Podcast appearances and mentions of Ben Ratliff

Ben Ratliff is a former New York Times music critic, a writing professor at NYU, and the author of Run the Song: Writing About Running About Listening, longlisted for the National Book Award and named a finalist for the PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay, which chronicles what he hears when he brings music into his near-daily runs through the Bronx. In this conversation, Zoë and Brendan talk with Ratliff about why running made him a better listener, and why the optimal-BPM running playlist is, by his lights, beside the point. He makes the case for listening as active attention rather than ambient wallpaper, explains why some of the slowest and quietest music turns out to be the most enlivening to run to, and pushes back on the idea that "good taste" is something you can buy. Along the way: defamiliarizing a song until it sounds brand new, the strange kinship between a long run and a long DJ set, and how a career critic ends up running to everything from jazz to Ice Spice. This episode is brought to you by Running Warehouse, where Zoë gets basically all her summer running gear, vests, socks, hats, shirts, and a frankly irresponsible number of gels, with fast shipping and a return policy run by actual humans. This week's featured race is the FCA Endurance Race in Oakwood, Georgia — a choose-your-own-adventure event on a flat, one-mile paved loop around the University of North Georgia's Oakwood campus. Pick your distance: a 5K, a 10K that detours onto dirt and a stretch of cross-country trail, or a timed race of two, four, six, twelve, or twenty-four hours, with some durations offering a 6 p.m. start so you can run straight into the night. It all happens Saturday, June 6, 2026, and registration stays open right through race day. Sign up at UltraSignup.com. The Trailhead is part of the UltraSignup Podcast Network.

What is a Presbyterian? Is Presbyterianism merely a style of church government, or is it a coherent biblical and theological system? In this episode we welcome Matthew Adams and Ben Ratliff for a lively conversation on Presbyterian identity, church government, and why polity still matters. The discussion begins with Matt Adams's article, "Grassroots Presbyterianism ≠ Congregationalism," and expands into a broader exploration of Presbyterian ecclesiology. Along the way, the panel considers plurality and parity of elders, the role of presbyteries and general assemblies, the importance of connectionalism, and the ways accountability serves the peace, purity, and unity of the church. They also reflect on differences in ecclesial culture among the PCA, OPC, and URCNA, discuss overtures and church courts, and offer practical encouragement for ordinary church members who want to be active, faithful Presbyterians in their local congregations. Matthew Adams serves as Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Dillon, South Carolina. A native of Dillon County, he holds a B.A. in Religious Studies and Christian Counseling from Liberty University and an M.Div. from Erskine Theological Seminary, and he is pursuing doctoral studies at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte. In addition to his pastoral ministry, Adams serves as a council member for the Gospel Reformation Network and co-hosts the podcast Larger for Life. Ben Ratliff serves as Associate Pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, Mississippi. A native of Jackson, Mississippi, he earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Belhaven University and graduated from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson in 2013. Before coming to Cleveland, he served at Providence PCA in Salisbury, Maryland, and later at churches in south Mississippi. Ratliff is also a co-host of the podcast Polity Matters, where helps lead conversations on Presbyterian polity and church government. Watch on YouTube Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:49 Why Presbyterian government matters 03:12 Grassroots Presbyterianism is not congregationalism 08:56 Why the confusion persists 11:02 Different Presbyterian cultures: PCA, OPC, and URCNA 14:25 Overtures, church courts, and how change happens 22:27 What Presbyterianism is 25:50 Plurality, parity, and connectionalism 32:48 Accountability, freedom, and the well-being of the church 39:27 How church members can participate 48:36 Polity Matters, Larger for Life, and final thoughts Participants: Ben Ratliff, Camden Bucey, Matt Adams

