The Academy Podcast
by The Academy for Spiritual Formation
Welcome to The Academy Podcast, a podcast dedicated to sharing rich content for the purpose of spiritual growth. The Academy Podcast is brought to you by The Academy for Spiritual Formation, an international ministry of The Upper Room. The Academy is dedicated to creating safe space for people to connect with God, self, others, and creation for the sake of the world. To learn more about our Five-Day and Two-Year retreat offerings, visit academy.upperroom.org. We’re glad you’re here.
Episodes
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Every Culture, Every Language: Belonging, Resistance, and the Body of Christ with Rubén Ortiz
In this episode of The Academy Podcast, host Shalom Agtarap sits down with pastor, spiritual director, and Academy advisory board member Rubén Ortiz to explore rhythm, healing, resistance, and the presence of spiritual formation in every culture and language. Rubén first encountered the Academy…
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This Joy That I Have: Embodiment, Resistance, and the Life-Giving Way with Lisa Yebuah
In this episode of The Academy Podcast, host Shalom Agtarap sits down with pastor and Academy #44 faculty member Lisa Yebuah to explore joy, embodiment, imagination, and what it means to become fully alive in a world that can so often pull us toward fear and despair. Drawing from her experience…
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Held Together: Embodiment, Community, and the Rhythms of Spiritual Formation with Claire McKeever-Burgett
In this episode of The Academy Podcast, host Shalom Agtarap sits down with author, theologian, and Academy #44 faculty member Claire McKeever-Burgett to explore what it means to inhabit a spiritual life rooted in presence, connection, and the wisdom of the body. Drawing from her own journey of...
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Reflections on the Civil Rights Pilgrimage 2026 — Bonus Episode
In this episode of The Academy Podcast, host Shalom Agtarap sits down with leaders from The Academy for Spiritual Formation Civil Rights Pilgrimage to reflect on the sacred work of remembrance, community, and spiritual transformation. Drawing from experiences across Alabama at sites central to…
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Hope with Our Backs Against the Wall: Faith, Solidarity, and the Work of Love with Luther Smith
In this episode of The Academy Podcast, host Shalom Agtarap sits down with scholar, teacher, and longtime Academy faculty member Luther Smith to explore how spiritual formation shapes the way we engage the world. Drawing deeply from the wisdom of Howard Thurman and the witness of those who have...
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Cultivating Compassion in a Polarized World with Frank Rogers
In this conversation, host Shalom Agtarap is joined by Frank Rogers, spiritual director, teacher, author, and co-director of the Center for Engaged Compassion. Drawing from decades of work in spiritual formation and compassion studies, Frank reflects on the sacred rhythms that sustain us, the...
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The Contemplative Life as the Path to Justice and Peace with Elaine Heath
In this conversation, host Shalom Agtarap is joined by Elaine Heath, theologian, spiritual director, and longtime faculty member of The Academy for Spiritual Formation. Drawing from her journey through contemplative spirituality, community life, and regenerative ministry, Elaine invites us into a...
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Formed by Scripture, Formed for Community with Shively Smith
In this conversation, host Shalom Agtarap is joined by Dr. Shively Smith, Associate Professor of New Testament at Boston University School of Theology and faculty member for Academy #43. Drawing from her deep scholarship and lived experience, Dr. Smith invites us into a conversation about New...
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Liturgy That Protects Life with Cláudio Carvalhaes
In this month’s episode, Shalom Agtarap is joined by Cláudio Carvalhaes, a theologian, liturgist, performer, artist, and activist whose work bridges worship, ecology, and justice. In this conversation, we explore how formation—not just information—shapes a Christian life rooted in practice and...
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Grounded in God’s Presence with Beth Richardson
In this month’s episode, Shalom Agtarap is joined by Beth Richardson. Beth Richardson is a longtime Upper Room writer, leader, worship designer, and spiritual guide whose journey with The Academy has reawakened her sacramental calling and shaped her ministry of hope, healing, and creativity. In...
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Rhythms of Retreat, Return, and Reconciliation with Amy Oden
In this month’s episode, Shalom Agtarap is joined by Amy Oden—professor, theologian, and longtime Academy faculty member. Amy reflects on her first encounter with the Academy and how its rhythms of silence, spaciousness, and community reshaped her pedagogy and her life. She shares about her...
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Living in Hope — A Conversation with Juan Carlos Huertas
We’re thrilled to announce the relaunch of The Academy Podcast, a space for deep listening, spiritual insight, and meaningful conversation. Hosted by Shalom Agtarap, a Two-Year Academy alum, the podcast will feature thoughtful interviews with Academy faculty, program leaders, and special guests…
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Pause, Reflect, Reimagine: An Update on Our Podcast Journey
In this episode of The Academy Podcast, we share an important update: a hiatus and reimagination of our podcast journey. Join host Shalom Agtarap as we reflect on the gifts of the new year, the wisdom of the Magi, and the importance of rest and discernment. While we pause to prayerfully envision...
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Advent Through Immigrant Eyes with Rubén Ortiz
This month, the Academy Podcast features Rubén Ortiz's teaching from the 2022 online Academy Day Apart retreat called “Hope in a Time of Despair: Advent Through Immigrant Eyes." In this episode, Rubén Ortiz shares his personal journey as a migrant, weaving together stories of family, faith, and...
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Exploring Liminality in Faith and Practice with Barbara Brown Taylor
This month, the Academy Podcast features Barbara Brown Taylor's teaching from a Five-Day in Alabama in 2022. In this episode, Barbara reflects on the spiritual significance of twilight, exploring how this threshold time between light and dark mirrors our own journeys through faith…
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Spirituality and Embodiment with Molly Vetter
This month, the Academy Podcast features Molly Vetter's teaching from Academy #42 in 2023 on the topic, "Spirituality and Embodiment." In this episode, Molly Vetter reflects on the intersection of scripture, art, and spirituality, inviting listeners to see how sacred traditions and personal...
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Attentiveness to the Word with Juan Carlos Huertas
This month, the Academy Podcast features Juan Carlos Huertas' teaching from Academy #42 in 2023 on the topic, "Attentiveness to the Word." In this episode, Huertas dives into the rich world of prophetic literature, exploring how the ancient texts of the Bible connect to the realities of our lives...
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New Testament Spirituality with Shively Smith
This month, the Academy Podcast features Shively Smith's teaching from Academy #42 in 2023 on the profound spirituality of the New Testament. In this episode, Dr. Smith explores the diversity within early Christian texts, emphasizing how the spirit of new life and love was interpreted across...
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Courageous Curiosity: Cultivating an Antiracist Spirituality with Lucretia Berry and Ben Bowell
This month, the Academy Podcast features Lucretia Berry and Ben Bowell's teaching from an online Academy Day Apart in 2021 called, Courageous Curiosity: Cultivating an Antiracist Spirituality. In this enlightening conversation, Lucretia and Ben share their personal stories of Christian faith...
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God's Reckless Abundance with Grace Imathiu
This month, the Academy Podcast features Grace Imathiu teaching at the Indiana Five-Day in 2021. Grace illuminates the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32, a title she challenges because parables cannot be contained. Grace explores the story through different lenses to reveal a God of...
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Neighborhood Shalom with Elaine Heath
This month, the Academy Podcast features Elaine Heath's understanding of neighborhood shalom. Her lecture from Academy 40 speaks to us of hopes and expectations, of well formed theology that is undone by lived experience. Knowing about Jesus and experiencing the compassion and presence of Jesus…
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Conversation with Claire McKeever-Burgett and Shalom Agtarap
This month, the Academy Podcast features Claire K. McKeever-Burgett as she discusses the sacred people, places, and experiences that shaped her new book, Blessed are the Women. Step into the holy conversation of what it means to be - not just a woman - but human - one who is loved, and listened…
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Faithfulness Within Conflict with Luther Smith
This month, the Academy Podcast features Luther Smith's teaching from Academy 29 in Burlingame, CA. His lecture on "Faithfulness within Conflict" reminds us that conflict should be embraced as a pathway to healing. Ultimately, Dr. Smith invites us to deal with conflict because “Our obedience...
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Reconciling Across Walls of Fear with Ray Buckley
This month, the Academy Podcast features Ray Buckley's teaching from the 2021 Spiritual Formation in Today's World. His Lecture on Reconciliation. As an indigenous person in North America, Ray speaks with authority about what it takes to be reconciled across walls meant to keep people and…
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Drinking From Ancestral Wells with Dan Wolpert
This month, the Academy Podcast features Daniel Wolpert’s teaching from the 2021 online Academy Day Apart retreat called Drinking from Ancestral Wells: God’s Wisdom for the Work of the Present Age. Dan contrasts the wisdom of our ancestors with the destructive nature of colonization that cuts...
