Living in Hope — A Conversation with Juan Carlos Huertas

We’re thrilled to announce the relaunch of The Academy Podcast, a space for deep listening, spiritual insight, and meaningful conversation. Hosted by Shalom Agtarap, a Two-Year Academy alum, the podcast will feature thoughtful interviews with Academy faculty, program leaders, and special guests who embody the Academy’s values of spiritual depth, justice, and community. 

Each episode invites listeners to engage in conversations that stir the soul—exploring the intersections of spiritual formation, leadership, creativity, and transformation. Whether you’re an Academy alum or new to our community, this podcast offers an accessible way to stay rooted in the Academy rhythm. 

The Academy Podcast will follow a seasonal format, with regular episodes during the spring and fall, and intentional summer and winter breaks for rest and renewal. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

This month on The Academy Podcast, Shalom sits down with Juan Carlos Huertas for a rich and layered conversation about embodied spirituality, ancestral memory, and resistance rooted in joy. Drawing from his lived experience as a pastor, parent, Puerto Rican, and Academy faculty member, Juan Carlos reflects on how spiritual formation practices—prayer, rest, storytelling, silence, and community—can help us reclaim hope in the face of empire.

Together, Juan Carlos and Shalom explore what it means to walk the streets of a diverse neighborhood, listen to the wisdom of the body, and carry the legacy of ancestors who “were grinding for all of us.” This is a conversation about freedom, healing, and the sacred, liberating rhythm of life that The Academy invites us to live into—both in retreat and in the everyday.

Juan Carlos is a faculty member for Two-Year Academy #43, which begins in November 2025. During his time with #43, he will be guiding participants through the theme “Attentiveness of the Word,” exploring how we listen deeply to God, scripture, and the world around us.

JOIN US

The next Two-Year Academy begins November 3, 2025. Learn more about Two-Year Academy #43 and apply here.

Show Notes:

Episode tracks: “Far Side of the Sea,” “Versailles,” and “Fearless” by Amy Stroup, used with permission.

Audio editing and production by Tim Savage.  

A special thanks to the staff of The Upper Room, the Academy team, and everyone who helps bring this podcast to life. 

For more information and resources visit: academy.upperroom.org/resources

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If the Academy Podcast or any of the ministries of The Academy for Spiritual Formation have benefited your life and spirituality, please consider making a one-time or monthly donation to show your support. You can learn more about how your gifts make a difference at https://academy.upperroom.org/donate/