Speaking with Joy

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Make yourself comfortable with a cup of tea to discuss art, culture, character, and Scotland with Joy Clarkson. Johann Wolfgan von Geothe once said, “One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words.…

Joy Clarkson


    • Nov 1, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 41m AVG DURATION
    • 152 EPISODES

    4.9 from 556 ratings Listeners of Speaking with Joy that love the show mention: listening to joy, sally clarkson, joy's, artsy, music and art, always leaves me feeling, thank you joy, winsome, think deeply, jane eyre, love joy, crisp, feast, literature, littles, young woman, beauty, cup of tea, feeling inspired, enriching.



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    Latest episodes from Speaking with Joy

    The Lost Birds, with Christopher Tin

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2022 63:14


    A Conversation with Christopher Tin about extinction elegies, species loss, hope, and his new album with choral group Voces8.

    Klara and the Sun, Parts 5 & 6

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2022 61:16


    Joy concludes the summer book club on Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro, discussing part five with Sarah Clarkson, and reflecting on the final section herself. 

    Klara and the Sun, Part Four

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2022 70:26


    Joy discusses Part Four of Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro with Michael Burdett and King-Ho Leung. 

    Klara and the Sun, Part Three

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2022 73:41


    Joy discusses Part Three of Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro with James Smoker.

    Klara and the Sun, Part Two

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2022 50:39


    Joy discusses Part Two of Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro with Doctors Sarah and Jeremiah Coogan.

    Klara and the Sun, Part One

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2022 27:02


    Joy announces the book for her summer reading club (Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro), and discusses the first chapter.

    Beauty and Her Sisters, with Ben Quash

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2022 51:40


    Joy speaks with Professor Ben Quash about the Swiss theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar, theological aesthetics, and the Visual Commentary on Scripture.

    Imagining Our Neighbours, Mary McCampbell

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2022 51:17


    Joy speaks with Mary McCampbell (who examined her PhD!) about how literature can help us cultivate empathy toward our neighbours, near and far.

    Expect the End of the World with Paul Kingsnorth

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2022 55:39


    Joy speaks with Paul Kingsnorth, a man who has been many things in his life: a poet, an eco-activist, and eco-pessimist, a warlock, and most recently, an Eastern Orthodox christian.

    Accept Love with John Swinton

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2022 39:13


    After a brief break to recover from Covid, Joy shares an interview with John Swinton where they speak about God's gentle, slow love, and how we should share that love with each other.

    Shakeshafte and Other Plays with Rowan Williams

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2022 54:39


    Joy speaks with Rowan Williams about his new (and first) collection of plays, the power of words, and the art of David Jones.

    Be Like Mr Collins with Haley Stewart

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2022 47:29


    Joy speaks with Haley Stewart about how Jane Austen's much maligned clergyman Mr Collins knows the secrets to an aggressively happy life.

    Tell Yourself a Good Story with Casey Fritz

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2022 47:18


    Joy speaks with Children's book author and illustrator Casey Fritz about the parables of Jesus, the power of storytelling, the place of horror, and the way ET demonstrate the gospel. 

    Enjoy Things Unironically with Boze Herrington

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2022 50:07


    Joy speaks with Boze about guilty pleasures, BTS, the importance of wonder, and the power of enjoying things unironically.

    Remember You Have a Body with Jenna Reed

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2022 61:49


    Joy speaks with Jenna Reed about why we forget we have bodies and what we lose when we do, the similarities between Manichaeism and the Netflix reality TV show Love is Blind, and gentle steps we can take toward a more integrated life.

    Dante's Christian Ethics with George Corbett

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2022 46:26


    Joy speaks with George Corbett about Dante Alighieri's medieval literary masterpiece, the Comedia, and what it has to teach us about the search for direction in the dark wood of life and what it means to be human.

    Flounder Well

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2022 42:27


    What do you do when you don't know what to do? When life is perplexing and no paths seem to lead anywhere? Joy discusses bewildering seasons through some of her favourite floundering art: a poem by Malcolm Guite, a song by Henry Jamison, a children's book by Barbara Cooney, and a movie with Harrison Ford and Julia Ormond. 