What is a Presbyterian? Is Presbyterianism merely a style of church government, or is it a coherent biblical and theological system? In this episode we welcome Matthew Adams and Ben Ratliff for a lively conversation on Presbyterian identity, church government, and why polity still matters. The discussion begins with Matt Adams's article, "Grassroots Presbyterianism ≠ Congregationalism," and expands into a broader exploration of Presbyterian ecclesiology. Along the way, the panel considers plurality and parity of elders, the role of presbyteries and general assemblies, the importance of connectionalism, and the ways accountability serves the peace, purity, and unity of the church. They also reflect on differences in ecclesial culture among the PCA, OPC, and URCNA, discuss overtures and church courts, and offer practical encouragement for ordinary church members who want to be active, faithful Presbyterians in their local congregations. Matthew Adams serves as Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Dillon, South Carolina. A native of Dillon County, he holds a B.A. in Religious Studies and Christian Counseling from Liberty University and an M.Div. from Erskine Theological Seminary, and he is pursuing doctoral studies at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte. In addition to his pastoral ministry, Adams serves as a council member for the Gospel Reformation Network and co-hosts the podcast Larger for Life. Ben Ratliff serves as Associate Pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, Mississippi. A native of Jackson, Mississippi, he earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Belhaven University and graduated from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson in 2013. Before coming to Cleveland, he served at Providence PCA in Salisbury, Maryland, and later at churches in south Mississippi. Ratliff is also a co-host of the podcast Polity Matters, where helps lead conversations on Presbyterian polity and church government. Watch on YouTube Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:49 Why Presbyterian government matters 03:12 Grassroots Presbyterianism is not congregationalism 08:56 Why the confusion persists 11:02 Different Presbyterian cultures: PCA, OPC, and URCNA 14:25 Overtures, church courts, and how change happens 22:27 What Presbyterianism is 25:50 Plurality, parity, and connectionalism 32:48 Accountability, freedom, and the well-being of the church 39:27 How church members can participate 48:36 Polity Matters, Larger for Life, and final thoughts Participants: Ben Ratliff, Camden Bucey, Matt Adams

Ben Ratliff is the author of Every Song Ever and Coltrane: The Story of a Sound, which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Run the Song: Writing About Running About Listening (Graywolf Press, 2025) was longlisted for the National Book Award, and the 2026 PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay. A former music critic for the New York Times, he lives in New York City and teaches at NYU. Listening Recommendations: Cara Lise Coverdale, A Series of Actions in A Sphere of Forever Ishmael Rivera, Lo Ultimo in La Avenida Book Recommendations: Solvej Balle, On the Calculation of Volume 1-3 Samuel R Delaney, The Motion of Light and Water Chris Holmes is Chair of Literatures in English and Professor at Ithaca College. He writes criticism on contemporary global literatures. His book, Kazuo Ishiguro Against World Literature, is published with Bloomsbury Publishing. He is the co-director of The New Voices Festival, a celebration of work in poetry, prose, and playwriting by up-and-coming young writers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Ratliff is the author of Every Song Ever and Coltrane: The Story of a Sound, which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Run the Song: Writing About Running About Listening (Graywolf Press, 2025) was longlisted for the National Book Award, and the 2026 PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay. A former music critic for the New York Times, he lives in New York City and teaches at NYU. Listening Recommendations: Cara Lise Coverdale, A Series of Actions in A Sphere of Forever Ishmael Rivera, Lo Ultimo in La Avenida Book Recommendations: Solvej Balle, On the Calculation of Volume 1-3 Samuel R Delaney, The Motion of Light and Water Chris Holmes is Chair of Literatures in English and Professor at Ithaca College. He writes criticism on contemporary global literatures. His book, Kazuo Ishiguro Against World Literature, is published with Bloomsbury Publishing. He is the co-director of The New Voices Festival, a celebration of work in poetry, prose, and playwriting by up-and-coming young writers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Ben Ratliff is the author of Every Song Ever and Coltrane: The Story of a Sound, which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Run the Song: Writing About Running About Listening (Graywolf Press, 2025) was longlisted for the National Book Award, and the 2026 PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay. A former music critic for the New York Times, he lives in New York City and teaches at NYU. Listening Recommendations: Cara Lise Coverdale, A Series of Actions in A Sphere of Forever Ishmael Rivera, Lo Ultimo in La Avenida Book Recommendations: Solvej Balle, On the Calculation of Volume 1-3 Samuel R Delaney, The Motion of Light and Water Chris Holmes is Chair of Literatures in English and Professor at Ithaca College. He writes criticism on contemporary global literatures. His book, Kazuo Ishiguro Against World Literature, is published with Bloomsbury Publishing. He is the co-director of The New Voices Festival, a celebration of work in poetry, prose, and playwriting by up-and-coming young writers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography

Ben Ratliff is the author of Every Song Ever and Coltrane: The Story of a Sound, which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Run the Song: Writing About Running About Listening (Graywolf Press, 2025) was longlisted for the National Book Award, and the 2026 PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay. A former music critic for the New York Times, he lives in New York City and teaches at NYU. Listening Recommendations: Cara Lise Coverdale, A Series of Actions in A Sphere of Forever Ishmael Rivera, Lo Ultimo in La Avenida Book Recommendations: Solvej Balle, On the Calculation of Volume 1-3 Samuel R Delaney, The Motion of Light and Water Chris Holmes is Chair of Literatures in English and Professor at Ithaca College. He writes criticism on contemporary global literatures. His book, Kazuo Ishiguro Against World Literature, is published with Bloomsbury Publishing. He is the co-director of The New Voices Festival, a celebration of work in poetry, prose, and playwriting by up-and-coming young writers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/music

A classically trained guitarist who studied composition at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, Manhattan native Ben Greenberg is a prolific record producer, engineer, songwriter, and performer who coheres conservatory training with a deep history across many different genres of underground music.Known as a founding member of respected industrial/metal group Uniform and a former member of The Men, Zs, and many more, Greenberg has been described by Ben Ratliff of the New York Times as “a good musician [...] and boss of his own one-man guitar project, Hubble.” Ben's rich and varied performance history ranges from over two decades touring with bands to performing for legendary composers like Glenn Branca and Terry Riley.In the year 2000 Greenberg began assisting Grammy-award winning engineer Mike Marciano at Systems Two Recording in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn. It was here that he learned the fundamentals of recording on 2” tape alongside early Pro Tools systems. He would go on to build his own recording studio in Brooklyn (Python Patrol) and work out of world-class studios all around the globe (Electrical Audio, The Magic Shop, Strange Weather, The Pool, Sonic Ranch). Greenberg's studio credits include Danny Elfman, Depeche Mode, Drab Majesty, Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, Junglepussy, Show Me The Body, Drew McDowall, Black Marble, and Christeene, among many others. His process attends to the essence of the artist's vision and exacts a cultivated philosophy of sound upon them. The result is something between organic and synthetic: A magic that locks in the music's emotional resonance with the listener.Since the 2010s, Greenberg has produced and mixed award-winning scores for film and television. He is the principal engineer to the scores of composer Brian McComber (ex-Dirty Projectors), including the A24 productions It Comes At Night and Krisha, as well as Kingdom of Silence (Showtime), 16 Shots (Showtime), Little Woods (Neon), Mickey and The Bear (Utopia), and Fair Play (Netflix), among others. Greenberg was Randall Dunn's mix assistant for the Jóhann Jóhannsson score to Panos Cosmatos' 2018 film, Mandy (SpectreVision), and Dunn's co-engineer for the 2022 score to Julio Torres' Problemista (A24). Greenberg has also mixed Ella Van Der Woude's scores for Something You Said Last Night (Elevation Pictures) and Silver Haze (EMU Films), and in 2024 he won a Cinema Audio Society award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing - Documentary, for his stereo and surround mixes of JD Samson's score for Sam Green's 32 Sounds (DofMP).IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:Starting music production at a young ageFinding jobs in the music industryDealing with parents who might not understand your passionsWorking on metal, jazz, and everything in betweenSwitching your workflow for different genresUnderstanding what to listen for with compressionHow to approach a new mixWhy volume and panning are your most important toolsDetermining when plugins are worth purchasing Working with Danny ElfmanPurposely doing lessTo learn more about Ben Greenberg, visit: https://circularruin.com/Ben-GreenbergLooking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions?For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint:

“Out quickly and on the move” — so begins a bracing new book by Ben Ratliff, the brilliant music critic and scholar. It’s titled Run the Song: Writing About Running About Listening, and it follows Ratliff’s thoughtful line of inquiry as he brings music into his daily running practice. His guiding concern is the way that movement sharpens his perceptions: “Running and listening can illuminate each other,” he writes. In this episode, recorded in front of an audience at Solar Myth, Ratliff talks about this and other ideas in conversation with Nate Chinen, a friend and former colleague at the New York Times. Follow WRTI: https://www.instagram.com/wrtimusichttps://www.facebook.com/WRTImusic https://www.youtube.com/WRTImusicSupport WRTI: https://bit.ly/2yAkaJsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textHere's Scott's recent appearance on the podcast "Especially the Preaching" with Rev. Ben Ratliff. Enjoy!Especially the PreachingSupport the show

In this conversation, Scandalous interviews The Tasty Riff, a passionate metal music enthusiast and content creator. They discuss their love for heavy music, their experiences at metal festivals, and the power of music to bring people together. The Tasty Riff shares his journey as a music fan and how he found his purpose in spreading the heavy metal message. They also talk about the importance of embracing one's true self and the magic of music. The conversation is filled with positivity, enthusiasm, and a shared love for the metal community.Follow @ScandalousOfficial

PCA pastors Jared Nelson, Ben Ratliff, and Scott Edburg of the Polity Matters podcast join us to preview the major issues and overtures of the upcoming 2024 General Assembly beginning June 10 in Richmond, VA.  Here's their helpful document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rIdZcf82NYJb4QZoQK67BMp0R5bzM3-8ZJfDX0wJ_T4/edit Here's the official list of overtures: https://pcaga.org/resources/#overtures

Preliminary! Principles! Preliminary Principles! No, really...we discuss the foundations of PCA church government, the limits on church power, and the rights of church members with Jared Nelson and Ben Ratliff of the Polity Matters podcast. Presbygirl Zoe fills in for Wresby as co-host.  Watch: https://youtu.be/jNw9tRMocRY

Pastors and purveyors of PCA polity Scott Edburg, Jared Nelson, and Ben Ratliff join us to explain their new podcast "Polity Matters" and why the show subject (presbyterian church government) is worth hundreds of hours of talk time.  Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mzv1PhgPCWQ&t=1s

In this episode we celebrate the incredible musical legacy of saxophonist, composer and bandleader Wayne Shorter, born August 25, 1933 in Newark New Jersey and passed away March 2, 2023. My special guest is Alex Acuña, a prolific drummer, percussionist, composer, and bandleader who has amassed more 900 recording credits. (its probably more now) After touring with Perez Prado during the 1960s and playing with Elvis Presley in Las Vegas in the early '70s -  In 1974, Acuña and his family moved to Las Vegas. He continued working with Prado's show band, and played for Elvis Presley's Las Vegas residencies in addition to serving in backing bands and orchestras for Olivia Newton John and the Temptations. Drummer/percussionist Don Alias heard him with the latter and suggested he try playing jazz. Alias arranged an audition with Weather Report and Acuña joined that band for their 1975 tour. He moved to Los Angeles and played on the band's two most successful studio outings, Black Market and Heavy Weather, and he toured with the group until 1978. During his tenure, Weather Report backed Joni Mitchell on Don Juan's Reckless Daughter. He has been a recording and touring sideman to a dazzling array of artists ranging from Paul McCartney and Joni Mitchell to Andre Crouch and Blondie.The stellar & diverse list of artists Alex has worked with seems never ending, the word prolific is an understatement. Wayne Shorter was a saxophonist, bandleader and composer. His compositions became jazz standards and he received worldwide recognition and critical praise.  Wayne Shorter won 12 Grammy Awards. His mastery of the soprano saxophone earned him (beginning in 1970) Down Beat's annual poll-winner on that instrument… winning the critics' poll for 10 consecutive years and the readers' poll for 18 years.  The New York Times music critic Ben Ratliff described Shorter in 2008 as "probably jazz's greatest living small-group composer and a contender for greatest living improviser". Via Wayne Shorter, We Love You! Source: https://drummerworld.com/drummers/Alex_Acuna.htmlSource: https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/alex-acuna/Host Maggie LePique, a radio veteran since the 1980's at NPR in Kansas City Mo. She began her radio career in Los Angeles in the early 1990's and has worked for Pacifica station KPFK Radio in Los Angeles since 1994.Support the show

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A Christmas day sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

Baby Dodds & Live at the Village VanguardPaul Motian's jazz influences and childhood stories. With readings by Ben Ratliff. Motian's band playing live at the Village Vanguard with Joe Lovano, Bill Frisell, Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, Chris Potter, Masabumi Kikuchi and more.Set List: https://jazzcloset.blogspot.com/2022/08/baby-dodds-live-at-village-vanguard.htmlPhoto: Baby Dodds courtesy Folkways Records

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon preached by Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church.

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Cleveland Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Cleveland Church in Cleveland, MS. 

durée : 00:55:01 - John Coltrane "My Favorite Things" spéciale avec Thomas de Pourquery et Laurent Bardainne - par : Alex Dutilh - Évènement ! Sortie aujourd'hui chez Atlantic/Warner, en deux versions remasterisées, stéréo et mono, de l'album “My Favorite Things”, le chef d'œuvre de John Coltrane en 1960. Double vinyle ou double CD, agrémentés d'un livret remarquable de Ben Ratliff, de témoignages et de photos inédites. - réalisé par : Fabien Fleurat

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS. 

A sermon by Rev. Ben Ratliff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS.