The PloughCast
Plough
How can we live well together? What gives life purpose? What about technology, education, faith, capitalism, work, family? Is another life possible? Plough editor Peter Mommsen and senior editor Susannah Black Roberts dig deeper into perspectives from a wide variety of writers and thinkers appearing in the pages of Plough.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 7, 2025 • 15min
In Defense of Pint and Pipe by Malcolm Guite
Smoking and drinking carry known risks. Here’s why I haven’t given them up.
Sep 6, 2025 • 21min
Against Self-Optimization by David Zahl
David Zahl, a thought-provoking writer and author of "Against Self-Optimization," dives deep into the pitfalls of the wellness industry. He critiques our obsession with productivity, arguing that it often leads to anxiety and disconnection from meaningful relationships. Zahl emphasizes the importance of recognizing our intrinsic human value over mere efficiency. He champions a compassionate approach to parenting over quantifiable success and highlights the superficiality of self-optimization, seeking to shift the narrative towards hope and genuine self-care.
Sep 5, 2025 • 20min
The Exploitation of Immigrant Care Workers by Hazel Thompson
Hidden in plain sight, foreign health aides in UK care homes face exploitation.
Sep 4, 2025 • 21min
What My First Psychiatric Patient Taught Me by Abraham M. Nussbaum
Sharon could hardly leave the house. She showed me the wonder and limits of therapy.
Sep 3, 2025 • 29min
Abraham’s Warring Children by Kelsey Osgood
After October 7, can a Muslim-Christian-Jewish center in Abu Dhabi make any difference?
Sep 2, 2025 • 23min
What Families with Autistic Children Know by Sam Tomlin
For parents of neurodiverse children, church and school can be another hurdle.
Sep 1, 2025 • 25min
Chronically Healthy, Chronically Ill by Aberdeen Livingstone
Living with a chronic illness, I’ve traveled between the kingdom of health and the kingdom of sickness.
Aug 31, 2025 • 18min
The Faces of the Bhopal Disaster by Cristiano Denanni
Forty years after history’s worst industrial accident, survivors still live in its shadow.
Aug 30, 2025 • 26min
The Return of the Family Doctor by Brewer Eberly
The direct primary care model aims to put relationships over profit.
Aug 29, 2025 • 22min
Desire, Use, Repeat by James Mumford
An addict looks for a way out.
