While our hiatus as a podcast continues, I started a new podcast called Your Next Favorite Book, where I share about one book I really enjoy in every episode. These books run the spectrum of genres and styles—in much the same way the books Dave and I would share here do. But this is a bit of a deeper dive, almost a book review experience. And today, I want to share with you one of my favorite episodes so far, which focuses on a book that I discovered by accident. This is Faith, Hope, and Carnage...
Jun 05, 2023•21 min
Even though we’re still on a hiatus, it doesn’t mean that Dave and Aaron aren’t still doing things together. In fact today’s episode is a conversation recorded at Landmark Booksellers in Franklin Tennessee on March 1, 2023, to commemorate the release of Aaron's new book, I’m a Christian—Now What? A Guide to Your New Life with Christ . In this conversation, we discuss why Aaron wrote the book and some of its key themes. We also talk about some of the advice he wishes he’d been given and things he...
Apr 03, 2023•46 min•Season 5Ep. 140
Introducing Your Next Favorite Book, a new podcast from Aaron Armstrong. Learn more and subscribe at https://anchor.fm/aarmstrong
Jan 17, 2023•2 min
It's the most wonderful time of the year. The trees are decorated. The stockings have been hung with care. The lights are all over every tree. And Aaron is grinching about the whole thing. Which means it's a perfect time for us to drop a very special episode of Table of (mal)Contents! Listen in as we discuss Our favorite books of the year Getting and receiving books as gifts What's happening with the show—are we back? A few of the books in this episode Some of Aaron's favorites of 2021 The Story...
Dec 15, 2021•47 min
Wildwood Flower: Stories of Women who Built Country Music is back for Season 2! Intro episode will drop on October 1st! Available on all platforms. To find out more about the podcast, listen to the introductory episode here . Subscribe and follow on Instagram at wildwoodflowerpod to stay updated on new episodes and special announcements....
Oct 05, 2021•57 sec
Welcome back to the Area Code neighborhood: Feel For the Game. Nick and Noah return with a series of (mainly basketball) conversations about nostalgic moments in NBA history, current issues plaguing the league, how coping and mental health play a role in sports, and more. Tune-in as they unprofessionally, but sincerely explore why sports are bigger than just the score of the game. Subscribe now, and follow along to find out how many times Noah makes an unwarranted Kansas Jayhawks basketball refe...
Jul 07, 2021•2 min
Welcome the newest resident to the Area Code neighborhood: Wildwood Flower: Stories of Women who Built Country Music. Season 1 premiering on June 4th! Available on all platforms. To find out more about the podcast, listen to the introductory episode here . Subscribe and follow on Instagram at wildwoodflowerpod to stay updated on new episodes and special announcements....
Jun 05, 2021•1 min
Dave and Aaron have to have a talk. It's a hard talk, but it's a good one. Feel the randomness as we discuss: The realities of our lives right now If Grease 2 is the best sequel of all time (and why does Dave think the answer is yes) The best horror writers (since we don't read those books) A Stranger Things and Lonesome Dove connection Introducing kids to Nicolas Cage A few of the books we mentioned Superman: Exile & Other Stories Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir The Book Thief by Markus Zusa...
May 24, 2021•32 min•Season 5Ep. 139
Our friend Mary Wiley joins us this week for a chat about publishing, writing theology books for kids, why we need more books like Gentle and Lowly , and the time a group of people lost their minds when Dave told them about a little book she wrote. A few of the books mentioned on today's episode Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund The Gospel Story and Everyday Theology by Mary Wiley The Last Kind Words Saloon by Larry McMurtry...
May 17, 2021•48 min•Season 5Ep. 138
It's the day of random on today's episode and Aaron & Dave share different moments from silly and ridiculous books they love. A few of the books mentioned on this episode Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost A Hard Thing on a Beautiful Day by Ted Kluck Radical by David Platt Open by Andre Agassi...
May 10, 2021•39 min•Season 5Ep. 137
This week we're taking things easy and letting the Internet guide our discussion, with three questions from our friends over at Goodreads: What's the last book that busted a reading slump for you? What was the last book you stayed up too late reading? Is there a best time to read? A few of the books we mentioned in this episode The Clanlands Book by Sam Heughan and Grant McTavish The High Divide and American Gospel by Lin Enger Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund The Multi-Directional Leader by Tre...
May 03, 2021•42 min
Dave and Aaron are back in the saddle with a promptly released episode, recorded within an hour of Dave getting his shot of a certain vaccine. Will he grow a second head? Will he have a sudden urge to buy Microsoft products? Will his cell signal improve? We don't know! But we do know he can't stop thinking about the end of the world, so we're talking about that, World Book Day, and why writers need to write what connects with themselves first. A few of the books we mentioned in this episode Bird...
Apr 26, 2021•34 min
After a tiny delay due to Aaron being tired and Dave being busy, we're back with a brand new episode recorded roughly 8 hours before it found its way onto the Interwebs. Listen in as we discuss why it's not bad for people to read books where sports play a key role—especially for people like Aaron who don't have a sports at all. A few of the books we mentioned in this episode Shoeless Joe by WP Kinsella Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby Friday Night Lights by H. G. Bissenger Open by Andre Agassi A Life ...
Apr 21, 2021•28 min•Season 5Ep. 134
Nature may or may not be healing, folks, because Aaron is back on duty in an exhibit hall for TGC's Women's and National Conferences! But that didn't Aaron from taking a few minutes on a Friday afternoon to talk with Dave about what it's like being back in exotic Indianapolis and to be around all the books after all this time. Meanwhile, Dave woke up at 2 in the morning to watch Ken Burns' Hemingway documentary and couldn't wait to talk about it and to ask an important question: who is Canada's ...
Apr 12, 2021•47 min•Season 5Ep. 133
The literary world lost another giant when Beverly Cleary died a couple of weeks before her 105th birthday. Listen in as we discuss her enduring legacy, some of the surprise books we didn't realize she wrote, and a whole lot more. A selection of Beverly Cleary's books mentioned in this episode Henry Huggins Ralph S. Mouse Ramona & Beezus But really, all her books are delightful . A couple of other books we discuss The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead True Believer: The Rise and Fall ...
Apr 05, 2021•31 min•Season 5Ep. 132
A trend has emerged in recent years within Christian publishing circles: the book contract announcement photo. As it has evolved, it has taken on many different forms, beginning with the blurry contract corner and getting progressively more interesting as they go. Today we're discussing several styles—what we like, what we don't, and what we wish we'd see—along with Aaron making a special announcement of his own. But what is that announcement? You'll have to listen to this special bonus episode ...
Apr 01, 2021•25 min•Season 5Ep. 131
The literary world lost a legend last week when it was announced that Larry McMurtry, acclaimed author of Lonesome Dove, The Last Picture Show , and more than two dozen others, died at age 84. Listen in as we discuss what we know (and learn) about his work, and make plans to read one of his books together. A selection of Larry McMurtry's books mentioned on today's episode The Last Picture Show Anything for Billy Terms of Endearment Comanche Moon Streets of Laredo Dead Man's Walk A couple of othe...
Mar 29, 2021•31 min•Season 5Ep. 130
Every organization, church, blog, and even podcast can succumb to mission drift if its identity is not continually being clarified. So today, much like Derek Zoolander did when he saw his reflection in a puddle, we're getting a little introspective on the show and asking the question, "Who am I?" Listen in as we discuss: What we're really all about—and who are we really trying to be Why our faith can't not be a part of the show (even when we rarely discuss books connected to our faith) Carrying ...
Mar 22, 2021•40 min•Season 5Ep. 129
One of the creative cohorts & publishing companies Dave and Aaron both love is The Rabbit Room, for many different reasons, not the least of which being the people running it. So this week, Dave and Aaron are joined by none other than Pete Peterson, its executive director and managing editor. Listen in as we discuss: The story of The Rabbit Room The publishing philosophy of "do less better" The challenges of reading for pleasure when working in publishing The feedback Pete—and his brother An...
Mar 15, 2021•1 hr•Season 5Ep. 128
Dave and Aaron are excited to one of our favorite authors, Lin Enger, join us on the podcast this week for an outstanding chat about… well, pretty much everything. (In fact, we were having such a good time that we completely forgot the time and went about 20 minutes over—and you get to reap the benefits of it!) Listen in as we discuss: The recurring themes of religion, sacrifice, forgiveness, and father-son dynamics in Lin's writing The importance of place to storytelling What does Lin need to t...
Mar 09, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Season 5Ep. 127
The day has finally arrived—Dave and I are talking about reading Undiscovered Country volume 1 by Charles Soule and Scott Snyder, which is his first time reading a graphic novel! But to make it extra fun, we decided to invite along a longtime listener, and extremely rare Zoomer, Deb Wampler to join in the conversation with us, for a good old fashioned Comic Book Club. Listen in as we discuss: How to read a graphic novel Different formats genres of graphic novels Whether we should have had Dave e...
