Our Favorite Podcasts

At Mbird, we love our podcasts. Of course, there’s The Mockingcast — ft. Dave, Sarah, and RJ. There’s the ever-faithful Same Old Song to help you through the lectionary readings. There’s The Brothers Zahl, still churning out episodes on some of life’s most interesting topics. And we’ve got The Mockingpulpit, PZ’s Podcast, and the Terrible Parables podcast. Really, it’s a fantastic smorgasbord of listening to choose from! But just in case you were looking for more podcasts, here are some of our other favorites: 

And Also With You: As a child, I witnessed a man preach a sermon on Easter Sunday that detailed the brutalization that Christ experienced during the crucifixion. It was not PG. When called upon (literally) this spring to teach a lesson on the “Mystery of Easter,” to a group of 3-8 year-olds–not wanting to similarly traumatize them–I was extremely grateful for the podcast And Also With You’s episode on “How to Talk About Jesus on the Cross – with Kids.” The episode gives practical, age-appropriate advice on what to say, when to say it, and how, so that during the lesson, I could ask: “Why is this not just a sad story?” And a child (okay, a preacher’s child) responded: “Because he came back from the dead!” And it comforted me, too. — Sarah Gates

And That’s Why We Drink: My favorite (and definitely low-brow) show to put on during a run, when I’m making dinner, or any other time I want to be distracted from real life. The hosts take turns reading their stories each episode: the first is a ghost story or conspiracy theory and the second is true crime. There’s something about being told a scary story when you know you’re safe that makes real life feel like a relief, which I guess is its own form of grace. — Stephanie Phillips

Backlisted: This podcast resurrects old books for new attention (and resurrecting things that have virtually died seems to be something that this MBird website holds dear). Along that same theme, episode 29 showcases Muriel Spark’s 1959 novel Memento Mori, which features a mysterious voice who phones senior citizens with a stark and simple message: “Remember you must die.” Would that we all had someone to provide us with that daily reminder of death and our need for gracious resurrection. — Larry Parsley

The Christian History Almanac: Each weekday, Dan van Voorhis at 1517 highlights a person or event from that date in history. They are short, which is good for me since I have trouble finishing anything, as well as informative and entertaining. And they all end with a Bible verse and Dan’s comforting words: “And remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true. Everything is going to be okay.” — Juliette Alvey

This wonderful daily podcast tells quick stories about church history to get your day started with an additional extended weekend episode every week. The Christian History Almanac gracefully shows the good, the bad and the ugly of our ancestors in the faith. And the best part? Each episode ends with the host’s hopeful parting words: “And remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness and the redemption of all things are true. Everything is going to be okay.” A favorite episode of mine is about Charles Schulz and Charlie Brown. — Blake Nail 

Crackers and Grape Juice: Hosted by Jason Micheli and Teer Hardy, and backed by an impressive team of pastors and professors, this show is my weekly must-listen. The guests, many familiar to Mbird folks, are people from throughout the body of Christ who know what grace is, and can’t stop talking about it! Speaking of grace, make sure to check out their “Fridays with Fleming” (Rutledge) series. — Joshua Retterer

The Ezra Klein Show and EconTalk: Klein, a founder of Vox News, moved to NYT a couple years ago. He’s insightful, courageous and gracious — our best politics and culture commentator at the moment, i.m.h.o. I would also use the word “influential.” EconTalk is a good one for us clergy in particular, who are often afraid of money and not very informed about economics. That said, the show, hosted by Russ Roberts, covers lots besides economics. Literature, art, psychology and cultural commentary. Like Klein, Roberts is forthright but gracious in all his conversations with guests. Both Klein and Roberts are Jewish, which has been interesting and helpful, over the past year of the terrible Gaza War. — Anthony Robinson

