Jim Wilson was one of God's main characters in our part of the world -- and there's nothing stopping you from being equally faithful in your own character arc. This episode celebrates the life of Nate's grandfather, James Irwin Wilson, an oak tree of a man when he was on earth, and someone more strong and glorious now in Heaven. Follow the story beginning with Jim's childhood as a Nebraska farm kid "tricking" his teachers and working in stockyards, to his Navy years wooing a missionary lady eight years older than him who was absolutely not interested, to the intermission of the Korean War, to the move to Idaho and his life's work of giving books away (leading in part to you all sitting here listening). RIP, Grandpa Jim!

Get ready for a practical-advice episode about training your kids how to watch movies together. Dave Radford of The Gray Havens comes on #SASF to ask the guys questions about how, precisely, one teaches children (and yourself!) how to watch movies. BUT FIRST, Dave criticizes the SASF soundtrack -- and as one of Nate's favorite songwriters, his complaints carry weight -- and the SASF pod makes an exciting new acquisition. Then the guys discuss the dangers of ruining the moment by watching movies like a worldview robot: the point is to ENJOY it together. That's what parents are for, after all. Lots of practical movie night recommendations, too. And remember, for a few weeks or so, SASF listeners can get a free month of Canon+ for 99 cents (first-time subscribers only).#SASF #StoriesAreSoulFood #NDWilson #movienight #family

Christianity Today puts Nate on a list of fantasy books you should read -- but with a significant warning that brought Brian much joy. We follow along as Nate discusses other times his books have raised eyebrows and caused nightmares, and his theory for why. In the caramel center of this episode, though, you'll find Nate's sideswiping of Jane Austen's supposed lack of melodrama. Is there any way all of this can cohere into one episode?! The only way to find out... is on this all-new episode of Stories Are Soul Food! For a few weeks or so, SASF listeners can get a free month of Canon+ for 99 cents (first-time subscribers only).#SASF #CanonPlus #NDWilson #JaneAusten #ChristianityToday #nightmares        

This week's episode is full of #SASF conflict: Brian suggests that there are two kinds of war movies. Nate disagrees. Brian suggests that war movies are a great analogy for dealing with the problem of evil. Nate refrains from overt disagreement. A conversation ensues on the "real" problem of evil and how to respond to it (plus you get to hear Nate's favorite war movies).

The guys have a book recommendation for you all... or rather, 41 books to recommend (and Nate owns them all). Find out why they recommend an atheist for your children to read.

This week's episode highlights the difference between coaching and teaching, and how to do both well...especially as this applies to a novel. What happens when your novel is coming in less than half the length you wanted it to be? How do you fix that and other first-draft problems? These and other problems are taught in NDW's video course, "The School of Fantastical Wordcraft," but you get the intro here... #SASF #StoriesAreSoulFood #NDWilson #FantasticalWordcraft

Ready for the parenting advice you didn't know you needed? A #SASF mother of boys wrote in with a question about what to have her son read during a time when he had no friends. Nate and Brian launch off into a discussion of what books can do for you, along with what they can't, and what else to consider handing your son when he's struggling. What they ended up with is some great soul food for moms, particularly—although dads, there are some good points for you as well. #StoriesAreSoulFood #NDWilson #BooksforBoys #Parenting

Nate and Brian discuss whether it's possible to write a good story based on a truth you wanted to communicate. This is a key question for Christian writers / artists / movie-makers, and misunderstanding it is what makes so much Christian art bad. To be honest, misunderstanding this is also what makes so much far-left woke creative projects terrible as well. Basically, you can't write a story "top-down." Plus, the guys get into a discussion of hidden themes and Easter eggs in N.D. Wilson's works... any of the rest of you besides Ryan notice the Ruth-Boaz allusion in Ashtown?

The guys are back after a long spring break to discuss Pixar—and this episode is the cheerful story of the decline of a creative giant. You'll learn what "heart-forward" content is, why Pixar's approach won parents and kids alike, and why Cars is their most profitable and worst movie (okay, worst is too strong). You'll also track the existential dread in Pixar's films, and see how that dread gradually overtook everything...at least until Disney days, because now Pixar is just a sticker to slap on content. #TurningRed #MonstersInc #FindingNemo #TheIncredibles #Pixar #StoriesAreSoulFood #SASF Check out Canon Plus today: https://mycanonplus.com/ 

Check out Canon Plus today: https://mycanonplus.com/