Best Sbnr Podcasts (2025)

1
Difference and Diversity 42:01

4d ago42:01

42:01

Carol has been thinking about the diversity that exists in the world around us, and was reminded about the richness when each person shares their gifts in a way that brings uplift to everyone. Rev. Bill agrees, and points out the contradictions that are inherent in the current efforts to eliminate efforts toward Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Th…

1
Decluttering 41:15

12d ago41:15

41:15

There is a mental and spiritual process of decluttering which Carol finds to be very similar to the spring cleaning (or yard sale season cleanup) that we do in our physical space. She and Rev. Bill discuss how the process is the same with our inner life, including our desire to hold on to "stuff" that has served its purpose and is past its usefulne…

1
From Separation to Oneness: The Future Emerges From Within 1:07:00

15d ago1:07:00

1:07:00

In this deeply honest and mystical episode, Anthony Nayagan is joined by spiritual thinker and secular contemplative Dr. Victor Acquista to explore a transformative perspective on leadership—not as identity or role, but as presence, coherence, and inner stewardship. Together, they unpack the illusion of separation, the fractal nature of consciousne…

1
Faith Physics: Merging Consciousness, Quantum Science & Ancient Wisdom | Podcast with Nathan Hoffman 1:01:42

17d ago1:01:42

1:01:42

In this thought-provoking episode, we dive deep into bold ideas, honest conversations, and timeless insights that challenge the way we see reality. Join us as we explore the revolutionary concept of Faith Physics—a new theory of everything that blends ancient spiritual wisdom with modern quantum physics. 🔹 Hosted by: Anthony Nayagan, author of Anci…

1
Change 44:11

19d ago44:11

44:11

There seems to be a lot of change underway - even more than usual. Carol observes that sometimes things change all at once, or sometimes it comes about gradually. Each time it happens, she tries to remember that the impact will pass. She and Rev. Bill explore how we see ourselves before, because of, and beyond the changes. Thank you for listening t…

1
Spiritual Practicality 37:53

26d ago37:53

37:53

Carol has noticed that some people are intentionally avoiding news of the world around them to avoid the disturbance and distress that can accompany it. She and Rev. Bill agree that it's important to maintain an awareness, while not being consumed by it. Together they agree on the importance of the mantra, "I know nothing... now what can I know?" T…

1
Beauty & Bread - The Life & Spirituality of John Muir 1:20:43

1M ago1:20:43

1:20:43

John Muir, a wilderness Christian mystic himself, once famously said: "Everyone needs beauty as well as bread, places where people can play in and pray in, where nature may give strength to body and soul alike." This is just one of the many lasting insights left behind by Muir. More than just a mountaineer, naturalist, or preservationist, Muir was …

1
Second-Guessing AI 39:59

1M ago39:59

39:59

Artificial Intelligence is getting a lot of attention. Carol and Rev. Bill discuss if it's possible that AI is a great way to expand and deepen our spirituality. Or that it could be a major obstacle to our spiritual growth. Thank you for listening to the Practical Prayer podcast - please invite your friends to listen! There's more information about…

1
New Normal 40:08

1M ago40:08

40:08

The pandemic lockdown was five years ago, and Carol recalls that when everything stopped people were talking about getting back to a new normal. Now, it seems that the religious or spiritual lives of many have not resumed. Rev. Bill observes that when we're faced with a new challenge we can respond in a new way, or try to keep doing what we've alwa…

1
I Dont Know What to Do 38:05

2M ago38:05

38:05

Carol has found that a lot of people are feeling like they don't know what to do, with all the fear and hesitance that comes from the lack of clarity. Rev. Bill points out that world and national events, plus local ones, can feel overwhelming, making us simply want to ignore it all. But it's important to pay enough attention so that when Divine gui…

1
Bonus: Guided Wilderness Insight Meditation 13:40

2M ago13:40

13:40

This bonus episode offers a guided Christian Insight Meditation designed to support contemplative practice. Listeners are invited to settle into a space of inner stillness and spacious awareness, using breath, imagery, and sacred story to cultivate presence and wonder. The meditation includes: Breath-based grounding and visualization of a spacious …

1
How and Why 30:53

2M ago30:53

30:53

Rev. Bill is solo again, taking on a fundamental topic: We want to know why things happen, especially "bad" things that happen to us, or other "good" people. And when we do a prayer for something new and different, we want to know how it's going to come about. Rev. Bill explains that both questions ought to be off limits. Thank you for listening to…