Mar 01, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 5Ep. 126
Dave and Aaron are joined by Russ Ramsey for a conversation about art, pastoring in a pandemic, and why we can't stop banging the drum on reading fiction. Listen in as we discuss: The results of the Dave's haircut poll How pastoring in a pandemic has affected Russ' reading The multiple-time guest jacket Why culture warriors should tell stories instead Does Calvin & Hobbes count as a graphic novel? When we might be doing the discussion of Undiscovered Country Some breaking news in the life of...
Feb 22, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 5Ep. 125
Dave and Aaron are joined by friend and former coworker Brandon Smith for a fun conversation about the Church Fathers, Batman, and the revolving door of heresy. Listen in as we discuss: How Christianity actually had faithful teachers before the Reformation What Batman graphic novels are good ones to read for a first-timer If there's such a thing as new heresy The only part of hockey Aaron talks about Should Dave take his hair all the way down, or keep working with what he's got A few of the book...
Feb 15, 2021•54 min•Season 5Ep. 124
Dave, Scarlet, and Aaron are joined by former co-host/recurring guest Barnabas Piper to talk about… well, you'll just have to listen to hear. Listen in as we discuss: Dave's feelings on the graphic novel our listeners chose for him to read The dedication of Scarlet's next book How much we don't know about copyright law and fair use doctrine as it applies to music Sharing and supporting the show Leave a five-star rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts , or wherever you listen to the show...
Feb 08, 2021•48 min•Season 5Ep. 123
Check out another show on the Area Code Network , No Chill Enneagram: Watch Party : We can't stop talking about the enneagram, so we started a podcast to get it all out of our system. No Chill Enneagram: Watch Party is a safe space for ennegram and pop culture fanatics. Each week, pop culture expert, Richard Clark, and enneagram expert, Bethany Perkins watch a movie or tv show and talk about it through the lens of the enneagram....
Feb 04, 2021•3 min
Dave & Aaron are back on Zoom talking about all kinds of not-at-all controversial subjects. As one does when on a Zoom call with a microphone. Instead, we talked current events, Star Wars, stock markets, and books. Listen in as we discuss: The winning book in our graphic novel reading challenge Whether the president should have a job title The opening scene of the inevitable book about Wall Street Bets (and future film starring Nicolas Cage) Being inspired to read again How to rank the Disne...
Feb 01, 2021•43 min•Season 5Ep. 122
Recently I (Aaron) went to the local Dollar General and was confronted with the most ridiculous book title I've seen in a long time. So naturally, I sent a picture to Dave and Scarlet, to which Dave immediately suggested that we talk about this on the show! So, with Scarlet out this week, that's what we did. And it was as silly and amazing as you would hope. Listen in as we discuss: Our favorites from a list of silly book titles we can't share (there are some that would definitely cross the line...
Jan 25, 2021•42 min•Season 5Ep. 121
We're back at it this week, discussing all the latest and greatest in our lives (reading, writing, and otherwise), including a possible near-death experience! Listen in as we discuss: Scarlet's tales of adventure over the Christmas break My first stab at the graphic novel reading challenge options My incredible progress on my reading challenge for the year Reading dry spells and ultimatums This week, we're kicking off a Twitter poll for you all to help us in this quest to find the right graphic ...
Jan 18, 2021•53 min•Season 5Ep. 120
We're kicking off the new year in style—although sadly sans Scarlet—as we talk about all kinds of wild and crazy things that have happened in the last week or so. Listen in as we discuss: Whether or not a publisher has the right to cancel a contract and why they might How we feel about the events of this past week Ideas for how to organize our bookshelves Teasers for a few upcoming items and events that we hope we can share more about in the future A few of the books we mentioned on this episode...
Jan 11, 2021•53 min•Season 5Ep. 119
Just as the end of the year brings with it scores of end-of-year book lists, so too does it bring a bevy of plans for how to make this next year the best year ever! Whether it's choosing a theme word (something I'm pretty sure none of us on this show has done), planning to read the Bible 37 times in a year, or reading 1,000,000 books, we often come up with goals and plans that are entirely unrealistic, and suck the joy out of life. So we thought we'd talk about plans that can make us happier, he...
Dec 21, 2020•49 min•Season 5Ep. 118
