Soul + Practice: Raw Conversations & Real Practices with Kathy Escobar & Phyllis Mathis – Details, episodes & analysis

We loved our conversation with Hugh Hollowell, writer, advocate, seeker of beauty, and pastor of Open Door Mennonite Church in Jackson Mississippi. It's exactly the kind of reminders we need right now in what he calls "The Circumstances" the US finds itself in. Learn more about his work in the world at hughhollowell.org and gather some beauty and hope today.

This conversation with Rev. Rob Jerger, who is the Vicar at St. Clare's Episcopal Church in Tyler, Texas (the only LGBTQ+ affirming community out of the 392 churches in that town), made both of us cry. It embodies such a beautiful example of what church is supposed to be - a little pocket of love, safety, freedom, and hope in the middle of this hard and harsh world. No matter what you believe, there's so much to glean from this conversation, and it is what our souls needed today. More on St. Clare's at scectyler.org

In this episode, Kathy’s awesome husband, Jose joins us to share a little bit about his life as a pilot, military lawyer, and pro-bono attorney at a legal aid clinic during these wild times—what helps, what’s hard, and the power of seeking joy (and McDonalds). We had fun in the middle of so much hard. More about the incredible work of the Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Center at jamlac.org.

Episode 17: Eldering

Don’t worry, we’re not talking about church elders, we’re talking about the wisdom that comes with aging, how we need each other–young and old mixed up together–and how crucial it is for aging people to not dismiss our contributions but step into what we have to bring to others, the world.

Get to know the hosts at KathyEscobar.com and PhyllisMathis.com

Episode 16: Presence is Everything 

Living in the here and now instead of in the future of the past is no small task. In a fragile and fractured world, being present is our best shot at surviving it. But learning how to be present isn’t something that we can learn with our heads; it comes with practice.

Get to know the hosts at KathyEscobar.com and PhyllisMathis.com

Episode 15: Death  

Talking about death, preparing for death, honoring death, respecting our mortality and other people’s mortality as well is something that a lot of us aren’t that great at naturally. In this episode, we dive into an honest conversation about death and dying, just another light topic on Soul + Practice. 

Get to know the hosts at KathyEscobar.com and PhyllisMathis.com

Episode 14:  All Roads Lead to ISuckVille and WhatIfTown

In this foundational episode for all things Soul+Practice, we look at the two places that all roads seem to lead for most of us humans–ISuckville (Shame) and WhatIfTown (Fear). Our brains get so used to going there that they’re on autopilot. The way out to new patterns requires changing the channel and over time learning to build new roads.

Get to know the hosts at KathyEscobar.com and PhyllisMathis.com

 

Episode 13: Season 2 and We Don’t Know Sh*t

We’re back with Season 2 and the start of a new year in 2022 that is off to a tricky start. We think it would help us all if we could “break up with knowing.” In a world that makes no promises, this entitled feeling can lead us to all kinds of trouble. In this episode, we focus on the healing that can happen when we embrace “I don’t know.” 

Get to know the hosts at KathyEscobar.com and PhyllisMathis.com

Episode 12 - Season One Wrap

Soul + Practice has been a gift to us! This space to talk about hard things, to consider ways to move differently in the world, to connect with our souls and catalyze change within ourselves and the circles we move in has been healing for both of us. This episode is a look back at where we’ve been this season as we pause and get ready for season 2! 

Get to know the hosts at KathyEscobar.com and PhyllisMathis.com

Episode 11 - Abortion

Trigger Warning: Abortion can be a traumatic topic. Whoa, we keep diving into the deep end and with abortion rights now up for grabs in a new way before the Supreme Court we decided to spend a little time talking about it together.

Get to know the hosts at KathyEscobar.com and PhyllisMathis.com