The Good Life

Miles is a history professor at Hillsdale College. Originally from North Carolina, he now resides in Michigan. He has written for First Things, The American Conservative, Ad Fontes Journal, and American Reformer. In this episode, we talk about how history is an expanding subject, how to distinguish real history from conspiracy theories, the difference between preaching Scripture and teaching history, what makes someone a good history teacher, and why people should read less Flannery O'Connor and more George Washington Cable. Articles by Miles Conservativism, If You Can Keep It Would That It Were 'Christian Nationalism' Evangelicals and Whig History Be For the City: 19th Century Evangelicals and Urban Theonomy The Bible and the Nation

Michael Sacasas is the head of a Christian Study Center in Gainsville, Florida. He has written on the role of technology through the lens of writers like Hannah Arendt, Jacques Ellul, and Ivan Illich. Today we talk about why it's hard to define technology, the dangers of mechanistic thinking, and how limits help us pursue a good life. The Convivial Society (Michael's Newsletter) The Human Condition - Hannah Arendt The Technological Society - Jacques Ellul Rebels Against the Future - Kirkpatrick Sale The Year of Our Lord 1943 - Alan Jacobs Life After Babel - Jonathan Haidt (article) Why American Teens Are So Sad - Derek Thompson (article)

Recently I preached on magic from Leviticus 19 and 20. There was much more material than I could talk about and quite a few questions. This is my first podcast that's not an interview. Today I talk about the relationship between magic and nature, how our modern view of magic is quite new, and how the Reformation helped unite the church against the spread of dark magic. I'd love to hear from you if you have any suggestions for future topics. Seven Brief Lessons on Magic - Paul Tyson Living in a World of Magic - Sermon

Who is the only writer who makes Queen Elizabeth laugh out loud when she reads him? The answer is James Herriot, (his actual name is Alfred Wight). His books, beginning with All Creatures Great and Small, are funny, interesting, and reveal a slower way of life from a bygone era. He was a practicing vet from 1939 to 1996 in the Yorkshire region of the U.K. Masterpiece Theater recently turned his novels into a television series (for the second time) and his books have sold over 60 million copies. Today I interviewed his son, Jim Wight, who wrote a wonderful biography of his father called, The Real James Herriot. We talk about the people behind the characters in the novels, what it's like to be a vet in rural England, and why so many people love James Herriot stories. Books The Real James Herriot All Creatures Great and Small All Things Bright and Beautiful All Things Wise and Wonderful The Lord God Made Them All

I'm joined by Dr. Michael Connolly, a history professor at Purdue University Northwest. He has written several articles about the best political perspective you've probably never heard about - Toryism. Most Americans only think of Toryism as a British idea, but it's much deeper than that. Far from being an ideology and bearing little similarity to the modern British political party of the same name, Toryism is a way of looking at the world. Beginning with an appreciation of the blessings from the past, it includes a love of the church, patriotism, the fundamental necessity of the family, the necessity of hierarchy, a slower pace of life, and protecting the weak in society, all with as little government involvement as possible. If these are ideas you appreciate, you'll certainly want to hear the rest. Article by Dr. Connolly: The Tory Tradition The Tory Interpretation of History The Past as Battlefield Other Articles by Dr. Connolly

Today I spoke with my daughter, Phoebe, about kids and young adult literature. We discuss some books we've read as a family and she talks about books she enjoys. We talk about books for boys, girls, and what makes for a good story. Books we discuss in this episode: The Mysterious Benedict Society - Trenton Lee Stewart Mr. Pipes and the British Hymn Makers - Douglas Bond Mr. Pipes and Psalms and Hymns of the Reformation - Douglas Bond 100 Cupboards - N.D. Wilson Looking for the King - David C. Downing A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery Mitford Series - Jan Karon Cards on the Table - Agatha Christie The Labors of Hercules - Agatha Christie Complete Stories of Dorothy Sayers - Dorothy Sayers Father Brown Stories - G. K. Chesterton Russell Kirk Stories Not Exactly Ghosts - Andrew Caldecott Complete Ghost Stories - M.R. James Ade's Fables - George Ade Fables in Slang - George Ade Jeeves Omnibus - P.G. Wodehouse All Creatures Great and Small - James Herriot Favorite Poems Old and New - selected authors

