Born of Wonder

Latest Episodes:

S7:6 EP98: The Land of Magic Mar 12, 2024

Show notes

Happy St. Patrick's Day week! Today on the podcast we'll be exploring a medley of stories, with audio taken from the many episodes I've done in the past on Celtic legends and folklore, including the story of Oisin and Niamh and the land of Tir na Nog, the land of Eternal Youth, and Oisin's famed debate with St. Patrick. We'll learn about the abandoned Irish island of Blasket and get lost in some eerie beautiful Selkie stories. We will also explore the famous and outstandingly beautiful Book of Kells - what was once described as 'the work of angels, not of man.' We'll hear about one of Ireland's patron saints' St. Columbia and how he rebuked the Loch Ness Monster and at the end of the episode we'll enjoy some Yeats poetry readings.

If you'd like to really get in the Irish spirit, I hope you'll consider joining me and Christy Isinger in Ireland this coming October!

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

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www.bornofwonder.com www.mediamarqcreative.com Born of Wonder Substack Come to Ireland with me in October 2024! ---- Discussions - "TÍR NA NÓG: THE STORY OF NIAMH AND OISÍN" "AN OLD WOMAN'S REFLECTIONS" BY PEIG SAYERS "THE PEOPLE OF THE SEA" BY DAVID THOMPSON "SONG OF THE SEA" MOVIE - TRAILER - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgbXWt8kM5Q Music:

"The Road to Lisdoonvarna and Scollay's" - Pinniped - Free Music Archive

"Fanny Power" - Slainte - Free Music Archive "Mike in the Wilderness" - played by Katie Marquette Guitar and piano music underneath poetry - played by Chris Marquette Recommendation: The Poetry of William Butler Yeats "The Stolen Child" - https://poets.org/poem/stolen-child "When You are Old" - https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43283/when-you-are-old "Bobby Kennedy for President" 4 part series on Netflix Book of Kells Digitized https://digitalcollections.tcd.ie/concern/works/hm50tr726?locale=en The Book of Kells: An Illustrated Introduction to the Manuscript in Trinity College, Dublin https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-book-of-kells-an-illustrated-introduction-to-the-manuscript-in-trinity-college-dublin_bernard-meehan/280151/item/3948978/?gclid=CjwKCAjw4ayUBhA4EiwATWyBrjt-fV0U2k2xk4lZyVhyVYSTlxdqhhVGHi5NlmEVmte4v6Jrx6Ca9xoC9ZcQAvD_BwE#idiq=3948978&edition=4421796

S7:5 EP97: Reading for Reading's Sake Mar 05, 2024

Show notes

Why do we read? Is it for edification, intellectual stimulation, or even just 'to be a smart person?' How many of our reasons are linked to a real joy in reading - like when we were kids - the kind of reading that you had you flipping the pages at night, lying out on a blanket all afternoon, the kind that had you lost stories and falling in love with characters that became completely real to you? Today I'm sharing some practical tips about how to fall in love with reading again and how important reading is - for our kids, for our family, even for our physical and mental health. Three cheers for books!

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www.bornofwonder.com www.mediamarqcreative.com Born of Wonder Substack Come to Ireland with me in October 2024! ----

The Kesh Jig/The Monaghan/Morrison's Jig (Medley)

"A Fine Imitation" by Amber Brock

"The Secret Book of Flora Lea" by Patti Callahan Henry

Kristin Hannah books ("The Nightingale" "The Great Alone" etc.)

“Reading is everything. Reading makes me feel like I've accomplished something, learned something, become a better person. Reading makes me smarter. Reading gives me something to talk about later on. Reading is the unbelievably healthy way my attention deficit disorder medicates itself. Reading is escape, and the opposite of escape; it's a way to make contact with reality after a day of making things up, and it's a way of making contact with someone else's imagination after a day that's all too real. Reading is grist. Reading is bliss.”

― Nora Ephron

S7:4 EP96: The Nordic Theory of Love: In Conversation with Anu Partanen Feb 27, 2024

Show notes

The Nordic Theory of Love asserts that unhealthy dependencies inhibit our ability to truly love one another - that true love thrives under circumstances that establish independence and equality. Understanding this theory is key to understanding the economic and social policies in Nordic countries, policies that continuously have them topping out the rankings in the World Happiness Report. Nordic societies put in place social safety nets - including universal access to family leave, childcare, healthcare, and education - in order to free individuals from cycles of dependency and live more authentically. Or at least that is the theory. Does it work?

Finnish journalist and author Anu Partanen is here to explain how all these policies play out in Nordic societies and why she thinks they actually could work, especially at the state level, in the USA. I ask her all the questions I've always wanted to know about Nordic countries - How do businesses keep running if everyone is continuously taking off for maternity leave? What about those infamous wait times when you go the doctor? Is this really just a culture obsessed with conformity?

I hope this conversation gives you a lot to think about and I would love to hear your thoughts!