1
Musings - Wilderness Insight Meditation 29:36

2M ago29:36

29:36

This mini-episode offers an introduction to Christian Insight Meditation, a contemplative practice grounded in awe and wonder. Drawing from the Christian mystical tradition, we explore how inner spaciousness mirrors the vastness of creation and how thoughts can be seen as echoes of a divine Word never spoken. This episode concludes with practical g…

1
The Spiritual Path to Leading in the Intelligent Age 53:57

2M ago53:57

53:57

The Future of Humanity in the Intelligent Age: Embracing Spiritual Wisdom Over Artificial Intelligence As we shift from the Information Age to the Intelligent Age, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) presents both opportunity and urgency. AI is capable of replicating human intelligence in highly trained and complex tasks through reductionistic…

1
The Pivot 30:02

2M ago30:02

30:02

The New Thought philosophy tells us we can "look a fact in the face and know something better". Rev. Bill is solo today, talking about one of his favorite topics - the Pivot. It's the specific technique we can use to overcome a tendency toward the experiences we've always had to invite something new, and wonderful. Thank you for listening to the Pr…

1
Bonus: Guided Wilderness Contemplative Prayer 15:05

2M ago15:05

15:05

In this short bonus episode, listeners are guided through a practice of Wilderness Contemplative Prayer. This guided prayer and meditation invites you to step into a quiet, sacred space—a space where you can breathe, be still, and gently return to yourself and the Presence that holds all things. Whether you're beginning your day, in the midst of a …

1
The Power of Words 40:16

2M ago40:16

40:16

Carol points out that scripture says that Death and Life is in the power of the Word. She and Rev. Bill dive into the tremendous power of words, especially when they are focused and activated in a practical prayer. (Rebroadcast from episode 86 on 1/25/2023). Thank you for listening to the Practical Prayer podcast - please invite your friends to lis…

1
Musings - Wilderness Contemplative Prayer 27:13

2M ago27:13

27:13

In this special episode of Nature as Beloved, Nature as Self, we explore how Wilderness Contemplative Prayer as a path into divine intimacy—where silence becomes the language of God, and the soul sinks into a deep, sacred stillness. Further, we explore: The mystical imagery of the “abyss of God” found in Christian contemplative tradition—from Angel…

1
Expansion 39:31

2M ago39:31

39:31

For the 200th episode, Carol wanted a topic that is especially intriguing and uplifting. More fundamental than growth, the Universe is expanding in all ways, so the conversation is about how we are expanding in our spirituality, too. Rev. Bill (as usual) takes the discussion back to the fundamental concept that we are already 100% spiritual, and wh…

1
Intrusive Thoughts 35:59

3M ago35:59

35:59

A listener is having trouble with intrusive thoughts about tripping and falling, and is concerned that this repetitive mental activity could be drawing a problem into his life. Carol's experience is that the negative thoughts are coming from within, so the best place to start is an internal dialog to change the thoughts. Rev. Bill adds that it's no…

1
Artificial Intelligence 45:45

3M ago45:45

45:45

Carol wants to talk about AI. Can it can enhance our expression or risk dulling our minds? She and Rev. Bill explore the rise of Artificial Intelligence and its impact on creativity, spirituality, and human thought. The conversation turns to AI-generated prayer, offering a fresh perspective on tradition, technology, and the soul of spiritual practi…

1
Humanizing God 42:21

3M ago42:21

42:21

Carol has noticed that many people have a tendency to think of God in human terms, to anthropomorphize the Infinite. Rev. Bill has some ideas about why this happens, the two discuss the challenges and benefits of letting go of the idea of a Guy in the Sky. Thank you for listening to the Practical Prayer podcast - please invite your friends to liste…

1
Seeds of the SBNR Tradition 1:28:25

3M ago1:28:25

1:28:25

In this episode, we explore the deep roots and evolving expressions of what it means to be "Spiritual But Not Religious" (SBNR), especially through the lens of Christian mysticism and contemplative history. We ask: What does it truly mean to be SBNR? Where did these spiritual instincts come from? And can we trace a meaningful lineage that validates…

1
In God We Trust 34:55

3M ago34:55

34:55

Our money says "In God We Trust", and Carol thinks it shows that we all share a common belief that we're carrying with us at all times. Rev. Bill agrees, mostly, and points out that we can trust the Infinite to create according to our beliefs even when we don't like what we're believing in. Thank you for listening to the Practical Prayer podcast - …

1
Truth 44:40

4M ago44:40

44:40

Carol has been a leader in three different religious denominations, and has found one consistent element throughout, which is the hunger for truth - for what is true? Her answer suggests that each of us has what is true for us. Rev. Bill takes the New Thought perspective and goes back to the Ultimate Truth that there is ONLY God, showing up differe…

