Welcome to Episode 172 of the Being Human Podcast: A Journey through Faith and Music with John Michael Talbot In this episode, Dr. Greg had a conversation with John Michael Talbot, a Catholic author, musician and the founder of Brothers and Sisters of Charity. He shares his inspiring conversion to Catholicism, and the impact of his faith on his music. They discuss the importance of the mystical and contemplative dimension in his life, emphasizing the need for artists to go deep in prayer and trust in Divine Providence. They also reflect on the challenges of community and individualism in today's world. Despite the uncertainties of the future, he encourages us all to remain faithful and to trust in God's plan.   Discussed in the episode: How John experienced pivotal moments in his life that led to his conversion and his search for deeper spiritual truths, mysticism, contemplative prayer and the early Church Fathers John’s story of conversion to Catholicism and the profound impact it had on his life and music Understanding how contemplative prayer influences artistic expression and how true art arises from a deep union with God John’s advice to artists to “mine the gold” of God’s special gift to them and “do well what you do well” Recounting John’s life-changing mystical experience during a period of illness, where he encountered God’s forgiveness and mercy in a profound way Exploring the challenges of individualism and the impact of technology in Western society and the importance of fostering authentic community grounded in love and faith Reflections on navigating the uncertainties of the future with faith and trust in God’s providence, and emphasizing the importance of staying faithful   Resources mentioned or relevant:  Summit of Integration Event John Michael Talbot’s Official Website John Michael Talbot’s Youtube Channel John Michael Talbot’s Books Little Portion Hermitage and Monastery   Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you; Learn more about our CPMAP Certification! Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be; Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available;  Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;  Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more! Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.  Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!   Rate, review, and subscribe Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends. Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings. For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show! If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!