Episode 267: Redemption Is Better Than Perfection

Episode 271: The Trapdoor of Grace

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk diminished partying, fearful motivations, radical saints, and the difference between spells and prayers. Also, Sarah shares what will happen when all the yards are finally mowed. * Click here [https://mbird.com/events/relief/] for more details about our Spring Conference in NYC (5/1-3) * Click here [https://amzn.to/4jjdPX7] to pre-order Dave's new book, The Big Relief * Click here [https://link.vox.com/view/608adc8291954c3cef050976mov8j.19km/1e7a998d] to read Oshan Jarow's newsletter about mediation for Vox. * Click here [https://link.vox.com/view/608adc8291954c3cef050976mov8j.19km/1e7a998d] to read about Americans Need to Party More by Ellen Cushing in The Atlantic. * Click here [https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/01/20/outraged-kurt-gray-book-review] to read Elizabeth Kolbert's essay in The New Yorker, "Does One Emotion Rule All Our Ethical Judgments?" * Click here [https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/02/saint-francis-counterculture-charity-kindness/681095/] to read James Parker's piece on "The Saint America Needs Right Now." * Click here [https://mbird.com/religion/prayer/spells-and-prayers/] to read "Spells and Prayers" by Alan Jacobs on Mbird.

Episode 270: Planes, Trains, and Miracles

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk peak reviewing, Martha Stewart's redemption, and Vietnamese recovery. Also, Spotify brings Dave full circle while Sarah uncovers a lost monologue from an 80s classic. * Click here [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/style/reviews-ratings-online.html] to read "Whatever You Do, Don't Review This" by Eric Taub in the NY Times. * Click here [https://www.seenandunseen.com/what-spotify-wrapped-really-tells-us-about-ourselves] to read Belle Tindall's "What Spotify Wrapped Really Tells Us About Ourselves" on Seen & Unseen. * Click here [https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/relationships/christmas-holiday-gifts-family-tips-7b9f2e57?st=9UwuRJ] to read Elizabeth Bernstein's column on "The Micropolitics of Family Gift Giving" in the WSJ. * Click here [https://mbird.com/everyday/celebrity/martha-stewart-and-the-pursuit-of-perfection/] to read about "Martha Stewart and the Pursuit of Perfection" on Mbird, courtesy of Sam Bush. * Click here [https://www.christianitytoday.com/2024/11/vietnam-christian-drug-rehab-jesus-aquila/] to read "Finding Sobriety--and Jesus--in Vietnam's Christian Rehabs" by Angela Lu Fulton in CT. * Click here [https://mbird.com/film/our-favorite-christmas-movies/] to read Mbird's list of Favorite Christmas Movies. * Click here [https://themockingpulpit.fireside.fm/1648] to listen to Sarah C's recent sermon, "The Tragic Gap of Advent." * Click here [https://assets.scriptslug.com/live/pdf/scripts/planes-trains-and-automobiles-1987.pdf] to read the original script for Trains, Planes, and Automobiles. The scene Sarah references is on pages 119-122. Finally, click here [https://mbird.com/support/] to give a yearend gift to Mockingbird. We'll be back in mid-January!

Episode 269: A Crisis of Gratitude

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk prepositional gratitude, backfiring fatalism, overgrown cemeteries, and lighthearted Advents. Also, RJ expounds on the benefits of bumblefat. Click here [https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E353807&id=2] to respond to the opening appeal and support Mockingbird this year-end! * Click here [https://www.newyorker.com/culture/open-questions/why-is-gratitude-so-difficult] to read Joshua Rothman's essay in The New Yorker, "Why Is Gratitude So Difficult?" * Click here [https://mbird.com/holidays/gold-metal-gratitude/] to read Bryan Jarrell's piece for Mbird on "Gold Medal Gratitude". * Click here [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/21/opinion/public-health-crisis-america.html] to read Jeneen Interlandi's NY Times op-ed, "We Tire Very Quickly of Being Told Everything's on Fire." * Click here [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/29/climate/us-cemeteries-wild-flowers.html] to read Cara Buckley's piece about the Rewilding of America's Cemeteries. * Click here [https://www.instagram.com/itstherosenthals/?hl=en] to watch the Instagram videos of Robin Rosenthal and her family that Sarah mentions. * Click here [https://garrisonkeillor.substack.com/p/walking-to-church-on-a-cold-day] to Garrison Keillor's substack about "Walking to Church On a Cold Day".

Episode 268: Loving the Hell Out

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk post-election uncertainty, grieving non-grandparents, digital self-worth, and the bondage of the will. Also, Dave shares an important new use for q-tips. * Click here [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/12/opinion/donald-trump-election.html] to read Adam Grant's op-ed in the NY Times, "If You’re Sure How the Next Four Years Will Play Out, I Promise: You’re Wrong". * Click here [https://mbird.com/week-in-review/november-2-8/] to read Dave's post-election round-up on Mbird. * Click here [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/11/well/family/grandparent-grandchild-childfree.html] to read Catherine Pearson's article on "The Unspoken Grief of Never Becoming a Grandparent". * Click here [https://thewalrus.ca/collapse-of-self-worth-in-the-digital-age/] to read Thea Lim's essay in The Walrus, "The Collapse of Self-Worth in the Digital Age". * Click here [https://mbird.com/politics/election-day-hope/] to read Amy Mantravadi's Mbird column on "(Post-) Election Day Hope". * Click here [https://amzn.to/3AIZHoM] to order a copy of Amy's novel Broken Bonds.

Episode 267: Redemption Is Better Than Perfection

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk vibes, clutter, high school bullies, and fortunate falls. Also, Sarah contemplates Elvis, while RJ comes to terms with his uncoolness. * Click here [https://hedgehogreview.com/issues/the-varieties-of-travel-experience/articles/vibes] to read Kyle Edward Williams piece on Vibes in the Hedgehog Review. * Click here [https://aeon.co/essays/the-life-changing-magic-of-japanese-clutter] to read Matt Alt's essay on The Joy of Clutter for Aeon. * Click here [https://www.buzzfeed.com/simoneellin/middle-high-school-bully-depression] Simeon Ellin's piece for Buzzfeed about Tracking Down the Girls Who Bullied Her As a Kid. * Click here [https://mbird.com/bible/bridesmaids-revisited/] to read Will McDavid's post on Mbird, "Bridesmaids Revisited." * Click here [https://karenswallowprior.substack.com/p/george-herbert-easter-wings] to read Karen Swallow Prior's newsletter about George Herbert's shape-poem "Easter Wings."