1
Principle 48:05

4M ago48:05

48:05

Things happen - "bad things" - and Carol has found that people get paralyzed by fear that they'll get worse, or catastrophe will ensue. She and Rev. Bill explore how we can all turn to the Principles underlying the New Thought teaching, and the foundational source of the power of Practical Prayer. Thank you for listening to the Practical Prayer pod…

1
Meditation 45:21

4M ago45:21

45:21

People around Carol are insecure about meditation - afraid that they're going to do it wrong,that they'll choose the wrong technique, or an unsuitable teacher or guru, or that they won't be able to stay awake, or sit still, olr whatever. Rev. Bill reminds us that we can't figure it out ahead of time, so the thing to do is meditate, then see how it …

1
Musings - Why Would a SBNR Person Want to Embrace Anything Christian? 26:56

4M ago26:56

26:56

We're starting a new mini-series! In these shorter episodes, Stephen will be sharing his musings and reflections, speaking about the ways Wilderness Christian Mysticism connects with what's going on in our world. For this first "musing," Stephen shares his reflections about the current state of affairs, while responding to the question: Why would a…

1
The Sacred Contract 41:25

4M ago41:25

41:25

Carol has a notion of a Sacred Contract - an agreement we make as we begin our human lives about who we're here to be, and what we're here to do. Rev. Bill has a similar idea that we are born with a unique set of skills, abilities and possibilities, and our opportunity is to figure out what they are and how best to use them. They wholeheartedly agr…

1
Prayer Works 39:57

5M ago39:57

39:57

The reason for prayer is to change an experience we're having in life - a Practical Prayer works! Carol and Rev. Bill discuss the techniques, how different it is from "traditional" prayer, and the ways that their prayers have been yielding results in their lives. Thank you for listening to the Practical Prayer podcast - please invite your friends t…

1
Affirmative Prayer or Other Kind of Prayer 46:27

5M ago46:27

46:27

Carol has found that New Thought has Affirmative Prayer, and Practical Prayer, as well as Affirmations and Realizations, and wants to know what the differences are. Rev. Bill takes a giant step back to discuss the differences between New Thought and other spiritual practices, then takes a running jump into Carol's question. Our apologies for the su…

1
Synchronicities 47:41

5M ago47:41

47:41

People are talking to Carol about synchronicities, with certain sequences of numbers appearing over and over, and other indicators that there's more going on than meets the eye. Rev. Bill suggests that these "little happy coincidences" are indications of the "big happy coincidence", which is another version of the Creation Story of the Universe. Th…

1
Where The True Self Resides 1:23:32

5M ago1:23:32

1:23:32

In this inspiring episode of Nature as Beloved, Nature as Self, we delve into an intricate exploration of the "True Self." Within the framework of Wilderness Christian Mysticism, this conversation seeks to illuminate the place where the True Self resides. Drawing from Christian, psychological, and interspiritual perspectives, we explore the profoun…

1
Personal Abundance 39:33

5M ago39:33

39:33

Carol says that everyone wants abundance, but knows that we are pulling from a limitless sea of potential. The question is how we can connect with it, and experience it? Rev. Bill says that we can't pray for abundance, but instead get to align ourselves between the experience we desire and the Infinite Power that brings it into our lives. Thank you…

1
Individualized or Separate 43:37

6M ago43:37

43:37

Carol has noticed what seems like a discrepancy in the New Thought philosophy - that we are individulized expressions of the One Divine Presence, but there is no separation. Rev. Bill jumps in with examples that include lifting our hands, raindrops and rainbows. Thank you for listening to the Practical Prayer podcast - please invite your friends to…

1
Gods Will and Our Purpose 40:47

6M ago40:47

40:47

There have always been difficult times, and Carol reminds us that even in the midst of good times we can experience difficulty. Rev. Bill notes that events are currently moving very quickly, and that there will - somehow - be a process of re-balancing. Our challenge is to keep ourselves balanced while the process unfolds. Thank you for listening to…

1
Spiritual Practice 37:24

6M ago37:24

37:24

Carol believes that it's crucial to attend to our spiritual growth, but has noticed that not everyone agrees. Rev. Bill points out that "practice makes practiced", and that everyone is free to attend to life at the experiential level, or develop a practice to cultivate a deeper awareness of our spiritual nature. Thank you for listening to the Pract…

