The Habit

Carey Wallace, an inspiring author and speaker committed to supporting writers and artists, shares her insights on creativity and spirituality. She discusses the delicate dance between inspiration and discipline, emphasizing that artists shouldn't just wait for inspiration to strike. Incorporating anecdotes from musicians like Peter Frampton, she highlights the element of surprise in creative breakthroughs. Carey also advocates for the power of rest, showing how taking breaks can enhance creative thinking and enrich literary expression.

Speaker and author Vicki Courtney has been writing books for women since the late 90s. Her new book is Motherhood Is Not Your Highest Calling: The Grace of Being a Good-Enough Mother. Vicki says iIt’s the book she would have liked to read when she was a young mother unable to shake the idea that motherhood defined her identity. In this episode, Vicki and Jonathan Rogers talk about swapping “perfect” for “good enough.” We talk about fitting a writing life into motherhood. And we talk a little about what it’s like to change your mind about something you published twenty years ago.  This episode is sponsored by The Habit's Focus Retreat, October 26-30 in Nashville. Find out more at TheHabit.co/Retreats.Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this engaging conversation, David Taylor, an Associate Professor of Theology & Culture, teams up with Steve Guthrie, a Professor of Theology and the Arts. They delve into the fascinating relationship between the Holy Spirit and artistic inspiration, negotiating how divine influence shapes creativity. The duo shares insights on interdisciplinary collaboration in their essay collection, ‘Naming the Spirit,’ and reflects on the church's historical role in fostering the arts. Their lively dialogue emphasizes the significance of acknowledging spiritual presence within communal creativity.

Jason M. Baxter, a college professor and author, dives into the enduring importance of literature in our tech-driven age. He discusses how storytelling can heal and connect people, emphasizing literature as a 'technology for inwardness.' Baxter highlights literature's role in countering the superficiality of online content and stresses the need for critical thinking. He also reflects on the power of immersive experiences in deepening self-understanding and championing beauty in art. Inspirations from literary greats like C.S. Lewis and Dante further enrich the conversation.

Father Damian Ference, a Cleveland priest and philosophy professor at Borromeo Seminary, discusses the philosophical roots of Flannery O’Connor’s storytelling. He argues that O'Connor’s 'hillbilly Thomist' perspective is deeply influenced by Thomas Aquinas. Delving into how sensory experience shapes our understanding of art and reality, Father Ference emphasizes the interplay between meaning and human experience. He also explores the nuances of storytelling, the pursuit of virtue, and critiques the limitations of artificial intelligence in grasping true human existence.

Heidi White is a teacher, a podcaster, a speaker, and an author. In her speaking and writing she explores literature, education, and the Christian imagination. Her new book is The Divided Soul: Duty and Desire in Literature and Life. In this episode, Heidi and Jonathan Rogers talk about the division and ultimate reunification of “want” and “ought,” and they discuss the truth that this division is central to all story because it is central to the human experience.Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Karen Swallow Prior, a public intellectual and writer, delves into the complexities of passion and vocation. She challenges the mainstream idea of 'following your passion', suggesting that true fulfillment comes from hard work and self-awareness. Dr. Prior emphasizes the importance of knowing one's limitations and the need for community support in discovering true callings. She also reflects on how pursuing truth, goodness, and beauty can lead to a richer life, highlighting unexpected interests like men's fashion along the way.

In this insightful discussion, Mitali Perkins, a celebrated author known for her impactful children's books and her new guide for creatives, delves into the intersection of art and justice. She argues that creativity is essential even amidst suffering. Mitali shares her career journey from international development to storytelling and introduces five internal forces that hinder creativity, like envy and sloth. She also provides practical remedies, highlighting the importance of community and gratitude in sustaining creative work.

Carolyn Weber was our special guest at The Habit Summer Writers’ Weekend this past June. Carolyn is the author of Surprised by Oxford and Sex and the City of God. She is also a professor at New College Franklin in Franklin, Tennessee. The following conversation was recorded in front of a live audience of writers. Carolyn and Jonathan Rogers talk about memoir-writing, the memoirist’s ever-developing sense of self, and what it means to be both honest and honoring of others in a memoir.Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Songwriter Wendell Kimbrough has been writing, recording, and performing songs based on the Psalms for the last few years. His most recent record is called You Belong. In this episode, Wendell and Jonathan Rogers talk about loneliness, perfectionism, feeling like an outsider, learning to belong–and how one writes songs that sound like the Psalms while also sounding like the Gulf Coast.Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.