Learning How to See with Brian McLaren

Latest Episodes:

Season 3: Learning How to See: Christianity (Yes and No) May 19, 2022

Show notes

On the third season of Learning How to See, Brian McLaren invites us to see and experience Christianity in new ways. Exploring sections from his new book Do I Stay Christian? Brian helps listeners at a spiritual crossroads to honestly examine their evolving faith.

Joined by guests Diana Butler Bass, Lisa Sharon Harper, Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Valerie Kaur, Richard Rohr, James Finley, Barbara Holmes, and Tripp Fuller, Learning How to See season 3 reveals how a contemplative mind can help us see, understand, and engage with the Christian faith.

Everyone who purchases a copy of Brian's new book Do I Stay Christian? from our online bookstore will be invited to participate in an exclusive Community Read-Along on Facebook! There will be discussion questions, prompts, and shared practices as we move through the book each week.

The Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) is an educational nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen compassionate engagement in the world. When you purchase this or any other book from our online bookstore you help us to introduce seekers from around the world to the contemplative Christian path of transformation. (Everyone who purchases a copy of Do I Stay Christian? will receive a URL to join the discussion group via email.)

Bonus: Begin Again from the Very Beginning Aug 16, 2021

Show notes

On this bonus episode, Brian, Gigi, Mike and Paul conclude the season in their reflections on the dynamics of suffering and the art of beginning again in order to learn how to see.

The prayers/intentions used in this season can be found here at the following links, depending on where you listen to podcasts: Apple | Spotify | RadioPublic | Stitcher

Resources:

The transcript for this episode can be found here.
Brian's e-book: Why Don't They Get It?
Song: Bruce Colburn - "Us All" (Youtube)

Connect with us:

We’d love to hear your thoughts, comments or feedback. Send us an email at podcasts@cac.org
Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Brian McLaren: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

6: What Do You Want? Aug 06, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Learning How to See, Brian, Gigi, Mike and Paul talk about the last two biases that look at the social-political dimensions of seeing:

Confidence Bias: We mistake confidence for competence, and we are all vulnerable to the lies of confident people. Our brains prefer a confident lie to a hesitant truth.
Conspiracy Bias: When we feel shame, we are vulnerable to stories that cast us as the victims of an evil conspiracy by some enemy “other.” Our brains like stories in which we’re either the hero or the victim ... never the villain.

The prayers/intentions used in this season can be found here at the following links, depending on where you listen to podcasts: Apple | Spotify | RadioPublic | Stitcher

Resources:

The transcript for this episode can be found here.
Brian's e-book: Why Don't They Get It?

Connect with us:

We’d love to hear your thoughts, comments or feedback. Send us an email at podcasts@cac.org
Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Brian McLaren: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

5: Hate and Love Jul 30, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Learning How to See, Brian, Gigi, Mike and Paul talk about the next two biases that look at the social-political dimensions of seeing:

Catastrophe Bias: Our brains notice sudden changes for the worse, but we easily miss slow and subtle changes over time. We think what is now normal always was and always will be. Our brains are wired for what feels normal.
Cash Bias: It is very hard to see anything that interferes with our way of making a living. Our brains are wired to see within the framework of our economy, and we see what helps us make money.

The prayers/intentions used in this season can be found here at the following links, depending on where you listen to podcasts: Apple | Spotify | RadioPublic | Stitcher

Resources:

The transcript for this episode can be found here.
Brian's e-book: Why Don't They Get It?

Connect with us:

We’d love to hear your thoughts, comments or feedback. Send us an email at podcasts@cac.org
Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Brian McLaren: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

4: Boxes Inside Boxes Jul 24, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Learning How to See, Brian, Gigi, Mike and Paul talk about the next two biases that look at the social-political dimensions of seeing:

Conservative/Liberal Bias: Conservatives and Liberals see the world differently. Liberals see through a “nurturing parent” window, and Conservatives see through a “strict father” window. Liberals value moral arguments based on justice and compassion; conservatives also place a high value on arguments based on purity, loyalty, authority, and tradition. Our brains like to see as our party sees, and we flock with those who see as we do.
Comfort Bias: Our brains welcome data that allows us to relax and be happy and reject data that require us to adjust, work, or inconvenience ourselves.

The prayers/intentions used in this season can be found here at the following links, depending on where you listen to podcasts: Apple | Spotify | RadioPublic | Stitcher

Resources:

Connect with us:

We’d love to hear your thoughts, comments or feedback. Send us an email at podcasts@cac.org
Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Brian McLaren: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

3: Mountain Climbers Jul 16, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Learning How to See, Brian, Gigi, Mike and Paul talk about the next two biases that look at the social-political dimensions of seeing:

Consciousness bias: A person’s level of consciousness makes seeing some things possible and others impossible. Our brains see from a location.
Competency bias: We are incompetent at knowing how incompetent or competent we are, so we may see less or more than we think. Our brains prefer to think of ourselves as above average.

The prayers/intentions used in this season can be found here at the following links, depending on where you listen to podcasts: Apple | Spotify | RadioPublic | Stitcher

Resources:

Connect with us:

We’d love to hear your thoughts, comments or feedback. Send us an email at podcasts@cac.org
Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Brian McLaren: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

2: Going Against the Flow Jul 09, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Learning How to See, Brian, Gigi, Mike and Paul talk about the next three biases that look at the social dimensions of seeing:

Community bias: It is very hard to see something your group doesn’t want you to see. This is a form of social confirmation bias.
Complementarity bias: If people are nice to you, you’ll be open to what they see and have to say. If they aren’t nice to you, you won’t.
Contact bias: If you lack contact with someone, you won’t see what they see.

The prayers/intentions used in this season can be found here at the following links, depending on where you listen to podcasts: Apple | Spotify | RadioPublic | Stitcher

Resources:

Connect with us:

We’d love to hear your thoughts, comments or feedback. Send us an email at podcasts@cac.org
Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Brian McLaren: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

1: The Big Ditch Jul 02, 2021

Show notes

On this introductory episode for Season 2 of Learning How to See, Brian, Gigi, Mike and Paul review the biases and talk about two biases that set the stage for all the others:

Confirmation Bias: the human brain welcomes information that confirms what it already thinks and resist information that disturbs or contradicts what it already thinks.
Complexity Bias: the human brain prefers a simple lie to a complex truth.

The prayers/intentions used in this season can be found here at the following links, depending on where you listen to podcasts: Apple | Spotify | RadioPublic | Stitcher

Resources:

Connect with us:

We’d love to hear your thoughts, comments or feedback. Send us an email at podcasts@cac.org
Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Brian McLaren: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Coming Soon: Season 2 Jun 28, 2021

Show notes

What could happen if we approached the world in silent wonder, with a humility and openness to learning? Brian McLaren is back for Season 2 of this powerful podcast unpacking the biases that impact the way we see—and ultimately love—ourselves and each other. From judgments made unconsciously to complacency in systemic evil, we must learn how to see if we are to learn how to transform.

In Season Two, listeners will have the chance to participate in specially curated practices for each bias, designed to stretch and deepen our hearts so that we can transform how we see into how we pray.

6: Seeing, Doubt, Contemplation and Action Nov 09, 2020

Show notes

On this last episode of Learning How to See, Brian, Jacqui, and Richard review of the biases, and reflection on how doubt, action, and contemplation enrich our ability to see.

Resources:

Connect with us:

We’d love to hear your thoughts, comments or feedback. Send us an email at podcasts@cac.org
Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Brian McLaren: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Rev. Jacqui Lewis PhD: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Richard Rohr: Twitter | Sign up for his Daily Meditations here

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Learning How to See with Brian McLaren

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected