Out for Truth - Spiritual podcast review

When listening to the Time Out for Truth podcast, I think of a friend who once told me she believed in the infinity of sources. In her opinion, when searching for insight (or wisdom for that matter), anything can be a source. If you can learn something from a book, that is no less than from a poem, or a dream, or a religious tradition, or a tarot session, a horoscope and on and on. In that respect, for her, it didn't matter whether the sources that are used together, do not recognize each other. Or even, if you use a source in way that it doesn't sanction itself.

Time Out for Truth claims to tap into sources in much the same fashion. In its own words: "The Golden Thread of Truth weaves its way throughout the centuries. It flows through books and speakers and systems, yet no one can claim a monopoly -- no one owns it." Host Tom Russell and his book and his site, Super Wisdom, deliver his outlook on life, combining the various sources and applying them to practical life. He uses books, films and psychological and esoteric practices as tangible sources in the podcast. The object is to help the listener to lead a purposeful and fulfilling life. As a source, this podcast goes as well as any other and has a lot of practical and spiritual insights to offer to each one who chooses to give it a try.

Looking into the roots of host Tom Russell and his views, I found out he is a student of the American spiritual teacher Vernon Howard. Howard's sources, as presented by Wikipedia are: Christian and Eastern mysticism, Gurdjieffian Fourth Way teachings, the Gospels of the New Testament, Jungian psychology and American Transcendentalism. In this respect, Russell is very similar to many modern spiritual teachers I have run into. Just like my friend, he taps into any source he can and uses the most readily available, such as Christian traditions, modern psychology, but also other tradition as Gurdjief's that have had their hype once, but are rarely directly referred to these days.

So, what kind of teachings from the wide variety that are available these days are you about to expect? Let's compare it with another podcast: Eric Maisel's Your Purpose Centered Life. Both YPCL as TOFT stand in that modern multiverse of teachings, they show you how to get the best of your life borrowing from the wide variety of sources available to us. Eric Maisel is more tended towards rationalism, atheism and psychology. Tom Russell openly refers to Christ, showing a more believing inclination. His approach is also more mystic than rationalist. Personally I lean in both directions and together with them, I take my pick from standing traditions as well as you can see in the list of Religion and Spirituality Podcasts.

Infinity of sources, yeah, that works for me.

More YPCL:
Authentic Living,
Subjective Meaning,
The purpose centered life.