Tracing Inspiration

Singer/songwriter/educator Sarina Partridge joins me in a conversation about the tedious path of following a calling. Sarina went from wacky math teacher in Minnesota, to a world-traveling song leader who uses harmony circles as a way to build community as well as to resist conditioned impulses to "disappear the self." She encountered setbacks so great that she even thought the dream of singing had passed, but everything changed when a neighbor asked Sarina to use her gifts for leading songs during the dreary early days of the pandemic. Learn more about Sarina here. 4:00 Mature adults can have artistic hobbies?7:00 Singing in service of community building9:00 Attachment to career identity rather than one's calling15:00 Disappearing the self20:00 When the question becomes the calling33:00 Near-death experience clarifying the passion37:00 The white martyr archetype39:00 The unknown and challenging might just be your purpose41:00 The lift-off point for Sarina's calling45:00 Hymnaculate Contraception48:00 I both matter more and less than I thought51:00 The power of encouragementNote: The recorded singing and conversation at the beginning and end of the episode came from Sarina's annual Solstice Song Circle. You can learn more about her events and find ways to join up at her website: ⁠https://sarinapartridge.com/⁠ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wakingupforwork.substack.com

Cozy up with tea (or —if you’re more like me— queue this one up for your next car ride or long run) because this giggly, joyful, deep conversation with Presbyterian pastor Luna Gebbengreen covers so many universally applicable themes, namely: learning to trust, love, and stick with ourselves, even when it would be easier to self-abandon.This isn’t one I can chop into sound bytes or give you a timepoint chronology—it’s everywhere and all of it across all time and it warrants the prolonged wander.Today’s musical special feature is by Lynn O’Brien and the song is called “With Her Voice.” Her music is available everywhere. This song came from her album Light Everywhere, available on Bandcamp:Because Tracing Inspiration is meant to inspire you to follow what you love and go do what feels uniquely special to your spirit, I also want to make sure you have resources beyond this show to help if you’re feeling too stuck to get started. The best person I know of to help is my wife, who I’ll gladly share for this purpose!Chelsea Witbrook is a certified Somatic Enneagram facilitator and best-selling author of “Blessing My Demons.” As a Somatic Enneagram guide and Spiritual Director, she combines social justice awareness with compassionate guidance. Chelsea specializes in helping people who feel stuck by teaching them to establish Grounded Presence, connect with their Inner Observer, and respond to their body’s wisdom. Through her coaching, clients discover inner resources and learn to embrace all parts of themselves with radical compassion, finally releasing patterns that once held them captive: www.chelseawitbrook.comNow. Go do what you love doing because the world needs you to do that exact thing! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wakingupforwork.substack.com

"Everything you want and desire— like really, really want— it's inside. It's not on the outside." -Milton C. StewartBut where are the keys that unlock the passage to the inside? And how do we access the freedom needed to pull the inside out into the world?Milton C. Stewart, MBA, is a coach who uses the Enneagram to help people see their patterns, motivations, and fears. Finding internal freedom through self-awareness so that liberated system change can unfold in the world is what Milton is all about. He works with individual clients, small groups, and leaders to help them become free internally so that liberation can flow outward from each of us into the world.I've experienced this directly: Milton was one of my first formal teachers of the Enneagram, but over the last few years our teacher-student relationship has been evolving into friendship. It was a gift to sit across the screen-- student to teacher, friend to friend-- and learn more about his backstory, and to hear how liberation as a core driver connects directly to his essential qualities.Tracing Inspiration isn't an Enneagram podcast, but the Enneagram has been a lens that's helped me see myself more clearly, or as Milton puts it, "has brought me back a lot of times back home to who I truly am at the deep parts of me, my essence. And to me, that is the most important part of life."We get into how inner work and understanding our emotional patterns offers a self-liberating freedom to fall deeper in love with ourselves and flow forward into our callings, contributing to the legacy that preceded us, that we were born into this lifetime to continue on behalf of the collective, not just for our own egoic desires.The course of the show follows this arc:--> The Enneagram as a Way Home --> Liberation as Purpose--> Al-Warith, "The Inheritor"--> Soul Lineage--> Egyptian RebirthJoin Milton and me in person for a retreat in May through the B.I.G. Water Retreat: https://bigenneagramretreat.com/Work with Milton https://kaizencareers.com/Follow Milton on Substack: https://substack.com/@miltoncstewartGet great tunes by Ian Crawford who designed and recorded the music for this show: https://iancrawford.bandcamp.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wakingupforwork.substack.com

