The Garrison Institute Presents: The Common Good

Cynthia Bourgeault and David Frenette: Centering Prayer and Nondual Consciousness

In this special in-person conversation recorded at the Garrison Institute, Cynthia Bourgeault and David Frenette explore the transformative practice of Centering Prayer, nondual consciousness, and the spiritual legacy of Father Thomas Keating. Drawing from decades of teaching, retreat leadership, and personal friendship with Keating, Bourgeault and Frenette reflect on prayer not as escape, but as a path toward compassion and deeper participation in reality. Intimate and searching, yet grounded, this conversation offers a rare opportunity to hear two influential contemplative teachers thinking together in real time about what it means to awaken, let go, and fully inhabit the world. We’d love to hear your thoughts about the podcast, please send us a note at podcasts@garrisoninstitute.org to let us know what you think. Produced by The Garrison Institute [https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/] and The Podglomerate [https://podglomerate.com/].

David Abram: Ecological Consciousness and the More than Human World

Cultural ecologist David Abram explores the “more-than-human world,” challenging the human-centered mindset of the Anthropocene and calling for a return to ecological humility. In this rich conversation, Abram weaves philosophy, indigenous wisdom, and lived experience to reveal our deep reciprocity with Earth—from the air we breathe to the bodies we inhabit. He unpacks concepts like consanguinity, mutuality, and the ethics of interdependence, offering a powerful critique of modern disconnection. Drawing on his journey as a sleight-of-hand magician and encounters with traditional healers, Abram highlights the lost role of mediators between human and nonhuman realms. We’d love to hear your thoughts about the podcast, please send us a note at podcasts@garrisoninstitute.org to let us know what you think. Produced by The Garrison Institute [https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/] and The Podglomerate [https://podglomerate.com/].

Joanna Macy: Interdependence and the Great Turning

In this conversation recorded not long before her death in 2025, activist and systems thinker Joanna Macy joins Jonathan at a Garrison Institute Pathways to Planetary Health forum to discuss how we can stay present and purposeful in a time of ecological and social crisis. Drawing on Buddhism, systems theory, and decades of activism, she shares insights on interdependence, non-linear thinking, and what she calls “the Great Turning”—the shift from a destructive industrial growth society to a life-sustaining world. Macy speaks candidly about despair, climate grief, gratitude, and the courage to feel deeply without becoming paralyzed. We’d love to hear your thoughts about the podcast, please send us a note at podcasts@garrisoninstitute.org to let us know what you think. Produced by The Garrison Institute [https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/] and The Podglomerate [https://podglomerate.com/].

Meditation with Sharon Salzberg: Movement-Oriented Meditation

In this eight-minute guided meditation, Sharon invites us to explore a walking meditation or gentle movement, with our eyes open, bringing a light awareness to our bodies and the world around us. You can find more meditations and contemplative resources like this at ⁠GarrisonInstitute.org⁠ [https://airtable.com/applMSXZIHS8YbQIH/tblRMDADruAzXZbPs/viwDgfXVzDTkec1XQ/www.garrisoninstitute.org], along with information about our Contemplative-Based Resilience initiative and other programs supporting those who serve our communities. Follow the podcast at ⁠https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/podcasts/⁠ [https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/podcasts/] Sign up for the newsletter to receive upcoming show previews and special resources heard on the podcast ⁠here.⁠ [https://garrisoninstitute.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=ce205a4343e4052e37cb0219c&id=1b39e711aa&]

Judy Lief: Buddhist Practice in Life and Death

In this episode, Judy Lief—a longtime student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and a leading voice in bringing Tibetan Buddhist teachings to the West—reflects on a life shaped by curiosity, unexpected turns, and deep contemplative practice. She shares her early search for meaning, her transformative path into Buddhism, and decades of work editing and preserving Trungpa Rinpoche's teachings. Judy explores how practice shows up in real life—from ordinary moments to end-of-life care—helping us stay present, face uncertainty, and connect with others more genuinely. We’d love to hear your thoughts about the podcast, please send us a note at podcasts@garrisoninstitute.org to let us know what you think. Produced by The Garrison Institute [https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/] and The Podglomerate [https://podglomerate.com/].