The Food Programme from the BBC is about food, which, of course, makes it about people, and more often than not, opportunities for grace. Hosts Shelia Dillon and Dan Saladino travel the UK, Europe, and sometimes the world, to find how the connections between food and people shape and affect us, from world economies, to tiny communities, for good or ill. I dare you to listen to one of the Food and Farming Awards grace-soaked episodes and not abreact! Krista Tippett, of On Being fame, listed it among her favorite podcasts; you’ll see why. — Joshua Retterer

The Glass Cannon Network: Time to let the nerd flag fly. Some of the most popular podcasts today involve professional actors, voice artists, playwrights, and improv comedians playing role playing games like Dungeons and Dragons with a microphone in front of them. What makes the genre so entertaining (and theologically resonant) is the element of rolling dice. Since major plot points are determined by chance, it forces the players and game masters to tell a story that they themselves have no control over, which sounds suspiciously like real life. The highs are higher, the lows are lower, and when Olog the half-orc barbarian dies after rolling a “natural 1” on his death save, the tears feel authentic and earned. Many podcasts in the genre are too saccharine for me, marked by what is derisively called “theater kid energy.” The Glass Cannon Network has a history of balancing east coast humor, dramatic storytelling, and improv excellence playing the Pathfinder roleplaying game. Other suggested shows: Androids & Aliens, Giantslayer, and season one of their COVID hiatus show Side Quest Side Sesh. — Bryan Jarrell 

Harry Potter and the Sacred Text: For this podcast, any text can be sacred, as long as it continues to generate new thoughts, feelings, ideas, or beauty (as examples). The hosts read the Harry Potter series through themes such as love, mercy, and maturity, and immerse themselves in the text through sacred reading practices, like Florilegia, Lectio Divina, Havruta, and the Four Reliances. They have made meaning out of sentences as brief as, “Good night, sir,” and the plot-hole problem-solving device that is the time turner, which means that they can pretty much make meaning out of anything. Harry Potter is not the Bible, but learning to deeply read a secular text through a sacred lens is a window into seeing God in more ways and places. — Sarah Gates

Heavyweight: Jonathan Goldstein helps folks address nagging issues from their past. In episode 27, for a great example, Jonathan helps Scott. In the throes of addiction, Scott stole an heirloom from his father, Win. The item in question was the Luger given to Win by his father, a World War II veteran. Tracking down the gun proves nearly impossible, but somehow, they find it! When Scott presents the recovered item to his father, Win doesn’t seem impressed. Jonathan presses Win, and that’s when Win says he never cared about the gun; it’s just a material item. What Win was always afraid of losing was his son. Now, eight years into sobriety, Scott and his father have made the gun mean something it never meant before: reconciliation. — Ryan Cosgrove

One of my favorite episodes of Heavyweight is #18 from 2018 called “Sven.” It tells the story of a man who was on a jury that sentenced another man to death and how that one event changed the course of his life (not for the better)… and how a weight was lifted after speaking to the sentenced man’s mother years later. Also, episode #12 (“Jesse”) is extremely powerful, and episode #16 (“Rob”) is very entertaining. — Juliette Alvey

Hidden Brain: A podcast on human behavior and psychology that I enjoy for how it (unintentionally, I think) intersects with “Christian” views on change. Recent episodes have touched on how impossibly self-centered we all are, how to transform people with love more than argument, and how trying too hard can actually serve as an impediment to success and growth. — Chris Wachter

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs: Each episode focuses on one song as the writer and host Andrew Hickey takes his listeners on a chronological trek, starting with a 1939 track by the Benny Goodman Sextet and at this point through the Rolling Stones’ 1968 “Sympathy for the Devil.” You get much more than just the background of any particular song. Hickey’s history is comprehensive. The accompanying website includes links for all the music mentioned. It’s a free podcast, but Patreon subscribers also get bonus episodes, along with ebooks of the collected transcripts. — Ken Jones

Legends of the Old West: Whether you were evading it, enforcing it, or outright defying it, the wild wild west was a world defined by the law. With outlaws afoot and sheriffs polishing their badges, this seemingly lawless land is a microcosm of the human heart. This podcast tackles infamous people, legendary cities, brutal wars and more. One of my favorite block of episodes is about ol’ Wild Bill Hickok. — Blake Nail 

The Moth: The Georgia-based poet and novelist George Dawes Green fondly remembered sharing stories with his friends on hot summer evenings, everyone being drawn to his back porch like moths to a lightbulb. From that tradition came the nonprofit storytelling series The Moth. Nearly thirty years since its inception, 27 US cities regularly host storytelling competitions, each based around a theme like Love Hurts, Holding On and Letting Go, Hot Mess, or Conviction. Each story has to be a first-person narrative, totally unscripted and one-hundred-percent true. Every story isn’t a homerun, admittedly, but The Moth Series is a goldmine that I routinely scour for sermon illustrations. For a free sample, check out Ed Gavigan’s story, “Whatever Doesn’t Kill Me,” about his life unravelling after getting stabbed by gang members in New York City. It’s a profoundly honest and surprisingly humorous account of a man at the end of his rope and in desperate need of help. — Sam Bush

Pints with Chesterton: Sometimes I feel like I’m listening to a podcast because I should. Ironically this whole project might make you feel like you need even more subscriptions in your life… oof! This is what I love about Pints with Chesterton. There’s no angle on “being informed” or “helping me preach”, just a lot of wit and whimsy. Our hosts really grasp the playfulness of G.K. and the upside down nature of grace. I always feel a little lighter when I listen. — Ryan Alvey

Radiolab: In their “The Secret to a Long Life” episode, producer Sindhu G. — faced with her own mortality — embarks on a journey to stretch out her felt experience of time. As a perpetual fun-seeker, I thought she had cracked the code: to make life feel longer, try something new every day! Yet she discovers that chasing novelty doesn’t have the payoff she hoped, and instead leaves her exhausted and disoriented. Perhaps the comfort of familiarity (maybe even hearing the same old good news over and over) is better for our souls. Maybe, eternal life doesn’t operate by the same rules, and we can experience joy in the mundane. — Kate Wartak

The Rest Is History, and British Scandal: I’ve discovered, through the podcasts I listen to, that two of the things I most enjoy are history and being scared. When I want to hear about the past, I apparently like to hear a British voice read it to me, and for that I go to The Rest Is History and British Scandal. Think high-brow/low-brow, respectively: the first is moderated by historians (Tom Holland being a former Mbird conference keynote speaker), and the second by comedians. Both are funny and informative, and the hosts find a way to make the past inform the present without resorting to pedantry.  — Stephanie Phillips

Revisionist History: I haven’t read that much Malcolm Gladwell, but I will listen to any podcast episodes he puts out. It’s just endlessly fascinating stuff, even occasionally dipping artfully into religious terrain. One of my favorite episodes is actually a three-parter from Season 6, unpacking and rethinking the classic story of The Little Mermaid. I wrote an Mbird post about it ages ago. It’s definitely worth a listen, perhaps especially if you either loved or hated the Disney movie. — Ben Self

The Rewatchables: I’m a cinephile. Friday nights in Seminary were spent next to my buddy, Kollin, with Pizza in one hand and some film in the other. The Rewatchables is a movie podcast for people who love all kinds of movies. A “Rewatchable” is defined as any movie that you’d sit down to watch no matter where the movie is in its runtime. Perhaps what I love about The Rewatchables is that it doesn’t aim to be educational, dark, political, or even spiritual. So much of my life swims in those waters. This podcast is just fun, simply because movies are fun. And who among us doesn’t want to watch The Raiders of the Lost Ark for the 50th time? — Josh Gritter

