Cody and Rich interview Dr. Benjamin Myers about his new book of essays, Ambiguity & Belonging . The conversation covers, among other things, the formation that comes from sticking in a community; the balance of particularity and ambiguity in the arts; whether reading classics is important; the benefits of sports; and whether non-Scripture poetry ought to be part of church services.
In this quick episode, we summarize two special opportunities coming up this month: Art for Ukraine benefit event on June 6 at Browncroft Community Church. Admission is free. RSVP here . Bombadil: A Four-Week Study of Vocation, Calling, and Mastery. Sign up here .
Cody, Nate, and special guest Megan Mancini discuss the new hit series on Prime Video, House of David .
Nate and Rich discuss Season 5, Part 1 of The Chosen , the acclaimed series about Jesus and his disciples. The first 15 minutes of this podcast episode is spoiler-free, so you can listen even if you haven't yet seen The Chosen Season 5.
Cody talks to singer/songwriter Jesse Dean Boland about Canada, church music, drums, and his new single, Old Church Pew .
Nate talks to Matthew Mellema about his new middle-grade novel, RED REX —how Matthew crafted the story, how he was informed by history, and how he thinks about the integration of faith and literature. Matthew Mellema is the author of RED REX (Bandersnatch Books). He was born and raised in Colorado Springs: a place surrounded by dinosaur bones. After studying literature at Oxford and law at Yale, Matthew returned to Colorado. Once back home, the dinosaur bones of his childhood reignited his imagi...
Zack speaks with Cary Brege of Havenwood about hospitality, house shows, and the essential role of beauty in the world.
In this special Christmas episode, Dr. Benjamin Myers reads his essay Advent in Oklahoma . His new book, Ambiguity and Belonging , is now available from Belle Point Press.
Now that Cody has just finished reading The Lord of the Rings for the first time, he and Nate discuss its brilliance, its quirks, and its enduring appeal.
Heather speaks to Jennifer E. Greenman , a landscape watercolor painter who explores the moody and temporal landscapes of our world. Her impressionist-style brushwork and harmonious color schemes connect the viewer to a world that is endlessly being created again and again by its Maker.
Rich, Nate and Megan discuss Season 2 of the Prime Video series, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The first 20 minutes are spoiler-free reactions, so you can listen before you watch. After that, we move to our detailed thoughts on the season.
Heather speaks to mixed media artist Cody F. Miller about his art, experiences, and inspirations.
Rich, Nate and special guest Dan Christman review The Chosen Season 4. The first 17 minutes are spoiler-free, so you can listen even if you haven't watched the season yet.
Zack talks to singer/songwriter Benjamin Daniel . They discuss the process of becoming a songwriter, artistic influences, goals & passions, and holding on to Christ.
Rich and Heather discuss various art they've been experiencing recently: Polaroid Lovers by Sarah Jarosz Dr. Who The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again by The Decemberists...
Nate, Cody, and special guest Luke Rosamilia review Leif Enger's latest novel, I Cheerfully Refuse . The first 30 minutes of the episode are spoiler-free, then we dive into plot details.
The Forefront crew & guest stars gather to discuss the question "Is it time for hero movies to end?" We talk about our favorite superhero films, the difference between a hero and a superhero, and why hero movies could have lasting value for society.
Cody and Nate discuss Josh Garrels' new single, Watchman , and then rank their favorite songs in Josh Garrels' entire discography.
Rich, Nate and Gage discuss whether all artistic mediums are welcome in church. 00:00 - Introduction 03:33 - What artistic mediums are you used to seeing in worship services? 13:40 - Why do many churches emphasize music over every other art form? 21:40 - A brief history of images & icons in church 40:09 - Should we expand our understanding of what "worship" means in the gathered church? 01:00:19 - Are there limits to the mediums or styles of art that would be appropriate in a church space (o...
Nate talks to Goldenwood founders David Kim and Amilee Watkins about Spiritual Formation for artists. This is the first episode in a special series based on the Goldenwood Institute. Rev. Dr. David Kim is the CEO and co-founder of Goldenwood. Over the past several decades, he has trained, consulted, and counseled hundreds of leaders and organizations in developing a robust integration of faith and work. David’s past roles include Executive Director of the Center for Faith & Work, Director of...
Zack and Nate discuss the art they've been experiencing recently: The Jingle Workshop by Raymond Scott and the movie Father Stu .
Cody talks to Ilana Reimer about faith, editing, and the arts. Ilana Reimer is the editor of Love Is Moving . She studied journalism at Algonquin College and has worked as a freelance journalist and book editor since 2015. Her essays, poetry, and articles have appeared in a number of publications including Ekstasis, Breaking Ground, Faith Today, and Mutuality. In 2022, she was named a Cardus NextGEN Fellow. Ilana is passionate about championing and equipping Christian creators, believing they ca...
Rich, Nate and Megan discuss the all-new film from director Denis Villeneuve, Dune Part Two. 02:47 - Spoiler-free reactions 23:23 - Spoilers begin 28:43 - Paul's character journey 34:30 - Faith & politics in Dune 48:57 - Questions & nitpicks 01:12:51 - Chani's character journey 01:19:47 - Closing thoughts
Cody, Zack & Gage discuss how they first became captivated by the arts.
Cody, Nate and Zack gather for an arts review, discussing the following: Neutral Milk Hotel , esp. The King of Carrot Flowers The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in Turkish Kings Kaleidoscope by Kings Kaleidoscope We also mention Zack's article on the Forefront blog, "Jesus etc."...
The Forefront crew gathers to discuss the classics: what are they, does it matter if we read them, and how do we read them well? Spoiler alert; here are the ones that made the draft list at the end: Pride and Prejudice Little Women Treasure Island The Grapes of Wrath The Lord of the Rings A Tale of Two Cities The Metamorphosis The Odyssey Things Fall Apart The Count of Monte Cristo Anna Karenina The Joy Luck Club The Great Gatsby Charlotte's Web The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn...
Cody, Rich and Nate gather for the first arts review of the year to discuss: Sacred Strides book by Justin McRoberts The Bear TV series The Boy and the Heron film Memories in Old Age poem by Maryann Corbett...
Since Advent is a perfect season to begin rhythms of prayer & meditation, today Rich talks to Taylor Buckley, Director of Influencer & Brand Marketing at Hallow. Hallow is a popular Christian prayer & meditation app. If you'd like to try Hallow free for 3 months: Hallow.com/Forefront
Rich, Cody, Nate, Zack, and special guest Lauren Lowin gather to discuss C.S. Lewis's beloved series, The Chronicles of Narnia. We cover what Narnia means to us personally, whether Narnia is for kids, whether we like the "allegorical" elements of the Chronicles, what adaptations we like and dislike, what we hope for the Netflix adaptations, and of course, our favorite passages from the books. We're doing it on this occasion because the podcast Pints with Jack has established C.S. Lewis's birthda...
Cody talks with Veronica McDonald about the enjoyment of surprising stories, the beauty of the Gospel, and the challenges of running a literary journal. Veronica McDonald is a published fiction writer, poet, visual artist, and editor. She graduated from American University in Washington D.C. with an M.A. Degree in Literature, and has since accumulated a growing list of published work. In 2019, Veronica started a literary and art journal called Heart of Flesh , where she publishes Christian-theme...
