The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana

MaryAnn's sabbatical begins in two weeks and two days! We finish out our season of Hope Notes with a preview of her book, Hope: A User's Manual, which comes out in August. Available now for pre-order. Make sure you're subscribed to the podcast and following MaryAnn on YouTube--we will be dropping some bonus goodies this summer as well.Pre-order Hope: A User's Manual from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Bookshop, or wherever you order books. Contact MaryAnn McKibben Dana at maryannmckibbendana.net. Editor and Producer: Caroline Dana

Today, a replay of a Hope Notes conversation from a few months ago in which I talk about art that equips us for hard times. Maybe the hardest of times. Maybe even apocalyptic times.First, we talk about music for the end of the world. Then, a short detour into the book and TV series Station Eleven, which you don't need to have read or seen in order to follow the discussion. Finally, I explore two types of stories, with some superhero examples. Throughout, I draw from an article from Vox.com, “A syllabus for a new world.” Resources mentioned in today's episode:The Music League playlist created by my familyA syllabus for a new worldTed Chiang talks about the two kinds of storiesAnd my personal "syllabus" lately:Everything Everywhere All at OnceMoon KnightValarie Kaur and her Revolutionary Love organizationFirst Nations Version of the New TestamentReasons to Be CheerfulDear Hank and John podcastContact MaryAnn McKibben Dana at maryannmckibbendana.net. Pre-order Hope: A User's ManualEditor and Producer: Caroline Dana

Pre-order HOPE: A User's Manual here or wherever books are available online!~During 2021, I hosted a series of online conversations looking at various works of art and pop culture, with an eye toward what these works have to teach us about hope. What does hope look like during a global pandemic? What tools do we need as we find our way? How do we find the strength to persevere? I called these conversations Hope Notes.Today, we revisit a conversation with my friend Sarah Scherschligt, a Lutheran pastor, climate activist, and author of the upcoming book God Holds You. In honor of Earth Day, we discuss Wall-E, Pixar's masterpiece directed by Andrew Stanton.Contact MaryAnn McKibben Dana at maryannmckibbendana.net. Editor and Producer: Caroline Dana

During 2021, I hosted a series of online conversations looking at various works of art and pop culture, with an eye toward what these works have to teach us about hope. What does hope look like during a global pandemic? What tools do we need as we find our way? How do we find the strength to persevere? I called these conversations Hope Notes.Today, a reflection on tick, tick...BOOM!, last year's biopic of composer Jonathan Larson. The film was directed by Lin Manuel Miranda and stars Andrew Garfield. Contact MaryAnn McKibben Dana at maryannmckibbendana.net. Editor and Producer: Caroline Dana

During 2021, I hosted a series of online conversations looking at various works of art and pop culture, with an eye toward what these works have to teach us about hope. What does hope look like during a global pandemic? What tools do we need as we find our way? How do we find the strength to persevere? I called these conversations Hope Notes.Today, we revisit a conversation with my brother Matthew McKibben about the Lord of the Rings trilogy and make connections between the themes of that story and the war in Ukraine.Resources mentioned in today's episode:Gandalf speaks to FrodoSam's SpeechThe beacons are lit Tim Snyder: Ukrainians are consoling us Alexandra Rowland on hopepunkHopepunk as quintessentially Catholic Contact MaryAnn McKibben Dana at maryannmckibbendana.net. Editor and Producer: Caroline Dana

During 2021, I hosted a series of online conversations looking at various works of art and pop culture, with an eye toward what these works have to teach us about hope. What does hope look like during a global pandemic? What tools do we need as we find our way? How do we find the strength to persevere? I called these conversations Hope Notes.Today we're doing things a little differently! This is an all-in-one-take set of reflections about the movie Free Guy, and what it has to say about the point-ification of modern life, and playing a better game.  Resources mentioned in today's episode:Are We Measuring Our Lives in All the Wrong Ways? Ezra Klein's conversation with C. Thi NguyenContact MaryAnn McKibben Dana at maryannmckibbendana.net. Editor and Producer: Mel Dana

During 2021, I hosted a series of online conversations looking at various works of art and pop culture, with an eye toward what these works have to teach us about hope. What does hope look like during a global pandemic? What tools do we need as we find our way? How do we find the strength to persevere? I called these conversations Hope Notes.Today, we bring you part 2 of my conversation with my friend Derrick Weston about the film Black Panther. Derrick is a writer, podcaster, and filmmaker working at the intersection of food and faith. Hear more from Derrick on the Food and Faith podcast, or through the Stories of Food and Faith website. He and his wife, the Rev. Shannon Weston, and their four kids live outside of Baltimore, MD. Derrick and I spoke over Zoom in February 2021. Resources mentioned in today's episode:Still Processing podcast with Wesley Morris, Jenna Wortham, and Ta-Nehisi Coates about Black PantherWhen Everyone Around You Is Talking About the End, Talk About Black HistoryDr. Tiya Miles's book: All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley's Sack, a Black Family KeepsakeContact MaryAnn McKibben Dana at maryannmckibbendana.net. Editor and Producer: Caroline Dana

During 2021, I hosted a series of online conversations looking at various works of art and pop culture, with an eye toward what these works have to teach us about hope. What does hope look like during a global pandemic? What tools do we need as we find our way? How do we find the strength to persevere? I called these conversations Hope Notes.Today, we bring you part 1 of a conversation with my friend Derrick Weston about the film Black Panther. Derrick is a writer, podcaster, and filmmaker working at the intersection of food and faith. Hear more from Derrick on the Food and Faith podcast, or through the Stories of Food and Faith website. He and his wife, the Rev. Shannon Weston, and their four kids live outside of Baltimore, MD. Derrick and I spoke over Zoom in February 2021. Contact MaryAnn McKibben Dana at maryannmckibbendana.net. Editor and Producer: Caroline Dana

During 2021, I hosted a series of online conversations looking at various works of art and pop culture, with an eye toward what these works have to teach us about hope. What does hope look like during a global pandemic? What tools do we need as we find our way? How do we find the strength to persevere? I called these conversations Hope Notes.Here's an excerpt from the first Hope Notes, looking at Laura Ingalls Wilder's novel The Long Winter.This is our inaugural podcast! We're learning and adapting as we go and value your feedback. Contact MaryAnn McKibben Dana at maryannmckibbendana.net. Editor and Producer: Caroline Dana