Nothingness, Trauma, and the Self with Rev. Thandeka

What happens when the boundaries of the self dissolve? In this profound episode, theologian and Unitarian Universalist minister Thandeka joins hosts Jay McDaniel and Jared Morningstar for a vulnerable and wide-ranging conversation exploring spiritual experiences of no-self, the impact of trauma on identity, and the philosophical power of nothingness.

Through deeply personal stories and philosophical insights, the conversation weaves together:

• Isaac Stern concerts and moments of ego dissolution
• Islamic prayer, Buddhist emptiness, and Zen koans
• The psychological legacy of childhood trauma
• Whitehead’s process theology and Schleiermacher’s affective religious experience
• The rise of small spiritual communities as healing spaces

Together, they ask: What is the role of community in reclaiming our whole selves? Can traditions like Buddhism, Islam, and process theology offer resources for healing in a fragmented world?

Guest Bio Host Bios