Guest: Anu Partanen, author of the Nordic Theory of Everything: In Search of a Better Life

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www.bornofwonder.com www.mediamarqcreative.com Born of Wonder Substack Come to Ireland with me in October 2024!

S7:3 EP95: Claiming Our Authentic Passions + Making Good Food Amidst the Chaos with Rachel Remmes Feb 20, 2024

Show notes

Today on the podcast I'm joined by my friend Rachel Remmes to discuss good food, cooking, writing, and discovering our authentic passions in a world full of distractions and mixed motivations. You'll get some great recipes and cooking tips as well as some broader personal reflections about how to establish a life that reflects our true joys and desires. Rachel Remmes is a recovering academic and passionate at-home chef who lives in New York City with her husband and three young children. Although she has been cooking avidly for as long as she can remember, in October 2023 she launched a substack - Can't Help But Cook. Her goal with this substack is to reignite an appreciation for at-home cooking by learning the fundamentals all while teaching her readers how to correctly salt meat and poach fish along the way. Rachel, who earned a masters in art history, views cooking as a creative art form that adds beauty and meaning to our lives in the same way as a good book or a stunning painting. Readers of her substack can enjoy her two published cookbook reviews. Additionally they can anticipate more cookbooks reviews this year, along with theoretical dinner guest conversations, including one with writer/director, Greta Gerwig, and another with the 20th-centuty Norwegian novelist, Sigrid Undset. Music Courtesy of Blue Dot Sessions ------ www.bornofwonder.com www.mediamarqcreative.com Born of Wonder Substack Come to Ireland with me in October 2024!

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Follow Rachel on Substack: Can't Help But Cook Rachel's Recommended Recipes:
Molly Baz Pastrami Roast Chicken Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas Pasta alla Buttera Other Recs from Rachel: "Wanting" by Luke Burgis Monk Manuel MCode

S7:2 EP94: Friendship: Not a Lesser Love + Bonus Post Ep. Chat with Christy Isinger Feb 13, 2024

Show notes

Here during Valentine's Day Week, we're celebrating one of life's biggest joys: Friendship, a love that is often much devalued in our modern society. While friendship might be unnecessary in the most basic biological sense (we need parents, we need spouses, in ways that we don’t need friends), it is precisely that lack of obligation that has the potential to elevate friendship to an extraordinarily high, even near divine, place in our lives. We're going to celebrate with audio clips giving us a chance to meditate on great friendships like Anne Shirley and Diana Barry, Elphaba and Glinda, C.S. Lewis and the Inklings, Jesus and His disciples. After the main episode stay tuned for a bonus chat with Christy Isinger, all about the amazing friendships you develop when traveling on a pilgrimage - if you've been thinking about signing up for our Ireland 2024 trip, now is the time! Stay tuned for more details.

All the Pilgrimage Details here!

https://www.bornofwonder.com/come-to-ireland-with-me

Video chat with Christy Isinger and More Pilgrimage Info

https://bornofwonder.substack.com/p/ireland-chat-with-christy-isinger

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.”

-C.S. Lewis

“No longer will I call you servants… Indeed, I have called you friends"

John 15:15

Anne of Green Gables (1985)

https://www.anneofgreengables.com/

C.S. Lewis "The Four Loves"

"Friendship is Unnecessary" Substack Essay

"For Good" from Wicked

Song Recommendation: "Down by the Water" by Abigail Lappell

Find me at www.bornofwonder.com

Subscribe on Substack: https://bornofwonder.substack.com/

S7:1 EP93: The Twelve Dancing Princesses Feb 06, 2024

Show notes

We're launching Season 7 of the podcast by reclaiming the power, wonder, and absurdity of classic fairy tales. This is a sound immersive episode leading us into an underground kingdom - the streets are lined with trees with diamond leaves - there are enchanted princes rowing boats - the door is locked, but every night the princesses' shoes are in pieces - where are they going to dance every night? Fall into beautiful stories again - and then hear some stirring music from Dvorak - and get excited for a full season of wonder, awe, and joy :) Cheers! ------- Visit: www.bornofwonder.com / https://bornofwonder.substack.com/ Come to Ireland with me! Download the brochure / Commonly asked questions / Sign up! The Twelve Dancing Princesses by The Brothers Grimm Music Courtesy of Blue Dot Sessions Sound Effects Courtesy of FreeSound Recommendation: Bagatelles, Op. 47: No. 1, Allegretto scherzando https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU9ndL9L-5w

Bonus Ep: Come to Ireland with Me! Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

Very exciting announcement for 2024!!!

This year I’m partnering with Select International to lead a truly phenomenal, unforgettable tour through the saint scattered hills of Ireland.

I will have an incredible co-leader partner in the podcaster and writer Christy Isinger.

