Art and Faith Unplugged

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When it seems like too many things are falling apart and too many people are being too terrible, it’s easy to become too hopeless, too discouraged, and too angry. Instead of continuing to complain and rage about the failures of the church and state, we can focus more on the things that can help us navigate difficulty. Art and Faith help us heal and flourish. Conversations about art and faith have been taking place for a really long time. I’m not doing anything special here. But so many of the conversations about art and faith happening right now are really fancy and serious and pretentious with big words and intellectualism and whatnot. That’s okay—sometimes I’m fancy and pretentious. I can use big words and be intellectual and serious. But I’m not those things all of the time. And approaching art and faith from that sort of posture can shut out a lot of people who are just trying to work and live and not be depressed all of the time. Conversations about art and faith from that posture can draw lines in the sand and be interpreted as unwelcoming. It can make it seem like conversations about art and faith are only allowed in certain circles and certain environments. Art and Faith Unplugged blurs those lines. I want to learn more about fancy theories of art and faith. But I also want to ponder and have conversations about art and faith that are relevant to our everyday lives and everyday interactions. Art and Faith Unplugged is "unplugged" because I don’t have time or energy or a bunch of money to make it complicated. There’s no intro or outro with music and whatnot. There’s no editing. There’s no producer. Some episodes will be me talking about books or films or paintings or other forms of art even though I'm not the most qualified person to do so. Some episodes will have guests who may or may not be more qualified who are willing to enter into a conversation knowing I won’t edit out any mistakes or missteps. When we have conversations with people offline and off the air, sometimes we say the wrong thing at the wrong time. And that's okay. We can correct ourselves and say what we really meant and keep going. Welcome. I hope you feel comfortable here. And I hope Art and Faith Unplugged helps you notice the ways art and faith help you heal and flourish.

Charlotte Byrd Donlon


    • Sep 7, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 31m AVG DURATION
    • 14 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Art and Faith Unplugged

    Episode 14: Ashley M. Jones & Kaveh Akbar on Reparations Now! and Belonging through Poetry

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2021 35:55


    artandfaithunplugged.com](https://www.artandfaithunplugged.com/) When it seems like too many things are falling apart and too many people are being too terrible, it's easy to become too hopeless, too discouraged, and too angry. Instead of complaining and raging about the church's failures, the government's failures, and everyone else's failures, we can focus more on things like art and faith that help us navigate the joys and pains of everyday life. Art matters because it helps us belong to ourselves, others, God, and the world. Art and Faith Unplugged and its host Charlotte Donlon make space for conversations and writing that explore how art deepens our belongings and the ways art intersects with faith, doubt, and mystery. Welcome. We hope Art and Faith Unplugged helps you notice the ways art and faith help you flourish and belong. Visit artandfaithunplugged.com (https://www.artandfaithunplugged.com/) for the show notes for this episode, essays, articles, and news about art, faith, and belonging. Ashley M. Jones and Kaveh Akbar join Charlotte for a conversation about Ashley's newest book of poems, Reparations Now!, which is available now wherever books are sold. Ashley and Kaveh discuss a few of Ashley's poems from Reparations Now! and explore how poems and writing poetry help us belong to ourselves, others, God, and the world. Also, thunder makes several appearances, which is pretty cool. Learn more about Ashley, her work, and her writing at https://ashleymjonespoetry.com/ Learn more about Kaveh, his work, and his writing at http://kavehakbar.com/ _More about Art and Faith Unplugged's host: Charlotte Donlon is a writer, a certified spiritual director for writers at Writing Life Spiritual Direction (https://www.writinglifespiritualdirection.com/), and host of Art and Faith Unplugged (https://www.artandfaithunplugged.com/). Charlotte's writing and work are rooted in noticing how art helps us belong to ourselves, others, God, and the world. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Curator, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Catapult, The Millions, Mockingbird, and elsewhere. Her first book is The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other (https://charlottedonlon.com/the-great-belonging-book). You can subscribe to her newsletter (https://charlottedonlon.substack.com/) and connect with her on Twitter (https://twitter.com/charlottedonlon) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/charlottedonlon/).

