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Opening Minds, Opening Hearts

Contemplative Outreach Limited

Are you seeking to deepen your interior life through the practice of Centering Prayer? Do you have a desire to develop a closer connection to the divine as well as those around you?

Opening Minds, Opening Hearts is a podcast for both the curious meditator and long-time practitioner of Centering Prayer. On each episode, hosts Colleen Thomas and Mark Dannenfelser will reflect on the method of Centering Prayer with some friends of Contemplative Outreach who share their personal experiences of encountering God through the prayer, and through their work in the world. Topics discussed will include New Monasticism, the value of silence, the practice of contemplation and the call to social action.

Through this podcast, we hope to provide new perspectives on the future of this prayer in the rapidly changing spiritual and technological landscape. Centering Prayer is a practice and a gift and we are excited to share this blessing with our listeners.
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  • 20 episodes
  • Avg 45 min
  • English

Episodes 20

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  • S4 · E4
    June 7 · 55 min

    S4 EP4 - Accepting Our Basic Core of Goodness with Howard B

    This episode weaves together three healing modalities: 12-step recovery, psychotherapy, and Centering Prayer, through the wisdom and lived experience of Howard B. Howard shares what it truly means to accept our basic core of goodness as our true self,...

  • S4 · E3
    May 24 · 49 min

    S4 EP3 Bringing Our Trauma Into God's Presence with Lawrence Hamilton

    Welcome back to Opening Minds, Opening Hearts. In this episode, we are joined by Lawrence H, who was introduced to Centering Prayer while serving time at Folsom State Prison in 2009 and has since dedicated his life to sharing the practice with others....

  • S4 · E2
    May 10 · 1 hr 5 min

    S4 EP2 Becoming Who We Already Are with Reverend Nhien Vuong

    Welcome back, everyone! We are so glad you are joining us. In this episode, we are joined by the Reverend Nhien Vuong, contemplative teacher, ordained minister, founder of the Evolving Enneagram, and author of The Enneagram of the Soul, for a deeply...

  • April 19 · 12 min

    S4 Trailer

    We are so glad you are joining us for what promises to be a rich and deeply personal Season 4 of the Opening Minds Opening Hearts podcast. We’ll be exploring the theme of Divine Therapy: Healing the Emotional Wounds of a Lifetime, inspired by Father...

  • S3 · E11
    Apr 6, 2025 · 31 min

    S3 EP11: May We All Be One

    As we wrap up Season 3 of the Opening Minds, Opening Hearts podcast, we find ourselves reflecting on a season that has been both challenging and enlightening. We’ve had the privilege of engaging in conversations with guests from a variety of spiritual...

  • S3 · E9
    Mar 9, 2025 · 59 min

    S3 EP9: Divine Sight Through the Lens of Mercy with Abdul-Rehman Malik

    Welcome to another episode of Opening Minds, Opening Hearts. This time, we are joined by Abdul-Rehman Malik, affectionately known as AR, an award-winning journalist, educator, and cultural organizer whose life story is deeply intertwined with themes...

  • S3 · E6
    Jan 26, 2025 · 33 min

    S3 EP6: Conversations on the Unknowable

    As we take a moment to reflect halfway through the season, we're struck by the rich dialogues we've been having. Our guests have shared such profound insights, and it's been truly transformative. We’re delighted you can join us as we explore the many...

  • S3 · E3
    Dec 15, 2024 · 45 min

    S3 EP3: The Infinite Dance of Ultimate Reality with Cynthia Bourgeault

    We’re thrilled to share this conversation with Cynthia Bourgeault, an Episcopal priest whose insights into spirituality have transformed our understanding of connecting with Ultimate Reality. Cynthia is a modern-day mystic with a diverse background...

  • S3 · E1
    Nov 17, 2024 · 43 min

    S3 EP1: An Invitation to Interspiritual Dialogue and Transforming Union

    Welcome back to season three of Opening Minds, Opening Hearts. We are your hosts, Colleen Thomas and Mark Dannenfelser, and we’re so excited to set the scene for the rest of the season in this episode. We’ll be shifting the dialogue away from the...

  • Nov 3, 2024 · 11 min

    Welcome to Season 3 of Opening Minds, Opening Hearts!

    Welcome back to season three of Opening Minds, Opening Hearts! This season, we're shifting our focus to explore the later teachings of Thomas Keating. Our conversations will feature interspiritual and interreligious insights from guests representing...

  • S2 · E11
    Dec 10, 2023 · 50 min

    Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault: A Common Sense of Shared Oneness

    Welcome back to the final episode of Opening Minds, Opening Hearts for this season! We have enjoyed the thought-provoking conversations we’ve had with our guests this season and today we are excited to speak with Cynthia Bourgealt. Cynthia is a...

  • S2 · E10
    Dec 3, 2023 · 48 min

    Fr. Greg Boyle: Everybody is Unshakably Good. No Exceptions.

    Centering Prayer is a practice that changes the way we see the world from the inside out and is important for our well-being both physically and mentally. To help us reflect on this important principle, we are excited to welcome Fr. Greg Boyle, the...

  • S2 · E9
    Nov 27, 2023 · 47 min

    Rev Michael Battle: Speaking Out of the Heart of God

    Today we will discuss the evolving and expanding community of Contemplative Outreach and Centering Prayer. We have a special guest, The Very Reverend Michael Battle, Ph.D. a theologian, professor, author, and speaker. He is the author of 11 books...

Showing 1–20 of 20 episodes