From Burnout to Wholeness: Solitude, Nature, and Social Change with 86-Year-Old Author and Teacher Parker Palmer

This week, I talk with Parker Palmer in one of the most intimate and expansive conversations I’ve had on Good Work. Parker is an author, activist, and teacher whose ideas have shaped generations. But what moves me most is his honesty. We talk about the winding path that led him from academic life to community organizing to a Quaker learning community where he rebuilt his inner world. We explore discernment, solitude, “Circles of Trust”, and what it means to listen to the voice of your soul—especially in seasons of burnout or heartbreak. At 86, Parker reflects on aging, democracy, vocation, and his belief that the heart can break in two ways: it can shatter, or it can break open into greater capacity. If you’ve ever felt pulled toward a path you “can’t not do,” or if your inner life is asking more of you right now, this conversation is for you. Let’s get to it!

In this episode:

• (00:00) – Intro

• (00:42) – “Deep in the oatmeal” and the role of humor in a serious life

• (02:11) – How Parker’s spiritual life slowly took shape

• (13:08) – Choosing to stay at Pendle Hill—and what that meant for Parker’s family

• (23:45) – How to tell the difference between a passing idea and a true calling

• (31:40) – A radically different way of being in community

• (40:45) – Why presence matters more than fixing

• (52:35) – The unlikely beginnings of the Center for Courage & Renewal

• (01:05:17) – What 30 years of building an organization has taught Parker

• (01:15:06) – Solitude, nature, and marriage as sustaining practices

• (01:22:31) – Aging, loss, and staying open to what’s next

• (01:30:39) – The two ways a heart can break

Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.