    Episode 13: An Art and Faith Unplugged Update with Charlotte Donlon

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2021 6:31


    artandfaithunplugged.com (https://www.artandfaithunplugged.com/) When it seems like too many things are falling apart and too many people are being too terrible, it's easy to become too hopeless, too discouraged, and too angry. Instead of complaining and raging about the church's failures, the government's failures, and everyone else's failures, we can focus more on things like art and faith that help us navigate the joys and pains of everyday life. Art matters because it helps us belong to ourselves, others, God, and the world. Art and Faith Unplugged and its host Charlotte Donlon make space for conversations and writing that explore how art deepens our belongings and the ways art intersects with faith, doubt, and mystery. Welcome. We hope Art and Faith Unplugged helps you notice the ways art and faith help you flourish and belong. Visit artandfaithunplugged.com (https://www.artandfaithunplugged.com/) for the show notes, essays, articles, and news about art, faith, and belonging. In this episode, Art and Faith Unplugged host Charlotte Donlon provides an update on the Art and Faith Unplugged podcast and website that includes the latest news and information about some new contemplative resources that have been added to artandfaithunplugged.com. Links to websites and resources mentioned in this episode: A Free Guide for Planning an Individual Creative and Spiritual Retreat (https://www.artandfaithunplugged.com/blog/a-free-guide-for-planning-an-individual-spiritual-and-creative-retreat-from-writing-life-spiritual-direction) Charlotte's Email Newsletter (https://charlottedonlon.substack.com/) A Meditation for Going to a Museum (https://www.artandfaithunplugged.com/blog/a-meditation-for-going-to-a-museum) Instructions for Visio Divina (https://www.artandfaithunplugged.com/blog/sometimes-only-the-art-can-talk) Three New Invitations for Writers of Faith from Writing Life Spiritual Direction (https://www.artandfaithunplugged.com/blog/three-invitations-for-writers-of-faith-from-writing-life-spiritual-direction) _More about Art and Faith Unplugged's host: Charlotte Donlon is a writer, a certified spiritual director for writers at Writing Life Spiritual Direction (https://www.writinglifespiritualdirection.com/), and host of Art and Faith Unplugged (https://www.artandfaithunplugged.com/). Charlotte's writing and work are rooted in noticing how art helps us belong to ourselves, others, God, and the world. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Curator, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Catapult, The Millions, Mockingbird, and elsewhere. Her first book is The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other (https://charlottedonlon.com/the-great-belonging-book). You can subscribe to her newsletter (https://charlottedonlon.substack.com/) and connect with her on Twitter (https://twitter.com/charlottedonlon) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/charlottedonlon/).

    Episode 12: Kaveh Akbar & Ashley M. Jones on Pilgrim Bell and Belonging through Poetry Part Two

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2021 38:40


    artandfaithunplugged.com (https://www.artandfaithunplugged.com/) When it seems like too many things are falling apart and too many people are being too terrible, it's easy to become too hopeless, too discouraged, and too angry. Instead of complaining and raging about the church's failures, the government's failures, and everyone else's failures, we can focus more on things like art and faith that help us navigate the joys and pains of everyday life. Art matters because it helps us belong to ourselves, others, God, and the world. Art and Faith Unplugged and its host Charlotte Donlon make space for conversations and writing that explore how art deepens our belongings and the ways art intersects with faith, doubt, and mystery. Welcome. We hope Art and Faith Unplugged helps you notice the ways art and faith help you flourish and belong. Visit artandfaithunplugged.com (https://www.artandfaithunplugged.com/) for the show notes for this episode, essays, articles, and news about art, faith, and belonging. Kaveh Akbar and Ashley M. Jones joined Charlotte for a conversation about Kaveh's newest book of poems, _Pilgrim Bell _which is available now wherever books are sold. Kaveh and Ashley discuss a few of Kaveh's poems from Pilgrim Bell, explore how poems help us feel connected to our loved ones who have died, share what it's like to write about their parents, and more. The three also discussed how writing and reading help us belong to ourselves, others, the world, and the divine. Learn more about Kaveh, his work, and his writing at http://kavehakbar.com/ Learn more about Ashley, her work, and her writing at https://ashleymjonespoetry.com/ _More about Art and Faith Unplugged's host: Charlotte Donlon is a writer, a certified spiritual director for writers at Writing Life Spiritual Direction (https://www.writinglifespiritualdirection.com/), and host of Art and Faith Unplugged (https://www.artandfaithunplugged.com/). Charlotte's writing and work are rooted in noticing how art helps us belong to ourselves, others, God, and the world. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Curator, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Catapult, The Millions, Mockingbird, and elsewhere. Her first book is The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other (https://charlottedonlon.com/the-great-belonging-book). You can subscribe to her newsletter (https://charlottedonlon.substack.com/) and connect with her on Twitter (https://twitter.com/charlottedonlon) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/charlottedonlon/).

    Episode 11: Kaveh Akbar & Ashley M. Jones on Pilgrim Bell and Belonging through Poetry Part One

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2021 35:51


    artandfaithunplugged.com (https://www.artandfaithunplugged.com/) When it seems like too many things are falling apart and too many people are being too terrible, it's easy to become too hopeless, too discouraged, and too angry. Instead of complaining and raging about the church's failures, the government's failures, and everyone else's failures, we can focus more on things like art and faith that help us navigate the joys and pains of everyday life. Art matters because it helps us belong to ourselves, others, God, and the world. Art and Faith Unplugged and its host Charlotte Donlon make space for conversations and writing that explore how art deepens our belongings and the ways art intersects with faith, doubt, and mystery. Welcome. We hope Art and Faith Unplugged helps you notice the ways art and faith help you flourish and belong. Visit artandfaithunplugged.com (https://www.artandfaithunplugged.com/) for the show notes for this episode, essays, articles, and news about art, faith, and belonging. Kaveh Akbar and Ashley M. Jones joined Charlotte for a conversation about Kaveh's newest book of poems, _Pilgrim Bell _which is available now wherever books are sold. Kaveh and Ashley discuss a few of Kaveh's poems from Pilgrim Bell, explore how poems help us feel connected to our loved ones who have died, share what it's like to write about their parents, and more. The three also discussed how writing and reading help us belong to ourselves, others, the world, and the divine. Learn more about Kaveh, his work, and his writing at http://kavehakbar.com/ Learn more about Ashley, her work, and her writing at https://ashleymjonespoetry.com/ _More about Art and Faith Unplugged's host: Charlotte Donlon is a writer, a certified spiritual director for writers at Writing Life Spiritual Direction (https://www.writinglifespiritualdirection.com/), and host of Art and Faith Unplugged (https://www.artandfaithunplugged.com/). Charlotte's writing and work are rooted in noticing how art helps us belong to ourselves, others, God, and the world. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Curator, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Catapult, The Millions, Mockingbird, and elsewhere. Her first book is The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other (https://charlottedonlon.com/the-great-belonging-book). You can subscribe to her newsletter (https://charlottedonlon.substack.com/) and connect with her on Twitter (https://twitter.com/charlottedonlon) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/charlottedonlon/).

    Episode 10: Art and Faith with Chandra White-Cummings Part Three

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2021 19:08


    In this third episode with Chandra White-Cummings, Charlotte Donlon and Chandra discuss ways films, TV shows, and actors help Chandra feel less alone and how those who make art should engage different forms of art. Chandra also talks about the healing power of laughter and joy that comes from watching shows like Queen Sugar and Black-ish. Charlotte also gives a shoutout to Blaire Erskine and her hilarious Instagram videos. Chandra also talks about the ways Black women are inspiring her in her creative work. Chandra White-Cummings is a writer, editor, and founder of CWC Media Group and Transforming Justice™, a learning cohort on issues of racial justice. She is a certified trauma healing group facilitator and trainer with the American Bible Society’s Trauma Healing Institute, and covers adult trauma healing, healing for caregivers, sexual assault survivors, and generational trauma healing between Black and white America. She has two young adult sons and lives in Virginia. You can connect with her on Twitter at @ChandraWC (https://twitter.com/ChandraWC). CWC Media Group https://www.cwcmediagroup.com/ A Few Articles by Chandra White-Cummings We need more white parents to talk to their kids about race. Especially now. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2020/05/22/we-need-more-white-parents-talk-their-kids-about-race-especially-now/) Congressional Caucus On Black Women And Girls Must Include Work On Mental Health To Offer Real Hope (https://ourselvesblack.com/journal/2016/4/30/congressional-caucus-on-black-women-and-girls-must-include-work-on-mental-health-to-offer-real-hope) Black Stress Needs Black Action (https://ourselvesblack.com/journal/2017/2/27/black-stress-needs-black-action-1) Charlotte Donlon is a writer who reads, a reader who writes, and a certified spiritual director for writers. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Seattle Pacific University where she studied creative nonfiction. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Curator, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Catapult, The Millions, Mockingbird, and elsewhere. Her first book is [The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other](https://bookshop.org/books/the-great-belonging-how-loneliness-leads-us-to-each-other/9781506461960). You can learn more about spiritual direction for writers at Writing Life Spiritual Direction (https://www.writinglifespiritualdirection.com/), learn more about her writing and podcasts at charlottedonlon.com (https://charlottedonlon.com/), subscribe to her newsletter here (https://charlottedonlon.substack.com/), and connect with her on Twitter (https://twitter.com/charlottedonlon) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/charlottedonlon/).

    Episode 9: Art and Faith with Chandra White-Cummings Part Two

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2021 30:55


    In this second episode of Art and Faith Unplugged with Chandra White-Cummings, Charlotte Donlon and Chandra discuss different ways art affects Chandra and her writing and her other work as a trauma healing facilitator and trainer. They also discuss some of the ways art and faith intersect in her trauma work with Black women. Chandra White-Cummings is a writer, editor, and founder of CWC Media Group and Transforming Justice™, a learning cohort on issues of racial justice. She is a certified trauma healing group facilitator and trainer with the American Bible Society’s Trauma Healing Institute, and covers adult trauma healing, healing for caregivers, sexual assault survivors, and generational trauma healing between Black and white America. She has two young adult sons and lives in Virginia. You can connect with her on Twitter at @ChandraWC (https://twitter.com/ChandraWC). CWC Media Group https://www.cwcmediagroup.com/ A Few Articles by Chandra White-Cummings We need more white parents to talk to their kids about race. Especially now. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2020/05/22/we-need-more-white-parents-talk-their-kids-about-race-especially-now/) Congressional Caucus On Black Women And Girls Must Include Work On Mental Health To Offer Real Hope (https://ourselvesblack.com/journal/2016/4/30/congressional-caucus-on-black-women-and-girls-must-include-work-on-mental-health-to-offer-real-hope) Black Stress Needs Black Action (https://ourselvesblack.com/journal/2017/2/27/black-stress-needs-black-action-1) Charlotte Donlon is a writer who reads, a reader who writes, and a certified spiritual director for writers. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Seattle Pacific University where she studied creative nonfiction. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Curator, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Catapult, The Millions, Mockingbird, and elsewhere. Her first book is [The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other](https://bookshop.org/books/the-great-belonging-how-loneliness-leads-us-to-each-other/9781506461960). You can learn more about spiritual direction for writers at Writing Life Spiritual Direction (https://www.writinglifespiritualdirection.com/), learn more about her writing and podcasts at charlottedonlon.com (https://charlottedonlon.com/), subscribe to her newsletter here (https://charlottedonlon.substack.com/), and connect with her on Twitter (https://twitter.com/charlottedonlon) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/charlottedonlon/).

    Episode 8: Art and Faith with Chandra White-Cummings Part One-Racism in Christian Publishing

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2021 41:16


    In this first Art and Faith Unplugged episode with Chandra White-Cummings, host Charlotte Donlon and Chandra discuss racism in Christian publishing. Chandra asks several questions for those inside the Christian publishing spaces to consider, and for the rest of us to consider, too. Chandra White-Cummings is a writer, editor, and founder of CWC Media Group and Transforming Justice™, a learning cohort on issues of racial justice. She is a certified trauma healing group facilitator and trainer with the American Bible Society’s Trauma Healing Institute, and covers adult trauma healing, healing for caregivers, sexual assault survivors, and generational trauma healing between Black and white America. She has two young adult sons and lives in Virginia. You can connect with her on Twitter at @ChandraWC (https://twitter.com/ChandraWC). CWC Media Group https://www.cwcmediagroup.com/ A Few Articles by Chandra White-Cummings We need more white parents to talk to their kids about race. Especially now. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2020/05/22/we-need-more-white-parents-talk-their-kids-about-race-especially-now/) Congressional Caucus On Black Women And Girls Must Include Work On Mental Health To Offer Real Hope (https://ourselvesblack.com/journal/2016/4/30/congressional-caucus-on-black-women-and-girls-must-include-work-on-mental-health-to-offer-real-hope) Black Stress Needs Black Action (https://ourselvesblack.com/journal/2017/2/27/black-stress-needs-black-action-1) Charlotte Donlon is a writer who reads, a reader who writes, and a certified spiritual director for writers. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Seattle Pacific University where she studied creative nonfiction. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Curator, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Catapult, The Millions, Mockingbird, and elsewhere. Her first book is [The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other](https://bookshop.org/books/the-great-belonging-how-loneliness-leads-us-to-each-other/9781506461960). You can learn more about spiritual direction for writers at Writing Life Spiritual Direction (https://www.writinglifespiritualdirection.com/), learn more about her writing and podcasts at charlottedonlon.com (https://charlottedonlon.com/), subscribe to her newsletter here (https://charlottedonlon.substack.com/), and connect with her on Twitter (https://twitter.com/charlottedonlon) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/charlottedonlon/).

