Natalie Toon Patton: From shame to surrender: choosing a different path and finding yourself along the way.

06/08/22 • 59 min

Today’s conversation is with the author, Natalie Toon Patton, whose memoir, Wanderlost, is about her journey - an actual physical journey that begins in her childhood growing up in Arkansas in the deep south of America in a fundamental, southern Baptist church, how she was the golden girl of her town, the prom queen, the virgin bride, then a shunned divorcee, and became an outsider as she then moved around the world from the Middle East to Europe and Asia. But it’s also about a long and winding inward journey - spiritually and emotionally - one that she describes as a peregrination.

Her book is described as, “Once the golden girl of her Arkansas town, Natalie finds herself squeezed under small-town shame and rejection after being kicked out of church for getting a divorce. It’s a hard fall off of a sanctimonious high horse, and religious fundamentalism has left her feeling broken and stuck. But she can’t shake the ‘wanderlust woes’ that have plagued her since childhood, so she runs away to the Middle East. As a mostly-sheltered Southerner, she struggles to adapt but is determined to be ‘at home’ in the world.

Natalie Toon Patton writes on the intersection of travel and spirituality, as well as refugee causes. She currently lives in Botswana, Africa with her husband, three children, and Burmese cat named Genghis Khan. Her work can be seen in Sojourners, Relevant, and SheLoves. You can follow her on her Instagram page here.

This episode was edited and produced by the show's launch co-creator and producer Aisha Chowdhry.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was edited and produced by the show's launch co-creator and producer Aisha Chowdhry.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

Penny Wincer: What does it mean to care? And how to find balance and purpose within a busy life.

Penny Wincer is a Melbourne-born, London dwelling, author, podcaster, and non-fiction book coach. After 15 years as a freelance interiors photographer, Penny began writing about life as a single parent and unpaid carer whilst juggling a freelance creative career. She has written for Red Magazine, iPaper and regularly contributes to The Telegraph. Penny’s first book Tender was published by Coronet Books in 2020. She co-hosts the podcast Not Too Busy To Write. Penny lives in South London with her two children and a very fluffy cat called Winter. You can follow Penny on Instagram @pennywincerThis episode was edited and produced by Aisha Chowdhry.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

Mark Nepo: Becoming wise: What pain teaches us and how to go beyond fear.

International bestselling author and spiritual teacher, Mark Nepo, exudes deep wisdom and a calm presence that's rare in our world.

During this conversation, Mark describes the immense pain and suffering that he experienced in his 30s while battling a rare form of cancer that spread to his brain. Despite feeling like he'd been pushed to his absolute limits - both physically and mentally - Mark says the experience lead to the philosophy that he's known for today. Which is about having the courage to surrender to an unknowable future.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1951, Mark Nepo is the author of more than twenty books, including the New York Times number one bestseller, The Book of Awakening, which has sold more than a million copies. A renowned speaker, poet, and spiritual teacher, Mark has appeared several times on Oprah Winfrey's show, SuperSoul Sunday, and was chosen as one of her SuperSoul100, a group of inspired leaders using their gifts and voices to elevate humanity, who Oprah has described as the world's biggest trailblazers.

Visit Mark's website here for information about upcoming events. Find him on instagram @mark_nepo. You can purchase Mark's latest book The Book of Soul: 52 Paths to Living What Matters, here

This episode was edited and produced by the show's launch co-creator and producer Aisha Chowdhry.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.