MILFORD – On the third Friday of every month at 6:30 p.m., the Universal Unitarian Church, 20 Elm St., hosts a potluck dinner and podcast discussion.

Audience members listen to a podcast of Krista Tippett’s “On Being,” which explores the dynamics and intersection of spiritual learning, social healing and community, and poetry and the arts.

Scott and Patricia Nelson co-host the monthly event.

“I’m not sure if people are familiar with the ‘On Being’ project and civil conversations that Krista Tibbett hosts,” said Pat. “I got to know Krista listening to her on National Public Radio. And over the last several years, she’s been encouraging this idea of civil conversations on things that matter.”

Those issues include love, kindness and generosity. Pat said those are values that align with the views of the UU congregation.

The “On Being” project is a non-profit media and public life initiative. The goal is to make a public radio show, podcasts, and tools for the art of living.

Its mission it to pursue deep thinking and moral imagination, social courage and joy to renew inner life, outer life and life together.

“We started this a year ago,” Pat continued. “Coming together each month, and we’ve been publicizing it within the congregation. Although, people outside of that circle do come and this month, we decided to throw our doors open and offer invites to people from outside of the congregation to join us in conversation.”

Pat said there are so few places, where people of multiple generations and multiple backgrounds can come together to talk.

“We thought, this is easier than a book club,” Pat joked. “There is no homework.”

Each podcast is less than an hour and features Tibbett having a conversation with a guest on her podcast show.

Pat said they have always used Tibbett’s show as the conversation’s centerpiece.

“Although, we have gotten recommendations in the past month or so, that we should expand beyond ‘On Being,’ and consider other podcasts,” Pat said. “So, we’re exploring that right now.”

Pat said the podcasts reach farther than just acts of kindness and friendship topics.

“This month we’ll be listening to Krista’s interview with Richard Davidson,” Pat continued. “He’s a neuroscientist who focuses on the interplay between emotion, behavior and genetics. The conversation that we’re going to be listening to is one that was held for the Orange County department of education, and it’s really about how trauma impacts kids in the classroom and instead of dealing with emotion as a disrupter, you can harness it and use it as a way of helping people to cope with trauma rather than just shutting down.”

Last month, the group listened to a podcast conversation about how mindfulness can help charge interaction between police and individuals in the community.

“They’re wide ranging topics and much bigger than just being nice to each other,” Pat said.

As for topics that might be close to home in Milford and for its residents, Scott said they’re certainly looking.

“There’s fifteen years’ worth of material to choose from,” said Scott. “What we pick out is what’s pressing. For example, our church is very involved in women transitioning out of prison. And we recently had a presentation on the opioid crisis.”

Scott the community is trying to tackle themes such as these at places like the Boys and Girls Club in Milford.

“That’s on our mind as well,” he said.

One other show was about a UU minister located in Maine, and she’s assigned to the fish and game department.

“When they’re doing search and rescue, she goes out and councils the waiting family and the people who have to do the search and rescue,” Scott said. “Her job is to make sure that people have support and not to force herself into family situations.”

Scott said that conversation was a “mediation on how to be supportive in difficult situations.”

“One of the things I say about ‘On Being,’ is that is their religion program,” he went on to say. “Which means there is an unusual take on it, much like the way their sports programs are not so much about who won and who lost. But that rather what are sports and how do they impact our lives.”

Pat said attendance varies. Last month, due to snow, the turnout was small, but a typical night might attract 15 listeners.

“Often times, we pick the topic pretty close before the meeting,” she said. “We publicize it and hope people are able to join us.”

For more info, visit UUCM.org.