Charles McRaven is quite literally a jack-of-all-trades. He is a carpenter, blacksmith, pastor, home builder, stonemason, architect, writer, and teacher. He restored his first log cabin when he was eleven years old. In this episode, we discuss what it means to build beautifully, how stonemasonry teaches patience, and why we should see ourselves as students of the land on which we live. If you love building, nature, or good craftsmanship, this episode is for you. Books by Charles McRaven The Class Hewn-Log House The Blacksmith's Craft Building With Stone

Lars Walker is a librarian, historian, Viking reenactor, and writer. His fiction is outstanding. He has written a series of historical fiction about the Christian Viking ruler Erling Skjalgsson. There are four books in the series and they are all excellent, although not for kids (Vikings really were brutal). He has also written a modern dystopian fiction series based in a small Minnesota town (the Epsom series). In this episode, Lars and I talk about all things Viking-related, including myths, the contribution of the Vikings to modern democracy, two methods of Christian evangelism practiced in Medieval Scandanavia, and how the Norse culture may have prepared the way for Calvinism to take root. Books by Lars: Erling Series The Year of the Warrior (incorporates Erling’s Word. No need to buy that one). West Oversea Hailstone Mountain The Elder King Epsom Series Troll Valley Wolf Time Blood and Judgment Death’s Doors Viking Legacy (Translation of the work of Torgrim Titlestad) Lecture: Christianity Comes to the Vikings (given at Union University in Jackson, TN)

Dr. Greg Peters is an Anglican priest, professor at Biola University, and instructor at Nashotah House, an Anglican seminary in Wisconsin. He is a Protestant expert in the history of monasticism. Why would a Protestant study such things? There's more for us to learn than you might expect. In this episode we discuss the history as well as the different types of monasteries, what the Reformation fathers really thought about monasticism, and how Christians can apply monastic principles to their daily lives without running away from the world. Books by Greg Peters The Story of Monasticism: Retrieving an Ancient Tradition for Contemporary Spirituality Reforming the Monastery: Protestant Theologies of the Religious Life The Monkhood of All Believers: The Monastic Foundation of Christian Spirituality Thomas à Kempis: His Life and Spiritual Theology

Today I am interviewing Dean Abbot. He is an author, former college professor, and mentor to men across the country. He has written a couple of books, On Character and Community, and Common Good: Reflections on Everyday Vices and Virtues, the latter of which is the focus of this podcast. We talk about why philosophy is a benefit to everyone (not just philosophers), the difference between vice and sin, the role of religion in the pursuit of virtue, and why a good life means more than getting to heaven when we die. Dean's books: On Character and Community Common Good: Reflections on Everyday Vices and Virtues Articles by Dean: The Quieter Life P.G. Wodehouse: Balm for the Modern Soul The Conservative Vision of Richard Vobbes

Today's interview was with an author whom I've admired for some time - Dr. Christopher M. Dunca. Dr. Duncan teaches political philosophy at St. Louis University and has written about some of my favorite groups: the Anti-Federalists and the Southern Agrarians. If you appreciate the ideals of community, family, and small government, this podcast is for you. We discuss all of the above, plus Dr. Duncan's new book, Radical Conversion. Although written to Roman Catholics, the book has much to teach Christians of all stripes about how we should live in modern society. The Anti-Federalists and Early American Political Thought Radical Conversion

Brandon Meeks is a delightful writer, speaker, and theologian. He serves as a theologian in residence for his Anglican parish in Arkansas. He has written several books and has a substack newsletter that gives a good taste of his abilities. In this podcast, we discuss how he went from an Independent Baptist to an Anglican, the importance of honoring our spiritual fathers, and why Reformed ministers can't preach. Books by Brandon Meeks The Foolishness of God God, the Universe, and Everything Else Articles Why Calvinists Can't Preach Beauty Will Save the World: An Argument for Theological Aesthetics I Survived (Because of) Bible Belt Religion The Old Time Religion Podcast Poiema Substack Newsletter

While many love C.S. Lewis's Narnia Chronicles, they often neglect his lesser-known fiction, the Ransom trilogy. These books, in addition to being excellent storytelling, reflect a supernatural view of the cosmos. One of the reasons they are neglected is because they are denser and require more careful reading than the Narnia stories. That's where Christiana Hale comes to our rescue. She has written Deeper Heaven: A Reader's Guide to C.S. Lewis's Ransom Trilogy. Today we discuss the trilogy, the sources of influence on C.S. Lewis, and why calling these books the "space trilogy" misses the point. Deeper Heaven: A Reader's Guide to C.S. Lewis's Ransom Trilogy Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C.S. Lewis - Dr. Michael Ward

Have you ever wondered what made C. S. Lewis such a strong Christian? That exact question stirred Dr. Lyle Dorsett years ago. In researching the spiritual life of the great author, Dr. Dorsett came to lead the Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College, which houses the largest number of C. S. Lewis artifacts in the U.S. His book on Lewis, Seeking the Secret Place, is a discussion of how Lewis grew as a Christian throughout his life. Most recently Dr. Dorsett has served as an Anglican clergyman in Birmingham, Alabama, while simultaneously serving as Professor of Evangelism at Beeson Divinity School. He is also the only man I know who, after finding there was no biography of someone, chose to fix the problem by writing it himself. Those biographies were of A. W. Tozer and Joy Davidman (C. S. Lewis's wife). He is now retired. Books by Dr. Dorsett Seeking the Secret Place A Passion for God: The Spiritual Journey of A. W. Tozer And God Came In: The Extraordinary Story of Joy Davidman Lectures by Dr. Dorsett C. S. Lewis and the Care of Souls - Desiring God 2013 National Conference

I interview Coach Grant Teaff, a former head football coach at Baylor University. Coach Teaff is a faithful Christian and has written several books on teaching character to young adults. He is a great storyteller and is currently working with his daughter to compile various speeches and lectures through the years into a podcast. Books by Coach Teaff A Coach's Influence - Beyond the Game Coaching in the Classroom

In this episode I talk with Father Daniel French, a priest in the Church of England. In addition to his role as a shepherd, he is working with others both in the U.S. and the U.K. on an underground catechism for the church, a book that addresses how Christians from various backgrounds should think about basic moral issues like transhumanism, hierarchy, sexual confusion, abortion, and euthanasia. We discuss his background, the life of a parish priest, the importance of preparing for turbulence, and how Christians can work together despite various backgrounds. He blogs at Notes to the Underground Church. Some articles by Fr. French Could an underground church emerge in Britain? Recolonizing the Curriculum

In this episode I interview Tara Ann Thieke, a wife, mom, and writer. We discuss children's literature, guiding our children in the world of technology, and how to sustain a hopeful spirit as parents in the midst of a dark world. Some of her articles are published below: Cats and Sixty-foot Whales - Reflections on Children's Literature How Segregating Kids By Age Led To Youth Culture And Fueled Family Disintegration The Last Days of Women

In this episode I interview Tara Ann Thieke, a wife, mom, and writer. We discuss children's literature, guiding our children in the world of technology, and how to sustain a hopeful spirit as parents in the midst of a dark world. Some of her articles are published below: Cats and Sixty-foot Whales - Reflections on Children's Literature How Segregating Kids By Age Led To Youth Culture And Fueled Family Disintegration The Last Days of Women

Today I interview Brad Littlejohn, the president of the Davenant Institute and Senior Fellow of the Edmund Burke Foundation. Brad is a trained historian and focuses on the English Reformation and one of the greatest Anglican theologians, Richard Hooker. In this episode we discuss the English Reformation, Puritanism, and how Hooker tried to steer the church in the midst of turmoil. Then we consider some of how we can apply that wisdom today. Some of Brad's books can be found here.

Rod Olps is a retired businessman who mentors men and businesses through periods of transition. Years ago he read a book titled The Seasons of a Man's Life by Daniel Levinson. He discovered biblical principles which corresponded with the teachings of that book and began applying those principles to men of various ages in his counseling. In our discussion today we talk about the different seasons and how to prepare for them. We also talk about spiritual gifts, unity in the church, and discipleship.

In this podcast I talk with Alastair Roberts. Alastair writes for Davenant Institute, Theopolis, Mere Orthodoxy, and has a blog, Alastair's Adversaria. We discuss baptism, interpreting Scripture, and what it means to grow in wisdom.

Aaron Renn is a consultant, social critic, and creator of The Masculinist. This monthly newsletter about men, the church, and society that is some of the best commentary I've read. He recently expanded his presence through adding a podcast. In this episode we discuss masculinity in the church and the relationship of the world and the church.

Chris Wiley is an author, pastor, and household economist. He has written multiple books related to the household and its recovery, as well as non-fiction for young adults. In this episode we discuss his background, and how the recovery of a household mindset is important to the strengthening of Christian families.

Rory Groves wrote Durable Trades, a book that explains the most durable trades over the course of history, and how those trades will continue to stand the test of time. This interview with Rory and his wife Becca tells the story of going from computer programmer to farmer and homeschooling family.