Explore every episode of the podcast First U Think
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What Do You Think, Episode 4: Dr. David Courard-Hauri, Professor of Environmental Science, Drake University | 08 oct. 2026 | 00:30:05 | |
What Do You Think, Episode 4: Dr. David Courard-Hauri, Professor of Environmental Science, Drake University
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| Taking the Leap with Rev. Steve Sieck | 06 oct. 2026 | 00:21:05 | |
Courage means taking on risk of failure or foolishness, of becoming vulnerable. And, courage asks us to confront what is easier to avoid, to say what needs to be said. How do we find courage in the midst of fear and avoidance? | |||
| The Practice of Molting with Rev. Steve Sieck | 02 oct. 2026 | 00:20:39 | |
There is great hope and trust needed to begin something truly great. The caterpillar has to trust the molting process to become a butterfly. What spiritual and ethical practices do we need, personally and communally, to begin something special? | |||
| What Do You Think? Episode 3: Dr. John Pauley | 02 oct. 2026 | 00:34:14 | |
What Do You Think? Episode 3: Dr. John Pauley Professor of Philosophy, Director of Interdisciplinary Studies | |||
| Every Beginning is an End with Rev. Steve Sieck | 23 sept. 2026 | 00:14:02 | |
As we come to the Autumn Equinox, the earth reminds us that the end of summer is the beginning of autumn, that every beginning is also an end. What must we end in order to begin something new in our lives? | |||
| What Do You Think? Episode 2: Josh Mandelbaum | 23 sept. 2026 | 00:29:29 | |
“What Do You Think?” Episode 2: Josh Mandelbaum Josh Mandelbaum is a Des Moines City Councilmember representing the 3rd Ward, and a senior attorney for the Environmental Law and Policy Center. | |||
| Stepping into the River with Rev. Steve Sieck | 15 sept. 2026 | 00:13:08 | |
How do our Unitarian Universalist commitments support us in this season of beginnings? Bring water to share in our annual Water Communion ritual, bring energy and curiosity to find something new to begin at the Community Faire after the service! | |||
| What Do You Think? Episode 1: Dr. Tim Knepper | 10 sept. 2026 | 00:32:22 | |
Dr. Tim Knepper, Drake University Professor of Philosophy, director of the Comparison Project Upcoming events: https://comparisonproject.wp.drake.edu/events/ | |||
| Where Does a Humanist Turn? with Paul Derrick | 04 sept. 2026 | 00:23:20 | |
As a long-time agnostic secular and member of the Humanist Society, Paul Derrick doesn’t rely on any God or gods to watch over and comfort him, to hear and answer prayers or to intervene in human affairs. So, where does he turn for strength, comfort, solace, support and consolation? This Sunday we welcome back the Westphals for horn duet music. | |||
| 11 Minute Meditation to Let Go and Forgive | 04 sept. 2026 | 00:11:23 | |
| 9 Minute Meditation to Understand our Feelings | 04 sept. 2026 | 00:09:03 | |
9 Minute Meditation to Understand our Feelings with Rev. Steve Sieck | |||
| 5 Minute Meditation for Awareness | 04 sept. 2026 | 00:05:52 | |
| All Things in Time with Rev. Steve Sieck | 27 août 2026 | 00:22:17 | |
At First Unitarian we're in a season of big changes: to faith formation, service schedules, architecture, and more! How do we hold a sense of peace and community when everything is in flux? Join us this Sunday for a service of grounding and visioning. | |||
| We the People with AMOS | 20 août 2026 | 00:17:56 | |
For many, the word politics has come to mean division, spectacle or partisan warfare. But, politics, at its best, is the work of the people for the common good. Come hear how ordinary people learned to turn private pain into public action, and believe that good power grows where people are connected and ready to act together. AMOS: https://www.amosiowa.org/ with Elaine I., Eileen J., and Crystal L. | |||
| The Theology of Play with Faithyna L. | 13 août 2026 | 00:22:23 | |
What if play is not something we outgrow, but something that helps us grow? This sermon explores the theology of play—the role of imagination, wonder, and joy in developing faith, strengthening mental health, and building beloved community. Through humor, personal stories, and Unitarian Universalist values, we’ll consider how staying curious and a little silly can be a sacred practice. | |||
| Making It Up As We Go Along with Rev. Steve Sieck | 05 août 2026 | 00:14:27 | |
We joined together for a fully improvised service! With a few prompts from the audience, we created a story for all ages, along with meditations, sermons, and music. | |||
| Artists in Our Midst with Katherine V. | 29 juil. 2026 | 00:11:01 | |
Join us as we celebrate the creativity within our own congregation. | |||