    Befriend Sadness with Sally Clarkson

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2022 28:06


    Joy talks with her mother Sally Clarkson about how sadness doesn't make us bad Christians, how to find light in dark seasons, and how to accompany others through sorrow. 

    Befriend Sadness

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2022 47:21


    Joy explores the theme of good grief through the journals of CS Lewis and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the swan song of Mozart, and the Irish animated film Song of the Sea.

    Christopher Tin, Everything Under the Sun in Tune

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2022 50:01


    Joy talks with two time Grammy Award winning artist Christopher Tin about synecdoche, video games, the moon landing, Pink Floyd, and why music delights us.

    Aggressively Happy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2022 45:44


    Joy reads the introduction to her new book, ponders the cultivation of joy in a weary and cynical world, and announces plans for the next ten weeks of episodes. 

    Youngest Siblings Rule the World (and other important truths), with Nathan Clarkson

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2021 36:21


    Joy talks with her brother Nathan about the children's book they wrote together (The Clubhouse), how imagination and creativity reflect the image of God, and why youngest siblings are the best (just kidding... or are they?).

    How to Read Really Long Books! (with Sarah Clarkson)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2021 49:58


    In this episode, Joy talks with her sister Sarah about how (and why) to read really long books, and why reading good books is good for the soul.

    Annunciations of one sort or another...

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2021 59:28


    Joy talks with Joel (her composer brother) about advent carols, and then reflects on two works of art about the the annunciation: a poem by Denise Levertov and a painting by Henry Ossawa Tanner. 

    Tea with (Dr) Joy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 22:19


    Joy sits down with a cup of tea to talk about finishing her PhD, writing a book, starting a new job, and what's next for the podcast.

    Part Six: Matthew Rose Sorensen

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2021 27:59


    Joy reflects on the final chapter of Piranesi. 

    Part Six: The Wave (with Leah Libresco Sargeant and Caitrin Keiper)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2021 50:29


    When the man called Piranesi realizes that 16 is in danger he makes up his mind to save her from the devastating flood. Joy talks with Leah Libresco Sargeant and Caitrin Keiper about Part Six of Piranesi by Susanna Clarke.

    Part Five: Valentine Ketterley (with Haley Stewart)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2021 42:06


    This week we open a window into Matthew Rose Sorensen's past, and what we see is more horrible than we could have imagined. Joy talks with Haley Stewart about enchantment, memory, and anti-horror novels in part five of Piranesi by Susanna Clarke.

    Part Four: 16 (with Matthew Rothaus Moser)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2021 42:33


    Piranesi learns something that changes everything: his real name. Joy and Dr Matthew Rothaus Moser talk about names, disenchantment, and loneliness in Part Four of Susanna Clarke's novel Piranesi. 

    Part Three: The Prophet (with the Crouches!)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2021 57:48


    Joy hosts a family discussion with Andy, Amy, and Timothy Crouch about Part Three of Piranesi. Their conversation touches on the wicked Prophet, self-care, naïveté, knowledge, innocence, and swan bones.

    Part Two: The Other (with Malcolm Guite)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2021 37:04


    Joy talks with Malcolm Guite about his friendship with Susanna Clarke, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and whether we live in an enchanted universe (like Piranesi's). 

    Part One: Piranesi (Summer Book Club)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2021 39:32


    After a seven month hiatus, the podcast is back! Joy speaks with her brother Joel about part one of Susanna Clarke's intriguing novel Piranesi, and then gives a literary and thematic introduction to the book.

    A Christmas Carol

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2020 35:44


    A special Christmas episode in which Joy's reflects on her yearly reading of Charles Dickens excellent novella A Christmas Carol.

    Shadow and Light

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2020 35:59


    Joy talks with Tsh Oxenreider about how to make the season of advent cozy and meaningful. 