    Episode 7: Art and Mothering with Catherine Ricketts

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2021 48:08


    In this episode of Art and Faith Unplugged, Charlotte Donlon talks to Catherine Ricketts about mothering and making art and how each of those things affect the other. An essay Ricketts wrote for the Ploughshares website is one jumping off point for their conversation. That piece is "The Maternal Vision of Leslie Jamison and Marilynne Robinson." (https://blog.pshares.org/the-maternal-vision-of-leslie-jamison-and-marilynne-robinson/) They also discuss the artwork of Alice Neel and Becky Suss, why mother artists inspire Cat's creative work, and more. More links from this episode: About Becky Suss https://jackshainman.com/artists/becky_suss Suss has work in New Grit: Art & Philly Now, on view at the Philadelphia Museum of Art through August 22 https://philamuseum.org/calendar/exhibition/new-grit-art-philly-now About Alice Neel https://www.aliceneel.com/ Alice Neel: People Come First, on view at the Met through August 1 https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2021/alice-neel Cat's website (https://catherinedanaricketts.com/), where you can subscribe to newsletter Cat Ricketts on Twitter (https://twitter.com/cat_ricketts) Cat Rickets on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/bycatherinericketts/) Catherine Ricketts is an essayist and songwriter based in Philadelphia. Her literary nonfiction about the arts, grief and joy, and spirituality appears on the Ploughshares blog, in Image Journal, The Millions, Paste, and NPR-affiliate The Key, and is forthcoming in The Christian Century. Concurrent with her own writing, she has maintained a vibrant career in the arts and is passionate about nurturing the work of other artists, whether by writing about them, commissioning new work, or producing performances. She is currently at work on two books of nonfiction, one about grief and beauty, the other about motherhood and artistic practice. Find her on Instagram at @bycatherinericketts (https://www.instagram.com/bycatherinericketts/), where she hosts the semiweekly "IG Live Lullaby," or on the web at www.catherinedanaricketts.com. Charlotte Donlon is a writer who reads, a reader who writes, and a certified spiritual director for writers. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Seattle Pacific University where she studied creative nonfiction. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Curator, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Catapult, The Millions, Mockingbird, and elsewhere. Her first book is The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other. You can learn more about spiritual direction for writers at Writing Life Spiritual Direction (https://www.writinglifespiritualdirection.com/), subscribe to her newsletter here (https://charlottedonlon.substack.com/), and connect with her on Twitter (https://twitter.com/charlottedonlon) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/charlottedonlon/). When it seems like too many things are falling apart and too many people are being too terrible, it’s easy to become too hopeless, too discouraged, and too angry. Instead of continuing to complain and rage about the failures of the church and state, we can focus more on the things that can help us navigate difficulty. Art and faith can help us heal and flourish. We hope Art and Faith Unplugged can do the same.

