Stories Are Soul Food

104: The Fabelmans (SASF LAMP Club) Feb 27, 2023

Find out how good you are at movies! We know you've all watched the Fabelmans (or you thought about watching it really hard). Some of you have sent in questions -- and one or two complaints. Now it's time to have the first inaugural Look at Moving Pictures Club with Brian and Nate. Questions about Spielberg's masterpiece will be answered such as: 1) Is this a masterpiece?; 2) Is Mitsi or Burt worse (depends); 3) Does this movie advise you to follow your heart? (Absolutely not); 4) why is the famous director John Ford in this movie?; and 5) Is Uncle Boris correct when he says "art will tear you apart"? (this is the million dollar question).

#thefabelmans #SasfLamp #Sasf #Spielberg #JohnFord #dontfollowyourheart #storiesaresoulfood #ndwilson

103: Giving Sons Aggression Feb 15, 2023

This episode begins with an update on Gabe Rench and the City of Moscow getting swatted by a federal judge -- expensively. Not every victory comes quickly, and we can learn from this long, slow slog. The guys meander from this moment into an excellent discussion on training sons to be aggressive. This is done best through STORY. Nate and Brian mix sports stories into a discussion of how to train your sons to be aggressive in the right way: how to hit hard in a culture that hates hard-hitting men. Much food for parenting here.

#parenting #aggression #boys #fatherhood #storiesaresoulfood #ndwilson #basketball #sasf #storiesaresoulfood

102: Adrenaline Junkies Feb 07, 2023

The guys discuss a typological observation which compared Noah to Christ -- and did so terribly. This leads into an interesting discussion of biblical types and anti-types -- and how to tell if such an observation is worth anything. Nate explains why we should be the flood, not the Ark: the Benedict Option misreads the Noah story. Then the guys move on to dangerous careers like bull-riding and mountain-climbing. Are dangerous professions acceptable for men? And how can a wife sabotage a man with a dangerous career? The answers depend on the story they’re in...

101: Severance Szn Jan 30, 2023

It's Severance SZN! Like many in the Canon office, Brian watched Ben Stiller's new show "Severance" and, amidst the story-grip that Severance caused, has many questions...mostly having to do with goats. Nate answers them emphatically as usual -- and this provides viewers with a nice lesson in thematic film-viewing. (Think of it as a sneak-peek at the SASF LAMP club viewing of "The Fabelmans" coming at the end of February...you can now subscribe the SASF newsletter to be notified.) There will be some SPOILERS in this episode, so be an adult about your spoiled expectations. "Severance" feels like a show that exists in the same universe as "That Hideous Strength" -- if it were written by Christians. But there's an argument to be made for it being an apostasy story. You will enjoy.

#Severance #BenStiller #ThatHideousStrength #SASF #NDWilson

100: The Big Announcement Jan 23, 2023

Brian bothers Nate with balloons for the big episode (and a big pod announcement). Happy ONE HUNDREDTH birthday to SASF! How does that math check out? Well, folks, listen to find out.... But before we get to the big announcement, the guys heard from enough of you regarding A.I. and ChatGPT that they spend awhile de-fanging your objections to last episode. Then -- you get to find out about the SASF LAMP. Want to know what that acronym means? Well, folks, listen to find out....

#ArtificialIntelligence #AI #ChatGPT #SASF #MovingPictureClub #LAMP #HappyBirthday

99: The Real Trouble with A.I. Jan 09, 2023

You may have seen the new robot making waves: ChatGPT is sort of a glorified search engine which (who??) can perform detailed reasoning and compose answers to complicated topics. For example, it can give researched, chapter-length answers to questions like "Explain quantum computing in simple terms" or "Explain why 'The End of the Affair' a classic -- and use scholarly sources." This raises many questions -- mostly about so-called "artificial intelligence" and creativity. To explore these, Brian tries to get the robot to write a never-before-seen N.D. Wilson novel, and the results are hilarious: prepare to be dazzled by "The Last Mortician." (Spoiler: Nate was not dazzled.) But the discussion wends its way to the real problem behind technology such as Tesla's self-driving cars and robot policedogs -- the idea that humans aren't involved from start to finish. There is no such thing as Artificial Intelligence -- we're puppeting ourselves at this point. At least there's no such thing, Nate argues, until the demons get into the system.

#ArtificialIntelligence #AI #ChatGPT #Tesla #Puppets #Computers #creativity #technology

98: The Messiah in Manhattan Dec 26, 2022

Merry Christmas! Nate tells Brian about a recent trip to Manhattan and the experience of watching Handel's Messiah at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Mecca for aspiring secular artists. The guys break down the universal, global appeal of the performance and what it means for Christian art. Contrary to some claims, what makes "Christian" art good or bad is not whether the Christian message is too overt. After all, Handel's Messiah is straight Scripture. It's whether that art -- overtly Christian or not -- sets a benchmark for excellence that even god-haters will recognize and applaud. Graham Greene and Flannery O'Connor provide more examples for this important discussion.

#Christmas #MerryChristmas #Advent #TheMessiah #Handel #ChristianArt #GrahamGreene #FlanneryOConnor

97: Why Tiny Tim is the Worst Dec 19, 2022

Warming to a familiar SASF theme, the guys discuss why Die Hard is, indisputably, a Christmas movie. But first, they discuss the Grinch, and why we like him more than Cindy-Lou Hoo, and why Tiny Tim is so very annoying, and many other Christmas movies (usually filtered to a greater or lesser degree). Christmas is ultimately the story of subversion -- not to be confused with perversion -- and understanding that is the true spirit of Christmas.

#Christmas #MerryChristmas #Advent #ChristmasMovies #DieHard #Elf #Spirited #TheChristmasCarol #subversion

96: Tell the Truth about Noah (for Christmas) Dec 12, 2022

Nate wishes you Merry Christmas by means of a New Saint Andrews video he narrated, titled "Let Joy Erupt" (listen to it in this episode). After the rush of appearing in that video's B-roll with his family, Brian opens up about his sense of style being criticized as "hipster trad" by one of the video's critics. A discussion of what it's actually like to live in the Pacific Northwest ensues -- there are wolves and coyotes. This allows Brian to segue into a discussion of whether Noah and Jacob were "not really very good people," as per Twitter, and to talk with Nate about how best to tell the stories of the Patriarchs to your children when, for example, you celebrate Advent with a Jesse Tree.

#Christmas #MerryChristmas #Advent #JesseTree #Noah #OldTestament #PrimevalSaints

95: Fail Forward Dec 05, 2022

Why hasn't there been a SASF episode for weeks? Because basketball coaching. But turns out sports is a fantastic metaphor for life -- if handled correctly. But if your kid isn't getting the point, better to have them play video games. In this context, Brian asks Nate about his 10 year goals. Nate waxes eloquent on setting ambitious goals -- but then counters himself with an argument that being able to recognize failure is perhaps more important. Not moving the goalposts, recognizing failure, and moving on after disaster are all key skills to develop for parents, employees, bosses, and pastors.

#SASF #StoriesAreSoulFood #NDWilson #BrianKohl #Failure #FailForward #SetGoals #basketball #lifelessons

94: Nutritional Goo Nov 07, 2022

Say you met a highschool kid who was confused about the biblical view of gender: would you give them a book or a movie? The answer to this question is probably not what you expect, and it highlights the way that conservatives get the gender and sexuality conversation wrong. The guys begin this discussion with a related question: in a hot Thanksgiving dinner, is it the nutritional content that contains the value -- or is the goodness in something else? The discussion which follows discusses the relative merits of painting with a broad brush, and the (almost complete) worthlessness of an idea when it has been reduced to nutritional goo. Yes, they also talk a lot about Children of Men and Enemy of the State.

#SASF #StoriesAreSoulFood #NDWilson #BrianKohl #ChildrenOfMen #EnemyOfTheState #NutritionalGoo

93: Killing the Cranky Danky Dragon Oct 31, 2022

Parenting isn't easy, and Rachel Jankovic's "Sir Badalot and the Cranky Danky Dragon" gives parents the tools to talk with their fat-faced toddlers about emotional self-control. Most parents do that by resorting to the poor parenting tactics of 1) emotional distraction, and 2) emotional reaction. Turns out, your child's response to a "fussy dragon" should include actually pretending to kill it! But the self-control vitamins are not why Sir Badalot is a good book -- that's just an added benefit. The SASF guys host Rachel Jankovic to talk through this parenting advice and how her fun new book, illustrated by Hello Ninja's own Forrest Dickision, is really just a fresh chocolate cookie for a hungry child. (Oh, and you'll also get a nice long stretch of Nate's dark take on relying on real-life vs fictional friends.)

#SirBadalot #CanonballBooks #SASF #StoriesAreSoulFood #RachelJankovic #ForrestDickision #HelloNinja #FussyDragon

92: Storytelling After Roe v. Wade Oct 24, 2022

This episode juxtaposes abortion and hospitality. We live in a post-Roe v. Wade world -- can we apply those lessons to storytelling now? How do evangelicals do with that cultural fight? Does fiction have a place in it? (Not the way you probably mean it.) The guys dig deeper into the themes of Episode 90, exploring the meaning of "proof" and poor ways of obligating belief. Familiar SASF themes emerge in this episode -- specifically, the importance of a good meal outweighing the value of "good" propaganda. Comparisons between October Baby and Juno are made. And you'll get to hear about grandmothers and the random acts of kindness that inspire the next generation more than all the political sloganeering in the world.

#StoriesAreSoulFood #SASF #RoevWade #hospitality #Juno #OctoberBaby #Stories

91: Naughty Words Oct 17, 2022

A listener writes in to find out why, as a pastor's kid, Nate uses expletives like "hell" and "damn" in Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl. (Shh, don't mention that Nate has written worse.) This leads to a discussion of the sliding scale of bad words -- truth is, no word is bad intrinsically. Seriously: a word's badness or goodness is dependent on how it's used -- on its place in the STORY. (This is SASF, people, you should have seen that coming.) Or, if you prefer to look at it this way, EVERY word is bad -- if used in a way God wouldn't. This naturally leads into a discussion of the nature of evil. Brian tries to lump Nate in with Augustine. Nate resists: Evil is not black goo you can add to things! And so this episode goes.

#StoriesAreSoulFood #SASF #BadWords #StrongLanguage #Augustine #Stories

90: Truth is Not Proof Oct 10, 2022

Here's an interesting truth that Nate once tried out on his roommate: pure, syllogistic reasoning is not persuasive. In fact, unvarnished truth does not "prove" anything -- by that we mean that it does not obligate belief as well as, say, story might. And you'll notice that people seldom believe the things they do for logical reasons: they come to their beliefs by narrative paths, and construct the logic to defend as needed. So, what does it mean to "obligate belief"? When is truth not persuasive? Why are Christians the one who often need to hear this most? These and other rhetorical intricacies occupy this episode of SASF.

#StoriesAreSoulFood #Rhetoric #EthosPathosLogos #Proof #Logic #character

89: Moses Was A Wizard Oct 03, 2022

Is a book with a good witch a bad book? The guys use the Wizard of Oz as a jumping off point for this lengthy discussion of magic, which listeners know is a favorite SASF hobbyhorse. Nate claims that moderns have lost an appreciation for the miraculous in an attempt to describe the natural. In reality, everything is magic. But Brian objects: if everything is magical, then nothing is. Nate responds with MOSES AND THE WIZARD DUEL. Of course Tolkien and Lewis -- and Gandalf and Jadis -- also feature in this discussion that will get you thinking about your favorite stories... and how our scientists have crossed the line into witchcraft long ago.
#SASF #StoriesAreSoulFood #magic #science #Tolkien #CSLewis

88: Write Novels Like Jonah Sep 26, 2022

Episode ocho-ocho is about narrative architecture, but that sounds boring so we made the headline more interesting, having been inspired by one of SASF's favorite novels, Evangellyfish. In point of fact, though, this week's episode is fantastic: The guys get into a discussion of favorite (living) novelists, with disagreements aplenty. If you've been looking for novel recommendations for adults, this is the episode for you. And when the guys move into film, and how to structure new stories based on old ones that work, you'll just have to listen to get Nate's take on Terrence Malik... Nipples on the Batsuit and jumping the shark are also discussed. Oh, and Nate loops back around to tie a bow on his disappointment with the end of Cobra Kai.

#SASF #StoriesAreSoulFood #NDWilson #Evangellyfish #JessWalter #LeifEnger #TerrenceMalik #MarilynneRobinson

87: Top Gun Cobra Kai Medley Sep 19, 2022

The guys discuss feedback from the Rings of Power sort-of-watchalong. Then, in a shocking turn of events, one of the guys is accused of being too critical of a film--and the critical one is Brian. Nate defends the honor of Top Gun 2, and even a bit of Cobra Kai (always with filters, people). They get into a discussion of character and when you can allow bad things to happen to main characters. They venture far afield in this SASF medley -- perhaps they were just relieved to not be watching Rings of Power.

