The Walled Garden is a podcast and community of independent philosophers and seekers who are dedicated to the pursuit of truth, wisdom, virtue, and the divine. Led by Australian poet, philosopher, and musician Simon Drew, American philosopher, author, and speaker Sharon Lebell, and British philosopher and researcher Kai Whiting, The Walled Garden hosts regular live events and meetups with fascinating philosophers, theologians, artists, leaders, and seekers who can teach us all about how to live a flourishing existence.

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About Our Guest: Since 2002 Dr. Bruce Tallman has been a full-time spiritual director and marriage coach in private practice. He is passionate about his mission, which is to help people grow in wisdom and love.
In spiritual direction, he has worked with laity and clergy from every Christian denomination. He has published two books for spiritual directors (one of them, Finding Seekers: How to Develop a Spiritual Direction Practice from Beginning to Full-Time Employment, is a bestseller in the field). He has also published two books on spirituality for clergy and lay people (see the "Books" page).
He has had hundreds of articles on spirituality published in the London Free Press and other newspapers and is an adjunct faculty for the Haden Institute for Spiritual Directors Training.
From 1988 to 2002 Dr. Tallman was the director of two adult religious education centers for the Roman Catholic Diocese of London, Ontario. He holds a Doctor of Ministry degree in Spiritual Direction/Counselling from the Graduate Theological Foundation, which is affiliated with the Gregorian Institute in Rome and Oxford University in England.
From 1988 to 2002 Dr. Tallman helped over 1500 couples prepare for marriage in 50 group marriage preparation courses he facilitated for the diocese.
Since August 2002 he no longer does group sessions but has worked with over 2000 individual engaged couples from every Christian denomination as well as couples who are spiritual but not religious. All in all, he has helped over 3500 couples prepare for marriage.
Dr. Tallman has been married for many years and understands every kind of struggle couples go through. He and Grace (who works as a crisis mental health counsellor) have three wonderful adult children and they are each other’s best friend and soulmate.

About Simon Drew: Simon is a poem-writing, multi-instrument-playing, mountain-climbing philosopher. Known by Sharon as an “intrepid soul traveller,” he uses his art to explore deep questions about the nature of the divine and the path to personal Alignment. Simon is most widely known for his work on The Practical Stoic Podcast (now The Walled Garden). Simon’s book, The Poet & The Sage, was released in 2021.
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