Big Fish, Little Pod

Is it important to identify ourselves with one spiritual designation or is it an advantage to have our practice composed of multiple traditions? This week, we explore Amy's spiritual journey, including growing up in the church, attending a Jesuit university, meditating with Buddhist monks, chanting with yogis, studying Science of Mind, and attending ministerial school.

This week, we explore Bob's spiritual upbringing, the influence his parents' faith had on his own, and the natural relationship with God he had since childhood. Amy inquires how Bob's original vocational goal of helping people make good choices in their leisure time transitioned to something more spiritually focused as the years went on. 

Performing at our best can be a daily challenge, especially when it comes to spiritual practice. Sometimes its the small, simple, yet spiritually nourishing activities that can really support us on our journey: a walk in nature, warm cup of tea, or drive to the ocean. Bob and Amy discuss the spiritual supports in their own lives and how they have contributed to their spiritual progression. 

Are we capable of shifting from frustrated and discouraged to inspired and productive? Is God's presence in our lives just as potent as it was in the lives of the disciples? These and other questions that Bob and Amy disagree on during this week's episode of Big Fish, Little Pod!

Criticism and gossip may not be habits we hope to increase in our lives, but they don't seem as detrimental as lying, cheating, and stealing either. So why then do so many spiritual traditions emphasize the negative effects criticism and gossip can have on our spiritual progress? Bob and Amy discuss the strange temptation to participate in criticism even when they know it does only harm.

This week, Amy and Bob continue their conversation about the church and its role in our modern life. According to the Pew Research Center, millennials in America are less likely to identify as religious, believe in God, or attend church as the older generation. But does this mean they are less happy or even less spiritual?

According to the Pew Research Center, millennials in America are less likely to identify as religious, believe in God, or attend church as the older generation. But does this mean they are less happy or even less spiritual? What happens when a millenial, raised in the church, no longer relates to the tradition they were brought up in? How should their parents and the church, itself, respond?

Usually, we feel that the things we choose to include or exclude in our lives are done so for good reason. But are those preferences based on some universal truth or just our own conditioning? This week, Bob and Amy discuss how challenging it can be to check your own biases when you have believed them for so long.

During the holiday season, hope is a recurring theme central to many traditions. Is hope an unrealistic wish for an unlikely outcome or is it a tangible strength that supports through life's difficulties? This week, Bob and Amy discuss the true meaning of hope.

The burdens of life can sometimes feel heavy and challenging to carry on our own. Some Christians feel this points to the fact that we are broken and in need of a Savior. Is this true or are we capable of handling life's difficulties on our own? This week, Bob and Amy discuss their differing views.

The ups and downs of life make it clear that we do not live in paradise, but is this world a classroom or a prison? Are we here to learn and grow, make mistakes and make improvements? Or are we stuck here in a place we don't belong, hoping to be liberated? This week, Bob and Amy discuss these two opposing arguments and what inspires each of them most. 

This week, Bob shares a heart-warming story about the power of compassion. While these types of stories can be inspiring, Amy and Bob question whether they may also tie us further to this world. Are we meant to spend our time here caring for others or remaining focused on Heaven? Are the two mutually exclusive?

If we say something that may inadvertently offend others, is it better to just remain quiet instead? Truly living together in this world can lead to messy situations and hurt feelings. Should we speak our mind, be shown our blindspots, and move forward with more awareness? Or is better to not speak at all if what we say may be offensive? This week, Bob and Amy discuss a gracious listener who spoke up when he felt misunderstood. 

This week, Bob and Amy respond to a comment made from a listener on the October 6th episode about prayer. When we speak about the power of prayer, do we really mean literally moving mountains, or is that hyperbole for effect? If we mean it literally, why don't we hear more about such visible acts of power happening today?

At the end of our lives, even if we've tried our very best, can we really say we've made a difference in the world? Could it be argued that even Jesus, Himself, left this world just as messy as He found it? This week, Amy opens the podcast retelling an unexpected and thought-provoking encounter she had with an arborist on this very topic.

When things don't go the way we want them to, we have a tendency to look around and find fault in the people and situations around us. But sometimes, even though it may not seem like it, the situation is perfectly arranged for our own growth and healing. This week, Bob shares how Elijah learned this lesson and how his story can serve us in our own lives.

It's easy to tuck our bad-feeling things safely away in a box, seemingly hidden from view. Unfortunately, these hidden past deeds usually flare up in unexpected and challenging ways. This week, Bob shares a literal example of a forgotten relic from the past flaring up in the worst way.

Many of us experience anxiety in our everyday lives and the scriptures have a lot to say about it! Amy and Bob discuss their own anxieties and how we can use the ancient stories from the scriptures to create practical steps towards peace in our own lives.

When you pray for someone, are you simply sending warm wishes or are you expecting tangible results? This week, Amy and Bob discuss the power of prayer and how it can transform our lives when we truly believe in its impact. 

Some of us easily find a fitting spiritual path that is perfect for us, while others feel inspired by different aspects of multiple paths. It can be challenging to be a member of one spiritual community while secretly feeling drawn to other traditions' practices or points of view. This week, Bob and Amy discuss the challenges and joys of being a seeker who colors outside the lines of spiritual tradition.