#SASF #NDWilson #StoriesAreSoulFood #TopGunMaverick #CobraKai

86: Rings of Power Watch-Along Sep 12, 2022

It's the moment you've all been waiting for: You get to listen as Brian surprises Nate with a laptop and The Rings of Power Episode 1: A Shadow of the Past. This is the first ever SASF Watch-Along, so you'll have to listen to see how far they got... Of course, this episode also includes a useful discussion on how the project could have suceeded, what its goals were, whether Nate was unfairly prejudiced, whether critics of the show are racists, and other such Stories Are Soul Food topics. Enjoy! And as always, you can watch the video of the SASF show at mycanonplus.com.

#Tolkien #RingsOfPower #Galadriel #StoriesAreSoulFood #SASF #WatchAlong

85: When Not To Pray Sep 09, 2022

In this episode, Nate explains why some Christian readers are the worst: they love to demand that he sell chicken sandwiches with a side of Gideon Bible in the french-fry box. But Nate's trying to sell the best chicken sandwich & fries he can... he gives away Bibles elsewhere, including in this podcast. This episode is about when / why you might choose to have your characters in fiction pray -- and when you might not. You'll also get some key insights into rhetoric: who are you, who are you writing for, and where do you want to get them. And also some really interesting thoughts comparing Nate's characters to those in the Christian movie "The War Room" (about prayer).

#SASF #StoriesAreSoulFood #NDWilson #BrianKohl #AmWriting #ChristianFiction #WarRoom

84: No Country for Old Men Aug 29, 2022

The guys dig deep into this Coen Bros Academy Award Winner. Is it worth the hype? Watch it and find out. We're sure you'll get that cozy family movie night feeling as Brian and Nate discuss brutal stun gun executions and drug money chasing. They'll also answer your key question about the film, and discuss what Josh Brolin's character is up to in "No Country for Old Men." Spoilers included: Fundamentally, the movie is about the clash of two villains: the romantic, old-school outlaw and the new, pitiless vice of Chigurh. You can also hear what two small things Nate would have changed in this movie -- which is high up on his list. As a bonus, they'll discuss the danger of thinking you're so smart when watching a movie, and then proceed to fall into the trap. (Brian manfully restrained from bringing WB Yeats into the conversation.)

#SASF #StoriesAreSoulFood #NoCountryforOldMen #CoenBros #NDWilson #MovieNight #spoilers

83: Defy Tyrants Aug 22, 2022

Have you wondered what Nate is up to recently? Then you don't want to miss this episode. The guys also perform an autopsy on the last two years of being alive, looking at how things have played out in our country, specifically with the test case of Nate's children's own shenanigans with Stickergate. Standing up to tyrants is a lot more costly than you might think -- but it's vital you show your children how to do it. And you'll get lots of good advice on being able to read your own history in this episode. Here's the promised link for the episode: www. givesendgo.com/SovietMoscow

#SovietMoscow #DefyTyrants #StoriesAreSoulFood #SASF

82: Be a Killer Side Character Aug 15, 2022

Wouldn't things be simpler if kids were fictional, and you could "write" their success over each challenge? In today's SASF, the guys discuss how a mom can help her children with their own "character" weaknesses. You get to hear another Nate airplane-story-turned-car story; Brian explains why camping is fun even though it sounds like it isn't; this episode also features two deer, a marten, and Yellowstone. But the real takeaways from this episode is 1) where to get the best breakfast burritos in the the Pacific Northwest; 2) stop trying to make life easy for your kids; and 3) be a killer side character in your kids' stories instead.

#SASF #StoriesAreSoulFood #NDWilson #BrianKohl #parenting #storytelling #character #Yellowstone

81: Vengeance Served Hot Aug 08, 2022

Taking revenge has been the subject of many different TV shows, and -- no surprise -- as soul food, it can be well-cooked or very bland. Both Nate and Brian started a vengeance show which is getting tons of positive reviews from conservatives: The Terminal List -- which falls flat on its face right out of the gates because there's not a single real human in the show. And of course the entire T-List doesn't even handle the theme vengeance as well as those four seconds from The Patriot....or Fantastic Mr. Fox. This leads into a discussion of what Nate claims is perhaps the best pilot in TV history: "Lost" episodes 1 & 2. Yes, that and the Rings of Power trailer (just kidding, we're just checking to see if anyone is still reading).

