In this episode, I talk with Dr. Miles Neale, who is a Buddhist psychotherapist, author, teacher, and leader of pilgrimages around the Buddhist world. We talk about his experiences as a pilgrim as well as how he approaches pilgrimages as a leader. And, we delve into the integration of psychotherapy and pilgrimage experiences. 

Meaningful Journeys

Pilgrimage and Spiritual Awakening

In this episode, I talk with Mindy Miraglia, the founder and CEO of Berkshire Camino. We discuss how her pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago inspired her to start her business during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also talk about the significance of outdoor walking as a way to cope with pandemic and as a sustainable practice.

Berkshire Camino

In this episode, I talk with Anja Bakker about her many pilgrimage journeys. Anja is a harpist and has traveled with her harp across hundreds of miles of pilgrimage routes. We talk about her experiences playing for pilgrims and the episode ends with a sample of Anja’s beautiful music.  

The Flauting Harper

In this episode, I talk with Darren Hill, who is a performing artist, storyteller, and pilgrim. We talk about his pilgrimages and how he performed the play Underneath the Lintel 26 times as he walked the Camino. Darren is also the founder of www.thestorypilgrim.com. 

The Story Pilgrim

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Dane Munro, who is a resident academic at the Institute for Tourism, Travel and Culture (ITTC) at the University of Malta. We talk about his publications, the concept of post-pilgrimage, and being a Knight in the Order of St. John.

A Conversation with Dane Munro

In this episode, I talk with Peggy Eppig, a pilgrim and independent researcher. Dr. Eppig has written about pilgrimage from ecological and environmental studies perspectives. We delve into her varied pilgrimage experiences along the Underground Railroad in the US and the Camino in France and Spain. We also discuss pilgrimages to sites of environmental disaster.

Pilgrim Paths

In this episode, I talk with Lauren Miller Griffith, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Texas Tech University and Jonathan Marion, Associate Professor of Cultural Anthropology at the University of Arkansas. We discuss the concept of apprenticeship pilgrimage and their book on the topic entitled Apprenticeship Pilgrimage: Developing Expertise through Travel and Training. We also talk about their rich professional and personal backgrounds and the pilgrims whose lived experiences inspire their work. 

Apprenticeship Pilgrimage

In this episode, I talk with Raghunath about his pilgrimages to India. We also wander through a discussion about the pandemic, his identity transformation, his passion for teaching others, and what it is like to be a pilgrim while also leading others on sacred pilgrimages. 

Pilgrimages to India

In this episode, I talk with Erin Dooley, who is a pilgrim, filmmaker, and producer. Erin documented her experiences along the Camino de Santiago in a film entitled A Way to Forgiveness. In her newest initiative called Walks to Forgive, Erin accompanies people on walks in nature as she documents their stories of forgiveness. We talk about what inspired Erin to first go on a pilgrimage and how she has evolved into a forgiveness companion to others.

Walks to Forgive

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Daniel Olsen, Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at Brigham Young University. Dr. Olsen is the co-editor (along with Dr. Maximiliano Korstanje) of Dark Tourism and Pilgrimage.  Dr. Olsen and I talk about the book as well as his personal connections to pilgrimage. 

Dark Tourism and Pilgrimage

In this episode, I offer thoughts on pilgrimage studies during the COVID-19 pandemic from a psychological lens. This brief talk was given at a virtual symposium at the William and Mary on January 21, 2021. The talk was part of a panel discussion on how pilgrimage studies has been impacted during the pandemic and how our work may look moving forward. I was joined in the panel part of the presentation by Daniel Olsen (Geography) and Michael Di Giovine (Anthropology). 

Pilgrimage Studies During COVID-19: A Psychological Perspective

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Michael Di Giovine and Dr. Jaeyeon Choe. They have recently published an edited book entitled Pilgrimage Beyond the Officially Sacred: Understanding the Geographies of Religion and Spirituality in Sacred Travel. In this podcast episode, we discuss their book as well as their perspectives on what is sacred, what is pilgrimage, and new directions in the field of pilgrimage studies and sacred travel. Dr. Di Giovine is Associate Professor of Anthropology at West Chester University in Pennsylvania in the USA and Dr. Choe is a senior academic at Bournemouth University in England. 

Pilgrimage Beyond the Officially Sacred

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Sachin Jain about pilgrimage in India and, in particular, the Ramdevra Pilgrimage in his ancestral home state of Rajasthan. Dr. Jain reflected on his experiences as a volunteer during this pilgrimage and about why pilgrimage is so important in India. We also talked about the links between mental health and pilgrimage.  

Reflections on the Ramdevra Pilgrimage

In this episode, I talk with Ali about his journey to Mecca. Ali's mother had been waiting for years to be selected for the Hajj pilgrimage and then she passed away. Her name was chosen and Ali's family decided that he should complete the pilgrimage in her place. An existential dilemma emerged: Ali was raised in a religious Muslim household yet he no longer practiced Islam. Listen to hear how Ali navigated his love and devotion for his mother and his internal conflict about the religion of his youth. 

My Mother's Hajj

In this episode, I talk with Lilly Grisafi who walked the Camino Frances through France and Spain in 2019. Her pilgrimage marked a transition into adulthood and a new way of seeing the world. During her journey, she learned how to truly listen to others, how to set boundaries with other people, and met a man whose life story inspired her to view her own father in a new way.  

A Journey to Adulthood

Dr. Heather Warfield talks with people about their pilgrimage journeys, people impacted by pilgrimage sites, and scholars who research the pilgrimage phenomenon.

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Meaningful Journeys

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