Transformation Intensive
The Transformation Intensive podcast provides weekly instruction and inspiration for people on the journey through the Ignatian exercises. Each episode corresponds with weekly prayer guides for participants in Transformation Intensive, a nine-month adaption of the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola. For more information see www.TransformationIntnsive.org.
Episodes

Wednesday May 07, 2025
Wednesday May 07, 2025
This episode of the Transformation Intensive Podcast delves into 'Week 25: Responding to the Love of Christ' from the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola. As we approach the conclusion of our Ignatian Journey, Ned Arnold introduces a method of for reflecting on the interior movements of the soul and comments on the process of discernment and decision making. Valerie McIntyre introduces the prayer exercises for the upcoming week then leads a guided contemplation inspired by John 10:1-11.
More information at transformationintensive.org.
Music by Austin Sebek, "Something"www.worshipstart.com/royaltyfreemusic

Tuesday Apr 29, 2025
Tuesday Apr 29, 2025
This episode of the Transformation Intensive Podcast, delves into 'Week 24: Nourishment for Mission' from the spiritual exercises of Ignatius of Loyola. The episode begins with a reflection on embracing the joy of Christ's resurrection and extends into practical advice for preparing to share one's transformative experiences from the Transformation Intensive (TI) journey. It emphasizes the importance of remembering through physical objects and invites listeners to find a personal symbol that marks their spiritual journey. A guided contemplation on Jesus' invitation to breakfast, as depicted in John 21, helps followers connect deeply with Jesus. Finally, the Valerie McIntyre discuss the sustenance Jesus provides before sending his disciples on their mission, encouraging listeners to reflect on their own nourishment and preparation for mission. The episode concludes with guidance on prayer exercises and a closing prayer.
00:00 Introduction to the Transformation Intensive Podcast
00:35 Week 24: Nourishment for Mission
01:14 Reflecting on Personal Experiences
02:14 Preparing to Share Your Journey
05:07 The Importance of Remembrance
08:58 Contemplation: Breakfast with Jesus
17:21 Nourishment for Mission: Deeper Insights
23:13 Guidance for the Upcoming Week
26:50 Closing Prayer and Blessing
More information at transformationintensive.org.
Music by Austin Sebek, "Something"www.worshipstart.com/royaltyfreemusic

Wednesday Apr 23, 2025
Wednesday Apr 23, 2025
In this episode of the Transformation Intensive Podcast, Ned Arnold guides listeners through Week 23, 'Entering the Joy of Christ,' as part of the nine-month spiritual exercises of Ignatius of Loyola. The podcast aims to inspire and instruct participants using weekly prayer guides from the transformation intensive notebook. Ned reviews the previous movements, focusing on God's love, Christ's mission, and Jesus' passion, leading to the current theme of resurrection joy. Anne Gemmel leads an imaginative contemplation of John 20. Valerie McIntyre highlights the crucial role of joy in fulfilling our missions and deepening our relationship with God.
00:00 Introduction to Transformation Intensive
01:41 Entering the Joy of Christ
03:16 Reflecting on the Resurrection
05:37 Spiritual Nosegay: A Practice of Grace
09:02 Imaginative Contemplation of John 20
20:24 Seeking the Grace of Joy
31:37 Practical Suggestions for Prayer
More information at transformationintensive.org.
Music by Austin Sebek, "Something"www.worshipstart.com/royaltyfreemusic

Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
In this episode of the Transformation Intensive Podcast, listeners are invited into Week 22, focusing on the theme 'Jesus dies for us.' The podcast delves into Rule 14 from Ignatius, likening the enemy to a military commander examining our vulnerabilities. It encourages introspection on personal weaknesses and reflects on virtues and vices. The episode explores protective measures against spiritual attacks and the importance of reliance on Jesus for salvation. It guides listeners through the emotional landscape of Jesus' crucifixion and provides practical prayer exercises, emphasizing staying present with Jesus during His suffering. The episode concludes with a guided meditation on the crucifixion and reflections to contemplate Jesus' passion and death.
00:00 Introduction to Transformation Intensive
00:31 Week 22: Jesus Dies for Us
01:48 Understanding Our Vulnerabilities
02:44 Virtues and Vices
06:35 Protecting Ourselves from Sin
13:12 Encountering Jesus at the Crucifixion
20:41 Prayer Exercises for the Week
28:40 Guided Contemplation of the Crucifixion
Music by Austin Sebek, "Something"www.worshipstart.com/royaltyfreemusic