    Episode 6: When Jesus Shows Up in Popular Music with Delvyn Case

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2021 69:01


    Charlotte Donlon talks to Delvyn Case about some of the ways Jesus shows up in popular music. They discuss rap, punk, and country music artists and how Jesus is acknowledged in their music. Delvyn wrote an article for Sojourner's magazine in October 2020 titled "JESUS SHOWS UP IN DISCOS, HONKY-TONKS, BLUES BARS, AND STRIP CLUBS." This article was the jumping off point for this podcast episode. If you subscribe to Sojourner's you can read it here (https://sojo.net/magazine/december-2020/jesus-shows-discos-honky-tonks-blues-bars-and-strip-clubs), but it's not required reading for you to listen to this episode. Black hip-hop scholars recommend by Delvyn: Ebony Utley, Anthony Pinn, Michael Eric Dyson, Tricia Rose For the history of country music, Delvyn suggests the Ken Burns documentary from a few years ago. For the origins of rock'n'roll, the Rolling Stone History of Rock'n'Roll is a comprehensive resource. It delves deeply into the Black origins of the style. Another great book on the development of 60's rock out of the blues is McNally's "On Highway 61: Race, Music, and the Evolution of Cultural Freedom." Links to Delvyn's writing are here: https://www.delvyncase.com/writing Recent book with Delvyn's chapter on Jesus in popular music: https://www.scsmusic.org/publications/christian-music-in-the-americas/ Delvyn's recent recording of sacred concert music - along with listening links - can be found here: https://www.deus-ex-musica.com/case-strange-energy More on Deus Ex Musica: https://www.deus-ex-musica.com/ Delvyn Case is a musician, writer, scholar, and educator based in Boston. He is a composer of classical concert music whose work often explores themes from the Christian tradition, as well as a scholar of popular music. He writes about the intersections of music and religion for both academic and general audiences, including on his Patheos blog “Alleluia: Music and the Christian Life.” He is the founder of Deus Ex Musica, an ecumenical organization that promotes sacred music as a resource for learning and faith formation. He teaches at Wheaton College in Massachusetts – which, ironically, is a secular institution unrelated to the Wheaton College in Illinois. Charlotte Donlon is a writer and a certified spiritual director. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Seattle Pacific University where she studied creative nonfiction. Charlotte’s work has appeared in The Washington Post, Catapult, The Millions, The Christian Century, Mockingbird, and elsewhere. Her first book, The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other, was published Broadleaf Books in November 2020. You can connect with Charlotte on Twitter and Instagram at @charlottedonlon.

    Episode 5: A Conversation about Art and Faith with Poet Ashely M. Jones

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2021 60:58


    Charlotte Donlon talks to poet Ashley M. Jones about her writing life, her faith, and more. Ashley M. Jones holds an MFA in Poetry from Florida International University, and she is the author of Magic City Gospel (Hub City Press 2017), dark / / thing (Pleiades Press 2019), and_ REPARATIONS NOW! (Hub City Press 2021). Her poetry has earned several awards, including the Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers Award, the Silver Medal in the Independent Publishers Book Awards, the Lena-Miles Wever Todd Prize for Poetry, a Literature Fellowship from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, the Lucille Clifton Poetry Prize, and the Lucille Clifton Legacy Award. She was a finalist for the Ruth Lily Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Fellowship in 2020. Her poems and essays appear in or are forthcoming at _CNN, POETRY, The Oxford American, Origins Journal, The Quarry by Split This Rock, Obsidian, and many others. She teaches at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, she co-directs PEN Birmingham, and she is the founding director of the Magic City Poetry Festival. She currently serves as the O’Neal Library’s Lift Every Voice Scholar and as a guest editor for Poetry Magazine. Find Ashley on Twitter at @ashberry813 Follow Ashley on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PoetAshleyMJones/ Ashley's Website https://ashleymjonespoetry.com/ A Few of Ashley's Upcoming Events and Readings Why It Matters (Tuesday, February 16, 2021) https://www.facebook.com/events/465717017784130 LIFT EVERY VOICE: THE POET IN YOU (Tuesday, February, 23, 2021) https://www.facebook.com/514691570/posts/10157671255806571/?d=n University of Missouri Visiting Writers Series (Thursday, February 25, 2021) More information coming soon. Links to Ashley's Books REPARATIONS NOW! (Available for Pre-order) https://www.hubcity.org/books/poetry/reparations-now dark / / thing https://ashleymjonespoetry.com/dark-thing/ Magic City Gospel https://ashleymjonespoetry.com/magic-city-gospel/ A Few of Ashley's Poems She Read During This Episode God Made My Whole Body https://therumpus.net/2020/03/rumpus-original-poetry-three-poems-by-ashley-m-jones/ My Grandfather Returns as Oil From Ashley's book dark//thing (https://ashleymjonespoetry.com/dark-thing/) Links to Some of Ashley's Essays: Amanda Gorman Reminded America What Poetry Can Do https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/22/opinions/amanda-gorman-affirmed-poetry-and-me-ashley-m-jones/index.html When God Calls My Name https://scalawagmagazine.org/2021/01/when-god-calls-my-name/ Magic City Poetry Festival https://www.magiccitypoetryfestival.org/ More about Charlotte Donlon, Host of Art and Faith Unplugged: Charlotte Donlon is a writer and a certified spiritual director. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Seattle Pacific University where she studied creative nonfiction. Charlotte’s work has appeared in The Washington Post, Catapult, The Millions, The Curator The Christian Century, Mockingbird, _and elsewhere. Her first book, _The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other, was published Broadleaf Books in November 2020. More about Charlotte and her work can be found at charlottedonlon.com. You can sign up for her email newsletter powered by Substack at charlottedonlon.substack.com. And you can connect with Charlotte on Twitter and Instagram at @charlottedonlon.

