Seekers and Scholars

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Discover how seekers and scholars from a variety of disciplines have engaged with Mary Baker Eddy's life, ideas, and accomplishments.

The Mary Baker Eddy Library


    • Jun 1, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 29m AVG DURATION
    • 104 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Seekers and Scholars podcast is an incredibly compelling and engaging show, particularly for someone like me who is both a podcaster and a women's historian. The guests that the host brings onto the show are superb and they share captivating stories from history. Each episode offers a powerful insight into different aspects of history, leaving listeners feeling educated and inspired.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is the quality of the guests. The host manages to bring on experts in their respective fields, ensuring that each episode is filled with valuable information and unique perspectives. As a women's historian, I appreciate how the podcast highlights stories from often overlooked or underrepresented individuals throughout history. The depth of research put into each episode is also commendable, as it allows for thorough exploration of topics without ever feeling overwhelming or dry.

    Another aspect that stands out about The Seekers and Scholars podcast is its ability to make seemingly mundane or less popular topics fascinating. Even episodes where I initially thought I wouldn't be particularly interested in the subject matter managed to captivate my attention. The way the information is presented by both the host and guests makes it easy to follow along and sparks a genuine curiosity in learning more. It shows skillful storytelling and an understanding of how to engage listeners even when discussing lesser-known historical figures or events.

    While it is difficult to find any significant faults with this podcast, one minor drawback could be its relatively short length per episode. At around half an hour on average, some listeners may find themselves wanting more after each episode concludes. However, it can also be seen as a positive aspect as it ensures that each topic stays focused and concise without dragging on unnecessarily.

    In conclusion, The Seekers and Scholars podcast is a truly fascinating journey through history that leaves no stone unturned. From its exceptional guests to its ability to make any topic interesting, every aspect of this podcast is well-executed. As a fellow podcaster and women's historian, I highly recommend this show to anyone seeking a thought-provoking and educational experience. It is a true gem in the podcasting world.



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    Latest episodes from Seekers and Scholars

    103. Poetry at the Christian Science Reading Room

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2025 40:07


    Enjoy intimate readings of poems in Christian Science literature, from Mary Baker Eddy's time to the present day.

    102. Reading Genesis with Marilynne Robinson

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 41:15


    Find out how Marilynne Robinson's fresh insights on the book of Genesis relate to its spiritual significance for Mary Baker Eddy.

    101. Tender and true—discussing archives at the American Society of Church History

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 33:50


    Hear people from four institutions, including The Mary Baker Eddy Library, discuss the responsibilities involved in preserving religious history.

    100. Caring for China—Sarah Pike Conger and the Empress Dowager

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2025 34:34


    Learn how the wife of America's ambassador to China drew on her deep faith to overcome attacks from Chinese combatants during the Boxer Rebellion.

    99. Revisiting Violet Oakley's spiritual vision and trailblazing art

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2025 20:24


    Find out how the ideals of William Penn and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy inspired a leading twentieth-century artist's portrayals of love and peace.

    98. New insights at the Archives Open House

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2025 35:49


    Listen to Library staff members illuminate Christian Science history through objects they exhibited from our collections.

    97. Spiritual and musical evolutions in the Christian Science Hymnal

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2024 37:00


    Hear the backstory of this beloved church songbook and learn how it compares with those of other religious traditions.

    96. “Find ourselves in the place just right”—Shakers and Christian Science

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2024 32:52


    Learn about the ways some Shaker communities embraced Christian Science teachings and healing—as well as how Mary Baker Eddy thought about their beliefs and practices.

    95. Terms of endearment—Mary Baker Eddy and New Hampshire

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2024 36:20


    Find out why the cultural and religious character of her native state meant so much to the founder of Christian Science.

    94. In conversation—the Joseph Smith and Mary Baker Eddy papers

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2024 34:09


    Listen as members of two major documentary editing projects discuss their work and its impact on religious history.

    93. Listener’s choice: Revisiting “Psalms of Life—Mary Baker Eddy and 19th-century American poetry”

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2024 46:43


    Learn why America's passion for verse in the nineteenth century is meaningful for a Ugandan college student today.

    92. Concord—spiritual quest and “the word” in the computer age

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2024 32:29


    How can new technologies serve a person's spiritual growth? Explore a powerful Christian Science study tool, through firsthand accounts of its development.

    91. The Clerk and “the doings of the [Mother] Church”

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2024 32:16


    How does a worldwide religious body stay connected? Explore some of the ways this interaction has worked for the Christian Science church, from its origins up to the present day.

    90. Cherishing her Congregational roots—Mary Baker Eddy and the Boutons

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2024 32:03


    Find out why Eddy described the teachings and work of a prominent New Hampshire minister as the “vestibule of Christian Science.”

    89. Mary Baker Eddy’s argument with animal magnetism and “vitalism”

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2024 32:13


    Hear about a nineteenth-century American culture fascinated with the vitalizing effects of psychic practices, and learn why Eddy saw them as delusional and dangerous.

    88. Christian Science meets African women theologians

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2024 33:40


    Learn how and why the untold stories of two pioneering Black African women Christian Scientists are resonating with contemporary women scholars and activists.

    87. Frances Willard, Mary Baker Eddy, and Christian social reform

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2024 33:17


    In 1932, the president of the temperance movement and the founder of Christian Science were voted two of America's most important women leaders. Find out how they connected, and why.

    86. The Christian Science Publishing House—a building for the world

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2024 31:30


    Hear how this “living historical artifact” has been artfully fulfilling its purpose since 1932.

    85. The Piskos—to Vienna with love from The Christian Science Monitor

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2023 33:07


    Hear the story of an exiled couple from Nazi-controlled Europe, who went on to become celebrated writers at the international newspaper.

    84. “Christian Scientists in Zion” at the Mormon History Association

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2023 32:55


    Hear about the influence Christian Science had among the Mormon elite in late nineteenth-century Salt Lake City.

    83. Healing and renewal through public history

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2023 27:17


    What is public history? Find out about its potential to serve the common good—and how the Mary Baker Eddy Library contributes to it.

    BONUS: Response to Episode 82, with Mark Sappenfield, Editor of The Christian Science Monitor

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2023 8:33


    Enjoy this bonus track, which traces The Christian Science Monitor's commitment to solutions-oriented journalism back to its 1908 founding.

    82. The Christian Science Monitor, social work, and Boston’s settlement houses

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2023 34:05


    Find out about visionary reporting on a new Progressive Era institution designed to improve the lives of the urban poor.

    81. Listener’s choice: revisiting “Women’s rights—and a woman’s right to interpret the Bible”

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2023 31:16


    Listen to this gem from the Seekers and Scholars archive, and learn about why it was particularly meaningful to the college student who chose it.

    80. The marriages of Mary Baker Eddy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2023 33:08


    Hear about Eddy's experiences with marriage, in a time when conventions around matrimony were radically changing, and see how they impacted her life and writings.

    79. Reissuing a masterwork—a new edition of Robert Peel’s Mary Baker Eddy biography

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2023 32:19


    Hear guests discuss the enduring significance of this volume, including the value of its newest edition and the noteworthy qualities of its author.

    78. Ministries of divine healing in twentieth-century Britain

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2023 31:46


    Find out about interest in twentieth-century Christian spiritual healing—what did that mean for the Church of England and the Church of Christ, Scientist?

    77. Bette Graham, Liquid Paper, and the spiritual force of an original idea

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2023 30:43


    Hear how a single mom and clerical worker with few prospects transformed an industry through innovative thinking and prayerful inspiration.

    76. Christian Scientist women and Alice Paul’s campaign for women’s rights

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2023 33:39


    Discover thought-provoking connections between Christian Science and women's rights movements of the twentieth century.

    75. The spirit of 1886 in the Mary Baker Eddy Papers

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2023 26:49


    Why was 1886 a big year for the Christian Science church? Find out from the Mary Baker Eddy Papers team, in this recording with a live audience.

