Podcast
Cultivate the Ordinary
Hosted by Travis and Jessie Vangsnes · EN
The great writer Walker Percy gifted the world with an inspiring and thought provoking line with his words: "Consciously cultivate the ordinary."
So many of us today find ourselves living in a foggy and disorienting world where we are held captive to hectic schedules, polarizing news narratives, and our addiction to technology. We find ourselves continuously battling things like isolation, anxiety, fear, boredom, and apathy.
What if instead of being held captive we could find ourselves captivated? Like children again, living with wonder and awe at the world around us and seeing God's presence more clearly in it. In the ordinary.
This podcast seeks to help us all cultivate our ordinary better through inspiring stories, thought provoking quotes, laughter, and lively talks with normal people transforming things in the world around them.
We invite you to join us on a fun journey of discovery and curiosity into the ordinary as we look for God's goodness and love through the lenses of joy, wonder, beauty, and hope.
About the hosts:
Travis and Jessie are passionate advocates for supporting foster care and work for the national org, America's Kids Belong. Travis is also an author and Jessie is an artist. They're both Enneagram/marriage coaches, soul care facilitators, and retreat owners at a property called Shiny Eyes Retreats.
Travis has another podcast called "That's So Rad!" and Jess has a podcast called "Transforming Us." Check em out!
15episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Year in Review: Random Gas Station Stories to Crazy Karaoke Experiences to Lessons in Faith and Life
Dec 3100:45:12Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Cultivate the Ordinary, hosts Travis and Jess reflect on the past year, sharing personal anecdotes, funny stories, and lessons learned. They each share a quote for the year that best represented what they were most inspired by or learned in 2025. They discuss the importance of finding beauty in everyday life, the power of quotes, and the significance of community and relationships.As they look ahead to the new year, they emphasize the need for personal growth, curiosity, and the cultivation of positive habits, while also acknowledging the challenges that come with it.Key Takeaways:Travis humorously describes their podcast roles as interchangeable sidekicks, adding a light-hearted touch to their dynamic.Jess shares a funny incident where she got sprayed with water at a gas station, and instead of getting upset, she laughed it off, showcasing her graciousness.Travis recounts a karaoke night where he was pressured into singing "Barbie Girl," a song he found hilariously awkward, especially when a stranger joined him on stage.Jess emphasizes the importance of embracing play and lightheartedness, reflecting on her word for the year, which was "play."Jess discusses the importance of forgiveness, inspired by a pastor who forgave the man responsible for a tragic event, encouraging her to let go of personal resentments.Both Jess and Travis talk about the significance of community and vulnerability, highlighting how opening up to others can lead to profound personal growth and connection.Jess emphasizes the value of finding beauty in stillness and nature, which has reignited her passion for art and creativity.
Transcribe →Everyone Has a Book in Them: A Fun Conversation on Writing and Self Publishing
Jul 800:55:19Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Cultivate the Ordinary, hosts Travis and Jess get back together after a bit of a break from this podcast. They discuss their recent creative projects, including two new podcasts they've launched. This episode centers on the power of writing, the creative process, and what it looks like to publish a book on your own. Books and podcast links below:Jessie is writing her first book and Travis talks about the two books he wrote. They share personal stories about their writing journeys and offer encouragement to aspiring writers. Travis shares some practical tips on what it takes to write a book and get it published. His belief is that everyone has a book in them. The conversation highlights the intersection of creativity, personal growth, and the transformative power of words.Travis and Jessie's other podcasts:That's So Rad! PodcastApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thats-so-rad/id1810887342YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thatissoradTransforming UsApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transforming-us/id1823554264YouTube: www.youtube.com/@transformingusTravis' books: Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and HopeRedemption's Echo: Living in the Reflection of God's GraceWriting or book publishing questions? Contact us on socials or below at:https://guidedpace.com/
Transcribe →Shaped by the Places We Live and Our Need to Be Rooted
