The Mockingcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 269: A Crisis of Gratitude Dec 09, 2024

Show notes

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 to respond to the opening appeal and support Mockingbird this year-end!

Click here to read Joshua Rothman's essay in The New Yorker, "Why Is Gratitude So Difficult?"
Click here to read Bryan Jarrell's piece for Mbird on "Gold Medal Gratitude".
Click here to read Jeneen Interlandi's NY Times op-ed, "We Tire Very Quickly of Being Told Everything's on Fire."
Click here to read Cara Buckley's piece about the Rewilding of America's Cemeteries.
Click here to watch the Instagram videos of Robin Rosenthal and her family that Sarah mentions.
Click here to Garrison Keillor's substack about "Walking to Church On a Cold Day".

Episode 268: Loving the Hell Out Nov 18, 2024

Show notes

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 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 to read Dave's post-election round-up on Mbird.
Click here to read Catherine Pearson's article on "The Unspoken Grief of Never Becoming a Grandparent".
Click here to read Thea Lim's essay in The Walrus, "The Collapse of Self-Worth in the Digital Age".
Click here to read Amy Mantravadi's Mbird column on "(Post-) Election Day Hope".
Click here to order a copy of Amy's novel Broken Bonds.

Episode 267: Redemption Is Better Than Perfection Nov 04, 2024

Show notes

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 to read Kyle Edward Williams piece on Vibes in the Hedgehog Review.
Click here to read Matt Alt's essay on The Joy of Clutter for Aeon.
Click here Simeon Ellin's piece for Buzzfeed about Tracking Down the Girls Who Bullied Her As a Kid.
Click here to read Will McDavid's post on Mbird, "Bridesmaids Revisited."
Click here to read Karen Swallow Prior's newsletter about George Herbert's shape-poem "Easter Wings."

Episode 266: Reintroducing the Mockingcast Oct 22, 2024

Show notes

Recorded in front of an audience in Tyler, TX, Sarah and Dave do their best to explain the What and Why of The Mockingcast. Think of it as a rare peek behind the curtain as well as a perfect jumping on point for new listeners. Also, Sarah spills some serious tea about a presidential funeral.

Episode 265: Why Me Lord? Oct 07, 2024

Show notes

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk Michelin stars, friends with money, autonomy traps, and Kristofferson's conversion. Also, Sarah and Dave gush about their favorite poet-priest-prophet-musician-TacoBellObsessive Andy Squyres.

Click here to listen to The StoryMakers Podcast.
Click here to read The Economist's report on The Curse of the Michelin Star.
Click here to read about backfiring wellness iniatives.
Click here to read Kristin Wong's article in the The NY Times about financial disparties within friendships.
Click here to read James Wood's essay "The Autonomy Trap" in Plough.
Click here to read Todd Brewer's "Why Does God Talk So Loud?" on Mbird.
Click here to watch Kris Kristofferson relate the story behind "Why Me Lord?"

Episode 264: Rock Bottom Has a Basement Sep 23, 2024

Show notes

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk school drop-off insanity, mindful underparenting, Silicon Valley rationalism, and anorexic recovery. Also, Sarah listens to a parking lot confession, while RJ fails to keep up. This episode is lovingly dedicated to the memory of Everett Lees.

Click here to give to the Lees Family Trust.
Click here to read about How School Drop-Off Became a Nightmare by Kendra Hurley.
Click here to read Darby Saxbe' column in The NY Times, "Parents Should Ignore Their Children More Often."
Click here to read Larry Ellison's remarks about AI Cameras Ensuring Good Behavior.
Click here to read (or listen to) Ezra Klein's interview with Zadie Smith.
Click here to read Lindsay Holifield's piece on Mbird, "When All Else Fails."

Episode 263: Estrangements and Encylopedias Sep 09, 2024

Show notes

In their first episode back, RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk peak loneliness, familial estrangement, and forgiven shoplifters. Also, our new logo/icon debuts, and a pair of Condons learn to surf.

Click here for more information about our upcoming event in Tyler, TX (Sept 27&28)
Click here to read "Why Is the Loneliness Epidemic So Hard to Cure?" in the NY Times Magazine
Click here to order a copy of the Home Issue of The Mockingbird Magazine
Click here to read "Why So Many People Are Going “No Contact” with Their Parents" by Anna Russell in The New Yorker
Click here to read "Creation Myths" by Linden Smith in The Point
Click here to read "The Gospel Isn't For Everyone (But It Is For You)" by Sam Bush on Mockingbird

Bonus Episode: "Faith" from The Brothers Zahl Jun 20, 2024

Show notes

For Mockingcasters looking for something to listen to while the gang is on hiatus this summer, look no further! We hope you enjoy the first episode of the new season of Mbird's The Brothers Zahl podcast, "Faith".

Click here to subscribe or listen to more episodes on Spotify
Click here to subscribe or listen to more episodes on Apple
Click here to visit the The Brothers Zahl landing page on Fireside
Click here to peruse the recommendations and references included in the episode

Episode 261: What Am I Gonna Do About the Demons? Jun 03, 2024

Show notes

In their last episode before the summer hiatus, RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk wedding snobbery, tearjerker movies, and secular exorcisms. The gang wish listeners a fruitful unburdening these next few months! If you feel so led, visit www.mbird.com/support to respond to the opening appeal.

Click here to read Francesca Carington's article in the The Guardian, "Why Are We So Snobby About Other People's Weddings?"
Click here to read Heather Havrilesky's plea in the NY Times to "Bring Back the Tear-Jerker!"
Click here to read the head-spinning review of Rober Falconer's The Others Within Us on Astral Codex Ten
Click here to listen to Andrew Root's talk from the NYC Mbird Conference
Click here to read Elizabeth Callen's Infinite Grace on Mbird

Season 3 of The Brothers Zahl kicks off on Monday June 10th! Click here to subscribe.

Episode 260: I Don't Know If I Should Say This May 20, 2024

Show notes

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk weight loss drugs, hypochondria, and the hound of heaven. Also, Sarah attends a pool party while Dave fesses up to his inner Christian Scientist.

Click here to listen to the recordings of our recent NYC Conference.
Click here to watch Jerry Seinfeld's commencement address at Duke.
Click here to read "So Was Body Positivity a Big Lie?" by Samhita Mukhopadhyay in The Cut.
Click here to read Meghan O'Rourke's "Hypochondria Never Dies" in The Atlantic.
Click here to read "Found By the Hound of Heaven" by Lindsay Holifield on Mbird.

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