    74: Archives Open House at The Mary Baker Eddy Library

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2023 29:17


    Glimpse what happened at this one-day event for employees of The Mother Church, which showcased some compelling items from the Library's collections.

    73: Broadway's best—spiritual quest, Antoinette Perry, and the Tony Awards

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2022 23:48


    Listen to the inspiring story of the namesake for the most prestigious honor in the theater world.

    72: Mary Baker Eddy, corresponding across family divides

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2022 22:00


    Find out what was at stake for Eddy in reaching out to cherished family members, despite significant barriers in culture, education, and religion.

    71: The history of Communion in Christian Science church services

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2022 22:23


    Why do Christian Science branch churches have special Communion services, while The Mother Church in Boston does not? Find out in this episode, which also explores how the religion approaches this aspect of Christian worship.

    70. Marcella Craft, opera star, and the origins of Christian Science church soloing

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2022 30:59


    Learn about the position of soloist at The Mother Church—and the celebrated soprano who helped set high standards for the role.

    69. American religion in World War II

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2022 29:14


    Learn how American G.I.s found their faith sustaining them when confronted by wartime's innumerable challenges.

    68. The Christian Science encounter with interfaith at the 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2022 26:26


    Learn about the complicated beginnings of global interfaith dialogue in a groundbreaking 17-day conference at Chicago's 1893 Columbian Exposition.

    67. “Ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances”—working in Mary Baker Eddy’s household

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2022 29:43


    Listen to a conversation with Heather Vogel Frederick, author of Life at 400 Beacon Street: Working in Mary Baker Eddy's Household.

    66. BONUS: Elisa Mazzucato Young—a musical and Christian Science story

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2022 14:22


    As a bonus to Episode 64, enjoy two new recordings of music by composer Elisa Mazzucato Young.

    65. The Monitor in Moscow

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2022 30:51


    Listen to intimate portraits of Christian Science Monitor correspondents covering Russia and the Soviet Union in the twentieth century.

    64. Bicknell Young—a Mormon and Christian Science story

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2022 29:05


    Learn about the upbringing and spiritual journey of this significant figure in the early Christian Science movement.

    63. Discovering the Civil War in the Mary Baker Eddy Papers

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2022 27:41


    Learn about Mary Baker Eddy's anti-slavery activism, through her correspondence with prominent Union generals, and her husband's experiences as a Confederate prisoner of war.

    62. Women abstract artists—their spirituality and contemporary relevance

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2022 29:14


    Listen to a discussion on the essential role of spirituality in the work of twentieth-century women abstract artists.

    61. Mary Baker Eddy: writing without a room of her own

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2022 27:29


    Learn about Mary Baker Eddy's experiences with housing insecurity, during the time when she was first teaching and writing about Christian Science.

    60. Ruth Barrett Phelps—presiding over the king of instruments

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2021 27:33


    Learn about Ruth Barrett Phelps and how she helped change the sound of music in Boston.

    59. The revelatory power of oral histories

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2021 28:58


    Look behind the scenes as we discuss the Library's oral history project—a diverse and rich collection that expands perspectives on the Christian Science movement.

    58. Examining the evidence—forensic handwriting analysis at The Mary Baker Eddy Library

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2021


    Why did the Library hire an expert handwriting analyst to review the diaries of Eddy's personal secretary?

    57. New religious movements and nineteenth-century revolutions

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2021 25:04


    Find out what scholars mean by the term “new religious movement”—and why the nineteenth century was a dynamic time of religious innovation.

    56. Meet the editors of the Mary Baker Eddy Papers

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2021 27:35


    Find out what we're learning as we publish Eddy's correspondence. As her life and work took on new dimensions, just who was she communicating with—and why?

    55. Muscular Christianity, the YMCA, and Mary Baker Eddy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2021 31:45


    Learn how concern over the weakening of religion in the late 1800s led to an influential movement known as “Muscular Christianity.”

    54. Community and memory in The Mary Baker Eddy Library archives

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2021 22:59


    What is meant by “collective memory”? How do archives preserve it for the communities they serve?

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