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The Modern Ascetic

Sarah McGinnis and Taylor Zimmerman

Join Sarah McGinnis and Taylor Zimmerman as they explore different topics at the intersection of Christian monastic spirituality and contemporary psychoanalysis. Sarah is an artist, worship leader, and trained in theological studies. Taylor is a pastor, pastoral counselor, and trained in advanced psychotherapy and psychoanalytic theory. Throughout the different episodes, they will bring their expertise and experience together to unpack complex psychoanalytic and theological ideas, provide new language and tools to understand our particular human experiences, and point to the rich spiritual realities underlying it all.

Music: Sarah McGinnis
Artwork: Aaron May

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20 episodes
Avg 1 hr 17 min
English

Episodes 20

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S2 · E22
June 29 · 1 hr 31 min
On the Couch with Marshall Johns
Taylor and Sarah come back with another interview episode! This time with good friend, Marshall Johns, as he shares about his time in academia and its connection to his faith. This episode includes a defense of nepotism, a theater of the mind child with a disgruntled director, and the creative play of biblical studies. We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, sends us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com. Follow the The Modern Ascetic Podcast on Instagram: @modernasceticpod
Mar 17, 2025 · 1 hr 30 min
Deadly Sins: Pride (2/2)
Sarah and Taylor conclude not only their reflection on pride but the whole deadly sins season in this final episode on the twelve steps of humility. This episode includes an emotion that sounds like a Harry Potter spell, commitments to the bit and their consequences, and, perhaps too much, ready laughter. This episode marks the end of our second season. We'll be back in the future with our third season and more psychoanalytic and monastic reflections on contemporary life! We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com Follow The Modern Ascetic on Instagram: @modernasceticpod Enjoy the episode? Buy Us a Coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/modpod
S2 · E20
Mar 3, 2025 · 1 hr 25 min
Deadly Sins: Pride (1/2)
Taylor and Sarah begin the end of our season of the vices with a reflection on the special sin of pride, exploring the themes of exception, finitude, and idolatry. This episode includes a distracted Walt Whitman quoter, a sadboi Church Father, and a cheese-hungry songwriter. We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com Follow The Modern Ascetic on Instagram: @modernasceticpod Enjoy the episode? Buy Us a Coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/modpod
S2 · E19
Feb 10, 2025 · 1 hr 19 min
Deadly Sins: Envy (3/3)
Sarah and Taylor conclude their discussion of envy by exploring its counter virtue: gratitude—an emotional response to the meeting of a need with no strings attached. This episode includes transcontinental communication, an envious doc who struggles with trainwrecks, and a fast talking mother daughter duo. ("Why did you drop out of Yale?!") We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com Follow The Modern Ascetic on Instagram: @modernasceticpod Enjoy the episode? Buy Us a Coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/modpod
S2 · E18
Jan 27, 2025 · 1 hr 16 min
Deadly Sins: Envy (2/3)
Taylor and Sarah continue their discussion of envy delving deep into psychoanalytic theory to explore how our earliest relationships, and our dependency on them, create the conditions for envy later on in life. This episode includes itches being scratched, existential infants, and peacocking. We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com Follow The Modern Ascetic on Instagram: @modernasceticpod Enjoy the episode? Buy Us a Coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/modpod
S2 · E17
Jan 13, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Deadly Sins: Envy (1/3)
Sarah and Taylor begin their discussion of envy by exploring how the early Christian tradition understood this vice and distinguished it from jealousy and covetousness. This episode includes a series of bad jokes, Sarah's new BMW, and delight in knocking another person down a peg. We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com Follow The Modern Ascetic on Instagram: @modernasceticpod Enjoy the episode? Buy Us a Coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/modpod
S2 · E16
Dec 2, 2024 · 1 hr 8 min
Deadly Sins: Vainglory (2/2)
Taylor and Sarah conclude their discussion of vainglory by identifying the narcissistic needs we all have and sharing practices to help cultivate the counter virtue of humility. This episode includes pies and cheesecakes, British punk bands, and a reference to a misunderstood green witch. We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com Follow The Modern Ascetic on Instagram: @modernasceticpod Enjoy the episode? Buy Us a Coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/modpod
S2 · E15
Nov 18, 2024 · 1 hr 11 min
Deadly Sins: Vainglory (1/2)
Sarah and Taylor begin their exploration of the complexities of the vice of vainglory—a vice most tempting for the holiest among us—and its connection to the psychoanalytic concept of narcissism. This episode includes AMRAPs, EMOMs, and WODs as well as hotdog loving interviewees and Augustinian locker room talk. We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com Follow The Modern Ascetic on Instagram: @modernasceticpod Enjoy the episode? Buy Us a Coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/modpod
S2 · E14
Nov 4, 2024 · 1 hr 10 min
Deadly Sins: Acedia/Sloth (2/2)
Taylor and Sarah conclude their discussion of acedia with an exploration of the psychoanalytic concept of resistance and the promotion of the counter-virtue of perseverance. This episode includes wannabe standup comedians, the fantasy of homesteading, and ogres? Also there might be a Marvel-style end credit if you stay to the end. ;) We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com Follow The Modern Ascetic on Instagram: @modernasceticpod Enjoy the episode? Buy Us a Coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/modpod
S2 · E14
Oct 21, 2024 · 1 hr 10 min
Deadly Sins: Acedia/Sloth (1/2)
Sarah and Taylor begin their discussion of acedia with an analysis of listlessness, restlessness, and sadness as the noonday demon tempts us to act or not act in order to avoid spiritual work. This episode includes international fan mail, FOMO! in the Monastery, and pink buckets of KFC chicken. We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com Follow The Modern Ascetic on Instagram: @modernasceticpod Enjoy the episode? Buy Us a Coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/modpod
S2 · E13
Oct 14, 2024 · 1 hr 1 min
On the Couch with Jeremy Arnold
Taylor and Sarah give us something different with this episode—our first ever interview with Jeremy Arnold as he shares his move from pastoral ministry to psychotherapy. This episode includes the heart-wrenching tale of the sale of an emotional support dog, the worst improv ever, and the power of asking "why not?" We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com Follow The Modern Ascetic on Instagram: @modernasceticpod Enjoy the episode? Buy Us a Coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/modpod
S2 · E12
Sep 30, 2024 · 1 hr 23 min
Deadly Sins: Wrath (3/3)
Sarah and Taylor conclude their episode on wrath with a reflection on righteous anger and holding the tension of love and hate. This episode includes a Santa fisticuffs, another Bill Lawrence reference (can't those two just leave him alone!), and a British psychoanalyst who hates babies and wants you to hate them as well. We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com Follow The Modern Ascetic on Instagram: @modernasceticpod Enjoy the episode? Buy Us a Coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/modpod
S2 · E11
Sep 16, 2024 · 1 hr 29 min
Deadly Sins: Wrath (2/3)
Taylor and Sarah continue their exploration of wrath with a reflection on sadomasochism—or those moments in relationships where wrath takes over and conflict becomes entrenched. This episode includes the origins of the garnet principle of human relationships, lawsuits for heavy footed neighbors, and the simple truth that sometimes you just need to walk it off. We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com Follow The Modern Ascetic on Instagram: @modernasceticpod Enjoy the episode? Buy Us a Coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/modpod
S2 · E10
Sep 2, 2024 · 1 hr 21 min
Deadly Sins: Wrath (1/3)
Sarah and Taylor begin another three-part episode, this time focused on wrath! They begin their exploration with a discussion of paranoia, resentment, and narcissistic rage. This episode includes another Taylor Swift reference (can't those two just leave her alone!), biting infants, and a reference to that coworker who really just grinds your gears. We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com Follow The Modern Ascetic on Instagram: @modernasceticpod Enjoy the episode? Buy Us a Coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/modpod
S2 · E9
Aug 19, 2024 · 1 hr 7 min
Deadly Sins: Sadness (2/2)
Taylor and Sarah finish their descent into sadness with a discussion of violence turned inward before offering its antidote: grief, lament, and joy. This episode includes french potatoes, man flu, and a 500 year celebration of a famous German. We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com
S2 · E8
Aug 5, 2024 · 1 hr 20 min
Deadly Sins: Sadness (1/2)
Sarah and Taylor begin their discussion of sadness—explaining why sadness is included in Evagrius's list of vices, how it intensifies all the other vices, and how it connects to despair, sullenness, and melancholy. This episode includes a dictionary of obscure sorrows, an emo existentialist, and how sharing a location and walking into a bar can cause even the strongest among us to spiral. We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com
Jul 22, 2024 · 1 hr 5 min
Deadly Sins: Avarice (2/2)
Taylor and Sarah finish their discussion of avarice with an exploration of the virtues of generosity and gratitude. This episode includes a prohibition on letter writing, famous John Wesley sayings, and the antidote of frivolity. We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com
S2 · E6
Jul 8, 2024 · 1 hr 19 min
Deadly Sins: Avarice (1/2)
Sarah and Taylor begin their discussion on the vice of avarice, exploring the ways in which greed takes hold and its long-lasting systemic effects. This episode includes musings on musical manipulation, an aggressive Grinch, and a bratty child who loves Aesop's fables but doesn't learn from them. We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com
S2 · E5
Jun 24, 2024 · 1 hr 27 min
Deadly Sins: Lust (3/3)
Taylor and Sarah finish their discussion of lust with a description of the virtue of chastity. This episode includes another Scrubs reference, a sexless advent, and an identification of the most erotic day of the church calendar. We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com.
S2 · E4
Jun 10, 2024 · 1 hr 29 min
Deadly Sins: Lust (2/3)
Sarah and Taylor continue their discussion of lust exploring patterns and styles in how folks make sense of their sexualities. This episode includes an Irish meetcute, a gas station rose, and an eavesdropping monk. We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please send us an email at info@themodernasceticpodcast.com.

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