#TerminalList #FantasticMrFox #ChrisPratt #PrimeVideo #TV #vengeance #television #familymovienight #SASF #StoriesAreSoulFood #revenge

80: Big Bad Movie Biz Aug 01, 2022

How should you go about getting a job in Hollywood? Well, Nate gives two pieces of advice in this episode (and they're not what you might expect). Brian digs deep into Nate's early movie-making history to find out if Nate followed his own requirements. The guys discuss working on things that are "bad" for your brand, immunity to pop culture, shooting a movie on a shoestring budget ("The River Thief"), and the absence of more Silent Bells chapters in this SASF.

#StoriesAreSoulFood #branding #Hollywood #moviemaking #screenwriting #SASF

79: Character Problems on an Airplane Jul 27, 2022

Yeah, stories are soul food...but stories also have the potential to be poison. Humans are born storytellers, which means they wrong someone, they're quick to "re-tell" the story as one in which they "made a difficult decision." Nate tells his recent top-5-weird-airplane story, and the guys mine the incident for character clues and narrative techniques, with many helpful applications.

#characters #apologies #mistakes #Delta #birdstrike #SASF #StoriesAreSoulFood

78: The Fallacy of Artistic Calling Jul 19, 2022

Another delightful episode of SASF is here for you as Nate and Brian discuss the dustup from two previous episodes, focusing mostly on artistic temperament and motivation gone bad. But first, Brian decides what we need is not less but MORE of Nate's unvarnished opinions, and the guys head into a discussion of a book idea found on Twitter, and how to make a good pitch. You get a sneak peek at an upcoming Nate project as well... Also, if you have a question the guys would want to discuss, please send it in! The question tank could use a top-up, and that's not cheap here in Biden's America. Enjoy! And don't forget, if you prefer video, that's streaming only on Canon+.

#StoriesAreSoulFood #artisticcalling #artistictemperament #bookideas #bookpitch

77: The Heroic Feminine Isn't Missing Jul 11, 2022

Nate and Brian discuss a theory percolating on the interwebs about the difference between male heroes and female heroines in fiction. They branch out into a discussion of the Hero's Journey and the accuracy of Joseph Campbell's storytelling advice (and inaccuracies of application). Remember, the video version of the podcast is streaming exclusively on Canon+.
#StoriesAreSoulFood #SASF #HeroicFeminine #HerosJourney #JosephCampbell #NDWilson #CanonballBooks

76: Buzz Wrongyear Jun 27, 2022

This is the first SASF to be filmed! So if you've wanted to see how Nate wears his headphones, or see Brian soft-smiling at that mean thing Nate just said, go to canonplus . com to watch! This episode is about what happens when an editor or producer wants to put something into your movie or book that will ruin it. This is your guide to dying on the right hills. Of course, you're now wondering, what if my movie is already a smoking pile of trash -- surely it can't hurt to make my offering to virtue gods? But enough about Buzz Lightyear...
#StoriesAreSoulFood #SASF #NDWilson #BrianKohl #BuzzLightyear #CanonballBooks

Check out N.D. Wilson's School of Fantastical Wordcraft, now on Canon+: https://mycanonplus.com/tabs/search/video-series/3971

Also, get your first month of Canon+ for 99 cents with code SASF99!

75: Motivation Problems Jun 20, 2022

Today's episode is for anyone who has something they feel called to do, but can't seem to get around to it. You've got to evaluate WHY you feel called to it. If the reasons are good, you can run through a checklist of reasons why you aren't motivated to do something you think is so important. Those reasons range from lazy to benign to actively being sabotaged (often by someone you're married to, unfortunately). This episode of #SASF is all about the practical nature of getting things done and refusing to quit.
#StoriesAreSoulFood #NDWilson #motivation #writingadvice #writing #writinglife

Check out N.D. Wilson's School of Fantastical Wordcraft, now on Canon+: https://mycanonplus.com/tabs/search/video-series/3971

Also, get your first month of Canon+ for 99 cents with code SASF99!

74: Jim Wilson, God's Character Jun 06, 2022

Jim Wilson was one of God's main characters in our part of the world -- and there's nothing stopping you from being equally faithful in your own character arc. This episode celebrates the life of Nate's grandfather, James Irwin Wilson, an oak tree of a man when he was on earth, and someone more strong and glorious now in Heaven. Follow the story beginning with Jim's childhood as a Nebraska farm kid "tricking" his teachers and working in stockyards, to his Navy years wooing a missionary lady eight years older than him who was absolutely not interested, to the intermission of the Korean War, to the move to Idaho and his life's work of giving books away (leading in part to you all sitting here listening). RIP, Grandpa Jim!

73: Family Movie Night May 30, 2022

Get ready for a practical-advice episode about training your kids how to watch movies together. Dave Radford of The Gray Havens comes on #SASF to ask the guys questions about how, precisely, one teaches children (and yourself!) how to watch movies. BUT FIRST, Dave criticizes the SASF soundtrack -- and as one of Nate's favorite songwriters, his complaints carry weight -- and the SASF pod makes an exciting new acquisition. Then the guys discuss the dangers of ruining the moment by watching movies like a worldview robot: the point is to ENJOY it together. That's what parents are for, after all. Lots of practical movie night recommendations, too. And remember, for a few weeks or so, SASF listeners can get a free month of Canon+ for 99 cents (first-time subscribers only).
#SASF #StoriesAreSoulFood #NDWilson #movienight #family

72: Nightmares and Jane Austen May 23, 2022

Christianity Today puts Nate on a list of fantasy books you should read -- but with a significant warning that brought Brian much joy. We follow along as Nate discusses other times his books have raised eyebrows and caused nightmares, and his theory for why. In the caramel center of this episode, though, you'll find Nate's sideswiping of Jane Austen's supposed lack of melodrama. Is there any way all of this can cohere into one episode?! The only way to find out... is on this all-new episode of Stories Are Soul Food! For a few weeks or so, SASF listeners can get a free month of Canon+ for 99 cents (first-time subscribers only).
#SASF #CanonPlus #NDWilson #JaneAusten #ChristianityToday #nightmares

71: War Stories and the Problem of Evil May 16, 2022

This week's episode is full of #SASF conflict: Brian suggests that there are two kinds of war movies. Nate disagrees. Brian suggests that war movies are a great analogy for dealing with the problem of evil. Nate refrains from overt disagreement. A conversation ensues on the "real" problem of evil and how to respond to it (plus you get to hear Nate's favorite war movies).

70: Sir Terry Pratchett, Urban Cowboy May 09, 2022

The guys have a book recommendation for you all... or rather, 41 books to recommend (and Nate owns them all). Find out why they recommend an atheist for your children to read.

69: Coach Your Novel May 02, 2022

This week's episode highlights the difference between coaching and teaching, and how to do both well...especially as this applies to a novel. What happens when your novel is coming in less than half the length you wanted it to be? How do you fix that and other first-draft problems? These and other problems are taught in NDW's video course, "The School of Fantastical Wordcraft," but you get the intro here...

#SASF #StoriesAreSoulFood #NDWilson #FantasticalWordcraft

68: Hand Him a Hatchet Apr 18, 2022

Ready for the parenting advice you didn't know you needed? A #SASF mother of boys wrote in with a question about what to have her son read during a time when he had no friends. Nate and Brian launch off into a discussion of what books can do for you, along with what they can't, and what else to consider handing your son when he's struggling. What they ended up with is some great soul food for moms, particularly—although dads, there are some good points for you as well.

#StoriesAreSoulFood #NDWilson #BooksforBoys #Parenting

67: When Good Themes Make Bad Stories Apr 11, 2022

Nate and Brian discuss whether it's possible to write a good story based on a truth you wanted to communicate. This is a key question for Christian writers / artists / movie-makers, and misunderstanding it is what makes so much Christian art bad. To be honest, misunderstanding this is also what makes so much far-left woke creative projects terrible as well. Basically, you can't write a story "top-down." Plus, the guys get into a discussion of hidden themes and Easter eggs in N.D. Wilson's works... any of the rest of you besides Ryan notice the Ruth-Boaz allusion in Ashtown?

66: Pixar's Existential Dread Mar 30, 2022

The guys are back after a long spring break to discuss Pixar—and this episode is the cheerful story of the decline of a creative giant. You'll learn what "heart-forward" content is, why Pixar's approach won parents and kids alike, and why Cars is their most profitable and worst movie (okay, worst is too strong). You'll also track the existential dread in Pixar's films, and see how that dread gradually overtook everything...at least until Disney days, because now Pixar is just a sticker to slap on content.

