19. Barbara Birch Interview - Elizabeth Fry & Embodied Spirituality

Episode 19 of the Western Friend Podcast features an interview with Barbara Birch. Barbara is a member of Strawberry Creek Meeting in Berkeley, California. She discusses her research on Elizabeth Fry, embodied spirituality and its relevance to Quakers today, as well as Friendly 12-Step recovery.

Click here to read Barbara's article in Western Friend, "Eilzabeth Gurney Fry: A Quaker Mess."

Chapters

• 0:00 Introductions
• 1:42 Spirituality, disordered eathing, and Twelve-Step recovery
• 11:17 Honesty, reputation, Quaker history, Elizabeth Fry
• 15:00 Elizabeth Fry, alcohol and laudanum, hardships
• 20:07 Perfectionism, depression, healing experiences
• 25:57 Honesty, denial, Twelve-Step
• 27:27 Addictions
• 28:56 Jesus as a flawed human
• 31:41 Addiction and a meaningful life
• 35:00 Hiding imperfections, social media, Quaker judgyness
• 39:31 Researching Elizabeth Fry and other historic Friends
• 41:53 The refiner's fire
• 48:03 Research on Elizabeth Fry's psychology
• 50:21 Elizabeth Fry's work in prisons
• 53:28 Embodiment, spiritual embodiment