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    <title>Attuned</title>
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    <description>I listen to a lot of podcasts.  Often while I watch men and women beating their heads to the beat of their musical favorite, I am either deep in thought or laughing my way through a workout or commute.

Podcasts are essentially a downloadable form of talk-radio, but I also believe that they are capable to stimulating communities.  The ideas contained in this collection are often provocative or at the very least, worth sharing with others.

Consider this blog a “greatest hits” collection of interviews.  Many of these interviews I have used in my own classroom and as a result many students now find themselves listening to other interviews on their own.

While some of the work is my own, often it is not.  In all cases, I am sure to cite the source in the blog since my hope is that you check out other interviews that have been conducted by the individual or group.  All I try to do is offer a single place where I can refer people to get started.

So enjoy the interviews and be sure to share them with others.</description>
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      <title>Attuned</title>
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      <description>Highlighting fascinating interviews and stories about social issues and faith.</description>
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<item>
      <title>Angel</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Sometimes all it takes is a great story.   This is one about childhood dreams, suffering, belonging and fulfillment.  

Darryl Daniels is best known as the DMC half of RUN DMC, the iconic, pioneering hip-hop duo from the 80’s.   What you probably don’t know is that Daniels is adopted. . . just like Sarah Mclachlan.  What follows is a wonderful (and funny) story about the song they sang together – Just Like Me.   Of course, it is also about Darryl reconciling the incompleteness he felt as a result of his adoption.  

]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri, 18 May 2012 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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<item>
      <title>Clarifying the Gospel</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM is both disliked and adored.  As a Franciscan priest, he strives to live the 13th century ideals of St. Francis of Assisi in a modern world.  He is at the same time a supporter and critic of the church – not because of what it teaches, but because it does not always live up to what it teaches.  

As a novice, my teachers required that we listen to many of Rohr’s now infamous CD’s.  We were told that his perspective was one we would need before we began the details of our theology study.  The more I encounter the people within the Church, I am continually thankful of their insight.  

Rohr is not easy to digest, but neither is the Gospel.  For those who have ever questioned what the Church has taught, I encourage you to listen to this interview.  I am betting that you will find that often, it is not the teachings of the Church that need to be challenged, but some of those who profess those teachings.  
]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2012 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>How Not to Read the Bible</title>
      <description><![CDATA[If you have ever attended a Protestant and a Catholic Bible Study, you will know there is, for large part, a difference in the manner of how the two approach and interpret the Bible.  The Catholic contextual approach is one that says a literal approach that says the Bible is a historical account of what happened is not a helpful way to read the Bible. 

Brian B. Pinter relays many of the official statements by the Pontifical Biblical Commission that state Biblical literalism is “intellectual suicide”.  

This interview is wonderfully helpful and illuminating as to how we should approach the Bible, so enjoy!]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri, 05 May 2012 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>21st Century Enlightenment</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Too often, I think people approach podcasts and related interviews/stories as a doctrinal statement, but it would be better to think of them as provocative statements that help to animate a discussion that would not begin otherwise.   

Such is the case with this lecture and animation.  It is certainly a stretch to speak of a “21st Century Enlightenment”, but it cause us to become more aware of the impact of individualism and relativistic points of views.  That is to ask what constitutes a functional society or a sense of autonomy, and how might empathy and compassion fit into our world?
]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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<item>
      <title>The Agnostic Side</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Usually, such a title causes immediate judgment from “Believers”, but consider this interview an invitation to suspend judgment for 13 minutes.  

In short, Brian Lehrer interviews Michael Krasny about his new book, Spiritual Envy:  An Agnostic’s Quest.  The told tale is a compassionate one about the difficulty of maintaining a position that says ‘I Don’t Know.”  However, underneath this statement is a sadness that wishes he could.

Krasny confesses that he would like to believe in God as it would make life much more simple, but he just cannot come to such a clear conclusion.  For that matter, he cannot come to any conclusion.  The result is a wonderful perspective, so join in.]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri, 20 Apr 2012 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>My Green School Dream</title>
      <description><![CDATA[This is one of those stories that I cannot pinpoint just why I found it so captivating, but I have found myself thinking about this story often since I heard it over a year ago.  Perhaps it is because I love the idea of natural architecture, or the insistence and charisma of John Hardy, or the emphasis on wholelistic education or some combination of all of these things.  But whatever the reason, I am quite sure you will find interesting and inspirational as well.  

On top of all of those things, the sheer design of the school is just amazing – imagine if all of our building were quite so interesting!]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>The Power of Vulnerability</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Brene Brown is a researcher and storyteller.  I know, it doesn’t sound like the two could co-exist, but in a remarkable presentation at TEDx in Houston, Texas, the two come together.  Brown tells us that courage originally means “to tell your story with your whole heart”  We must have compassion and connection and be willing to let go who we think we should be and enter into a new place.  

All of this means, we must believe that that which makes us vulnerable is what makes us beautiful.  

I can tell you that I have since read some more of Brown’s work and have been amazed with her work especially on shame and worthiness.  This particular interview will give you insight into this in a comical and poignant manner.]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri, 6 Apr 2012 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>Beauty Will Save the World</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The title alone should be enough to grab your attention, but it is actually much deeper than the usual superficial levels which usually fill our imagination.  What we encounter is the depth of suffering, which only then allows us to understand the depth of beauty.  

The interview tells the story, as told by CBC Producer Frank Faulk, of Aleksandr Solzhenitysyn who was imprisoned in a Soviet gulag and later won the Nobel Prize in 1970.  Upon receiving the award, he said, “Beauty will save the World.”  ]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>Quarks and Creation</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Every now and then, I run across an interview that seems to say it all.  On Being’s Krista Tippet achieved just this when she interviewed John Polkinghorne, an elementary particle physicist at Cambridge and now a student of theology.  

The conversation that follows, on the surface, delves into the relationship between science and religion, but more on a deeper level, seeks to understand the very nature of Truth.  

“Things that are just on the surface, easy to believe, are not the whole story. There's a deeper, stranger, and more satisfying story to be found, both in science and in religion,” Polkinghorne tells Tippett.

In a sense, that statement offers a great summary of this interview – it is deeper and more surprising than you may think, so get your notepad and enjoy!]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri, 23 Mar 2012 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>Embracing Otherness</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Thandie Newton is a familiar personality to many of us – she has been in some of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters of all time.  But this interview portrays a very different view of Thandie – one that illustrates rejection, confusion, and shame.  

So how did she overcome these difficulties?  She embraced otherness – the essence and oneness that we all share in ourselves.  This otherness is how we connect to each other.  

What Thandie speaks of is illuminated by stories of other people she has encountered that have taught her something about herself.]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>Respect Means to Challenge</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Irshad Manji is a well-known writer, speaker and progressive Muslim often arguing for reform in Islam.  Her latest book, Allah, Liberty and Love focuses on the 'trouble with Isalm today'z.

Listen to this interview and you understand why many people call her a dare-devil, but also admire her.  In her own words, respect has been misconstrued today to mean “don’t question or challenge me”, but she certainly does not embody that.

Moral courage and freedom are just some of the values she places more emphasis on than respect and she frequently encourages others not to be silent under a name of multi-culturalism.]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri, 09 Mar 2012 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Looking Past Our Limits</title>
      <description><![CDATA[We all have our challenges, but some people have more challenges than most.  Enter Caroline Casey.   Caroline was legally blind at birth. . . only she did not find this out until she was 17 years old.  How, you ask?  Simple, her parents told her she could see . . . and she believed them because she never knew any different.  

Was it hard?   Did she struggle?  Of course she did. . . but she also thrived.  And this is the amazing part of her story.]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri, 02 Mar 2012 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	


<item>
      <title>Alive Enough</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Technology and socialtzation are generally believed to have an inverse relationship; however, author Sherry Turkle offers a different take on these two concepts.  Through an interview with Krista Tippett, Turkle says that technology can actually help us live more examined lives and honor those things and ideas we hold dear.  

In this interview, Turkle speaks about the difference between being used by and using technology and gives voice to a number of ideas from teaching our children the rewards of solitude to connecting with wisdom.  

This interview is fascinating and benefits from her own research as a professor at MIT concerning the subjective side of technology, specifically, how it affects our attention and relationships.   ]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri, 24 Feb 2012 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>Adapt:  Why Success Comes Through Failure</title>
      <description><![CDATA[What does it take to solve a problem in a complex world?

While this question is certainly interesting enough, one might also question why Harford concludes the world is complex in the first place?  

What you will learn are a few of the compromises that a person must make in order to approach a creative solution to any given problem.  The presentation is largely about business, but it applies to so many things.  Truly, a fascinating interview.]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>Saving Souls</title>
      <description><![CDATA[As you know by now, The Moth takes a different perspective on a lot of issues – the kind of perspective that most of us agree with, but few of us really say out loud.  

This story is about religion and Mary Kay Cosmetics – from a young girl who you would least think would be involved with either.    

What follows is a wonderfully entertaining and thought-provoking story about religious tactics and beliefs.]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Life's Second Half</title>
      <description><![CDATA[I have been listening to Richard Rohr since I started my own journey in priestly formation.  Quite frankly, I find him prophetic.  He has a way of cutting through the complexities of theology and spirituality so that both are accessible for the every-day person.

Thankfully, Rohr is a prolific writer and speaker, so there is always something more I can read or listen to.  His latest book is entitled, Falling Upward in which he writes about the “two halves of life”  

Years ago, he did a presentation on the subject with Paula D’Arcy, who is another one of my favourites, but this subject matter is refined for a new age.  So join the hosts of the America Magazine podcast as they discover what it means to fall upward.]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>If I Should Have a Daughter</title>
      <description><![CDATA[I feel in love with this presentation the first time I saw it.  Sarah Kay is a spoken-word poet, who as she says, writes poems to figure things out.  Her poetry is amazing and her passion for it is captivating.    

There is nothing especially profound about this interview – aside from the instant desire you will have to sit down and take your own crack at poetry. . . which, okay, is pretty profound.  

So sit down and enjoy Sarah’s journey from trepidation to confidence – no doubt it will inspire you as well.]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">daughter</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>The End of Roe v. Wade?</title>
      <description><![CDATA[There are few issues more politicized than abortion.  In the United States, the center of that debate falls to the court decision, ROE V. WADE.  

Brian Lehrer sat down with Dahlia Lithwick of Slate Magazine after she published a piece on the issue.  What she clearly states is that the majority of Americans still believe that abortions should be legal in 'extreme' circumstances, but that the legislature has become more emboldened as they cut away some of the original decision’s power.  

 What this interview does not do is take sides or declare a winner; rather if offers analysis on the trends of the debate itself and seeks to understand the reasons for those trends.]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri,12 Jan 2012 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>Driven By Flavour</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Okay, so you just got finished with all the holiday cooking and you are resolved to loose some weight, so be warned – this episode is going to make you hungry – but in a good way.

In this interview, Krista Tippett discusses the meaning of really good food with Dan Barber, a celebrated young chef  at the Blue Hill Restaurant at Stone Barns.  This restaurant was named by Food & Wine Magazine as 'one of the world’s top 10 life-changing experiences'.

What follows is a remarkable rediscovery of food, ecology, sustainability, economy and pleasure.  Dan discusses, what he calls, 'mindful eating' and food as a connection to the divine.

So grab your favourite cup of tea and sit down a let the aromas of your favourite foods fill your mind as you are driven by flavour.]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri,06 Jan 2012 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>Sex and the Soul</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Over the years, I lost count of the number of conversations I have had about sex and spirituality.  In fact, I must admit that I am rather frustrated at the obsession people have with sex and spirituality while a non-concern about so many other spiritual issues.  

Today’s interview with Jennifer Wright Knust, an ordained Baptist Pastor and Associate Professor of Religion at Boston University.  Her latest book:  Unprotected Texts:  The Bible’s Surprising Contradictions about Sex and Desire.  

And she’s right:  if you are looking for guidance on relationships and sexually related issues, the Bible may be a bit problematic.  Of course, the Bible offers some wonderful moral guidelines on one level, but it also offers some ideas that must be read with great care.]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri,09 Dec 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>Planting the Future</title>
      <description><![CDATA[I believe most of us agree that there is a connection to God and Creation, but Wangari Maathai has experienced and lived this and other related ideas with an intensity that few can comprehend.  Born in Africa in 1940, she was the first woman in central Africa to earn a Ph.D. and in 2004, she won the Nobel Peace Prize for standing up to dictators and fighting off an encroaching desert by planting 30 million trees.  She has been beaten and imprisoned, but still manages her work through the Green Belt Movement.  

Her work stems from a deep belief in God and that God could not possibly be pleased with our treatment of the gifts we have been given.  She also understands the connection between the environment and the ability for the people of a country to live the lives they feel called to live.]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri,02 Dec 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>The Social Animal</title>
      <description><![CDATA[David Brooks is a columnist for the New York Times and a political correspondent in the United States.  I have been watching and reading David’s work for years, but not too long ago, he wrote a book, The Social Animal, that I believe will define him when his days are done.

The Social Animal is a tremendous accomplishment of work that takes all that he has learned from years of covering political heavy-weights and attempts to explain human behavior.  This talk, which summarizes the work of the book, is both funny and poignant.  In the end, his conclusions speak to human life as one that must be understood in connection to others and with great awareness of our unconscious self.  ]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri,25 Nov 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Poems of War, Peace and Power</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Suheir Hammad is a poet who performs two amazing poems in this TED Presentation.  What I Will and Break (Clustered) speak to the desire for peace in our world and the terrible effects of war.  But as she is a woman, they also speak to the strength of womanhood.

There are no particular great lessons here, rather the beauty of imagery and the spoken word.  I have always believe that people like Suheir have the ability to inspire the poets in all of us – perhaps after listen to her words, you will compose a few of your own.]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri,18 Nov 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>Is there a place for God in Education?</title>
      <description><![CDATA[What is the purpose of education?

And how does religious belief relate to that?

The RSA and Theos bring together a panel of expert commentators to debate these crucial questions and the range of related issues considered in a recent Theos report - Doing God in Education.

Speakers to include: Canon Dr Ann Holt OBE, formerly an advisor at the Department for Education; Andrew Copson, British Humanist Association; Dr Joyce Miller, RE Council of England and Wales; Professor Trevor Cooling, Canterbury Christ Church University, and author of the Theos report - Doing God in Education; and Dr Mohamed Mukadam, former Chairman of the Association of Muslim Schools.]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri,11 Nov 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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<item>
      <title>Opening to Our Lives</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Stressed?  Feeling overwhelmed?  Well, you are in good company.  

This week, we join Krista Tippett once again as she interviews Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founding director of the Stress Reduction Clinic.  His research and practice concern mindfulness meditation and how it is applied to those with chronic illnesses, those facing death, and even government leaders.  

What follows it a series of great reminders about living in a world of uncertainty, so relax and enjoy!]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri,04 Nov 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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<item>
      <title>To Err is Human</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Perfection.  Most of us think that it is the goal of the spiritual life, but according to Brene Brown (who we just featured through a TED Talk a few weeks ago), our struggle for perfection is really the result of a spiritual crisis.  

To be perfectly frank, this is one of those interviews everyone should listen to a couple of times a year.  In addition to Brene Brown, Mary Hynes interviews Bruce Mau, the much celebrated Canadian designer, about failure and creativity.  

I should tell you that this interview has provided pearls of wisdom for many homilies, but also introduced me to Mau’s Incomplete Manifesto for Growth, which has become a starting place for many of my own thoughts since then.  
]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri,28 Oct 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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<item>
      <title>Child-Driven Education</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Think you know something about education?  Well, so did I.  After all, I have multiple degrees, one of them even in the education field.  But you cannot imagine what you are about to learn about education in this video.  

Sugatra Mitra performed a series of experiments in the slums of India and a computer.  To make a long story short, these kids learned how to operate a computer on their own without ever encountering one in their life before.  

Mitra’s experiment is the epitomy of self-learning, which, he argues, causes us to question our current educational models.  More specifically, he asks if teachers are necessary anymore.

Now I know what you are thinking. . . and before you react. . . give yourself 20 minutes.  You will be amazed at what you will think afterwards.]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri,21 Oct 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">child_driven_education</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>The Change Decade</title>
      <description><![CDATA[From America’s website:

In a discussion of his book, The American Catholic Revolution, Mark S. Massa, S.J. introduces the major moments and figures of the 1960s, including Frederick McManus and the liturgical changes introduced by Vatican II, Charlie Curran and the resistance to Humanae vitae and the political activism of Daniel Berrigan, S.J.

Personally, I found this to be a remarkable interview about a period of church history that is often profoundly confused.   If you have ever wondered about this turbulent period or why there are so many strong feelings about this period from those who lived through it – this is an interview not to miss.]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri,14 Oct 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">change_decade</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Our Religious Ignorance</title>
      <description><![CDATA[James Ron is an Associate Professor at the Norman Paterson School for International Affairs at Carleton University.  He sat down with Steve Paikin to ask:  Is ignorance of religion handcuffing Canadian diplomacy and developing a generation of citizens ill-suited for a world where religion remains a powerful force?

Ron has been criticized by many in higher education because he has demanded that his students understand and educate themselves about religion as part of his courses.  Ron challenges the popular notion that if we are to live as a peaceful society, we have to step aside religion or eliminate religion from the public discourse.

Ron explains the balance education and belief and addresses with Paikin several of the hot-button religious issues that surface in Canada.]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri,07 Oct 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">religious_ignorance</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Yoga:  Meditation in Action</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Sean Corn found the limelight in the 2001 Nike Goddess Ad Campaign which featured yoga as part of its compilation.  But before that, she was well known in the yoga circles, but as you listen to her interview with Krista Tippett, it is hard to believe her New Jersey, blue-collar upbringing would have led her to this.  On top of that, she suffered from an acute level of OCD and left home at an early age.  Yoga helped her to find her way to a balanced life.  

While her personal story is quite interesting, it is the discussion Tippett and Corn have on the popularity of yoga and its controversy among Christian circles that I find most interesting.  What follows is a fascinating conversation about the practice of the presence of God and prayer that involves your whole body.

Lastly, Corn speaks about her work with Children of the Night, and how yoga has helped change the lives of child prostitutes.]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri,30 Sept 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">meditation_in_action</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Changing Education Paradigms</title>
      <description><![CDATA[This week’s episode comes from RSA Animate.  RSA is a British-based organization dedicated to 21st century enlightenment.  Their presenters are some of the brightest I have heard, and RSA Animate takes these brilliant thoughts and animates their message with high-speed drawings.  The result is brilliant.  

In this particular episode, Sr. Ken Robinson argues that our old model of educating youth is no longer effective.  Today’s society has created a over-stimulated youth, many of them diagnosed with ADHD, to which Robinson offers some explanation.  To be clear, there are problems with some of his conclusions (after all, this is an 11 minute video), but his thoughts raise several important points to the surface.

To elaborate on one point, Robinson speaks of how education models continue to function with a “production line mentality” which emphasizes standardization rather than divergent thinking.]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri,23 Sept 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">changing_education</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Where Good Ideas Come From</title>
      <description><![CDATA[This is the first time I have posted a link to TED Talks on this site, but I am sure many of you have run across TED before.  If you haven’t, you are in for a treat.  About a year ago, someone told me about TED and I have been hooked ever since.  Note that there are two links below:  the video is always better, but since most of what is on this site is the audio, I wanted to post that as well.  

This particular episode has profoundly impacted the way I operate.  In short, Steven Johnson says that good ideas are rarely possessed by one person completely; rather, that most people have part of a good idea and some one else has another part.  

Looking through the history, Johnson has discovered that many good ideas found their origins in areas of public discourse, like a coffee shop, because in those places people would share their thoughts.  Essentially, these ideas “have sex” and produce something new and wonderful.  

The lesson is simple:  good ideas are meant to be shared, not protected.  But this is one just one many lessons, so tune in – believe me – it is a good idea!
]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri,16 Sept 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Science and the Moral Landscape</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Sam Harris is one of the more prominent figures in the New Atheist Movement along side other names like Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins.  His latest book, The Moral Landscape:  How Science Can Determine Human Values landed him an interview with Mary Hynes of Tapestry.

In short, Harris argues that science can do a better job in answering the moral and value-based questions of our day than religion.  The discussion is an interesting one; though I must admit that Harris does not provide as much evidence for his point as I would have liked.  Nevertheless, his views are views that are held by many and deserve to be heard and considered.]]></description>

      <pubDate>Fri,09 Sept 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">science_and_morals</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>The Dignity of Difference</title>
      <description><![CDATA[As we begin a new season of Attuned, we begin with a reoccurring idea:  God is bigger than the categories that we confine God in.

God, in fact, is bigger than religion according to Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of Great Britain.  Lord Sacks sat down with Krista Tippett of On Being to discuss much more than a Judaic world view.  As one of the most visible religious leaders of our world, Lord Sacks spoke about such topics like our fear of the stranger and our problem with diversity.

Among the many profound statements contained in this interview, Lord Sacks says, 'The greatest single antidote to violence is conversation, speaking our fears, listening to the fears of others, and in that sharing of vulnerabilities, discovering a genesis of hope.'

So join us for a new season of Attuned and be sure to tune into On Being through this site – you’ll be glad you did!]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri,02 Sept 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">dignity_of_difference</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>The Image of the Church</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Renowned journalist, John Allen, Jr., sat down with the producers of the America Magazine Podcast to discuss the Church’s image problem.  John Allen, Jr., who reports for the National Catholic Reporter, defends the Church in some ways, but also calls the Church to be more aware of positive public relations in order for its message to be heard. 

The question is who’s responsibility is it to offer this positive message?  Allen suggests that we all have a part to play, precisely because the role of the Vatican is purposely be ‘behind the times’.  

Of course, Allen reminds us that things don’t happen fast and religion continues to be more episodic rather than a regular news beat.  As for what else can be done, you will just have to tune in to learn the rest.  

And a program note:  This will be the last episode of Attuned until the Fall.  Rest assured, we will resume a new season once classes resume at the University.  Enjoy the Summer!]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri,15 Apr 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">john_allen_image</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Don't Fear the Reaper</title>
      <description><![CDATA[About a year ago, I was a friend gave me a remarkable book entitled, My Stroke of Insight:  A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey.  In a nutshell, Jill Bolte Taylor is a brain scientist who had a stroke at the age of 37, and made a full recovery.  She was able to recall what happened to her, and because of her expertise, she knew exactly what was happening.  However, what amazed her (and me) was what she learned about the human consciousness and how she began to understand herself in a broader context.  

