Stories Are Soul Food
Best-selling author N. D. Wilson and editor Brian Kohl host this podcast that explores stories as a means to shape loyalties and affections, ultimately pointing to Jesus Christ as the greatest Author. Each episode discusses literature, narrative, and how stories feed the soul.
Episodes
Glitter Bomb Narnia | Stories Are Soul Food
How much sorority-girl rock-opera glitter can one children's classic withstand? We're about to find out as we watch Greta Gerwig spend $230 million desecrating The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis. Brian goes through the five stages of grief for Narnia; Nate talks about how Greta is going to try and give us exactly what SHE likes. Brian says Meryl Streep's Translan has to fail. Nate says i
Dark Nights vs. "All Is Lost" Moments (In Stories and Life)
On this episode of Stories Are Soul Food, Nate Wilson and Brian Kohl discuss how to write the darkest night of the soul. The moment when all hope seems to be lost, when there is no way out. How do characters like Samson and David to Faramir, Eustace, Elf, and Toby Maguire’s Spider-Man deal with this? What makes ordinary suffering and bad days different from the Darkest Night? What kind of
Are Christians TOO Hobbit-Like?
Do American Christians live in the Shire? The answer is a stout "no" according to Miles Smith IV, professor of history at Hillsdale. To think otherwise is to give in to the Shire-ization of conservatism. Nate agrees that Christian families need to stop thinking like hobbit gardeners. Kids are not tomato plants, they're arrows. Should we be seeking to wait out our continent's troubles in o
The SASF Rules for Going Back to School
Lunches are packed, pencils are sharpened, your kids have unearthed their pants after a summer of shorts. How do you make sure your kids are set up to succeed at school? As always, apply the Stories Are Soul Food character rules: What would a good character do in grade school? How about high school? What kind of friend are you being? In this episode you'll find rules for tattling, rules f
Why Evangelicals Don't Like Jacob
On this episode of Stories Are Soul Food, join ND Wilson and Brian Kohl as they discuss the life of Jacob. Nate's done plenty of writing for Old Testament heroes such as King David, Samson, Moses, Abraham, and Noah. But one character he hasn't touched (yet?) is the patriarch Jacob. This episode investigates why evangelicals don't like the patriarch Jacob, and it isn't because he's a liar
Not All "Arthurian Stories" Are Created Equal
After Nate makes Nolan fanboys mad, the guys discuss all things Camelot, including key questions such as:why Camelot is basically the story of King David again,how cool Merlin is (whether baptized demon-spawn or not),how the French eventually ruined King Arthur,whether Galahad is the gayest of the Knights of the Round Table,why the courtly love ideal is Victorianized and effeminate,whethe
What Technophiles Could Learn From Jurassic Park
Join ND Wilson and Brian Kohl as they discuss Sam Neill’s work in Jurassic Park. How did a simple movie about dinosaurs become a multi-billion-dollar franchise? What does this movie say about man’s capabilities and limits? What is the difference between imitating and copying your inspirations? Tune in to find out.
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Living Out Your Design (Lessons From a Mongoose)
On this episode of SASF, Forrest Dickison joins Brian and Nate to discuss his upcoming illustrated rendition of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. What makes this classic story so unique, and how did Forrest bring it to life through his illustrations?
IT'S HERE! Pre-Order the 4th installment of the Ashtown Burial Series at ashtownburials.com.
Is Nolan Ragebaiting? (The Odyssey & The Return of Ashtown)
IT'S HERE! Pre-Order the 4th installment of the Ashtown Burial Series at ashtownburials.com. Join Author ND Wilson and Brian Kohl to discuss Nolan's The Odyssey and the journey of the Ashtown Burial series' return. Including the legal battle over Ashtown and finishing the story of Cyrus Smith.
IT'S HERE! Pre-Order the 4th installment of the Ashtown Burial Series at ashtownburials.com.
A Christian Filmmaker on Storytelling / Francis Annan
Join Author ND Wilson and Director Francis Annan to discuss the importance of storytelling. What does it mean to be an artist, and how does artwork tell the story of the artist? What does it mean to tell good stories? How do directors and novelists combat storytelling?
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Shortcuts Don't Make You Better
Join ND Wilson and Brian Kohl as they discuss the dangers of shortcutting life. From performance-enhancing drugs to AI, we always seem to want to take shortcuts to victory. Is AI enhancement the same as performance-enhancing drugs? What makes AI a cop-out? And how to deal with the Pandora’s Box of AI that surrounds us.
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When to Risk It All: Lessons From Daniel
On this episode of Stories Are Soul Food, ND Wilson and Brian Kohl discuss Daniel, Prophet to the Babylonians. How to Serve Five Emperors without Losing Your Soul. Is there more to Daniel than just the Lion’s Den story? What does it mean to live faithfully under Babylon? Where do Christians fail today? These questions will all be answered in this episode of Stories are Soul Food.
IT'S HER
Moving Beyond "What Is This Story Saying?"
On this episode of Stories Are Soul Food, Nate Wilson and Brian Kohl discuss the difference between what a story tells and what it does. How do stories move people? How does the audience respond? Along with insight of how to read Ashtown Burials from the author!
IT'S HERE! Pre-Order the 4th installment of the Ashtown Burial Series at ashtownburials.com.
Why You Should Train Girls Harder Than Boys
ND Wilson and Brian Kohl mix parenting advice and sports stories once again. Listen for a discussion on how you can treat daughters like ladies, while still pushing them to their limits, in athletics.