Apr 11, 202500:26:56Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Cultivate the Ordinary Podcast, host Travis explores the themes of rootedness, geography, and personal history as he reflects on his time growing up on a farm in North Dakota. He shares on the importance of place in shaping identity and the innate human longing for connection to our origins. Through personal anecdotes and reading book excerpts, Travis discusses how experiences in various landscapes influence our character and sense of belonging. He also emphasizes the need for stability in a fast-paced world and the profound impact that specific places can have on our souls. Because of the freedom of technology and remote jobs, many of us can live in places but not be rooted in those places. That's a big problem and the difference between "being stationed" vs "being rooted" changes how we live life. Books mentioned in this episode:The Language of Cottonwoods: Essays on the Future of North DakotaDakota: A Spiritual Geography
Transcribe →Being Astonished and Telling About It
Mar 27, 202500:27:29Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Cultivate the Ordinary, Jessie and Travis explore some exciting things going on in their lives and how they're finding inspiration in these things. They talk some about the current journey of Travis's brother Jeremy, who has faced significant challenges due to a traumatic brain injury (in 2009). They also share some cool stories of all the things he is doing to bring joy and hope to the world despite limited abilities.The conversation also highlights the joy of music through Travis learning to play the ukulele, the development of a documentary about Jeremy's life, and the importance of community and friendship in their lives. They discuss Jeremy's artistic endeavors, the gift of friendship, and the inspiration they and so many others draw from his story.Cool stuff to checkout from this episode!Follow Jeremy on Facebook:Jeremy's Instagram: Jeremy paintingWes performing a spoken word for JeremyJeremy's website: joyindespairCheckout the band WasperjawsWes' website: https://www.meaningfulscience.com/
Transcribe →Why Beauty Should Matter More in Your Daily Life
Mar 4, 202500:45:56Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Cultivate the Ordinary Podcast, hosts Travis and Jessie explore the theme of beauty through personal experiences, reflections on a recent cruise, and the evolution of their understanding of beauty over time. They discuss moments of astonishment, the connection between beauty and art, and how beauty can serve as a bridge to deeper understanding and connection with the world around us.Travis and Jessie discuss the profound impact of beauty in our lives, discussing how it can inspire, captivate, and connect us to deeper truths. They delve into the relationship between beauty and art, the importance of imagination, and how beauty can transform our perception of the ordinary. The discussion also touches on practical ways to cultivate beauty in daily life and community, emphasizing that beauty is essential for our well-being and creativity.Travis' book: Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and HopePodcast:John O'Donohue- The Inner Landscape of Beauty
Transcribe →The Power of Gratitude and How It Can Change Our Lives
Feb 19, 202500:24:55Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Cultivate the Ordinary, host Travis discusses the transformative power of gratitude, especially in the face of personal struggles. He shares his family's recent challenges, including health scares involving his brother, and how these experiences have deepened his appreciation for life's gifts. Through a heartfelt story about his favorite band Carbon Leaf, Travis illustrates the importance of connection and gratitude in difficult times. Times that God is nearer to us than we often feel, and orchestrates gifts and unexpected moments to encourage us in our difficulties. He also shares about the discipline of trying to find more gratitude in the small everyday moments of life.He emphasizes that joy often stems from gratitude and encourages listeners to recognize and cherish the small moments that make life meaningful.Checkout some of Carbon Leaf's music:https://youtu.be/4BItUurqpsw?si=p_dDnDgmJQyAzRGnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlhlHsGE6asTravis's book: Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and HopeTakeawaysGratitude can spark a sense of aliveness.Personal struggles can deepen our appreciation for life.Connection with others can provide comfort during tough times.Gratitude is a discipline that can be cultivated.Finding joy in small moments is essential.Living in radical amazement can transform our perspective.Gratitude can help us navigate through suffering.The little things in life often become the big things.Being grateful for one thing a day can change our outlook.Joy is rooted in gratitude, not the other way around.