    Tolkien's Bookshelves

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2020 42:43


    Have you ever wondered what books were on Tolkien's bookshelves? In this episode, Joy talks with Holly Ordway about her new book Tolkien's Modern Reading.

    Sacred Strings

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2020 36:18


    Joy talks with anthropologist Sabine Hyland about her adventures in the Andes, her decipherment of the lost meaning of khipus, and how life is more than money.

    Remembered and Remembering

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2020 27:38


    Joy talks with Professor John Swinton about theology, disability, and dementia. God never forgets anybody, and it is the church's job to remind us we are remembered. 

    Bookish, Wise, and Tranquil

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2020 45:01


    Joy talks with Dr Alan Jacobs about how reading old books can make us wise and tranquil.

    An Exercise in Hope

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2020 38:27


    Joy talks with Dr Esau McCaulley about his new book Reading While Black, his desire to give his children the gift of joy in a fearful world, and their mutual passion for gospel music. 

    Good Conversations (with my mom)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2020 38:59


    A good conversation is one of life's greatest pleasures. Joy kicks off a series of conversational episodes by chatting with her mother about education as conversation, Christ as conversation partner, and the importance of honouring the voice of others.

    Reading with Joy — Wrinkle in Time, Chapter Twelve, featuring Charlotte Jones Voiklis

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2020 53:21


    In this finale episode, Joy talks with Charlotte Jones Voiklis, the granddaughter of Madeleine L'Engle. They discuss how love calls us out of safety and into the fight for light.  

    reading wrinkle in time charlotte jones voiklis
    Reading with Joy — Wrinkle in Time, Chapter Eleven

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2020 32:41


    In this episode Joy talks with Elena Trueba about the difference between perception and vision, expensive candles, and the importance of treating people like special cupcakes and not uniform muffins.

    Reading with Joy— Wrinkle in Time, Chapter Ten

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2020 41:48


    Joy and Boze Herrington discuss chapter ten of Wrinkle in Time, and the importance of children's books for helping us feel at home in the world.

    Reading with Joy — Wrinkle in Time, Chapter Nine

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2020 43:30


    In this episode, Joy and Dr. Matthew Rothaus Moser discuss the symbolism of Mrs Who's glasses and the innate horror regarding obscenely large disembodied brains.

    Reading with Joy — Wrinkle in Time, Chapter Eight

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2020 24:47


    Joy and Brandee Knowles (cook extraordinaire!) discuss chapter eight of Wrinkle in time, living into our bravery, and the necessity of pain.

    Reading with Joy— Wrinkle in Time, Chapter Seven

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2020 58:06


    In this episode, Joy and L'Engle biographer Sarah Arthur discuss chapter seven, the creepiness of CENTRAL, the importance of names, and the insufficiencies of the intellect.

    Reading with Joy — Wrinkle in Time, Chapter Six

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2020 32:50


    In this episode, Joy and her mother Sally Clarkson explore chapter six of Wrinkle in Time. They discuss how the ways we narrate our stories shape the way we live them, the violence of conformity, and Sally's new book Awaking Wonder.

    Reading with Joy— Wrinkle in Time, Chapter Five

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2020 43:23


    In this episode Joy and Sarah Clarkson ponder over the fourth dimension, proclaim the power of sorrow, and speculate about whether the Mrs. W's are angels. 

    Reading with Joy — Wrinkle in Time, Chapter Four

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2020 37:21


    On this episode, Joy and Sarah Cozart discuss white flowers, The Dark Thing, and the strength of beauty

    Reading with Joy— Wrinkle in Time, Chapter Three

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2020 35:22


    On this week's episode Joy and Kaitlin Schiess discuss belonging, familiarity, and the 'making strange' of fantasy stories. Tune in and then chime in on this week's discussion.

    Reading with Joy — Wrinkle in Time, Chapter Two

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2020 37:27


    Today we discuss chapter two. Joining me for today’s episode, Haley Stewart and I discussed the way someone we hardly know can fee like home, quantum entanglement, the spiritual discernment of pets, and, as ever, the excellencies of Mrs. Murray.

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