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Contemplify: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Paul Swanson | Contemplative Shoveler
The Contemplify podcast kindles the examined life for contemplatives in the world. Through artful musings & conversations with scholars, creatives, and master teachers each episode delivers a subtly intoxicating* exchange on the contemplative lifestyle with practical takeaways to emulate in daily life. Host, Paul Swanson, is a husband, father and contemplative educator at the Center for Action and Contemplation and co-host of Another Name for Every Thing with Richard Rohr**.*Contemplify is best served with a pint in hand. Please listen responsibly.** All shenanigans, tom foolery and bally-hoo posted on Contemplify are my own. Contemplify is not representative of the Center for Action and Contemplation or Richard Rohr on any matter.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 5 days ago1h 14m
The Holiness of Polka Dots with Mary Rose O'Reilley
"The subtlest, most sane-making book on contemporary spirituality that I ve read in years. It is also the funniest." — Joanna Macy I first heard Mary Rose O'Reilly's name from frequent Contemplify guest, Todd Davis. He mentioned The Barn at the End of the World: The Apprenticeship of a Quaker, Buddhist Shepherd, a book I gladly fell into, and, which led to this conversation about her forthcoming book of poetry. O'Reilly is funny as hell, whipsmart, and has a way of weaving insight with humor. The perfect combo for me. An emerita professor of English at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, O'Reilley is currently active as a musician, potter, and homesteader on a rural island in Puget Sound. Visit contemplify.com for shownotes.
- Oct 1, 20261h 2m
Thomas Gardner on Poverty Creek Journal
"The achievement of 'Poverty Creek Journal' is precisely that it does retrace that kind of wandering--and, in so doing, makes something lovely and meaningful of a difficult year. Gardner does not go in for pat analogies; he does not claim, as Camus once did about soccer, that running taught him everything about death. Nor does he go in for pat consolation. His journal does not so much end as stop, as if he has simply not yet risen for the next morning's run." — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker Thomas Gardner, a literary critic, poet, playwright, and essayist. His accolades run into fellowships from the Guggenheim, National Endowment for the Arts, and Fulbright. He is Alumni Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Virginia Tech and lifelong runner. His book Poverty Creek Journal: Lyric Essays was recommended to me by a fellow contemplative shoveler, in Poverty Creek Journal he dips his poetic pen into reflective and lyrical essays on his daily runs, the suffering that touches him, and the literary voices that amplify his thoughts. Visit contemplify.com for shownotes
- Sep 1, 20261h 6m
Noah Davis on The Last Beast We Revel In
"Noah Davis is a poet whose capacious imagination runs on river sounds and open air." — Adrian Matejka, Pulitzer Prize Finalist and editor of Poetry. Noah Davis is an award-winning poet, whose collection The Last Beast We Revel In was my first read on my sabbatical. The poetry of Noah Davis is sensual, enlivening all senses whether it be the howling earth, family, dalliances with the beloved, or the creatures that companion and sustain us. This is his second collection of poems, his lyricism and eye hold promise for a bright future. As always you can visit contemplify.com for the shownotes on this episode and learn more about Noah Davis at noahdaviswriter.com.
- Aug 1, 20261h 2m
Todd Goddard on Jim Harrison (author of Devouring Time: Jim Harrison, A Writer's Life)
Todd Goddard is an award-winning writer with a Ph.D in literary studies to go along with J.D. Todd Goddard joins me to talk about his unparalleled work on one of my literary heroes, the poet and writer, Jim Harrison. Goddard's book, Devouring Time: Jim Harrison, A Writer's Life. Devouring Time is the finest biography my eyes have met. Nuanced, gritty, and touching…matching the seasons of Jim Harrison's life and revealing the textures of one of the most compelling writers and poets of the last hundred years. An important book for all Jim Harrison fans to add to their shelves. Visit Todd Goddard at toddgoddard.net | IG: @toddgoddard_
- Jul 1, 202657 min
Sasha Waters on Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World
Sasha Waters, an American documentary and experimental filmmaker, feminist and educator. She has produced and directed over twenty films and we are here today to talk about her latest, Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World, which will be theatrically released July 3rd (see dates and locations of screenings here) and will air nationally on the PBS series American Masters on August 25th, 2026. I cannot urge you enough, run to see Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World if it is playing in your town. It is a gorgeous, intimate portrait of Mary Oliver. In our conversation we talk about what we can learn from Mary Oliver, the sacred interplay with nature, devotion and attention, and what makes Mary Oliver a grand poet for our times. Visit Sasha Waters at pieshake.com | IG: @pieshakepictures Visit contemplify.com for shownotes
- May 20, 20261h 13m
Beverly Lanzetta on Birthing a New Mysticism
"With poetic clarity and theological depth, Beverly Lanzetta names the sacred within the human, the Divine Feminine within tradition, and the transforming power of contemplation for our wounded world." — Fr. Adam Bucko Beverly Lanzetta, Ph.D., is a theologian, contemplative scholar and teacher, and the author of a number of groundbreaking books, her most recent is the centerpiece of our conversation, Birthing a New Mysticism: Contemplation in Ten Parts. A rich and precise invitation to seekers of all stripes hear the contemplative call. We talk about via feminina, mystical activism in a suffering world, dark nights of the soul, and what has become clearer since the last time we spoke, Visit Beverly Lanzetta at beverlylanzetta.net Visit contemplify.com for shownotes
- May 1, 20261h 21m
Dr. Liza J. Rankow on Soul Medicine for a Fractured World
"In the ashes of all we have lost, a world of liberation is waiting to be born, if we are brave enough to labor for it. Like the wisest midwife, Liza Rankow takes our hand and offers practical tools to unlock a courage we did not know we had. The result: a journey into healing, spirituality, and social justice that rebirths the world within us and around us." — Valarie Kaur, author, See No Stranger and Sage Warrior Dr. Liza J. Rankow is an interfaith minister, educator, activist, and author. Her lifework centers the deep healing that is essential to personal and social transformation. Liza is the founder and former executive director of OneLife Institute, which for almost 20 years supported the well-being of frontline changemakers. She has been a spiritual counselor and teacher for more than three decades, working with individual clients, facilitating healing retreats, and offering classes and workshops in a variety of community and academic settings. Liza is the producer and co-editor of The Living Wisdom of Howard Thurman audio collection. Her new book is Soul Medicine for a Fractured World: Healing, Justice, and the Path of Wholeness. Visit Dr. Liza Rankow at lizarankow.org Visit Contemplify.com for shownotes
- Apr 1, 20261h 17m
Philip Connors on The Mountain Knows the Mountain: A Fire Watch Diary
Philip Connors is a fire lookout, essayist, and author of four books. A former journalist at the Wall Street Journal, Connors has been a fire lookout in the Gila National Forest for over twenty years. In our conversation today we focus on his latest book, The Mountain Knows the Mountain: A Fire Watch Diary, the life of a fire lookout, attention and dialogue with place, and I reignite the question I asked him at live reading that has stirred my interior soup for months. I heartily recommend all of Philip Connors' books, The Mountain Knows the Mountain is my favorite. Visit Philip Connors at philipconnors.com Visit Contemplify at contemplify.com
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About Contemplify
The Contemplify podcast kindles the examined life for contemplatives in the world. Through artful musings & conversations with scholars, creatives, and master teachers each episode delivers a subtly intoxicating* exchange on the contemplative lifestyle with practical takeaways to emulate in daily life. Host, Paul Swanson, is a husband, father and contemplative educator at the Center for Action and Contemplation and co-host of Another Name for Every Thing with Richard Rohr**.*Contemplify is best served with a pint in hand. Please listen responsibly.** All shenanigans, tom foolery and bally-hoo posted on Contemplify are my own. Contemplify is not representative of the Center for Action and Contemplation or Richard Rohr on any matter.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of Contemplify as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
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How often does Contemplify release new episodes?
Contemplify publishes biweekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does Contemplify cover?
Contemplify covers topics including Religion & Spirituality, Spirituality, Philosophy, Culture, Society & Culture. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
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