitney continue their conversation on what it means to belong to the SDI community, particularly when things get challenging. In our ongoing SDI community dialogue around Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging, we’d like to focus more intensively on the Belonging part. SDI has envisio…

1
Rev. SeiFu and Matt Whitney on Belonging - Part 1 17:00

2y ago17:00

17:00

In this week's episode, SDI's Rev. SeiFu and Matt Whitney discuss what it means to belong to the SDI community, particularly when things get challenging. In our ongoing SDI community dialogue around Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging, we’d like to focus more intensively on the Belonging part. SDI has envisioned our community as a …

1
Awakening Joy - Practices to Cultivate Spiritual Presence - Harry Pickens 1:04:04

2y ago1:04:04

1:04:04

“I already feel more awake`-thank you.” “I cannot wait for the class!!!” “brilliant and blissful,” “Tingly,” “Being present to my own joy,” “Calm and energized,” “Peacefulness,” “Wonder and awe,” “Reconnecting with my true self.” “This was life-changing.” “I feel like I’ve transformed as a spiritual director” (OK, that one is from me, but it’s true…

1
Dr Jeanette Banashak and Rev Simon Ruth De Voil - Guides for Our 2024 Forest Bathing Journey 15:37

2y ago15:37

15:37

Hear directly from our Guides for the newest iteration of our Forest Bathing Journey, coming in March 2024. We are pleased to welcome all to join us as SDI returns to the woods of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. For spiritual directors, companions, wayfarers and explorers, we invite you to spend a week immersing in nature, breathing the…

1
Reconsidering Spiritual Companionship - Full Conversation with Rev. SeiFu Singh-Molares 49:35

2y ago49:35

49:35

In this recent April 2023, SDI Executive Director Rev. SeiFu Singh-Molares and SDI Creative Director Matt Whitney had a wide-ranging conversation about spiritual direction and companionship, and in particular, reconsidering some of the elements we might consider to be “universal.” Are there common elements to the work of spiritual companionship tha…

1
A Conversation with Fr. Adam Bucko - Let Your Heartbreak Be Your Guide 1:01:47

2y ago1:01:47

1:01:47

Recently we at SDI hosted a free preview webinar session with Fr. Adam Bucko, who will be facilitating an upcoming webinar series called Let Your Heartbreak Be Your Guide – Spiritual Direction and Companionship for a World That Has Lots Its Way. This episode we share the audio of that free preview webinar conversation. Join our community of spiritu…

1
Carmen Acevedo Butcher - Mystical Wisdom and Practice from The Cloud of Unknowing and Brother Lawrence 1:00:50

2y ago1:00:50

1:00:50

Recently, SDI hosted a free webinar with Carmen Acevedo Butcher, an internationally acclaimed speaker, author, educator, and poet. Carmen specializes in Early Modern French, German, Latin, Middle English, and Old English mystic writers. You can watch the webinar on Vimeo. SDI is starting a four-part series on two mystics: Brother Lawrence and The C…

1
Website Chat Support, Compassionate Listening, and Growing Peppers - Ryan Hinson - SDI Technical Support Specialist 28:15

2y ago28:15

28:15

Have you ever noticed on the sdicompanions.org website, a small purple chat bubble that follows you in the lower-right hand corner of the screen? It looks like this: The ‘SDI Chat’ feature is there to assist you with questions you might have about most things related to our website, how to do things like renew your Membership, access a Webinar. And…

1
Eric Massanari - SDI Board Chair - An Invitation to Community 27:17

2+ y ago27:17

27:17

In this interview we talk to Eric Massanari, Chair of the SDI Board of Directors. Eric invites all SDI Members to join him and the rest of the SDI Board for virtual teatime gatherings on March 10, 2023. Learn about what it's like to serve on the Board and bring your questions! Bring your tea or coffee to this informal online gathering on March 10th…

1
Rabbi Myriam Klotz - SDI Board Vice-Chair - An Invitation to Serve 23:43

2+ y ago23:43

23:43

In this interview we talk to Rabbi Miriam Klotz, vice-chair of the SDI Board of Directors. Rabbi Myriam invites all SDI Members to join her and the rest of the SDI Board for virtual teatime gatherings on March 10, 2023. Learn about what it's like to serve on the Board and bring your questions! Bring your tea or coffee to this informal online gather…

1
A Conversation with Busshō Lahn - Singing and Dancing are the Voice of the Law 1:04:37

2+ y ago1:04:37

1:04:37

Busshō Lahn is a Zen student and teacher, and the guiding teacher of Flying Cloud Zen Spiritual Practice Community. He’s also a popular speaker, retreat leader, spiritual director, author, and a Senior Priest at Minnesota Zen Meditation Center. Busshō has just published his first Zen book, Singing and Dancing are the Voice of the Law, by Monkfish P…

1
An Exploration of the Psalms - Song and Poetry Swap with Simon de Voil and David Wallace 1:01:38

2+ y ago1:01:38

1:01:38

In this week's episode, Rev. Simon Ruth de Voil and Rev. David Wallace swap poetry and song ahead of their upcoming 4-part webinar series entitled "Deep Calls Unto Deep: A Contemplative Exploration of the Psalms in Our Life and Practice", which begins on January 30. This Interspiritually-minded and experiential webinar highlights works from The Boo…

1
An Interview with Lerita Coleman Brown - The Enduring Wisdom of Howard Thurman 15:18

2+ y ago15:18

15:18

SDI Executive Director Rev. SeiFu Singh-Molares and Lerita Coleman Brown discuss the work of Howard Thurman, anticipating the upcoming webinar series from SDI - Listening for the Sound of the Genuine. This 4-part series will provide an overview of Howard Thurman’s contributions to spirituality, mysticism, and sacred activism. During this webinar, w…

1
Aimee Bostwick - Community and Spiritual Life at Kanuga Conference Center - Forest Bathing Journey with SDI 33:43

2+ y ago33:43

33:43

Hi! Matt Whitney here – Creative Director, and one of the Guides for the Nature Immersion and Deep Listening Journey we have put together for all spiritual directors, companions, and wayfarers. In this episode, I have a conversation with Aimee Bostwick, who is Coordinator of Community and Spiritual Life at Kanuga Conference Center (our hosts for th…

1
Cynthia Bailey Manns - Reflections of a Soul Companion 41:03

2+ y ago41:03

41:03

Recently, Cynthia Bailey Manns came off of the SDI Coordinating Council, now called the SDI Board of Directors, and also wrote a reflection for Presence – our journal on spiritual direction and companionship. Cynthia and I discuss her written reflection, her time serving on the Coordinating Council, and her work as a soul companion. Cynthia Bailey …

1
Nature Immersion and Deep Listening - A Forest Bathing Retreat from SDI - Dr Jeanette Banashak 31:54

2+ y ago31:54

31:54

SDI is offering a very unique Forest Bathing Journey – a travel experience hosted by us – to the Blue Ridge Mountains for a Nature Immersion and Deep Listening retreat, for seven days in March 2023. In this conversation, the retreat facilitators, Dr Jeanette Banashak and myself, discuss our themes and hopes for this time together, to give you a bet…

1
Dr. Bruce Tallman - New Book on Francis de Sales - Making a Living in Spiritual Direction 47:47

2+ y ago47:47

47:47

Since 2002 Dr. Bruce Tallman has been a full-time spiritual director and marriage coach in private practice. He is passionate about his mission, which is to help people grow in wisdom and love. Bruce wrote the manual on how to make a living as a spiritual director – a seminal text for most working spiritual directors and companions called Finding S…

1
A Contemplative Approach to Sexuality - Dr. Westina Matthews 19:45

3y ago19:45

19:45

In the June 2022 issue of Presence Journal, Dr Westina Matthews writes, “We will not attempt to convince another to adopt any view but rather offer a safe and sacred space to share knowledge and to engage in open and honest dialogue about what is usually considered to be a taboo topic. In spiritual direction, often resisted is the topic of sex, sex…

1
EP133 - Rabbi Rami Shapiro - Wandering the Pathless Land 55:40

3y ago55:40

55:40

Recently I had the amazing opportunity to chat with author and teacher Rabbi Rami Shapiro, who has written an article for Presence Journal – the SDI quarterly publication on spiritual direction and companionship. It was meant to just be a quick 15 minute conversation that I could use to create a short video to go with the article in the Online Edit…

1
EP132 - Engage 2022 Conference Debrief with Rev SeiFu 24:28

3y ago24:28

24:28

Executive Director Rev SeiFu Anil Singh-Molares and Matt Whitney have a conversation in which they debrief the 2022 Engage Conference, which took place May 11-15 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. What were the takeaways? What were the lessons learned? How do we continue to engage with the theme 'Engage' as we go about our spiritual direction and spiritual c…

1
EP 131: Michelle Scheidt on Sharing Spiritual Heritage 16:03

3y ago16:03

16:03

Michelle Scheidt, Senior Program Officer at the Fetzer Institute, is leading an effort focused on field building and network development among spiritual innovators. She and her advisors are asking: How will we hold onto the rich teachings of our historic faith and wisdom traditions while applying them creatively in today’s time? How will we reimagi…

1
EP130 - An Interview with Jennifer (Jinks) Hoffmann and Diane M. Millis - New Book from SDI Press 48:54

3y ago48:54

48:54

We are delighted to announce the latest book release from SDI Press, written by SDI Poetry Editor, former Coordinating Council member, and dear friend Jennifer (Jinks) Hoffmann. It’s called, “The Light of God’s Shadow – Musings, Stories, and Poems on Waking Up.” Jinks is a longtime spiritual director and psychotherapist who, through her writing, en…

1
EP 129 - Meet Larry J. Morris III, Spiritual Director and Production Assistant at SDI 22:05

3y ago22:05

22:05

In this week’s episode, SDI’s Creative Director Matt Whitney speaks with Larry J. Morris III, Production Assistant at SDI. Larry describes himself as “an apostle, digital marketer, scholar, and spiritual director based in Henderson, NV.” They have been helping with various creative tasks, including generating media for web and print, crafting socia…

1
EP 128 - Big News! New look for Presence Journal 21:22

3+ y ago21:22

21:22

The calendar has turned over to March, and this week we are rolling out our peer-reviewed flagship publication, Presence Journal. We are so excited to share this issue with you – as we get to reveal a brand new look! Presence, which has been published by Spiritual Directors International since 1995, last received a redesign in 2003. Since I began w…

1
EP127 - Simon de Voil - A Conversation on Iona, Music, and Spiritual Companionship 18:58

3+ y ago18:58

18:58

In this week's episode, SDI's Creative Services Coordinator Ann Lancaster speaks with Reverend Simon de Voil, who will be leading SDI's journey to Iona, Scotland in March 2022. Simon is a singer-songwriter and interspiritual minister, born and raised in Scotland but now living in rural Vermont. Simon has gained a reputation as a talented musical pe…

1
Ep 126 - Christine Vogel - Grief and the Gift of Spiritual Direction 14:05

3+ y ago14:05

14:05

In this episode, Christine Vogel discusses her recent article for Presence Journal. Presence is the flagship publication of SDI, which comes out four times a year, and is an international journal on spiritual direction and companionship. Presence Journal is available in print and on the web to SDI Members. Read the current issue on the web, with ex…

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