The Habit

Kori Morgan, author of "Why I Dyed My Hair Purple & Other Unorthodox Stories" and founder of Inkling Creative Strategies, shares her journey of creativity and faith. She delves into the influence of Flannery O’Connor on her work and the significance of flash nonfiction as a way to capture vivid moments. Kori discusses the pros and cons of MFA programs, reflecting on her creative upbringing and the support found in artistic communities. She also humorously reveals the story behind her purple hair, showcasing her unique blend of art and spirituality.

Maria Bowler, a writer and retreat leader dedicated to nurturing imaginative souls, joins the discussion to share insights from her book, "Making Time." She emphasizes the shift from a producer mindset to a creator mindset, advocating for a more fulfilling approach to work. Maria explores the concept of collaborating with reality, viewing challenges as partners in the creative journey rather than obstacles. She also highlights the significance of intention over goals, encouraging authenticity in creativity and personal growth.

Quina Aragon, an author and spoken word poet, shares her journey of faith and storytelling. She discusses the surprising four-year process of writing her book, 'Love Has a Story,' and the deep connection between counseling and writing. Quina explores feelings of being unqualified yet compelled to express her experiences. The conversation highlights the power of vulnerability in creativity and how performing poetry enriches her written work, making it a captivating blend of personal narrative and spiritual insight.

Sarah Clarkson is a writer whose work centers on beauty and grief, story and quiet. She has written of herself, “I’m trying to write well about my own sorrow, and my own encounters with the beauty that defied my darkness and drew me into a life of creativity, quiet, and wonder.” She studied theology at Oxford University. She is the author or co-author of six books, most recently Reclaiming Quiet: Cultivating a Life of Holy Attention, which she wrote to answer her own questions about what it means to have a quiet mind in a fallen, screen-driven world. In this episode, Sarah and Jonathan Rogers discuss a better definition of quiet, the importance of physical presence, the dangers of screens, and the value of boredom. This episode is sponsored by The Focus Retreat, a four-day writing getaway, March 16-20 in Nashville. Find out more at TheHabit.co/retreats.  Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know Sam (SD) Smith as the author of the Green Ember series–#RabbitsWithSwords. Sam and his son Josiah (JC) Smith have joined forces as the co-authors of the Jack Zulu series–Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key and Jack Zulu and the Girl with the Golden Wings (so far). In this episode, Jonathan Rogers speaks with the the Smiths about what it’s like to co-write a book and, more to the point, what it’s like to co-write a book with your offspring…or with your parent, as the case may be.Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Besides being a novelist, Pete Peterson is a playwright and the head of Rabbit Room Theater. He is also the publisher at Rabbit Room Press. Matt Logan is the director, set designer, and costume designer who has brought all of Pete’s plays to vivid life. Matt and Pete are putting the finishing touches on a new stage adaptation of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. Its inaugural run will be December 7-December 22 in Franklin, Tennessee. You can get your tickets at RabbitRoom.comSupport the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leslie Eiler Thompson is a podcast producer and writer. Her work has been featured on Apple Podcasts, The Guardian, Nashville Public Radio, Christianity Today, Rabbit Room, and beyond. Her newest audio project, Niche to Meet You, is an investigative storytelling podcast about little-known niche interests and hobbies where we make and find meaning. One of the niche interests she has investigated is wild turkey conservation. Since it’s Thanksgiving Week in the United States, Jonathan Rogers is talking to Leslie about turkeys, podcasting, and her creative process.Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Willie Pearl is an Americana/Southern rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. Their new album is called Willie Pearl. In this special bonus episode, singer-songwriter Henry Rogers of Willie Pearl speaks with Jonathan Rogers about songwriting, perfectionism, and letting go.Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caroline Cobb is a singer-songwriter known for her deep engagement with Scripture. Her first foray into book-writing is Advent for Exiles: 25 Devotions to Awaken Gospel Hope in Every Longing Heart. In this episode, Caroline and Jonathan Rogers discuss the idea of exile, a pervasive theme in the Bible, as well as the artist’s role of planting seeds for the new Eden. The Habit Podcast is sponsored by The Habit Membership, a library of resources by me, Jonathan Rogers. More importantly, The Habit Membership is a hub of community, where like-minded writers gather to share their work and give one another a little more courage. Find out more at TheHabit.co.Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lanier Ivester sees hospitality as a primary way she expresses her creativity. All of her creative endeavors are shaped by the belief that the most quotidian things are charged with eternal meaning, if only we have eyes to see. Her new book, illustrated by Jennifer Trafton, is Glad and Golden Hours: A Companion for Advent and Christmastide. In this episode, Lanier and Jonathan Rogers talk about the difference between hospitality and entertaining; we discuss ways to make the holidays a season of rest. And Lanier makes the case that “matter matters.”Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.