Tuesday Mar 25, 2025
Tuesday Mar 25, 2025
In this episode of the Transformation Intensive Podcast, Anne Gammel welcomes listeners to the 21st week of the Ignatian spiritual exercises, focusing on staying with Jesus during Lent. She shares personal reflections on God's grace, the power of carrying a solidarity stone, and insights into recognizing Jesus in his 'distressing disguise.' The episode also delves into Ignatius' Rule 13, highlighting the importance of bringing struggles into the light to avoid the enemy's deceptive tactics. The discussion includes practical advice on deepening one's connection with Jesus through his Passion, as well as encountering God through the distress of others. Finally, Megan and Tim Davis share their experiences hosting refugee families, shedding light on the profound impact of such acts of love and service. The episode concludes with a prayer written by Peter Faber, reflecting on finding blessings through Jesus' trials.
00:00 Introduction to Transformation Intensive
01:03 Solidarity Stones and Personal Reflections
02:17 Jesus in His Distressing Disguise
03:57 Rule 13: The Enemy's Tactics
09:37 Union with God Through Suffering
10:58 Revealing Jesus Through Human Weakness
22:00 Personal Stories of Refugee Support
27:39 Tim and Megan's Reflections on Service
37:57 Closing Prayer and Final Thoughts
Music by Austin Sebek, "Something"www.worshipstart.com/royaltyfreemusic

Tuesday Mar 18, 2025
Tuesday Mar 18, 2025
This episode of the Transformation Intensive podcast, Tim Gemmell, introduces 'Week 20: Jesus Begins His Passion.' The focus is on the third movement of the Ignatian exercises, where participants seek union with Christ in His passion and aim to understand Jesus' human suffering. Tim shares personal reflections on enduring hardships with divine grace and emphasizes waiting for God's grace during times of pain. The episode explores Ignatius' rules of discernment, particularly rules 12 to 14, which deal with resisting Satan's attacks. Advice is given on fighting spiritual battles, utilizing God's truth, renouncing Satan’s lies, and fasting. Valerie discusses the concept of Union with God and what it means in the Spiritual Exercises The episode concludes with instructions for the week's prayer exercises and a Collect for Monday of Holy Week.
00:00 Introduction to Transformation Intensive
00:34 Entering the Third Movement: Jesus Begins His Passion
01:39 Personal Reflections and Encouragement
03:50 Ignatius's Rules of Discernment
06:14 Pushing Back Against Satan
09:12 Lenten Reflections and Spiritual Practices
19:26 Union with God: Purgation, Illumination, and Union
28:15 Prayer Exercises for the Week
30:57 Conclusion and Final Prayer
Music by Austin Sebek, "Something"www.worshipstart.com/royaltyfreemusic

Tuesday Mar 11, 2025
Tuesday Mar 11, 2025
In this episode of the Transformation Intensive podcast, we dive into 'Week 19: The Grace to See.' Ned Arnold, emphasizes the need for the grace to understand both our own blindness and the message of Jesus. The episode explores the parallels between the disciples' spiritual blindness and our Lenten journey, providing insightful reflections from Henri Nouwen and practical advice on deepening prayer. The 'Tip of the Week' encourages listeners to ask for spiritual guidance, drawing from Mark 9 and the importance of a support network. A poignant story about Val's silent retreat illustrates the 11th Rule of Discernment, emphasizing gratitude and humility in spiritual journeys. The episode concludes with a detailed preview of the week's prayer exercises, focusing on Jesus and the disciples' journey from Caesarea Philippi to Jerusalem, including a guided contemplation of the Anointing at Bethany from Mark's Gospel.
00:00 Introduction to Transformation Intensive
00:33 Grace to See: Understanding Spiritual Blindness
04:11 The Importance of Asking for Help
06:24 Relying on Your Support Network
07:44 The Gift of Consolation and Desolation
09:58 Personal Story: Silent Retreat Experience
13:30 Preview of Week 19: The Grace to See
22:23 Contemplation Exercise: The Anointing at Bethany
37:30 Closing Prayer and Reflection
Music by Austin Sebek, "Something"www.worshipstart.com/royaltyfreemusic

