Grace at Ground Zero
Co-hosted by lifelong friends Tim Dobbins, an Episcopal priest, and Philip Patrick, a former publisher, Grace at Ground Zero unveils Tim’s never-before-told account of his time supporting first responders at Ground Zero on the night of September 11, 2001. At its core, the podcast delivers a deeply personal message of redemptive love and healing for anyone experiencing grief or trauma in their own lives. Grounded in Tim’s decades of pastoral work helping others navigate trauma, the show draws lessons from our nation’s darkest hours to offer comfort for the 9/11 each of us may face in our own lives – from loss and illness to heartbreak and hardship. Ultimately, Grace at Ground Zero honors those who perished by revealing how resilience, compassion, and hope can emerge from life’s deepest ruins.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2026
A Prayer for 9/11
All Episodes
New episodes released weekly. Check out some of our most popular episodes and topics below.
Meet the Team
Tim and Philip have been friends for nearly thirty years. They are collaborating on Tim’s upcoming memoir, titled Grace at Ground Zero: The Untold Story of One Pastor’s Experience on 9/11 and What He Learned That Can Help Heal Life’s Traumas and Losses.
Tim Dobbins
Timothy Dobbins, an Episcopal priest, served at Ground Zero immediately following the 9/11 attacks. In addition to frontline ministry, Dobbins helped establish the shock trauma reception center at Chelsea Piers before being taken to Ground Zero. Chosen by The September 11th Fund and Safe Horizon, he and his company led an 18 month initiative training 40 social workers to provide essential life services to 20,000 individuals and families affected by the attacks. This was sponsored by the Community Fund of New York City with nearly $750 million of contributions. With decades of experience in pastoral care and community healing, Dobbins brings both spiritual insight and practical expertise to recounting this pivotal moment in history.
Tim is the author of Stepping Up: Make Decisions That Matter, (HarperCollins 2006), Stepping Up: The Art of Making A Difference, (2023/second edition), and the Business Companion, (Random House/Living Language 2001).
Dobbins is founder and President of Cultural Architects, a consulting firm that advises and develops diverse decision makers. A graduate of the University of Florida, and the Virginia Theological Seminary, he is also a Fellow at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Dobbins has served as a Third-Party/Track-Two negotiator and has studied in Jerusalem, London, and at the C.G. Jung Institute in Zürich. He is an elected Fellow of the British-American Project, a fellowship of high achievers seeking to help sustain the special relationship between the US and UK. Tim has led diverse Episcopal congregations in Washington DC, Gloucester, MA, and Philadelphia, PA.
Philip Patrick
Philip Patrick’s publishing career has spanned more than thirty years at Amazon, where he also held numerous business and product development positions at Amazon Publishing and Kindle, and Penguin Random House where he led campaigns for hundreds of New York Times bestsellers, including The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, and The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferris. He has taught at New York University in New York and Abu Dhabi.
Dr. Anne Freund, Ph.D
Anne Freund, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist who has been practicing since 1989. She graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and from the University of Florida with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Freund worked with law enforcement and first responders in private practice as part of a Critical Incidence Stress Debriefing Team before spending most of her career with the Department of Veterans Affairs, where she conducted PTSD support groups. She has had specialized training in PTSD at the National Center for PTSD in Menlo Park, California and at the Center for Deployment Psychology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. She is the author of Taming The Fire Within: Life After War.
Barbara Bruns
Barbara Bruns is Creative Director of the “Grace at Ground Zero” Podcast, Executive Editor for “Stepping Up: The Art of Making a Difference”, and a Consultant with Cultural Architects. She is also an accomplished recitalist, accompanist, and conductor and has concertized extensively in the United States, Europe and Japan. From 2000-2005 she served as Associate Organist and Choirmaster at St. Michael’s Church in New York City and is currently Minister of Music at The Parish of Christ Church in Andover, Massachusetts.
Let's Connect.
Whether you want to discuss podcast collaboration opportunities, inquire about sponsorships, or engage Tim for counseling services or professional engagements, we’d love to hear from you. Drop us a line and let’s create something together.
- tim@timothydobbins.com
- New York, NY
Resources
Reference guides, clinical tools, and curated resources to help you manage the trauma in your own life.
healing Resources
Stepping Up
In this motivational and insightful book, Tim Dobbins examines and teaches innovative techniques to use when making decisions that matter.
Taming the Fire Within
Dr. Freund’s book breaks down the universal psychological impacts of war – from hyper-vigilance and anger to emotional detachment and nightmares – to help readers understand the root causes behind combat veterans’ everyday behaviors and struggles.
Learn about traumatic symptoms and responses from licensed Psychologist David V. Baldwin PhD. This is an excellent resource which covers topics such as PTSD symptoms and coping strategies, and much more.
Non-Profit Organizations
Through commemoration, exhibitions, and educational programs, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum remembers and honors the 2,983 people killed in the horrific attacks of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993, as well as those who risked their lives to save others and all who demonstrated extraordinary compassion in the aftermath of the attacks.
Tunnel to Towers has been helping America’s heroes by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and by building specially-adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. Children of the Foundation’s home recipients are offered full scholarships for undergraduate degrees and accredited trade school programs, helping secure their futures. They are also committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and helping America to Never Forget September 11, 2001.
Credits
Grace at Ground Zero
The Grace at Ground Zero Podcast is produced by Timothy Dobbins and Philip Patrick.
Copyright © 2026 by Timothy Dobbins and Philip Patrick.
All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this audio is strictly prohibited.
Creative & Direction
John McBlain
Podcast Producer
Barbara Bruns
Creative Director
Anne Freund, Ph.D.
Clinical Advisor
Matt Dobbins
Website Producer
Antonio Littles
Clip Photographer
Music
Theme Song: Air des Musettes by Andre Campra
Recorded by Barbara Bruns and Thompson Brass Ensemble
Copyright © 2014 Barbara Bruns and Philip Swanson
Photos
All photos Copyright © 2026 Timothy Dobbins except “A Priest at Ground Zero” and “Churchyard” by Harald Franzen
Copyright © 2026 Harald Franzen. Reproduced with permission.
Molly Coffin, Allison Miller Dobbins, Bill Bruns, Dan Dobbins, John Dobbins