The Mockingcast

In which Sarah, RJ, and Dave talk hard seltzer, early NFL retirements, and the (non)virtue of niceness. Also, Sarah shares her recipe for meat water. Click here to read Amanda Mull's article "White Claw Is What Happens When Being Cool Becomes Exhausting." Click here to read Nate Jackson's column "Football Doesn't Let You Leave." Click here to read Sharon Hodde Miller's take on "Why Niceness Weakens Our Witness."

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave return from their summer break to talk school stress, ideal women, millennial nuns, and the gift God gave Stephen Colbert. Also, Sarah reveals her favorite film franchise. Click here to read the article "We Have Ruined Childhood by Kim Brooks Click here to read "The Tyranny of the Ideal Woman" by Jia Tolentino Click here to read "Behold, The Millennial Nuns" by Eve Fairbanks Click here to watch the clip of Anderson Cooper interviewing Stephen Colbert

In this, the third of three special summer mini-sodes, RJ, Sarah, and Dave converse on the subject of hope (and why it is not the same thing as optimism). Dedicated to the memory of James Harte.

In this special episode of The Mockingcast, Ethan Richardson takes us on a tour of The Family Issue of The Mockingbird magazine, featuring interviews with education expert Alfie Kohn and Silver Linings Playbook creator Matthew Quick. Oh, and Carrie Willard explains why our family lives are like those moldy leftovers in your refrigerator. Order your copy of The Family Issue here.

In this, the second of three special summer mini-sodes, Sarah, RJ, and Dave try to put words to the Holy Spirit. Also, RJ totally loses it in Denny's.

In this, the first of three special summer mini-sodes, RJ, Sarah, and Dave discuss what's meant by "the bondage of the will," and why it's not a bad thing. Also, Annie Condon has a good cry.

In which Sarah, Dave, and RJ talk diabolical mirrors, marital submission, and contingent self-esteem. Also, RJ eats a whopper (but keeps his balance). The articles discussed include: "The Devil Lives in the Mirror" by Jessica Hooten Wilson via Christianity Today "Stop Blaming the Devil" by Sarah Condon "Is Marriage Obsolete?" by Heather Havrilesky via The Cut "The Pursuit of High Self-Esteem Is Making Us Miserable" by Shayla Love via Vice

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk summer expectations, arrival fallacies, and the most American heresy of all. With rocks. The articles discussed include: "The Tyranny of Summer Expectations" by Carrie Willard via Mbird.com "You Accomplished Something Great" by A.C. Shilton via New York Times "If I Only Understood the Arrival Fallacy I'd be Happy" by David Zahl via Mbird.com "The Age of Pelagius" by Joshua Hawley via Christianity Today "Semi-Pelagianism Glossay Entry" via Mbird.com

In which Sarah, RJ, and Dave talk sleep technology, reckless generosity, and back row churches. Also, Sarah would like an epidural, all the time. Oh and to take RJ up on his offer, visit [www.mbird.com/support](www.mbird.com/support). The articles discussed include: "Sleepless in Silicon Valley" via The Economist "Morehouse College Grads are Suprised" by Eliott C. McLaughlin via CNN "Is This Fair to Families who Saved?" by Michelle Singletary via The Washington Post "Back Row America" by Chris Arnade via First Things "The Only Places on the Streets That Understand" by David Zahl via Mbird.com

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave reunite to talk pop culture homework, judging other people's relationships, and the lives and deaths of Rachel Held Evans and Jean Vanier. Please note: this is not the episode where Sarah cries the whole time. Articles discussed include: "When Did Pop Culture Become Homework?" by Soraya Roberts via Longreads "Let's Face It, We All Judge Other People's Relationships" by Oliver Burkeman via The Guardian "Rachel Held Evans, Hero to Christian Misfits" by Emma Green via The Atlantic "Jean Vanier Made Us All More Human" by Bethany McKinney Fox via Christianity Today