American writer of essays, fiction and poetry
 
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Though we live in a beautiful world, we don't have to look far to see that creation is groaning. And much of this groaning is under the weight of our sinful desires and actions. How can we as Christians be a force for the substantial healing of our sin stained world and become a blessing to Creation? This lecture will explore how the agrarian philosophy of Wendell Berry can help form us into the kind of stewards that creation longs for, and that God intended us to be, through the lens of Berry's most famous line of poetry: “Practice resurrection”.Please note that the ideas expressed in this lecture do not necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship.For more resources, visit the L'Abri Ideas Library at labriideaslibrary.org. The library contains over two thousand lectures and discussions that explore questions about the reality and relevance of Christianity. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit englishlabri.substack.com
In this episode of Thinking Out Loud, Nathan and Cameron dive deep into a rich theological discussion on globalization, nationalism, and the Christian's calling in a hyper-connected yet fractured world. Through the lens of American farm policy, overproduction, and the global soybean market, they explore how shifting trade dynamics, political realignments, and cultural homogenization reveal both the power and fragility of modern systems. Drawing on biblical wisdom and thinkers like Wendell Berry and Marshall McLuhan, Nathan and Cameron challenge Christians to discern where their true responsibilities lie—between interest, concern, and focus—and to reclaim a distinctly Christian vision of diversity, culture, and stewardship amid global uncertainty. This conversation is perfect for believers seeking thoughtful, gospel-centered insight into current events and how faith shapes our engagement with economics, culture, and identity.DONATE LINK: https://toltogether.com/donate BOOK A SPEAKER: https://toltogether.com/book-a-speakerJOIN TOL CONNECT: https://toltogether.com/tol-connect TOL Connect is an online forum where TOL listeners can continue the conversation begun on the podcast.
In today's poem Berry draws King Lear into his sabbath reflections. Happy reading. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe
“The concept that sits right at the heart of a sane and meaningful life,” writes Oliver Burkeman “is something like aliveness.” In this conversation we explore what it is to attend to aliveness, how we might come to notice its presence, and consider steps any of us can take to cultivate it. And we talk about how vital this is in an age where we may find ourselves encouraged in many places to become part of an algorithm - to act in life as if we were machines rather than creative beings who are part of a vast and inherently creative universe. This week's conversation is hosted, as always, by Lizzie Winn and Justin Wise of Thirdspace. Episode Overview 00:00 Introduction 03:03 Exploring Aliveness: A Central Theme 05:54 Navigating by Aliveness: Insights and Reflections 09:10 The Distinction Between Aliveness and Happiness 11:59 Embracing the Full Spectrum of Human Experience 14:52 Creatures of Creation: Our Relationship with Life 17:55 Intimacy with Existence: The Heart of Aliveness 20:56 The Cost of Control: Reconnecting with Aliveness 27:13 The Dance of Control and Aliveness 30:01 Curiosity as a Pathway to Freedom 33:04 The Nature of Care and Connection Here's our source for this week: The Path of Aliveness The concept that sits right at the heart of a sane and meaningful life, I'm increasingly convinced, is something like aliveness. It goes by other names, too, none of which quite nail it – but it's the one thing that, so long as you navigate by it, you'll never go too far wrong. Sometimes it feels like a subtle electrical charge behind what's happening, or a mildly heightened sense of clarity, or sometimes like nothing I can put into words at all. I freely concede it's a hopelessly unscientific idea. But I'm pretty sure it's what Joseph Campbell meant when he said that most of us aren't really seeking the meaning of life, but rather “an experience of being alive… so that we actually feel the rapture” – although personally I don't think it's always rapturous, per se – “of being alive.”In literal terms, of course, “aliveness” can't be the right word here, because technically everyone's alive all the time, whereas aliveness comes and goes. Still, I know it when I feel it. And I definitely know it when my misguided efforts to exert too much control over reality cause it to drain away. And so an excellent question to ask yourself – when you're facing a tough decision, say, or wondering if you're on the right track – is: “Does this feel like it's taking me in the direction of greater aliveness?”Crucially, aliveness isn't the same as happiness. As the Zen teacher Christian Dillo explains in his engrossing book The Path of Aliveness, you can absolutely feel alive in the midst of intense sadness. Aliveness, he writes, “isn't about feeling *better*; it's about *feeling*better.” When I feel aliveness in my work, it's not because every task is an unadulterated pleasure; and when I feel it in my close relationships, it's not because I've transcended the capacity to get annoyed by other people – because believe me, I haven't. But to whatever extent I *do* manage what Dillo refers to as fully inhabiting my experience, life is good, in a deep sense, and more vibrant, and I feel more connected to others – and overall, happiness tends to predominate… I think it might be the key to understanding how to think and feel about AI, how to respond to it, how to integrate it into our lives or not – and how to ensure, as technology marches on, that we don't lose sight of what really matters for a meaningfully productive life. Most obviously, aliveness is what generally feels absent from the written and visual outputs of ChatGPT and its ilk, even when they're otherwise of high quality… It makes you wonder if Wendell Berry had it right when he wrote: “It is easy for me to imagine that the next great division of the world will be between people who wish to live as creatures and people who wish to live as machines.”… I think it's good to stay fully, even slightly foolishly, committed to the idea that humans doing human things, with other humans, is and will remain at the vital heart of human existence. Because otherwise what on earth's the point? Oliver Burkeman The full text of this wonderful post can be found on Oliver's website ‘The Imperfectionist', where you can also find out about his books and sign up to his mailing list. Photo by yunona uritsky on Unsplash --- Join Us Live in 2026 Foundations of Coaching, Feb 9-10 2026, Online Our two day introduction to the deep and wonderful way of working with people that we call 'Integral Development Coaching'. www.wearethirdspace.org/foundations-of-coaching Turning Towards Life Live Season 2, from March 2026 Our Turning Towards Life live programme of community, learning and reflection runs in six month seasons, in person on Zoom once a month. We're very excited about it. A chance to expand beyond the bounds of a podcast into forming a community of learning and practice. You can find out more and join us here: www.turningtowards.life/live ---- About Turning Towards Life Turning Towards Life, a week-by-week conversation inviting us deeply into our lives, is a live 30 minute conversation hosted by Justin Wise and Lizzie Winn of Thirdspace. Find us on FaceBook to join in the lively conversation on this episode. You can find videos of every episode, and more about the project on the Turning Towards Life website, and you can also watch and listen on Instagram, YouTube, and as a podcast on Apple, Amazon Music and Spotify. Join Our Weekly Mailing: www.turningtowards.life/subscribe Support Us: www.buymeacoffee.com/turningtowardslife
Nick Offerman is an Emmy-winning actor, but that's a small part of his identity. He's also a woodworker, an author, and a devoted acolyte of the naturalist writer Wendell Berry. He talks with Rachel about the art of being satisfied, building up the courage for a home project and what he learned from a childhood that felt like “Little House on the Prairie.”To listen sponsor-free and support the show, sign up for Wild Card+ at plus.npr.org/wildcard Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
In the new movie Sovereign, actor Nick Offerman plays an extremist who doesn't believe in the legitimacy of the Federal government. In real life, Nick comes from a small-town political family. His father is the mayor of Minooka, Illinois, and his uncle is on the village board. In this episode Nick talks about choosing roles, how he's different from his family, his love of teaching woodworking and the profound influence of poet Wendell Berry. Listen to our 2018 interview: Nick Offerman Can Take Directions Podcast production by Andrew Dunn Death, Sex & Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, Slate Plus! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at slate.com/dsmplus. And if you're new to the show, welcome. We're so glad you're here. Find us and follow us on Instagram and you can find Anna's newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the new movie Sovereign, actor Nick Offerman plays an extremist who doesn't believe in the legitimacy of the Federal government. In real life, Nick comes from a small-town political family. His father is the mayor of Minooka, Illinois, and his uncle is on the village board. In this episode Nick talks about choosing roles, how he's different from his family, his love of teaching woodworking and the profound influence of poet Wendell Berry. Listen to our 2018 interview: Nick Offerman Can Take Directions Podcast production by Andrew Dunn Death, Sex & Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, Slate Plus! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at slate.com/dsmplus. And if you're new to the show, welcome. We're so glad you're here. Find us and follow us on Instagram and you can find Anna's newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the new movie Sovereign, actor Nick Offerman plays an extremist who doesn't believe in the legitimacy of the Federal government. In real life, Nick comes from a small-town political family. His father is the mayor of Minooka, Illinois, and his uncle is on the village board. In this episode Nick talks about choosing roles, how he's different from his family, his love of teaching woodworking and the profound influence of poet Wendell Berry. Listen to our 2018 interview: Nick Offerman Can Take Directions Podcast production by Andrew Dunn Death, Sex & Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, Slate Plus! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at slate.com/dsmplus. And if you're new to the show, welcome. We're so glad you're here. Find us and follow us on Instagram and you can find Anna's newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the new movie Sovereign, actor Nick Offerman plays an extremist who doesn't believe in the legitimacy of the Federal government. In real life, Nick comes from a small-town political family. His father is the mayor of Minooka, Illinois, and his uncle is on the village board. In this episode Nick talks about choosing roles, how he's different from his family, his love of teaching woodworking and the profound influence of poet Wendell Berry. Listen to our 2018 interview: Nick Offerman Can Take Directions Podcast production by Andrew Dunn Death, Sex & Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, Slate Plus! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at slate.com/dsmplus. And if you're new to the show, welcome. We're so glad you're here. Find us and follow us on Instagram and you can find Anna's newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the new movie Sovereign, actor Nick Offerman plays an extremist who doesn't believe in the legitimacy of the Federal government. In real life, Nick comes from a small-town political family. His father is the mayor of Minooka, Illinois, and his uncle is on the village board. In this episode Nick talks about choosing roles, how he's different from his family, his love of teaching woodworking and the profound influence of poet Wendell Berry. Listen to our 2018 interview: Nick Offerman Can Take Directions Podcast production by Andrew Dunn Death, Sex & Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, Slate Plus! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at slate.com/dsmplus. And if you're new to the show, welcome. We're so glad you're here. Find us and follow us on Instagram and you can find Anna's newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Join the Doomer Optimism crew for their first-ever live group chat as they tackle the big questions facing our technologically saturated world. Ashley, Nate, Jason, Peter, and Patrick gather to discuss Paul Kingsnorth's new book Against the Machine, the creeping influence of AI in our daily lives, and whether we're heading toward accelerated collapse or just another step down.The conversation meanders from the ethics of AI chatbots (including Amish farmers launching their own) to the practical realities of keeping phones away from kids in an increasingly digital world. Nate shares hard-won wisdom from rebuilding after his house fire, while Peter warns about the looming cattle market collapse that could reshape American agriculture. Jason makes the case for sheep, Ashley name-drops her upcoming dinner with Wendell Berry (yes, really), and everyone debates whether we should accelerate into the chaos or dig in our heels and resist.Topics covered: screen-free parenting strategies, the difference between tools and crutches, why COVID lockdowns weren't all bad, the impossible economics of small-scale beef production, John Michael Greer's stair-step collapse theory, and what it really takes to build resilience in an age of affluence and anxiety.Plus: Patrick performs a house tour nobody asked for, Nate explains why relationships matter more than bunkers, and the group grapples with whether the machine can ever truly be stopped—or if the best we can do is stay human despite it all.
For this new series, John and Allen invite five guests over five weeks to complete the following statement: “I just don't understand how people can survive without...” Sam Eldredge kicks off the opening episode with a surprising response. Sam is a licensed therapist, the director of Noble Workshops, and John's oldest son. You'll be intrigued by his insights into the human condition and the one thing he believes we most need to make it through the day.Show Notes: To find out more about Noble Workshops and upcoming events, visit nobleworkshops.com. The movie John references is Sing Sing. Sam's media recommendations include Gustav Holst's The Planets, “Jupiter”; Jensen McRae's song “My Ego Dies at the End”; William Shakespeare's The Tempest; the movie Arrival; the book The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt; the quote from Simone Weil (“There are only two things that pierce the human heart. One is beauty. The other is affliction.“); and the poem “The Peace of Wild Things,” by Wendell Berry._______________________________________________There is more.Got a question you want answered on the podcast? Ask us at Questions@WildatHeart.orgSupport the mission or find more on our website: WildAtHeart.org or on our app.Apple: Wild At Heart AppAndroid: Wild At Heart AppWatch on YouTubeThe stock music used in the Wild at Heart podcast is titled “When Laid to Rest” by Patrick Rundblad and available here.More pauses available in the One Minute Pause app for Apple iOS and Android.Apple: One Minute Pause AppAndroid: One Minute Pause App
Drawing from Wendell Berry's novels, essays, and poetry, Carole shares how Berry's deep love for the rural life, community, and contentment can leave an indelible mark on our lives. He paints a vivid picture of rural America and it's values through Berry's fictional Port William, Kentucky.If you have never read one of his books, now is the time to find yourself a Wendell Berry book!RESOURCES+For a complete list of books listed in this episode, click here+Build Your Family's Library: Grab our FREE book list here+Get our FREE ebook: 5 Essential Parts of a Great Education.+Attend one of our upcoming seminars this year!+Click HERE for more information about consulting with Carole Joy Seid!CONNECTHomeschool Made Simple | Website | Seminars | Instagram | Facebook | PinterestMentioned in this episode: Lives of Faith and Grace Series from CrosswayTry CTCMath-Half Price Discount
En Gente que trabaja conectamos con el Mondiacult 2025 y hablamos de IA. Nos acompañan Alberto González, director del área de cultura de OdiseIA, el observatorio más grande de IA en España y Javier Iturralde, doctor e investigador sobre Inteligencia Artificial en la UPV.Víctor Clares viene con sus Personas Curvas para hablarnos de Pedro Lemebel. Poeta, performer y activista: visibilizó la disidencia LGTBIQ+ en plena dictadura chilena. Pedro Lemebel no solo escribió, también gritó, se travistió y bailó sobre cristales. Recuperamos su voz, su rabia y su ternura.Pepe Pérez-Muelas nos presenta su libro 'Días de sol y piedra: de los Alpes a Roma'. Un hombre, una bici, un camino: de los Alpes a Roma. Un viaje físico y literario: Pavese, Primo Levi, Homero, Buzzati… Pedalear como forma de pensar y sobrevivir. En Barra Libre de Aloma Rodríguez leemos a Wendell Berry y su 'Vida de Hannah Coulter'. Una novela que es memoria, amor, duelo y agradecimiento. La voz de una mujer que, al repasar su vida, recuerda también un mundo rural en extinción.Escuchar audio
How should we support the dying, and how should we approach death itself? What is conscious dying? What does Carl Jung's work say about facing death?In this episode we have the complex topic of how to face Death, through the lens of psycho analyst Carl Jung. I'm sure that some of you will have found this episode because you're facing death during this time, either your own or of a loved one; and to those of you I offer my condolences and healing prayers, and hope dearly that what we discuss today will offer some perspective and assistance, and my apologies in advance if any of our ideas cause you pain: death and mourning are extremely personal topics. But I also hope that many others of you are here simply to try and form a healthier relationship with death.The inspiration for this episode came not only from my own experience facing my own parent's mortality, but also from my intuition that our modern, consumeristic, aestheic and individualistic society has made us more afraid of death than ever; perhaps because of our modern societies focus on material well-being, and the power of technology to guarantee it. My gut feeling is that we need to become aware of this unconscious taboo, as it seems to be hindering a deeper and perhaps more wholesome acceptance of mortality in general. And that's why I wanted to speak to a specialist like my guest psychoanalyst Monika Wikman. Monika received her PhD in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology and then qualified as a Jungian psychoanalyst at the Jung-Von Franz Center for Depth psychology in Zurich. She is an expert on topics including archetypal phenomena surrounding death, dreams, active imagination and alchemy. Her work with the dying culminated in a research project called ‘Dreams of the Dying' at UC San Diego Medical Center. She is also the author of the book, “Pregnant Darknesss: Alchemy and the rebirth of consciousness”. What we discuss:00:00 Intro.04:30 How to support the dying.07:05 Death informs us.09:00 Facing our own mortality - the history of Conscious dying.13:18 The Osiris Myth. Dismemberment and rememberment.16:45 Death is the ultimate goal, an achievement, according to Jung.19:15 Death duellers.21:45 The last step of individuation.24:45 Symbolic death, according to Jung.30:00 ‘The wound is where the light enters you'. Rumi33:00 The religious function - Jung. 34:00 Monika's 2nd NDE - a relationship with the darkness.44: 00 Life after death and the subtle body.46:00 Prayer and connecting with the eternal.50:00 Only through limitation can we connect with the eternal.51:00 The subtle body - uniting psyche and matter.56:10 The Divine wedding - the marriage between opposites.57:45 Synchronicities around the dying. 01:07:00 Studying the dreams of the dying.01:11:30 Dead friends and family often come for them in dreams.01:15:20 Common motifs of crossing rivers, thresholds and initiations.01:17:00 How we mourn.01:29:20 If you didn't serve someone well you'll regret it after they die.01:22:00 Grief transforms.References: Monika Wikman, “Pregnant Darkness - Alchemy and the rebirth of consciousness”Wendell Berry poem - RisingMircea Eliade, “Yoga: immortality & Freedom”Chiron, the wounded healer.C.G.Jung, “Memories Dreams and Reflections”.Ram Dass quote, ‘Dying is absolutely safe'Leonard Cohen quote, 'We are so lightly here'. (Not William Blake).
