No Prize From God

Latest Episodes:

Aaron Weaver (Wolves In The Throne Room) Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM drummer Aaron Weaver talks about the deep-rooted spirituality of the American black metal band he co-founded with his brother, Nathan. WITTR make iconoclastic (even for black metal) and often ritualistic music meant to evoke the forests and mountains around them in the Pacific Northwest. In this in-depth conversation, Aaron speaks candidly about his personal experiences and the evolution of his ideas. Listen to No-Prize From God: Playlist For the Podcast. Follow No-Prize From God, Ryan J. Downey, and check out Downey's other podcasts: PopCurse (Musicians Talking Movies) and Speak N' Destroy (Interviews About Metallica).

Otrebor (Botanist) May 17, 2021

Show notes

BOTANIST is a post-black metal band from San Francisco founded on the principle of "worship of the Natural world." A distorted hammered dulcimer stands in for guitars in Botanist, with drums free from editing in order to capture Otrebor at the "edge" of his ability. Otrebor channels an alter-ego with a romantic vision of a world overtaken by plant life, free from human interference. In a 2011 profile, NPR wrote, "You'd think... creepy, hammered-dulcimer black metal would get stale, but [Botanist] is surprisingly dynamic and hypnotic. The hammered dulcimer rings out and cuts like a blast-beated piano pounding paradiddles in some kind of black-metal drumline." Check out BOTANIST here. Listen to No-Prize From God: Playlist For the Podcast on Spotify. Follow No-Prize From God, Ryan J. Downey, and check out Downey's other podcasts: PopCurse (Musicians Talking Movies) and Speak N' Destroy (Interviews About Metallica).

Brian D. McLaren (Faith After Doubt) May 05, 2021

Show notes

Author and public theologian Brian D. McLaren is a former college English teacher whose newest book is Faith After Doubt (January 2021), and his next release, Do I Stay Christian? will be available Spring 2022. In 2004, he was awarded a Doctor of Divinity Degree (honoris causa) from Carey Theological Seminary in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and in 2010, he received a second honorary doctorate from Virginia Theological Seminary (Episcopal). Listen to No-Prize From God: Playlist For the Podcast on Spotify. Follow No-Prize From God, Ryan J. Downey, and check out Downey's other podcasts: PopCurse (Musicians Talking Movies) and Speak N' Destroy (Interviews About Metallica).

Dan Koch (You Have Permission) Nov 05, 2020

Show notes

You Have Permission podcast host Dan Koch is a doctoral student in counseling psychology, the former co-host of the Reconstruct and Depolarize! podcasts, and member of the band Sherwood. Listen to No-Prize From God: Playlist For the Podcast on Spotify. Follow No-Prize From God on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Check out other PopCurse network podcasts: PopCurse, Speak N' Destroy, and Hoosier Illusion.

Daniel G. Karslake (For They Know Not What They Do) Oct 28, 2020

Show notes

For They Know Not What They Do filmmaker Daniel G. Karslake deals with the intersection of religion, sexuality, gender identity, and social justice in his work. Every Three Seconds (2014), which he began as a visiting scholar at Stanford University, amplified practical solutions to global poverty and hunger. For the Bible Tells Me So (2007) premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was shortlisted for a 2008 Academy Award. Karslake talks about his upbringing, his faith, and his documentary films, including For They Know Not What They Do, which was released in 2019. Listen to No-Prize From God: Playlist For the Podcast on Spotify. Follow No-Prize From God on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Check out other PopCurse network podcasts: PopCurse, Speak N' Destroy, and Hoosier Illusion.

Liam Wilson (The Dillinger Escape Plan) Oct 20, 2020

Show notes

THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN bassist Liam Wilson is a warm-hearted, thoughtful, and fascinating individual. A longtime yoga practitioner, animal advocate, and freethinker, he's the consummate "seeker," with a firm moral compass and spiritual grounding. Liam made several groundbreaking albums with Dillinger Escape Plan. In more recent years, he's played live with Norwegian black metal band Myrkur and Canadian musician/producer Devin Townsend. He's part of the supergroup Azura (with members of Extol) and the mastermind behind John Frum, a psychedelic progressive death metal band built around themes rooted in history and spirituality. Listen to No-Prize From God: Playlist For the Podcast on Spotify. Follow No-Prize From God on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Check out other PopCurse network podcasts: PopCurse, Speak N' Destroy, and Hoosier Illusion.

Adam Morris (American Messiahs) Oct 07, 2020

Show notes

American Messiahs author Adam Morris joins No-Prize From God to talk about the book NPR called "sharp and entertaining." American Messiahs: False Prophets of a Damned Nation argues that, far from aberrant blips on the historical radar, false prophets and saviors are an essential part of the American story. The book joins together stories of cult leaders like Thomas Lake Harris, Father Divine, Jim Jones, and Jemima Wilkinson; people who led movements that ended in spectacular flameouts, yet were often propelled by at least some progressive ideas that later gained wide acceptance. Adam is a recipient of the Susan Sontag Foundation Prize in literary translation, a Northern California Book Award in prose translation, and a PhD in literature from Stanford University. Listen to No-Prize From God: Playlist For the Podcast on Spotify. Follow No-Prize From God on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Check out other PopCurse network podcasts: PopCurse, Speak N' Destroy, and Hoosier Illusion.

Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II, III, IV) Sep 27, 2020

Show notes

Filmmaker Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II, III, IV) is the first writer/director to come on No-Prize From God. The wide-ranging discussion includes: strange occurrences on the set of 2011’s 11-11-11; the quasi-religious story of 2012’s The Devil’s Carnival; his fascination with “the strange,” the occult, and secret societies; Will Storr vs. The Supernatural; the religious and (possibly) supernatural themes throughout his latest film, Death of Me, which stars Maggie Q, Alex Essoe, and Luke Hemsworth; and the next installment in the Saw franchise, 2021's Spiral, starring Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson. Listen to No-Prize From God: Playlist For the Podcast on Spotify. Follow No-Prize From God on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Check out other PopCurse network podcasts: PopCurse, Speak N' Destroy, and Hoosier Illusion.

Stephen Christian Sep 12, 2020

Show notes

ANBERLIN frontman Stephen Christian talks about his formative years with music and faith; moving from city to city as a kid; and gives a fascinating run-down of the arc of Anberlin's career. It's an excellent guide that should be required listening for anyone in any professional band. Stephen serves as a pastor and worship leader in Florida. He released his fourth album with his solo project, Anchor & Braille, in Spring 2020. Listen to No-Prize From God: Playlist For the Podcast on Spotify. Follow No-Prize From God on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Check out other PopCurse network podcasts: PopCurse, Speak N' Destroy, and Hoosier Illusion.

Spencer Chamberlain (Underoath) Aug 23, 2020

Show notes

UNDEROATH vocalist Spencer Chamberlain goes deep, with topics including: his religious upbringing; the challenges and pressures of fronting one of the most successful Christian hard rock/metal bands ever; the responsibility of the artist to the audience; struggling with addiction in the public eye; his evolving beliefs and the position of the band; whether we can separate the artist from the art; performance in the pandemic; and so much more. Watch the Disc Dive with Ryan J. Downey episode with Spencer Chamberlain at Knotfest.com.

Listen to No-Prize From God: Playlist For the Podcast on Spotify. Follow No-Prize From God on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Check out other PopCurse network podcasts: PopCurse, Speak N' Destroy, and Hoosier Illusion.

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