What does it mean to actually allow love — not just believe in it, but allow myself to receive it? In this conversation, I sit down with Phil Gebbengreen, pastor at Edgcumbe Presbyterian Church in St. Paul and staff with the Enneagram Prison Project, to talk about worthiness, judgment, the prison of our own making, and how resting in love is actually quite contagious.Find more at Waking Up for Work on Substack — no subscription needed, and if you do subscribe, it's all free. I post minimally and try to respect your inbox.Timestamps are not exact, but these'll get ya in the realm of:08:00 Trusting me — a taboo act12:00 What if God actually likes you?16:00 Prison and the pew24:00 The hardest thing to celebrate: yourself29:00 Being and doing aren't in a duel34:00 The tree of judgment42:00 Strength without vulnerability is just scary56:00 Timshel: thou mayest1:10:00 What Lent is actually about1:13:00 Coming out as a person of love1:18:00 The angry man question1:22:00 A less frightening realityCheck out church: https://epchurch.org/Get unstuck: https://chelseawitbrook.com/Get great tunes: https://iancrawford.bandcamp.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wakingupforwork.substack.com

What happens when we slow down long enough to notice what’s actually happening inside us during the workday?In this conversation, I sit down with creative arts therapist Talia Smigielski to explore the surprising power of two paid hours a month spent in structured reflection.We trace how a small organizational investment in employees can quietly reshape identity, leadership, and self-compassion years later — and how I’m living proof of it.If you’ve ever wondered whether slowing down at work could happen without sacrificing quality or productivity, this conversation is for you.This episode explores:- How processing is different from standard meetings- The cost of unprocessed workplace experience- Why processing is an appropriate, necessary practice- How reflective capacity shapes leadership and cultureProcessing may not look productive, but it may be one of the most important professional spaces we can cultivate.Timestamps02:08 – Early patterns of self-silencing and performance05:14 – Fear-driven achievement in leadership spaces08:17 – Two paid hours a month: structured reflection24:14 – Learning to stay present instead of shutting down35:18 – What drama therapy is and why embodiment matters36:44 – Trauma-informed care before it had a name49:47 – The “flash flood” and the longing to become the hush53:42 – A small workplace investment with lasting impactWant to share a sound byte thanking someone who inspired some of element of your own becoming? [email protected] is “Waters”, composed by Twin Cities musician, Ian CrawfordNeed help getting un-stuck?Chelsea Witbrook is a certified Somatic Enneagram facilitator and best-selling author of “Blessing My Demons.” As a Somatic Enneagram guide and Spiritual Director, she combines social justice awareness with compassionate guidance. Chelsea specializes in helping people who feel stuck by teaching them to establish Grounded Presence, connect with their Inner Observer, and respond to their body’s wisdom. Through her coaching, clients discover inner resources and learn to embrace all parts of themselves with radical compassion, finally releasing patterns that once held them captive: www.chelseawitbrook.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wakingupforwork.substack.com

I’m joined by Paul Meunuier, Executive Director of YIPA and founder of The Professional Youth Worker. This was a ton of fun for me and such an honor to get to talk with a wise friend about the contrast between living for a resume versus living for a eulogy. We discussed the journey of finding passion and purpose, the significance of aligning our values with life choices, and the challenges of navigating multiple passions, and I really loved that we even got to chat about the importance of introspection, particularly in the context of masculinity. We end with a real treat– Paul writes his own eulogy live, and man– I’m left even more inspired to live for my own eulogy now. I think you will be, too. Chapters01:16 The Journey of Meaningful Living02:12 The Importance of Relationships09:32 Building Connections Through Shared Experiences19:03 Finding Passion and Purpose22:12 The Intersection of Passion and Mission24:39 Navigating Multiple Passions28:08 The Impact of Living for the Eulogy30:25 Aligning Values with Life Choices34:50 Learning to Say No to Opportunities36:38 Exploring Personal Values and Autonomy39:46 The Impact of Struggles on Personal Development42:55 Finding Meaning in Life's Challenges46:56 The Gifts of Aging and Emotional Intelligence50:29 Navigating Masculinity and Emotional Awareness54:17 Understanding Emotions and Their Role in Life01:02:28 Living Eulogies: Reflecting on Life's LegacyMusic is “Waters”, composed by Twin Cities musician, Ian CrawfordEditing and post-production by me – but I’d love to partner with someone else to do this! Reach out!Want to share a sound byte thanking someone who inspired some of your own movement? [email protected] help getting un-stuck? Chelsea Witbrook is a certified Somatic Enneagram facilitator and best-selling author of "Blessing My Demons." As an Somatic Enneagram guide and Spiritual Director, she combines social justice awareness with compassionate guidance. Chelsea specializes in helping people who feel stuck by teaching them to establish Grounded Presence, connect with their Inner Observer, and respond to their body's wisdom. Through her coaching, clients discover inner resources and learn to embrace all parts of themselves with radical compassion, finally releasing patterns that once held them captive: www.chelseawitbrook.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wakingupforwork.substack.com

