Speaking Engagements and Appearances
Thought-provoking conversations about literature, history, faith, and the ideas that shape how we understand ourselves and our world.
October 1
@ Lone Star College
John Gillespie will return to Lone Star College to share his work on Thomas Merton, literature, and the search for the true self. Drawing on his scholarship and forthcoming book, A Poet’s Heart: Thomas Merton, Poetry, and the Discovery of the True Self, John will explore the writers, ideas, and experiences that shaped Merton’s understanding of identity. The presentation offers an accessible introduction to Merton’s thought while inviting audiences to consider the larger questions of selfhood, solitude, and what it means to live authentically.
October 21
@ Portland
John Gillespie will travel to Portland, Oregon, to present his research on Thomas Merton, poetry, and the search for the true self. Drawing from years of study and his forthcoming book, A Poet’s Heart: Thomas Merton, Poetry, and the Discovery of the True Self, John will examine the literary influences that helped shape Merton’s understanding of identity and spiritual life. His presentation brings literature, philosophy, and faith together in an engaging conversation about the enduring questions at the heart of Merton’s work.
April
Tuesdays with Merton
John Gillespie will return to Lone Star College to share his work on Thomas Merton, literature, and the search for the true self. Drawing on his scholarship and forthcoming book, A Poet’s Heart: Thomas Merton, Poetry, and the Discovery of the True Self, John will explore the writers, ideas, and experiences that shaped Merton’s understanding of identity. The presentation offers an accessible introduction to Merton’s thought while inviting audiences to consider the larger questions of selfhood, solitude, and what it means to live authentically.
June 17-June 20, 2027
ITMS conference at Iona University in New Rochelle, New York
In June 2027, John Gillespie will present “The City and the Self: T. S. Eliot, Thomas Merton, and New York” at the International Thomas Merton Society conference at Iona University in New Rochelle, New York. Taking place June 17–20, the conference brings together scholars, writers, and readers interested in Merton’s life and work. John’s presentation will explore the relationship between the city, identity, and the inner life through the work of T. S. Eliot and Thomas Merton, offering a new perspective on two writers deeply engaged with the complexities of modern life.