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Loving the Imperfect
Welcome to Loving the Imperfect podcast, a show for spiritual seekers and skeptics. I’m your imperfect host, Brianne Turczynski.
For ten years I’ve studied offerings from holy teachers and holy texts. I’m a teacher and a journalist who has listened to the stories of many people throughout the years. So I thought it was time to share a story or two about my journey and my thoughts on scripture and holy work from different faith traditions and practices: mostly from Sufi teachers, Buddhists, and Christian mystics.
So, join me as we imperfectly and clumsily make our way through each day mustering up compassion for the hours ahead.
Thank you for stopping by Loving the Imperfect! New episodes are uploaded bi-weekly!
For more information about me and my work please visit
www.brianneturczynski.com
Episodes
39 episodes
A SPECIAL EPISODE FOR LENT AND GOOD FRIDAY: St. Therese of Lisieux and The Holy Face Devotion
Welcome to Loving The Imperfect. This is a special episode for Lent or Good Friday. We will begin by talking a little bit about St. Therese of Lisieux, the 19th century mystic. And afterward I will talk a little bit about what mysticism is beca...
Writing Retreat: Healthy Rhetoric featuring the work of Lech Walesa
Hello and welcome! This is a virtual writing retreat featuring the work of Lech Walesa. Rhetoric is everywhere, from what we read to what we hear and see. In this retreat we will work with a few different meditations, from artwork, to the work ...
What is the Divine Feminine? Featuring the work of Mirabai Starr
Today we'll talk about the work of Mirabai Starr, an Inter-spiritual teacher, writer, and translator of the mystics. Mirabai is a well-known teacher of the divine feminine. She has written several books and her translations of St. John of...
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Modern-Day Prophets: Featuring Spoken Word Poet Kae Tempest with Brianne & Erin
Welcome to season 3 of Loving the Imperfect!Thank you for being patient with me over my long break. Join me this season along with my kindergarten classmate, Erin Grossi, as we introduce and discuss some modern-day prophets, p...
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Season 2 Finale: What Blessings May Come in the Mess of Life with Terry Gonda
Hello and welcome to Loving The Imperfect. Today we'll hear from Terry Gonda, a devout Catholic, who was fired from her position as a music director at a local Catholic church because of her marriage to a woman. Join us tod...
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Father Eric Williams: A Life in the Priesthood
Today we'll hear from Father Eric Williams, the priest of St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Rochester. He's going tell us about his journey being an Episcopal priest. This interview is more of a conversation, so you'll hear a lot more of me in t...
Positive Experiences in Vietnam
Today we'll hear from 90-year-old Dr. Daniel White, a local physician in this area, well known and well-liked by everyone.He was drafted into the Vietnam War as part of a MILPHAT team and spent some time in Vietnam with the civili...
A High School Student's Journey with All Things Celestial
Today we will hear from a 17-year-old local high school student who wishes to remain anonymous. He is very interested in space, and as of right now, he wants to be an astrophysicist. Despite all you'll hear in this interview, this s...
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Giving Back with Dr. Rick Maibauer
Welcome back to Loving the Imperfect. Today, we'll hear a story from Dr. Rick Maibauer. He is the first person to perform a total joint replacement in Ghana, West Africa. So, we're going to hear his story today. Another exercise, again, in deep...
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A Lifetime of Service with Ged Youngman
Hello and welcome to this week's episode! Born during World War II in England, Ged Youngman tells the story of her life as a nurse attending both dying children and healthy babies as a midwife. Later in the United States, she spent much of her ...
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* Advent Special * Blessings from Kenya: A Mother's Love and Sacrifice
Hello and welcome to Loving the Imperfect. Today we are hearing a story from Kenny Asewe. Kenny is the founder of At Home Music here in Rochester, he is going to tell us a really touching story ...
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Featuring Liturgical Music Composer Gregory Norbet
Today we will hear from respected music composer, spiritual leader, singer and retreat director, Gregory Norbet, who also spent 21 years as a Benedictine monk at the Weston Priory in Vermont. I'm honored to be able to speak with him today. I ho...
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald: Featuring Michigan Shipwreck Explorer, Ric Mixter
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was a tanker that sank in Lake Superior during a storm on November 10th, 1975. It was carrying 29 crewmen and 26,000 tons of taconite pellets. According to Mr. Mixter, the storm that evening wasn't the worst to hit the ...
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Featuring World-class Figure Skater, Nancy Jones & Romans 8:38-39
Hello and welcome to Loving the Imperfect. Today we will speak to world-class figure skater Nancy Jones about her decision to quit skating for the U. S. team with the faith that God was leading her in a different direction. In 1961...
Keeping the Faith: Featuring Rad Jones, Retired Secret Service Agent to Six US Presidents & Isaiah 41:10
Welcome to the first episode for Season Two of Loving the Imperfect, a show for seekers of deeper contemplation. I'm your host Brianne Turczynski. For 10 years, I've been studying offerings from holy teachers and holy text...
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Resounding Praise: Season One Finale with Psalm 150
Thank you for joining me again for season one's finale episode. Today I'll read Psalm 150, the very last psalm in the book of Psalms and I will share why I started this podcast. I will take a break for a few weeks while I work on some writing p...
Entering the Mystical Path: Spain's Golden Age & W. Somerset Maugham with Psalm 143
In this episode, we explore what the beginning of a mystical path can look and feel like. I am speaking from my own experience, so please know that your experience might be different from mine. My journey began when I read W. Somerset Maugham's...
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Mantras: An Aid in Meditation with Psalm 136
In this episode, we explore different mantras that can be used in meditation and how meditation might be useful for us as our contemplative nature grows. This episode includes a reading from Psalm 136.Media mentioned in this episode...
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Approaching Our Past: Explaining Sankofa & What It Can Teach Us with Psalm 129
What do we need to retrieve from our past so we can advance in peace, likewise, what do we need to address or deal with from our past to promote a healthy future? Sankofa is a word that when translated means return and fetc...
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Prayers without Words with a Reading from a Poem by Mary Oliver and Psalm 122
Hello and welcome back!Today's episode includes a reading from Psalm 122 and a poem from Mary Oliver called INVITATION. Did you know that sometimes we pray without knowing it? Not only that but there are many different ways to pray ...
Nature and the Ego with C. G. Jung and Psalm 115
Thank you for joining me on Loving the Imperfect! Lately, I've been reading The Earth Has a Soul which is a collection of work from C. G. Jung (pronounced Yoo-ng. I realized my pronunciation in this episode is slightly off--I said ...
Enemies are a Delusion with Psalm 108
Thank you for joining me again this week! Can an ‘us versus them’ mentality ever be helpful for human relationships? What do you think? My answer to this question is included in this brief episode along with a reading from Psalm 108! ...
Silencing the "Wicked" in the Land with Psalm 101
Psalm 101 is a Psalm from David written at the beginning of his reign. At this time David is unsure of himself as a worthy leader. I think we all feel like this sometimes, whether it's a leadership role through parenthood, our occupations, or e...
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When and How to Leave a Toxic Environment Like a Mystic with Psalm 94
Hello and Welcome to Loving the Imperfect!!Sometimes it can be hard to tell if you're experiencing a toxic environment. The toxicity can disguise itself and sometimes you've been existing in it for so long you can no longer read the s...
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How to Tell If the Spirit is Nudging You with Psalm 87
How can you tell if the Holy Spirit is nudging you? In this episode along with a reading from the 87th Psalm, I'll tell the story of Nicodemus from the Book of John Chapter 3. This is one of my favorite scenes from the Bible, and it's one scene...
