Working Title

We're excited to share this one with you. It's an episode we're posting over on our Neighborhood Church podcast feed as well. We hope it means something to you. 

Norman Wirzba is a professor at Duke University. He pursues research and teaching interests at the intersections of theology, philosophy, ecology, and agrarian and environmental studies. He lectures frequently in Canada, the United States, and Europe. In particular, his research is centered on a recovery of the doctrine of creation and a restatement of humanity in terms of its creaturely life. Professor Wirzba has published several books, including The Paradise of God: Renewing Religion in an Ecological Age, Living the Sabbath: Discovering the Rhythms of Rest and Delight, Way of Love: Recovering the Heart of Christianity, From Nature to Creation: A Christian Vision for Understanding and Loving Our World, Food and Faith: A Theology of Eating (in its 2nd Edition), and (with Fred Bahnson) Making Peace with the Land: God’s Call to Reconcile with Creation. He also has edited several books, including The Essential Agrarian Reader: The Future of Culture, Community, and the Land and The Art of the Commonplace: The Agrarian Essays of Wendell Berry.

K.J. Ramsey (BA, Covenant College, MA, Denver Seminary) is a licensed professional counselor, writer, and recovering idealist who believes sorrow and joy coexist. She is the author of This Too Shall Last: Finding Grace When Suffering Lingers, and her writing has been published in Christianity Today, RELEVANT, The Huffington Post, Fathom Magazine, Health Central, and more on the integration of theology, psychology, and spiritual formation. She and her husband live in Denver, Colorado. Follow K.J.'s writing at kjramsey.com and across social media at @kjramseywrites.

As season one comes to an end, we reflect on the process of starting the podcast, our favorite moments from each guest, and what's coming next season. Thanks for listening. 

David Docusen is one of the most important people in our lives. In this episode we talk to him about a major transition he's walking into as he steps down from the church he started ten years ago and into whatever is next. It's our hope that as you listen and identify with David's story of vocational wrestling, you'll open yourself to all the new things God might be trying to do. 

Beth Alexandroff is a comedy writer/performer from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She has been a staple at UCB in Los Angeles since 2011 and has written/directed several of her own projects. 

Brandon Sheard is a butcher that started Farmstead Meatsmith in September of 2010 on an island in Washington (state).  Farmstead Meatsmith proudly claims methods seeped in tradition. They believe the most beautiful goods and services are the results of extra labor, commitment to humble tools and resistance to the compromises of modernity.  In this way, Farmstead Meatsmith has indeed surrendered to harvesting animals with patience. The result is a fall into tradition where none of the animal is disposable, “trim” is exalted to the central place on the table and “off-cuts” become one thing you want on your plate.  They are driven by principle and guided by time-honored practices, and delighted to discover that it tastes better that way.  

Tolik Piflaks is a fascinating (and prolific) comedy writer who lives and works in Israel. He's one of the funniest people we know. This call unknowingly cost us $179.00. PLEASE enjoy it. Please. 

Logan Cyrus is a photojournalist based in Charlotte, North Carolina. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, Washington Post, ESPN, and hundreds of other publications. He is phenomenally talented and one of our favorite people in the world. We hope you enjoy this conversation. 

Jonathan Martin is the lead pastor of The Table OKC. He's a preacher, the author of How to Survive a Shipwreck & Prototype, and the host of Son of a Preacher Man podcast. He's someone who has meant a great deal to us. If you don't know Jonathan, you need to.  

This is an absolute dream episode with someone we deeply admire and love. We were very tempted to title this episode "James Ford (Future President of the United States)".  James E. Ford is an award-winning educator and consultant on issues of equity in education. He was recently appointed by Gov. Cooper to serve as a member of the North Carolina State Board of Education, representing the Southwest Region. He is the former Program Director at the Public School Forum of North Carolina, an education think-tank and policy advocacy organization. Prior to this, he served as the 2014-15 North Carolina Teacher of the Year and the representative for 95,000 public school teachers throughout the state. For a full year, he traveled the state and country speaking before thousands of teachers, students, business leaders and policymakers about the importance of education. In Spring 2015, He, along with 54 other state teachers were invited to the White House to be honored by President Obama in the Rose Garden during Teacher Appreciation Week. Ford taught World History at Garinger High School in Charlotte, NC starting in 2010. He is a civic leader in Charlotte, serving as the co-chair for the Leading on Opportunity Council, an effort change the systemic barriers to economic mobility in the city. He also is the Principal at Filling the Gap Educational Consultants, LLC. We know you're going to love this episode.

Andy Smith is an arts writer in Charlotte and a great friend of ours. This is the very first podcast we recorded. We hope you love it. 

Dr. Chris Green is a professor, author, preacher, and artist. He's been a very important voice in our lives. We hope this wide-ranging conversation means as much to you as it did to us. 

Tim Grant is an Emmy Award winning director and producer based in Los Angeles, California. Self-taught, Tim has produced and directed films that have premiered at Sundance, screened at dozens of film festivals across North America including SxSW, and sold to HBO and Netflix. Tim co-produced 'Finders Keepers', a film he helped complete after production had stalled for three years. 'Finders Keepers' premiered at the 2015 Sundance film festival and gained universal critical acclaim. It would go on to SxSW, Hot Docs, and Traverse City, where it won 'best comedy'. ‘Finders Keepers' is currently playing on Netflix. Tim produced J. Cole’s ‘4 Your Eyez Only’ and 'J. Cole Forest Hills Drive: Homecoming’, both upon completion were acquired by HBO and have been well received by critics and fans alike. Tim currently lives in Los Angeles, California where he develops, produces, and directs documentary feature films, TV shows and docu-style commercials.

Rickey Cotton has been a teacher for over 40 years. He recently retired after teaching literature, creative writing, and spirituality for 31 years at Southeastern University. He is a deeply significant person in Joseph's life (serving currently as his spiritual director and formerly as his professor). This conversation shows the magic of Rickey Cotton and we hope it inspires you.

For the first episode of Working Title, we're thrilled to share this conversation with Brian Zahnd with you. He's a pastor, author, outdoors-lover, Bob Dylan fan, and so much more. Don't miss his story at the end. Trust us.