Believe To See

Matt, Mandy, and Christina gather together to debrief about our recent podcast with guest Lancia E. Smith on the power of naming. There may be more than a little talk about best and worst fantasy football names and houseplants christened after famous authors, but what can we say? Names matter. And when you sit down to talk about it? You may be startled to discover how much the power of names - ( and the human instinct to name everything from our cars to our kids) - is inextricably linked to the identity God gave you.  

Another holiday season is upon us, bringing with it the potential for wonder—or for stress, consumerism, and detachment. Amanda Luedeke and Hannah Oplinger have created a new devotional that walks us from Thanksgiving through the new year, engaging all six of our senses (yes! There are six!). Join Mandy as she talks with Amanda about how we might “reclaim the holidays for [our] heart’s formation and the glory of God”.

Christina didn't celebrate Halloween growing up. But every October, her children parade around the neighborhood trick-or-treating in their favorite super-hero costumes with their buddies, school-mates, and neighbor-friends. So what changed? Christina dives deep into the history and significance of Halloween. Is it an "evil" holiday? Are we "inviting darkness" or participating in "devil worship" by handing out candy in ghoul costumes? Together with Matt and Mandy, she explores how a proper understanding of Halloween fits into the larger Christian story.  

Matt’s debut middle-grade fantasy novel, Red Rex, is here! Join Mandy and Christina as they talk with Matt about the dream, the process, the plot, the characters, the illustrations — and the footnotes.

Calvin and Hobbes may be the greatest comic strip ever. But there’s a problem. Its creator, Bill Watterson, quit after only ten years. At age 38. Did Watterson squander his incredible talent? Matt thinks so. Mandy and Christina aren’t so sure. Together, they discuss whether artists have a responsibility to share their talent with others.    

Taylor Swift is the most popular musician since the Beatles. And Matt doesn’t understand. Don’t get him wrong—he doesn’t dislike Taylor Swift. He’s just not the target audience. What he needs is a thoughtful fan to show him the ways of the Swifties. Matt has found that fan in his cousin, Alyssa. She explains the appeal of Taylor Swift as a musician, and the power of Taylor Swift as a storyteller. Can she win Matt over to the Swifties?

We all have young storytellers in our lives. Maybe it’s a first-grade nephew drawing comic books in crayon. Maybe it’s a teenage granddaughter writing her first short story. How can we best encourage them? Millie Florence is here to help. The 21-year-old author is about to publish her third novel. She gives insight on fostering a love of stories with the kids in our lives. Learn more about Millie’s work at: https://millieflorence.com

In this conversation, Cultivating founder Lancia Smith joins Christina and Evangeline to discuss the power of naming and its impact on our identity and relationships. They explore how naming can be an act of love and reclamation, allowing us to see and be seen. They also discuss the importance of naming our fears and how it can take away their power. They emphasize the need for humility, listening, and recognizing the belovedness of others. They conclude by highlighting the role of myth-making and storytelling in reflecting eternal truth.  

Matt and Mandy interview fellow Anselm Guild member Jacoby Elliott, who is a musician, writer, and visual artist. Jacoby talks about his desire to make beautiful things and how a longing for beauty helped point him back to God.

Mandy interviews poet, playwright, and critic Jane Scharl to discuss poetry. Learn more about Jane at https://jcscharl.com/

Matt, who has never been able to get into Frank Hebert's classic science fiction Novel Dune or the films adaptations, brings Brian Brown and Peter Houk to the digital pub table to convince him of the merit of Dune.

Matt interviews Jody Collins about poetry, and why people should like poetry and it shouldn't be so hard to do so. Find Jody at https://jodyleecollins.com/ and writing on Substack at https://jodycollins.substack.com/

Matt interviews short-story author KC Ireton, discussing KC's work and journey as an author.

Mandy, Matt, and Christina discuss impressions made on them as children by different forms of art, why they made an impression on them, and how it impacts them to today.

Christina, Mandy, and Matt discuss the question, “How do we love other people with our art?”

Matt interviews Rachel Shinnick, author of YA Fiction novel Moon Thief. They discuss what led Rachel to writing her first novel, how she saw God working in the process, and the various trials of getting published for the first time. They discuss what it looks like to value artistic pursuits while also embracing and embodying Christian values as an artist. Learn more about Rachel and Moon Thief at https://www.rachelshinnick.com/

Matt interviews author Sylvie Vanhoozer. Find out more about Sylvie at https://www.theartoflivinginseason.com/

Matt, Mandy, and Christina talk about literature remixes. What is a literature remix? Take a well-known and beloved story - a Shakespeare play, a Jane Austen novel, fairy tale - and retell the story in a whole new setting. What makes a good remix? What makes a bad one? And what is it about some classic stories that compel us to keep remixing and retelling them over and over?

Matt, Mandy, and Christina discuss Disney movie live-action reboots and whether any (or perhaps some) of the reboots are justified.

Matt and his wife, Danielle, interview fellow Anselm Arts Guild member Amy Lee and discuss Amy's new book "This Homeward Ache" and discuss what it means that God has set eternity in the hearts of man and how longing influences our lives.