Brent Billings and Reed Dent gorge themselves on gluttony and its many forms.“Living Lent” by Barbara Cawthorne Crafton in Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and EasterGlittering Vices by Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoungThe Screwtape Letters by C. S. LewisWhen Harry Met Sally (1989 film) — JustWatchThe Cardinal and the Deadly by Karl Clifton-Soderstrom“Hungry Mungry” by Shel Silverstein in Where the Sidewalk Ends“The Satisfactions of the Mad Farmer” by Wendell Berry in The Mad Farmer Poems
Another quarterly conversation on books with Christianity Today's Editorial Director, Ashley Hales, on the subject of resisting the digital era. Watch the full conversation on YouTube What's the role of reading in a screen-saturated, distracted, AI world? Russell is joined once again by Ashley Hales, print editor at Christianity Today, to explore how literature can help us resist the attention-fractured nature of our technological era by offering unique ways to process real life itself, giving us tools to see grace where we least expect it. Russell reflects on Wendell Berry's latest (and perhaps final) Port William novel, Marce Catlett, and what it means to say goodbye to a lifelong literary companion. Ashley shares insights on Jan Karon's return to Mitford, and the two discuss how stories shape our capacity for empathy, memory, and hope. They also highlight nonfiction works like Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation (check out our recent episode with Jon) and David Zahl's The Big Relief, considering how books can guide us through exhaustion, anxiety, and the pressures of modern life. Then, the two share the stack of books they're reading just for fun, and upcoming releases they're looking forward to.You can find all the titles mentioned in the episode below. Plus–Hear ye one and all!–Russell shares about an AI tool that he likes! If you've ever wondered how exactly reading still matters in a world of constant noise, this episode makes the case that it does—perhaps now more than ever. Resources mentioned in this episode: Bookshelf App Marce Catlett by Wendell Berry My Beloved by Jan Karon The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jon Haidt The Big Relief by David Zahl Feminism Against Progress by Mary Harrington Ashley's CT article based on this book Ct article about MAID in Canada Pan by Michael Clune Blaise Pascal: The Man Who Made the Modern World by Graham Tomlin Mark Twain by Ron Chernow Thomas More by Joanne Paul On His Own Terms by Richard Norton Smith (audiobook link) Food For Thought by Alton Brown Making Room by Christine D. Pohl Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe The Trinity Forum's Revelation of Divine Love, which includes an introduction by Jessica Hooten Wilson Joseph and his Brothers by Thomas MannThe Vanishing Church by Ryan Burge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
I'm borrowing this phrase "covenant with limit" from Martin Shaw. Perhaps it's time to reconsider how freedom is actually found. In this episode, I discuss briefly Wendell Berry's poem Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front, the ancient art of fasting, and the imaginative possibility that we might want to make a covenant with limits before we go mad in the wrong direction. Enjoy!
“If we believe that God made the world, then the world is important as a revelation of God, as a sacred text. If we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, then we must believe that he is the Son of God made flesh, made a human being—and therefore that the life of the human body in this world is important.” — Sex, Economy, Freedom & Community by Wendell BerryTake a moment to breathe. Slow your pace.Another breath.Perhaps another. Allow your soul to catch up with your life—even in this very moment.Another breath.Enjoy this brilliant poem by Wendell Berry, The Peace of Wild Things. Read it as slowly as you are able:“When despair for the world grows in meand I wake in the night at the least soundin fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,I go and lie down where the wood drakerests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.I come into the peace of wild thingswho do not tax their lives with forethoughtof grief. I come into the presence of still water.And I feel above me the day-blind starswaiting with their light. For a timeI rest in the grace of the world, and am free.”The first sacred text given to all of humanity is God's creation itself. In many ways, the created world was intended to be a sacred container for the Kingdom of God—a primary expression of His presence and love.What if, just as the Creator crafted this redemptive backdrop for the story of mankind, you were invited to partner with Him in creating your life as a continually expanding spiritual refuge? A place where you are known, loved, perfectly safe, and deeply nourished—affording you an ever-increasing capacity to engage the battles God invites you to fight on behalf of your own heart and those entrusted to your care?Just as every creature is designed to flourish within a particular habitat, every soul is also meant to thrive in a specific environment. This is our destiny, and this is God's invitation. A soul planted in good soil has little choice but to grow into the full expression of all it was created to become—since before the foundation of the world.Even a cursory immersion in the sacred text of nature reveals a profound truth: the health of any living thing is directly tied to the quality of its habitat. When the environment is whole, life flourishes. When it becomes toxic, life withers.Day by day, decade by decade, we hold far more power than we've believed to shape our lives in ways that increase our joy, confidence, and contentment in daily life with God.It was the prophetic voice of God through Isaiah that offered this invitation:“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.” — Isaiah 32:18Make no mistake: this restoration is fiercely opposed. And yet, there is One who is greater. Even now, a perfect invitation is being extended—for you to take the next brave step, the next twenty seconds of courage, to partner with God in restoring a habitat where your soul can truly thrive.What if the restoration of the masculine soul depends on our willingness to humbly embrace the formative power of our context? What would it look like to recover a way of life that positions us to receive the revitalizing power of God's own life?Join me as we explore the power and hope of cultivating a habitat where our souls can flourish.As part of the journey of Becoming a King, this podcast offers a deeper exploration into creating that sacred habitat where this dream can be realized.It's all been prologue. The best is yet to come.For the Kingdom,Morgan & Cherie
Farm to Table Talk is about good conversations and no one was better at facilitating conversation than Bill Moyers who has passed away at the age of 91. A journalist, minister, Peace Corps and Great Society leader, Bill Moyers also showed his interest and support of farmers, such as his thoughtful interview with the legendary Wendell Berry. He told Rodger Wasson it was fine with him to have his Wendell Berry conversation shared on the Farm To Table Talk podcast so in his honor, at his passing is that conversation. Wendell told Bill , “We don't have the right to ask whether we are going to succeed or not; the only question we have the right to ask is what's the right thing to do? What does this Earth require of us if we want to continue to live on it?” Bill Moyers is a legend himself for matchless, thoughtful interviews such as this interview in October 2013, that was a production of the Schumann Media Center, Inc. and Mannes Productions, Inc.© 2013
Send us a textIn this episode of the Bookworthy Podcast, Valerie speaks with Leah Boden, an author dedicated to empowering women and children through literature. Leah discusses her latest book series, 'The Tales of Boldness and Faith,' which features fictionalized biographies of notable figures like Charlotte Mason, C.S. Lewis, and Sarah Forbes Bonetta. The conversation explores themes of displacement, redemption, and the importance of relationships in shaping identity. Leah shares her journey to becoming a writer and the influential books that have impacted her life, as well as her future writing aspirations. Takeaways Leah Boden's passion is helping women and children through literature.The Tales of Boldness and Faith is a series of fictionalized biographies.Charlotte Mason, C.S. Lewis, and Sarah Forbes Bonetta are featured in the series.The stories explore themes of displacement and redemption.Leah emphasizes the importance of relationships in shaping identity.Writing was a gradual realization for Leah, sparked by her love for reading.Wendell Berry's works have significantly influenced Leah's writing.Leah's next book in the series will be about Sarah Forbes Bonetta.Leah hosts an online community for readers and writers.The conversation highlights the impact of real-life stories on children's understanding of faith. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Leah Boden and Her Work02:14 The Tales of Boldness and Faith: Overview05:01 Exploring the Lives of Charlotte Mason, C.S. Lewis, and Sarah Forbes Bonetta11:41 Themes of Displacement and Redemption17:00 The Journey to Becoming a Writer19:55 Influential Books and Future ProjectsLet's discover great books together!Follow for more:FB: @bookworthypodcastInstagram: @bookworthy_podcastYouTube: BookWorthy Podcast - YouTubetiktok: @valeriefentress
Our Summer 2025 series, Beside Still Waters, focuses on the places where creativity brings life into a world fatigued by brokenness and division. From jazz to Jane Austen and in between, this season we'll focus on the ways literature and the arts can refresh and challenge our inner lives—and connect us with the Creator of the good, the true, and the beautiful.Guided by theologian and musician David Bailey and concert pianist and chamber musician Mia Chung, this episode explores the concept that music involves mutual support, balance, and give and take among musicians to create a cohesive experience.And we reflect on how Christian communities can apply these principles of collaboration and harmony to create faith communities that are transformative:To the extent that the arts can actually cultivate that practice of incorporating the right hemisphere and in communication with the left, it's always together, you know, they're, complimentary. I think we can benefit each other in terms of community formation, but even benefit our own intellectual lives and the amount of joy we experience living in this world. - Mia Chung If this work resonates with you, please consider joining the Trinity Forum community as a society member.This podcast is an edited version of our Online Conversation recorded in June, 2024. You can access the full conversation with transcript here.Learn more about Mia Chung and David Bailey.Episode Outline00:00 Introduction to Trinity Forum Conversations00:34 Exploring Music and Christian Community01:36 Cherie Harder on Cultural Challenges02:55 Welcoming David Bailey and Mia Chung04:41 David Bailey's Musical Journey06:56 Mia Chung's Musical Formation10:44 The Role of Arts in Reconciliation13:19 The Power of Music in Community Building23:17 Reintegration and Reconciliation at MIT28:52 Challenges and Practices for Reconciliation30:10 Digital Discipleship and Secular Influence30:44 The Importance of Fasting and Listening32:33 Engaging Differently as Followers of Jesus33:28 The Role of Technology in Information Consumption34:18 Post-COVID Convening and Empathetic Listening37:25 The Power of Music and Emotional Expression40:04 Silence and Contemplative Practices44:43 Artistic Collaboration and Reconciliation51:19 Final Thoughts and EncouragementAuthors and books mentioned in the conversation:Arrabon: Learning Reconciliation Through Community & Worship Music, by David BaileyRelated Trinity Forum Readings:Hannah and Nathan, by Wendell BerryPainting as a Pastime, by Winston ChurchillThe Four Quartets, by TS EliotLetters from Vincent Van GoghSpirit and Imagination, selections from Samuel Taylor ColeridgeWhy Work?, by Dorothy SayersThe Loss of the University, featuring the works of Wendell Berry and Jacques MaritainTo listen to this or any of our episodes in full, visit ttf.org/podcast and to join the Trinity Forum Society and help make content like this possible, join the Trinity Forum Society.
Many leaders wrestle with the question: If I slow down, will I still get anything done? In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Alan explores Jesus’ words in John 15 alongside the wisdom of farmer-poet Wendell Berry to reimagine productivity, not as frantic busyness, but as abiding fruitfulness. Discover a vision of work that nourishes rather than depletes, both for you and for those you serve. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why busyness can actually disconnect us from the very Source of true fruitfulness. How Wendell Berry’s vision of sustainable farming offers a powerful model for ministry and leadership. Why lasting kingdom productivity always begins in abiding and focuses on people over programs. Resources Scripture: John 15 Bringing It to the Table by Wendell Berry Connect with Alan on LinkedIn or learn more about Unhurried Living programs on their website. Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
The Shire We Call HomeJason sits down with Tom Ruby and Alan Cornett to explore the profound influence of Wendell Berry on modern agrarianism, the surprising revival of Catholicism in America, and why the future might belong to those willing to get their hands dirty.From the rolling hills of Kentucky, which echo Tolkien's Shire, to the intellectual journey from secular academia to Catholic agrarianism, Tom and Alan share their personal stories of finding meaning through land stewardship and community building. The conversation weaves together themes of localism, the "cultural debris" of forgotten traditions, and the practical wisdom needed to counter our age of disconnection.Whether you're drawn to Berry's vision of place-based living, curious about the Catholic Land Movement, or simply wondering how to build authentic community in fractured times, this conversation offers both philosophical depth and practical hope. As our guests remind us: good people are out there, working the land and building the kind of life that lasts.
Joe Morrow concludes the current series about the people who have shaped his faith journey and views as he explores the philosophy of poet and environmentalist Wendell Berry, who reminds us that there are no unsacred spaces, that all places are worthy of love, and that we can encounter God everywhere.
In two essays recently published and formed here into a podcast, Scott Graves offers perspective on how to build for the benefit of our society. In We Didn't Ask for Stupefied Star Trek he explores the perils of launching a nationwide AI technological effort that continues the predatory business models from our largest tech platforms that has arguably produced one of the more widespread detrimental results for our society and that of the planet. We didn't ask for it, we've clearly requested an alternative direction, so why can't our tech sector respond favorably to what society truly desires? In Construction Apart from Destruction Scott breaks down the meaning behind one of the most prescient quotes from writer and environmentalist Wendell Berry in order to discover the inner meaning behind the concepts that demonstrate for us why we need to get beyond our simplistic consumerism and how we may benefit from doing so. An exercise he performed recently with a group of high school students in Vermont.
Today's bittersweet poem glimpses the life of Arthur Rowanberry across time and beyond. Happy reading. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe
This conversation with Helen Rebanks was recorded live and on stage at the 2025 Old Salt Festival, held on the Mannix Family Ranch in Helmville, Montana. If you were there, you know how special the moment was. If you weren't—well, I'm glad you're here now. Even though we were on a stage, in front of a crowd, the conversation had the quiet, reflective feel of two friends talking over a kitchen table—fitting, given how much of Helen's story centers around that most sacred of domestic spaces. Helen is the author of "The Farmer's Wife: My Life in Days," a beautiful and deeply grounded book about food, family, work, and the often invisible labor that holds it all together. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk about the joys and struggles of farm life, raising kids, writing honestly without self-pity, and why the kitchen table might just be the most important place in the world. Helen shares stories from her own life and reads a few powerful passages from the book—including one that could double as the Old Salt manifesto. A huge thank you to Cole Mannix, the Mannix family, and the Old Salt crew for making this event—and this conversation—possible. It's not every day that a bestselling British author makes the trek to a working ranch in western Montana, but Helen did just that, along with her husband James and two of their four children, Molly and Tom. I'm so happy they made the journey, and I came away deeply grateful for the time we shared and the conversations we had. Whether you're a rancher, parent, reader, cook, or just someone trying to live a life of purpose and connection, Helen's story has something for you. So give it a listen—and if you haven't already, pick up a copy of "The Farmer's Wife." You'll be glad you did. Check out the episode notes for links to everything and thanks so much for listening. --- The Farmer's Wife: My Life in Days Old Salt Festival Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/helen-rebanks/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:00 - Introducing Helen 4:04 - Helen reads from The Farmer's Wife 6:49 - Structuring the book 9:46 - Real work 12:26 - Helen reads again, connecting to Old Salt 17:00 - Shiny individuals and self-autonomy 18:55 - Empathy and compassion 25:23 - Parenting advice from Helen 27:35 - Helen's take on Montana 31:03 - Staying positive within the chaos 33:14 - Mums can change the world 36:23 - Beginning of audience Q&A 37:24 - Q: Did Helen ever regret her choices? 40:26 - Q: How do we get young people into this lifestyle? 44:10 - Helen and Wendell Berry 45:00 - Book recs (just read memoirs!) 46:39 - What would Helen tell her young self? 48:32 - Helen's favorite recipes from the book 50:54 - Parting words --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All Episodes Mountain & Prairie Shop Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts
Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by the BEMA Kokomo discussion group from Indiana, which launched in 2021, to share their story and give everyone an idea of what a healthy, thriving group can look like.BEMA 317: Asking Better Questions of the Bible w/ Erin GeiselmanBridgeway Church in Kokomo, IndianaAsking Better Questions of the Bible by Marty SolomonEvolving Faith Podcast 1: Evolution, Apocalypse, and Remembering Rachel Held EvansCrossroads Community Church in Kokomo, IndianaTrust Fall by Brent FaulknerReview of Trust Fall — Marty Solomon, GoodreadsCitizenship Papers by Wendell Berry Special Guest: Erin Geiselman.
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit akiyaproject.substack.comThe past month has been filled with gatherings with friends and family. First, my best friend from high school traveled to Japan with his family for a vacation. He made the trip up the mountain to my place and I had some tough work prepared for him! We completed a pretty big pour of concrete for the kitchen floor. I made sure he carved his name into the wet concrete for safe keeping. It meant a lot for him to make the trip up just to help with the renovation. To thank him for his time and effort, I took him to this great onsen in Ashiya called Shio-Ashiya Onsen Suishun (highly recommended if you're ever near Kobe). It's well-organized and has everything from massage baths, saunas, steam rooms, medicinal baths, electric pulse baths, to outdoor baths. Just a few weeks ago, a huge number of aunts, uncles, and cousins made trips to Japan. On the first night in Kyoto, I took them all to Kimura Sukiyaki. It's run by a very Showa-era family; that is to say, they only accept cash, store your shoes for you at the front door, don't speak much English, have poorly translated menus, and offer a truly authentic Japanese experience. The next day, we all meet up at the beautiful Demachiyanagi Delta in Kyoto for a big Costco sushi picnic. Next time, I hope I can host them all up at the fully renovated house. The Art of the Commonplace: The Agrarian Essays of Wendell BerryWendell Berry is an iconic essayist within the fields of agriculture and conservation. Today, I walk through some of his most powerful writing from the 70s to the 90s.I first came across his work while in college and he left an imprint strong enough to compel me to revisit it today — almost a decade later. If you know me by now, its easy to see why. He speaks about how important land ownership and land use are to a healthy community and citizenry. He elevates this kind of discussion into a moral plane, for land owning and land use is not enough. Land is created not by man but by God. Land is a gift, and he argues that we must practice stewardship (and reject exploitation) if we are to deserve the privilege of private land ownership.Most importantly, he believes that honest labor is inextricably tied to human dignity. We cannot expect to outsource work to machines or exploited human labor without consequence. Throughout his life's work, he offers ideas of a well-functioning local economy as an antidote. Please enjoy this episode as we explore the critiques and hopes of Wendell Berry.Tired of akiya renovation advice from people who've never held a hammer in Japan? I've spent 3 years making every mistake so you don't have to. Join hundreds of fellow renovators for just $5/month (less than one batch of concrete!)Books Mentioned In This Episode:When you purchase a book (or anything on Amazon) with the links below, you support me and the podcast at no extra cost to you:* The Art of the Commonplace: The Agrarian Essays of Wendell Berry by Wendell BerryLinks to More Resources:* Wendell Berry* Shio-Ashiya Onsen Suishun* Kimura Sukiyaki* Jeffersonian Democracy* The Bank That Hamilton Built* Swiss Cultural Landscapes* William Carlos Williams* The Beauty of Everyday Things by Soetsu Yanagi* Jichikai (Japanese Self-Governing Associations)* Learn Ikebana in Kobe (with me and a local expert!) on TripAdvisor* The Akiya Project on YouTubeUnlock the rest of this post below, including 200+ exclusive photos, step-by-step videos, detailed supplier lists, and real renovation costs from my hands-on restoration of a 100-year-old Japanese farmhouse. See exactly how I navigated permits, found traditional materials, and saved ¥900,000 in contractor costs through DIY methods
In this episode, we chat with Shawn and Beth Dougherty about offering liberty and experiences to homeschooled teenagers, why the Doughertys stayed in Appalachia, the Dougherty's house fire and rebuild, proximity to community as the next obstacle, starting with trash land and building up the soil, rotational grazing, turf grasses, and hay, our milking routine and dairy cow domestication, and the Dougherty's Farmstead Butcher Trailers business. Timestamps/Topics for Episode 109: 0:00 How to offer liberty and experiences to homeschooled teenagers 9:50 Why the Doughertys stayed in Appalachia - to homeschool, homestead, homebirth, and go to daily mass 19:20 The Dougherty's housefire and rebuild 21:18 Proximity to community is the next obstacle 30:15 Starting with trash land and building up the soil 34:55 Our first dairy cow, Georgie 42:30 Rotational grazing, turf grasses, and hay 1:02:46 Brandon's milking routine 1:05:00 The dairy animal is a different order of domestication 1:08:00 Brandon's break from Evolution Biology & God created cattle on the 5th day 1:11:37 Dougherty's Farmstead Butcher Trailers 1:15:30 Planting on a moon cycle Links for Episode 109: Homestead Heritage https://www.homesteadheritage.com/ The Ploughshare http://sustainlife.org/ The Liturgy of the Land: Cultivating a Catholic Homestead by Jason Craig & Thomas D. Van Horn https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203018472-the-liturgy-of-the-land Wendell Berry https://berrycenter.org/ Kaleb Handshaw https://coalfield-development.org/bio-kaleb-hanshaw/ https://www.thewildc.com/ Allen Savory https://savory.global/history/ Keeping One Cow https://a.co/d/i8Astv6 The Dougherty's website https://one-cow-revolution.com Dougherty's Farmstead Butcher Trailers https://www.doughertysbutchertrailers.com Looking for more Meatsmith knowledge? Join our online membership or come to an in-person class: Hands-On Harvest Classes - Come to one of our harvest classes on our homestead in Oklahoma. We offer classes on harvesting pork, beef, lamb, and poultry in the Spring and Fall. Spots are limited to just eight students per class to maintain an undiluted hands-on experience. Jump on this chance and sign up today! Farmsteadmeatsmith.com/upcoming-classes/ Meatsmith Membership - We created an online community and resource for homesteaders and farmers. It serves all those who want to cook and eat well. We offer the fruits of our labor (and our kitchen) from more than fifteen years of experience, and our Membership community of over six hundred is an invaluable digital resource. The only one of its kind in the country, Meatsmith Membership provides an earnest and winsome approach to domestic livestock raising, slaughter, butchery, curing, cookery, and charcuterie. Join us today and partner in growing your home around the harvest. Monthly memberships are $17.49 per month, plus a one-time sign-up fee of $29.99. Or purchase an Annual membership for $189.49 per year with no sign-up fee, saving you $50.38. Farmsteadmeatsmith.com/membership/
Gary Haugen has seen the darkest things imaginable. He's spent decades fighting human traffickers, corrupt governments, and mobs that enslave men, women, and children to sell them for sex and profit. But he's not one bit cynical. As president of International Justice Mission, Haugen has worked to abolish modern-day slavery and to put the bad guys in jail while building the kind of institutions that ensure people are never treated that way again. In this episode, Russell and Haugen discuss the objection that “justice issues” distract from the gospel. They also talk about how people can know whether God is calling them to some area of justice and mercy and about how those who are doing this kind of work can keep from burnout or despair. Haugen quoted from C. S. Lewis's Screwtape Letters: “Despair is a greater sin than any of the sins which provoke it.” He talks about how he learned from the writings of Dallas Willard and others the kinds of spiritual disciplines he needs to stay grounded and hopeful. The two also talk about going to church 13 times a week, the complex psychology of an oppressor, the power of art and music to move us to action, practical steps toward seeking justice, and of course, Wendell Berry. Special offer for listeners of The Russell Moore Show: Click here for 25% off a subscription to CT magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A double anniversary (of a wedding and of a life-saving medical cure) inspired this toast—with allusion to Gertrude Stein, Wendell Berry, and “The Office.” Resources & links related to this episode: The most purely happy day of my life Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app. Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What does a Shire full of hobbits in Middle-Earth, a county full of farmers in Kentucky, and a wardrobe full of a lion have in common? For Russell Moore and singer/songwriter/author Andrew Peterson, they were all a way to find home. In this episode—recorded inside Peterson's book-lined Chapter House in Nashville, right down the road from Moore—the two talk about the authors who, by God's grace, helped hold their faith together when it could have come apart. From the wisdom of Wendell Berry to the imagination of C.S. Lewis to the honesty of Frederick Buechner, these authors gave a clarity that helped these two keep the faith. This isn't just a literary conversation. It's about how God uses stories, sentences, and sometimes even sword-wielding mice to reach people in moments of doubt, disillusionment, or despair. Along the way, they talk about what it means to read widely, to hold onto wonder, and to be the kind of Christian who can still be surprised by joy. They also somehow end up talking about Moby Dick, Dungeons & Dragons, and how ChatGPT was wrong and right about what books each of them would take to a desert island. Books and authors mentioned in this episode include: Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry A Room Called Remember and Telling Secrets by Frederick Buechner The Chronicles of Narnia, Till We Have Faces, Mere Christianity, and more by C.S. Lewis Godric by Frederick Buechner David Copperfield by Charles Dickens Four Quartets by T.S. Eliot Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson Moby Dick by Herman Melville Reading Genesis by Marilynne Robinson The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction by Alan Jacobs And selections from Andrew's own works: Adorning the Dark, The God of the Garden, and The Wingfeather Saga Whether you're deep in faith, on the brink of losing it, or just looking for something beautiful to read, this conversation will remind you why the right book at the right moment can do more than explain—it can point to new life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Join the #McConnellCenter as we welcome Grace Olmstead as she explains the importance of the book Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry! Grace Olmstead is a journalist who focuses on farming, localism, and family. Her writing has been published in The American Conservative, The Week, The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Review, The Wall Street Journal, and Christianity Today, among others. A native of rural Idaho, she now lives outside of Washington, DC, with her husband and three children. We all know we need to read more and there are literally millions of books on shelves with new ones printed every day. How do we sort through all the possibilities to find the book that is just right for us now? Well, the McConnell Center is bringing authors and experts to inspire us to read impactful and entertaining books that might be on our shelves or in our e-readers, but which we haven't yet picked up. We hope you learn a lot in the following podcast and we hope you might be inspired to pick up one or more of the books we are highlighting this year at the University of Louisville's McConnell Center. Stay Connected Visit us at McConnellcenter.org Subscribe to our newsletter Facebook: @mcconnellcenter Instagram: @ulmcenter Twitter: @ULmCenter This podcast is a production of the McConnell Center
On this episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments: reading slumps and how to replant your reading life Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: how to talk about books “in the wild” The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site) . . . . 1:21 - Our Bookish Moments Of The Week 7:18 - Our Current Reads 7:37 - Murder in the Dollhouse: The Jennifer Dulos Story by Rich Cohen (Meredith) 14:11 - My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows (Kaytee) 14:22 - CR Season 3: Episode 1 18:34 - My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows 19:49 - The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan (Meredith) 24:49 - She Memes Well by Quinta Brunson (Kaytee) 28:02 - Lexicon by Max Barry (Meredith) 31:26 - The Rook by Daniel O'Malley 31:35 - Babel by R.F. Kuang 33:52 - The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl (Kaytee) 35:01 - The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan 35:03 - World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil 35:08 - Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer 35:09 - The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer 35:12 - An Immense World by Ed Yong 37:14 - How To Talk About Books In The Wild 39:27 - Shawnathemom on Instagram 43:56 - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir 45:56 - Lexicon by Max Barry 47:24 - Babel by R.F. Kuang 52:10 - Meet Us At The Fountain 52:19 - I wish the next book I talked about was a book I liked, rather than a book that I did not. (Meredith) 52:36 - A Small Porch by Wendell Berry 54:47 - I wish to always have the right book for the person in front of me. (Kaytee) Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. May's IPL is a new indie to the rotation - Dog Eared Books in Ames, Iowa. Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business. All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!
In this conversation, Daniel Rogers delves into themes of enmity, authority, love, and the concept of salvation as presented in Romans 13. He reflects on Wendell Berry's poem about human connection and the arbitrary nature of enmity. Rogers discusses the misinterpretation of biblical texts regarding authority and the call for Christians to respond to evil with good. He emphasizes the importance of love as the fulfillment of the law urges listeners to embody the teachings of Christ in their daily lives. Blog: https://danielcrogers.substack.com Website: https://danielr.net Class Handouts: https://danielr.net/handouts Podcast: https://danielr.net/podcasts Free Downloads: https://danielcrogers.gumroad.com/ Church: https://northbroadal.com Twitter/ Instagram/ Snapchat: @raniel_dogers
Is God's will for your life more of a dot or a circle? That's one of the questions addressed by Grammy Award–winning producer and artist Charlie Peacock, whose new memoir Roots & Rhythm explores what it means to find one's calling in life, how to heal from the past, and how to give up the quest for holding on to power. This conversation reveals at least one middle-school-era debate over what counts as “Christian music” (spoiler: there was almost a fistfight over Amy Grant), and they explore deeper questions about fame, ambition, and why some artists burn out while others grow deeper with time. Peacock shares stories behind producing music for Amy Grant, Switchfoot, and The Civil Wars—and what he's learned from the visible economies of success and the hidden “Great Economy” about which Wendell Berry wrote. You'll hear thoughtful conversation on everything from Zen Buddhism and Jack Kerouac to AI and the future of music. Along the way, Peacock reflects on a note found after his mother's death, a formative encounter with Kierkegaard, and what it means to live with grace as “an antidote to karma.” Peacock and Moore also talk about Frederick Buechner and Merle Haggard, as well as fatherhood, how to find a “circle of affirmation,” and why failing is as important as succeeding. If you're curious about how art and faith intersect in an age of algorithms and ambition, this conversation offers a human and hopeful perspective. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Roots & Rhythm: A Life in Music by Charlie Peacock On the Road: The Original Scroll by Jack Kerouac Distant Neighbors: The Selected Letters of Wendell Berry and Gary Snyder Special offer for listeners of The Russell Moore Show: Click here for 25% off a subscription to CT magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today is a conversation between a pastor and a farmer. What might working the land, protecting local economies, and nurturing Christian communities have in common?We'll be speaking with Mary Berry, executive director of the Berry Center, and daughter of poet, farmer, and essayist Wendell Berry. My fellow interviewer today is the Rev. Clint Wilson, rector of St. Francis in the Fields, Harrods Creek, KY, not far from the Berry Center. We talk about joy of hard work, and hard work that is good work. Growing up with Wendell Berry as a dad. Faith and farming. Decisions to live with or against a given landscape. What is home? How do you make a home and dedicate yourself to it? The thick fabric of a place, and how work might be interwoven with neighbors, family, and seasons.What does it mean to actually "Love your neighbor as yourself"? We'll also touch on special challenges the suburbs pose to meaningful life together.Mary Berry, Executive Director of The Berry Center, grew up at Lanes Landing Farm in Henry County, KY. She has farmed for a living in Henry County, and started The Berry Center in 2011 to continue the agricultural work of John Berry, Sr. and his sons, author Wendell Berry and former Kentucky state senator, the late John M. Berry, Jr. The Berry Center focuses on issues confronting small farming families in Kentucky and around the country.Hear Mary speak at the Living Church conferenceLearn more about the Berry Center or Home Place MeatGive to support this podcast
5/4/25 David invites Jen Brown to read Wendell Berry's poem "Do Not Be Ashamed" (June, 1967) and follows it with a story where Jesus channels clarity and courage. We're invited to do likewise.
In this insightful discussion, Marlo Slayback, Tom Sarrouf, and Jeff Bilbro delve into the life and work of Wendell Berry, exploring how his writings and philosophy laid the groundwork for the “Make America Healthy Again” movement. They examine Berry's focus on sustainable agriculture, community-centered living, and the importance of localism in a rapidly industrialized world. Through their conversation, they reflect on how his ideas continue to challenge modern society and offer a vision for a more grounded, healthy future for America.
In this conversation, we explore a poem by Wendell Berry which calls us to wake up from the numbing effects of conventional life and practice living with true aliveness. We begin by reflecting on how Berry's invitation to "do something that won't compute" challenges us to question the systems and habits that keep us trapped in unconscious patterns - the quick profit, the ready-made, the fear of death - and instead to embrace practices that cultivate genuine freedom and connection with life. We delve into the tension between the familiar and the unfamiliar, discussing how our natural tendency to create predictable cycles can both build stable communities and wall us off from deeper truths. Through Berry's provocative lines, we consider how systems try to predict and control us, and how deliberately cultivating 'eccentricity' - living at least partially outside the dominant cultural expectations - can be a path to a kind of aliveness and responsibility for life. We examine how laughter, loving what seems undeserving, and asking questions without answers can shake us from our sleepiness, while also acknowledging that not all disruptions are equally valuable - suggesting that we measure new possibilities against what would satisfy someone bringing life into the world. Ultimately, we see Berry's manifesto as an invitation to practice deliberateness through conscious engagement with life's full complexity rather than waiting for life to wake us through crisis. You can find out more about the Thirdspace Professional Coaching Course 2025-26 on the Thirdspace website wearethirdspace.org This week's conversation is hosted, as always, by Lizzie Winn and Justin Wise of Thirdspace. Episode Overview 00:00 Introduction to Turning Towards Life 02:52 Exploring Wendell Berry's Manifesto 05:54 Eccentric Perspectives 09:52 Nature and Connection in Wendell Berry's Work 14:54 The Invitation to Question and Reflect 19:49 The Familiar vs. The Unfamiliar 24:38 Finding Sources of Truthfulness in Life 29:35 Conclusion and Reflection on the Conversation Here's our source for this week: Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front Love the quick profit, the annual raise, vacation with pay. Want more of everything ready-made. Be afraid to know your neighbors and to die. And you will have a window in your head. Not even your future will be a mystery any more. Your mind will be punched in a card and shut away in a little drawer. When they want you to buy something they will call you. When they want you to die for profit they will let you know. So, friends, every day do something that won't compute. Love the Lord. Love the world. Work for nothing. Take all that you have and be poor. Love someone who does not deserve it. Denounce the government and embrace the flag. Hope to live in that free republic for which it stands. Give your approval to all you cannot understand. Praise ignorance, for what man has not encountered he has not destroyed. Ask the questions that have no answers. Invest in the millenium. Plant sequoias. Say that your main crop is the forest that you did not plant, that you will not live to harvest. Say that the leaves are harvested when they have rotted into the mold. Call that profit. Prophesy such returns. Put your faith in the two inches of humus that will build under the trees every thousand years. Listen to carrion – put your ear close, and hear the faint chattering of the songs that are to come. Expect the end of the world. Laugh. Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful though you have considered all the facts. So long as women do not go cheap for power, please women more than men. Ask yourself: Will this satisfy a woman satisfied to bear a child? Will this disturb the sleep of a woman near to giving birth? Go with your love to the fields. Lie down in the shade. Rest your head in her lap. Swear allegiance to what is nighest your thoughts. As soon as the generals and the politicos can predict the motions of your mind, lose it. Leave it as a sign to mark the false trail, the way you didn't go. Be like the fox who makes more tracks than necessary, some in the wrong direction. Practice resurrection. Wendell Berry Photo by Nina Luong on Unsplash ---- Join Us Live in 2025 On Sunday 8th June 2025 it will be our 400th episode and we are planning a Turning Towards Life live gathering on Zoom. You're all very welcome to join. It will be a wonderful opportunity to meet us and to meet others. If you are at all interested and you would like to join us, please keep watching out and listening out on the podcast or you could head over towards our website turningtowards.life and sign up for our weekly emails there and you will get all of the information directly into your inbox. We also have the launch of our Turning Towards Life live programme which is going to run in six month seasons. It's going to be in person on Zoom once a month. We're very excited about it. A chance to expand beyond the bounds of a podcast into forming a community of learning and practice. If you go to turningtowards.life there is a button you can press to register your interest in this. About Turning Towards Life Turning Towards Life, a week-by-week conversation inviting us deeply into our lives, is a live 30 minute conversation hosted by Justin Wise and Lizzie Winn of Thirdspace. Find us on FaceBook to watch live and join in the lively conversation on this episode. You can find videos of every episode, and more about the project on the Turning Towards Life website, and you can also watch and listen on Instagram, YouTube, and as a podcast on Apple, Google, Amazon Music and Spotify. Join Our Weekly Mailing: www.turningtowards.life/subscribe Support Us: www.buymeacoffee.com/turningtowardslife Join Turning Towards Life Live: www.turningtowards.life/ttl-live-interest
To be a good Doctor and to do good health you really need to understand farming and agriculture, because good farming also equals good health and overall wellness, once said Wendell Berry. Dr. Camilla Petersen owns her own concierge medical practice in Missoula Montana where creating good health starts with what we are putting into our bodies. Camilla is a ND, MD, FAAFP who grew up in the Ukraine and has practiced in Africa, South America, New Zealand, all over the USA and now in Missoula Montana where she is also a wife, mother of two, member of the Montana Medical Board, and a business owner. www.petersenconciergemedical.com
Dave Gottenborg and his wife Jeannie are first-generation ranchers in Park County who recently made history by allowing elk to migrate through their Eagle Rock ranch in exchange for lease assistance. Today, Dave joins rural reporter Tracy Ross to talk cattle, conservation, and two authors they both admire: Aldo Leopold, author of A Sand County Almanac, and Kentucky poet Wendell Berry, whose work Tracy has cherished since high school. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2025/04/03/colorado-elk-migration-eagle-rock-ranch-conservation-agreement/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Song: vocal improvisation Improvised by: David Ruffin and Patricia Norton Notes: It's a first for A Breath of Song! An episode of improvisation -- David Ruffin is our guest, talking about the multiple benefits of the practice of improvisation, his teachers, leading menfolk in song circles, the particular challenges of having a big, beautiful voice, how singing together might build soil in these times... and more! We hope you join us in exploring the voice, and that our questions raise questions for you, too... Songwriter Info: David is a performing artist, community song leader and teacher with a passion for authentic expression. He loves creating space for voices to emerge fully and freely. He calls Central Vermont home, where he's grateful to be able to share his holistic approach to voice in community through lessons, workshops, community singing and performance collaborations. David's work is inspired by a diverse background including studies with Roy Hart Center voice teachers, deep dives in vocal improvisation, explorations in Voice Movement Therapy and over 20 plus years of performing arts, teaching and counseling/ministry experience. David believes singing helps us remember who we really are, what we're here to voice and, how we're, thankfully, so very bound up together in this. Time Stamps: Start time of first improvisation: 00:04:40 Start time of second improvisation: 01:11:26 Links: David's website: www.davidruffinvoice.com David's Venmo: @David-Ruffin-Voice Rhiannon: https://www.rhiannonmusic.com/ Bobby McFerrin: https://bobbymcferrin.com/ Wendy Tuck: And When I Rise: https://web.plumvillage.app/item/and-when-i-rise-2 Wendell Berry: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/wendell-berry “Shaker Tune” For All That Has Been is actually Let Go and Move by Velma Frye - https://youtu.be/-q9T3iiDOXA?si=EYMoNAdnR2XcK-uG Heidi Wilson: The Feast: https://www.abreathofsong.com/episodes--show-notes/140-the-feast-with-guest-heidi-wilson Evan Premo: http://www.evanpremo.com/ Boston Big Sing with Milly Roberts: https://www.bostonareasingingcircles.com/origins “Beyond the Us and Them”: https://www.patreon.com/posts/build-soil-117107668 Robin Wall Kimmerer: https://www.robinwallkimmerer.com/ Singing Revolution in Estonia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singing_Revolution Circlesinging in Burlington: https://www.juneberrymusic.com/special-events.html Judi Vinar: https://www.judivinar.com/ Ethelyn Friend in the Roy Hart tradition: https://www.ethelynfriend.com/ Fauré's Requiem – recording: John Rutter with the Cambridge Singers – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXpQCRhZw2laREcCUl4Hb4IWOX9MNEQf3 Moira Smiley: https://moirasmiley.com/ Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support. https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html
An unhurried daily meditation using the Bible, prayer, and reflection led by Pastor Jon Ciccarelli, Discipleship Pastor of Crosswalk Church in Redlands, CA, and Director of Discipleship for Crosswalk Global.If you are enjoying the podcast please go to Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify and share your rating and a review as your input will help bring awareness of this discipleship resource to more listeners around the world.To learn more about Abide and discipleship go to www.crosswalkvillage.com/discipleshipPlease feel free to reach out to us at abide@crosswalkvillage.com any time with your comments and questions. Thanks and blessings!
