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Johanna Bear Armstrong
Welcome to the new phase of Earth Makers! Join creator/host, movie nerd, and Quaker Buddhist practitioner Johanna Bear as she holds space around messy human stories, cinema, and the spirit that connects them both. An avid cinephile from childhood and a queer, trans woman, Johanna has understood her existence in the world primarily through the viewing of films and this podcast is an experiment in seeing ourselves and all beings in everything from our inherent messiness to the greatest films of history and the unsung films of independent artists. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/joey-armstrong1/support
Kindness: Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (2018)
Johanna Bear invites us to explore the vital differences between being kind and being nice through the lens of Morgan Neville’s 2018 documentary film, Won’t You Be My Neighbor? about the life and work of Fred Rogers.
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38:0924/11/2024
After the Election: Becoming Free/V for Vendetta (2005)
Johanna introduces the new season with a conversation about the election, fear, freedom, and James McTeigue’s V for Vendetta (2005).
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20:0112/11/2024
Update: Endings, Beginnings, and Movies
Johanna Bear shares an update on the end of the Earth Makers podcast and the beginning of a new podcast project!
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22:4229/05/2024
The Fourth Seed of Recovery: Acceptance
Acceptance is not approval. Acceptance is closing the door and doing the dishes on a rainy day. Johanna Bear continues her series on Earth Makers recovery w/a talk on the skill of Acceptance. Please consider donating to the podcast! There is a link in the show notes!
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38:2223/05/2024
Death & The Endless Stories We Tell
Johanna Bear shares 2 stories about her experiences with her own mortality and invites us to look more deeply into the mirror of our lives.
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38:2208/05/2024
Naked Spirituality, Pt. One.
Welcome back to Earth Makers! Johanna takes us to a place of spiritual nakedness by confronting the question, “Who do I think I am?”
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31:1713/03/2024
“How Do I Welcome the Stranger if They Mean Me Harm?”
AW: assault, rape Johanna Bear addresses the Abrahamic invitation to “welcome the stranger” and the joys and real life consequences of doing so.
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30:1016/12/2023
Spooky Story Time: “The Terrible Tale of the Goat Boy”
Johanna Bear shares her short story about a small town parson and the horrors that await him and his congregation.
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26:5426/10/2023
Divinity, Totoro, and the Question of Suffering
Johanna plumbs the depths of human suffering and is reminded of a gentle, wild forest spirit along the way.
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26:0901/10/2023
“The Boy with the Flower On His Head”
As Johanna recovers from COVID, she shares a story with us.
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20:2819/09/2023
The COVID Report
Johanna has COVID.
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11:3814/09/2023
The Third Seed of Recovery: Honesty
Johanna Bear continues her series on The Ten Seeds of Recovery.
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29:5818/07/2023
The Second Seed of Recovery: Curiosity
Johanna Bear continues the series on Earth Makers Recovery.
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29:0224/06/2023
LIVE from The Bean: “The 1st Seed of Recovery: Story”
Johanna Bear shares the first seed in the brand new Earth Makers Recovery Program live from the JS Bean Factory in St. Paul, MN!
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29:0425/05/2023
“Everything Happens.”
What if everything doesn’t happen for a reason?
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28:3427/04/2023
“Humans Are Complicated”
Drawing inspiration from films like The Whale and Tár, Johanna kicks off the fifth season with complicated stories of complicated humans.
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27:4905/04/2023
BONUS Episode: “A Letter to Cis Women”
Johanna offers more transgender reflection on waiting in the midst of bad news. CW: Harsh language and graphic imagery.
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08:4513/03/2023
Bonus Episode: “PAUSE”
Johanna shares a poetic reflection on the anxiety of today. She hopes it’s relatable. Thanks for listening.
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10:5808/03/2023
All Things Made New: Orientation, Disorientation, and Reorientation (End of Season 4)
Johanna concludes the fourth season with a story about clinging to things and the disregulation of newness.
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28:5202/01/2023
Update: To Change Hearts and Minds
Johanna Bear shares an update on the future of Season 5 and on the new Earth Makers Recovery program!
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17:4514/12/2022
Spooky Story Time: “Four Boys & A Video Camera, Pt. IV”
Sy Cooper faces the greatest challenge of his journey
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21:1223/10/2022
Spooky Story Time: “Four Boys & A Video Camera, Pt. III”
The story of Sy, Skinny, Doc, and Arbuckle heats up as they draw closer to the Man in White…
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27:0020/10/2022
Spooky Story Time: “Four Boys & A Video Camera, Pt. II”
Johanna Bear continues her spooky story.
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24:1418/10/2022
Spooky Story Time: “Four Boys & A Video Camera,” Pt. I
Johanna Bear shares part 1 of a scary short story she wrote.
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24:4807/10/2022
“Grandma Spider”
Johanna shares her story of stumbling across a spider and the reminder of the web of life we all take part in.
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25:0215/09/2022
“Broken Bowls”
A Zen Buddhist koan and a reflection on what we attach ourselves to.
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24:0006/09/2022
“Hollow Bones”
A reflection on staying with pain and a wise barista who prays for hollow bones.
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13:4901/09/2022
Dream & The Devil
Joey tells a story from Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman to illustrate the relationship between Borderline Personality Disorder and mindful spirituality.
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28:5423/08/2022
“Dad & The Deer”
A story about Joey’s dad, a sacred deer, and the unexplained mysteries that bring us our peace.
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18:0510/08/2022
“Around the Well”
Joey Bear retells the story of “The Woman at the Well” and invites us to reflect on who it is in our lives who sees, hears, acknowledges, understands, knows, accepts, and approves of us.
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13:2101/08/2022
“Leaving”
Joey Bear explores the profound experience of leaving and the perilous journey home.
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13:2125/07/2022
“The Princess & The Dragon”
A Swedish folk tale about the layers we must remove, sometimes in pain and fear, to connect with our true inner being.
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18:2017/07/2022
“Driving Lessons”
A story about Joey’s first driving experience, the familiarity of failure, and the invitation to do less harm.
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19:5511/07/2022
“Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup”
Joey Bear tells a story about her Grandma, comfort foods, and the spiritual power of hÿgge.
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19:1604/07/2022
Stories without Judgment: Mary Sue & Amie
Joey Bear tells the story of her queer mamas and the difference between gates and gatekeepers.
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20:0422/06/2022
“Bee and the Paraclete”
A story about Joey Bear’s friend, Bee, a Paraclete on the road of life.
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20:5309/06/2022
“Dakota”
A story about sanctuaries, sacred spaces, the JS Bean Factory in St. Paul, MN and a spirit guide named Dakota.
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18:5723/05/2022
“Stutters, and Relapse, and Grace (Oh My!)”
TW: Sexual assault, relapse. Joey shares her recent story of assault and relapse and the power of grace to remind us of who we are. For spiritual counseling, visit [email protected].
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19:3918/05/2022
“Micah”
A story about Joey Bear’s brother, a fierce ally and compassionate vessel of love.
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16:3801/05/2022
“Camilla”
A story about ICU patients, smiles, coloring books, and destitute widows.
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13:5924/04/2022
“Easter”
A story about New Life as revealed in addiction recovery, transition, unicorns, and chocolate chip cookies with rainbow sprinkles.
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11:5117/04/2022
Casey
Aunt Joey Bear tells a story about her niece, Casey, coming out to her and the healing power of trust.
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11:5627/03/2022
“Charles”
The new podcast format takes off with a story about Ents, love without conditions, and hard break ups.
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12:4824/09/2021
Update: Your Story Matters
Joey Bear is back with some changes…
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11:2229/08/2021
The YES of the Cosmos: A Letter to the LGBTQ2+ Community
This is for you. Listen with care.
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39:1713/07/2021
Queer Stories: Turning Toward the Light of the Moon
Joey shares a personal story about childhood, astronauts, moths, and the Moon. It gets pretty queer!
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29:2427/06/2021
"Guard Your Heart"
Joey helps us unpack "guard your heart" language found in the Christian scriptures. What does it mean? Is it helpful? Should we use it at all?
Please consider donating to Joy Dertinger, host of the 99 Lead Balloons podcast, at https://gofund.me/f469197c
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33:5219/06/2021
Pride 2021: Speak From The Fire 🔥
We reflect on what we mean when we say “pride” and why real, helpful pride comes from the fire inside. Also, listen to The Life She Wrote podcast wherever podcasts are found! Contact Joey at [email protected] or on Twitter @earthmakerspod
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43:2704/06/2021
Memorial Day 2021: So That Hearts May Be Changed
Joey memorializes a true story of compassion and empathy from a queer perspective
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27:0731/05/2021
We the Freaks
CW: suicide, terrorism, transphobia. Joey is back and she is filled with passion and ire today! You are not mistaken and you are not a mistake. Don’t forget that. Check out QuakerSpeak on YouTube and the story of the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts ch. 8 in the Christian Bible.
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35:3229/05/2021