The Garrison Institute Presents: The Common Good

What does it mean to live for the common good? To explore the threads that bind us all, the Garrison Institute , a non-profit organization exploring the intersection of contemplation and engaged action in the world, offers the new podcast series, The Garrison Institute Presents . Hosted by Garrison Institute co-founder, urban visionary and award-winning author Jonathan F.P. Rose , the show’s debut season, titled The Common Good , journeys into the nature of life, mind, and compassionate action. The show focuses on integrating the interdependent nature of life, the nature of the mind, and compassion in action.

The Garrison Institute Presents: The Common Good is a society podcast hosted by The Garrison Institute, with 36 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

The Garrison Institute hosts The Garrison Institute Presents: The Common Good, a society show with 36 episodes published.

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  The Garrison Institute Presents: The Common Good

  Roshi Joan Halifax: Impermanence and Interdependence

  Sep 21, 202657 min

  Roshi Joan Halifax is a Buddhist teacher, Zen priest, social activist, author, and pioneer in end-of-life care. In this conversation with Gretchen Steidle, she reflects on a lifetime of contemplative practice and service, exploring what death and dying can teach us about impermanence, grief, fear, interdependence, and living with greater courage and compassion. Drawing on her encounters with Thich Nhat Hanh, her work with dying patients and healthcare professionals, and her experiences in prisons and hospitals, Roshi Joan describes contemplative practice as a way of encountering reality as it is. She explores our cultural fear of mortality, the illusion of control, and the role of interdependence in social change. She also shares her recent experience encountering the threshold of death with peace, acceptance, and gratitude, and asks: What will serve this moment? We’d love to hear your thoughts about the podcast, please send us a note at podcasts@garrisoninstitute.org to let us know what you think. Produced by The Garrison Institute and The Podglomerate.

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  The Garrison Institute Presents: The Common Good

  Norma Wong: Kuleana and Collective Action

  Aug 24, 20261h 3m

  How can we create a future rooted in interdependence rather than isolation? In this episode of Inner Works, Gretchen Steidle speaks with Norma Wong, a Native Hawaiian Zen master, experienced political leader, and author of Who We Are Becoming Matters. Norma explores kuleana, the Hawaiian concept of mutual responsibility and stewardship, and how reconnecting with ourselves, each other, and the natural world can transform how we understand social change. She challenges us to look beyond systems change alone and cultivate the communities, practices, and relationships needed to navigate a time of profound disruption. From forest bathing and sharing food to collective action, Norma offers practical wisdom for moving from individual effort toward collective thriving and reminds us: “Let’s not get stuck.” We’d love to hear your thoughts about the podcast, please send us a note at podcasts@garrisoninstitute.org to let us know what you think. Produced by The Garrison Institute and The Podglomerate.

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  The Garrison Institute Presents: The Common Good

  Susan Olesek and Alex Senegal: The Enneagram and Inner Freedom

  Aug 10, 20261h 5m

  What if the greatest prison isn't made of concrete, but of the unconscious patterns we carry within ourselves? Susan Olesek, founder of the Enneagram Prison Project, and EPP ambassador Alex Senegal join Gretchen Steidle to explore how self-awareness, compassion, and the Enneagram are transforming lives inside prisons and beyond. Together they discuss the relationship between trauma, personality, and behavior, the power of psychological safety, and why healing begins by recognizing our innate goodness. Alex also shares his extraordinary journey from gang involvement and incarceration to becoming a leader helping others find freedom from within. This conversation offers a hopeful vision for criminal justice reform, personal transformation, and the role inner work can play in creating healthier individuals, stronger communities, and lasting systems change. We’d love to hear your thoughts about the podcast, please send us a note at podcasts@garrisoninstitute.org to let us know what you think. Produced by The Garrison Institute and The Podglomerate.

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  The Garrison Institute Presents: The Common Good

  Gretchen Steidle: The Inner Works of Social Change

  Jul 27, 202645 min

  In this special bridge episode, Steve Varley, Managing Director of the Garrison Institute, introduces a new chapter in the Institute's podcast story. Reflecting on the themes explored in "The Common Good" with Jonathan F.P. Rose, Steve welcomes Gretchen Steidle, director of Garrison Institute's Spirituality and Social Change initiative, as the host of the forthcoming "Inner Works" series. Together, they explore the origins of the Conscious Change Collective, a global initiative mapping organizations that integrate contemplative practice, spirituality, and personal transformation into social change. Gretchen shares her own path into inner work, explains what the Collective has uncovered about the field, and offers a preview of four remarkable conversations that explore how inner transformation can become a catalyst for lasting systems change. We’d love to hear your thoughts about the podcast, please send us a note at podcasts@garrisoninstitute.org to let us know what you think. Produced by The Garrison Institute and The Podglomerate.

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  The Garrison Institute Presents: The Common Good

  Samir Goel: Credit Justice and Financial Inclusion

  Jul 13, 202651 min

  In this episode, Jonathan F.P. Rose speaks with Samir Goel, co-founder and co-CEO of Esusu, about reimagining credit, expanding financial inclusion, and building an economy that works for everyone. Samir shares his journey from the son of Indian immigrants to leading a billion-dollar fintech company helping millions of renters build credit and unlock economic opportunity. Together they explore the hidden power of credit scores, the role of trust and community in financial systems, housing affordability, and stakeholder capitalism. This conversation offers a hopeful vision for creating wealth, strengthening communities, and advancing the common good through thoughtful innovation and systems change. We’d love to hear your thoughts about the podcast, please send us a note at podcasts@garrisoninstitute.org to let us know what you think. Produced by The Garrison Institute and The Podglomerate.

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