On Matrimony, Mothering Culture and the Undoing of Self with Stephen Jenkinson

In this festive wedding season, what if matrimony wasn’t here to affirm the intensity of love between two people but a courageous submission to the unknown?  Jennifer speaks with Stephen Jenkinson—cultural activist, author, ceremonialist—about the necessary burdens of love through the ritual of matrimony. With characteristic poetic edge, Stephen challenges the Western obsession with autonomy, authenticity and safety and gestures toward a redemptive cultural project: one of radical hospitality, memory, and the mystery of matrimony as a village-making act.Together they dive into:How matrimony is distinct from weddings and is rooted in mothering culture, not just romantic loveThe lost valence of patrimony, and what it asks of usThe role of the stranger in belonging and village makingWhy being “yourself” might not be the gift you think it isThis conversation reveals how ritual and ceremony thins the membrane with other worlds, makes congress with the divine and helps us honor what's come before —so we might find our place, and responsibility, in what’s yet to come.Links & Resources:Order Stephen Jenkinson's newest book Matrimony: Ritual, Culture and the Heart's Work Learn more about Orphan Wisdom SchoolGet Jennifer’s biweekly newsletter for radical encouragement on the hard mess of being humanConnect with Jennifer on Instagram or LinkedIn Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

What if feeding what you love—even in the face of despair—could be your most vital climate practice?In this episode, Jennifer offers a guided practice inspired by a recent conversation with climate educator and author Sarah Jaquette Ray, who invites us to face the monstrous scale of climate change not with more fixing, but with more loving. Together, they explored the emotional toll of activism, the trap of numbness, and the surprising resilience we access when we stay rooted in what brings us joy and meaning.This practice is designed for anyone who feels overwhelmed, powerless, or stretched thin by the weight of the world—and who longs to feel more alive, connected, and steady in the long game.In this episode, you’ll take away:A fresh perspective on grief and anxiety as signals of what you care most deeply aboutA two-part reflective and experiential practice to help you feed what you loveA gentle invitation to discover how ordinary joys can become acts of resistance and renewalJoin Jennifer in this quiet, potent offering—a return to what enlivens, surprises, and sustains us. Because when you feed what you love, you find others there. And together, we remember how to belong.Links & resources—Get an email from Jennifer every couple of weeks to support you in the hard mess of leading and being human. Follow Jennifer on Instagram or LinkedInTalk with Jennifer! Share an insight or ask a question here [email protected] Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

When it comes to climate anxiety, most of us swing between utter despair or self-protective numbness. In our doom-scrolling attention economy, these are natural, but not always helpful, responses.In this episode, Jennifer speaks with climate scholar, educator, and author of A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety Sarah Jaquette Ray to explore how we might move through the heaviest of climate emotions—without turning away, burning out, or losing touch with what we love.They explore:The toll of burnout and the unexpected clarity grief can bringWhat it takes to face the monster of climate chaosThe new texture of climate activism—intimate, relational, and imperfectGrounding practices to help us stay courageous and awake in ecological unravellingTogether, they reflect on the emotional and relational labor of holding space during collapse, the wisdom exchanged across generations, and the quiet courage it takes not to fix—but to animate activism with love.Links & resources—Learn more about Sarah Jaquette Ray's workGet A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety: How to Keep your Cool on a Warming PlanetGet Jennifer’s Substack NewsletterFollow Jennifer on Instagram or LinkedIn Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

In this companion to my conversation with Joshin Byrnes on The Vowing Mind, here's a short practice of seeing those you love—and those you judge—with fresh eyes.We all carry fixed ideas of who others are: the reliable one, the difficult one, the person we think we've got dialed. In this guided meditation, you’ll be encouraged to loosen those ideas, and to meet others anew, with curiosity and compassion.This practice will help you recognize the complexity and unfolding nature of those around you—their strengths and struggles, the systems that shaped them, and the mystery beyond what we think we know.You'll experience: – A short grounding and breath awareness – An inquiry into see someone you love as whole, dynamic, and unknowable – A closing invitation to meet them again and again with curiosity.Whether you’re working with a loved one or someone you find challenging, this practice offers a potent return to presence and reconnection. ✨ You can listen to this practice before or after the Joshin Byrnes episode on The Vowing Mind, or return to it anytime you want to meet another human being more freshly. Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

