Three Praiseworthy Podcasts on Plots, Politics, and Peeps (and other stuff)

4 min read

10 Jun

10Jun

In case you're one of those people who think a podcast is the Australian wombat's second cousin twenty-seven times removed, allow me to define the term for you: a podcast is a serial talk show in primarily auditory format on a particular subject, or several particular subjects.

You may know that I like to listen to podcasts. More specifically, I like to listen to podcasts on deep topics like apologetics, scary Polish croissants, writing, and dandelions on fire. Other stuff too, of course, as this post's title suggests.

Why do I like to listen to podcasts? Because there is nothing like listening to articulate, fun people discuss topics that interest me. And because I'm weird.

I've found three podcasts in particular that have hopelessly hooked me. What's more diabolical is that I now have the inexplicable urge to pull as many as I can into the deep end with me, meaning you, my friend.

Or maybe I have an inexplicable urge to pull you out of the deep end with me. You know, with a hook? I may be mixing metaphors. Or similes.

Regardless of the technicalities, whether you're already a podcast fan or you're one of those people who thought "podcast" referred to an obscure Australian marsupial, I hope you find a little something to enjoy from each of the three I'm going to share with you today.

I think you'll like them.

1. Stories are Soul Food

^{Hosts: N. D. Wilson and Brian Kohl}
^{Topics: Tolkien and Lewis, writing, popcorn, hearty meals, and Wilson's middle-grade fantasy}
^{Typical format: Kohl mostly asks questions and Wilson does most of the talking. Sometimes they bring on an interviewee.}
^{Posted: every Monday}
^{Length: ½ hour to an hour}

You may have heard of N. D. Wilson, who is the bestselling scribbler of the middle-grade 100 Cupboards series and other lesser-known tomes. Brian Kohl went to Oxford, and is now editor-in-chief of an obscure publishing house called Canon Press located in Potato Paradise. (Fun fact: both Wilson and Kohl happen to be two of the more prominent members of my denomination, the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, otherwise known as the CREC. Canon Press is the CREC's flagship publishing house.)

Together, Wilson and Kohl draw on their experience in the creative world to provide insightful dialogue centering on a single premise: that stories are food for the soul; that stories grow us, shape our affections and loves, and have the potential to enliven and inspire us to live the lives we're given in the real world. Along the way, they touch on writing advice, mini-reviews of books and movies, and Wilson's wit and wisdom.

And for those of you who were wondering, yes, they do recommend eating bowls of Froot Loops in the bathtub.

2. The Holy Post

^{Hosts and Hostesses: Phil Vischer, Skye Jethani, and sometimes Kristian Taylor and Kaitlyn Scheiss
Topics: Evangelical Christian culture, politics, and Christian living}
^{Typical format: first Phil, Skye, and Kristian discuss several news stories, then Skye interviews a guest
Posted: every Wednesday}
^{Length: 1 hour to 1½ hour}

If you, like me, grew up in a predominantly white, conservative Christian community, this will be quite the interesting podcast. Because while the hosts hold to Christian orthodoxy, they don't always hold quite as tightly to politically conservative orthodoxy. Phil Vischer (player of the ukulele and creator of VeggieTales), Skye Jethani (pastor of a church and author of books), and Kristian Taylor (documentary filmmaker), all come together to offer their unique, thoughtful, and culturally relevant perspective on the world and Evangelical Christianity. Some of the controversial opinions they hold to include not subscribing to the predominant view that Christianity's future in America is bleak, believing America's growing multiculturalism and diversity is a good thing, giving some credence to critical race theory, and not supporting Donald Trump. (Skye was also formerly a peep-hater, but he repented of it in a later episode.)

Are you gasping in horror that I'd listen to such heresy? If you are, I get it. But please hear me out for a bit. It's important that we listen to people who are different from us—people with different opinions—because that helps us develop compassion for those on the other side. Doing so challenges our preconceptions, offers a new and different way to look at the world, and maybe even some "I never thought of it that way before" moments. Plus, the Holy Post is a lot of fun. So for the sake of compassion, epiphany, and fun please give this podcast a chance.

3. Unbelievable?

^{Host: Justin Brierley
Topics: Christianity, apologetics, and philosophy
Typical format: Justin moderates a debate on a specific topic between two people of differing viewpoints. After the debate, Justin sometimes reads listeners' feedback.
Posted: at least once a week, sometimes twice or thrice a week}
^Len^g^th^{: 1 hour to 1½ hour}

The Unbelievable Podcast is hosted by Christian Justin Brierley, whose British accent makes him sound so effortlessly intellectual.

Unbelievable? features debates between people of differing viewpoints on topics related to faith including miraculous healing, evolution vs. Young Earth Creationism, Mormonism vs. Christianity, Islam vs. Christianity, and atheism vs. Christianity. Justin—although he no doubt has opinions—is the ideal impartial moderator, helping the debaters make their points and keeping them within a certain time limit. I love Unbelievable? because it offers the rare opportunity to have an advocate for the opposite side make their case and share their perspective, which is always interesting and informative to hear, as it helps me understand the other side better than I had before. The debaters generally conduct themselves with respect toward each other in spite of their differences, which is also nice.

The only thing I don't really like about Unbelievable? is that since it airs as a radio show, there is a strict time limit that they have to abide by, which is annoying because the debaters sometimes could use a little more time. This is a very minor thing for me, though, as it rarely presents itself as an issue.

The last episode I listened to was a debate between an atheist and a Christian over whether the Bible is really as bad as atheist memes claim it is.

Are you a podcast fan? If yes, what podcasts do you like listening to? Do you think Skye can be forgiven for being a peep-hater?

If you'd like to listen to any of the podcasts above, please visit podcasts.google.com and type your query in the search box thingy. Or follow the links above, which I worked really hard on for the sake of your convenience.

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