In this episode of Tracing Inspiration, I share a personal reflection on moving through the world with courage and heart. From a pivotal moment in my new role, I explore the power of heart-led leadership—especially in times of uncertainty and systemic change.I want to remind you that no matter where you are, you have the power to make choices that honor compassion, justice, and creativity. Through the lens of “courageous gatekeeping,” I reflect on what it means to hold space for others, navigate difficult moments with wisdom, and stay connected to what truly matters.Timestamps:01:52 – The irony of hosting a podcast about courage while struggling with it03:50 – A lesson in courageous gatekeeping from my new role06:09 – Honoring both systemic constraints and human dignity08:31 – The heart-led leadership of eight courageous women10:54 – A Chinese proverb on light, harmony, and peace11:03 – Music is "Wasteland" by Gabe Keller-FloresEditing and post-production by me – but I’d love to partner with someone else to do this! Reach out! [email protected] help getting un-stuck? Chelsea Witbrook is a certified Somatic Enneagram facilitator and best-selling author of "Blessing My Demons." As an Somatic Enneagram guide and Spiritual Director, she combines social justice awareness with compassionate guidance. Chelsea specializes in helping people who feel stuck by teaching them to establish Grounded Presence, connect with their Inner Observer, and respond to their body's wisdom. Through her coaching, clients discover inner resources and learn to embrace all parts of themselves with radical compassion, finally releasing patterns that once held them captive. www.chelseawitbrook.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wakingupforwork.substack.com

In this episode, I talk with Colin Anderson, founder of Eureka Compass Vegan Food, who is revolutionizing food justice in the Twin Cities with his powerful message: "WE FEED US!" Now in year #8 of providing FREE community meals and vegan shopping markets, Colin shares his journey and passion for sustainable food systems that support both community members and local farmers. Free vegan meals and shopping markets in St. Paul, MN.Address: 1697 Lafond Avenue, St. Paul, MNCurrent Market Hours:Tuesdays: 11 AM – 8 PMThursdays: 1–3 PM & 5–8 PMCommunity Dinners: Available for takeout or dine-in Instagram: @eureka_compass_vegan_foodVenmo: @Chef-Collective-1123 CashApp: $ChefCollective1123PatreonMusic is “Waters”, composed by Twin Cities musician, Ian CrawfordEditing and post-production by me – but I’d love to partner with someone else to do this! Reach out! [email protected] help getting un-stuck? Chelsea Witbrook is a certified Somatic Enneagram facilitator and best-selling author of "Blessing My Demons." As an Somatic Enneagram guide and Spiritual Director, she combines social justice awareness with compassionate guidance. Chelsea specializes in helping people who feel stuck by teaching them to establish Grounded Presence, connect with their Inner Observer, and respond to their body's wisdom. Through her coaching, clients discover inner resources and learn to embrace all parts of themselves with radical compassion, finally releasing patterns that once held them captive. www.chelseawitbrook.com00:05 – Redefining Innovation & Community Self-Sufficiency01:19 – The Reality of Food Insecurity in Minnesota05:50 – How Colin Started: A Strength-Based Approach to Community09:36 – Reimagining Food Systems for Equity & Access12:58 – Why Food? Colin’s Journey & Ethical Awakening18:56 – Personal Experience with Food Scarcity & Capitalism’s Failures25:09 – Buddhism & The Interconnectedness of Food & Justice29:54 – Creating a Non-Transactional Community Food Space36:40 – Pivotal Life Choices & Regrets that Shaped the Mission42:06 – Recovery & Sobriety: A Life-Changing Turning Point47:33 – Living Out Loud & Holding Ourselves Accountable49:58 – Final Thoughts: Food, Justice, and the Power of Presence This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wakingupforwork.substack.com

My friend and former colleague/boss Katy Daniels and discuss her "points of justice" that I steer her outer action in the world and helped me experience a work environment that welcomed all of me, quirky parts included. We touch on resiliency, addiction and recovery, queerness as well as gender in the workplace, influences of early adulthood adversity, and showing up authentically as our full selves on the job. The music from today's show is by Ian Crawford. He's an incredibly creative musician who I've watched play the French horn and the keyboard while also intermixing stand-up comedy. ⁠⁠Check him out!⁠⁠ He's a hilarious, kind, and artistic human worth having between your ears. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wakingupforwork.substack.com

If you're needing a gentle dose of encouragement, I think you might like today's conversation. Themes in today's episode include: Healing happens in community Mental health and subsequent "stuck" loops Saying 'yes' when the heart tugs us forward Journeying in and through the heart Finding wholeness and goodness within Reshaping scary early life relationships with god figures Non-western healing modalities Salim Yorkall is a Chandler is a board-certified (*NCBTMB) bodyworker, healer, and health educator who uses Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Somatic Energy Work, Sufi Healing (a form of spiritual healing), and a variety of other coaching and healing methods to help clients process difficult experiences, build inner resilience, and create greater health and vitality.  Learn more about the healing offerings that Salim provides: Heart Diving: Healing And Awakening The Divinity Within With Chandler Yorkhall Sufi Center, Minnesota Fertile Ground Women's Health and Healing Center, Minneapolis May you, too, be showered in mercy. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wakingupforwork.substack.com

Luke Myers, is a man who lives, acts, and speaks with with great intention. In this episode, Luke and I discuss the impact of Luke's early life experiences with parental loss, ethical dilemmas in choosing the right career track, sobriety, toxic masculinity, gender expression, and sobriety. Here is a run down of what to expect:3:00 Ethical dilemmas in higher education & career choices9:00 Influence of early childhood exposure to caregiver death15:00 Finding control/learning, even in difficult situations18:00 Sobriety and learning presence25:00 Recognizing when it's time NOT to conquer a goal29:00 Can you give your "best" and not be drained?33:00 Masculinity in the workplace41:00 Challenging toxic masculine norms around sensitivity50:00 Disappearing from the world with alcohol55:00 How much more life can be lived with presenceMy lovely friend Ian Crawford's composition of "Waters" is heard in the intro and outro. Learn more about Ian ⁠here⁠. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wakingupforwork.substack.com

"If we [queer people] don't express truth as deeply as we have experienced it, and in community with each other, then we will always be beholden to the dysfunction of the most homophobic person in the room." - Tyler Sit (7:45)United Methodist Pastor, church planter, and published author Tyler Sit joins me to discuss radical new ways for viewing Christian theology, rituals, and ancestral heritage that uplift marginalized voices of color, gender, and sexuality. Scroll to the very bottom to find links to his two books and more.0:30 Religious trauma & show overview1:45 "Hamilton is Jesus-ier than Jesus Christ Superstar..."5:00 Preaching with Integrity9:00 Gay weddings in churches...and also... belonging?!12:00 "Everyone loses in an exclusive world..."16:00 Spiritual ancestors20:00 Why New City Church happened in Minneapolis22:00 Learning the Divine via/within nature24:45 Tips for evangelicals interested in accepting LGBTQ+ -- Audio clips from others impacted by Tyler--28:00 (Clip #1)28:30 (Clip #2)28:39 (Clip #3)28:45 (Clip #4)29:34 (Clip #5) <-- this one sums it up29:50 Tyler's husband, Brian Schroeder, performing his original composition, "The Kingdom of the Lord is Here"31:45 Closing statementsStaying Awake: The Gospel for ChangemakersWhere We Meet: A Lenten Study of Systems, Stories, and HopeNew City: https://grownewcity.church/The Kingdom of the Lord is Here, by Brian Schroeder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGrhNpupE-I This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wakingupforwork.substack.com

This one feels raw -- super vulnerable. Meet Tina Currie of Norm Hann Expeditions in Squamish, British Columbia. Tina was my standup paddleboard instructor on a Howe Sound expedition in 2022. Through our unplanned, entirely serendipitous intersection on the water, I learned something new about joy that I've been (sometimes tentatively, sometimes courageously) pursuing since. We reunite on recording to reflect on our learnings from that day and tackle other big sea life issues, like unfair narratives we humans get ourselves locked into, habit stacking, and navigating uncertainty. 1:00 The fine print for today's show4:00 Denying internal joy any sort of validation7:00 Great Bear Oracle Cards8:00 Flow, Pulse, Surrender11:00 Pursuing joy14:00 #LifePurposeAngst16:00 The power of being noticed21:00 The water reflects you back to you22:00 Momentum your friend; Scurry your foe24:00 Somatic methods for reflective practice26:00 (Unfair) stories we tell ourselves 30:00 Trusting the nudge and making the leap33:00 Sankalpa: "I am empowered"34:00 Habit stacking37:00 Returning to the Seal: Imagination & Dreams & Joy41:00 Action is action is action. Don't judge it now.43:00 Water: the ultimate energy balancer44:00 David Whyte's "The Journey"Thanks to my lovely friend Ian Crawford for the use of his composition of "Waters." Learn more about Ian ⁠here⁠. The real water you might have heard in the intro and outro are from the Howe Sound at dusk, just near Darrell Bay. To get a set of Great Bear Oracle Cards, you can purchase them directly here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wakingupforwork.substack.com

"The most secure place you can ever be is in prison." This quote from Amanda's father helped her realize that "security" isn't always the right thing to seek. Questing freedom for the soul may sometimes feel like the least secure thing to do.Amanda Fong, Community Engagement Supervisor at the Three Rivers Park District, and I weave through topics like burnout, quitting-versus-failing, noticing when humility can become selfishness, and experiencing the freedom that can be found in mindful presence.The poem I quote is "For the Students," by Emily Lygren. You can see her published work, What We Were Born For, here. The book I reference is Range by David Epstein. You can find that here. Here is a rundown of what to expect: 3:00 - Girls Adventure Camp12:30 - Soul freedom15:00 - Early signs of burnout21:00 - What is a real job anyway?26:00 - When the soul screams, NO!30:00 - #HighAchiever pressure41:00 - Inner Voice Clarity47:00 - Childhood outdoor experiences53:00 - When can humility become selfishness? 55:00 - "Nothing about us without us"1:04 - Stewarding the soul1:10 - Web of gratitude1:15 - Emily Lygren's, "For the Students"This show might leave you jazzed about helping marginalized folks get into nature for equitable and uplifting experiences. If so, consider offering Three Rivers a small donation by clicking ⁠here⁠. My lovely friend Ian Crawford's composition of "Waters" is heard in the intro and outro. Learn more about Ian ⁠here⁠. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wakingupforwork.substack.com

Gay, Puerto Rican speaker and storyteller, Jean Carlos (@jeancarlosnow) and I discuss what Jean Carlos believes matters. Both of us identify as queer Christians and have had to grapple with how to have queerness and a relationship with the Divine. You can hear Jean Carlos preach online on January 14, 2024 via New City Church's livestream, or you can just go to his website at www.jeancarlos.org to catch it later. The music from today's show is by Ian Crawford. He's an incredibly creative musician who I've watched play the French horn and the keyboard while also intermixing stand-up comedy. ⁠Check him out!⁠ He's a hilarious, kind, and artistic human worth having between your ears. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wakingupforwork.substack.com

Join James Whitt with domestic violence advocate Elsa Swenson in a discussion about how she learned how to operate from love rather than from judgment. "The first time that I dabbled in [victim advocacy] was working with people who were severely mentally ill…all of them had been abused in some capacity. That job helped me recognize that every word you say can do damage or convey love and acceptance…that was one of the most formative jobs I’ve ever had. Those women will never know how much they shaped my life.” - Elsa Swenson 3:00 Leadership lessons learned via humility (from an Enneagram Type 3 perspective) 10:00 Creating and holding space in difficult situations 15:00 Challenging dualistic thinking in victim advocacy settings 19:00 Even the nameless shape our Becoming 22:00 Defensive love-- can it become mismanaged? 26:00 But what about the kids? When does the victim shift to the villain? 30:00 When awareness calls you to trudge against the status quoThe music from today's show is by Ian Crawford. He's an incredibly creative musician who I've watched play the French horn and the keyboard while also intermixing stand-up comedy. Check him out! He's a hilarious, kind, and artistic human worth having between your ears. The organization we mentioned is Missions Inc. Programs. You can learn more about their good work here. If you think or know you might be a victim of violence, Text START to 88788 or call 1-800-799-7233 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wakingupforwork.substack.com

Can pursuing joy lead to greater self-compassion, and if so, does that lead to greater kindness in the world? Why do some people's dreams get stuck in idea phase when others are able to push through? Is it really all about intrinsic drive or is there an interpersonal element we could explore more? As Tracing Inspiration enters its first season in January 2024, I wanted to give you a bit of a rundown of what to expect in Season One. 0:43 - Show Format 2:00 - The Knots of Progress4:30 - What's Joy got to do with it?8:00 - The Influence of Others in Pursuing Joy11:30 - Gratitude Journey + The Guiding QuestionWelcome to the unfolding.Kind thanks to my friend Ian Crawford for the use of his custom track, Waters. If you're looking for a chill vibe to soothe your soul, ⁠check him out⁠. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wakingupforwork.substack.com