| Space, Science and Spirituality--The Overview Effect with the Celebrant Team | 23 juil. 2026 | 00:21:27 | |
The Celebrant Team explores how space exploration, science, and spirituality intersect. Diane F., Faithyna L., and Louise A. | |||
| Attention is a Precious Resource with Dave Busiek | 15 juil. 2026 | 00:17:05 | |
Join us for “Attention is a Precious Resource” with longtime Iowa journalist Dave Busiek. Being an informed citizen these days demands a lot of our attention. To protect their sanity, too many people have tuned out the news. What should we pay attention to and how should we do so to stay aware but not overwhelmed? | |||
| America at 250 with Members of the Congregation | 09 juil. 2026 | 00:17:05 | |
Our theme for our July 5 service is America’s 250th birthday. Listen to reflections by church members about what our nation’s 250th birthday means to them. Todd L. and Oge N. | |||
| Flourishing in Queer Joy with Members of the Congregation | 01 juil. 2026 | 00:16:35 | |
What does it look like for queer joy to flourish in our shared community? We take time this week to hear perspectives on the myriad ways that queer joy presents itself and how we can help it grow and thrive together. with Barb & Deidre, David & Walter, and Jaycie | |||
| Conditions for Flourishing with Rev. Steve Sieck | 26 juin 2026 | 00:19:38 | |
What are the conditions necessary for flourishing? How do our pasts – even across generations – affect our capacity to flourish? Join us as we honor the Summer Solstice, Father’s Day, and the deep work of nourishing and repairing the soil in which we grow | |||
| The Different Faces of Flourishing with The Celebrant Team | 16 juin 2026 | 00:18:38 | |
What does it mean to truly flourish? We'll explore three introspective personal stories that reveal the many ways people experience growth, purpose, resilience, and joy. Together, we'll reflect on how flourishing can look different for each of us—and how we might cultivate it in our own lives. Marsha Carty, Jim Carty, Elijah Evans If you notice any differences in sound quality this week, please let us know! This was made using a new system. email- hnotch@ucdsm.org | |||
| Flourishing in Community with Rev. Steve Sieck | 11 juin 2026 | 00:19:39 | |
What does it mean to Flourish Together? Join us for Annual Meeting Sunday as we explore the interplay of resources that makes a garden flourish, and celebrate the work our church does to love, grow, and serve. | |||
| Flower Communion with Rev. Steve Sieck | 04 juin 2026 | 00:14:00 | |
This Sunday we honor the 103rd annual ritual first designed by Unitarian minister Norbert Capek. How might this beloved tradition help us become more curious citizens in an interdependent world? | |||
| Gathered in Remembrance: Held in Hope with the Celebrant Team | 28 mai 2026 | 00:26:59 | |
Memorial Day is a complicated holiday for many of us. How do we honor those who serve without glorifying war? How do we build a peaceful future for our children? This morning we will hear perspectives on military service and war from a variety of UU voices with Paige Shivvers, Megan Klee, David Witke | |||
| Curious Voices: A Youth-Led Awakening | 20 mai 2026 | 00:14:46 | |
As we explore our May theme, Awakening Curiosity, our youth take the lead in imagining a more fully inclusive, multigenerational church. Through their reflections, they’ll share what helps them feel truly seen and valued—and what could help us grow. Come ready to listen, learn, and be inspired by their vision. Featuring Thea, Penny, and Simon. | |||
| A Mother's Love with Rev. Steve Sieck | 12 mai 2026 | 00:22:27 | |
This Sunday we honor all those who are or have been mothers. How might the experience of motherhood help us all awaken our curiosity for the world and one another? | |||
| Awakening with Rev. Steve Sieck | 05 mai 2026 | 00:20:37 | |
As we begin this month’s theme of “Awakening Curiosity”, we take this Sunday to honor Vesak and the Buddha’s quest to understand suffering in the world. How might the Buddha’s journey help us to become more curious and wise? | |||
| Open to Life with Rev. Steve Sieck | 30 avr. 2026 | 00:20:56 | |
It takes preparation, stamina, and patience to embrace possibility. In a world that seems to measure possibility in quarterly earnings, how do we reclaim the perspective to plant trees whose shade we will not be here to enjoy? | |||
| It's Great to Meet You, Episode 14: Jamie Seitz, Communications Coordinator | 24 avr. 2026 | 00:18:28 | |
| Embracing Possibility with the Celebrant Team and Green Sanctuary | 23 avr. 2026 | 00:20:47 | |
The Green Sanctuary Team is highlighted as we celebrate the upcoming Earth Day 2026 and our church's commitment to environmental action. Slides: | |||
