Believe To See

Mandy interviews poet, playwright, and critic Jane Scharl to discuss poetry. Learn more about Jane at https://jcscharl.com/

Matt, who has never been able to get into Frank Hebert's classic science fiction Novel Dune or the films adaptations, brings Brian Brown and Peter Houk to the digital pub table to convince him of the merit of Dune.

Matt interviews Jody Collins about poetry, and why people should like poetry and it shouldn't be so hard to do so. Find Jody at https://jodyleecollins.com/ and writing on Substack at https://jodycollins.substack.com/

Matt interviews short-story author KC Ireton, discussing KC's work and journey as an author.

Mandy, Matt, and Christina discuss impressions made on them as children by different forms of art, why they made an impression on them, and how it impacts them to today.

Christina, Mandy, and Matt discuss the question, “How do we love other people with our art?”

Matt interviews Rachel Shinnick, author of YA Fiction novel Moon Thief. They discuss what led Rachel to writing her first novel, how she saw God working in the process, and the various trials of getting published for the first time. They discuss what it looks like to value artistic pursuits while also embracing and embodying Christian values as an artist. Learn more about Rachel and Moon Thief at https://www.rachelshinnick.com/

Matt interviews author Sylvie Vanhoozer. Find out more about Sylvie at https://www.theartoflivinginseason.com/

Matt, Mandy, and Christina talk about literature remixes. What is a literature remix? Take a well-known and beloved story - a Shakespeare play, a Jane Austen novel, fairy tale - and retell the story in a whole new setting. What makes a good remix? What makes a bad one? And what is it about some classic stories that compel us to keep remixing and retelling them over and over?

Matt, Mandy, and Christina discuss Disney movie live-action reboots and whether any (or perhaps some) of the reboots are justified.

Matt and his wife, Danielle, interview fellow Anselm Arts Guild member Amy Lee and discuss Amy's new book "This Homeward Ache" and discuss what it means that God has set eternity in the hearts of man and how longing influences our lives.

Matt, Christina, and Evangeline discuss the concept of limitations as artists. While limitless possibilities may seem like what is needed to create, perhaps the best way to create is not boundless possiblities, but limits.

Evangeline and her brother Dr. John Case Tompkins sit down with Brandy Vallance to discuss symbols and symbolic language and their relationship with the Christian imagination.

Matt talks with writer G Connor Salter about his recent article on the classic book and movie The Princess Bride. Connor suggests how the author William Goldman’s Jewish American heritage influenced The Princess Bride.

Matt, Mandy, and Evangeline discuss cynicism in literature and what makes the difference between a good cynical story and a bad cynical story.

Christina and Evangeline chat with A.D. Rhine (Ashlee Cowles and Danielle Stinson), the writer duo behind the novel Horses of Fire. Find out more about Ashlee and Danielle and their book Horses of Fire at https://www.adrhine.com/    

Matt interviews Sarah Arthur about her first YA Fiction book, Once a Queen, as they discuss the intersection between faith and great literature. Sarah is also the author of a nonfiction book on Madeleine L'Engle and a Lord of the Rings devotional. You can find Sarah's upcoming book Once a Queen at https://sites.google.com/view/saraharthur-fiction/home

Matt, Christina, and Evangeline discuss how artists can most beneficially give and take feedback from other artists.

Matt sits down to talk with Austin Freeman to talk all things J.R.R. Tolkien and Lord of the Rings. They discuss Dr. Freeman's recent book Tolkien Dogmatics and the deeply theological thought that runs through Tolkien's fiction. Dr. Austin Freeman is a lecturer and the Chair of Apologetics at Houston Christian University. You can find Tolkien Dogmatics at https://lexhampress.com/product/224282/tolkien-dogmatics-theology-through-mythology-in-middle-earth

Evangeline, Mandy, and Christina discuss how to handle writing the right story at the wrong time. What do we do, in life or writing, when our timing seems out of sync, when the work we've poured ourselves into doesn't seem to go anywhere?