Cabin Sessions with Marielle Kraft

SEASON TWO - EPISODE 11: CABIN SESSIONS WITH MARIELLE KRAFT

I finally have a guest on the podcast!

In this episode of The Why Behind the What, I interview Marielle Kraft, a singer-songwriter based out of Philadelphia.

Marielle and I have known one another for a little over eight years. When we met, she had just learned to play a few chords on the ukulele and now she is touring the country, dropping studio albums, and creating some incredible music.

My family and I went and saw her tour when it made a stop in our city. While we were eating dinner and enjoying some drinks, we started talking about the spiritual life and Marielle shared how she had some incredible spiritual experiences in a tiny cabin in New Jersey.

Spending four days in complete solitude and silence greatly impacted her life, her soul, and her music.

As she told me this, I knew I had to get her on the podcast. So, in this episode, we talk about how Marielle got glimpses of the Divine, found out that God has a sense of humor, experienced freedom from technology and the noise of social media, and discovered the beauty of silence and solitude.

Yet, the coolest part of this episode is that Marielle plays a song she has never played publicly. Yes, that’s right people, it’s a world premiere performance on the podcast! It’s a Why Behind the What exclusive! And, it brought tears to my eyes. 

You can find Marielle’s music on Spotify, iTunes, SoundCloud, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your music. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. You can also buy some merch on her website. If you like this episode, be sure to SHARE it and REVIEW it on Apple Podcasts.

As you discover a mystical God, the One who has a sense of humor, who is found in silence, solitude, and even mazes, may you have peace, may you have calm, and may you have happiness.

SUBSCRIBE AND LISTEN TO THE PODCAST ON APPLE PODCASTS, PODBEAN, SPOTIFY, STITCHER, OVERCAST, GOOGLE PLAY, PODCAST REPUBLIC, OR WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO PODCASTS.

Podcast Episode Three: Solitude

SEASON TWO - EPISODE THREE: SOLITUDE

Solitude. I know, it sounds boring, doesn’t it? Unless you're an extreme introvert and your probably rejoicing- “this is the best thing ever!”

I’m a bit of an extrovert, so for a long time solitude was torturous for me. I hated it. But, as an extrovert, I have learned that solitude isn’t torturous, it is actually essential to my spiritual transformation and my personal well-being.

As Henri Nouwen has stated, “without solitude it is virtually impossible to have a spiritual life.”

As a spiritual practice, solitude is more than getting away from people, untethering ourselves from technology. Solitude is an opportunity to turn away from other people, technology, and other ways we can be interrupted in order to turn toward and be present to God who is always present to us.

Solitude is the place where we encounter God as we are and we leave that place transformed and renewed because we were with God. It could be said that in solitude, we not only spend time with the Divine, but we also discover our true self, who we are truly meant to be in God’s presence.

As Ruth Haley Barton says in her book, Invitation to Solitude and Silence, that in solitude and silence the love of the Divine comes to us, but it also begins to flow out of us to others. So, solitude can be an avenue for God to transform us into healed, compassionate, and loving people who not only reflect the Divine, but also love others in the same way as the Divine.

I had always thought that being alone was simply a way to become quickly lonely or an opportunity to get away from those friends that you could only handle in small doses. But it is so much more than that. It is a proven way to be with God and hear the still small voice of God.

In this episode, I am going to challenge you to start exploring solitude. But don’t worry, I set the bar low; really low. If you want some resources, I recommend: Thoughts in Solitude, by Thomas Merton; Invitation to Solitude and Silence, by Ruth Haley Barton; The Way of the Heart, by Henri Nouwen. Be sure to share this episode and, if you could, write a review on iTunes.

And in the solitude, may you have peace, may you have calm, may you have happiness.

SUBSCRIBE AND LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS, PODBEAN, SPOTIFY, STITCHER, OVERCAST, GOOGLE PLAY, PODCAST REPUBLIC, OR WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO PODCASTS.

Coming Soon: Podcast Season Two

It’s back!

After a long hiatus, my podcast, The Why Behind the What, is back with all-new episodes, a new logo, new music, and new ideas to share with you! Where have I been for the last few years? Well, not doing a podcast, that’s for sure. But rest assured it is back and ready to go.

Starting January 13th, a new episode will drop every two weeks based on the theme, ‘Ancient Contemplative Spirituality for Today’s Transformation.’

The past few years have brought me on a journey where I realized faith wasn’t working for me as it once had. My Christian life wasn’t what it once was. The prayers I said, the songs I sang, the church services I attended, the Bible I read, it all stopped working. I became disillusioned, bored, tired, and critical. I was burnt out. And, much of this happened while I was working as a pastor.

I needed something new in my faith and something more for my soul. What I discovered was that something ‘new’ was actually something quite old; ancient actually.

That’s what I’ll introduce you to this season. In these episodes, I’ll invite you into ancient spiritual practices that relieve stress, increase union with the Divine, and lead to personal and spiritual transformation. These practices have quite literally revived my faith, healed my soul, increased my passion, and allowed me to hear the still small voice of God.

If you have found yourself on a similar faith journey; one that isn’t working as it once did, one that has led you to become burnt out, cynical, or tired, I hope you will listen. And more than that, I hope you will open yourself up to the Divine and through ancient contemplative spirituality, you might be transformed today.

A few things you can do to help spread the word about The Why Behind the What:

• First, subscribe to the podcast on APPLE PODCASTS, PODBEAN, SPOTIFY, STITCHER, OVERCAST, google play, podcast republic, or wherever you listen.

• sECOND, please share it on social media (I need your help to spread the word to the masses).

• THIRD, please review it on ITUNES PODCASTS so those silly algorithms will allow more people to find it.

Until then, may you have peace, may you have calm, and may you have happiness.

This podcast and blog were written and recorded on Monacan Land. For more about indigenous land and territories where you live and work, check out native-land.ca.