What might it look like to live out a Franciscan vision of kinship in your daily life?   In this episode, we’re learning to see nature through the eyes of a Franciscan. For this conversation, Brian McLaren is joined by Sr. Joan Brown and Michelle Dunne to explore the essence of Franciscan values and their relevance in today's world. They discuss the importance of community and kinship, translating faith into action, and the role of education and rituals in fostering a deeper connection with...

What story do you tell yourself about the interconnectedness of nature and culture?  In this episode, we’re learning to see nature through the lens of a historian of religions. Brian McLaren is joined in conversation by Mary Evelyn Tucker, a leading voice in the field of religion and ecology. Together, they discuss the importance of cultural history, the challenges of interreligious dialogue, and the urgent need for a new story that integrates science and spirituality. They also explore the...

What does it mean to grieve the crisis facing our planet?  In this episode, we’re learning to see nature through the lens of a mystic. Brian McLaren sits down with Douglas E. Christie to discuss his work in the emerging field of contemplative studies, its relevance to our current ecological crisis, and the importance of acknowledging and processing ecological grief. Together, they explore the historical and contemporary significance of contemplative practices and underscore their role in...

What is it about poetry that allows it to hold both beauty and disruption, and even inspire change?  In this episode, Brian McLaren explores the power of poetry to help us understand and grieve for the natural world while also appreciating its beauty. He talks with poets Pádraig Ó Tuama and Drew Jackson about the importance of seeing nature holistically, and how poetry can help us grapple with the tension between destruction and renewal. The episode explores how poems can inspire action and...

How does nature inspire your sense of creativity? On this episode, we’re looking at nature through the artistic lens, with Brian McLaren and two gifted photographers, Christy Berghoef and Thomas Jay Oord. The conversation explores the ways in which their individual experiences and practices of photography have deepened their understanding and appreciation of the natural world, as well as the power of photography to inspire a deeper connection to the earth. About the guests: Dr. Christy...

How do you typically see your relationship with nature? In this bonus episode, Brian interviews Felicia Murrell, author of And: The Restorative Power of Love in an Either/Or World. This conversation delves into the interconnectedness of humans and nature, exploring how a shift from domination to loving interaction can lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the natural world. Felicia Murrell, a gifted writer and poet, as well as Living School alumna, shares her personal journey of...

How do you think our personal beliefs and values shape the way we see the world? In this episode, as we continue to explore the theme of learning to see nature as a gardener, Brian explores the concept of worldviews with futurist Cassidy Steele Dale. They delve into the "Knight" and "Gardener" perspectives, examining how these contrasting ways of seeing the world impact our relationships, our faith, and our approach to global challenges. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be...

What if the way we see nature could be the key to a more sustainable future?  In this two-part series, we're turning to see nature as a gardener. In this conversation, Brian speaks with two of his children, Brett and Rachel McLaren, about their love for nature and gardening. They discuss their childhood memories of exploring and appreciating the natural world, the joy and importance of gardening, the value of diversity in plants, and the challenges of restoration and preservation. They also...

How does time in nature benefit you? In this episode, Brian is in conversation with James White, Tony Jones, and Wes Granberg-Michaelson exploring the experiences and perspectives of those who have awe-inspiring experiences with the transformative power of being in nature. Together, they reflect on the meaning of fishing and hunting, the connection to our ancestral roots, the contrast between the ordered structures of human society and the wildness of nature and the role each plays in...

How do you feel when you witness the destruction of creation? In this episode, Brian interviews Teresa Martella, an environmental scientist and spiritual ecologist, about the interconnectedness of ecology and spirituality. Together they discuss the ecological crisis, climate change, and the deep grief that comes with witnessing the destruction of the natural world. Teresa shares her personal journey of reconciling her scientific background with her spiritual beliefs and finding a...

How does the connection between nature and spirituality influence your understanding of the environment and the challenges that it faces? In the next two-part series, we're exploring a new way of seeing nature, as a doctor -- but not in the traditional sense. Through conversations with academics, activists, scientists and spiritual directors, we're examining the issues facing our climate and as well as practical solutions that lend to healing our planet. In this episode, our guests, Deborah...

What shapes the connection between your inner and outer landscapes?   On the second part of seeing nature like a lover, Brian interviews a non-profit leader in sustainable development, Miriam Smith. In this episode, Miriam shares her powerful story of growing up in Chad during a civil war. She discusses how these experiences shaped her perspective on life and instilled a deep passion for nature and the environment, and how this informs her work with Eden Thriving, an organization dedicated to...

What can you do, big or small, to create a positive impact on the planet? In this episode, Brian interviews Scott Smith, a retired wildlife ecologist, about his career in conservation and the importance of protecting the natural world. Scott shares his early love for nature and how it led him to become a wildlife ecologist. He discusses the work of conservation, including habitat preservation, species monitoring, and genetic flow. Scott also highlights the interconnectedness between human...

What sparks your sense of wonder in the natural world?  In this episode, we're continuing our exploration of learning how to see like a scientist with botanist and author Susan Tweit. Brian McLaren and Susan Tweit explore how a hike in the Badlands sparked Susan's passion for sharing nature's wonders. In this conversation, they explore the power of science and storytelling as a way of deepening our connection with the Earth and igniting positive action for healing the planet, fueled by both...

Can we look at nature with both wonder and a scientist's eye? In this episode, we're learning how to see nature from the perspective of a scientist. In Part 1, Author and professor Paul Wallace joins Brian to explore the intersection of science and spirituality in the natural world. Together, they discuss the awe-inspiring scale of the universe, the contemplative nature of scientific inquiry, and the urgent call to protect our dwindling bird populations. Paul Wallace is a physicist,...

What can children teach us about loving nature? In the first episode of season 6, three of Brian’s grandchildren — Ella, Ada, and Lucas — drop by to talk about how to take responsibility and care for the planet. In this conversation, we see the from the perspective of a child as three of Brian's grandchildren highlight the impact of climate change through a shared love of animals and emphasizing the need for a more sustainable and compassionate relationship with nature. Resources: The...

Welcome to the sixth season of Learning How to See which focuses on learning how to see nature in a new way. In this season, we'll look at nature through the lens of a child, a scientist, a lover, a doctor, a seeker, and a gardener. The goal is to develop a deeper connection and appreciation for the natural world. We need to see every tree and stone, every bird and fish, every stream and prairie and star with eyes of love and wonder. That's not just a matter of joy and meaning for our...

What if we could reimagine the future of storytelling? In the last episode of Season 5 of Learning How to See, join in the conversation about how to create a new kind of space in which we can all participate in shifting our world towards greater Love and justice.   Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. To learn more about Gareth Higgins, click here. To learn more about Brian McLaren, click here. To explore the seven stories in more depth, visit the website here....

How do you embrace the wisdom of letting go? In this episode, Brian and Gareth explore the power of sharing to explore the Accumulation Story, a justification of our human need to hold onto things, people, and circumstances.  Gareth explains: “This is a story about money and fear. It's a story about being possessed by things rather than enjoying and sharing them. And it's a story nested within a bigger story about how sometimes when we think we have more, we actually have...

How do you tell the story of a time you have been wronged or betrayed?  Many of us experience victimization. But when does "victim" become an outdated part of our identity? Brian McLaren offers us: “If victims allow themselves to take an offramp from their victimizing stories, they embrace another way to define their lives.”   We're continuing forward with powerful explorations of storytelling as resilience and transformation. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. To...

“To be fully in the world is to believe that we can love other people and places more than we fear them.” –Gareth Higgins   Have you convinced yourself that you are better off alone? Today we're exploring the dynamics of the Isolation Story — the belief that we can avoid pain by avoiding others. As Gareth Higgins explains, “While it may not be physically violent, the Isolation Story is more than harmful, because it does two things. First, it moves us toward less connection with others, and...

“Almost everybody who does evil has convinced themselves that they are doing good.” —Brian McLaren   Have you ever convinced yourself that an unloving act was justified? In this episode, we're asking ourselves the tough questions and peeling back the layers of the Purification Story — a narrative with complex dynamics that can lead us to harmful interactions with others and ourselves.   Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. To learn more about Gareth Higgins, click...

“If you want a better world, tell a better story — especially one that centers justice without vengeance.” –Gareth Higgins  How do we tell stories that offer us the best chance of creating a more peaceful and loving reality? In this episode of Learning How to See, we're exploring stories of revolution. Although these tales often contain values of heroism and liberty, they are more likely to feed into the cycle of violence rather than end it.  Resources: The transcript for this episode can be...

“Stories shape our reality, whether they are true or not.” —Gareth Higgins  What if you told the story of your life differently? Explore the powerful influence of stories in shaping our experiences in the newest season of Learning How to See with Brian McLaren and Gareth Higgins.  In this episode, we explore the Domination Story, a way of understanding our world that distorts our relationships with others and the Earth. Learn how to identify and shift this kind of story so that you can...