Break for the holidays

Some announcements and thanks to specific listeners.

Well, it's time I take a break to give my attention to where it should be --family, an upcoming new year, and the meaning of this holiday (which I'm still really trying to figure out). I also need a break to get back to the fun of podcasting. I've gotten off track and become way to obsessed with 'stats' and promoting the site --and I think this has diminished the quality of the show. Sorry bout that, if you agree. I want to get back on track. Fuck it if there are 2 or 2000 of you listening. I mean, nothing personal...you know what I mean. (For the record, it looks like about 100 downloads a week for new shows, 25 same show each week on average after that).

Next podcast probably won't be till mid-January, and will probably be the interview with Brian Mclaren (he gave me the 21st of this month, but Anna knew I'd be too distracted if I tried to do that show during Christmas break, so I've postponed).

Thanks to Bruce Cockburn for being the kind of person I think I can assume would be okay with playing snippets from his music on my podcast--hopefully ya'll go out buy his albums. He's one of the most amazing artists and 'prophets' alive.

Have an wonder-full holiday and a very purple Christmas, and I look forward to being back with you in 2006!

Lectio Divina Purple Style

Possibly the first ever podcasted Lectio Divina --a devotional style meditative reading of Psalm 76. Thanks to my wife, Anna Hansen, for doing the reading so heartfully. In this podcast, Anna reads once through, then I respond to each phrase with a spontaneious prayer, and then she reads a final time. Hope you like it, let me know what you think!





Reading comes from the contemporary, and highly suggested, Psalms for Praying, by Nan C. Merill. This text is not meant to be a literal translation, rather a contemplative and personalized translation. Occasionally it gets a little too psychologized for me, but I do really like it.

Tags: Lectio Divina, Spirituality, Family, Audio Experiment, , Podcast, Bleeding Purple, Bleeding Purple Podcast, Theology, Leif Hansen, Hope, Wonder, Love, Freedom

PFAQ (Potentially Frequently Asked Questions)

PFAQ
(Potentially Frequently Asked Questions)
for the Bleeding Purple Podcast.




1. Do you really get asked these questions frequently?

No. I am primarily doing this to answer the questions for myself --why AM I doing this? But yes, I do get asked occasionally.


2. What is this podcast about?

I've described it elsewhere as "The musings, interviews, and audio experimentations of a guy attempting to stretch between the best of blue and red. Subject matter mostly revolves around honestly exploring spirituality, creativity, and various other wild topics. This is not a political podcast –though it does occasionally try and get at issues behind the politics."

It's about:

• Experiencing the ‘healing-pain’ of trying to reach out to find the truth, beauty and goodness from both the blue and the red.

• Getting beyond blue and red, left and right, conservative and liberal, orthodox and unorthodox, us and them (aren't all terms , in the end, self-righteous oversimplifications anyway?)

• Being Honest about how little I really know, and yet also honest about what I really hope to be true.

3. Can you give me some purple examples?

Check out people like:

• Jim Wallis (and his new book “God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets it Wrong, and the Left Doesn’t Get it”)
• Brian Mclaren (and his new book “The Last Word, and the Word after That.”)
• Madeleine L’engle.
• Many more, who I hope to add and honor later.

Politically (& spiritually) speaking, check out articles like:

• Why the Liberal Church Needs the Evangelical Church &
• Why the Evangelical Church Needs the Liberal Church
• Is it time for a genuine new politcs beyond left and right?

4. Why are you doing a podcast? Isn't podcasting kind of ego-centric?

Well, um, it can be. Sometimes, either from the black-hole of ego or everyday loneliness, I am motivated to do this stuff for attention, but I don't think its the only motivator.

My other main motivators for doing a podcast/blog are:

*I like meeting and talking with interesting people about interesting topics --and being a podcaster gives me an extra easy excuse to do it, "Um, hi, I have a podcast called Bleeding Pur...what...a podcast? Oh, its like an internet radio show...yeah, well, anyway...would you be open to do an interview with me? Really, cool!" I think most people are pretty psyched that somebody would want to interview them. I get to then share the fruits of this with others. Fun!
In addition, interviewing folks for my podcast increases my interviewing skills and, honestly, I like it so much I might just want to do it professionally some day.

*I also think that I have a number of things to say, what I call "musings", that might be of interest and import to others. They're usually about spirituality, the future, our culture, etc. So, I occasionally muse out loud about those as well, hoping to spark some hopeful conversations.

*Lastly, the "audio experimentations": I love music, I love to sing, I'm trying again to learn guitar, and I love geeking around with tech stuff --so this is my catch all phrase. It gives me a chance to show off some singing, experiment with mixing, etc. Who knows what else will come from this.


5. Can I be on your show?

Most likely...I'd love to have you on. But lets meet first and find out what you'd like to talk about. You can email me at bleedingpurple@gmail.com, leave a voice mail at 206-600-4556, Skype or Gizmo me at Bleedingpurple, or just leave a comment on one of my posts. I look forward to meeting you, and perhaps to having you on my show.

6. How can I keep updated about your shows, and help promote them as well?

Well, if you have a podcast receiver (itunes, ipodder, juice, etc) you can subscribe to the feeds.feedburner.com/bleedingpurple feed --there are links on my main page as well. The best way to help promote the podcast is to tell people you know --face2face, email, on discussion boards, etc. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

7. Can I donate thousands of dollars to Bleeding Purple --I think what you are doing is wonderful and has the potential to quickly usher in world peace.

I get asked this a lot, and really, I'm flattered. While my family does need some increased flow, and I would love to get paid for this, I don't currently have an easy way for you to make donations. If you are interested though, pleae email me and I might then start to make this an option.

Tags: FAQ, progressive, progressive christian, mediation, Podcast, Bleeding Purple, Bleeding Purple Podcast, Theology, Leif Hansen, Hope, Wonder, Love, Freedom

Announcements & Podcast Shout Outs

Exciting announcements as well as shouts for Podcast 411 and 5 Questions Podcast
Thanks to Mortal for the background sound.




Seven Fun New Exciting Nifty Changes to the Blogspot:

1) It is now readable! Purple goo is gone, standard hipster blogpage is moving in.

2) You can now listen and stream the audio live right there on the site, thanks to the PuPu player

3) You can leave comments on the podcasts

4) You can easily instantly subscribe (free of course) to my podcast using the "FEED" button

5) Cool google-maps style Frappr GUESTMAP -please sign it, its sooo easy. You'll see the link on the left. You can then see, even with an actual satellite image, where you and other listeners/friends/family are. You can also scroll through a list of pictures that people are starting to leave.

6) You can see my list of my favorite podcasts. AND you can search the audio of my podcast and others with the amazing Podscope, right there on the page.

7) You can leave voicemail or call me (and leave net voicemail) with the very cool skype or Gizmo project applications. Links on the page.