The Mockingcast

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk last chance basketball programs, true selves, teenage errors, and gracious dispositions. Also, Sarah gets kicked off AOL Instant Messenger. Click here to watch the trailer for Last Chance U: Basketball. Click here to read the New Yorker's profile of Sherry Turkle. Click here to read Vice's article on "Why Your ‘True Self’ Is An Illusion" by Shayla Love. Click here to read Graeme Wood's piece "America Has Forgotten How to Forgive" in The Atlantic. Click here to read DZ's reflection on Regret and here for his piece on The Doctine of Grace vs The Disposition of Grace. Click here to view the painting by James Tissot that RJ references, "What Our Lord Saw from The Cross".

In which Sarah, RJ and Dave talk baby busts, Instavangelists, and epiphanies of the heart. Also, RJ comes clean about his favorite Disney princess. Clue: It's not Anna or Elsa. Click here to read The Wall Street Journal's report on the intenational baby bust. Click here to read Leigh Stein's piece on The Empty Religions of Instagram. Click here to read Giles Fraser's column on changing attitudes toward memorials. Click here to read James K.A. Smith's essay on The Intelligence of Love. Click here to read Tim Keller's reflection on "Growing My Faith in the Face of Death."

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk Covid-Deutsch, the advice column boom, and grieving video game characters. Also, Sarah cozies up to some ghosts while dancing to DMB. Click here to read Rebecca Schumann's overview of the new German words being invented to describe pandemic life. Click here to read The New Yorker's profile of The Age of Peak Advice. Click here to read Sam Bush's One Simple Rule for Never Making a Bad Decision. Click here to read Matt Ortile's essay for Catapult on grief and gaming. Click here to read Samuel Wells' sermon on Job and the Love Stronger than Death. Click here to check out The Brothers Zahl podcast!

Highly recommended for Mockingast listeners: All six episodes of the first season of Mockingbird's brand-new podcast are available now at https://thebrotherszahl.fireside.fm/ -- or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe today!

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk peripheral relationships, nervous breakdowns, and nighttime prayers. Also, after making a startling discovery in her father's desk drawer, Sarah goes shopping for yoga pants. Click here to read Amanda Mull's piece on how The Pandemic Has Erased Entire Categories of Friendship Click here to read the report in the Toronto Star about decreasing sexual activity during the pandemic Click here to read Jane Grizzle's post on how The Moms Are Not Alright Click here to read Jerry Useem's article Bring Back the Nervous Breakdown Click here to read the excerpt from Tish Harrison Warren's new book, "How To Pray While Drowning in Doubt"

In which RJ and Dave hear from Sarah about her first month of grief, before talking together about family estrangement, faulty memories and the blindspots of Jefferson's Jesus. Also, Dave breaks up with a friend while Sarah goes to the zoo. Click here to read Joshua Coleman's article in The Atlantic about Why Parents and Children Get Estranged Click here to read Heather Havrilesky's column addressing the "I Want My Family to Love Me Unconditionally" inquiry Click here to read Dave's Confessions of a Former Youth Minister Click here to read Vinson Cunningham's rundown in The New Yorker of "What Thomas Jefferson Could Never Understand About Jesus"

In their final episode of the year, RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk mer-baby mishaps, library impermanence, celebrity pastors, and their increasing distaste for Advent. To support the Mockingcast, text "MCAST" to 77948. We need your help! Click here to read Sarah's message about the tragic news she received just after recording (that RJ mentions in the prelude). Please pray like mad for the Condon family. Click here to read Elizabeth Faidley's incredible write-up of the Pearl the Mermaid Baby Saga, which includes a picture of you-know-who (you've been warned). Click here to read Ben Donick's piece about Library Books. Click here to persue our gift guide. Click here to read Ruth Graham's article on the Rise and Fall of Carl Lentz. Click here to read DZ's post about Sad Clowns. Click here to read David French's column on The Crisis of Christian Celebrity. Click here to read Walter Russell Mead's meditation on Advent.

In this special extended episode of The Mockingcast, Ethan Richardson takes us on a tour of The Sports Issue of The Mockingbird magazine, featuring interviews with journalist Anna Katherine Clemmons, legendary skateboarder Christian Hosoi, and former Falcons cornerback (and current chaplain) Jason Webster--beamed in, it would seem, almost straight from Friday Night Lights. The game is on! Click here to order the issue.

In which we celebrate the 200 episode milestone by talking soul toupees, American happiness, None elevator pitches, and the compelling perfectionism of Yeshua. Also, Dave comes to grips with his ADD, Sarah starts a new hobby, while RJ serenades them both like some kind of overgrown Dutch choirboy. Click here to read about Soul Toupees. Click here to read Ruth Whippman's article on America the Anxious. Click here to read Eric Weiner's piece on what it's like to be a None. Click here to read a portion of Francis Spufford's Yeshau chapter from Unapologetic. Click here to read the article Dave mentions about mid-life crises. Click here to read Sarah's post on Overconfident Men and Underestimating Women.

In which Sarah, RJ, and Dave talk living inside the news, POW uncertainty, segmented sleep, and American paradoxes. Also, RJ peeks behind the Iron Curtain while Sarah scores some great lamps (buffalo check). Click here to preview and/or order the Sports Issue of our magazine. Click here to pre-order the new Mockingbird Devotional, Vol 2. Click here to read (and subscribe to!) Oliver Burkeman's newsletter, The Imperfectionist. Click here to read Lisa Miller's column in The Cut, "My Therapist Was Right About Uncertainty." Click here to read about Second Sleep on Tedium. Click here to read Arthur Brooks's explanation why Americans have gotten unhappier as they've gotten more comfortable.