NPR journalist and spiritual director helps others find their way
Register for March 10’s online labyrinth workshop
"I actually think that, given the tumultuous times that we’re in, it’s very obvious to people that they’re searching for something,” journalist and spiritual director Niala Boodhoo recently told the Rev. Sara Hayden on the “New Way” podcast. As a journalist based in Washington, D.C., Boodhoo understands the particular tumult of our times. She compared it to the chaos and confusion amid a breaking news situation. “I feel like this country is in that right now where everyone is just trying to figure out how to live and react and respond.” Boodhoo encourages people to be a part of a community like a church that is formulating a coherent response to how to cope with and respond to the reality of America in 2025.
Boodhoo has hosted the “1A Show’s” Friday News Roundup on NPR and the “One Big Thing” podcast on Axios, where she discussed her pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago with Phil Cousineau, author of “The Art of Pilgrimage: The Seeker’s Guide to Making Travel Sacred.” In that episode, Boodhoo described undertaking “the camino” at a time of great discernment in her life. Since returning, she has leaned into spiritual aspects of her vocation. A ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Boodhoo is a certified spiritual director and a Veriditas-trained labyrinth facilitator.
On Monday, March 10, she will be facilitating an online workshop to uncover the wisdom and practice of walking the labyrinth. The workshop is sponsored by 1001 New Worshiping Communities and hosted by the Rev. Jeff Eddings, the associate for spiritual formation and coaching for 1001. Registration is open to anyone, not just new worshiping communities. The workshop is a public offering of the Sabbath Innovation Lab, a bimonthly gathering of cohorts and lab partners centered on accessible and personalized ways to rest in the midst of launching new worshiping communities and pastoring churches.
The 12th season of the “New Way” podcast will premiere on Thursday, March 6, on all podcast platforms, with new episodes produced by the Rev. Marthame Sanders dropping weekly. Inspired by the writing of Howard Thurman, Hayden shaped this season around conversations with contemplative practitioners in order to help listeners during disorienting times to, as Thurman advises, “hold fast to what is good and resist what must be resisted.” Upcoming guests include Eddings, Rola Al Askhar, Debby Viveros, and Becca Ehrlich.
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