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Hope in a Time of Despair with Alexia Salvatierra
This month, the Academy Podcast features a word from Alexia Salvatierra. The content comes from her lecture at last December’s online Academy Day Apart retreat called, “Hope in a Time of Despair.” Alexia explores the immigrant and refugee experience through the lens of hope, likening it to the…
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Listening for the Way That Leads to Life with Amy Oden
This month’s episode of the Academy Podcast features teaching from Amy Oden on the topic of “Meeting God in Our Longing” from the 2021 cohort of Spiritual Formation in Today’s World. Amy explores the art of discerning between the way that leads to life and the way that leads to death by paying...
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Confronting Fear as a Path to Healing and Liberation with Safiyah Fosua
In this month's episode, we hear from Safiyah Fosua. Safiyah was speaking on the topic of "Meeting God in Our Healing" from the 2021 cohort of Spiritual Formation in Today's World, a one-year online program from The Academy. Safiyah shares the story of the Gadarene demoniac from the synoptic...
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Internalizing God's Love through Scripture with Wilkie Au
This month's episode features teaching from Wilkie Au during the first session of Two-Year Academy #40 in 2018. Wilkie explores how the stories in scripture can be a paradigmatic lens for viewing our current life experiences, helping us to see how God is showing up in our lives today and inviting...
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Examining Our Faith Relationship to the Land with Cláudio Carvalhaes
In this month's episode, Cláudio Carvalhaes asks us to consider how we understand ourselves and our faith in relation to the land. For over 50 years, we’ve commemorated Earth Day in April and yet investment in our planet feels like such an onerous task. What does it mean to recite “The earth is…
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Saint Teresa of Avila on Growing in the Life of Prayer with Sr. Kathleen Flood
For this month’s Academy Podcast episode, in honor of March and the celebration of women’s history, we have chosen to highlight the life of Saint Teresa of Avila through the scholarship and spiritual guidance of Sister Kathleen Flood. Sister Kathleen bears witness to the courageous life of St....
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The Sacrament of Stepping into the Wounded Places with Regina Laroche
This month's podcast episode features Regina Laroche as she bears witness to the healing and transformation that can come when we risk stepping into the wounded places in our neighborhoods and in our world. Regina cultivates food, connections, and community in her work with DIASPORA GARDENS,...
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Reclaiming the Good News of the Gospel with Juan Carlos Huertas
This month's podcast episode features Juan Carlos Huertas, who currently serves as minister of proclamation and the practice of justice at First-Plymouth Congregational Church in Lincoln, NE. Huertas holds a Master of Divinity degree from Emory University in Atlanta, and a Bachelor of Arts degree...
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Encountering a Loving God through Prayer with Roberta Bondi
This month's episode features Roberta Bondi's exploration of prayer. Roberta is a writer, speaker, teacher, and retreat leader. She is Professor Emerita of Church History at Candler School of Theology, Emory University. Roberta earned a bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University and...
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Elijah’s Cave of Transformation with Hee-Soo Jung
Perhaps it is because of Hee Soo’s formation and orientation to Confucianism and Buddhism that we experience a refreshing expansion on the story of Elijah 1 Kings 17-19. Have you had an experience like this? Where you set aside time to dislocate from your regular rhythms and give yourself over to…
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Living as God's Beloved with Larry Peacock
In this Academy Podcast episode, Rev. Larry Peacock reminds us of our essential nature as God’s beloved. Larry is the Director of the Franciscan Spiritual Center in Milwaukie, Oregon, has led retreats and workshops for groups and churches across the country and is the author of "The Living…
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Prophetic Imagination: Seeking a Liberating Consciousness
In this episode, we have the gift of hearing from Rev. Grace Imathiu, Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Evanston, Illinois. Pastor Grace is a citizen of the world for whom ‘the world is her parish’. As an African who is married to a European and is raising an American son, Grace…
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Pondering with Mary: Making Space for Transformation with Lê Xuân Hy
Our host, Shalom, reflects at the beginning of the episode saying “As I listen to this previously recorded lecture from Academy 38 in Nebraska in 2017, I’m struck by the bite size and yet weighty spiritual truth present in the text that bears witness to the Resurrection.” Dr. Hy has a doctorate…
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Created for Interdependence: Cultivating an Earth-affirming Christian Faith with Susan MacKenzie
Spring has sprung. New life is teeming. Resurrection Sunday and Easter tide are right around the corner. We also celebrate Earth day this month. Even as we witness biodiversity waning and people going hungry for lack of nutrition the earth is crying out. In this month's episode, we hear from…
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God’s Way: Relinquishing Divine Power through the Incarnation with Marjorie Thompson
In this month’s episode, we hear from Marjorie Thompson author of Soulfeast, a spirituality classic and best seller. For many church workers this is a seminal book on spiritual formation. Marjorie is ordained in the Presbyterian Church USA and brings to her ministry over 30 years of experience in...
