
Believe to See
The podcast of the Anselm Society's Arts Guild. Join host Matt Mellema and a rotation of guests at the digital pub table for conversations about faith and storytelling. “Some things have to be believed to be seen." -Madeleine L'Engle
Latest episodes

Jul 11, 2025 • 1h 5min
Battle of the Books
Join us as Matt and Mandy battle it out to determine which book is better -- The Great Gatsby, or To Kill a Mockingbird. It's a doozy, folks. Come cast your vote!

Jul 1, 2025 • 52min
Sirens Everywhere! Not the Singing Kind
We know there's "nothing new under the sun," but must there be so many TV shows with a first responder, life-or-death, emergency services premise? Join Mandy, Matt, and Christina as they discuss the plethora of shows like these. Why are writers and viewers drawn to these stories--and what differentiates those worth saving from those that ought to be DOA?

Jun 20, 2025 • 48min
Stories Tell the Truth
Author Jennifer Layte is a firm believer in the power of story to draw us closer to Jesus and closer to an understanding of who we are. Join Mandy and Jenn at the pub table as they discuss story, nicknames, and Jenn's latest book, Follower: How Getting Close to Jesus Brings You to Yourself -- a narrative study of Simon Peter's journey with Jesus.

Jun 13, 2025 • 55min
When Art Gets the Blues
Good art moves us and makes us (or helps us) feel things. Mandy asks her cohosts to consider: why do some of us gravitate toward sad art when we're already sad? What is the purpose and value of art that's a little bit (or very much) heartbreaking?

May 30, 2025 • 34min
Man Behind The Mythmakers
John Hendrix creates graphic novels that beautifully blend prose and illustrations to tell complex stories. His latest work, The Mythmakers, delves into a subject near and dear to the heart of the Anselm Society: the friendship of CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien. Hendrix joins the table to discuss how he conveyed the lives and impact of these two authors in his own unique style. John Hendrix’s website: https://www.johnhendrix.com/ Buy The Mythmakers: https://www.amazon.com/Mythmakers-Remarkable-Fellowship-Tolkien-Graphic/dp/1419746340

May 23, 2025 • 36min
The Enduring Appeal of YA
Sarah Hendricks is the author of a new YA fantasy novel called Ella. A few years ago, Matthew accidentally became something of a YA fantasy expert (long story). Now, he’s checking in on the state of the genre. What’s encompassed by the term “YA Fantasy”? What are its different niches and sub-genres? And why does it have such enduring popularity with so many readers? Sarah Hendricks has the answers. Buy Ella: https://pegasuspublishers.com/books/sarah-hendricks/ella

May 9, 2025 • 37min
The Green Ember Video Game
SD Smith has recently announced a Green Ember video game. He joins the digital pub table to discuss this exciting new project. So strap in for a deep dive into the Green Ember video game: its origin, its design, and how families can play video games in an enriching way.

May 4, 2025 • 39min
Where Folk Meets Jazz
Jacob Herold is a multi-instrumental musician whose music interweaves folk and jazz. He also happens to be a member artist of the Anselm Society Arts Guild. He joins the table to discuss his new album, The Train & The River. What’s it like to fuse two styles like jazz and folk? Why should we worry about fusing different styles in the first place? And how did Jacob find the time to learn to play all of those instruments? Buy The Train & The River: https://www.jacobherold.com/

Apr 25, 2025 • 53min
Road Trip! Interview With Isaac Hans
Isaac Hans joins Mandy and Christina at the pub table to talk about his journey with photography--literally. What is "road trip photography," and what drew Isaac to it in the first place? How does his faith inform his work? Who are some of his biggest influences? He also sheds light on some of the equipment and techniques that photographers use, and why.

Apr 18, 2025 • 38min
Back to Carrick Hall--Sarah Arthur
Author Sarah Arthur has previously joined the digital pub table to talk about her YA fantasy novel Once a Queen. But it turns out this was only the first book in her Carrick Hall series. She returns to the pub table to discuss the brand new second book: Once a Castle. Matt and Mandy ask Sarah about her process for creating a second book in a series, and where she plans to take Carrick Hall from here. Buy Once a Castle: https://www.amazon.com/Once-Castle-Carrick-Novel-Novels/dp/0593194489 Believe to See audience survey: https://formurl.com/to/b2s-survey