Speaking with Joy

Episode Nineteen: Do Something that Won't Compute

Wendell Berry thinks the world is more like a mystery than a machine. In his poem "The Mad Farmer's Liberation Front" he gives us a radical manifesto for lives that don't compute.

Episode Eighteen: Women's Friendships in Film and Television (feat. Elena Trueba!)

Women have friends...

In the third episode of a series on art by, about, and concerning women, this episode focuses on the theme of women's friendships as they are portrayed in film and television. I have the great delight of discussing this topic with my dearest friend Elena Trueba. Elena is a masters student in Religion and Politics at Harvard, and works in screenwriting. 

Listen to this episode for erudite diagnoses of women's friendship in film, stories about Elena's and my college days, and tips on friendship.

Episode Seventeen: The Philosophy of Tea

“There is something in the nature of tea that leads us into a world of quiet contemplation of life.” 

- Lin Yutang, The Importance of Living 

 

This week's episode explores how the ritual of tea creates moments of contemplation, calm, and community in our lives. Check out the show notes at joyclarkson.com

Easter Episode: Entering the Story of Holy Week

Bach is one of the greatest composers of all time, and the St. Matthew Passion is his greatest accomplishment. But it is not simply a masterpiece of music; it is a work of deep personal faith. 

So, whether you are a believer, someone who knows this story as your own, someone who does not believe, but perhaps sees some value in this story, or someone who wishes they could believe but struggles, I, with Bach, invite you into this story.

Episode Fifteen: Turning Darkness into Light

What do you do if vikings burn down your monastery 17 times in 15 years? Find out in today's poscast.

A St. Patrick's Day Podcast!

An impromptu podcast for this special day. I tell Saint Patrick's story and give you some scrumptious ideas for celebration! Sláinte!

Episode Thirteen: Judgement

We have complicated feelings about judgement. We don't want people to judge us, but we want evil people to be judged. Can we have one without the other? This week we'll talk about Judgement, Judges, and Courts. We examine A Few Good Men by Aaron Sorkin, Bleak House the novel by Charles Dickens, and the curious journey of the Dies Irae (day of wrath) from monasteries, to classical music halls, to almost every filmscore you've ever heard. 

 

Show notes can be found at joyclarkson.com

Episode Twelve: Humor and Humility

What might humor have to do with humility? Find out in today's podcast featuring, P.G. Wodehouse, Charles Dickens, and Regina Spektor.

Episode Eleven: We're All Going to Die

This is the first in a series of Lenten themed episodes which seek to help listeners explore the themes of Lent through art. I examine the question “How can we live in preparation for a good death?” We’ll explore this question through the isenheim altarpiece by Matthias Grunewald, Edward Elgar's unstaged opera "Dream of Gerontius" based on the poem by Cardinal Henry Newman (with my brother Clarkson as a guest!), and John Donne's poem "Death Be Not Proud." Bonus: Harry Potter!

Shownotes can be found at joyclarkson.com.

Poetry of Wonder (and a give away!!)

A special episode dedicated to poetry. I look at the theme of wonder in e.e.cummings, Sylvia Plath, and Wendell Berry. And I also announce a very special give away! To enter do three things: 1. rate and review the podcast on iTunes. 2. Share your favourite episode of Speaking with Joy (instagram, twitter, facebook, or email!) 3. Send me an email telling me you've done those two things (thejoynessthebrave@gmail.com). Entries accepted until Feb 20th.