Speeches & Interviews

Transforming Teaching and Learning in Higher Education:  An interview with Parker Palmer In this  interview, Parker shares his thoughts on the current landscape of higher education with regard to pedagogy and practice, and advocates for the integration of meaning and purpose in our educational institutions.

The Aurora Forum at Stanford University Parker was interviewed about The Courage to Teach at the Forum on February 21, 2009.  A transcript is available on this link, and the audio is available on iTunes (if you click through, you'll see the link to iTunes on the lower right).

Bill Moyers Journal on Public Television Parker appeared on the PBS show Bill Moyers Journal on February 20, 2009.  He spoke about the economic crisis, democracy, and depression.  The link will allow you to watch, listen, or read a transcript.

Stories of Depression Parker appeared on the Wisconsin Public Radio show called To the Best of Our Knowledge and contributed to a discussion about the two different definitions of depression -- the economic downturn of The Great Depression, as well as depression, the illness.

Repossessing Virtue: Parker Palmer on Economic Crisis, Morality, and Meaning Parker appeared on National Public Radio's "Speaking of Faith" with Krista Tippett, on December 14, 2008. In this program, he explores the spiritual aspects of the economic downturn.

Here on Earth: Post-election Reflections Parker appeared on Here on Earth, with Jean Feraca of Wisconsin Public Radio in November of 2008. On the day after the election of President Barack Obama, Parker spoke about what it means to be a “community organizer.”

American Democracy and Public Education: In Whom Do We Trust? Parker Palmer delivered the keynote for the Bridges to the Future lecture series at Denver University on September 23, 2008.

Reclaiming Integrity and Courage in Professional Life In this talk, given at the Boston Public Library in October 2007 as part of the tour of events celebrating the Tenth Anniversary Edition of The Courage to Teach, Parker Palmer extends the concepts of identity and integrity for teachers, to people of all professions who wish to live with more congruence between their inner and outer lives. Both audio and video are available.

Sound Medicine: Physician-Teacher Burnout Parker speaks about our work with physician-teachers at the Indiana University School of Medicine, work that helps them renew the spark that led them to medicine and teaching.

A Sustainable Education Interview and discussion with Jean Feraca on her Wisconsin Public Radio show "Here on Earth." Recorded April 1, 2008.

An Author Interview with Parker Palmer on the Quaker Books website. Transcript of interview posted on April 12, 2008.

Parker Palmer on the Democratic Experiment Recorded on February 19, 2008 at the Commonwealth Club of California, Parker speaks on “America’s Democratic Experiment: Holding the Tension Between Reality and Possibility.” He argues that democracy requires us to do the soul-work necessary to stand in the tragic gap, evoking “the better angels of our nature” in ourselves and in our world.

An edited version of this talk, with an accompanying discussion at Gather.com, can be found at the website of “Word for Word” from American Public Media.

Parker Palmer on The Politics of the Brokenhearted, and Deepening the American Dream: Reflections on the Inner Life of Spirit and Democracy A discussion with Michael Lerner of Commonweal that includes audio as well as a downloadable transcript and an article on the same topic.

The Forum at Grace Cathedral Audio recording of an interview and conversation between Parker Palmer and The Very Rev. Alan Jones at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco on February 17, 2008.

Keynote Address entitled The courage to teach: Staff development that sustains the educator's heart, given at the annual conference of the National Staff Development Council in Dallas, December 2007.

Here on Earth: Radio Without Borders This hour on Here on Earth: Radio Without Borders, Jean Feraca and Parker Palmer talk about Merton’s journey from traditional Roman Catholicism as a Trappist monk into an expansive universal Christianity.

2007 Commencement Address to California Institute of Integral Studies (PDF, 95Kb) Delivered at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco on May 27, 2007

2007 Commencement Address to Bank Street College of Education (PDF, 58Kb) Delivered at Riverside Church in New York City on May 24, 2007

Leading from Within: Reclaiming Selfhood in Professional Life
Video and audio of a lecture given by Parker J. Palmer at Wellesley College on October 26, 2005

Leadership and the Inner Journey: An Interview with Parker Palmer by L. J. Rittenhouse from Leader to Leader pp. 26-33, Fall 2001
Parker Palmer has inspired a national movement to reform teaching and education. Here, in conversation with L.J. Rittenhouse, an executive consultant who tracks the connection between CEO language and financial performance, Palmer explains why the inner journey is a prerequisite to authentic leadership.

Speaking of Faith, hosted by Krista Tippett, is public radio's weekly conversation about religion, meaning, ethics, and ideas.  Parker Palmer appeared on Speaking of Faith in 2006 on the topic of "The Soul of Depression.  This episode will re-air on February 29, 2009.

The Violence of Our Knowledge: Toward a Spirituality of Higher Education From 21st Century Learning Initiative. The Michael Keenan Memorial Lecture, Berea College, Kentucky. The Seventh Lecture 1993.

Please also listen to and subscribe to our podcasts with Parker Palmer.