Halfway through one of my favorite sci-fi novels, Charles Stross' Accelerando, we tune in to the members of an interstellar first contact mission as they pass the time debating whether the Technological Singularity has happened yet. Spoiler alert: all of them are uploaded minds appearing in a consensus VR environment as various post-human avatars, riding inside a computer the size of a grain of rice on a craft the size of a soda can. To readers it seems like a satire: what, if not this, would it take to convince you we're over the rainbow? But good science fiction provokes us to question the present, and so we must ask: what are we waiting for? Are we still moderns? Is this still Western civilization? Should we be looking forward to the age of machine superintelligence, or has it already happened, like physicist Cosma Shalizi argues in his blog post “The Singularity in Our Past Light-Cone”? Here's a clip from that piece:Exponential yet basically unpredictable growth of technology, rendering long-term extrapolation impossible (even when attempted by geniuses)? Check.Massive, profoundly dis-orienting transformation in the life of humanity, extending to our ecology, mentality and social organization? Check.Annihilation of the age-old constraints of space and time? Check.Embrace of the fusion of humanity and machines? Check.Creation of vast, inhuman distributed systems of information-processing, communication and control, "the coldest of all cold monsters"? Check; we call them "the self-regulating market system" and "modern bureaucracies”.Maybe we ought to consider, like Bruno Latour, that We Have Never Been Modern. Or maybe, as Federico Campagna suggests in Prophetic Culture, each era's inhabitants identify as “modern” and project the “likely story” produced by their process of “worlding” to imagine futures that recede like mirages or rainbows as we approach the horizon of our understanding? By the time we arrive, we have transformed and the mysteries of the ancient and future are conserved. Some Indigenous cultures believe that all animals identify as “people” — perhaps every world is mundane to its native observers, and yet all of them arise out of chaos and ineffability. Science can't answer some questions because it depends on replicability and provisional consensus, and some questions ultimately force us out of attempts to get everything to make sense and into contemplative surrender to our own cognitive limits (no matter how much we augment ourselves).Science will, of course, continue. As Ted Chiang wrote twenty five years ago in his short story “Catching Crumbs from The Table”, advancements in AI and biotechnology could foreseeably “[leave] journals to publish second-hand accounts translated into human language… Journals for human audiences were reduced to vehicles of popularization, and poor ones at that, as even the most brilliant humans found themselves puzzled by translations of the latest findings… Some left the field altogether, but those who stayed shifted their attentions away from original research and toward hermeneutics: interpreting the scientific work of metahumans.”In 2025, living through the superexponential evolution of machine intelligence, this story hits close to home. What will we do when all breakthroughs are made by black box AI systems whose logic and insights evade us? We already have to take large language models on faith, doing our best to conserve a modest sliver of understanding as we resign ourselves to the practical benefits of successful but illegible prediction. But given that scientific progress has largely advanced through the proliferation of hyperspecialist experts who cannot understand one another's research, we should again ask if it were ever the case that we could explain everything, or whether we've just been ignoring the central importance of textual interpretation as we puzzled over the riddles of a world that never owed us any satisfying final answers?Whether we're modern or not, it is time for us to reconsider the foundations of ideas like informed consent, agency, evidence, and personhood. Whether you think we're still waiting around for the future or that we are living it, we live among an ecology of diverse intelligences and require a humbler approach…one strangely similar to that of Medieval serfs and jungle-dwelling foragers than first seems obvious…one that owes back pay to the dismissed disciplines of religion, magic, and myth. Which is why I'm excited to get weird with you in this episode.This week I speak with one of my closest comrades in philosophical investigation, Canadian author and film-maker J.F. Martel. Co-founder and co-host (with Phil Ford) of the internationally-acclaimed Weird Studies Podcast and Weirdosphere online learning platform, tenured para-academic explorer of high strangeness and the liminal zones between the known, unknown, and unknowable, J.F. is a perfect partner with whom to refine inquiry into persistent and tricky questions like:– What is the nature of technology and how does it change as our seemingly-discrete tools and built environments merge into a planet-scale thinking machine?– How can we tell when AI achieves personhood, and what does it take to be “good parents” of beings that are fundamentally beyond our control?– What can religion and fairy tales teach us about living well in a world where our explanatory frameworks fail us?– How can we re-think and re-claim healthy institutions to serve human flourishing after the end of history as we know it?Subscribe, Rate, & Comment on YouTube • Apple Podcasts • SpotifyPlease consider becoming a patron or making tax-deductible monthly contributions at every.org/humansontheloop. (You'll get all the same perks.)J.F.'s LinksReclaimingArt.comWeirdStudies.comWeirdosphere.orgJF on X | Weird Studies Discord & SubRedditReclaiming Art in The Age of Artifice (book)Project LinksRead the project pitch & planning docDig into the full episode and essay archivesJoin the online commons for Wisdom x Technology on DiscordThe Future Fossils Discord Server abides!Contact me about partnerships, consulting, your life, or other mysteriesChapters0:00:00 - Teaser0:01:01 - Introduction0:09:32 - Revisiting Reclaiming Art in The Age of Artifice0:15:12 - What we lose and gain by automating culture0:31:12 - Wendell Berry's poem “A Timbered Choir”0:36:50 - Transcendental, Machinic, Immanental, Imaginal, and Fractal0:46:21 - Black Box Personhood & AI as A 'Thou'1:00:00 - Is AI Magic?1:06:10 - Fairy Tales, Faith, and Submission after Modernity1:10:27 - Do we still need institutions?1:16:59 - Thanks & AnnouncementsBack Catalogue FF 18 - J.F. Martel on Art, Magic, & The Terrifying Zone of Uncanny AwesomenessFF 71 - J.F. Martel on Sequels & Simulacra, Blade Runner 2049 & Stranger Things 2WS 26 Living in a Glass AgeFF 126 - Phil Ford & JF Martel on Weird Studies & Plural RealitiesJRS Currents 064: Michael Garfield and J.F. Martel on Art x AIFF 214 - J.F. Martel, Phil Ford, & Megan Phipps on Weird Cybernetics: Waking Up From The EcstasyFF 231 - Eric Wargo & J.F. Martel on Art as Precognition, Biblically-Accurate A.I., and How to Navigate Ruptures in Space-TimeMentioned MediaWalter Benjamin's “The Work of Art in The Age of Mechanical Reproduction”Erik Hoel's “Curious George and the case of the unconscious culture”New York Encounter (event)Art is dead. Long live Art with Android Jones | Mind Meld 323 Third Eye DropsCosma Shalizi & Henry Farrell's “Artificial Intelligence is a Familiar-Looking Monster”Sigmund Freud's Beyond The Pleasure PrincipleWendell Berry's “A Timbered Choir”Henri Corbin's “Mundus Imaginalis or the Imaginary and the Imaginal”William Irwin Thompson's Imaginary LandscapesDanny Hillis' “The Enlightenment Is Dead. Long Live The Entanglement”Neri Oxman's “The Age of Entanglement”David Krakauer's “Emergent Engineering”Kevin Kelly's Out of ControlFF 150 - A Unifying Meta-Theory of UFOs & The Weird with Sean Esbjörn-HargensFF 223 - Timothy Morton on A New Christian Ecology & Systems Thinking BlasphemyTop Aerospace Scientists Suspect UFOs are Biblical Time Machines | Diana Walsh Pasulka on The Danny Jones PodcastZiwei Xu et al.'s “Hallucination is Inevitable: An Innate Limitation of Large Language Models”Isaac Asimov's FoundationGilles Deleuze's Difference and RepetitionOther MentionsDonna TartMatt CardinMichael PhilipBenoit MandelbrotJames AllenGregory BatesonDavid HumeGottfried LeibnizL. Ron HubbardErik DavisCarl JungJacques LacanAlbert CamusJean-Paul SartreCurt JaimungalStafford BeerCarl SaganJames HillmanPhil FordMarie-Louise von FranzGK ChestertonEdmund Burke This is a public episode. 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Today's poem looks back on a lifetime of maturing love. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe
