August The Growing Edge Newsletter

In this Newsletter…

• Notes from the Edge

• The Growing Edge Podcast—“The Call to Public Service: A Conversation with Indiana State Senator Shelli Yoder”

• Online & In-Person Events

• Question of the Month

• The First Single From Carrie’s New Album, A Great Wild Mercy, Now Available On All Streaming Services

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Notes from the Edge

A Note from Parker…

It’s sad but true: most Americans hold their elected leaders in low esteem. A recent poll asked respondents how much they trust people in various lines of work. Members of Congress ranked at the bottom, sandwiched between telemarketers and used car salespeople.

All of this saddens me for at least two reasons. First, politics is one of the most important things human beings do, and like all things human, it requires trust to be done well. We’re doing it very poorly these days, and widespread distrust is one of the reasons why.

Second, I’ve known and worked with a number of elected officials. Those I know well are dedicated public servants who deserve our gratitude, not our scorn. While the trash-talkers and power-junkies on Capitol Hill get a lot of press, we would do well to get to know the servant leaders who work hard for us every day, often at personal sacrifice and increasingly at personal risk.

That’s why I hope a lot of folks will listen to our interview with Shelli Yoder, Indiana State Senator from District 40. As we got underway, we asked Shelli to talk about the early influences in her life that inspired her toward public service. She told a touching story about the role her father played in the civic life of a small Indiana town, then went on to talk with deep honesty and personal vulnerability about the ups and downs of public service, especially in these conflicted times. I think you will emerge from this podcast with renewed appreciation for political leaders who serve us faithfully and well.

I don’t have the gifts required to hold public office. But as I listened to Shelli Yoder speak about her work, I realized that We the People can and must do more than elect good people to represent us in the halls of power. We must support them, encourage them, give them honest feedback, and express our gratitude when we think they’ve gotten something right. We can also push back on all toxic nonsense coming from political hacks that make the servant leader’s job difficult and sometimes dangerous these days.

Democracy is forever a work in progress, and that work—the work of politics properly understood—belongs to all of us.

A Note from Carrie…

This month we have a beautiful conversation with Indiana State Senator, Shelli Yoder. Our current media landscape focuses and amplifies the political voices that are the most strident, divisive, extreme and even hateful. It was incredibly good for the heart to have this conversation with Senator Yoder about what true public service means to her and how she is endeavoring to reclaim the word “politician” for the honorable work and service it was originally meant to imply.

I was particularly touched by the humanness of our conversation as we discussed balancing a public and personal life, inner work that supports our outer work in the world. This is inspiring for all of us who are holding in balance our inner experience with our daily walk through the world. What are the personal and spiritual practices that help steady us when the gales rage around us? Who are the trusted people we can turn to for an open heart and listening ear? How do hold all that is with all we envision with a sustainable kind of hope and daily action? These are such important questions in my own life and I deeply appreciated this heart opening conversation. I hope you’ll listen and add your comments.

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Question of the Month

As a citizen, what can I do to support and encourage the true servant leaders who represent me in the corridors of power? How can I help amplify the voices of the best of them, while pushing back on the darkness that threatens our democracy itself? What practices might help me hold the responsibilities of citizenship in a way that supports the common good?

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The Growing Edge Podcast

You can listen here, or on Substack, I-Tunes , Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts!

Episode 52: “The Call to Public Service: A Conversation With Indiana State Senator Shelli Yoder”

In this podcast, Carrie and Parker speak with Indiana State Senator, Shelli Yoder. We explore together Shelli’s history and vocation in passionate public service, as well as reclaiming the word politics and politician, holding difference and finding common ground. In a time when the most extreme and strident voices are more likely to get media sound bytes, it was deeply moving and encouraging to be in conversation with someone doing faithful and thoughtful daily work in public service.

For more about generative spaces for democracy and the common good check out Parker’s book Healing The Heart of Democracy

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Visit our website for the full archives of The Growing Edge Podcast.

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A Great Wild Mercy Single Now Available on Apple Music, Spotify & All Streaming Platforms

I just released my first song off of my new album this week, A Great Wild Mercy. I hope you all were able to listen to it! The full album won't be released until October 13th, but you'll be able to hear a few songs beforehand on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, or on whatever platform you use to listen to music.

Note About Streaming -Streaming music on platforms like these really helps artists. The more you all listen to it, the more the algorithm shares it with the rest of the world. Basically the more you listen and share a song the more the streaming service will introduce that song to new audiences!

Here are a few ways you can support me by streaming the song: 

• Listen to it on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you stream your music. 

• Follow me on these platforms so you will be notified whenever I release music! 

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Parker’s Events

A couple of months ago, I had a visit from Lee C. Camp, host of the PRX program “No Small Endeavor.” We had a wonderful conversation that’s now available as a podcast at the NSE site under the title, “Courage, Vocation, and Paradox.” Widely available wherever you get your podcasts.

The much-loved meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg is the host of the Metta Hour Podcast. Recently, I was honored to be her guest. Our conversation ranged over many topics, and closed with her asking me to read one of my poems. You can listen HERE or wherever you get your podcasts.

Here's the Good Life Project podcast—“We’re on a quest to help you live a more meaningful, connected and vital life”—where I talk with founder Jonathan Fields, a great conversation partner. Listen HERE.

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Carrie’s Events

I’ll be touring quite a bit this fall in support of my new album, A Great Wild Mercy. I’m so excited to share this new album in so many fun formats. Select shows will include Gary Walters, Allie Summers, and two very special performances that will feature a full string quartet with beautiful arrangements by Gary Walters. For more details and purchase tickets visit my website touring page www.carrienewcomer.com/tour

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