Ordinary Grace

Joanna Jewell returns for the second half of her interview about her conversion to Catholicism, the dark night of the soul that followed, and how espousing her heart to Jesus led to her purpose.

Joanna Jewell, host of the espouse My Heart podcast, joins the conversation with her conversion story from New Age and Wiccan practices to the Catholic faith. 

Actor, storyteller, and podcaster Stephen Tobolowsky (One Day at a Time, Groundhog Day) joins the conversation with tales of his adventures with God, the challenges of emoting via Zoom, and giving up fear in the face of the unprecedented calamities of 2020. 

In the second part of our interview with Logan Crow, executive director of The Frida Cinema, we discuss being empathic, the importance of therapy, and supporting what you love. 

Logan Crow, executive director of the Frida Cinema in Santa Ana, California, joins the conversation! In the first half of a two-part interview, Logan tells us about watching Blue Velvet at eleven-years-old, his favorite spiritual moments in film history, and the unexpected depth of Robocop. 

Ordinary Grace returns with the release of an interview from July 2019 with Matt Page of Bible Films Blog and the book The Bible Onscreen in the New Millennium. We discuss growing up Anglican, Charismatic Evangelicalism, as well as his eventual loss of faith.  We also discuss biblical films, the ways in which Jesus is portrayed onscreen, and the horror elements of The Passion of the Christ.  God bless you and your family in this difficult time. 

Jordan A. Rothacker, (@j_rothacker) author of the novel And Wind Will Wash Away, joins the conversation to discuss the beauty and implausibility of religion, growing up with mythology, and teaching religion while being a "hardline agnostic". 

Kathryn H. Ross (@storytellerkath), author of the upcoming collection Black Was Not a Label, joins the conversation for a discussion about her relationship with Father God, her storytelling and journaling process, and her experiences as a young black woman in America. Also, she reads her stunning flash fiction piece "Icarus". 

Ordinary Grace pays tribute to former guest Susan Pierce, who passed away after a long illness, on July 16th of this year. May her spirit and her legacy live on in those she loved and who will always love her. Rest in Peace Susan Pierce  1946 – 2019  “Amazing Grace 2011” by Kevin MacLeod of incompetech.com 

Brilliant young poet Alyssa Matuchniak joins the conversation to discuss her multicultural, multi-faith upbringing, how that has affected her identity, and the value of being messy. 

Teacher and podcaster Kevin Johnson of the Encountering Silence podcast joins the conversation to discuss his own “mystical experiences”, how brain science connects with spirituality, and the enduring power of silence. Kevin's website Encountering Silence

Poet, theologian, and calming spirit Laura Reece Hogan joins the conversation to discuss her writing, the fire and passion of working in the Spirit of God, and her experience with Carmelite spirituality.

Verbose filmmaker and all around cool dude Harris Smith joins Matt and Sean for a discussion of being a prayer warrior, being born autistic, and the Church of U2.

Writer, teacher, and Nic Cage superfan Joanna Nelius joins the conversation for a discussion on Catholicism and quantum mechanics, being confirmed by Cardinal Roger Mahony, and returning to traditions you've abandoned. 

Pastor's kid, teacher, and rebel, the engaging Michael Dean Clark joins the conversation to discuss his Southern Baptist roots, his B-Boy and goth days, and Ralph Reed's pancake makeup.

Christian pastor, former Buddhist priest, and all-around spiritual explorer Kenryu Jeffrey Binns joins the conversation to discuss following God's path, learning stillness in the Eastern and Western traditions, and the call and challenge of the cross.

A conversation with Susan Pierce, English professor at Los Angeles Valley College, about the hollowing effect of advertising and consumer culture, as well as Tibetan Buddhist loving-kindness practice and the power of giving.

An interview with Pam Jones, author of Andermatt County: Two Parables about her Bible Students upbringing, Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame, and the gory deaths of Catholic martyrs. Click here to purchase Andermatt County: Two Parables. 

A conversation with Ryan Roach, co-host of Worth A Click: A Movie Review Podcast, about his Baptist upbringing, current atheism, and the theological wisdom of Monica Lewinsky. 

Writer and English Professor William Lemon joins the discussion with stories of growing up Mormon, psychedelics as a shortcut to spiritual experience, and what happens when capitalism overtakes religion.

An interview with Alex Schumacher, independent comics artist and creator of the comic strips Decades of (in)Experience and Mr. Butterchips. Alex speaks about his Jewish upbringing, falling away from the faith, and the spirituality inherent in the creative process.

An interview with poet Bill Lessard on the perfection of systems of belief, the deadening effect of advertisement, and the toxic binaries that are smothering debate in all areas of modern culture. 

A very open, very weird interview with Scott Waldyn of Literary Orphans, in which we dig into paranormal lore, ufology, David Icke, and meditative practices.

In the premiere episode of Ordinary Grace, Matt talks to Lise Quintana of Zoetic Press about the presence of God, living in the woods, melding Catholicism with Buddhism, and (of course) Jesus Christ Superstar. Come for the brilliant conversation, stay for the mental image of Mitch McConnell in a white sequin jumpsuit.