Showing results by narrator "Justine Willis Toms" in All Categories

In this conversation with Michael Toms, recorded in 1996, the late journalist and commentator Bill Moyers discusses some of the controversies surrounding Genesis, the first book of the Bible, which, he points out, contains some of the most powerful stories in Western civilization. He says, “Stories are the way we organize our response to the world…Listening to others, and having them listen to you, is a way to grow your own faith.”

In this 2025 interview with Justine Willis Toms, a physicist and mystic reveal themselves as an unusual husband-and-wife team, combining their wisdom and experience to encourage us at this time of a “choice point” for humanity. They describe what occurs in our brain when surprises happen, and how that provides the opportunity to instantly change long-standing habits. Hade describes the importance of knowing our core values in order to be resilient.

In this 1997 conversation with Michael and Justine Toms, Alice Walker says, "Something was lost when we took to heart traditional religious stories in which God is separate from nature. And something precious is regained when we honor our intrinsic sense of awe and worship toward nature, and our deep desire for connection with both nature and our human community."

In this interview, Patricia Sun shows us that the difficulties of the times can be used free us to take a bigger view. Patricia gives us tools for releasing our plethora of negative habits, conditionings and defenses, including dealing with anger when it is present, and for being helpful in reducing the polarization going on in politics today. She talks about love as the most creative, transformational power in the universe, and makes a solid case for "good" being more powerful than "right".

In this interview, Carla Malden speaks with candor and clarity about her experience of living through the debilitating disease and death of her husband and work partner. You will hear how she learned the new language of medicine, how she coped with the reoccurrence of illness, and how she coped with the guilt of things said or not said. She shares the paradox of wanting things to be normal when they are so out of kilter, how therapy is useful for the entire family when a loved one is dying, and what it was like to bring her husband home to die.

Get ready for a whirlwind tour of the authentic American myth of The Wizard of Oz. In this interview, Jean Houston answers the question of what it means to have a brain, a heart, and to act with courage. Using the characters of the scarecrow, tin man, lion, and Dorothy, she inspires us to follow our deep yearning so we can develop the gifts we recognize in ourselves, live our full potential, and contribute to a better world.

Despite many crises in the world today, biologist Elisabet Sahtouris is optimistic about the future, and points to biology and the model of evolution moving toward cooperation and co-creation. In this interview, she describes the cyclical maturation process in nature, including why diversity is an imperative in nature and in human culture. She explains why it is important to know the basic assumptions as represented by different scientists from a variety of cultures, and the difference between the new consciousness science and materialist science.

He explains the idea of “Cradle to Cradle”, and how humans can become tools of the natural world once more. He explores the difference between a consumer and a customer, explains what is meant by accruing a “materials bank”, and proposes how we can turn sewage treatment plants into nutrient management plants. He is an anticipatory design architect. But more than that he is a philosopher for the 21st century, and is asking some of the most critical questions we should be thinking about in these challenging times.

In this interview, Margaret Wheatley speaks with fierce honesty as she gives us the map of where we are in the emergent culture. She talks about how we are being manipulated to fear one another and to work harder and work faster, and also gives us tools that enliven and reinvigorate us in our work and relationships. She talks about how our brains are shaped by our habits, and how technology and the internet are affecting our brains, social relationships, and workloads.

When it comes to money, we all want to learn to make better choices and do it more often. In this interview, Patricia Aburdene tells us that "money is the power of human consciousness in motion". She describes the fair-trade movement, conscious capitalism and mindful spending, and also why it is important not be too attached to financial goals. She defines the three steps we can take to integrate our money shadow or limiting beliefs about money. She also encourages us to invest in our own creativity, and shares how journaling can enhance our creativity.

Are there universal human ethics? Mark Matousek discusses his research on the subject of ethical wisdom through interviews with social scientists, spiritual leaders, ex-cons, altruists and philosophers. He describes the five innate moral and ethical categories he finds to be hardwired into humans, and how our emotional impulses effect our ethical behavior.

Carter Phipps expands on "evolutionaries", related to the three main cultural stages of human development, and why it is important to understand the trajectory we’ve been on as a species. He gives a framework for exploration of the strata of the evolution of human consciousness, with the important understanding that we don’t have all the answers yet. The discussion explores evolutionary theology, and what is meant by the evolution of God.

In this interview, Allan Hunter demonstrates that, while the collection of folktales by the Grimm brothers deal with some very murky human passions, they also hold the possibility of a productive way of being - on the other side of difficulty. He explores what magic represents in German folktales, and why Grimm’s tales are often disturbing. In discussing the "unDisneyfied" stories of Cinderella, the Frog Prince, and others, Allan identifies empowerment and healing themes, relevant to the community and society, both then and now.

In this interview, Kara Kroeger describes how she traveled to Central America in her late teens, and discovered her life’s passion of herbs, food, and nutrition. As she learned from Central American healers who treated both the psycho-spiritual body and physical body, she became aware of why more people are experiencing food allergies and sensitivities. Kara shares specific information with us, including: what are nutrient-rich foods, how to test for food allergies, the upside and downside of eating meat in our diets, and what gluten is.

In this interview (part 1 of 2), Carter Phipps expands on "evolutionaries," related to the three main cultural stages of human development, and why it is important to understand the trajectory we’ve been on as a species. He gives a framework for exploration of the strata of the evolution of human consciousness, with the important understanding that we don’t have all the answers yet. The discussion explores evolutionary theology, and what is meant by the evolution of God.

In this interview, Zachiah Murray tells us that mindfulness is an awareness of what is around us and within us in the moment, so that we can see deeply without being caught in the past or the future. She colorfully describes mindfulness, using the metaphor and practice of gardening. The teachings from her garden include: what to do when seeds don’t grow, how to deal with the less desirable critters in our gardens, and how weeding can teach us compassion, loving-kindness, and love.