Transcribe →Living Fully Alive and Being Formed by New Habits
Jan 28, 202500:29:15Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Cultivate the Ordinary, hosts Travis and Jessie discuss their excitement for the new year, reflecting on personal goals and experiences. They explore the concept of bucket lists, the psychology behind New Year's resolutions, and the importance of identity in forming habits. The conversation emphasizes the need for both motivation and structure in achieving personal growth and setting meaningful goals for 2025. In this conversation, Jessie and Travis explore the themes of personal growth, the importance of influential voices, and the necessity of finding what makes one come alive. They discuss the challenges of burnout and the significance of encouraging each other in their journeys. The dialogue emphasizes the need for sustainable structures in life, the power of music and community, and the importance of self-awareness in navigating life's complexities.Resources mentioned in the podcast:book: Atomic Habits: Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad OnesAdditional resources from Travis and Jess:Guided Pace website: resources for coaching, soul care, and spiritual retreat offeringsTravis' books: Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and HopeRedemption's Echo: Living in the Reflection of God's Grace
Transcribe →Season 1 Finale: Seeing the World Through Imaginative and Grateful Eyes with Asher Vangsnes
Sep 10, 202400:23:44Tap to summarizeIn this season finale episode, Travis is joined by his son Asher to talk about curiosity and creativity. Asher sees the world so imaginatively and is full of curiosity. He's also brings the gift of gratitude wherever he is and Travis talks about the ways Asher teaches him as his son.The conversation steers around Asher's insights into drawing and creating and ends with questions around his favorite things. This has been a great season of inspiring people, stories, and lives that showcase curiosity, wonder, and looking for God's presence in the everyday. Additional resources from Travis and Jess:Guided Pace website: resources for coaching, soul care, and spiritual retreat offeringsTravis' books: Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and HopeRedemption's Echo: Living in the Reflection of God's Grace
Transcribe →The Keys to Unlocking a Stronger Friendship in Your Marriage
Sep 4, 202400:48:21Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Travis and Jess talk about cultivating friendship as a centerpiece to healthy marriages. Travis shares about the importance of humor as a tool that connects, heals, and helps us in all kinds of ways. Jess talks about activities that promote connection, togetherness, and friendship. They both discuss a marriage resource and training they've received through the Gottman Institute that has been immensely helpful in unlocking stuck patterns in their own marriage. They unpack some of the principles from these resources including the biggest predictors of divorce. They share the antidotes to unhealthy patterns and describe the path forward for maintaining connection and growing stronger as couples.Resources mentioned in this episode:Book- Humor's Hidden Power: Weapon, Shield, and Psychological SalveAdditional resources from Travis and Jess:Guided Pace website: resources for coaching, soul care, and spiritual retreat offeringsTravis' books: Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and HopeRedemption's Echo: Living in the Reflection of God's Grace
Transcribe →Experiencing Grace and Goodness in the Awful Agony of Dementia
Aug 27, 202400:31:28Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Travis shares about his journey caregiving for his dad when he had late stage dementia. Alzheimers and dementia are brutal diseases that are rapidly rising globally. So many people know a loved one personally dealing with this tragic struggle. Travis also shares about the beautiful moments and lessons learned that can still be gained if we look more closely and pay attention. Travis' shares how God in his grace gave moments of gifts and that even as his dad lost nearly all functionality he still graced the world with the power of his smile.Travis reminisces about both the immense difficulties involved in caregiving and the heavy emotional toll of seeing a loved one continued to lose more of their world and themselves in a staggeringly slow death. Travis reads an excerpt on a piece he wrote as he was in the grips of dealing with his dad's disease and how writing this piece helped him process. He also offers encouragement and shares some stories on God's grace radiating through even the darkest moments and bleakest times. Sometimes in very surprising ways. We hope this episode can be an encouragement for you in some way as you deal with your own story of a loved one with dementia.Reach out to Travis:Travis' email: travisvangsnes@gmail.comResourced mentioned in this podcast:Forbes article on dementiaAdditional resources from Travis and Jess:Guided Pace website: resources for coaching, soul care, and spiritual retreat offeringsTravis' books: Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and HopeRedemption's Echo: Living in the Reflection of God's Grace
Transcribe →