Being Known Podcast

What happens when we faithfully practice dwelling, gazing and inquiring within the confessional community—within the house of the Lord? As it turns out, nothing short of the emergence of beauty and goodness within the community itself, the very place where the hard work of hope is done. Goodness and beauty that then spills out into every other domain of life that the members of the community occupy. Furthermore, the very hard work that happens in the community—unlike Las Vegas—does not stay in the community, but extends through the lives of the participants to become the artistry of new creation wherever their footfalls land, be be that in their family, their place and form of occupation, their friendships and their churches. Join Pepper and Curt to find out what glimpsing into heaven might be like—God’s heaven that is already here and is surely coming. This episode is further discussion on chapter 10 of The Soul of Desire by Curt Thompson, MD.

First, we dwell. Then we gaze. But eventually, these states of mind lead to our inquiring, asking questions with curiosity and without condemnation. We live in a world that rarely creates space for such inquiries. But we will see that the questions we explore in this episode are the ones that God has already asked of us—and will continue to ask as he enables us to collaborate with him in creating and becoming the beauty and goodness that he has imagined before the foundation of the world. This episode is further discussion on chapter 9 of The Soul of Desire by Curt Thompson, MD.

It requires little effort to gaze upon a brilliant sunset. But what about our trauma? What about the parts of us that we hate the most? Who wants even to glance at that, let alone gaze upon it? But as we will see (no pun intended), it is when we take the time, by dwelling, to look upon our wounds in the presence of others—and do so long enough to fully take them in—that we begin to experience what new creation not only looks like, but what it feels like in our bodies as our souls are renewed. This episode is further discussion on chapter 8 of The Soul of Desire by Curt Thompson, MD.

To remain in one place while not being continually entertained or stimulated from something outside ourselves is increasingly difficult. But if we are to become outposts of beauty and goodness—like any artist—we must be willing to remain in the presence of others and of ourselves, over and against our impulse to run away as quickly as we can to reduce our distress as expeditiously as possible. Join us as we delve into the heart of Psalm 27:4 and discover how dwelling is a necessary step in becoming aware of our longings and our griefs, as well as those of others, and how staying put—as odd as it initially might seem—is the first step in our movement toward flourishing. But not only this. For we will see how dwelling “…in the house of the Lord all the days of my life…” is so much more than you might have imagined. This episode is further discussion on chapter 7 of The Soul of Desire by Curt Thompson, MD.

The emergence of beauty and goodness in our world requires that we first imagine it to be so. But trauma and shame shatter and atrophy our imagination, leaving us fearful of imagining, let alone naming the beauty and goodness we long for. For new creation to dawn, it must be led by our willingness to imagine a world we cannot yet see. Moreover, once we catch our first glimpse of a newly imagined future, making it more permanent requires lots of practice. And that practice requires perseverance, because if we want our imagination to wire for beauty and goodness, we much repeatedly fire it to do so. Join Curt and Pepper as we imagine with you what beauty and goodness can become, and how the people who take the stage in the biblical narrative know exactly how hard it is to imagine a world that they have never seen before. This episode is further discussion on chapter 6 of The Soul of Desire by Curt Thompson, MD.

Trauma, shame and their healing, at their heart, take place in the context of intimate human relationships. How does participation in a confessional community create space for the healing we are seeking to emerge? In this episode, Pepper and Curt explore these ideas and more, inviting you to begin to imagine how being part of a vulnerable community not only makes possible the healing and vocational recommissioning we are hungering and thirsting for, but does so in a manner that simultaneously grounds and strengthens our formation as spiritual creatures like few other practices do. Listen in as we discover how confession is about so much more than sin, and what happens when men and women, together—that’s right, we’re going to talk about sex!—commit themselves to creating and curating beauty, rather than devouring it. Moreover, we’ll see how this takes place, surprisingly, in the very presence of their trauma and shame, and not in their absence. This episode is further discussion on chapter 5 of The Soul of Desire by Curt Thompson, MD.

It takes very little to see that if longing and beauty go hand in hand, then trauma and shame are more than willing to make sure that none of that ever lasts, and in some cases makes sure no handshake ever happens. For truly, as sure as we are people of desire, we are people of grief. From our brains to the rest of our bodies, from our inner lives to our relational realities, our grief so fills our minds that we hardly notice that so much of life’s work consists of managing our grief, looking for trouble so we can head it off before it finds us. Given the brokenness and pain that seem so ubiquitous, no wonder we mostly see ourselves as problems to solve rather than beauty waiting to be revealed. Join Pepper and Curt as we unflinchingly name our grief—without forgetting that we were made for so much more. This episode is further discussion on chapter 4 of The Soul of Desire by Curt Thompson, MD.

It’s one thing to consider that beauty is what we might discover, or something we long to create. But what happens when we clue in to the fact that there’s even more? What happens when we are made aware that beauty isn’t just something we want to create—it’s something we were destined from the beginning to become? For as it turns out, to bear and restore God’s image necessarily includes bearing God’s beauty. Who knew that when God looks upon us, beauty is what he sees? Join Curt and Pepper they explore how our imaginations are reborn and our minds are renewed when we consider the destiny for which we were truly made. This episode is further discussion on chapter 3 of The Soul of Desire by Curt Thompson, MD.

If desire is the fuel in the tank, then where is it taking us? Yes, our longing is to be deeply, fully known. But our desire is only just beginning to get our attention. For before you know it, from watching children to watching sunsets we soon discover that our ultimate longings are directed to find their home in nothing short of beauty. We begin by making things, and the number of things we want to make is endless. But we aren’t satisfied to make mediocrity. No, we want to create beauty in all of its possible dimensions and in all dimensions of life. Moreover, we will discover in this episode that beauty isn’t a luxury, something we might get to have once we take care of all the other important work of life. No—beauty is something we were—and from God’s point of view, literally—made for. In this episode, Pepper and Curt will explore how our desire to create beauty is not just an add-on, it’s necessary if the life we want is to be realized. This episode is further discussion on chapter 2 of The Soul of Desire by Curt Thompson, MD.

We are people of desire. And it doesn’t take much or long to know that that’s true. Our relationships and, as it turns out, our brains tell us so. But desire is a tricky thing, because as much as we know that it lies at the core of our being, it’s also something that has created no shortage of trouble for us—for as long as we have walked the planet. Just ask Adam and Eve. What does it mean for us to long for all we long for, and how do we reconcile that the very thing that fuels the deepest longings we have is also the source of so much pain and brokenness? Join Pepper and Curt as we kick off Season 3 of the Being Known Podcast, and as we begin the journey into The Soul of Desire, discovering just how much life is waiting for us—right in the center of what we may be more afraid of than anything. And just so you know—we’re longing for you to meet us there. This episode is further discussion on chapter 1 of The Soul of Desire by Curt Thompson, MD.

Join Pepper and Curt as we recapitulate Season 2 of the Being Known Podcast. And, no, “recapitulate” isn’t one of the domains of integration. But if we come up with another one, that’s what we’ll name it. The domain of recapitulation.

Like all spiritual disciplines, when we attune to the eight domains of integration we introduced, transformation ensues. Not by might. Not by power. But by the Spirit of God. You might think we’re kidding. Listen in as we explore the transpirational domain of the mind, and you’ll see that, even though the word—transpiration—is one that is made up, what it points to is far from make believe.

We humans, as far as we can tell, are the only creatures to occupy a temporal domain of mental activity — the perceived awareness of our past and our future, and most importantly, that we will die. How does our awareness of time shape our mind, for good or for ill, and how does that awareness potentially prime us to be agents of beauty and goodness on the earth? Join Pepper Sweeney and Curt Thompson, MD as we explore the notion of time — and we try not to lose track of it in the process.

Life would be so much easier if... …if it weren’t for… people. Or would it? As it turns out, our minds depend far more on the minds of others than we may know. But once we do know, we’ll see why it’s not good for any of us to be alone, and why loving our enemies as much as our friends isn’t just a noble idea pulled off the pages of an ancient religious text. In this episode, come explore with us the interpersonal domain of integration, and see why we so desperately need each other if flourishing is what we seek.

Who knew that what state of mind you’re in really does, scientifically, refer to more than New York. Join us as we discover the state domain of integration, and learn that it’s not only important to be aware of which state we’re in, but why so much of our troubles — and the potential for beauty and goodness — is to be found in moving from one state to another. And we don’t mean moving to Pennsylvania.

Storytellers. That’s what we are, and we can’t get away from it. But just how truly do we tell them? It turns out that, just as important as the story you tell, is how you tell it. And that makes all the difference. Join us as we explore the narrative domain of integration, and discover the interpersonal neurobiology of attachment. We can assure you: After you’ve listened in, you’ll have quite a story to tell.

What is memory when it comes to the brain? When it comes to time? When it comes to relationships? And how is it that our memory has as much to do with the future as it has to do with the past? Moreover, what does it have to do with changing our past and our future? These are all important questions, so…don’t forget to tune in as Pepper and Curt try to recall the domain of memory. (Did you see what we did there?)

Who’s in charge here? As it turns out, the way the right and left hemispheres of the brain work says a lot about how we answer that question. Be assured, that’ a question we need to answer — whether we know it or not. Listen in as Pepper and Curt introduce the horizontal domain of the mind, and why, as it turns out, it really is important for the right hand to know what the left hand is doing.

Dirt. Mud. Bodies. God began with bodies, and the vertical domain of the mind reminds us that if we aren’t paying attention to our body (that’s right, our body) there will be a great deal of life — not least our relationship with God and others — that we’ll miss. Join our conversation as we awaken to why the triune brain is so much more than just three-part harmony.

Awake. Alert. Attuned. Join Pepper Sweeney and Curt Thompson, MD as they start at the beginning, exploring the domain of consciousness, and discovering why paying attention to what you’re paying attention to matters so much. Because if you don’t begin with consciousness, there won’t be as much to your ending as you would like.

What does it mean to flourish — to be whole even as our Father in heaven is whole? How does becoming acquainted with the mind’s domains of integration help us get there? Join Pepper Sweeney and Curt Thompson, MD as they explore the notion of integration and why it matters so much — to everything.

Join us as we recap this first season of Being Known Podcast — and all the new words Pepper has learned.

Learn what it means for our minds to be renewed. Literally. And how our brains can change along the way. Best of all, discover that we don’t have to be left with the stories we have told ourselves.

What are you feeling, and where do you feel it? Join us as we discover why emotion is so critical to life — and regulating it is even more so. While we’re at it, we’ll also see why it’s so important to God.

What is the mind? And if we answer that, what does a flourishing mind look like? And if we answer that, what does it mean to love God with all of it?

What does it mean to be human, and who decides the answer to that question? Listen to find out why those questions are so important, and how “…standing at the crossroads and asking for the ancient paths — where the good way lies…” can help us answer them — even if there are a lot of syllables in this episode’s title.

One thing that makes us uniquely human is that we are storytellers. But in what story do you believe you are living? Believe us, how you answer that question changes everything.

To be vulnerable is not first something we choose. It is something we are. In this episode, we explore how our vulnerability opens the door for hope, healing and creativity.

We are people who long to be known — that, together, we may create beauty in the world. But, could it be that beauty is not only what we long to create, but also what we are destined to become?

Join host, Pepper Sweeney, and psychiatrist, Curt Thompson, MD, as we together awaken to the journey of being fully known.