How can you stay present to a world that breaks your heart open—without hardening or turning away? What is right action when there is no right answer?In this episode, Jennifer talks with Joshin Byrnes—Zen teacher, former AIDS activist, and founder of Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community—for a deeply honest conversation on his evolving expressions of activism and spirituality as he wrestles with and practices ethical action in a time of trouble.  Together, they explore:Growing out of enemy oriented and dehumanizing activism“Bearing witness” as essential practice in a culture of separation How letting go of fixed ideas creates healing action The Zen principle of vowing mind as a compass for ethical responsiveness.Come join us for a slow and tender dialogue about how to deepen your relational intimacy, practice and ethical inquiry as you taste the ache of being human. Content Note: This episode includes a story that references suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available. Resources are included below. Links & resources—Learn more about Joshin Byrne’s work at Bread Loaf Mountain ZenZen Peacemakers Get Jennifer’s Substack NewsletterFollow Jennifer on Instagram or LinkedInCanada Suicide Crisis Helpline: 9-8-8 or https://988.ca/US Crisis Helpline: 9-8-8 or https://988lifeline.org/International suicide resources can be found at https://findahelpline.com Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Ever find yourself caught in a loop of analyzing what you're feeling—trying to think your way through the ache, the confusion, the rage, the numbness? Or find that it feels easier to let your mind fix or solve the hard things rather than sense in or move with them? In this short practice episode, Jennifer England invites you into a somatic experience of feeling—beyond story, solving and fixing. Inspired by her recent conversation with therapist and writer Lisa Olivera, you’re invited to drop the narrative and let music, movement, and presence guide you into a relationship with aliveness.You’ll be guided through:A simple, intuitive practice to shift from analysis into sensation.Choosing music that mirrors your current emotional tone—no need for it to be calm or upbeat.A movement invitation that meets you exactly where you are—angry, tender, exhausted, joyful, or stuck.Whether you're overwhelmed, can't access how you're feeling, or somewhere in-between, this episode offers a powerful way to grow your fluency in feeling—by letting your body lead. Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

What if pain isn’t something to fix or escape—but a wise, living presence asking for our attention?In this episode, Jennifer sits down with writer and therapist Lisa Olivera for a heartfelt conversation about relating to pain as a wise teacher, rather than an adversary. Drawing from Lisa’s personal journey—shaped by early experiences with a culture that teaches us to avoid pain—they explore:The social narratives that keep us from feeling fullyThe role of somatic practice in understanding our body’s intelligenceWhat it means to approach suffering with reverence The slow, courageous path toward collective belongingThis episode invites you to deepen your fluency with feeling —in your body, the mystery of life and one another.  Links & Resources:Learn more about Lisa’s therapeutic and written workSign up for Human Stuff, Lisa’s SubstackGet Already Enough, Lisa Olivera’s first bookReceive Jennifer’s biweekly newsletter Connect with Jennifer on Instagram or LinkedIn Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Ever feel awkward in trying to express, connect or attune to another? Ever interpret your awkwardness as a failure? In this short practice episode, Jennifer England invites us to explore mispronunciation not just as a linguistic slip, but as a relational metaphor. Inspired by recent conversations with X'unei Lance Twitchell, you’re invited to notice the moments you "miss the mark" in connection—and to consider what might be fertile, even beautiful, in the in-between.You’ll be guided through:A reframing of mispronunciation as an opening, not an error.Gentle prompts to explore awkwardness, misunderstanding, and self-expression.A two-part inquiry to help you stay present with the discomfort of “not quite getting it right.”An embodied invitation to soften and stay—instead of fix or retreat.Whether you're navigating a tough moment with a loved one or reflecting on your own self-expression, this episode is a chance to pause and relate differently to misunderstanding itself.Links & resources—For more practices and inspiration from Jennifer get bi-weekly inspiration to help you navigate the hard mess of leading and being humanFollow Jennifer on Instagram or LinkedInTalk with Jennifer! Share an insight or ask a question here [email protected] Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

How might a willingness to cross thresholds of understanding help us access wilder and more intimate ways of knowing? In this episode Jennifer talks with X’unei Lance Twitchell—Indigenous language teacher, poet and scholar—who shares his deeply personal journey of reclaiming the Tlingit language. From an early longing to connect with his grandfather to challenging the violence of cultural erasure, X’unei invites us into the healing and transformative role language plays in decolonization and community renewal.In this episode, you'll learn:How the seemingly impossible can become a movement, one word and gesture at a timeHow learning an Indigenous language changes the way you think, untangling the illusion of separatenessWhy vulnerability and mistake-making are the foundation of resilient and laughter-infused community building.Join Jennifer and X'unei for a conversation that invites you to listen through the words—to the generous heartbeat of a community and culture remaking itself.Links & resources—Learn more about X’unei Lance TwitchellWatch an episode of Molly in DenaliGagaan X'usyee/Below the Foot of the Sun: PoemsGet Jennifer’s Substack newsletterFollow Jennifer on Instagram or LinkedIn Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

What does it mean to be engaged in a world that feels like it’s breaking?In this preview of Season 4 of Tension of Emergence,  Jennifer England shares the heart of the new season’s inquiry—a living  koan that has been shaping her own writing and leadership: how do we act with love and integrity in a time of rupture and collapse, without rushing to fix or save a world that may not need our saving?With a  magical cadre of guests, Jennifer explores tensions we’re told to resolve—between urgency and spaciousness, grief and creativity, doing and being. With the backdrop of global upheaval, she asks:Is “breaking” the whole story? If not, what else is happening?How do we stay in relationship, when our hearts are breaking?What do we do when we can’t agree on the path forward?Tune in to discover what it means to live at the edge of  uncertainty—curiously, generously, and awake. Season 4 offers a  sanctuary of emergence-  and place to be honest in the mess of it all.Come follow along for deep dives, and micro-practice episodes, to nourish this season of collective stretch.  Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.