#TurningRed #MonstersInc #FindingNemo #TheIncredibles #Pixar #StoriesAreSoulFood #SASF

Check out Canon Plus today: https://mycanonplus.com/

65: Patronize Somebody Mar 15, 2022

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64: LOTR The Rings of Power Feb 28, 2022

Today: How to spend as much on a TV show as Russia’s GDP and end up with garbage.
The guys react to the LOTR trailer. But first…
Crazy ideas aren’t funny until they become reality. ND tells a story about a skeezy business.
Sneak peek at Nate’s new video project he’s working on.

#SASF #StoriesAreSoulFood #LOTR #RingsofPower

63: How to Watch a Movie Feb 21, 2022

Check out Canon Plus today: https://mycanonplus.com/

62: Sheltering Mercy (feat. Ryan Whitaker Smith) Feb 14, 2022

- Are you shaped by the Psalms? SASF welcomes filmmaker and author Ryan Whitaker Smith (son of Michael W. Smith) to discuss this soul food.

- They discuss the gutsiness of Ryan's new book: "Sheltering Mercy" is free verse renderings of the Psalms, through a messianic lens.

- You also get a sneak preview of Ryan's directing work on the upcoming film, "Surprised by Oxford."

#SASF #StoriesAreSoulFood #SurprisedbyOxford #ShelteringMercy

61: Harry Potter Feb 08, 2022

- The people have asked again and again... so the guys return to HARRY POTTER. Please drop your thoughts in the comments!

- ND compliments JK Rowling and thanks her for restoring their shared genre, MG adventure.

- Then Brian and Nate drill down... How good are the Harry Potter characters? world-building? Quidditch?

- And of course, they revisit the notorious wish-fulfillment question.

#SASF #StoriesAreSoulFood #HarryPotter

60: Worldblending Jan 31, 2022

- This week has something for everyone:
- Discussion of the fountain of youth and large turtles;
- Publishing insider baseball about the release of "The Door Before";
- How to blend worlds with very different flavors in writing. Enjoy!

#Storiesaresoulfood #SASF #DoorBefore

Get your signed copy of The Door Before: https://canonpress.com/products/the-door-before-100-cupboards-prequel/

59: American Underdog Jan 24, 2022

- Last week you got a movie with major problems; this week you get a good one: American Underdog

- God plays harder with His characters than human creators are allowed to.

- Nate explains the "Kathy challenge" facing Christian filmmakers in America.

- He also casts a vision for what kind of movies he wants to see more of.

#SASF #storiesaresoulfood #AmericanUnderdog

Check out more robust Christian stories on Canon Plus: https://mycanonplus.com/

58: Spider-Man: No Way Out! Jan 17, 2022

- What did you think of Spider-Man: No Way Home?

- This episode touches on key problems with big Marvel films that you need to know: bathos, McGuffins, pathos, guilt, villains, and much much more.

- The guys devote a whole episode to this as Spiderman is one of their favorite superheroes...

- ...so Brian quizzes Nate about this 1.5 BILLION dollar movie to find out why it's so poor.

#SASF #Spiderman #Storiesaresoulfood

Check out the Canonball Kids channel on Canon Plus: https://mycanonplus.com/tabs/discover/pages/canonball-kids

57: Till We Have Lewis' Best Novel Jan 10, 2022

- We forgot to post that we're baaaa-aaaack. Did you miss us??

- This episode has great story content but more importantly, it's your one-stop shop for Brian and Christy's new baby announcement and the Killers.

- So, do you think that "Till We Have Faces" is Lewis's best novel?

- Or do you agree with Nate that it may be great -- but deeply flawed? Let us know in the comments...

#storiesaresoulfood #SASF #ndwilson #bestnovel

Check out the Lewis Lectures on Canon Plus: https://mycanonplus.com/

Stories Are Soul Food is on Break! Dec 22, 2021

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56: Christmas Conspiracy Theory Dec 13, 2021

- The SASF guys are big fans of Advent—but not Advent as a penitential season, Advent as time when make your kids eat MORE chocolate than usual. Also, ND is shocked by Brian's eggnog confession.
- This is because all of human history leads up to Christmas. And all of human history since Christ's birth has happened in the glow of the first Christmas.
- Every December is an opportunity to show your kids how the obscure parts of the Bible are about Jesus.
- And that leads us to... the awful, gruesome story of the Levite and his murdered concubine. We'll leave the explanation to ND, but GET READY for an epic Christmas rant.

#SASF #StoriesAreSoulFood #NDWilson #Christmas #Advent

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55: Bad, Sad Endings Dec 08, 2021

- What about stories with bad endings? But enough about Nolan's Batman trilogy.
- Seriously, what about stories with sad endings? What makes a tragedy well written?
- ND Wilson and Brian Kohl discuss books with tearjerker endings, from Charlotte's Web to Agamemnon getting axed in his bathtub.
- Real life is tragic if you zoom in. But if you zoom out far enough....
#SASF #StoriesAreSoulFood #NDWilson #badendings #tragedy

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54: Violence and Virtue Nov 29, 2021

Why are conservative Christians so worried about sex on the screen but not violence?
Are they hypocrites? Or is violence virtuous....
The guys discuss violence in some favorite movies (and not so favorite movies). If you've seen John Wick or Nobody, pay attention.
They also give some tips for watching violent movies with kids.

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53: Stand Tall, Women Nov 24, 2021

Did you miss us? This episode is just a bit tardy to make sure you all cared! (emotional manipulation intensifies)
This episode responds to a reader question, basically: if your daughters imitate Diana Boone, won't they be a bit...well... masculine, what with hunting rifle and leather jacket and all?
The discussion takes the guys afield as they discuss heroines in the Bible, literature, and society...
They also discuss the literary deceptions that are specially intended to lead female protagonists (and female readers) astray.
Sorry, Thanksgiving is not mentioned, not even once. Make your own applications as appropriate, and enjoy your gratitude!

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52: #SASF Birthday Empire Nov 15, 2021

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SASF! The little fella is one year old.
Listen to the guys discuss the least popular episode in SASF's storied history.
The guys argue about why you shouldn't flinch when "empire" is mentioned...
...and why you might need to create one.
If you feel called, you can buy the guys a coffee by Venmo-ing a few bucks to storiesasf (that's the Venmo name). No pressure though—keep enjoying the pod either way!

#StoriesAreSoulFood #SASF #NDWilson #Empire

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51: Lizard Kings in the Metaverse Nov 08, 2021

Did you know you can tip the guys? They do this (mostly) for fun—Venmo a few bucks to storiesasf to tip them a cuppa. Who knows, Nate might even allow Caleb to bring back faux Narnia as a reward.
Today's SASF begins with a Scottish story and associated Scottish music recc—Gerry Cinnamon's "Belter." (No, we don't know what the lyrics say either.)
The guys move on to Facebook Meta and the Lizard King himself, Mark Zuckerberg.
They finish up with a bunch of questions about video games as a storytelling medium. In short.... another forty minutes of consuming stories with N.D. Wilson and Brian Kohl.

#StoriesAreSoulFood #SASF

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50: The Sinking City (feat. Christine Cohen) Nov 01, 2021

- Masquerade balls, plague, magic...and monsters? What's not to love about historical-fantastic Venice!
- Christine Cohen's new novel about a patrician's daughter fleeing in disguise is the springboard for this episode's discussion.
- Why is "deception" a theme of Christine's books but not Nate's?
- Can boys enjoy "princess" books? An action-packed episode today....
#SASF #CanonballBooks #SinkingCity #NDWilson #ChristineCohen #StoriesAreSoulFood

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49: History, Sacrifice, and Monsters Oct 25, 2021

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48: Magic School Oct 18, 2021

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47: Problems in the Bones Oct 11, 2021

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46: Ghosts Oct 04, 2021

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45: Demons & Petty Excuses Sep 27, 2021

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44: Carnivorous Activities (feat. James Engerbretson) Sep 20, 2021

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43: Selling Soul Food Sep 13, 2021

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42: The Riot Show Sep 06, 2021

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41: Rabbits with Swords (feat. S.D. Smith) Aug 30, 2021

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40: Your Place in Dark Times Aug 23, 2021

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39: Writers Never Retire Aug 16, 2021

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38: Microcosmos Aug 09, 2021

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37: Cultural Appropriation and Time Travel Aug 02, 2021

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36: Scary Stories (feat. Remy Wilkins) Jul 26, 2021

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35: Dragons Jul 19, 2021

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34: Institutional Rot & The Drowned Vault Jul 12, 2021

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33: School Rebellion and The Dragon's Tooth Jul 05, 2021

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32: The Secret Lives of Authors Jun 28, 2021