Renew the Arts Podcast

Michael explores the benefits and costs of technology and what that means for the coming crisis of adopting AI.

Michael answers an international mailbag full of great questions to close out 2025 on the Renew the Arts podcast.

Michael collects together the top five things he thinks churches should communicate to their artists.

Michael explains the popular dismissal of fiction and the imagination, and explores the edifying uses of fiction.

Michael compares and contrasts the great way that seeks first worldly prominence with the little way of the cross that seeks God’s kingdom.

Michael explores the way the true purpose of art is undermined when we make exploited art—art made subject to an agenda.

A generous sampling of the “Porchlight Mini-Conference on Hospitality” we held at Audiofeed Music Festival 2025 in Urbana, Illinois.

Michael is joined by biologist and worship songwriter Ciara Reyes-Ton to discuss the intersection of art, science, and faith.

Michael is joined by film-maker and YouTuber Houston Coley to discuss Coley’s feature documentary, A Kingdom of Tea and Strangers.

Chase Tremaine joins Michael to discuss how the advancements in technology over the last 100 years have impacted the arts, for good and ill.

Michael offers three word-pictures to help clarify an understanding of the arts in terms of flourishing and the blessed life.

In this mailbag episode for 2024, Michael answers questions ranging from magic in Harry Potter to Nativity scenes in your yard.

Michael discusses narcissism, why it seems so prevalent among artists, and how to address it in both individuals and communities.

An interview with Roy Sneed, a specialist who trains cross-cultural workers in the four uses of storytelling for missions and evangelism.

Michael discusses how the problem of fame affects patrons. He then explores some ways artists and patrons can address this problem of fame.

Michael explores the problem of fame, how the inequality of exposure among artists damages both popular and unknown artists.

Karen Swallow Prior joins Michael for a wide-ranging discussion on her book The Evangelical Imagination, and how it applies to the arts.

Michael is joined by Paul J. Pastor—poet, writer, editor—to discuss the value of poetry both in general and specific terms.

Michael is joined by Brian Brown, founder and executive director of the Anselm Society, to talk about the arts and communal meaning-making.

Michael explores why you need better taste and how to get it. This episode explores both the rationale and practice of developing good taste.

Justus Stout and Katy Martin join Michael for a ten-year Renew the Arts retrospective and a look at the opportunities ahead.

Ryanne Molinari joins Michael to discuss her forthcoming book on the relationship between the worship arts and the fruit of the Spirit.

Michael invites singer-songwriter Carly Taich and producer Jimmy Smith on to the podcast to discuss what it looks like for Christians to pursue art (in this case, music) within the church as a ministry, a hobby, or a profession. They share personal anecdotes about their various struggles in the professional-ministry space in the church, discuss tent-making and other means of support for artists, and give a clear charge to both artists and non-artists about how . . . [ Read More ]

Abbey and Michael get together to discuss how deconstruction within the church is both fed and addressed by the arts. What exactly do we mean by deconstruction? Why is it so prevalent right now? What does it have to do with the arts? Stay tuned at the end to hear “Oh, Sweetest Name” by John Van Deusen from his record, (I Am) Origami Pt. 4 — Marathon Daze. You might also be interested in checking . . . [ Read More ]

This is the first of a new series for the Renew the Arts podcast, Deep Dive, where we pay very close attention to an entire album or song in all of its parts, from composition to production. In this first of the series, Michael interviews Sean Sullivan, the creative force behind the music of Warbler, about his forthcoming third album, Wrestling. In this double-stuffed episode, they introduce the album, listen through it in its entirety, . . . [ Read More ]

Abbey Sitterley interviews Michael Minkoff about the historical development and downfall of patronage. What does it mean for Porchlight and Renew the Arts to resurrect the idea of patronage now when its history seems so tied up in elitism? How do we avoid making the mistakes of the past? Stay tuned at the end for a sneak peak at “The Sixth,” a track from the forthcoming record Wrestling, by Warbler.

Michael interviews co-host Abbey Sitterley (Chief Storyteller for Porchlight) about three intentional communities (L’Abri, Bruderhof, and L’Arche) to glean some of what we can learn from their successes and failures. Stay tuned at the end to hear “Naturally,” by Physick, from their album All the Days.

Justus and Michael discuss the motivations and reasoning behind launching the Porchlight Art and Hospitality Network. They then explain the qualities and virtues they hope to draw together and further cultivate in the network. Stay tuned at the end to hear a live rendition of “Face to Face,” by the Local Hang-Ups.

Justus and Michael finish up their conversation on politics and culture with a few days left for election 2020. Stay tuned at the end for “Worry,” off of Warbler’s self-titled record.

Justus sat down with singer-songwriter Wendell Kimbrough to discuss how the psalms encourage the church to empathy, why we don’t sing them like we used to, and why we need to sing them again. Stay tuned at the end for “The Hand of God (Psalm 82)” from Wendell’s album Come to Me.

Justus and Cynthia talk with Alexia Jones, founder of Rise Theater, about how art made in community can help heal brokenness in pursuit of recovery. Stay tuned at the end for “Dance Hi’s and Lo’s” by Civilized Creature, from the record Steadfast.

Justus and Cynthia interview Chi T. Mathias, a vocalist, author, speaker, and teacher, who tells her incredible story of overcoming trauma in and through creative expression. Stay tuned at the end for Chi’s single, “Forgiveness.”

Justus and guest co-host Cynthia Giles (http://creativeactivation.org and http://cynthiasinspirations.com) talk to medical student and aspiring psychiatrist Lydia Jones about making art and staying mentally healthy during the pandemic and after. Stay tuned after the episode to hear “Still,” a new single by Civilized Creature.

Justus sits down with Erik Løkkesmoe, a former DC press secretary and speechwriter who now produces films from his home-base in Nashville, to discuss politics and patronage and how we can contribute to cultural transformation without feeling like we as individuals need to (or even could) move the whole world. Stay tuned at the end for “When There’s a Mountain” by Anthony Quails, from his record Before the Bright Lights.

Justus Stout talks on the phone with Joseph Pensak, main songwriter for the band Hallowell, about his most recent record, his approach to making music, and running a community art gallery. Stay tuned at the end for “Another World” from Hallowell’s self-titled record.

Your hosts, Justus and Michael, return to launch into this year’s theme at Renew the Arts: Politics and the Arts. In our politics-obsessed climate, cultivating culture can seem like a most ineffective way to affect the future of our polarized nation. Michael and Justus explore the ways that culture precedes and predicts politics. Stay tuned at the end for “Be the Beast,” from Warbler’s Sea of Glass.

Justus talked with David Hamilton of RYFO to discuss what David sees as some key ways to heal the apparent divide between artists and the church through better community practices. Stay tuned at the end for “Living Water” by Fuel Music off their EP “The Life.”

Justus and Michael sat down with hip-hop artist Sho Baraka to discuss his work, his latest collaborative album with Vanessa Hill, and why he thinks the Christian community is so squeamish to discuss sex. Stay tuned at the end for the track “Nasty,” from So Many Feelings, by Sho Baraka and Vanessa Hill.

Justus chats on the phone with singer-songwriter John Van Deusen to discuss his life as a signed artist with Tooth & Nail Records, his testimony, and expanding the boundaries of what Christians are willing to call hymns. Stay tuned at the end to hear two tracks from John Van Deusen: “All Shall Be Well” from Every Power Wide Awake, and “You Don’t Know What You’re Asking” from A Catacomb Hymn.

Your hosts Michael and Rusty get you up to date on the back-and-forth that has ensued from former Hillsong singer Marty Sampson’s announcement that he’s losing his faith. Along the way, they discuss John Cooper (of Skillet) and his viral rebuke, truth and feelings, psalms of doubt and lament, and the important role the local community plays in an artist’s spiritual health. Stay tuned until the end to hear “Valley” by Civilized Creature off of . . . [ Read More ]

Justus and Michael talk on the phone with Michael Wright about engaging the arts as a Christian guest in “secular” cultural spaces. As a culture curator who helps develop curriculum resources for Fuller Seminary’s Brehm Center for the Arts, Michael Wright is well-suited to assist newly awakening patrons to develop fruitful practices of appreciation. Stay tuned at the end for “Riverwide (Bendblock Remix)” by Lolo Meares. (mateoandlo.squarespace.com) (mattlumpkin.com) Things mentioned in the episode:

Justus and Michael meet with author and pastor George Grant in his home in Franklin, Tennessee to discuss the relationship between the Reformed church and the arts. If the Reformed church has very good theological reasons for supporting the arts, why does it seem like there is so much resistance to the arts and artists in Reformed communities?

Your host Justus sits down with singer-songwriter Anthony Quails who shares stories of becoming a sponsored artist, knowing God’s grace through shortcomings, evangelizing in music, and his new album of his most personal songs yet. Stay tuned to the end for the demo of “I Wish That I Was Him” from Anthony’s forthcoming EP The Man I Thought I’d Never Be. Check out his Kickstarter before it ends Saturday, June 29!

Justus sat down with singer-songwriter Derek Webb to discuss his experience in the Christian music industry and how it may have contributed to his loss of faith. Stay tuned at the end for “Wedding Dress” from Webb’s 2003 record She Must and Shall Go Free. We also want to thank Ryan Lane of Civilized Creature for permission to use “Unexpected Gifts” from his forthcoming record The Way Back Home.

Allison and Michael field your questions about art history, tackling some new material to close out the season. Stay tuned at the end to hear the full version of “Eyes Closed Dance Party” off of Permission to Feel by Civilized Creature. Thank you all for writing in!  

In a fully-loaded episode, Allison and Michael discuss the art historical trends and challenges of today, with a discussion of digital, indie, and multi-media art. Then they present a flyby of how the various movements covered in this season might apply to or inform artists and patrons now. Stay tuned at the end for “Before the Silver Tether Breaks,” composed and arranged by Phil Hodges, from Death is Their Shepherd, by Physick.  

Allison and Michael discuss the Pop Art movement, the divide between “high brow/low brow” art, and the prominence of celebrity and popular culture. Stay tuned at the end for Phil Hodges’ classical guitar arrangement of Neil Young’s “Old Man.”  

Allison and Michael unpack the hopelessness of existentialism, and they discuss why despair concerning merely human attempts at meaning provide fruitful ground for the Gospel. Stay tuned at the end for a John Cage piece performed on the classical guitar by Phil Hodges.

Your hosts Allison and Michael discuss some reasons to appreciate Modern Art, bringing up some of the most famous of the nearly 70 movements comprised by it. With all of its snark, modern art has a lot to say about honesty in the face of the brutal realities of human existence, and Christians can learn something from it about how to make “ugly” art the right way. Stay tuned at the end for a classical . . . [ Read More ]