1
Duality, or Non? 46:27

6M ago46:27

46:27

Carol has found that the idea of "oneness" can be a heavy lift for people coming into the New Thought philosophy. Non-duality is easy, because it means the same thing as oneness. But where did the notion of duality come from in the first place? Rev. Bill describes how our perspective on the world and sense of duality comes at us through all five se…

1
Know Something Better 35:45

6M ago35:45

35:45

People have more and more been reaching out to Carol in distress over the challengin times we live in. She's pretty calm about it, but brought the topic up for deeper discussion. Rev. Bill notes that "challenging times" happen all the time, and reminds us that we are able to look the "facts" in the face and know something better. Thank you for list…

1
Waiting on a Miracle 34:11

7M ago34:11

34:11

Carol notes that when a "miracle" happens, it might have been in the works for many years, and seems miraculous because we didn't see it coming. Rev. Bill agrees, suggesting that the "miracle" might not just be love at first sight, but the meeting and enduring friendship with the person who invited you to the party where the miracle happened. Thank…

1
Getting a Grip on Ego 37:47

7M ago37:47

37:47

Carol believes that ego is key to our success, and also drives our failures and frustrations. Rev. Bill suggests that there's a difference between controlling our ego and not letting our ego control us. Thank you for listening to the Practical Prayer podcast - please invite your friends to listen! There's more information about the podcast, and the…

1
Miracles 37:43

7M ago37:43

37:43

Carol asks, "Is everything a miracle? Or is nothing a miracle?" Rev. Bill says the answer is "yes," and the discussion proceeds with the idea that the miracle of life and all of Creation depends on how you look at it. Thank you for listening to the Practical Prayer podcast - please invite your friends to listen! There's more information about the p…

1
Fresh Metaphors for Seeing Christ Anew 1:22:00

7M ago1:22:00

1:22:00

To better understand who Christ is in our lives, we're exploring a handful of metaphors: Christ as a Mirror (of our True Selves), Christ as Light and Warmth, Christ as a Listening Presence, and Christ as Inter-being. This conversation is for anyone who is Spiritual But Not Religious or exploring new horizons. It's for Christians seeking renewal and…

1
Simple, But Not Easy 33:47

7M ago33:47

33:47

Rev. Bill is solo in this episode. He talks about the the simplicty of Practical Prayer, and how that simplicity contrasts with the complexity of actually practicing with it in our day to day life. Transformation is at hand, but might require some diligence on our part! Thank you for listening to the Practical Prayer podcast - please invite your fr…

1
Time and Vocabulary 43:27

8M ago43:27

43:27

Time seems to be moving SO quickly to Carol and those around her. Changes that used to take ten years now happen in two years, or even faster. How do we maintain our center? Rev. Bill offers perspective on the ways that the changes are not just disruptive, but open up new avenues for good. Thank you for listening to the Practical Prayer podcast - p…

1
Heaven & Hell 41:29

8M ago41:29

41:29

The ideas of Hell and Heaven saturate traditional religion, and Carol wants Rev. Bill's perspective. He breaks the conversation down into three facets - what Heaven and Hell are, where you're going, who gets to say where you're going, and why. Thank you for listening to the Practical Prayer podcast - please invite your friends to listen! There's mo…

1
We Don't Manifest Anything 40:03

8M ago40:03

40:03

Carol is intrigued by Rev. Bill's claim a few episodes back that "we don't manifest anything." There are clearly a LOT of people busy doing Manifesting work of all sorts. so she wants to know what the heck he's talking about. The conversation turns to "Theolocation", a new term coined by Bill to help explain it. Thank you for listening to the Pract…

1
Reclaiming Christ as Belonging to the World 1:15:00

8M ago1:15:00

1:15:00

From the perspective of Wilderness Christian Mysticism, Christ is not confined to one group, religion, or interpretation. In this episode, we tackle harmful ideas that have distorted Christ’s essence and message, such as exclusionary doctrines and narrow interpretations. And in doing so, we reclaim a Christ who stands with the marginalized, uplifts…

1
Wealth, Prosperity and Abundance 37:49

8M ago37:49

37:49

Some people around Carol have been using the words wealth, prosperity and abundance as three ways to say the same thing. The are different, and Rev. Bill explains that Abundance is an aspect of God while the other two are descriptions of the ways that we can experience life. Thank you for listening to the Practical Prayer podcast - please invite yo…

1
Subliminal Influences 40:45

9M ago40:45

40:45

Carol has a lifelong love of music, and is aware of the possibility for messages to be hidden within. There are other ways we can be influenced without our specific awareness. Rev. Bill dives into the topic, with stories along the way of meditation, hypnosis, and gardening. Thank you for listening to the Practical Prayer podcast - please invite you…

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