Stephen Jenkinson: Matrimony Is the Mothering of Culture

Sounds True: Insights at the Edge

Tami Simon

Religion, Spirituality, Religion & Spirituality

4.6 • 1.8K Ratings

🗓️ 7 October 2025

⏱️ 72 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Explore how matrimony acts as a "mothering" force of culture in this conversation with Stephen Jenkinson that shines a light on the wedding ritual, marriage, and their deeper layers.

Has our modern culture lost the original empowering nature of the wedding day and of marriage itself? In this episode of Insights at the Edge, host Tami Simon welcomes Stephen Jenkinson—culture activist, founder of the Orphan Wisdom School, and author of the forthcoming book Matrimony. Here, Jenkinson explores the difference between weddings, marriage, and matrimony, revealing how authentic ritual can heal cultural wounds and foster community. Drawing from his new book and years of experience, he shares why matrimony is not just a private act but a vital, communal force that shapes the heart of culture itself.

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Listeners of Insights At The Edge get 10% off their first month at www.betterhelp.com/soundstrue.

Note: This interview originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at join.soundstrue.com.

Transcript

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0:00.0	The Sounds True Podcast Network.
0:06.6	I wasn't getting instruction.
0:08.7	I was getting a very nuanced kind of assignment, a kind of one-note symphony.
0:14.3	It was something like, remember this thing that you've never seen.
0:26.6	See, see. this thing that you've never seen. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, my guest is Stephen Jenkinson.
0:32.8	This is the first time I've had the honor to interview,, and I'm so excited to see all the places
0:42.1	we go together. He's such an unusual and original thinker. Let me tell you a little bit
0:49.0	about Stephen Jenkinson. He's a culture activist, a storyteller, a ceremonialist, and an off-the-grid farmer, advocating
0:59.3	for a handmade life and eloquence.
1:03.0	He has a master's degree in theology from Harvard and a master's degree in social work from
1:09.5	the University of Toronto.
1:15.0	He's the founder of the Orphan School of Wisdom,
1:20.8	and he's the author of several stunning and surprising books,
1:24.8	including the highly acclaimed Die Wise.
1:26.9	And get ready for this.
1:30.5	A new book from Sounds True. It's called Matrimony, ritual, culture, and the heart's work. Friends, stay with us. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.
1:48.5	In honor of World Mental Health Day this October, we're joining with our friends at Better
1:54.4	Help to celebrate and thank all of the therapists in our lives.
2:00.5	When I was in my 40s, I started regularly seeing a therapist
2:04.2	who was a true mentor for me in many aspects of my life. When it came to my relationship with myself,
2:11.5	of course, but also in my marriage and in my work. At one point, she said to me, you know,
2:17.3	you're a real DIY type. You always like
	...

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