Faith Improvised

The hosts discuss their perspective on suffering, reminisce about making mixtapes, explore the connection between wealth, expectations, and happiness, analyze the influence of advertising on desire and discontentment, explore the impact of tech companies on our desires, discuss their experience at a progressive school, and share their perspective on meaningful encounters and Thanksgiving.

Johnny Marr, a musician who stayed focused on playing guitar and remained committed to those around him. The podcast explores the influence of fame on musicianship, the rise of Manchester's music scene, the connection between adversity and creativity, a comparison between Bono and Johnny Marr, and the challenges of maintaining perspective in the face of fame and societal pressures.

The podcast explores the healing dynamics of long walks and the power of laughter. They discuss the transformative power of walking, its impact on mental and physical health. They also reflect on the importance of fiction in conveying important truths and share funny anecdotes about parenting frustrations and the role of laughter in authoritarian settings.

In this episode, Steve and I reflect on our personal transformations over the last 25 years, and the emotional, relational, and intellectual dynamics involved in those.

The podcast explores how painful situations can be catalysts for growth and happiness. They discuss their lunch experience, encounters with Indiana drivers, and their recent interest in The Smiths. They reflect on the relationship between pain, suffering, and pursuing happiness. The speakers share personal anecdotes and discuss the concept of finding beauty in pain and suffering. They also delve into the idea that pain and suffering can lead to personal growth and happiness, emphasizing the importance of confronting pain with courage and fearlessness.

In this episode, Steve and I talk about certainty and uncertainty, reflecting on Mark C. Taylor's comment, in his book, After God, that "Certainty is the symptom of death; uncertainty, the pulse of life."

In our conversation, Steve and I mention a few books: Mark Tessler, A History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict; Elias Chacour, Blood Brothers: The Dramatic Story of a Palestinian Christian Working for Peace in Israel; Sandy Tolan, The Lemon Tree: An Arab, A Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East; Ari Shavit, My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel; Anne Applebaum, Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism. I also mentioned the documentary film, "With God on Our Side."

Explore the origins of individualism in American Protestantism and its influence on capitalism. Reflect on the impact of hyper individualism in white conservative evangelical culture, including the lack of emphasis on the common good. Examine the market as a sacred reality and critique the similarities between the Roman Empire and the current system of dominance. Learn about the value of self-compassion within Christianity and its history of self-negating tendencies.

This podcast explores the relationship between happiness and joy, the interpretation of Jesus' Beatitudes, and the concepts of intellectual humility and arrogance. It also discusses being for or against nothing, the role of nostalgia in small towns, and the importance of memory and the danger of doubt.

In this episode, Steve and I discuss the novel and the film adaptations of "True Grit"--their similarities and differences, and how the Coen version fits their vision of life in a cold, indifferent universe. We mention this article about the film by Stanley Fish, and the book by Adam Nayman, The Coen Brothers: This Book Really Ties the Films Together.