Saints and Humans

Anns joins us to discuss humanitarian aid efforts and experiences in response to the recent earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria.  We share stories of disaster response and war zone intervention.  There is discussion of trauma, violence, politics, and trauma responses. As always, please care for yourselves during and after listening to the podcast.

Content Note: Content in the podcasts is assumed to be trauma and/or spiritually related due to the nature of what is being shared here in general - including discussion of war, refugees, death, mental health struggles, faith traditions, and active community trauma.  Content descriptors are generally given in each episode.  Specific trigger warnings are not given due to research reporting this makes triggers worse.  Please use appropriate self-care and your own safety plan while exploring this website and during your listening experience.  While some professional material may be referenced for educational purposes, Emily is not your therapist nor offering professional advice.  Any informational material shared or referenced by Emily or guests is simply part of our own learning process, and not guaranteed to be the latest research or best method for you.  Please contact your therapist or nearest emergency room or shelter in case of any emergency.  This website does not provide any medical, mental health, or social support services.  Emily and her guests do not represent any organization on this podcast.  This is not an official podcast of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Our guest today is Leslie Merkley, a hospice chaplain in Texas.

Content Note: Content in the podcasts is assumed to be trauma and/or spiritually related due to the nature of what is being shared here in general - including discussion of war, refugees, death, mental health struggles, faith traditions, and active community trauma.  Content descriptors are generally given in each episode.  Specific trigger warnings are not given due to research reporting this makes triggers worse.  Please use appropriate self-care and your own safety plan while exploring this website and during your listening experience.  While some professional material may be referenced for educational purposes, Emily is not your therapist nor offering professional advice.  Any informational material shared or referenced by Emily or guests is simply part of our own learning process, and not guaranteed to be the latest research or best method for you.  Please contact your therapist or nearest emergency room or shelter in case of any emergency.  This website does not provide any medical, mental health, or social support services.  Emily and her guests do not represent any organization on this podcast.  This is not an official podcast of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Our guest today is Sonie Munson, and we discuss everything from military life to childhood trauma to surviving a loved one’s death by suicide to parenting while on active duty.

Content Note: Content in the podcasts is assumed to be trauma and/or spiritually related due to the nature of what is being shared here in general - including discussion of war, refugees, death, mental health struggles, faith traditions, and active community trauma.  Content descriptors are generally given in each episode.  Specific trigger warnings are not given due to research reporting this makes triggers worse.  Please use appropriate self-care and your own safety plan while exploring this website and during your listening experience.  While some professional material may be referenced for educational purposes, Emily is not your therapist nor offering professional advice.  Any informational material shared or referenced by Emily or guests is simply part of our own learning process, and not guaranteed to be the latest research or best method for you.  Please contact your therapist or nearest emergency room or shelter in case of any emergency.  This website does not provide any medical, mental health, or social support services.  Emily and her guests do not represent any organization on this podcast.  This is not an official podcast of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We talk today about death and holding presence with those who are dying… even when we ourselves are grieving.

Content Note: Content in the podcasts is assumed to be trauma and/or spiritually related due to the nature of what is being shared here in general - including discussion of war, refugees, death, mental health struggles, faith traditions, and active community trauma.  Content descriptors are generally given in each episode.  Specific trigger warnings are not given due to research reporting this makes triggers worse.  Please use appropriate self-care and your own safety plan while exploring this website and during your listening experience.  While some professional material may be referenced for educational purposes, Emily is not your therapist nor offering professional advice.  Any informational material shared or referenced by Emily or guests is simply part of our own learning process, and not guaranteed to be the latest research or best method for you.  Please contact your therapist or nearest emergency room or shelter in case of any emergency.  This website does not provide any medical, mental health, or social support services.  Emily and her guests do not represent any organization on this podcast.  This is not an official podcast of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Husband, Nathan, is our guest this week! He shares what it has been like to be married to a chaplain.  We talk about obedience as a lower law and consecration as a higher law.

For the talk referenced in the episode, given by the previous guest Sahar, listen to this talk from BYU Education Week:

https://byui-media.ldscdn.org/byui_ft/devo_audio/2022-07-29_Qumsiyeh_EduWeekEdit.mp3

Content Note: Content in the podcasts is assumed to be trauma and/or spiritually related due to the nature of what is being shared here in general - including discussion of war, refugees, death, mental health struggles, faith traditions, and active community trauma.  Content descriptors are generally given in each episode.  Specific trigger warnings are not given due to research reporting this makes triggers worse.  Please use appropriate self-care and your own safety plan while exploring this website and during your listening experience.  While some professional material may be referenced for educational purposes, Emily is not your therapist nor offering professional advice.  Any informational material shared or referenced by Emily or guests is simply part of our own learning process, and not guaranteed to be the latest research or best method for you.  Please contact your therapist or nearest emergency room or shelter in case of any emergency.  This website does not provide any medical, mental health, or social support services.  Emily and her guests do not represent any organization on this podcast.  This is not an official podcast of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Our friend Sahar Qumsiyeh shares her story of growing up in Palestine.  We talk about historical and collective trauma, and she shares what that was like for her.  We talk about keeping the faith through war, adversity, and abuse.

For more of her story, listen to this talk from BYU Education Week:

https://byui-media.ldscdn.org/byui_ft/devo_audio/2022-07-29_Qumsiyeh_EduWeekEdit.mp3

Content Note: Content in the podcasts is assumed to be trauma and/or spiritually related due to the nature of what is being shared here in general - including discussion of war, refugees, death, mental health struggles, faith traditions, and active community trauma.  Content descriptors are generally given in each episode.  Specific trigger warnings are not given due to research reporting this makes triggers worse.  Please use appropriate self-care and your own safety plan while exploring this website and during your listening experience.  While some professional material may be referenced for educational purposes, Emily is not your therapist nor offering professional advice.  Any informational material shared or referenced by Emily or guests is simply part of our own learning process, and not guaranteed to be the latest research or best method for you.  Please contact your therapist or nearest emergency room or shelter in case of any emergency.  This website does not provide any medical, mental health, or social support services.  Emily and her guests do not represent any organization on this podcast.  This is not an official podcast of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We speak with Joanna George, a healthcare worker in her own right, and explore her experiences growing up as the daughter of a chaplain.

Content Note: Content in the podcasts is assumed to be trauma and/or spiritually related due to the nature of what is being shared here in general - including discussion of war, refugees, death, mental health struggles, faith traditions, and active community trauma.  Content descriptors are generally given in each episode.  Specific trigger warnings are not given due to research reporting this makes triggers worse.  Please use appropriate self-care and your own safety plan while exploring this website and during your listening experience.  While some professional material may be referenced for educational purposes, Emily is not your therapist nor offering professional advice.  Any informational material shared or referenced by Emily or guests is simply part of our own learning process, and not guaranteed to be the latest research or best method for you.  Please contact your therapist or nearest emergency room or shelter in case of any emergency.  This website does not provide any medical, mental health, or social support services.  Emily and her guests do not represent any organization on this podcast.  This is not an official podcast of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We speak with Gerald Jones about chaplaincy and CPE.

Content Note: Content in the podcasts is assumed to be trauma and/or spiritually related due to the nature of what is being shared here in general - including discussion of war, refugees, death, mental health struggles, faith traditions, and active community trauma.  Content descriptors are generally given in each episode.  Specific trigger warnings are not given due to research reporting this makes triggers worse.  Please use appropriate self-care and your own safety plan while exploring this website and during your listening experience.  While some professional material may be referenced for educational purposes, Emily is not your therapist nor offering professional advice.  Any informational material shared or referenced by Emily or guests is simply part of our own learning process, and not guaranteed to be the latest research or best method for you.  Please contact your therapist or nearest emergency room or shelter in case of any emergency.  This website does not provide any medical, mental health, or social support services.  Emily and her guests do not represent any organization on this podcast.  This is not an official podcast of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Shae Curtis is the wife of a national guard chaplain.  We share stories of motherhood, CPE, and what it means to be a “safe place” for others.

Content Note: Content in the podcasts is assumed to be trauma and/or spiritually related due to the nature of what is being shared here in general - including discussion of war, refugees, death, mental health struggles, faith traditions, and active community trauma.  Content descriptors are generally given in each episode.  Specific trigger warnings are not given due to research reporting this makes triggers worse.  Please use appropriate self-care and your own safety plan while exploring this website and during your listening experience.  While some professional material may be referenced for educational purposes, Emily is not your therapist nor offering professional advice.  Any informational material shared or referenced by Emily or guests is simply part of our own learning process, and not guaranteed to be the latest research or best method for you.  Please contact your therapist or nearest emergency room or shelter in case of any emergency.  This website does not provide any medical, mental health, or social support services.  Emily and her guests do not represent any organization on this podcast.  This is not an official podcast of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We talk with our colleague and friend in Ukraine, psychologist Nadiia Aleksina.  She shares her experience of the war and the attack on Kyiv.  We talk about psychological first aid, trauma, and dissociation.  She does reference bombs and explosions because of the context of our discussion, but does not discuss explicit or graphic details.

You can follow Nadia’s story and our work for Ukraine on the new podcast “Care in Crisis”.

You can support Nadiia and her work at patreon.com/aleksina_nadiia.

Content Note: Content on this website and in the podcasts is assumed to be trauma and/or spiritually related due to the nature of what is being shared here in general - including discussion of war, refugees, death, faith traditions, and active community trauma.  Content descriptors are generally given in each episode.  Specific trigger warnings are not given due to research reporting this makes triggers worse.  Please use appropriate self-care and your own safety plan while exploring this website and during your listening experience.  While some professional material may be referenced for educational purposes, Emily is not your therapist nor offering professional advice.  Any informational material shared or referenced by Emily or guests is simply part of our own learning process, and not guaranteed to be the latest research or best method for you.  Please contact your therapist or nearest emergency room or shelter in case of any emergency.  This website does not provide any medical, mental health, or social support services.  Emily and her guests do not represent any organization on this podcast.  This is not an official podcast of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Chaplain Emily introduces herself and the podcast, including telling the story of her family and how she found chaplaincy.

Content Note: Content on this website and in the podcasts is assumed to be trauma and/or spiritually related due to the nature of what is being shared here in general - including discussion of war, refugees, death, faith traditions, and active community trauma.  Content descriptors are generally given in each episode.  Specific trigger warnings are not given due to research reporting this makes triggers worse.  Please use appropriate self-care and your own safety plan while exploring this website and during your listening experience.  While some professional material may be referenced for educational purposes, Emily is not your therapist nor offering professional advice.  Any informational material shared or referenced by Emily or guests is simply part of our own learning process, and not guaranteed to be the latest research or best method for you.  Please contact your therapist or nearest emergency room or shelter in case of any emergency.  This website does not provide any medical, mental health, or social support services.  Emily and her guests do no represent any organization on this podcast.  This is not an official podcast of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.