    Episode 4: Aarik Danielsen and Nine of His Favorite Sad Songs (A Lists of Nine Episode)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2021 13:15


    This episode was originally recorded for a short-lived podcast called Lists on Nine. Aarik Danielson shares a list of nine of his favorite sad songs and talks for nine-ish minutes about a few songs from his list. I'm so glad I get to re-launch this episode here with Art and Faith Unplugged. Please note: Our two audio files were recorded separately and there's a bit of a layering effect here and there but I'm not doing any editing so it is what it is. I don't think it's too annoying and hopefully you won't either. Nine of Aarik's Favorite Sad Songs: 1) Tom Waits, "Tom Traubert's Blues" 2) Elton John, "The Last Song" 3) Peter Gabriel, "I Grieve" 4) Ray Lamontagne, "Burn" 5) Radiohead, "Let Down" 6) Patty Griffin, "Long Ride Home" 7) Frightened Rabbit, "Holy" 8) John Prine, "Hello in There" 9) Lucy Dacus, "Pillar of Truth" Aarik Danielsen is a Midwestern journalist, essayist and poet whose writing exists at the four corners of literature, human dignity, pop culture and theology. Rejecting the title "content" creator (however you pronounce it), he hopes to create meaningful dispatches from a place of holy discontent. Aarik has covered the arts for more than a decade at the Columbia Daily Tribune. He writes a weekly column, The (Dis)content, Wednesdays at Fathom Magazine. His bylines have appeared at Image Journal, Plough, Rain Taxi, Entropy, Think Christian, Christ and Pop Culture, Sojourners, Mockingbird, EcoTheo Review, Relief Journal, The Englewood Review of Books, The New Territory, The Blue Mountain Review, The Curator, Ekstasis and more. Aarik also teaches at his alma mater, the University of Missouri. He lives in Columbia, Missouri with his wife and son. Charlotte Donlon is a writer and a certified spiritual director. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Seattle Pacific University where she studied creative nonfiction. Charlotte’s work has appeared in The Washington Post, Catapult, The Millions, The Curator, The Christian Century, Mockingbird, _and elsewhere. Her first book, _The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other, was published Broadleaf Books in November 2020. Links to more of Charlotte’s writing can be found at charlottedonlon.com. You can sign up for her email newsletter (powered by Substack) here (https://charlottedonlon.substack.com/). You can also connect with Charlotte on Twitter (https://twitter.com/charlottedonlon) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/charlottedonlon/).

    Episode 3: What Was That? And Food, Belonging, Rory, and Lorelai

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2021 19:41


    In this episode, Charlotte Donlon explains what Lists of Nine is and discusses Gilmore Girls food moments and a few ideas about food, art, and faith. Mentioned in this episode: I Logged Everything Rory & Lorelai EVER Ate On Gilmore Girls (https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2016/11/130329/gilmore-girls-food-diary#slide-1) I Ate Like a Gilmore Girl for a Week and Here’s What Happened (https://www.thekitchn.com/gilmore-girls-diet-review-23004522) 7 Food Moments That Made You Want to Be a Gilmore Girl (https://www.bonappetit.com/story/gilmore-girls-food-moments) InSpero (https://www.inspero.org/#about) Edible Theology (https://www.edibletheology.com/) We Will Feast: Rethinking Dinner, Worship, and the Community of God by Kendall Vanderslice (http://kendallvanderslice.com/we-will-feast) Edible Theology on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/edibletheology/) When it seems like too many things are falling apart and too many people are being too terrible, it’s easy to become too hopeless, too discouraged, and too angry. Instead of continuing to complain and rage about the failures of the church and state, we can focus more on the things that can help us navigate difficulty. Art and faith can help us heal and flourish. We hope Art and Faith Unplugged can do the same. Charlotte Donlon is a writer and a certified spiritual director. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Seattle Pacific University where she studied creative nonfiction. Charlotte’s work has appeared in The Washington Post, Catapult, The Millions, The Christian Century, Mockingbird, _and elsewhere. Her first book, _The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other, was published Broadleaf Books in November 2020. Links to more of Charlotte’s writing can be found at charlottedonlon.com. You can sign up for her email newsletter (powered by Substack) here (https://charlottedonlon.substack.com/). You can also connect with Charlotte on Twitter (https://twitter.com/charlottedonlon) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/charlottedonlon/).

    Episode 2: Andrew Graney and Nine of His Favorite Poems (A Lists of Nine Episode)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2021 13:10


    This episode was originally recorded for a short-lived podcast called Lists on Nine. Andrew Graney shares a list of nine of his favorite poems and talks for nine-ish minutes about a few poems from his list. I'm so glad I get to re-launch this episode here with Art and Faith Unplugged. Andrew Graney's List of Nine of His Favorite Poems: Still life with Issa at the Gates - Alexander Long Guide - Adelia Prado Against Consolation - Robert Cording Piano Lessons - William Matthews The Quilt - Larry Levis Perhaps the World Ends Here - Joy Harjo Those Winter Sunday - Robert Hayden Filling Station - Elizabeth Bishop Angel Adages - Devon Miller-Duggan Andrew Laurence Graney is a teacher and writer from Wilmington, Delaware. He received his MFA in Creative Writing from Seattle Pacific University. His poems have appeared in Connotation Press, The American Journal of Poetry, Saint Katherine Review, Redheaded Stepchild, and elsewhere. When not writing, he is probably watching stand-up, listening to a comedian's podcast, or wishing he had a ping pong table. More about Art and Faith Unplugged's host: Charlotte Donlon, a writer who reads, a reader who writes, and a certified spiritual director. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Seattle Pacific University where she studied creative nonfiction. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Catapult, The Millions, Mockingbird, and elsewhere. Her first book, The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other, was published in November 2020. You can subscribe to her newsletter (powered by Substack) on creativity, spiritual formation, the writing life, the intersection of art and faith, and more using a link on her webiste at charlottedonlon.com. And you can connect with her on Twitter and Instagram at @charlottedonlon.

    Episode 1: An Introduction or How Not to Become a Terrorist

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2021 7:16


    When it seems like too many things are falling apart and too many people are being too terrible, it’s easy to become too hopeless, too discouraged, and too angry. Instead of continuing to complain and rage about the failures of the church and state, we can focus more on the things that can help us navigate difficulty. Art and faith help us heal and flourish. We hope Art and Faith Unplugged can do the same. This podcast was born from a tweet thread Charlotte posted on January 15, 2021. These words also became an Instagram post. Here are the first four words of her post: Make art not terror. Conversations about art and faith have been taking place for a really long time. Charlotte knows she's not doing anything special here. But so many of the conversations about art and faith happening right now are really fancy and serious and pretentious with big words and intellectualism and whatnot. Art and Faith Unplugged steps outside those boundaries. Charlotte wants to learn more about fancy theories of art and faith. But she also want to ponder and have conversations about art and faith that are relevant to our everyday lives and everyday interactions. More about Art and Faith Unplugged's host: Charlotte Donlon, a writer who reads, a reader who writes, and a certified spiritual director. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Seattle Pacific University where she studied creative nonfiction. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Catapult, The Millions, Mockingbird, and elsewhere. Her first book, The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other, was published in November 2020. You can subscribe to her newsletter (powered by Substack) on creativity, spiritual formation, the writing life, the intersection of art and faith, and more using a link on her webiste at charlottedonlon.com. And you can connect with her on Twitter and Instagram at @charlottedonlon.

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