The Brothers Zahl: Recent Episodes
Mockingbird
Welcome to season one of The Brothers Zahl podcast, a long overdue collaboration between John, David and Simeon Zahl, three siblings engaged in "the God business"--one as a writer, one as a professor, one as a priest. Over the course of six episodes they tackle some big subjects, in hopes of sketching an overarching picture of grace and everyday life (and making some decent jokes in the process). Brought to you by Mockingbird Ministries.
In the final episode of the first season, the brothers talk about their all-time favorite word, what John calls "a pool that's shallow enough that babies can wade into it and deep enough that elephants can swim." Recommended and Referenced Resources include: Quotations: Mockingbird glossary entry for Grace (https://mbird.com/glossary/grace/), Dorothy Martyn on Beyond Deserving (https://mbird.com/2011/10/dorothy-martyn-explains-what-she-means-by-beyond-deserving/) Articles: "My Priceless, Worthless Baseball Cards" (https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29143131/150000-worthless-baseball-cards-coronavirus) by Ryan Hockensmith Books: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (musical too); The Brothers Karamazov (first 80 pages) by Fyodor Dostoyevksky; The Horse and his Boy by CS Lewis; Kingdom, Grace, Judgment by Robert Capon; Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle, Seculosity by David Zahl Movies: Soul, Little Miss Sunshine, About a Boy, The Best Years of Our Lives Songs: "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" by The Pet Shop Boys, "You Know I Couldn't Last" by Morrissey, "Grace Under Pressure" by Elbow, “Our Park by Night” by Craft Spells, "Super Freak" by Rick James, "You Still Believe in Me" by The Beach Boys, "Endless Race" by Wally Badarou, "Living Without Your Love" by The Imperials, "Airport of Love" by Love International Click here (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1avwpuAHwUIVqM2BaNtMQ4?si=euSMGQIgQhiKb0l8vYXgWA) to listen to a playlist of the available tracks on Spotify.
The most esoteric sounding subject in the first season may also be the most gut-level. In this episode the brothers discuss the role of art, story, and humor as it relates to ministry and healing. Recommended and Referenced Resources include: Quotations: Mbird glossary definition of Abreaction (https://mbird.com/glossary/abreaction/), Frank Lake's definition (https://mbird.com/2017/02/sit-and-watch-as-tears-go-by/), Josh Retterer's definition (https://mbird.com/2017/02/sit-and-watch-as-tears-go-by/), Adam Phillips on Self-Cures and Frozen Seas (https://mbird.com/2014/03/a-cure-for-our-self-knowledge-why-well-always-want-our-milk-in-the-same-sippy/), W.H. Auden on the Ulterior Purpose of Poetry (https://mbird.com/2012/02/w-h-auden-on-disintoxicating-poetry-new-york-penthouses-and-the-endpoint-of-addiction/) Books: A Mess of Help by David Zahl, The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh, Theophilus North by Thornton Wilder, The Cocktail Party by TS Eliot Paintings: Winter Landscape (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Caspar_David_Friedrich_-_Winter_Landscape_with_Church_-_WGA08245.jpg) by Caspar David Friedrich Movies: Miami Vice, The Last Days of Disco, Red Beard, Apocalypto, Hacksaw Ridge, The Darjeeling Limited, Miracle, This Is 40, Terms of Endearment, Pride and Prejudice [BBC] Drama: The Angel That Troubled the Waters (https://mbird.com/2009/03/from-mbird-conference-2009/) by Thornton Wilder TV: Friday Night Lights Songs: "Walls" by Tom Petty, "Should I Laugh or Cry" by ABBA, "Walls Come Tumbling Down" by The Style Council, "Come As You Are" and "Sliver" by Nirvana, "Please Forgive My Heart" by Bobby Womack, "This Is Me Trying" by Taylor Swift, "Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell, "Crockett's Theme" by Jan Hammer, "Lamuka" by Zazou, Biyake & CY1, "More More More" by Andrea True Connection Click here (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1avwpuAHwUIVqM2BaNtMQ4?si=euSMGQIgQhiKb0l8vYXgWA) to listen to a playlist of the available tracks on Spotify.
In their fourth episode, the brothers try to make sense of that oh-so-loaded institution and experience called "Church." Recommended and Referenced Resources include: Books: Why Would Anyone Go to Church? by Kevin Makins, Grace in Addiction: What Everyone Can Learn from Alcoholics Anonymous by John Z, Grace in Practice by Paul Zahl, Janet's Repentance by George Eliot Quotations: Marilynne Robinson on Christmas and Easter (https://mbird.com/2012/04/marilynne-robinson-on-christmas-easter-and-religious-dread/) Paintings: Lift Up Thine Eyes (https://civatthemoa.byu.edu/lift-up-thine-eyes/) by Norman Rockwell Songs: "God Knows" by Donna Eyes, "Shelter from the Storm" by Bob Dylan, "Take Me to Church" by Sinead O'Connor, "Metropolis" by The Church, "Hospital for Sinners" by The Wallflowers, "You Are With Me" by Sandra McCracken, "Like a Ship Without a Sail" by Pastor T.L. Barrett, "Heavy Church" by Three Dog Night, "Church St Soul Revival" by Tommy James, Podcasts: Mockingcast Interview with Atlanta Falcons chaplain Jason Webster (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/special-episode-the-sports-issue/id1224964658?i=1000501138882) Movies: The Book of Eli, Rome Open City, Letters to Father Jacob, The Bishop's Wife, The Holly and the Ivy, The Apostle, Calvary Click here (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1avwpuAHwUIVqM2BaNtMQ4?si=euSMGQIgQhiKb0l8vYXgWA) to listen to a playlist of the available tracks on Spotify.