The book at the interview is a wonderful account of our place in relation to something bigger, and for anyone who has ever doubted that something bigger exists, I encourage you to tune into Tapestry as Mary Hynes interviews Jill Bolte Taylor.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 08 Apr 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">reaper</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Knowledge Through Unconciousness</title>
      <description><![CDATA[About a year ago, I was a friend gave me a remarkable book entitled, My Stroke of Insight:  A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey.  In a nutshell, Jill Bolte Taylor is a brain scientist who had a stroke at the age of 37, and made a full recovery.  She was able to recall what happened to her, and because of her expertise, she knew exactly what was happening.  However, what amazed her (and me) was what she learned about the human consciousness and how she began to understand herself in a broader context.  

The book at the interview is a wonderful account of our place in relation to something bigger, and for anyone who has ever doubted that something bigger exists, I encourage you to tune into Tapestry as Mary Hynes interviews Jill Bolte Taylor.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">jill_bolte_taylor</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Is Islam a Religion of Peace?</title>
      <description><![CDATA[From NPR:  'In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, President George W. Bush characterized Islam as a religion of peace. Many people agree with that belief, saying the vast majority of Muslims live peaceful lives.  But others counter that the roots of Islam include violent leaders, teachings and scripture.  A team of experts argued both sides of the motion "Islam Is a Religion of Peace" in a recent Intelligence Squared U.S. debate. Two argued in favor and two against.'
	  
The debate in Oxford style and the outcome is determined, not by who is right or wrong, but by who is the most persuasive.  So tune in for this very interesting and balanced look at one of the major religions of the world.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 25 Mar 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">islam-peace</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Baby Guru</title>
      <description><![CDATA[When I was a young man at university, I took on service assignment that rattled me to my core.  Twice a week, I volunteered at a daycare for children born with HIV.  Of course, this was in the early 90’s, so there was not as much confidence about how you could and could not contract the disease as there is now.   After convincing my parents that I would be okay, I began a year-long assignment working with these very special children.  

What I learned is what I imagine just about any parent already knows – babies have a lot to teach us.  And while most people believe that we learn best from teachers, professors and gurus of a various sort, Allison Gopnik believes otherwise.  Her book is entitled, The Philospohical Baby:  What children’s minds teach us about truth, love and the meaning of life.  

What I saw in those young children is the same description Allison gives us (though I never thought about it in quite the same way) – children are in a constant state of awe by the world around us, and there is a lot we can learn from them.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 18 Mar 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">baby_guru</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	


<item>
      <title>Children of Abraham</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Abraham.  His name is revered among three of the world’s major religions:  Judaism, Islam and Christianity.  In their own way, each claim him as their own.  He is the one chosen by God and the one who choses God in return.  

In this interview, Krista Tippett sits down with Bruce Feiler, a journalist with no particular religious convictions who has made a name for himself trying to understand religion.  Beause of their connection to Abraham, Feiler believes that the feud between Muslims, Jews and Christians is really a family feud.  Moreover, Abraham’s story, Feiler says, illuminates God and politics, sacred geography and modern spirituality.  

As I listened to this interview, I discovered so much that I never caught before.  Until now, I never realized that Abraham’s death was the one time when Issac and Ishmael came together and that the burial place in one of the few places shared by the three religions.  

So tune in and learn what you only thought you knew.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Hospitality</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Looking for a little inspiration?  Want to hear a fantastic story?  Well, look no further.  

Mary Hynes has put together a series of interviews under a common theme of hospitality; however, it is much more than you think.  This is not just about welcoming people over for dinner, but the kind of hospitality that re-orients your life.  

Take, for instance, the woman from Calgary who welcomes a homeless man into her home  . . . to stay.  She speaks about the reactions of everyone around her and her own doubts along the way.  Of course, there is also an interview with the folks at L’Arche who speak about what is really hard about constant hospitality.  

Each of them, in their own way, will challenge you to recognize how and where you can do more, and you will be amazed at just how much you can do!]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">hospitality</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>What is it about Twenty-Somethings?</title>
      <description><![CDATA[If 40 is the new 30 and 30 is the new 20, then what does that make those who are in their 20’s?    

There is no doubt that things have changed in the last few decades.  Marriage is occurring later, students are in school longer and company loyalty is only understood in old textbooks.  

So what do these new demographics mean for our society?  What do they mean for those who are still in their prime working and/or studying to a better future?  

Steve Paikin joins with a Jeffery Jensen Arnett to discuss these and many more questions and implications.  Mr. Arnett is a Research Professor in the Department of Psychology at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. He coined the term "emerging adulthood," and he is the author of Emerging Adulthood: The Winding Road from Late Teens through the Twenties.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 25 Feb 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	


<item>
      <title>A New Voice for Islam</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Ingrid Mattson is the first woman and convert to lead the Islamic Society of North America.  Formally a Catholic, she joined Krista Tippett on Speaking of Faith to discuss her experience of Islamic Spirituality, which she did not discover until her twenties.  

As I listened to this interview, I was so very impressed with Ingrid’s ability to criticize with great respect the religion she now directs.  She is a diplomat in every sense of the word, recognizing areas where further dialogue is needed and where no amount of dialogue will improve the situation.  

Mattson also offers her thoughts on the role of women in Islam and how that role is evolving as Islam continues to emerge on a global scale.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 18 Feb 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">voice_islam</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	
	

<item>
      <title>Gay Marriage:  Broken or Blessed</title>
      <description><![CDATA[There are few issues as contentious as “gay marriage”, and it is not often that I find an interview quite as balanced as this one.  Once again, we join Krista Tippett on Speaking of Faith to offer two perspectives on homosexuality and their unions.  Both speak from religious perspectives – one against gay marriage and the other for it.  

However, this interview or much more than a tit-for-tat of theological arguments; rather, both look at the consequences, implications, and virtues that lie beneath the debate.  Neither speak on behalf of the Catholic Church, so this obviously does not reflect any official teaching; rather it simply adds to the conversation

I must confess that I was surprised by this interview.  I found myself challenged and quite open to the reasoning of the opposite point of view – perhaps because of the way it was conducted.  So, even if you think you have heard it all on this issue, I encourage you to tune in – you will be glad you did.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 11 Feb 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">gay_marriage</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Catholics and Muslims Together</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Eboo Patel, the co-founder of the Interfaith Youth Core, talks with Kerry Weber, from America Magazine, about his campaign to foster interfaith dialogue among young people, and why Catholic campuses are uniquely suited to host these conversations. He talks of helping female students take leadership positions, inspire others and connect to their faith at the same time.

His campaign designs a framework for helping students constantly refer back to their traditions. To know more about his campaign and ideas, you should listen to the podcast attached below.

In part two of his interview, Eboo Patel besets the anti-Islamic prejudice at the heart of the controversy surrounding the so-called 'Ground Zero' mosque.

Eboo Patel, who is an American Muslim of Indian heritage, has been a part of President Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based Neighborhood Partnerships.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 04 Feb 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">catholics_muslims</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>University Declares a Week without Social Media</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Provost Eric Darr of Harrisburg University of Science and Technology in Pennsylvania recently took a classroom assignment to a new level – specifically, the lived level.  For one week, Darr enforced a campus-wide social media blackout.   No Facebook.  No Twitter.  No Instant Messaging.  Nothing.  

So tune in to listen to what students think about the idea and what is the one medium they are not willing to live without.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 28 Jan 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/university.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">socialmedia</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Blogging the Bible</title>
      <description><![CDATA[I teach a few classes on The Bible, and I always ask what people believe to be its greatest theme?  By far, the most common answer is “love.”  However, that is hardly the case.  When you actually read this book, there is a lot of violence and illicit behavior.  So much so, that if you read it with this new awareness – you may find it to be a very different book than you originally thought.  

Such was the case with David Plotz, editor of Slate.com.   However, as David read, he blogged – his entire way through the Hebrew Scriptures.  As a Jew, David did not include the New Testament, but I would admit that David gives the rest of us great reason for doing so.  (As for why you will just have to listen in for your self.)

Nevertheless, I recommend this link because what David says is true, as well as funny.  But I think it also says a lot about the need for understanding the two books of the Bible together.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Jan 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">blogging_bible</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Listening Generously</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen is the co-founder of the Commonweal Cancer Help Program and clinical professor of family and community medicine at the University of California-San Francisco.  This week, we turn (once again) to Krista Tippett as she sits down with Dr. Remen to speak with her about the art of listening to patients and other physicians.

As a person who listens to a lot of people, I found Dr. Remen’s compassion to be contagious.  It became clear to me that her strength is not only listening, but as a result of it, she is also a beautiful story-teller.  

This is a show about the difference between curing and healing and how our losses help us to live.  And for anyone in, or interested in, the medical field – it is a must listen.  

'You know, sometimes what appears to be a catastrophe, over time becomes a strong foundation from which to live a good life. It's possible to live a good life even though it isn't an easy life.' – Dr. Remen]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 14 Jan 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>Being Catholic:  The Beauty and Challenge of Hearing the Faithful</title>
      <description><![CDATA[I think one of the greater blessings of priesthood is the opportunity one has to see the Church in all its diversity.  The more I see, the more I realize that the “universality” of the Church stems from its ability to hold polar views in tension with one another and respect the spectrum that exists along the way.  

This week, Krista Tippet from Being (formerly Speaking of Faith) takes for a journey through the Church.  She breaks her usual question and answer format and simply splices interviews one after the other.  The result is captivating.  

Present are the voices of lapsed Catholics, former Catholics, orthodox Catholics and everyone else in between.  So tune in and be amazed at what you hear.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 07 Jan 2011 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">being_catholic</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Who's Getting Married?</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Marriage has been to topic of a lot of news lately – not just the royal engagement, but new studies on how many people believe marriage is no longer important or relevant.  Brian Lehrer spoke with some of the people who have studied these trends as well as callers who have called in about this topic.  For all of us who love marriage, it is shocking – so tune in and hear what people think about 'I Do'.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 03 Dec 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">marriage2</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	


<item>
      <title>The Ethics of Eating</title>
      <description><![CDATA[I love food.  Of course, who doesn’t?  But I wonder how often we really consider what we are eating – or how we got it?  

Enter Barbara Kingsolver, author of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.  In her book, Kingsolver describes the year her family ate primarily what they could grow themselves.  

'I think in our culture, we generally lack strong regional traditions of food that tie us to our place and our people, you know, specific food traditions as they have in Italy, for example, or in India or Mexico or — We seem to be a little at sea in this country, as a result, when it comes to food rules. And we're behaving as if we're in search of some kind of food Leviticus to save us from this sinful roil of cheap fats and carbohydrates.'

'It seems to me, in this country, we have yet to assign any moral value to the over-consumption of the world's limited resources.  It seems like if you can afford it, it's OK to use it. That seems to be the only rule. There are many, many paths toward finding a better and more sustainable way to live in the world.']]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 26 Nov 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://download.publicradio.org/podcast/speakingoffaith/20080703_ethicsofeating.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">eating</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Do What You Love</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Once again we turn to NPR’s This I Believe for an uplifting and inside look at the life of professional skateboarder, Tony Hawk as told by . . . himself.  

Quite regularly, I aim to provoke the intellect, but this time, I thought it might be good to provoke the spirit.  This edition is not long, but it is uplifting and inspiring.  Perhaps there is not much more to say than that – enjoy!]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 19 Nov 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/tony_hawk.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">hawk</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Ethics and the Will of Faith</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer was executed in 1945 for conspiring to assassinate Adolf Hitler.  In 2006, filmmaker Martin Doblmeier made a documentary about the man that sparked a renewal in his ideas about the nature of ethics, the will of God and Christianity without religion.  Through Speaking of Faith, Krista Tippett interviewed Doblmeier about Bonhoeffer, which we now listen to today.  

‘Bonhoeffer saw the gospel at risk, and what he said is there is no way to peace along the way of safety. Peace is the great adventure. This man constantly was looking for the will of God and accepting the fact that the will of God may not lead you to self-preservation. It may call you to do things that you wouldn't normally want to do, and that the call to follow Jesus Christ is often the downward path,’ says Doblmeier to Tippett.  

What follows are remarkable ideas that will, no doubt, lead to remarkable discussions, so tune in as we learn about one of the great (and at times controversial) men of history.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 12 Nov 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">bonhoffer</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>The Myths of Digital Literacy</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Today, we tune in to The Agenda with Steve Paikin  once again.  This time, we are discussing The Myths of Digital Literacy.  As a program of TVO (Television Ontario), The Agenda is a weekly video and audio podcast featuring round-table discussions on issues of public concern.  

Obviously this is an issue that goes well beyond Ontario, and I must say that I was quite impressed by the perspectives that were shared.  As a an educator, life-long learner and avid reader, I am quite concerned about the impact technology is having on our collective literacy level.  

So while, this topic does not concern spirituality directly, the ability of people to focus on prayer and the tools of the spiritual life are directly correlated to one’s ability to concentrate and retain information (ie. skills we learn, in part, by reading)

As guests on his show, Steve Paikin has invited Andrea Lunsford (Professor of English and Director of the Program in Writing and Rhetoric at Stanford University); Alice Robison (Assistant Professor in the rhetoric, composition, and linguistics program in the English department at Arizona State University); Nicole Pinkard (Director of Innovation for the University of Chicago’s Urban Education Institute); and Mark Federman (Researcher at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto).]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 05 Nov 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://feeds.tvo.org/~r/TheAgendaWithStevePaikin/~5/li94JR8LCjo/1833606_48k.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">literacy</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Catholic Workers</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Recently, America Magazine featured a story, titled ‘Will Work for Free’ on faith-based volunteer programs, such as the Mercy and Jesuit Volunteer Corps.  The story was written by their newest staff writer, Kerry Weber, who was formerly a Mercy Volunteer.  

Kerry speaks about the increased enrollment in these faith-based volunteer programs, especially during the current economic downturn.  She also speaks about her own experience and I believe has something to say to both the young and the old.  For the young, there is a lot to consider here:  perhaps one of these programs will offer you what you need during a phase of transition.  For the old, the insights are equally as helpful from an organization view.  
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 29 Oct 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/catholic_worker.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">workers</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>I Agree with the Pagan</title>
      <description><![CDATA[I admit that this is a strange title for a blog entry, but it is not my title after all.  This week we tune in to NPR’s This I Believe as they share an essay from Arnold Toynbee.  Toynbee was a historian and advisor to the British government.  He studied history and then applied it to contemporary life questioning how it affected the different aspects of life today.  

Toynbee was heavily involved in the peace talks that ended WWI and particularly interested in how societies rise and fall.  His essay reflects on epistemology (the study of how we know something) and what matters most (which is not knowledge, but other people).

‘I believe that no one can ever know for certain what is right and wrong, but in the end, we have to bet on what is right and we do so by acting on it.’

Needless to say, Toynbee’s essay is a bit provocative, but it is very down to earth and speaks well to the messy-ness of human history.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 22 Oct 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/pagan.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">pagan</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>The Spirituality of Parenting</title>
      <description><![CDATA['The question I think parents are struggling to answer is how do we not just teach our children's minds, but how do we teach their souls? We want our children to be gracious and grateful, we want them to have courage in difficult times, we want them to have a sense of joy and purpose. That's what it means to nurture their spiritual life.’
	  
For just about everything we do, we need training and can readily receive it; however, just about anyone can have a child and most of us do so with little-to-no training.  This week, we join Krista Tippett, from Speaking of Faith, as she explores the spirituality of parenting.  
 
Now, I must confess that I am not a parent, but I gained a lot of insight about my own life.  I know I am often scared of particular topics because I don’t know the answers, but as you will discover in this program – life is not nearly so much about having answers as it is allowing questions to be asked.  

‘The children don't want to know what the expert has to say. They want to know what you're thinking. It's not so important that you have an answer. What's important is that you engage in the conversation. And it's perfectly acceptable to say, ‘This is a really hard question,’ and ‘Let's think about this together.’ Just talking is what's essential.’

So tune in this week as we take a look at parenting from a spiritual perspective.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 015 Oct 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">parenting</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>The Humanity of Our Faith</title>
      <description><![CDATA[From time to time, you encounter stories that simply make you feel better about yourself and the world around you.   From Tapestry, Mary Hynes’ interview with Barbara Brown Taylor is just that sort of story.  

Like the previous Attuned feature on Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB, Mrs. Taylor presents us with a fresh look at faith and humanity.  However, whereas Chittister thinks and speaks from a more ‘big picture’ perspective, Taylor speaks from the kitchen (literally).  Her views on faith, relationships, the body and human emotions speak from the heart and mind alike.  

From Tapestry’s own website, ‘Barbara Brown Taylor has been a cashier, cheese-packer, horseback- riding instructor, an Avon lady, a nursing-unit clerk, cocktail waitress, secretary, newspaper reporter, an editor, a pastor, preacher - and now, professor. Professor Brown Taylor says not one of her jobs has been any more sacred than any other.  As a priest in the Episcopal church. She spent fifteen years in parish ministry - and is now a professor of religion at Piedmont College in Georgia. Barbara Brown Taylor is the author of An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith, published by Harper One.’]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 08 Oct 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">browntaylor</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Obedience and Action</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Sr. Joan Chittister is a champion to some and an enemy to others.  As a Benedictine Sister, she has been one of the pillars of religious thought in the world, often challenging and reminding the status quo that few things are permanent and absolute.  She has often criticizing the institutional Church and yet, she has never left it.  

“I'm simply asking that all of us realize that the answers we have right now in those arenas may well not be final answers, that we're all struggling to find the best answers. We all say that life is our greatest value, but life has never been an absolute value. Having religion in the public arena is one thing, politicizing it is another. If we do that, we'll lose pluralism for Puritanism,”  Chittister says to Krista Tippett of Speaking of Faith .

In this interview, Chittister speaks openly about the ideas that challenge the institutional Church while at the same time speaking quite eloquently about her love for it and the joy she finds being a Religious sister.  

I must confess that my previous view of Chittister was not all-together positive, but my knowledge was also quite limited.   I found this interview remarkably fresh and quite balanced.  For anyone who struggles with the teachings of the Church, this interview will bring understanding to the complexities of multiple points of view. 
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 01 Oct 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">Chittister</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>The Struggles of Muslim Women Today:  Segregation in Mosques</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Often, Attuned features stories in a Christian perspective, but it is worth reminding everyone that my hope for this blog is to provoke discussion about issues that affect society and religion.  Though today’s stories have little to do with the Catholic Church (though one could argue for a strong connection), the issues surrounding women’s rights in the Muslim world spreads throughout our societies.

I coupled the two stories because both are short and related.  NPR has done a nice job of offering multiple points of view on each subject and I believe they paint a more vivid picture when heard together.

As I listened to each of these interviews, I wonder how often we think about the impact of culture on religion while distinguishing the two?  And do these stories perpetuate or challenge the existing stereotypes of women in the Muslim world?

I am quite sure other questions will come up for discussion, so listen in, and then makes plans to sit down with others and discuss these two great interviews.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 24 Sept 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/muslim_gender.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">muslim_women_1</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>The Struggles of Muslim Women Today:  The Veil</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Often, Attuned features stories in a Christian perspective, but it is worth reminding everyone that my hope for this blog is to provoke discussion about issues that affect society and religion.  Though today’s stories have little to do with the Catholic Church (though one could argue for a strong connection), the issues surrounding women’s rights in the Muslim world spreads throughout our societies.

I coupled the two stories because both are short and related.  NPR has done a nice job of offering multiple points of view on each subject and I believe they paint a more vivid picture when heard together.

As I listened to each of these interviews, I wonder how often we think about the impact of culture on religion while distinguishing the two?  And do these stories perpetuate or challenge the existing stereotypes of women in the Muslim world?

I am quite sure other questions will come up for discussion, so listen in, and then makes plans to sit down with others and discuss these two great interviews.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 24 Sept 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/veil.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">muslim_women_2</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	


<item>
      <title>The Body's Grace</title>
      <description><![CDATA[For many years now, I have practiced yoga as a form of meditation, and from time to time, I catch a little flack for it.  Even though yoga has emerged from ‘new age’ to ‘mainstream’, it seems many people find it hard to associate with a person of ‘faith’.  Well, I believe this idea is about to be turned on its toes (so to speak).

We join Krista Tippett and Speaking of Faith once again as she interviews Matthew Sanford.  At the age of 13, Matthew’s body was severely damaged in a car accident, which also killed his father and sister.  Now, Matthew is in a wheelchair . . . teaching yoga.

What follows is a remarkable perspective on the ‘mind-body connection’.

From his book, Waking, Sanford writes, ‘Imagine walking from a well-lit room into a dark one. Imagine the darkness as a visual expression of silence. My rehabilitation made a mistake with the silence by focusing on the absence of light. It too quickly accepted the loss and taught me to willfully strike out against the darkness. It told me to move faster rather than slower, push harder rather than softer. It guided me to compensate for what I could not see.

Another course of action, however, is patience. Stop moving. Wait for the eyes to adjust, allow for stillness, and then see what's possible. Although full-fledged vision does not return, usually there is enough light to find one's way across the room. After a while, the moon may come out, sounds might gain texture, the world might reveal itself once again, only darker.’

I have no doubt that you will find yourself thinking of your body differently, so join us and become ‘attuned’ to what your body is saying.  ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 17 Sept 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">yoga</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	


<item>
      <title>Religious Passion, Pluralism and the Young</title>
      <description><![CDATA[As you know by now, I listen to a lot of podcasts – some good, others not so much.  But every now and then, I listen to one that gets me excited.  This is one of those.  Today’s feature comes from Speaking of Faith as Krista Tippett interviews, Eboo Patel, founder of Interfaith Youth Core.   Patel is a young Muslim man who has started an organization dedicated to overcoming the hurts and misconceptions of religious pluralism.  In other words, this program is about how we can have inter-religious discussions. 

In the program, Patel says, ‘We will not save ourselves and the next generation of every faith by taming religious energy but by emboldening it.’

Patel credits The Catholic Worker as a reason he is religious at all and his grandmother for reminding him of his Islamic roots.  He recognized the influence that religious organizations and events are having on the word – from World Youth Day to Al-Qaeda.

Patel says, ‘Religious people are changing our world. You can sit in a corner and whine about it. Or you can be on the bus and figure out how we can all work together to build a world, where people cooperate and live together in some sort of mutual loyalty.’

So join us as we join Tippett and Patel on Speaking of Faith.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 10 Sept 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">pluralism</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Religion in China</title>
      <description><![CDATA[NPR (National Public Radio) broadcasts a collection of stories concerning religion under a common title named, “NPR Religion”.  It is a great way to get a sense of religion in the world over the past week.  I listen to it every week and often pull individual stories from it, but this time, the whole program is worth listening to as it is united by a common theme:  Religion in China.  

It seems everyone is doing a story on China these days, but you don’t here much about religion.  Of course, China is officially an atheist country, but many now people there are more Christians than there are Communist members.  One in three Chinese consider themselves spiritual; and while that is quite different from organized religion, it does represent a shift in public opinion.  

The Stories in this podcast (divided by chapters) are:  In The Land Of Mao, A Rising Tide Of Christianity; China’s Divided Catholics Seek Reconciliation; Female Imams Blaze Trail Amid China's Muslims; Beijing Finds Common Cause with Chinese Buddhists; China's Leaders Harness Folk Religion For Their Aims]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 03 Sept 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/chinese_religion.m4a" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">china</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	
	
	<item>
      <title>Fasting:  Two Muslims and a Catholic</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Some of you may know that I have recently begun my work at the University of Windsor as the Catholic Campus Minister.  Windsor is an incredibly diverse city and the university has a significant Muslim population that is, at this moment, celebrating the holy month of Ramadan.  

This past week, I was privileged to join my new friends at Islam Dunk to speak about fasting from the Catholic and Islam perspectives.  What follows is a wonderful discussion about our shared experiences and the richness each tradition brings to this discipline.  

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">fast_ramadan</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	
	
	
	<item>
      <title>Revealing Ramadan</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Last week, Muslims entered the sacred month of Ramadan.  It is a time of intense fasting, but it is also a time of prayer, community and alms-giving.  In many ways, Ramadan is similar to Lent in the Catholic tradition, but it is also quite different.

In a rather remarkable series of interviews, Krista Tippett of Speaking of Faith put together a episode entitled, Revealing Ramadan. It is revealed by 14 Muslims who speak of their experience of Ramadan.  These stories come from every walk of life, but I must admit that I was surprised at the number of them who are young – in their 20’s or college age.

Together, they paint a beautiful picture of this holy time – a reminder of our own need for meaningful and purposeful sacrifice.  I have no doubt that you will find Tippett’s program insightful, but I also hope it is challenging and educational – I know it is for me.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">ramadan</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Everything Potent is Dangerous</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Of the many podcasts that I have listened to over the years, most of them have made their way onto the blog at least or twice . . . except one.  NPR’s This I Believe is a program I listen to weekly, but have never advertised before because they are often quite short, and I like to post things a little longer in length.  

However, this week is different.  First, I should tell you that This I Believe is a program NPR resurrected about six years ago.  It was a very popular show several decades back, but for all the usual reasons, it fell out of favor and was removed from the NPR line up.  It has returned using the same format as before – generated from people from all walks of life, some celebrated, others ordinary, who submit essays about a particular view of life.  It is their “Belief Statement” – not just about God, but about belief they hold dear.  

This week features an essay from Wallace Stegner, the great writer on the West.  His was a writer, a champion of the environment and a teacher at Stanford.  He challenged people’s ideas of the West, recognized that it had particular stigmas that had to be overcome, but if you could – you would find beauty.  

Stegner’s essay expresses his concerns about passionate faith and his own limitations about “knowing” anything.  In short, he states that he believes in conscience and understands that there are consequences for such beliefs.   In the end, he also recognizes his own conceit and responsibility.  

So tune in to listen to the essay and the brief analysis of his thoughts.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 13 Aug 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">potent</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	


<item>
      <title>Desmond Tutu’s God of Surprises</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Once again, I bring Speaking of Faith to your attention as Krista Tippett interviews South African Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu on "the God of surprises" — how his understanding of God and humanity has unfolded through the history he's lived.

I imagine many of you know Tutu’s name, but I imagine most are not aware of even a few of his many accomplishments.  Tutu helped to orchestrate the peaceful transition from apartheid to democracy in South Africa.  Since then the retired Anglican archbishop has become a champion of peace, equality and prophetic voice in the world.  

As I listened to this interview, I was struck by Tutu’s understanding of power, hope and love.  

“If Whites wanted to bring us under, they should have never given us the Bible”

Reconciliation, Tutu says, is a process and a national project.  Forgiveness is something that everyone must work on.  

Tutu compares voting to falling in love and ponders what the world would be like if people saw their involvement in the civic life in such a way. 

In the end, Tutu will bring a smile to your face and a lift to your heart.  His laughter is an important as his wisdom; his joy as important as his sorrow.  

So join us as we join Tippett and Tutu on Speaking of Faith.  
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 06 Aug 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">tutu</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Selling God</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Not too long ago, a friend of mine told me about a wonderful program broadcast by the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Company) entitled, The Age of Persuasion, hosted by Terry O’Reilly.  In a nutshell, the Age of Persuasion is all about marketing in the world today; however, marketing also concerns a great deal of sociology.  

I have found every program fascinating, but not many of them fit into the scope of this blog, except this one:  Selling God.  O’Reilly takes a look at the “delicate” relationship between faith and advertising of the past few decades.  The result is fascinating and quite enlightening for all who are engaged in marketing their faith today.  Oh yes, I should also add that the program is highly entertaining – so enjoy!]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 30 July 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">selling_god</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Life in the Time of Jesus</title>
      <description><![CDATA[As a person who has devoted my life to the study and teaching of scripture, I have found the most common mistake people make concerning their own study concerns their tendency to interpret the text in a modern context.  Quite simply the period in which Jesus lived needs much more understanding if we are to interpret the Bible with authenticity and accuracy.  

In order to help us understand these differences, author Scott Korb recently published Life in Year One and discussed his book with America Magazine.  Korb’s book uncovers many of the romantic notions that have been incorrectly understood by people today.   

Join us as we explore these and other questions such as what people ate, where they worked, their relationship to Roman authorities and the moral views and habits of the day.  
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 23 July 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">jesus_time</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	
	

<item>
      <title>The Wisdom and Tenderness of Jean Vanier</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Once again, we tune into Speaking of Faith, with host Krista Tippett and her guest Jean Vanier, founder of L’Arche and modern-day saint.    

L’Arche provides a community for persons with mental disabilities in 131 locations in 34 countries around the world.  These communities were well-publicized by Henri Nouwen, who lived with Vanier and others for a significant portion of his later life.  

Vanier is filled with wisdom and practical applications of the Gospel.  His life experience after years of living with the mentally challenged gives us great insight into notions of power, humility, compassion and strength.  It has been said that Vanier finds gifts where others see tragedy, and there is no doubt that after listening to Vanier speak of his own life, now so intertwined with those he cares for, you too will be a little wiser than you were before.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 04 June 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">vanier</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Sex in Schools</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Today, we tune in to The Agenda with Steve Paikin to discuss sex education in schools.  As a program of TVO (Television Ontario), The Agenda is a weekly video and audio podcast featuring round-table discussions on issues of public concern.  

Obviously this is an issue that goes well beyond Ontario, and I must say that I was quite impressed by the perspectives that were shared.  I should note that none of the guests commenting on this program represent a “Religious” perspective, but all reference the tenants of faith and family as strong reasons for their beliefs. 

At the heart of this debate is the question, “should a state or province be allowed to decide what one’s child will learn about sexual health?”  This includes everything from STD’s to homosexuality to gender roles to the purpose of sex.  

As guests on his show, Steve Paikin has invited Charles McVety (President of both the Canada Family Action Coalition and Canada Christian College); Shannon Boodram ( Editor of Laid: Young People’s Experiences with Sex in an Easy Access Culture); Megan Harris (Senior fellow with the Montreal Economic Institute and former federal Conservative party candidate in the riding of Toronto Centre); and Lyba Spring (who has been working as a Sexual Health Educator for Toronto Public Health for the past 25 years. She also works as a counsellor in a Sexual Health clinic). ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 28 May 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">sex</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Reacting to Abuses within the Legion of Christ</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Especially in the Southern United States, I am frequently asked about the Legionaries of Christ.  However, in recent months, the Legionaries have received a great deal of press they would rather not have.  A few weeks ago, Pope Benedict XVI announced plans to revamp the order’s spirituality and culture after their founder was accused of numerous abuses of his office.  

Michel Martin, NPR’s Faith Matters speaks with Jason Berry, who recently wrote about the Legion of Christ for The National Catholic Reporter, and David Gibson, a religion writer for Politics Daily.  The discussion is relevant to all of us, but particularly so for the Hispanic Catholic community.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 May 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://public.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/tmm/2010/05/20100507_tmm_02.mp3?dl=1" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">legion</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Prosperity Gospel</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Not too long ago, writer Benjamin Anastas published an article in Harper’s Magazine on the Prosperity Gospel during a recession.  Shortly after, Brian Lehrer of WNYC discussed the article on his own show.  

In this 14 minute segment, Brian and Benjamin discuss the myths and truths of the Prosperity Gospel, which promises that if you put your faith in God, you will not have financial problems.  Of course, such ideas, along with other tenants of this gospel, have been harshly criticized over the years.  Most specifically, that one’s poverty results from a poor relationship with God.  However, there are also some very good life lesson and skills contained in this teaching.  

So if you have ever been curious about the Prosperity Gospel, tune into The Brian Lehrer Show for an intriguing discussion along with clips from various preachers.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 14 May 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/prosperity.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	


<item>
      <title>Hell</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Last week’s approach to Heaven was a bit more “academic”, perhaps because the topic is so difficult to discuss on any experiential level.  However, this week Mary Hines and the company of Tapestry explore Hell, which sadly, we all know much more about.  The interview this week is a more “spiritual” one as it examines our understanding of Hell through personal experiences on Earth.
	  
This interview features individuals from all walks of life:  religious and secular; successful and struggling; educated and skilled; but all of them well-intentioned.  That’s the thing about Hell – it often looks like Heaven in the beginning.

Of course, Hell can take many shapes in our present realities.  Whether it manifest itself as fear or the absence of being noticed, every religion has their own description of “Hell”.  In the end, we are faced with the question this week:  What does it mean to be bad; and what does it mean to be good?

So tune in to listen to the stories of those who have been to Hell, thinking it was Heaven; and others who have pondered good and evil, and what they learned along the way.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 07 May 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/hell.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">hell</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Heaven</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Just this past month, I was asked to speak on Heaven.  Of course, I have no real knowledge of the place, so I am reduced to my own imagination.  And then America Magazine did a piece on the subject.  While it was too late for my presentation, I found it quite insightful.  

The hosts interviewed Lisa Miller, who talks about her new book Heaven: Our Enduring Fascination with the Afterlife.  Miller explains that the idea of heaven comes from the Jewish tradition, but was embroidered later by Christians and Muslims, who have at various times imagined heaven as a place where one is reunited with friends and family, and a venue for sensual pleasures unavailable in this mortal life. 

While researching her book, Miller spoke with Trappist monks and scholars of religion, among many others, about the otherworldly place Emily Dickinson called “what I cannot reach.”]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 29 Apr 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/heaven.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">heaven</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>The Spiritual Audacity of Rabbi Heschel</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Once again, we tune into Speaking of Faith, with host Krista Tippett and her guest Arnold Eisen of the Jewish Theological Seminary, to discuss the legacy of Rabbi Abraham Heschel.  

Heschel has long been one of my heros, and this interview reminds me why.  Tippett and Eisen speak of Heschel role in the civil rights movement, his deep friendship with Martin Luther King, Jr., his thoughts on inter-religious dialogue, the prophets, relativism and pluralism and the young.  

Heschel is living poetry.  When once asked about the advice he would give to the young, he said, “There is a meaning beyond absurdity.  Let them be sure that every little deed counts; everyone has power.  Let them do their share to redeem the world.  Remember that the meaning of life is to build life as thought it were a work of art.  You are not a machine.  When you are young, start working on this great work of art called your own existence.”

Join us for a remarkable journey of faith and wonder.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 22 Apr 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/heschel.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">heschel</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Survival of the Kindest</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Thomas Hobbs once described human beings as “nasty, brutish and short” (circa 1651), but this week we join Mary Hines, of Tapestry, as she challenges that notion with a different idea.  Mary interviews Dr. Dacher Keltner, of the University of Berkley, about his new book Born to Be Good:  The Science of a Meaningful Life.  

Dr. Keltner uses his research and work with the Dali Lama to resurrect some of the little known ideas about Charles Darwin, who Keltner feels has been misrepresented over the years.   Most people know about Darwin’s popular notions of survival, but he theories about competition do not apply to human beings the way most of us believe.  Darwin recognized that we are not the fastest or strongest, nor do we have any great teeth or claws, and yet we are on top of the evolutionary ladder.  Darwin suggested that our greatest traits are sympathy and cooperation.  It is in our ability to cooperate for the common good that we find our strength.  

This interview if filled with mind-blowing ideas and data, so join in and see humanity in a totally different light.  
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/kindest.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>Is It Time for Vatican III?</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Over the last few weeks, the Catholic Church has been in the news a great deal because of new cases of clerical sex abuse.  Many voices are calling for further reform in hopes that it will prevent such tragedies in the future.

Not too long ago, at the 2010 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, America Magazine interviewed theologian, Richard Gaillardetz, about the possible need for a Vatican III.

What have we learned from Vatican II?  Has the Church implemented all the changes suggested by the Council Fathers?  What work still needs to be done?  Do we need another council to address the current crises and additional issues such as the role of lay ministers and women in the Church?

Join us as we explore these and other questions.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 09 Apr 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/vatican_III.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">vatican_III</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>The Evolution of God</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Not too long ago, I heard an interview from the Brian Leher Show with Krista Tippett on her new book Einstein's God. Needless to say, I picked up the book and have been amazed; however, that is not the subject of this post.

I began to listen to Speaking of Faith, the show that Tippett hosts on a weekly basis. Each interview is rather amazing, and so it is no surprise that I want to plug her work by highlighting one of the more outstanding interviews I have heard in quite some time.

Robert Wright is the author of The Evolution of God, in which is uses science to explain the Catholic concept of Revelation. Essentially, Wright argues that has human societies have evolved, so has our understanding of God. He argues against Process Theology and states that the more connected the world becomes, the more we are required to understand God as compassionate in inclusive.

This interview should not be missed and will certainly leave you subscribing to Tippett's program for more!]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 02 Apr 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/wright.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Responding to Dawkins</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Dr. Terry Eagleton is a professor at the University of Lancastar and author of many books; his latest entitled, Reason, Faith and Revolution. And while his name may not be known to many, he has achieved increased notoriety due to his public criticisms of Richard Dawkins and other 'new atheists'.

Listen in has he tackles the many arguments of Dawkins an an attack on intellectualism and promotion of cultural insensitivity.  Eagleton argues the increased certainly of Islam in a self-doubting culture has created a new crisis in the minds of many people.

In the end, Eagleton argues that the athiests' arguments fall far short of logic and experience.

For anyone who is concerned about God, either as a skeptic or a believer, the interview is sure to fascinate you and give rise to a number of discussions among your friends and family.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/eagleton.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">eagleton</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	


<item>
      <title>An Interview with Richard Dawkins</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Perhaps the best known atheist in the world, Richard Dawkins is a best-selling author of several titles, including The God Delusion, The Selfish Gene and The Blind Watchmaker.  Over the two years, Dawkins and other atheists have found resonance with many people who are dissatisfied with organized religion and the answers they provide.

    I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world.

Not too long ago, Mary Hines from CBC's Tapestry program sat down with Mr. Dawkins for a 55 minute casual conversation.

I have no doubt that you will the conversation interesting as they discuss the view of life in the absence of God.  In fact, you may be surprised by his perspectives on the 'unintelligent design' and how life is NOT up to chance.  Dawkins even considers the possibility of God, but in a way you may not have previously imagined.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/dawkins.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">dawkins</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Healing Begins with Our Mind</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Sometimes strokes of genius come from the most unlikely of sources. . . .

Andrew Solomon struggled to recover from depression for years.  He went to psychologists, doctors, took dozens of medications, tried dozens of experimental methods, and was still completely crippled by anxiety.  However, as you will hear in his 18 min. story as told on The Moth, Andrew found treatment in the most bizarre of places in a series of the most bizarre and hilarious events.

By no means, do I advocate the exact practices of Mr. Solomon (for reasons you will soon understand), but his open-mindedness and conclusions are worthy of our attention.  Not only does Andrew offer great wisdom, but you will laugh whole-heartedly as you listen to his tale.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/soloman.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>Conversations about God and the Human Spirit</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Far too often, people place science at odds with religion.  Of course, the Catholic Church has (for the most part) always recognized the importance of faith and reason working together as we strive to understand the divine mysteries of creation, but the Catholic Church is not alone in the endeavor. 

Krista Tippett recently wrote a book entitled Einstein's God: Conversations about Science and the Human Spirit, talks about science and spirituality, in which she considers the place of all religions in dialogue with science.

Based in Einstein's own support of religion along science, Tippett speaks about the depth of asking "Why?"  Einstein believed that science sought to address the cause, but believed it is the place of religion to explain the purpose.  In this interview with Brian Lehrer, Tippett admits that she was surprised to find out Einstein was deeply interested in the Eucharist and sought the understanding of Catholic Bishops. 

For anyone who is frustrated at the usual tension between faith and science, this interview is a refreshing look - perhaps so much that you will even want to pick up the book.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/einstein.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>Changed by the Journey</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The season of Lent almost seems synonymous with a pilgrimage — a journey that becomes an episode of transformation in our lives. They are moments of grace and endurance as well as joy and sadness.

Of course, many of us know that some pilgrimages begin because of the events that are thrust upon our lives.

One such example is today's guest, Rocco Rossi, CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. A few years ago Rocco was on the fast track up the corporate ladder, but after the death of a colleague, he realized that it was time to re-evaluate his life. The result was a journey that began with the Camino in Spain and continues as he is now working to bring miracles to families across Ontario.

As the years have added between now and those life changing events, Rocco shares with us his perspective on the journey and how it changed the terrain of his life.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilian.org/Media/macrina_changed_by_the_journey.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">journey</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>The Fears We Face</title>
      <description><![CDATA[I have always been a fan of Rabbi Harold Kushner – he just seems to have a way of making complicated issues so very simple.  Rabbi Kushner is the author of the best-selling book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People and took some time to talk with Mary Hines on Tapestry.

The subject is fear, but the interview covers much more than that.  In this 52 minute interview, Rabbi Kushner speaks about belief, the lack of belief, prayer, suffering, wisdom and more.

If ever there was interview to share with friends and family who have let go of their faith in God, this is it.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/fear.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">fear</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Shared Abundance</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Lent has officially begun and as it is a time of the year when we think about the essentials, it seems a fitting time to think about a more simple way of living.  So this week, we turn once again to Fr. Steve Spahn, S.J. at Provoke Radio to help put Lent, simple living and our blessings in perspective.  Not too long ago, he interviewed Jeff and Suzanne - a young couple with a son of their own who bought a house with the explicit intention that they would open it up to others in need, specifically, political refugees.

I remember when I first heard this interview -- I was amazed at this act of solidarity and generosity, not because of the sacrifices it entails, but it seems that they are giving up all of the privacy, security, and stock most of us associate with a home.  However, as I listened in, I found that Jeff and Suzanne hardly see this practice as 'doing without.'

So listen in as they talk about what they have learned from those who share their home with them as well as their new perspective on the 'American Dream.'  I have no doubt that it will cause you to think about what you can do with your own lives.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 16 Feb 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	


<item>
      <title>Faith and Reason; Evolution and Creation</title>
      <description><![CDATA[I speak with a lot of students who have questions about evolution and creation, but I often find that another, bigger issue lies beneath their quandary:  the relationship between faith and reason.  Especially in the university environment, questions about this relationship are not only appropriate, I believe they are necessary.

A few years ago, I sat down with Dr. Denis Lamoureux, a professor at the University of Alberta and expert on the subject of Evolutionary Creationism.  Dr. Lameroureux teaches within the Catholic College at the University and finds that his classes on all issues of faith and reason are some of the most popular on campus.  Whether they are science majors or not, students sign onto waiting lists to listen and learn from the energetic and knowledgeable man.

So join us this week for the 16 min. segment from Conversations with Macrina as we delve into the relationship between faith and reason through a dialogue about evolutionary creationism. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

	
<item>
      <title>Comfortable</title>
      <description><![CDATA[All of us long to be comfortable, especially with our family.
Not too long ago, I discovered a new podcast entitled, “The Moth” featuring stories from real people in front of a live audience without notes.  They have nothing to do (explicitly) with the Church, but they are hilarious and can point out some very real values (however, some episodes are quite awful, so if you subscribe, pick and choose wisely).

On the topic of longing for comfort, I give you Elna Baker and the story of her longing to be comfortable with herself in the context of her family and friends.  As with many of the personalities featured on The Moth, Elna is very funny, so enjoy her story.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 03 Feb 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/funnyone.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">funnyone</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	
	
<item>
      <title>Challenges for the Pro-Life Movement</title>
      <description><![CDATA[There are few things among Catholic social circles that causes as much discussion as the issue of abortion.  Last year, President Obama’s acceptance to be the commencement speaker of the graduation ceremony of Notre Dame re-flamed the fires of the issue.  So, at the risk of being controversial, I decided it was time for a little perspective.

At the time, I was reading the February 2009 issue of “America” Magazine which focused on the development of the pro-life movement.  I should be clear on the outset that it does not question the Church’s teaching on the matter; rather, it looks at the development of the movement and its argument.  It asks questions like, “How do we help society deal with abortion in a moral way?”  “Does the ’seamless garment’ of a consistent ethic of life ‘water down’ the pro-life message?”  “How has the pro-life movement tied itself to political parties and agendas – if it has at all?”  And “what strategies should be used concerns Obama’s stance on abortion?”

Linked is a more in depth discussion with James Kelly, professor emeritus of sociology at Fordham University in New York and a member of the University Faculty for Life as heard on the Podcast of America Magazine.

To summarize, I should state that Mr. Kelly does not speak of the issue of abortion nearly as much as he does the movement that advances the issue.  In a nutshell, he suggests that the movement must return to its roots if it is ever to sustain itself.  It means that it must ask itself, “what kind of a movement is it?”  Is it more like the movement for civil rights or that of non-violence?  As for the rest, I will leave it to you to listen in.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	



<item>
      <title>The Complications of Homelessness</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Over spring break, I journeyed with 15 students to New York City as an immersion into the issues of urban poverty.  Time after time, I heard students comment about the complexities surrounding the issue - much to their surprise.  Homelessness does not find a majority in any one demographic, nor does it necessarily concern addiction issues or even employment issues.  In fact, many who are without a permanent home do have jobs and families and can be considered wonderful people -- a lesson these 15 students learned first-hand.

However, for the rest of us that have never had the opportunity to spend time thinking about the issue or meeting the people, I decided to dedicate this episode to you.  In large part this 30 minute espisode of Provoke Radio concerns healthcare and homelessness.  However, you will also have a chance to listen to the perspective of those who are homeless -- to hear about their creativity, how they live in the moment and face the challenges of loneliness.  "Anything means everything to you when you are homeless," one interviewee said.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">homeless</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	
	
	<item>
      <title>Newman Alternative Spring Break Presentation</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Enjoy and allow the stories to stir your imagination.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	


<item>
      <title>The Bible:  Myth or History?</title>
      <description><![CDATA[No book is more widely published, translated, or read than the Bible; however, nor is there a book more complicated than the Bible.  So this week, I thought we might shed a little light on how we are to interpret the Bible with the help of author Karen Armstrong.  Over the years, Karen has written extinsively about world religions and helped to bridge the gaps between them.  Her most recent work is about the Bible becasue, in her words, she is "so frustrated" with the abuse that is occuring in the name of sacred scripture.

There is no doubt that Karen will raise many questions and perhaps offer real challenges to our current understandings about scripture.  Her interpretations are in line with theologians from the Catholic and many other Christian religions because she makes the distinction between how the Bible is read in our own day and how it was intented to be read in the early Church.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/armstrong.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">armstrong</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	


<item>
      <title>Waging Peace One Neighborhood at a Time</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Sometimes, it seems there are so many problems out there, that we hardly know where to begin; and much less, what difference it will make.  Our efforts to improve ourselves and the world around us through our own education and works of charity seem to only scratch the surface, leaving many of us cynical and progressively self-centered.

Then you hear stories about people like Ralph, who grew up in inner-city Baltimore and took on the drug dealers one neighborhood at a time.  Ralph grew up in the neighborhood he now works in - a neighborhood centered around St. Pius V School taught by the Oblate Sisters of Providence.  However, the neighborhood was becoming increasingly more violent due to the drug dealers who were stationed all around them.  For the longest time, they respected the Sisters and the school, but that didn't last.  Refusing to let his neighborhood become another statistic, Ralph lead his community into the streets to face them head on.

Ralph's story is probably not unique, but it sure makes for a good listen and reminds us all of the power we have when we draw our strength from our convictions.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>newmancenter</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>Sin 2.0</title>
      <description><![CDATA[I have found that many people find the notion of sin terribly confusing.  Many of us still operate with antiquated notions of sin that can prove problematic while at the same time accepting other actions as acceptible that are in fact, quite sinful.

So to bring a bit of clarity to the issue of sin, we join WYNC’s Brian Lehrer and his quest, Vatican correspondent John Allen Jr to discuss the topic of sin and the new social sins “released” not too long ago.  I have no doubt that you will find Brian questions and John’s answer incredibly helpful, informative and entertaining.

In response to the many questions by callers and Brian, John Allen explains how the Vatican determines these sort of changes, the difference between individual and social as well as mortal and venial sins.  John also explains indulgences and the reasons behind the new categories of social sin and rebuts callers objections to commonly disputed “sins” such as birth control.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 30 Dec 2009 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/sin.mp3" length="2607893" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">sin</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>Our Best Kept Secret</title>
      <description><![CDATA[We hear a lot about Catholic Social Teaching, but I think there is often a bit of ambiguity as to what is really being discussed.  Once again, we join Fr. Steve Spahn, SJ of Provoke Radio to learn more about Cathoic Social Teaching.  In this 30 minute interview, he is joined by:  Fr. David Hollenbach, SJ, director of the Center for Human Rights and International Justice at Boston College; Fr. John Donahue, SJ, formerly of the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley and the Raymond Brown Distinguised Professor of New Testament Studies at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore; and Mrs. Marie Dennis; Director of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns and V.P. of Pax Christi International.

Together, this panel speaks to the key "kernals" of the teaching:  that there are no easy answers.  Their insights provide us with an analysis of social structures and speak to the prophetic deminsion of Catholic Social Teaching.  In this interview, they also discuss the issue of "existential insecurity", which speaks to the relationship between our physical needs and our need for God.  Lastly, Fr. Spahn makes a unique link between the Social Teachings and inter-religious dialogue, specifically with Islam.

So grab a pad and paper, because there a sure to be a few thoughts you want to write down with this one, and listen in.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>The Responsibility of a University to its City</title>
      <description><![CDATA[“Responsibility” is a word often associated with universities — the responsibility of the student to their work; of the professor to their student; of the president to its faculty; and of the alumni to their alma mater.  However, we rarely hear, or even think about, the responsibility of a university to its host city.

This week, we listen to Fr. Steve Spahn, S.J., host of Provoke Radio speak with newly appointed president of Loyola College in Baltimore, Fr. Brian Linnane, S.J.  When Fr. Linnane accepted his post as the 24th president, he fully expected to shape his inaugural address around a commitment to a robust intellectual and academic life for the Loyola community. Instead, he delivered a speech pledging a mission driven commitment to service and social justice and announced that the academic year 2006-2007 would be the “Year of the City”.

Though this 30 minute interview focuses on Loyola College, it raises many questions about our own university.  “What responsibility does an institution have to its host city and those who live there?” “How can a university serve and strengthen the city it finds itself in and leave it better than it found it?”  “What are the greater realities to which a university should consider?”  “How does a university cultivate a sense of vocation?”

Listen in as guest, Fr. Brian Linnane, SJ answers these questions and more. It is an uplifting story of one man using his position of influence to make a difference.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	


<item>
      <title>Lessons from the Hip-Hop Wars</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Last week, we heard from Michael Franti - a musician whose music carries a powerful message about the state of the world and our purpose in it.  This week, the musical theme continues as we listen in to an interview with Tricia Rose, professor of Africana Studies at Brown University and author of The Hip-Hop Wars:  What We Talk About When We Talk About Hip-Hop and Why it Matters.  This past December, Tricia aired on the WNYC's Brian Lehrer Show for a 27 minute interview to discuss the evolution of hip-hop and where it stands today -- not just as a musical forum, but a forum for the socially-conscious mind.

Tricia's comments hit the range of discussions many of us have regarding music as she considers the role of music and art in society?  In this interview, she addresses the concern that many share:  is hip-hop a reflection or the cause of violence?  As a professor of Africana Studies and fan of hip-hop, she takes us through the evolution of hip-hop from its inception.

In addition to the insight of one of the most popular art-forms today, I believe this interview offers listeners a challenge:  that is how we communicate self-love and how we criticize for a purpose?  In addition, Tricia Rose looks at the difference between vocalizing a set of circumstances and inspiring creative solutions to those circumstances.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>When Funk Meets Action and Contemplation</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Educational methods have profoundly changed in even the past few decades.  Most now agree that education doesn’t take place in the classroom nearly as it does through the media.  Finding research is no longer a difficult task; rather, it is ensuring the validity and quality of your search that takes so much effort.  We are challenged to be careful, critical stewards of our information — especially when it is combined with entertainment.

Today’s podcast features one such musical artist who has traveled and researched the world.  The fruits of his efforts are not papers, but music.  Join us as we join Mary Hines, Host of the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Company) program Tapestry and her guest, Michael Franti.

The interview is a bit long (50 min.), so you may want to break it up, but as you will read in the description below — it is well worth it.

    “In the Michael Franti song, East to the West there is a line: ‘Music is too large for just one station … god is too big for just one religion.’ The musician Michael Franti blends hip-hop with reggae and funk to send a message about his spirituality; no matter where people live or what they look like, they’re pretty much the same. As he says in the song Hello Bonjour: ‘don’t tell a man that he can’t come here ’cause he got brown eyes and a wavy kind of hair, And don’t tell a woman that she can’t go there because she prays a little different to a god up there.”]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>the GOAL!!! of the human spirit. . .</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Many of us want to make a difference in the world, but just don’t know how to start — and I would argue that many of us do, even if we think we don’t. However, there are some people out there who are just plain amazing. Lawrence Cann is one of those people and this week, we feature his story.

Lawrence is seemingly not any difference from anyone else. Throughout life, he traveled from job to another and found it difficult to stick to any one thing for very long. He is passionate about art and literature, but his first love is soccer. Several years ago, he made a trip to South America where he encountered real poverty up-close-and-personal for the first time. Like many of us, he had seen pictures and heard stories, but this was different. He returned back to his home of Charlotte, NC wanting to combat poverty.

But how? Where do you start?

Lawrence found that the best place to start . . . is where you are. He determined early on that the first step to overcoming poverty was restoring the human spirit.

His vehicle — what else, but soccer.

In addition to now working for the Urban Ministry Center, Lawrence is the founder of Street Soccer, which now has teams across the U.S. and even holds a World Cup Tournament. The success of Street Soccer has earned Lawrence the title of “Hero” by People Magazine this past year.

So tune in and listen to this amazing story. You will be amazed at the sheer resourcefulness of Lawrence’s ability to turn desire into action. I encourage you to share his insight about the need of the impoverished for socialization, structure and of all things, relaxation.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	

<item>
      <title>Called to New Beginnings</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The priesthood is always a bit mysterious, even to faithful Catholics.  For that reason, I have always tried to interview priests and seminarians about their lives.

A little while ago, I interviewed three Basilians on the evening before their final vows to the Congregation. José, Glenn and Andrew share their journey with us and a bit about what they have learned during their studies, formation and ministry. All three are newly ordained priests now serving in Detroit, New York and Hong Kong respectively and offer a unique look at the priesthood and religious life of the Catholic Church.

As you listen to their experience and perspective, my hope is that you allow yourself to be open to God’s tug at your own heart — in whatever direction that might be, and begin asking questions about how you might be able to live life to its fullest potential. In whatever path we take, whether single, marriage, priesthood or religious life, not one of them start with the end in mind. Just as you do not determine if you are going to marry a person before going on a date, nor do people determine they are going to be a priest or religious before asking questions. New resolutions, actions and ideas are all most effective when the steps are small. In fact, if you go to the Basilian vocation website, you will see that it is themed, “The Next Step is Not as Big as You Think.” This is true for all of us.

I should note that you do not have to be considering priesthood to enjoy this interview. I have no doubt that anyone who is curious about the inner workings of the Church will enjoy this perspective.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>Changing the World One Life at a Time</title>
      <description><![CDATA[This week, we continue thinking about the concept of giving.  There is no doubt that Elle’s story about Heifer International (featured in the previous entry) caused many of us to think about our own lives and giving/purchasing tendencies.  Elle’s story is a call to each of us, not only to think about what we can give, but also how much we have and what we can live without.

This week, we continue to ask these questions, but also begin to provide a few answers.  Not too long ago, I interviewed two students from the University of St. Thomas in Houston who have come together with other students (most of them business and international development majors), to create a micro-lending club.  Micro-lending, as they will explain, centers around the idea that individuals can loan money to other individuals in need using the internet.  The most popular vehicle for micro-lending at the moment is Kiva, with whom the UST students have become partners.

Here is an excerpt from Kiva’s website describing what they are about:

    Kiva’s mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.

    Kiva is the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world.

    The people you see on Kiva’s site are real individuals in need of funding - not marketing material. When you browse entrepreneurs’ profiles on the site, choose someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates and track repayments. Then, when you get your loan money back, you can relend to someone else in need.

I decided to pull one such success story to give you an idea.  Meet Maria Elena from Ayacucho, Peru who has already paid back $276 of her $550 loan.

    Maria Elena used part of her Kiva loan to buy bedspreads, medical clothing and surgical materials to sell to local hospitals. She added the rest of the money to her FINCA savings account, which she proudly says is growing steadily. She’s currently in the process of using her savings to buy a plot of land, and she tells me that if it weren’t for FINCA, she never would have been able to save so much. “It seems like a lie!” she tells me, referring to the way her savings account has grown. Several years ago, she used part of her savings to buy a mototaxi, which she now rents out to earn extra income. She says it’s very reassuring to know that she has money saved up in case any unexpected illnesses or other emergencies come along.

As you listen to this 14 minute interview, I hope it will cause you to ask yourself about how you can give to others and think about your own spending habits.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 12 Nov 2009 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>A Season of Giving</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Every now and then, you run across an interview that you listen to over and over again because the wisdom is so profound.  This is one such interview, though the wisdom comes from the most unlikely of sources. 

At the age of eight, Elle Guettler has an insight into the meaning of giving that will leave you re-thinking all your previous notions about your own capabilities.  When she was five, she realized that what she really wanted for her birthday was to help other children around the world.  She discovered Heifer International, an organization that provides livestock to families in third world countries. 

Today (again at the age of eight), she raises millions of dollars for Heifer International.  However, this fact is not the most compelling part of Elle’s story; rather, it is her thoughts on the idea of giving and the power of youth that leave your heart melted and your brain thrown into overdrive.

There is a bit of background information for the first 10 minutes, but it is important to understand what Elle discusses.

Over the years, I have used this interview to inspire others to contribute to the work of Heifer International, but I have learned that it has also inspired whole new projects because of the ideas heard in these 30 minutes.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 05 Nov 2009 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>	


<item>
      <title>You're Called to Sainthood</title>
      <description><![CDATA[I know what you’re thinking:  “me, a saint???  You clearly don’t know me well enough. . .”

This may be true, but believe it or not, by your baptism, you are called to be a saint.  In fact, the Second Vatican Council wrote in Lumen Gentium, Chapter V, that all those baptized, regardless of their status, are called to holiness.  In fact, John Paul II called the youth of the world, “the saints of the new millennium.”

But what does “holiness” mean?  What does it mean to be a saint today?  Does God really call each of us to be saints — despite our sinfulness?  What makes the saints so special?  How do saints become saints?  Which saints should I consider models for my life?

In this episode, we listen to Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB address a college student conference in Canada about the answers to these questions.  As former CEO of World Youth Day 2002 and current CEO of Salt and Light Television in Toronto, Fr. Tom has known saints personally, and shares many good stories about their lives before they went to God.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 29 Oct 2009 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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	<item>
      <title>Understanding The Psalms</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Over the past few weeks, we have been very focused on issues concerning the “here-and-now”; but at the prompting of this week’s Gospel, we shift our attention just a bit, to where the “here-and-now” meets the divine spark.

Perhaps one of the great hinges of our faith, and yet one of the most mis-understood books in the Bible, the Psalms offer us a wonderful insight into our history and our present.  The interview is one I did myself through my program, Conversations with Macrina, with Fr. Bill Irwin, CSB.  Fr. Irwin was my one of my own professors of the Hebrew Scriptures and shares with all of us his love of the Psalms.

In this approximately 13 minute interview, we hear of David’s role (or lack thereof) in the Psalms’ composition, their impact on the communities of the time and how we should pray with the Psalms today.  After listening to Fr. Irwin, you will be amazed at the insight the Psalms provide into our own relationship with God.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Oct 2009 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">understanding-the-psalms</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>
	
	<item>
      <title>Homeboy Industries. Inc.</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Ask just about anyone, and they will say that they want to make a difference in this world.  But how we do this AND how we sustain change is a totally different issue.  This week, we hear from Fr. Gregory Boyle, SJ — founder and CEO of Homeboy Industries, Inc. Formerly a pastor of a parish in an impoverished section of LA, Fr. Boyle found himself in the cross-fire of competing gangs.  While many of us would find the situation hopeless, Fr. Boyle set out to help the youth he encountered by tending to their very basic needs — a place to belong, dignified work and skills to make a valid contribution to society. Homeboy Industries is a collection of businesses from silk-screening to graffiti removal.  In addition, Fr. Boyle helps young people find work in other places and get off the streets.

The questions asked of Fr. Boyle are about how we sustain change; how we get enemies to work together; how you convince someone to make less money at a job, rather than a large, though illegal, income on the streets; how we reach the “unreachable”; how faith/religion impacts the very troubled lives of youth on the streets; and many others.

I confess that this interview is a bit long at 41 minutes, but I have no doubt that you will find the perspective and stories Fr. Boyle relays to us inspiring and eye-opening.  I remember when I first heard this interview, I went to the Homeboy website and found myself in awe of all that has been done through the determination and hope of Fr. Boyle.  So whether you listen to it in bits or all at once, take the time to listen — it is well worth it.

And remember, if you are at New Mexico State University, we meet every Tuesday from 4-5pm near Java City in the Corbett Center to discuss what we have heard over a cup of coffee.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2009 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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	<item>
      <title>Reasons to be Cheerful</title>
      <description><![CDATA[After two weeks of religion and politics, it seems we are all due for a break.  This week we listen in to the Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC public radio out of New York City.  Last year (May 14, 2007), Brian brought Jennifer Michael Hecht, author of The Happiness Myth:  Why What We Think Is Right Is Wrong, on to his show to discuss her book and our notions of happiness.

Jennifer looks at our notions of happiness today in the context of history.  She is not interested in telling people what to do, but observing what people actually do.  Thus, this 22 minute program will not speak of any theological notions of happiness, but should call us all to question what makes us happy and what that says about us.

The Happiness Myth is divided into five sections:  Wisdom, Drugs, Money, Bodies, and Celebration.  Listen as Brian questions her about the absence of Love, Art and Beauty in our notions of happiness.  Jennifer also questions why it is that we so often value productivity and longevity over “family” values.  And why is it that Jennifer calls shopping a “central public pleasure”?

I have no doubt this interview will give you something to think and talk about.  You will not agree with everything said — I know I don’t, but her perspective is an interesting one — certainly worth the listen.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 06 Oct 2009 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">reasons-to-be-cheerful</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>
	
	<item>
      <title>Separation of Church and State</title>
      <description><![CDATA[In a remarkable dialogue between various law professors, this interview takes up a commonly misunderstood issue:  the separation of church and state.  As we are all aware, this line has been used as an argument to eliminate the influence of faith-based organizations on the public sector.  However, as you will hear, modern interpretations do not necessarily reflect the true intention of the Constitution.

In the past posting, we heard about our responsibility, as Christians, to engage in political life for the sake of the common good.  This time, we hope to understand the boundaries of this involvement from the perspective of the government and those ensuring the equality of peoples and religion.

In an age of “tolerance”, join us as we ask ourselves what tolerance means in the United States regarding religious beliefs and the public expression of that religion.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Sept 2009 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>
	
  
  <item>
      <title>Is There a Public Will for the Common Good?</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Over the years, I have had many discussions with students about the common good.  What is the common good?  Who dictates what is good?  Who qualifies as common?

Inevitably, the God question comes up.  Is God required to understand the common good?  Can we not simply discover the common good through a normative consensus?

Join us as we explore the meaning of this term; what we are willing to sacrifice for it (if anything); and what that entails.

This interview will no doubt have you asking questions about the balance between individual rights and concern for other people.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Sept 2009 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>
	
<item>
      <title>Eleanor Roosevelt</title>
      <description><![CDATA[One of my heroes in life is Eleanor Roosevelt; so much so, that I used her daily prayer for my own ordination card.

    Our Father, who has set a restlessness in our hearts and made us all seekers after that which we can never fully find, forbid us to be satisfied with what we make of life. Draw us from base content and set our eyes on far off goals. Keep us at tasks too hard for us that we may be driven to Thee for strength. Deliver us from the fretfulness and self-pitying; make us sure of the good we cannot see and of the hidden good in the world. Open our eyes to simple beauty all around us and our hearts to the loveliness men hide from us because we do not try to understand them. Save us from ourselves and show us a vision of the world made new.

Not too long ago, NPR's This I Believe program did a feature on the former First-Lady along with her own essay on thinking.  Not only are her words provocative, but the biography is quite good as well.  Whether you are a fan or not, I believe you will enjoy this perspective.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 23 Sept 2009 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">roosevelt</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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<item>
      <title>My Outsourced Life</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The world is crazed with outsourcing.  The efficiency-obsessed bottom-lines of the business world now looks to other companies to do for them, what they cannot do easily and cheaply for themselves.  In short, outsourcing saves money and time while yielding better results.

So what would happen if an individual where to outsource all the parts of his/her life that are difficult?

Meet AJ Jacobs, popular author and social experimentalist, and a man who outsourced all the difficult aspects of his life.  AJ shared his story on The Moth and not only will have you in stitches; it will make you think.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 16 Sept 2009 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/outsourced.mp3" length="26078931" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">outsourced</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>		
  
<item>
      <title>Marriage for a New Generation</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The world is crazed with outsourcing.  The efficiency-obsessed bottom-lines of the business world now looks to other companies to do for them, what they cannot do easily and cheaply for themselves.  In short, outsourcing saves money and time while yielding better results.

So what would happen if an individual where to outsource all the parts of his/her life that are difficult?

Meet AJ Jacobs, popular author and social experimentalist, and a man who outsourced all the difficult aspects of his life.  AJ shared his story on The Moth and not only will have you in stitches; it will make you think.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 09 Sept 2009 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
      <enclosure url="http://www.basilianvocation.org/media/attuned/marriage.mp3" length="26078931" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">marriage</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
    </item>		
	
<item>
      <title>Corporate Social Responsibility</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Who's job is it to promote the common good?  Who carries the responsibility to provide for the needs of our communities and set the example for the rest of us?  Some say the government, others say the church, but many think it is the modern business.

I once attended a conference on philanthropy with representatives from some of the largest businesses in the world.  One of the speakers, who supported the role of business in the common good said,

    'the responsibility of the common good is illustrated by architecture.  In the beginning, religious buildings were the largest; then it was government buildings; now, that title belongs to corporations.'

This week, we join Fr. Steve Spahn, SJ and Provoke Radio to consider the role of the corporation in the realm of the common good.  In this 30 minute interview, Fr. Spahn considers the balance between responsibility and the bottom line as well as the role of the consumer in this realm.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 02 Sept 2009 09:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
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      <guid isPermaLink="false">corporate</guid>
      <dc:creator>valka</dc:creator>
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