Tune in for all the details, the backstory of how this came about, how you can support me in this endeavor (prayers, spreading the word etc), the importance of going on adventures, and some new year 'hellos' and plans for the next season!

come join us on the Irish Wisdom and Wonder Tour Oct 2-11 2024! Download the brochure Sign up!

Born of Wonder Ireland Trip Details

Word of the Year

https://www.wordoftheyear.me/

Saint of the Year

https://saintsnamegenerator.com/

S6:16 EP92: SEASON FINALE: St.Nick’s Traditions, End of Year Reflections, Fresh Starts, and Beautiful Music Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

Thank you everyone for listening and making season 6 of the podcast such a success! We're wrapping up this season with some beautiful music, end of year reflections (2 kids, no social media, more writing! A lot happening, a lot more to come), Advent listening recommendations, St. Nick's Traditions, and some encouragement to 'begin anew' always. Remember, Christmas is all about second chances. We all get to start again. What a gift that is. Wishing everyone a very Happy Advent, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

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Subscribe to Born of Wonder on Substack

https://bornofwonder.substack.com Support Born of Wonder on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/bornofwonder www.bornofwonder.com ------- End Titles - Rachel Portman Rhapsody on a theme of Pagnanini by Daniel Trifonov In the Bleak Midwinter by Bert Jansch Advent Ep Recs: S2:16 EP25: The Winter Solstice and Embracing the Darkness

S2:14 EP23: Advent with Maria von Trapp

S4:22 EP64: Advent, The Battle of Helm’s Deep, and Light in the Darkness

S4:23 EP65: Christmas is All About Second Chances

Dominican House of Studies - Gregorian Chant Album - My Spotify Wrapped Top Listening

S6:15 EP91: The Art of Hibernation Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

Animals understand that winter is a time for retreat and rest. They know that surviving the harshness of winter means living differently - sometimes even entering a liminal state of being: hibernation. And while human beings don't hibernate per say, there's a lot we can learn from the rhythms of the natural world. Whether it's ignoring 'clock time,' embracing 'denning,' or 'The Watch,' there are many ways to encourage a joyful engagement with our body and mind's need for seasonal rest. As Shakespeare wrote - 'a sad tale's best for winter' - there's something about this time of year that merges the melancholy with the imaginative, the darkness with the light. Instead of hiding from the contradictions, let's embrace them.

special thanks to Chris Marquette for his piano playing on this episode!

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Subscribe to Born of Wonder on Substack

https://bornofwonder.substack.com Support Born of Wonder on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/bornofwonder www.bornofwonder.com ------- The Art of Hibernation by Katherine May https://katherinemay.substack.com/p/the-art-of-hibernation What Is Hibernation? https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/what-is-hibernation#:~:text=A%20hibernating%20animal's%20metabolism%20slows,to%20survive%20being%20frozen%20solid. Good King Wenceslaus - Lincoln Cathedral Choir https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBgMwGVe6pU The Real Story of Good King Wenceslaus https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/real-story-good-king-wenceslas-carol/

S6:14 EP90: Ode to Joy Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

Today on the podcast we're celebrating - JOY! Beethoven composed his iconic 9th Symphony after he had gone completely deaf, a beautiful miracle in and of itself. We'll hear the original poem by Friederich Schiller - 'Do you feel the Creator's Presence? / Seek Him beyond the Stars! / He must live beyond the Stars.' This is an episode to put headphones on and turn the volume way up. An invitation to pause, listen, and rejoice.

Wishing everyone a beautiful holiday week! Happy Thanksgiving!

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Subscribe to Born of Wonder on Substack

https://bornofwonder.substack.com Support Born of Wonder on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/bornofwonder www.bornofwonder.com -------

Ode to Joy by Friederich Schiller

Joy, thou shining spark of God,
Daughter of Elysium,
With fiery rapture, goddess,
We approach thy shrine!
Your magic reunites those
Whom stern custom has parted;*
All men will become brothers*
Under your protective wing.
Let the man who has had the fortune
To be a helper to his friend,
And the man who has won a noble woman,
Join in our chorus of jubilation!
Yes, even if he holds but one soul
As his own in all the world!
But let the man who knows nothing of this
Steal away alone and in sorrow.
All the world's creatures draw
Draughts of joy from nature;
Both the just and the unjust
Follow in her gentle footsteps.
She gave us kisses and wine
And a friend loyal unto death;
She gave the joy of life to the lowliest,
And to the angels who dwell with God.
Joyous, as His suns speed
Through the glorious order of Heaven,
Hasten, brothers, on your way
Exultant as a knight victorious.
Be embraced, all ye millions!
With a kiss for all the world!
Brothers, beyond the stars
Surely dwells a loving Father.
Do you kneel before Him, oh millions?
Do you feel the Creator's presence?
Seek Him beyond the stars!
He must dwell beyond the stars.

Beethoven Symphony No. 9 - Mvt. 4 - Barenboim/West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChygZLpJDNE&t=300s

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