The Score with Edmund Stone: After deliberating, I finally settled on an oldie but a goodie. Music is something that has always been there for me. As a little girl, I shared a room with my younger sister, so my top bunk with my own personal shelf was my oasis. On it, sat books and journals, a lamp, and a GE digital clock radio. I loved that thing. I’d lay there and listen, usually to the classical music station, for as long as I could. Later, when I discovered The Score on our local classical music station, it came as a surprise. The age of smartphones and Spotify was already well on its way, but for some reason, I wanted to tune the radio dial and yield myself to what was already playing. With his time worn English voice, Edmund transports us into the world of movie scores. Ranging from sweeping and epic to seemingly minute yet intrinsic, I am transported into another story brimming with life. I recall movies I’ve seen, or the score brings them to me, arriving from well before my time. I am always left full of wonder, with the feeling that I’m a part of something larger than myself. There’s joy woven into those melodies, reminding me of that Something larger. And as C.S. Lewis says, “it is never a possession, always a desire for something longer ago or further away or still ‘about to be’.” What a great desire to have. — Janell Downing

Smartless: During the pandemic three comedians — Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett — decided to start a podcast. It was supposed to last 6 months; they are still going. What I love most about Smartless is not the inside scoop on Seth Rogen or Will Ferrell’s approach to acting. What I love most is the contagiously joyous and hilarious friendship between the three hosts. They cut up and make fun of one another — hard. But the more you listen the more you thirst for the delight of humor and friendship in your life. These three move in the circles of the most wealthy and famous, and yet what they end up talking about is love, pain, loss, friendship, and all with an enveloping sense that we need not take ourselves so seriously. — Josh Gritter

Travel with Rick Steves: How do I put this? Steves is just so pleasantly Lutheran. I’ve always loved his vibe — a sort of Midwestern nice mixed with West Coast cosmopolitan. I’m not going to say that I listen to every episode he puts out — that would be a lot. But if I’m just in the mood for some cordial, enthusiastic, easygoing conversations about interesting places and cultures all over the world, it’s nice to know I can depend on Rick. Of course, there are plenty of strong opinions (and lots of travel dos and donts) being shared on his show, but these conversations exude graciousness. Every place (and people) comes across as fascinating, has something to recommend it, and is worth learning about. It feels almost ecumenical in its essence and makes me glad to be part of this crazy human race. — Ben Self

Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! and Hidden Brain: I’m old, so I like to prove to myself my brain is still working with these podcasts. I also like History That Doesn’t Suck for the same reason and the “Oh Wow!” factor it provides. And of course, I enjoyed The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill to hear and experience low anthropology. — Marilu Thomas

The Well of Sound: Did you love VH1’s Behind the Music? But wish they’d gone a little deeper, and occasionally chosen slightly more niche subjects? Mbird director Dave Zahl and his friend Lex have a great music podcast called The Well of Sound that you should check out. A couple of my favorite episodes are: the Paul Williams episode, and the Genesis/Phil Collins 2-parter (which in the second part, Dave sincerely recommends a song from the Brother Bear soundtrack). I’ve enjoyed all the episodes, though, they even got me to listen to an almost three-hour-long episode about Meat Loaf, which actually ended up softening years of built up distaste towards the man that stemmed from hearing “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” at a 4-H dance when I was 12 or 13, and thinking it was the worst thing I’d ever heard. But now, because of The Well of Sound, I kind of love the whole Bat Out of Hell record… Thanks, guys, I guess … Ha. — Joey Goodall

Some MBird Podcasts Endorsements:

The Brothers Zahl: I recently listened to “Episode 19: Parenting” and think that all parents and children will benefit from hearing from John, Dave, Simeon, and their special guest… their loving and lovely mother, Mary. — Juliette Alvey

PZ’s Podcast: The only podcast that excites and surprises me the way my youthful forays into radio listening did. Whenever I see a new episode pop-up in my feed, I listen as soon as I can. Ryan Alvey and I almost always text each other within twenty-four hours of an episode drop (the episodes don’t come out regularly, only as Paul is inspired/able to do so, so they always feel like an unexpected gift) to talk about our favorite nuggets of wisdom, warmth, and humor found therein. Paul talks about aspects of life and faith in an always entertaining way that really connects, from his concept of phosphorus, to his applying the Nazareth Principle to a whole host of unexpected things, to using a song from the hippie musical Hair to get at the core of human relationships and our (in)ability to love one another. I can’t recommend it enough. — Joey Goodall