Showing Up

Rebekah LaRobardiere, Sex Coach, joins Kirk and Jer for a pointed conversation about sex. We don't talk much about this mildly taboo topic so enjoy the awkwardness. We certainly did.  Theme music provided by zapsplat.com

Kirk and Jer are back with the start of Season 3. They are joined by Jack Burgess for a conversation on Kevin Kelly's book The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future. They the introduction and chapter 2 for this episode in which Kelley provides his perspective on the impact of artificial intelligence on the way humans work. In fact he goes so far as to suggest that we need robots to take over so that we can discover what it means to be human.    Music by: Checkie Brown (freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown)

If you felt like Stephen Campbell was standing on a edge of a significant change in his life and work while listening to episode 31 you were correct. So we caught up with him again to find out what happens when you are the pastor of an Evangelical church and the Evangelical box becomes too small. 

Stephen Campbell has been raised, educated and worked in the Evangelical tradition his whole life. He is the Pastor of Redding First Church where he has served for the last 18 years. Along the way, an explosion took place while completing his doctoral work a few years ago. Since then his spiritual journey has taken him outside the box of evangelicalism. So where does that leave a pastor and how does he help lead a congregation when the box doesn't contain his journey any longer? Music provided by Starving Architect www.starvingarchitect.bandcamp.com

Miracles, what the heck? Are they real? Have you experienced one? Jer and Kirk ask the questions do you believe in miracles, what are they and what are they for? If so, when was the last time you experienced one? Even the Western Church doesn't agree on the answer to these questions let's find out if Jer and Kirk do.

New Year's resolutions... Blahhh. Who really cares. In this episode, Jer and Kirk go a bit deeper and admit what keeps them from accomplishing their goals. Maybe this is the year for a breakthrough. Maybe not, but It's worthwhile taking a look at the obstacles that stand in our way (at least the ones we know about).

Jer and Kirk respond to a new series by The Liturgist Podcast called Christian where Mike Gungor and Science Mike ask the question, "Are you a Christian?" This has been an important question for Jer and Kirk and marked the beginning of their relationship and the start of the Showing Up podcast. It felt like time to return to it and see where the guys are and what question they are asking now. So... Are you a Christian?

Jer and Kirk took some time apart. It wasn't planned. Jer was traveling a lot and Kirk has been incredibly busy. But, they did need the time to discover where they were on this podcast journey and what they wanted it to become. It turns out that while doing a podcast for nearly two years they were growing apart. Maybe? Or were they just growing. So they turned the mics on themselves to see why Jer and Kirk were having trouble showing up. Ironic right? Well, let's see where this goes. 

Jer and Kirk are joined by life coach Jay Franson to explore Empathy and its impact on relationships. Jay's personal empathy drives his coaching as he works to build relational strength in his clients. They discuss drama triangles, building connection, seeing reality and much more.   

Jer and Kirk explore the art of relationships. They play with the idea that the essence of relationships is to be with yourself, others, higher power and the created order.  Nearly any activity can either foster or fracture your with-ness so how do you learn to be with rather than apart. Jer has lots to say about this subject in particular from his work traveling the world presenting the Single Life Workshop to thousands of people over the last years. It is from this perspective that he is launching his Relational Coaching practice. You can learn more at www.jeremybyrne.com.

Jer and Kirk are joined by Sam LaRobardiere to discuss Entrepreneurship. Sam is the co-founder of Theory Collaborative, a coffee roasting and distribution company in Redding California. Sam and his partners have recently opened Theory Cafe which has been a long term dream. While this is only the beginning of what they have planned, it is a major milestone in their entrepreneurial journey.  Sam reflects on what it takes to get any enterprise started. The courage, the struggle, the myths and the wins that keep you going.  We hope that in listening to Sam's story you come to realize that you can start your thing... you just have to get the cart in front of the horse and then let the horse catch up, over and over and over and over. 

In this episode, Jeremy throws a curve ball at Kirk by asking how he shows up in politics; a question Kirk would rather avoid. Turns out young Kirk was pretty involved in politics and even considered it as a career. He volunteered with his counties Republican central committee, interned in a Republican congressional office and was endorsed to run in a city council race. But after losing his taste for the right side of the aisle where is he now? Why doesn't he want to show up in politics? Where did his political drive go? And, what does it mean to show up in politics today?   Here is a list of what Kirk has learned and his guidelines for showing up in Politics: Cultures are changing fast. So listen well. Ask great questions. Avoid going to war. Peace is being able to sit with an enemy. War is seeking to eliminate (or dominate) an enemy. Try to find fundamentals and foundations where ever possible. Move closer to each other, it gets easier (not easy) to love the closer you get.  

