Stephen Jenkinson Matrimony Is The Mothering Of Culture

Stephen Jenkinson: Matrimony Is the Mothering of Culture

October 7, 2025

Stephen Jenkinson: Matrimony Is the Mothering of Culture

Stephen Jenkinson — October 7, 2025

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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.

Stephen Jenkinson, MTS, MSW, is a cultural worker, teacher, author, and ceremonialist. He is the creator and principal instructor of the Orphan Wisdom School, founded in 2010. He has master’s degrees from Harvard University (theology) and the University of Toronto (social work). He’s the author of Come of Age, the award-winning Die Wise, Money and the Soul’s Desires, and Reckoning (with Kimberly Ann Johnson). For more, visit orphanwisdom.com.

Author photo © Nathalie Roy

Posted October 7, 2025

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Stephen Jenkinson: Matrimony Is the Mothering of Cultu...

Stephen Jenkinson — October 7, 2025

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.

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

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Stephen Jenkinson: Matrimony Is the Mothering of Culture

Stephen Jenkinson: Matrimony Is the Mothering of Culture

Stephen Jenkinson — October 7, 2025

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