Could also be titled "Evil, Sin, and Suffering", in this episode the brothers delve into the various shades of darkness we experience in the world--and in ourselves. Recommended and referenced resources include: Podcasts: The Well of Sound on Marvin Gaye (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marvin-gaye/id1435720647?i=1000497531219) Movies: The Devil Rides Out, The Shining, The Exorcist, The Addiction Books: Dignity by Chris Arnade, The Haunting of Toby Jugg _by Dennis Wheatley, _The Stand by Stephen King, the ghost stories MR James, Astro City: Confession by Kurt Busiek Articles: "Hiding in Plain Sight: The Lost Doctine of Sin" (https://mbird.com/2018/10/hiding-in-plain-sight-the-lost-doctrine-of-sin/) by Simeon Zahl Quotations: Bad Spirits in Hunts Point (https://mbird.com/2019/06/none-without-faith-or-a-strong-belief-in-the-reality-of-evil/), Flannery O'Connor on the Action of Grace (https://mbird.com/2007/12/mystery-and-manners/), Gerhard Forde on the danger of Rolling Suffering into Evil (https://mbird.com/2015/03/the-danger-of-rolling-suffering-into-evil-according-to-gerhard-forde/), Richard Hooker on Crystal Tears (below), Frank Limehouse on the Devil (below) Songs: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye and Tami Terrell, "Lord You Bless Me" by The Elliotts, "Make Me Prada" by Asa Moto, "Millennium" by Dewolfe, "Devil Inside" by INXS Please note: the story of Martin Luther burying the child, while derived from his writings (and depicted to great effect in the movie Luther (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhMuWn2dnUw)), is apocryphal. . Click here (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1avwpuAHwUIVqM2BaNtMQ4?si=euSMGQIgQhiKb0l8vYXgWA) to listen to a playlist of the available tracks on Spotify. Richard Hooker: "My eager protestations, made in the glory of my ghostly strength, I am ashamed of; but those crystal tears, wherewith my sin and weakness was bewailed, have procured my endless joy; my strength hath been my ruin, and my fall my stay." Frank Limehouse (March 7, 2010): "I can't tell you what the Devil looks like. In my own mind he wears red tights, has horns and a tail and carries a pitchfork. Other than in the Garden of Eden, in which he is described as crafty and subtle; and Ezekiel, who tells us he was perfect in beauty, I cannot talk so much about what the devil looks like. But we can talk about how the devil operates. St. Peter said, “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Interestingly, the devil doesn't come at you only where you're weak. He's very interested in your gifts and strengths. This is where we are most vulnerable. The woman with a charming smile is tempted to “get away with murder.” The salesman with the gift of persuasion, is often tempted to “take ‘em for what they're worth.” God, on the other hand, is most interested in what? Your weaknesses. The Lord said to Paul ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'…"
The second episode, in which the brothers discuss that slippery yet inspiring topic known as holiness (and its opposite). Recommended and referenced resources include: Quotations: Jean-Luc Marion on Holiness (https://mbird.com/2012/05/hidden-holiness-marions-invisible-saint/), Gerhard Forde on Senility (https://mbird.com/2014/04/gerhard-forde-wont-mistake-encroaching-senility-for-sanctification/), Mark Seifrid on Christian growth (https://mbird.com/2014/06/a-few-words-on-the-paradox-of-christian-living/), Nimi Wariboko on Play (https://mbird.com/2014/05/the-spirit-of-play-and-the-lack-of-self-addressed-envelopes/) Movies: My Idiot Brother Articles: "Heaven Is a 12 Step Meeting" (https://mbird.com/2020/11/heaven-is-a-12-step-meeting/) by Connor Gwin Books: Listening by Anne Long, The Happiness Curve by Jonathan Rauch, The Ambiguity of Play by Brian Sutton-Smith, Theophilus North by Thornton Wilder, The Reconstruction of Morality by Karl Holl, The Holy Spirit and Christian Experience by Simeon Zahl TV: Ted Lasso Music: Life Is People by Bill Fay Songs: "Say Goodbye" by Hiroshi Sato, "Everyone" by Air Project, "Perdido en el Universo" by Falcons, "Hound Dog" by Elvis Presley, "Somebody's Watching Me" by Rockwell, "I Can't Get There From Here" by R.E.M., "These Things Take Time" by The Smiths, "Running Toward a Place" by The Killers Click here (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1avwpuAHwUIVqM2BaNtMQ4?si=euSMGQIgQhiKb0l8vYXgWA) to listen to a playlist of the available tracks on Spotify.
The first ever episode, in which the brothers introduce themselves and then jump into the sprawling subject at the center of their lives: capital-G God. Recommended and Referenced Resources include: Lectures: "On Not Being C.S. Lewis" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh4lrpBj3I8) by Francis Spufford Books: The Harrowing of Hell by Evan Daum, Dangerous Journey by John Bunyan, PZ's Panopticon by Paul Zahl Songs: "God Knows" by Donna Eyes, "Stand Back" by Stevie Nicks, "Shot Down in Denver" by Chalice, "When You Wish Upon a Star" by Gene Simmons, "Son of the Father" by Elton John, "More Than Molecules" by Fox, "Funky Funky Beat" by Jean-Michelle Navarre Click here (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1avwpuAHwUIVqM2BaNtMQ4?si=euSMGQIgQhiKb0l8vYXgWA) to listen to a playlist of the available tracks on Spotify.