Jer, Kirk and Jack revisit their conversation on non-dualistic thinking (episode 18) with a focus on the problem of good and evil. A problem that exposes the depth of the concept they are wrestling with, and why they are truly out of their depth. It is their hope that this wresting enhances your journey into non-dualistic thinking.  Jer opens with a statement he wrote which becomes the jumping off point: Here is a transcript: "As I delve deeper into the concept of non-dualistic thinking, I find myself conflicted.  The problem I have with non-dualistic thinking-not the problem with non-dualistic thinking- is that it doesn’t sit neatly or tidily with my desire for certainty.  And, I have trouble differentiating between healthy discernment and what is a hollow morality, or vagueness, apathy or passivity. There are certain things in the bible that seem clear...it is written multiple times as a conditionality that if one loves God he must hate evil.  Good and evil are is an awkward dissonance to me when looked at

In this episode the amazing Jeremy Byrne shares his story of breaking up with God ... his I quit moment ... and how it impacted his life, faith and relationships. 

What does dating look like when you find yourself single in the your 30's (or late 20's). Kirk brings a question to the guys that many of his female friends have been asking: Where are all the men?  Turns out the men are asking a similar question. This episode focuses on the difference between dating as young adults and dating later in life. What do you do when you're looking for partnership and it seems like all the good ones are taken. Why are people waiting longer to form life long bonds? Is the romantic connection what we think it is or is falling in love an illusion. Do you really know what you want in a partner and do you really have a choice?  Basically, what does showing up in dating look like? Once again it is unclear if these questions get answered but we hope the exploration helps you find the love of your life (if you haven't yet).

How do you tell the differences between authentic faith and cultural expression of it (fads)? Why does my faith look different than my parents? Are my parents correct? What is the future of faith? In this episode Jer leads a subject centered conversation about the nature of fads within faith communities. 

Jer and Kirk are joined by Justin Byrne (from episode 6) and Jack Burgess (from episode 12) to explore their experiences with non-dualistic thinking. They work through what it is, how they began to be impacted by it and why it matters. The conversation hits spiritual, relationship and political subjects and they try to understand the nature and value of either/or (dualistic) with both/and (non-dualistic) thinking.  If you want to explore this subject further check out these links to some of the resources they talk about in this episode.  Robcast: Episode 86: Richard Rohr and the Alternative Orthodoxy The Liturgist Podcast: The Cosmic Christ with Richard Rohr.  On Being: Living in Deep Time with Richard Rohr Center for Action and Contemplation Daily Meditation on Non-Dualistic Thinking You can also go to our resource page to find other books you may find helpful at showinguppodcast.com

Jer and Kirk respond to questions from the audience. Listen along as our two courageous host figure out what to do with questions like:    How is showing up an expression of being versus doing? Can you define the fruit of showing up? How do you ask good questions? Are all the listeners invited to Jer and Britts Wedding? Feel free to engage with your own questions at https://www.facebook.com/showinguppodcast/.

Joshua and Rebekah Johnson would like you to be their neighbor. So they created a neighborhood "with the aim to reintroduce human connections at the center of its design and culture. Whether it's the large front porches, common house for periodic shared dinners and gatherings, the community pool for hot summer days, or small agriculture and trails for enjoying the land, Shiloh Park is an ideal place to live among friends, raise your children, or retire in place."*  Jer and Kirk catch up with them just as their breaking ground for a rich conversation on physical and virtual neighboring and how to show up in your community. 

Jer and Kirk are joined by Barry and Lori Byrne (yep Jer’s parents) co-founders of Nothing Hidden Ministries where they help individuals and couples build better relationships. Today we are talking about marriage. Barry and Lori travel world wide presenting the Love After Marriage workshop creating a powerful space for couples to show up in their marriages. Relationship are one of the most important places to learn to show up as the best version of yourself. Connection is key to this process. We are excited to have connection experts for this episode share their journey and tools to help you show up in your marriages. For a bit of context Kirk has been married for 22 years and Jer is recently engaged.