Human Is A Verb Podcast

About Human Is A Verb Podcast

Human Is A Verb is a space to explore how bearing God's image invites us to live, love, and become fully human in a world increasingly shaped by disruption. humanisaverb.substack.com (https://humanisaverb.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Julene Tegerstrand, Ph.D.

Category

religion & spirituality · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Apr 2025

Latest episode

2 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

20 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   2 Jul 2026

   The Elephant Is Rarely Just a Topic

   A few weeks ago, I wrote about learning to listen to the elephant in the room — and the elephant within us. (https://humanisaverb.substack.com/p/holy-noticing-learning-to-listen?r=32c4ia) Last week, that reflection became a workshop at the New England Church of the Nazarene District Assembly: Holy Noticing: Facing the Elephant Within. Thank you, Ken Stanford, for the invitation. Before the workshop, I asked people what conversations feel easier to avoid than engage in their life and leadership. Their answers were not surprising: Political conversations.Christian nationalism.Human sexuality, gender identity, and marriage.Money.Leadership and staff relationships.Local church decisions.Race and ethnic identity. At first, this looks like a list of controversial topics. But I am aware that those topics are not the whole story. These conversations touch really tender places in us: belonging, trust, dignity, grief, power, loyalty, safety, and the fear that if we say the thing out loud, something might break. That is why the elephant in the room is rarely just a topic! Right?! It is also something happening in us. When pressure rises, my body often reacts before I have chosen my words. My throat tightens. My chest feels heavy. My mind starts building its case. I may defend, withdraw (my go to!), appease, explain, fix, get loud, get small, spiritualize, or shut down. And by the time I actually speak, a whole conversation has already happened inside me. I created the N.O.T.I.C.E. framework to be a practice that can help us slow down and be present to what is happeing inside of us…. before we trample ourselves or someone else. The N.O.T.I.C.E. framework invites us to: Notice the bodyObserve what happenedTend the feelingIdentify what mattersChoose what love invitesEntrust it One of the key learnings in dealing with our inner lives and conflict is: Loud feelings are usually guarding something tender. Anger may be guarding dignity.Anxiety may be guarding belonging.Shame may be guarding the longing to be loved.Defensiveness may be guarding the fear of being exposed.Exhaustion may be guarding a body that has carried too much for too long. So the work is not to shame the elephant within us. The work is to listen. Below is a short video (the same as above), created with Notebook LM, that gives the gist of the workshop and the practice I shared. And here is the practice card for N.O.T.I.C.E. You can use it before a hard conversation, or after one has already gone sideways. Get full access to Human Is A Verb: Julene Tegerstrand, Ph.D. at humanisaverb.substack.com/subscribe (https://humanisaverb.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

2. 

   17 Jun 2026

   Even Chaos Knows Your Name

   Yesterday I got to sit on the paddleboard as the waves rolled under me. It felt like I was carried. It crossed my mind that I could practice this sense of being carried in other aspects of my life. I was captivated by the dancing sunlight on the water. What beauty. This morning a friend asked if I had made a song for Psalm 149 because she is facilitating a retreat and using some of the songs I’ve been creating. Thanks, Nancy! Here are the lyrics based on Psalm 149. The Psalm is a joyful, embodied, and earthly praise in which all of creation honors God. All of creation claims dignity, strength, and justice together through naming the goodness of God. I’m really captivated by the idea in this Psalm that even chaos and uncertainty sing out to God. I’ve added the song to the “podcast” so it can be easily listened to. Eventually you can search “Everyday Peacemaking Project” on Spotify and find it. Chaos Knows Your Name Some nights the future feels like fog,The road disappears from sight.I lie awake with all my questionsIn the middle of the night.But the moon climbs up above the harbor,The tide comes dancing to the shore.The world keeps singing all around meLike it has before.And all creation leans toward You,In rhythms I can’t ignore—The stars sing Your name,The sea sings Your name,Everything sings Your name.The mountains sing, the falling rain,Everything sings Your name.And if the wildest waters do,If thunder does the same,Teach me how to trust like thatWhen even chaos knows Your name.The gulls ride high above the breakers,The wind comes laughing through the pines.The river finds its way to oceansWithout a map or sign.The dawn still breaks across the water,Each season holds what You have made.And every living thing around meIs carried by Your grace.And every season points to You,In quiet and in roar—The stars sing Your name,The sea sings Your name,Everything sings Your name.The mountains sing, the falling rain,Everything sings Your name.And if the wildest waters do,If thunder does the same,Teach me how to trust like thatWhen even chaos knows Your name.Maybe I don’t need the answers—I just need to know You’re here.In the crashing waves and driving rain,You are here, You are here.The stars sing Your name!The sea sings Your name!Everything sings Your name!The mountains sing, the falling rain,Everything sings Your name!And if the wildest waters do,If thunder does the same,Teach me how to trust like thatWhen even chaos knows Your name!Even chaos knows Your name!The wind sings.The waves sing.And I will sing. More spiritual practices are coming based on scripture in Genesis. More conflict transformation essays are coming too! But first, a few more paddles might be in store for me. Peace, Julene Get full access to Human Is A Verb: Julene Tegerstrand, Ph.D. at humanisaverb.substack.com/subscribe (https://humanisaverb.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

3. 

   15 Apr 2026

   Let Love Lead Me

   Dear Human is a Verb Community, I am reading The Cloud of Unknowing this week. (God) wants you to lock your eyes on him and leave him alone to work in you. Your part is to protect the door and windows, keeping out intruders and flies. And if you’re willing to do that, just ask him, praying humbly, and he will help you immediately. (Ch 2, Bucher Translation) I’ve been sitting with this invitation: lock your eyes on God and let the work of love be done in you. My part is the locking. God’s part is the loving. How much better would my world be if I simply held that division of labor? Guard the door and window of the heart. Stay present. And trust that the loving is already underway. It is easier said than done. And yet, there is an invitation to surrender here that something deep in me recognizes and wants. When I sat with that image long enough, I wanted to pray it with music. I worked with AI to develop “Let Love Lead Me,” trying to let the Cloud‘s invitation become something I could live into through music. This week, I am aware of how much we need, as persons and as a society, for love to lead us. I hope this song encourages you the way it has encouraged me. Peace, Julene Get full access to Human Is A Verb: Julene Tegerstrand, Ph.D. at humanisaverb.substack.com/subscribe (https://humanisaverb.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

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Apple Podcasts (US)

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1 ratings