Rewrite Radio

In terms of content, this podcast can’t be beat. Fabulous talks, panels, and readings. I listen to every one. I just wish they would post reliably around the calendar. Keep it simple — the added introductions are unnecessary, and worse if they make it hard to get new posts up.

Great conversations! Many an urban hike has been enhanced by these thought-provoking gems!

It's no surprise to me that Frederick Buechner's talk is so beloved. "Pay attention!" he says; reminding us, as Tolstoy did, of what is most essential - not only for the artist, but for the fully alive human being: "In the name of God, stop a moment, cease your work, look around you!" Unless we look, we don't see; unless we see, we can't love. What matters more than that? For Anaxagoras the whole purpose of our lives on earth is "to behold." But modern life beguiles (from Middle English: to trick, deceive) us with technological distractions ('to draw - or drag - away.') - it's tragically easy to lose sight of all that is essential. T.S. Eliot complained - 80 years ago! - of our being "so distracted from distraction by distraction;" he would be stunned to see the extent to which the ubiquitous screens have exacerbated the problem! I have listened to Rev. Buechner's talk several times and will listen many more. Thank you so much for making that possible!

A podcast for writers, readers, and anyone interested in stories and the colorful people who craft them. The theme of faith winding through each episode draws them together into a rich and wisdom-full resource. After attending the keynote at the Festival of Faith and Writing in 2014 (Anne Lamott) and then the full festival in 2016, I was glad to learn the sessions would be recorded. There were so many delicious-sounding workshops that overlapped. Rewrite Radio showed up in my Inbox some time later and it felt like the festival at my front door—and I currently live in Spain =)! I have listened one by one to the episodes in order, doling them out like chapters to a favorite book. Even those which I attended in person deliver fresh insight when listened to again (and again). #14 Brian Doyle made me laugh (and cry) like he was Jim Gaffigan, #12 Ashley Bryan made me fill my writing desk with paintbrushes and color, #22 Shauna Niequist reminded me to offer my writing as a sacrifice to my readers. These talks offer so much discernment, practical writing advice, and fresh pick-me-up to carry on with this business of writing (and reading), and the act of living as a person of faith. I love the introductions as well—Lisa interviews someone briefly to introduce the speaker and they are usually as interesting as the talk itself! I'm always scrambling for a pen to jot down books I want to read or people I’d like to follow (are there show notes anywhere?) This is the podcast I had been looking for as a writer of faith. Yes, yes, and thanks!