The Mockingcast

Mockingbird
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The Mockingcast is a bi-weekly podcast of Mockingbird Ministries. In each episode, hosts RJ Heijmen, Sarah Condon and David Zahl survey the cultural landscape looking for grace (and its absence), playing out in unexpected and compelling ways. Like a Mockingbird, we seek to repeat the song we've heard, the one about God's grace and forgiveness. You can find out more about Mockingbird at www.mbird.com. Audio production provided by TJ Hester. Video production by Chad Blevins.

  1. 1 day ago

    Episode 301: Old Spice for the Soul

    In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk sugary misconceptions, body odor obliviousness, and forgotten grace. Also, Sarah elicits a memorable wink, while Dave doesn't look back in anger. Click here to read Olga Khazan's article in The Atlantic, "A Halloween Myth That Can Finally Die." Click here to read "Do I Have Something in My Teeth?" by Sam Bush on Mbird. Click here to read "Living in Community Is Where Self Illusions Go to Die" by Elizabeth Oldfield on Aeon. Click here to read Lydia Sohn's "The Grace We Seek But Have Forgotten" in the NY Times. The book that Sarah mentions, The Spiritual Child, was written by Dr Lisa Miller. .

  2. 27 Oct

    Episode 300: The Mockingcast Turns 300!

    In this special landmark episode, RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk celebrity forgiveness, unskilled prayer, and ordinary overcorrections. They also read a bunch of heartening listener messages, in the process uncovering a secret Mcast shrine in a Canadian bookstore. Fast-forward to the 34 minute mark to bypass the (self-)celebratory content. Click here to support Mockingbird financially. Please note: all monthly donors receive a complimentary subscription to our print magazine. Click here to sign up for our 20th Anniversary NYC Conference on April 15-17, 2027. Click here to read the interview with RJ Heijmen on Mbird about the nuts and bolts of ministry, "A Safe Place to Be a Human Being." Click here to read the interview with comedian Chris Rock about forgiveness in the NY Times. Click here to read Peter Wehner's interview with theologian Sarah Coakley in the NY Times. Click here to read "Putting the Quiet Life on Trial" by John Blase in Inkwell.

  3. 8 Jun

    Episode 296: The Curb That the Builders Rejected

    In their season finale, RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk Costco skaters, commodified religion, and the God who isn't supposed-to-be. Also, Dave doubles down on hotdogmaxxing while Sarah's remembers jncos.  Click here to respond to the opening appeal Click here to read "What I Learned about Loss While Skateboarding at Costco" by Conor Dougherty in The NY Times Click here to read Freya India's substack about "The Commodification of Christianity" To download The Mockingapp click here for Apple and here for Android Click here to read NBW's sermon "Creatures from the God Lagoon"

  4. 26 May

    Episode 295: The Blessing of Being Forgotten

    In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk forced cheeriness, prediction addiction, satisficing breakthroughs, and the grammar of grace. Also, Sarah visits the mothership while Dave maximizes hot dogs. Click here to read about Starbucks notes in The Boston Globe. Click here to read Joshua Rothman's essay "Do We Think Too Much About the Future?" in The New Yorker. Click here to read "The Blessing of Being Forgotten" by John Pennylegion on Mbird. Click here to read about The Nobel-Prize Winning Psychologist Who Thought He Found the Secret to Happiness in The NY Times. Click here to read Trygve Johnson's substack on The Grammar of Grace. Click here to listen to the episode of The Daily about the resurgence of religion in the United States.

  5. 4 May

    Episode 294: Who Do You Think You Are Miss Astorbutt?

    In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk casinofication, sketch comedy, main character energy, and self-transcendence. Also, RJ yearns to be too small to fail, while Sarah learns her son used to be a light bulb. Click here to listen to the recordings for our recent conference in New York City Click here to register for the 20th Anniversary NYC Conference (4/15-17/2027) Click here to read Russell Moore's newsletter "Against the Casinofication of the Church" Click here to read the NY Times interview with Bob Odenkirk Click here to read Megan Garber's piece in the Atlantic about The New Age of Performance Anxiety Click here to read Tony Robinson's post on Mbird, "A Self Help Guru Has Second Thoughts" Click here to read McKay Coppins essay in the Atlantic about online gambling, "Sucker"

  6. 7 Apr

    Episode 292: False Evidence Appearing Real

    In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk starting a band, the tyranny of metrics, meaning fatigue, and the second most honest day of the (church) year. Also, Dave uncovers an animated conspiracy while Sarah bumps into an alternate timeline. Click here for more information about the upcoming Mbird Conference in NYC (4/23-25), including RJ's pre-conference church renewal seminar. For inquiries about scholarships, email info@mbird.com. Click here to read "Start a Band, Even If You're Terrible" by Hugo Lindgren. Click here to read (or listen to) Derek Thompson's interview with C. Thi Nguyen about How Metrics Make Us Miserable. Click here to read Ryan Burge's substack about The Big Questions. Click here to read "Every Day Is Holy Saturday" by M Elizabeth Lewis Hall, Kelly Kapic and Jason McMartin on Mbird.

  7. 2 Mar

    Episode 291: Happiness Weighs an Extra Twenty Pounds

    In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk affective forecasting, fantasy literature, workplace mattering, and collapsed demands. Also, a punk rocker gets a miracle bus ticket, and the ice monster comes for our kids. Click here to register for the Spring Mbird Conference in NYC (4/23-25) Click here to listen to Sarah's sermon "I Like Your Dancing", delivered at RJ's church. Click here to read "Most of Us Are Bad at Predicting What Will Make Us Happy" by Ruston Dodd on The Athletic. Click here to read Francis Spufford's defense of fantasy in The Guardian. Click here to read The Up and Up's interview with Jennifer Breheny Wallace about Gen Z and Mattering. Click here to read about "The Three Quarter Life Crisis" by Rob Myallis on Mbird. Click here to read "What Remains When Nothing Can Be Done" by Kyle Wells on Mbird.

  8. 10 Feb

    Episode 290: Sanctuary of the Pitiful Heart

    In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk face functions, last breaths, cringe churches, and Monkey Jesus. Also, Sarah runs into a teenage witch while RJ survives an iguanapocalypse. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Derek Sweatman. Click here to register for the upcoming NYC Mockingbird conference (4/23-25). Click here to read "Is the Backlash to Facial Conformity Finally Upon Us?" by Valerie Monroe in Allure. Click here to read "Ash Wednesday Asks Nothing" by Jacob Lupfer in Commonweal. Click here to read "A Church of Cringe" by Todd Brewer on Mbird. Click here to read the obituary for Cecilia Giménez in The Economist.

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About

The Mockingcast is a bi-weekly podcast of Mockingbird Ministries. In each episode, hosts RJ Heijmen, Sarah Condon and David Zahl survey the cultural landscape looking for grace (and its absence), playing out in unexpected and compelling ways. Like a Mockingbird, we seek to repeat the song we've heard, the one about God's grace and forgiveness. You can find out more about Mockingbird at www.mbird.com. Audio production provided by TJ Hester. Video production by Chad Blevins.

Information

  • Creator
    Mockingbird
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    301
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Mockingbird Ministries
  • Show Website
    The Mockingcast

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