Wednesday Mar 05, 2025
Wednesday Mar 05, 2025
This episode of the Transformation Intensive podcast, Tim Gemmell, introduces 'Week 18: Jesus, Water, Light, and Life.' Tim explores the importance of recognizing God's stirrings and making connections in spiritual life, illustrated by a 'connect the dot' challenge. The episode delves into Rule 10 of the Ignatian Rules of Discernment, cherishing consolation. Valerie McIntyre previews the upcoming week of prayer and touches on visualizing versus imaginative prayer and how to immerse oneself in gospel stories. The episode concludes with a guided prayer on three segments from the Gospel of John and an encouragement to document and reflect on spiritual experiences.
00:00 Introduction to Transformation Intensive
00:35 Week 18: Jesus, Water, Light, and Life
01:09 Connecting the Dots: Spiritual Insights
06:19 Rule of Discernment: Cherishing Consolation
11:25 Imaginative Prayer vs. Visualization
17:28 Parallel Processing in Prayer
20:25 Guided Prayer Experience
32:26 Conclusion and Reflection
Music by Austin Sebek, "Something"www.worshipstart.com/royaltyfreemusic

Wednesday Feb 26, 2025
Wednesday Feb 26, 2025
This episode of the Transformation Intensive podcast delves into 'Week 17: Jesus Heals.' Sandy Sticha introduces the Sacred Heart of Jesus, exploring its historical significance and spiritual depth. She shares personal reflections from her journal about experiencing the Sacred Heart. The episode also covers Ignatius' Rule of Discernment, specifically Rule 9, which involves exploring causes of spiritual desolation. A guided meditation on Mark 5:24-34 focuses on the healing of a woman with a bleeding issue, encouraging listeners to engage deeply with Jesus’ healing power. Concluding the episode, Val highlights the significance of attuning to Jesus' emotions and offers insights on the week’s prayer exercises based on gospel healing stories. Practical advice on preparing for prayer and being open to new revelations is also provided.
00:00 Introduction to Transformation Intensive
00:38 Exploring the Sacred Heart of Jesus
01:30 Historical Context and Significance
03:21 Personal Reflections and Journal Entries
05:23 Practical Applications in Prayer
07:23 Ignatius Rules of Discernment
08:44 Causes and Solutions for Desolation
13:20 Guided Contemplation
25:03 Preview of Week 17, Engaging with Gospel Stories
38:29 Conclusion and Final Prayer
Music by Austin Sebek, "Something"www.worshipstart.com/royaltyfreemusic

Wednesday Feb 19, 2025
Wednesday Feb 19, 2025
This episode of the Transformation Intensive podcast introduces 'Week 16: Invitation to Follow Jesus.' Tim Gemmell presents the graces to seek—knowing Jesus intimately, loving Him more intensely, and following Him more closely. He shares personal reflections on the Tip of the Week: God may surprise you! The episode explores Ignatius' Eight Rule of Discernment, emphasizing patience during desolation, and provides practical advice on enduring spiritual storms. A guided meditation on John 1:35-39 prompts listeners to envision themselves following Jesus. Val discusses friendship with Jesus, depicting it as a call to Jesus’ inner circle and a call to biblical sainthood. She concludes with an overview of the upcoming week’s prayer exercises and an encouragement to integrate daily life with spiritual practices.
00:00 Introduction to Transformation Intensive
00:37 Week 16: Invitation to Follow Jesus
01:19 God's Surprises in Spiritual Exercises
03:11 Breaking Out of the Box
04:13 Rule of Discernment: Patience in Desolation
08:59 Guided Meditation: Come and See
20:26 Friendship with Jesus: Inner Circle and Sainthood
27:29 Prayer Exercises and Daily Examen
30:13 Closing Prayer and Final Thoughts
Music by Austin Sebek, "Something"www.worshipstart.com/royaltyfreemusic