Episode Notes In this episode, Sally sits down with fellow moms Maureen Goldman (of The Popped Cast ) and Caitlin Brian to talk about their current joys and challenges as moms. Tune in to hear about picky eating, discipline, and raising rambunctious youngsters. Maureen mentioned her latest project, Working Mom Savvy ! We'd love to hear what you think of this episode! Reach out to us: Email | Instagram | Twitter | Patreon Outro music: Heroine Queen by Hallows...
Jul 30, 2019•38 min•Ep. 115
Resisting Throwaway Culture w/ Dr. Charlie Camosy In today's episode of Vernacular, we sit down for a conversation with Dr. Charlie Camosy about his recent book, Resisting Throwaway Culture: How a Consistent Life Ethic Can Unite a Fractured People (New City Press, May 2019). We discuss how the Consistent Life Ethic (CLE) can challenge people of all political stripes to reevaluate their long-held beliefs on some of our most polarizing topics--including abortion, immigration, reproductive technolo...
Jul 16, 2019•36 min•Ep. 114
Today we have a special bonus episode of Zac's new theology podcast, Creedal Catholic ! See below for show notes, and if you like what you hear, go ahead and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts ! We'd love to hear what you think of this episode! Reach out to us: Email | Instagram | Twitter | Patreon Preaching, Bishops, and Staying Catholic w/Meg Hunter-Kilmer Meg Hunter-Kilmer, the "Hobo for Christ" ( piercedhands.com ), joins Zac to talk about how Catholics can encourage their priests to b...
Jul 08, 2019•56 min
Accidental Minimalism It's been well over a month since we arrived in Colorado, but we still don't have our furniture and other household items. It's actually a good thing though! In this episode, we talk about what we've learned in this accidental experiment in minimalism: a) you can always do with less, and it's easier than you think; b) having less forces you to be oriented outward towards friends and neighbors; and c) having less makes you more grateful. We'd love to hear what you think of t...
Jul 02, 2019•18 min•Ep. 113
Book, TV, and Podcast Recommendations for Summer In this episode, hot on the heels of our big Colorado move, we break down some of the reading, TV, and podcast material that has been consuming our time lately. Among the recommendations: a C.S. Lewis trilogy, a great new crime fiction mystery series, a couple of great theology books, a hagiography by a Nobel Prize winner, a bingeable murder mystery podcast, and HBO's new Chernobyl miniseries. If you like our work, please consider supporting us at...
Jun 18, 2019•24 min•Ep. 112
Upping your Coffee Game In this episode we're joined by Nathan Seibt (follow Nate on Instagram here ), who talks with us about his passion for coffee, what the average Joe needs to know about a cup o' Joe, and offers some practical ways to step up your coffee game. Some of the resources Nate mentioned are below: Stumptown Coffee Roasters 7 Ways to Level Up Your Morning Coffee Routine Brew the Perfect Cup: The Complete Guide Where the Wild Coffee Grows We'd love to hear what you think of this epi...
Jun 04, 2019•28 min•Ep. 111
The Book Club Returns! In this episode, we sit down with Theresa Breslin, a repeat guest on the podcast, to talk about the latest series from J.K. Rowling, who is writing the Cormoran Strike under the pseudonym of Robert Galbraith. We talk about Rowling's masterful character development, the arc of the eventual 9 books in the series (only four have been published so far), the romantic tensions between the central characters, and more! But don't worry--if you haven't read the books yet, we fastid...
May 21, 2019•27 min•Ep. 110
How We Learned to Distrust Social Media Social media is everywhere. If you're reading this, chances are that you have at least one account on a major social site. We do! But in this episode we scratch the surface a little bit on the ideas driving social media, and the results aren't that encouraging. Listen along to hear about perverse incentive structures and the problems with advertising. We're not Luddites though, so we close with three ideas to help you better use social media. We'd love to ...
May 07, 2019•22 min•Ep. 109
In this special bonus episode, we're so excited to introduce you to the latest show on the Vernacular Podcast Network . It's called Breaking Pod , and it is an episode-by-episode discussion of Breaking Bad (the TV show). We'll be back in two weeks on this feed with your regularly scheduled Vernacular programming, but for now, enjoy episode one of Breaking Pod . And make sure to subscribe to the show's feed at the links below. Listen to Breaking Pod on its own feed now: Apple Podcasts | Google Pl...
Apr 24, 2019•1 hr 2 min
In this episode, Haley Stewart joins us to talk about her latest book, The Grace of Enough: Pursuing Less and Living More in a Throwaway Culture . We talk about what a throwaway culture is and how it poses problems to our humanness, Haley's time living with her family on a community farm without running toilets, and practical tips for you (and your family!) to practice living more fully in spite of the materialism around us. You can find more of Haley's work on her website . If you're interested...
Apr 09, 2019•28 min•Ep. 108
Today we're wrapping up our collaboration between the Vernacular Podcast Network and The Center for Public Justice (CPJ). What's this partnership all about? You can read (and hear!) more in Part 1, but the gist of it is that we’re teaming up with the people behind the Families Valued initiative to talk about the struggles that modern families face and to learn how we can better support families through private enterprise, charitable initiatives, and public policy. In this final episode, we chat ...
Mar 26, 2019•25 min•Ep. 107
Today we're continuing our collaboration between the Vernacular Podcast Network and The Center for Public Justice (CPJ). What's this partnership all about? You can read (and hear!) more in Part 1 , but the gist of it is that we’re teaming up with the people behind the Families Valued initiative to talk about the struggles that modern families face and to learn how we can better support families through private enterprise, charitable initiatives, and public policy. In this second episode in our t...
Mar 20, 2019•22 min•Ep. 106
Today on Vernacular, we are announcing (and launching) a three episode collaboration with the Center for Public Justice. The Center for Public Justice (or CPJ) describes itself as “an independent, nonpartisan organization devoted to policy research and civic education. Working outside the familiar categories of right and left, conservative and liberal, CPJ seeks to help citizens and public officeholders achieve justice.” Last year, CPJ launched the Families Valued initiative, a project that prom...
Mar 14, 2019•24 min•Ep. 105
In an appropriate sequel to our Valentine's Day marriage episode , today we're talking about how to better deal with difficult people. In less than twenty minutes, we talk through four big ideas to help you love the people who give you the hardest time in life: 1. Process externally but not publicly 2. Embrace the humanness of the other 3. Communicate clearly and set boundaries 4. Keep forgiveness front and center Let us know what you think: Instagram | Twitter | Email Also: don't miss our siste...
Feb 27, 2019•18 min•Ep. 104
In this Valentine's Day edition, we answer a listener question from our parenting episode and dive into how marriage can and should enrich our lives and make us more fully human. We talk about how marriage cultivates virtues like patience, self-control, grace, and love, and offer a few suggestions on how you can help your spouse cultivate these virtues. We talked about Andrew Peterson's Dancing in the Minefields in this episode. Let us know what you think: Instagram | Twitter | Email Also: don't...
Feb 12, 2019•20 min•Ep. 103
Here's to parents everywhere. In this episode we tackle the difficult topic of parenting from our limited experience as the parents of three young children. How do our kids make us more human? What do we have to learn from them? How do they help us practice the virtues? What can young parents resolve to do when the start every day anew? If you, like us, are "in the trenches" with young children, know that we are right there with you! If you're an older parent, share some wisdom with us that we c...
Feb 03, 2019•20 min•Ep. 102
This episode originally ran on February 4, 2016. //FROM THE ARCHIVES// On the occasion of the 46th anniversary of Roe v. Wade , we examine abortion's legal history in the United States, focusing on the flawed reasoning in SCOTUS decisions and the faulty data on which they have relied, abortion's medical, emotional, and psychological risks to women, the sad reality of sex-selective abortion, Planned Parenthood, and public opinion on the topic in America today. Joining us on this episode are exper...
Jan 22, 2019•1 hr 9 min
We're back for 2019! After a two month hiatus for parental leave, we're back with a discussion on some things that on our mind as we begin the new year. We talk about hospitality goals, books we want to read (and why everyone should read more), work-life synergy, and going to therapy. We'll be back soon with more episodes and are working hard on a great lineup of content for this year! Let us know what you think: Instagram | Twitter | Email Also: don't miss our sister podcast The Popped Cast, wh...
Jan 18, 2019•19 min•Ep. 101
In this episode, Zac and Sally develop five challenges for themselves (and for you, if you're up for it!) to celebrate the holidays this year in a more human way. If you have more ideas, let us know below! Let us know what you think: Instagram | Twitter | Email Become a supporter of this podcast: https://anchor.fm/vernacular/support...
Nov 06, 2018•21 min•Ep. 100
You may have never guessed you'd hear an episode about sports on Vernacular, but here it is! We break down four ways in which sports intersect with being human, and end with a recommendation to go play some basketball at your local YMCA. Along the way, we talk about the Greek Olympics, Zac's conflicted feelings about being an NFL fan, and Green Street Hooligans. Let us know what you think: Instagram | Twitter | Email Become a supporter of this podcast: https://anchor.fm/vernacular/support...
Oct 23, 2018•23 min•Ep. 99
What does reading have to do with being human? Is it essential to a human life or simply a good idea? Does it matter what we read? Is nonfiction superior to fiction? How can we make sure that we don't simply read things that confirm our worst opinions? We explore all of these questions and more in this episode. Let us know what you think: Instagram | Twitter | Email Become a supporter of this podcast: https://anchor.fm/vernacular/support...
Oct 08, 2018•22 min•Ep. 98
Continuing our series on being human, we discuss in this episode what the environment has to do with being human. How should we relate to the environment and strive to protect it while also enjoying it? Do we have a duty to care for the environment, or should it only be a matter of choice? Let us know what you think: Instagram | Twitter | Email Become a supporter of this podcast: https://anchor.fm/vernacular/support...
Sep 24, 2018•21 min•Ep. 97
In this episode, Josh and Maureen Goldman of Vernacular Podcast Network's The Popped Cast join us to talk about their show and what pop culture has to do with being human. We get to know Josh and Maureen and at the end of the show, we put the Goldmans through the paces of one of our lightning rounds, and ask them to make difficult decisions like "Jurassic World or Jurassic Park"? Listen to The Popped Cast on Apple Podcasts | Overcast | Google Play | PocketCasts | Castbox Become a supporter of th...
Sep 10, 2018•25 min•Ep. 96
In this episode Margaret Perry, General Manager of the hit D.C. restaurant Kyirisan, joins us to talk about life in the food biz and how food is more than fuel. Margaret gives us a sneak peek behind the scenes of Restaurant Week, talks about communal liturgies surrounding food preparation and consumption, and discusses food as a basis of culture. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://anchor.fm/vernacular/support...
Aug 27, 2018•24 min•Ep. 95
In this episode Lara Ryd of Rough Draft joins us to talk about what baking and food preparation has to do with being human. We discuss food preparation as art, manual and intellectual pursuits, liberal arts and mechanical arts, and quasi-spiritual culinary experiences. Check out Lara's article, " On Baking and Being Human ," for more! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://anchor.fm/vernacular/support...
Aug 20, 2018•22 min•Ep. 94
Here's a riddle: What doesn't grow on trees, is piled high but never high enough, and governs many--perhaps most--of the choices that humans make ? Although you may have thought the answer was chocolate , it's actually money. And in this episode, Zac and Sally discuss three ways in which we can understand the intersection of money and being human--namely, the behaviors money dictates, the social interactions it enables, and its sheer ubiquity. Zac and Sally also offer some practical ways in whic...
Aug 09, 2018•23 min•Ep. 93
In this episode we sit down with Miriel Thomas Reneau to talk about what disability has to do with living a truly human life. Miriel, as the parent of a disabled child, shares a bit of that experience with us as we talk about unfair parental expectations, the social model of disability, respecting body diversity, and raising our children to understand that different doesn't mean worse. Let us know what you think! Some books that may be of interest: Ava's Spectacular Spectacles, by Alice Rex Ange...
Jul 23, 2018•31 min•Ep. 92
In this episode, we sit down with filmmaker Chandler Ryd to talk about his latest project, Into the Plains . Along the way, we ask Chandler about the task of the filmmaker in conveying truth through the lens of experience, and get his thoughts on the effect of YouTube and Instagram on modern filmmaking. https://anchor.fm/vernacular/support
Jul 09, 2018•22 min•Ep. 91
For this week's Vernacular, we're cross-posting from the newest show on the Vernacular Podcast Network! It's episode three of The Popped Cast, featuring Josh and Maureen Goldman, who talk weird celebrity baby names (after Chip and Joanna Gaines of HGTV's Fixer Upper named their new baby boy "Crew" ), Johnny Depp's recent struggles, Roseanne without Roseanne, and celebrity commencement speeches as this year's graduations finally wrap up. Email Josh and Maureen at thepoppedcast@vernacularpodcast.c...
Jul 02, 2018•35 min
In episode 86 of Vernacular, we discuss yet another essential aspect of being human: living immediately. We unpack the concept, give a defense of why it is essential to a truly human life, consider the numerous challenges that modern life poses to the goal of living immediately, and address possible objections. We share some of the ways we have personally found it difficult to live immediately and the steps we've taken to start to overcome those difficulties. Let us know your thoughts and what y...
Jun 25, 2018•23 min•Ep. 90