| It's Great to Meet You, Episode 13: Faithyna Leonard, Faith Formation & Congregational Life Coordinator, First Unitarian Church of Des Moines | 16 avr. 2026 | 00:14:32 | |
We’ve been meeting some of the amazing people out in the city of Des Moines doing the good work. This episode we’re keeping it local, meeting with an amazing person right here on our church staff doing the good work! | |||
| The Risks of Possibility with Rev. Steve Sieck | 14 avr. 2026 | 00:21:18 | |
Sometimes difficult experiences in life teach us to be cautious of embracing possibilities. Join us for a powerful service focusing on the work to nurture a trauma-informed community. | |||
| It's Great to Meet You, Episode 12: Tracy Aukes, Church Administrator, First Unitarian Church of Des Moines | 09 avr. 2026 | 00:15:37 | |
We’ve been meeting some of the amazing people out in the city of Des Moines doing the good work. This episode we’re keeping it local, meeting with an amazing person right here on our church staff doing the good work! | |||
| Embracing Possibility with Rev. Steve Sieck | 08 avr. 2026 | 00:20:55 | |
It takes courage to see which possibilities might emerge out of present challenges. Join us for an Easter service that explores abundance as a mindset, the art of improv, and the power of radical acceptance. | |||
| To Be Seen and Heard with Rev. Steve Sieck | 01 avr. 2026 | 00:12:59 | |
In this month of Paying Attention, this Sunday we honor the power of being seen and heard. We’ll begin with a 30-minute service focusing on Trans Day of Visibility, and then move into small groups for an hour to support AMOS’ work to listen to what’s on the minds of “we the people” in Iowa. | |||
| The Connective Power of Attention with Rev. Steve Sieck | 24 mars 2026 | 00:17:05 | |
How does our work of paying attention affect our relationships with others? How might the practice of attention deepen our capacity to love one another? | |||
| The Transformative Power of Attention with the Celebrant Team | 24 mars 2026 | 00:14:54 | |
Speaking: Aaron Rosenfeld When we cultivate our capacity to pay attention, we may start to notice patterns in ourselves or our relationships. How can this practice support us in growing ethically and spiritually together? | |||
| The Work of Attention with Rev. Steve Sieck | 10 mars 2026 | 01:11:10 | |
We are drowning in input to compete for our attention. How do we navigate the constant distractions of contemporary life to steward our attention where we want it to go? | |||
| The Gift of Attention with Rev. Steve Sieck | 03 mars 2026 | 00:19:35 | |
What we choose to attend to is where we direct our time, energy, and love. How can we be good stewards of the resource of our attention? | |||
| Resilient Community with Rev. Steve Sieck | 24 févr. 2026 | 00:15:29 | |
What does resilience look like in community? Join us this Sunday as we explore stories of communities that have faced remarkable challenges and found ways to spring back, let go, and transform. | |||
| Embodying Resilience with Mike Smith and Barb Royal | 17 févr. 2026 | 00:20:38 | |
| The Problem with 'Should' with Rev. Steve Sieck | 10 févr. 2026 | 00:19:29 | |
As we deepen our exploration of resilience, what role do our expectations play in our ability to adapt and respond to life’s challenges? | |||
| Bending and Breaking with Rev. Steve Sieck | 03 févr. 2026 | 00:16:49 | |
As we begin our February theme of Embodying Resilience, we look at the nature of resilience and how it differs from resistance. In a world that frames most conflicts in win-lose zero-sum terms, how might embodying resilience improve our lives? | |||
| It's Great to Meet You, Episode 11: Gabby Guerra, Executive Director, Al Éxito | 29 janv. 2026 | 00:20:46 | |
| Reflections on Resistance with the Celebrant Team | 28 janv. 2026 | 00:14:53 | |
| Righting the Ship with Rev. Steve Sieck | 20 janv. 2026 | 00:22:59 | |
Join us as we honor Rev. Dr. King and lift up the ongoing work to build the Beloved Community. As we work to resist racism, what might each of us have to change? | |||
| It's Great to Meet You, Episode 10: Courtney Dufford, Lead Organizer, AMOS (A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy) | 15 janv. 2026 | 00:14:58 | |
https://www.amosiowa.org/ Upcoming Events: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QezrU0h9kXqJM4gUL19j6QqAYN2AUwpEHiYp_jU8wjU/edit?usp=sharing | |||
| The Calculus of Resistance with Rev. Steve Sieck | 13 janv. 2026 | 00:21:13 | |
In the abstract, it’s always right to resist injustice or harm. In reality, it can often be risky, even dangerous, to resist. How do we navigate these daily decisions? How might our UU values guide us through the thorny calculus of resistance? | |||