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Sacred Texts as Doorways: Turning Words into Wisdom with Rabbi Chava Bahle
In this month’s episode, we hear from Rabbi Chava Bahle at a Two-year Academy in Nebraska on the topic of Hebrew Spirituality and Holy Texts. Chava Bahle is a twice ordained rabbi and maggid, a Jewish inspirational storyteller. Her current work is to live into the teaching of Rabbi Zalman...
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Meeting God in our Justice Seeking with Luther Smith
In this month's episode we hear from Luther Smith on the topic of meeting God in our justice seeking. Luther Smith is an ordained elder in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, longtime Academy faculty person, and a member of The Academy Advisory Board. Luther spent 35 years of his career as…
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Tradition in Practice: Encounters With the Living God with Amy Oden
In this month’s episode we hear from Amy Oden on the topic of tradition and what we are handing over to those who follow. Born and raised on the prairies of Oklahoma, Amy has found her spiritual home under the wide-open sky. She earned her PhD in Religious Studies at Southern Methodist…
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Transformed by Story: Finding Grace in Relationship
In this month’s episode, we hear from Ray Buckley on the topic of "Bearing Witness." Ray offered the following teaching at Five Day Academy in 2019. Ray is the interim Director for the Center for First Nations Spirituality and longtime faculty member of The Academy for Spiritual Formation. Ray…
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Healing Our Original Wounds
This month's podcast features Elaine Heath, Academy faculty, Upper Room Books author, and so much more. Elaine’s scholarly work is interdisciplinary, integrating pastoral, biblical, and spiritual theology in ways that bridge the gap between academy, church, and world. And it’s because of this...
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The Embodied Spiritual Life
This month's podcast features teaching from Dan Wolpert at Two-Year Academy #39 in Malvern, PA in 2018. He and his wife, Debra, co-taught the topic on Spirituality and Embodiment. The clips in this episode are excerpts from the final lecture of that session. Dan, is author of multiple spiritual...
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Conversation with Christopher Carter
Today’s conversation features Christopher Carter, Assistant Professor and Assistant Chair & Department Diversity Officer in Theology and Religious Studies at the University of San Diego. Christopher Carter’s teaching and research focuses on philosophical and theological ethics, Black and Womanist...
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Conversation with Jenny Booth Potter
In this episode, our host, Claire, is joined by Jenny Booth Potter. Jenny is the Co-Host and Producer of The Next Question, a video-based web-series devoted to expanding the imagination for racial justice. In the first season, the show has already hosted conversations with Nikole Hannah-Jones,...
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Conversation with Cole Arthur Riley
In this episode, we’re joined by Cole Arthur Riley, who is a writer, speaker, and liturgist. She currently serves as the Content and Spiritual Formation Manager for a Center for Christian Studies at Cornell University called Chesterton House. In her role, she produces and curates written content...
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Conversation with Safiyah Fosua
In this episode, we’re joined by Safiyah Fosua, beloved Academy faculty and one of our four renowned teachers for our new one-year online offering, Spiritual Formation in Today’s World, that begins February 25, 2021. Learn more about Safiyah and the other faculty, curriculum, and sacred spiritual...
About this show
Welcome to The Academy Podcast, a podcast dedicated to sharing rich content for the purpose of spiritual growth. The Academy Podcast is brought to you by The Academy for Spiritual Formation, an international ministry of The Upper Room. The Academy is dedicated to creating safe space for people to connect with God, self, others, and creation for the sake of the world. To learn more about our Five-Day and Two-Year retreat offerings, visit academy.upperroom.org. We’re glad you’re here.
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The Academy for Spiritual Formation
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