Black Elk (1863–1950) was an Oglala Lakota medicine man, visionary, and spiritual leader whose life unfolded during one of the most turbulent periods in Native American history.

In this Artist Profile, Stephen Roach explores Black Elk's extraordinary life, from his childhood visions and initiation as a medicine man to his travels with Buffalo Bill's Wild West show and his growing interest in Christianity.

One of the most significant turning points in Black Elk's life came through an unexpected encounter with a Jesuit priest that led to his conversion to Catholicism. Yet his embrace of Christianity did not mean abandoning his Lakota heritage. Instead, Black Elk came to understand his calling as a healer and spiritual teacher through the lens of the Gospel, integrating the imagery of his childhood vision with the story of Christ.

Reflecting on Black Elk's spiritual evolution, Stephen considers what happens when a vision of hope collides with unimaginable suffering, and how a spiritual calling might take shape in ways we never anticipated. His life raises enduring questions about faith, cultural identity, healing, and the possibility of finding a new path when the world we once imagined has fallen apart.

CREDITS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Music by:

• William Johnson
• The Americus Brass Band
• Robert Tree Cody
• The Red Shadow Singers
• Welcome Voice, traditional Lakota Episcopal recording from the Igmu Winyan YouTube collection, used with permission by The Episcopal Diocese of South Dakota

Archival Recording:

• The Passing of the Red Man, courtesy of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody, Wyoming

Special Thanks to:

• The Turtle Lodge International Centre for Indigenous Education and Wellness
• Canyon Records Native American Music
• The Buffalo Bill Center of the West

...for the commercial use of the songs featured in this episode.

The opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the Makers and Mystics podcast and do not represent the views or opinions of the Lakota or the partnering organizations.

Source Materials and further research:

• Black Elk Speaks by John Neihardt
• Nicolas Black Elk: Medicine Man, Missionary, Mystic by Michael Steltenkamp
• Nicolas Black Elk by Jon M. Sweeney
• The Sixth Grandfather: Black Elk's Teachings Given to John G. Neihardt
• Black Elk (episodes #266 and #267) on Jimmy Akin's Mysterious World

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In this episode of Makers & Mystics, Stephen Roach sits down with author Stasi Eldredge to explore the contemplative journey toward union with God. Drawing on biblical imagery and themes from her book, The Ladder of Love, Stasi describes a series of rungs that invite us into an increasingly intimate relationship with our Creator, from clay being formed by the hands of God to a beloved child who knows the safety and delight of the Father's embrace.

Stephen and Stasi explore how shame, painful experiences, and distorted images of God can keep us distant from the love we long to receive. They discuss the importance of contemplative prayer, learning to recognize God's voice, and discovering our identity as people who are chosen, wanted, and beloved. For artists and seekers alike, this conversation offers an invitation to move beyond information and religious duty toward a life shaped by communion, creativity, and the healing presence of God.

In this episode:

• The ladder of love and the journey toward union with God
• How shame and self-protection can become barriers to intimacy
• Rediscovering God as a nurturing, loving presence
• Why contemplative prayer invites us to experience God rather than simply know about him
• How creativity can become an act of co-creation and communion with God

Stasi Eldredge is an author whose work explores spiritual formation, identity, and the healing love of God. In her book The Ladder of Love, she offers a pathway toward deeper intimacy with God through biblical imagery, reflection, prayer, and contemplative practices.

Learn more about Stasi Eldredge and her work: https://wildatheart.org/contributors/stasi-eldredge/

Get The Ladder of Love: https://wildatheart.org/the-ladder-of-love

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**This episode contains sensitive subject matter**

Can horror become a means of redemption? What might the stories that frighten us reveal about ourselves, our faith, and the world we inhabit?

Can people of faith engage horror as a legitimate artistic practice? In a culture that often encourages us to avoid discomfort, the darker dimensions of art can challenge us to confront realities we might otherwise prefer to ignore. But when we sanitize our faith, we risk losing our ability to speak honestly about suffering, evil, fear, and the complexities of being human. What if the stories that disturb us most have something important to teach us?

In this episode of Makers & Mystics, Stephen Roach sits down with Dr. Kutter Callaway, psychologist, theologian, and Chair of Worship Theology and the Arts at Fuller Theological Seminary, to explore horror, the monsters we create, and the spiritual possibilities of confronting our deepest fears. Drawing from his book Be Afraid, Callaway considers how horror can expose the darkness within ourselves and our culture, challenge the ways we understand good and evil, and create space for spiritual maturity. Together, they explore what artists of faith might discover when they stop looking away from the darkness and allow their work to engage the full complexity of the human experience.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why a sanitized faith struggles to speak meaningfully to the darker realities of the human experience.
• How horror can help us confront our fears and recognize the monsters within ourselves and our culture.
• What disturbing stories in Scripture and popular culture reveal about suffering, evil, and the human condition.
• How horror can become a space for creative honesty, spiritual reflection, and the possibility of redemption.
• What artists of faith might learn by engaging the uncomfortable and unsettling dimensions of human experience.

About Dr. Kutter Calloway

Dr. Kutter Callaway is a psychologist, theologian, cultural critic, and Chair of Worship Theology and the Arts at Fuller Theological Seminary. His work explores the intersections of theology, psychology, popular culture, and the arts. In his book Be Afraid, Callaway examines the spiritual and psychological dimensions of horror and considers how confronting our fears might contribute to spiritual maturity.

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Join our creative collective: patreon.com/makersandmystics Sign Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1