The Mockingcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 249: Justin Timberlake Is Dead to Me Nov 04, 2023

Show notes

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk canine anxiety, celebrity memoirs, and dispensaries (of grace). Also, Sarah prays for high waistlines while RJ uncovers a stroller conspiracy.

Click here to read Rose Horowich's "Too Many People Own Dogs" in The Atlantic.
Click here to read Patti Davis's column in the NY Times, "Matthew Perry and the Loneliness of Addiction."
Click here to order a copy of John Z's Grace in Addiction, published by Mockingbird.
Click here to read Spencer Kornhaber's review of Britney Spears's new memoir.
Click here to read Corinne Purtill's profile of Robert Sapolsky in The LA Times.
Click here to read Matthew Sitman's essay on Muddling Through that he references in the Know Your Enemy clip (used with permission).

Episode 248: God's Great Merciful Lie Oct 23, 2023

Show notes

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk oral hygiene, couples' conflicts, and the Minnesota board of pardons. Also, the gang finally explains the show's name.

Click here to Adam Mastroianni's piece on "Do I Have to Keep Flossing?"
Click here to read the interview with Esther Perel about the 3 Things Every Couple Fights About.
Click here to read Dan Barry's profile of the Minnesota Board of Pardons (and view the incredible photos by Todd Heisler).
Click here to read Dave's post, "Doormats Are Holy."
Click here to read about "God's Compassionate Indifference to Sinners" by Todd Brewer.

Episode 247: Boys, Men, and Second Chances Oct 02, 2023

Show notes

In which RJ, Sarah and Dave talk astrology, masculinity, and minor league saints. Also, a certain Scorpio experiences the opposite of good will on a visit to Good Will.

Click here to read the Reductress article "Why I Don’t Believe in Astrology Unless It Reaffirms Something I Already Thought."
Click here to read Christine Emba's essay "Men Are Lost. Here's a Map Out of the Wilderness" in the Washington Post.
Click here to read Caitlin Flanagan's "In Praise of Heroic Masculinity" in The Atlantic.
Click here to read "Why Baseball Doc ‘Saint of Second Chances’ Is Making Grown Men Cry" by Nick Schager in The Daily Beast.
Click here to read Katelyn Beaty's essay "Mercy Begets Mercy" in The Mockingbird.
Click here to read Andy Squyres's devotion "I Saw God".

Episode 246: Sanitation Salvation Sep 18, 2023

Show notes

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk mission trips, mistaken restaurant orders, Indian toilets, and toxic achievement culture. Also, RJ pines for Portugal while Sarah considers turning off the radio (but doesn't).

Click here to learn more about Mbird's upcoming Minneapolis conference (9/29-30).
Click here to read Joshua Musser Gritter's piece Why I Love Short-Term Mission Trips.
Click here to read Forbes's article on The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders.
Click here for more details on Mary Cail's new book, Dementia and The Church.
Click here to read The Economist's obituary for Bindeshwar Pathak.
Hypocrisy
Click here to read the interview with Jennifer Breheny Wallace in The Harvard Gazette.
Click here to read Dave's post about Advertising Your Hypocrisy.
The devotion discussed at the end of the cast, written by Melina Smith of Storymakers, is taken from the upcoming devotional edited by Katie Koplin and published by 1517 Press, Encouragement for Motherhood. It comes out in Spring of 2024.

Episode 245: God Never Shows Up Early Sep 01, 2023

Show notes

Back from their summer hiatus, RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk tourism, punctuality, Swiftie conferences, and the new old age. Also, RJ remembers the elephant butte while Sarah plays the food game.

Click here to read Agnes Callard's "The Case Against Travel" in The New Yorker
Click here to read Sam Bush's post on the Ethics of Being Late
Click here to read David Brooks' essay on "The New Old Age" in The Atlantic
Click here to read the Robert Capon quote that Sarah references (from The Supper of the Lamb)
Click here to read Dianne Collard's testimony, "When the Words Become True", taken from the Mercy Issue of The Mockingbird Magazine
Click here to subscribe to The Mockingbird Magazine

Episode 244: Don't Forget to Tip Your Server Jun 01, 2023

Show notes

In their last episode before the summer hiatus RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk tip creep, accomplished achievers, grieving comedians, and Tim Keller. Also, a Condon brings home the trophy for Best Dancer at the Middle School Dance.

Click here to respond to RJ's opening appeal.

Click here to read Rachel Wolfe's report on Why Tipping Prompts Are Suddenly Everywhere for the Wall Street Journal.
Click here to read Adam Gopnik's column on What We Lose When We Push Kids to Achieve in The NY Times.
Click here to read the piece about Grief in Stand Up Comedy by Nick Zinoman.
Click here to read Stephanie Phillips tribute to Tim Keller. And here to read Dave Z's appreciation of the same.

Episode 243: The Worst Pep Talk Ever May 10, 2023

Show notes

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk baby name consultants, coronation invitations, and escape room birthday parties. Also, Dave finally reveals the Mockingcast's methodology while Sarah loses an appendix.

Click here to read Rebecca Jennings' article about baby name consultants in Vox.
Click here to read Nick Cave's response to the coronation.
Click here to read about "Why Millennial Men Are Turning to the Book of Common Prayer"
Click here to read CNN's report on the Surgeon General's Loneliness Advisory.
Click here to watch Dave's talk from the NYC Conference, "Is Anything Not a Cry for Help?"
Click here to read in The Atlantic about how Adam Mastrioanni ruined two birthday parties.
Click here to read Ben Maddison's Unsolicited Review of the Mockingbird Conference.

Episode 242: If I Wasn't Worried About Money Apr 18, 2023

Show notes

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk road rage, representation, financial obsession, and extremely short sermons. Also, RJ narrowly avoids a lemon squeeze, while Sarah learns something shocking about New England Puritans.

Click here to read the LA Times article about Beef.
Click here to read Michael Mechanic's piece in the Atlantic, "Stop Asking Whether Money Buys Happiness."
Click here to read Elizabeth Bruenig's essay for The Point, on "The Limits of Forgiveness".
Click here to read Sarah's Easter devotion The Light Has Come to Stay.
Click here to read the Easter sermon of St John Chrysostym.

Episode 241: How Old Are You (in Your Head)? Apr 04, 2023

Show notes

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk subjective age, the danger of knowingness, the perils of project religion, and the hope of Holy Week. Also, RJ reveals why he's in sales, not management.

Click here to read Jennifer Senior's essay on "The Puzzling Gap Between How Old You Are and How Old You Think You Are" in The Atlantic
Click here to read Jonathan Malesic's piece on the problem of Knowingness in Pscyhe
Click here to read Barbara Spindel's review of Alex Mar's Seventy Times Seven: A True Story of Murder and Mercy in The Wall Street Journal
Click here to read Anthony Robinson's post on Mbird about "The Cognitive Distortions of Legalistic Preaching"

Episode 240: Pain Avoidant Weirdos Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk almond moms, wellness curses, and theories of change. Also, Dave runs away from a German.

Click here to order a copy of The Sickness & Health Issue of The Mockingbird.
Click here to become a monthly supporter of Mockingbird (and receive a complimentary magazine subscription!).
Click here for more information about the Mockingbird Virtual Book Club, including how to sign up.
Click here to pre-register for the 2023 Mbird NYC Conference (4/27-29).
Click here to read Sarah Condon's piece on Grace for (Almond) Moms
Click here to read the Mbird interview with Rina Raphael
Click here to read "The Moral Case Against Equity Language" by George Packer in The Atlantic
Simeon Zahl's essay on "The Cure of Souls: Theories of Change in Christian Ministry" is currently only available in The Sickness & Health Issue of The Mockingbird. But you can watch him deliver it as a conference talk here.
Click here to read Francis Spufford's piece for Mbird, "Where's the Next Brick?"

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected