Believe To See

Christina, Matt, Evangeline, and Mandy discuss their top books of 2023. In a (mostly) spoilers-free episode, the Believe to See co-hosts discuss books they read in 2023 (not necessarily published in 2023) that they found enriching and delightful.

Christina, Mandy, and Matt discuss fasting in feasting, their relationship to one another, and their relationship to the Christian tradition and liturgical calendar. They discuss how we can reclaim the definitions of fasting and feasting and how we can reintegrate them into our lives today.

Evangeline sits down with YA author and founder of Owl's Nest Publishers K.B. Hoyle to talk about teenagers, young adult literature, and the "bildungsroman," the coming-of-age story. Learn more about K.B. Hoyle at http://www.kbhoyle.com/

“We all know that if two people enjoy spending time together, they must secretly want to kiss each other. I mean, what’s the point of being friends otherwise?” - Matt Mellema There seems to be a phenomenon in literature that if there are two characters in a story who are good friends, there will be some corner of the internet that will be convinced that they are an item… no matter what.  Matt, Mandy, and Evangeline discuss the question, “Why can’t people just be friends in literature?”

Mandy sits down with artist, writer, and spiritual director Jenn Layte for a conversation about imagination, stories, and faith. They discuss Lectio Divina, spiritual pilgrimage, spiritual direction, and more.   You can learn more about Jenn at https://jenniferaglayte.com/ and https://the-pilgrimage.org/.    All are welcome to join Jenn Layte and The Pilgrimage Online’s online retreat, Winter Solace, January 12-14, 2024. Learn more at https://the-pilgrimage.org/home-2/get-connected/winter-solace-2024/

Matt sits down with Matthew Lee Anderson to discuss his new book, Called into Questions. Matt Anderson is an author and professor of philosophy at Baylor University, as well as the founder of Mere Orthodoxy (https://mereorthodoxy.com/). You can learn more about Matt at https://matthewleeanderson.com/

Matt, Christina, and Mandy set out to list the Anselm Society’s Top 5—the “top five anythings” that the Anselm Society loves, is passionate about, and is defined by. Since Believe to See is the podcast of the Anselm Society, the Believe to See cohosts take it upon themselves to attempt to determine who or what (Tolkien? St. Anselm himself? The Chronicles of Narnia? GK Chesterton?) defines the Anselm Society.

Christina and Matt interview Marilyn McIntyre about her chapter in The Anselm Society's new book Why We Create, "The Art of Naming.”   Marilyn McIntyre is an award-winning author. She leads retreats and workshops and teaches at Westmont Seminary, Westmont College, and New College Berkley. You can learn more about her at www.marilynmcentyre.com    

Mandy interviews reader, writer, and professor Karen Swallow Prior, talking about her recent book, "The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis." Mandy and Karen explore the last few hundred years of evangelicalism's relation to culture through the lens of "literary anthropology" and Karen's decades of experience teaching evangelical college students.

Christina and Mandy interview Matthew Clark about his chapter in The Anselm Society's new book Why We Create, "The Art of Subcreation." Matthew Clark is an author and singer-songwriter. You can learn more about him at www.matthewclark.net

Mandy, Christina, and Matt tackle the topic of artificial intelligence—particularly how powerful advances in AI may impact the world of art and artists. The cohosts discuss the pros and cons of AI and bring up questions about how Christians should think about AI and Art theologically. 

Christina interviews Jane Scharl about her chapter in The Anselm Society's new book Why We Create, "Time and Its Creator." Jane Scharl is an author, poet, and one of the editors of Why We Create.

In tribute to Leslie Bustard, long-time friend of The Anselm Society and contributor to The Anselm Society's new book Why We Create, Christina, Mandy, and Evangeline discuss the chapter in Why We Create written by Leslie: "Gratitude: The Foundation of Human Creativity."

In this episode, our cardigan-clad director, Brian Brown, joins Christina to discuss the Anselm Society's new book, Why We Create. (The cardigan is an obvious tribute to Matt). In the subsequent conversation, they explore why we often have a hard time relating to the material world, explaining why non-"spiritual" vocations matter, and justifying our interest in beauty. They also tell you why you should buy Why We Create, right here, right now: https://www.anselmsociety.org/why-we-create-book. This episode kicks off an on-and-off series this fall in which we'll discuss themes from the book with some of the authors!

Matt chats with YA Author Autumn Krause, discussing her new book, the genre-switch from her previous books to her most recent book, and the challenges she faced on her new writing project.   Find out more about Autumn's books at https://autumnkrause.com/books/

Matt chats with Natasha Kennedy, the illustrator for the FatCat (catechisms “fat with meaning”) books. Catechism can seem to be an intimidating (or boring) word, but catechism can actually contain the entirety of the Christian story of creation, fall, and, redemption. Natasha talks about her experience bringing together catechism and art in a way that can be appreciated even by young kids. Learn more about the FatCat books at https://lexhampress.com/fatcat

Matt and Mandy sit down with author Carolyn Leiloglou to talk about her new book, Beneath a Starry Sky, which places Van Gogh's Starry Night within middle grade fiction and the novel's protagonists inside of Starry Sky. Learn more about Carolyn at https://www.carolynleiloglou.com/ (Pre) Order Beneath the Swirling Sky at https://www.amazon.com/Beneath-Swirling-Sky-Carolyn-Leiloglou/dp/0593579542

Christina and Mandy sit down to talk with Nicole Stratton, Artistic Director of Logos Theater, discussing a biblical worldview of the dramatic arts and how the arts when taught as a part of God's nature can give hope and healing. Find out more about Logos Theatre at thelogostheatre.com

Matt and his wife Danielle sit down with children's author Danielle Hitchens about her new book, "Sacred Seasons: A Family Guide to Center Your Year around Jesus." Danielle talks about the liturgical year and how this helps us orient or lives, family's lives, and children around Jesus. Learn more about Danielle Hitchens at https://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/author/danielle-hitchen  

Anyone who has ever published or tried to publish a book knows what "comps" are. Whenever you pitch a book, agents and publishers want to know what the "comparable books" are to your books.  Many authors find identifying comps both stressful and annoying, and sometimes horrifying if you find that someone seems to have written the exact same book as your book. Matt, Mandy, and Evangeline discuss both the struggles of finding comps and discuss some possible redeeming qualities of comps.