IT'S HERE! Pre-Order the 4th installment of the Ashtown Burial Series at ashtownburials.com.
Looking For Real Life Supervillains? | (Ep. 203)
Nate and Brian catch back up on the trailer for Toy Story 5, then they tackle the question "Why is everybody looking for someone to blame?"
IT'S HERE! Pre-Order the 4th installment of the Ashtown Burial Series at ashtownburials.com.
Scene by Scene Breakdown, Children of Men | (Special Episode)
You won’t want to miss Nate Wilson and Brian Kohl as they watch and break down Children of Men. This masterpiece has some of the most intricate and technically brilliant cinematography in movie history. See what makes it so special—and check out one scene that misses the mark.
IT'S HERE! Pre-Order the 4th installment of the Ashtown Burial Series at ashtownburials.com.
Children of Men, a Very SASF Christmas Movie | (Ep. 202)
You thought the Look At Moving Pictures Club was dead? LAMPC is baaaaaack, and the guys are discussing one of their favorites:
- Why Alfonso Cuaron's "Children of Men" is one of the best movies of the 21st century; - Why Children of Men is a Christmas movie (whether or not P.D. James intended it in the novel); - What you missed in this movie; - How Alfonso Cuaron (the director) crafted hi
So What If Elon's a Lizardman? | (Ep. 201)
The guys go through some of the best pitches so far. ("Best" is strong.) Then:
Conspiracy theories aren't your job. What is?
You have heard that Israel k*lled Charlie. Or that Elon is a lizard man. What next?
Make sure you're rooted in the God, who never changes, before you think about investigating conspiracy theories (which always change). And then, understand that you will never know.
Revenge Movies & Masculinity | (Ep. 200)
This week on SASF—apparently our 200th episode (who knew?)—we're diving into the massive topic of justice and mercy? From revenge-soaked movie plots to the rise of the manosphere, we explore why so many men seek utter annihilation over their enemies, and what it looks like for Christians to fight with integrity.
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Writing Your Story with Self-Control | (Ep. 199)
Nate and Brian sit down to talk about the importance of self-control in writing your story. Plus, brand new pitch reviews featuring a ewe with a unique circumstance.
IT'S HERE! Pre-Order the 4th installment of the Ashtown Burial Series at ashtownburials.com.
What Makes a Story Resonate? | (Ep. 198)
Nate and Brian return to review your pitches and break down what makes stories resonate with an audience. Plus, their takes on the Charlie Kirk memorial service through the lens of powerful storytelling.
IT'S HERE! Pre-Order the 4th installment of the Ashtown Burial Series at ashtownburials.com.
How Propaganda Ruins Stories | (Ep. 197)
On this episode of SASF, Nate and Brian are back to review your pitches again while tackling propaganda in Christian media. Catch them discussing the power of satire and what friendships should look like in your stories.
IT'S HERE! Pre-Order the 4th installment of the Ashtown Burial Series at ashtownburials.com.
Charlie's Cheerful Masculinity | (Ep. 196)
This SASF episode breaks down the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk. What a story:
How the devil messed up by killing Charlie, because martyrdom after Christ doesn't work.
Charlie's cheerful masculinity made him a target.
Why Charlie's "free speech" approach prevents civil war.
Crazy progressives in public high schools and universities only "reproduce" because of your children.
Spotting Stories with Hidden Poison | (Ep. 195)
How do you identify stories with poison in them? They never say "TAKE THIS POISON." They always coat it in chocolate first...- "Make Me Famous" pitch reviews segment continues with "The Ghost Train". Maybe this is the episode wherein Nate finally likes a pitch.- Then the guys turn to stories that start out sweet but conceal poison in the end.- Harry Potter and The Hunger Games both start
Were We Wrong About KPop Demon Hunters? | (Ep. 194)
On this episode of SASF Nate and Brian discuss the recent X controversy Nate caused, Why you should watch KPop Demon Hunters? How we as Christians should approach it and all forms of Media? How Miyazaki does anime well? and much more.
- Nate and Brian discuss how Kpop Demon Hunters is a bad pitch, but done well- Why Kpop Demon Hunters is a better movie for girls to watch than the Disney C
Fictional Dads To Look Up To | (Ep. 193)
You have heard this SASF axiom: "A good dad can't be present in children's fiction." This is because if he was, there'd be no story for the kids to take care of -- BUT... there are a few exceptions...
- Brian and Nate search for those elusive MG/YA unicorns: the good and present father.
- What about To Kill a Mockingbird's Atticus Finch? Jeremiah Land from Peace Like a River? Guido in Lif
Nate Roasts Your Story Pitch (Make Me Famous No. 1) | (Ep. 192)
This week SASF listeners sent in their own pitches for an episode of "Make Me Famous" In this new SASF segment, Nate reacts for the first time to original ideas containing:- The Last Airbender meets Stranger Things plus reincarnation, a slave girl, and a menacing priest- A headstrong girl who awakens an ancient evil- Narnia fanfiction- a determined goat trying to succeed at roarball;- and
F1, K Pop Demon Hunters, & Netflix’s Big Mistake | (Ep. 191)
Brian Kohl and Nate Wilson discuss F1: The Movie and K-Pop Demon Hunters. Nate explains that the latter sounds terrible on paper pitch but the filmmakers really pulled it off. They also touch on the teaser for Pixar's upcoming movie, "Hoppers" and why it's just a plain old bad pitch.
IT'S HERE! Pre-Order the 4th installment of the Ashtown Burial Series at ashtownburials.com.
Neil Gaiman, Morbidity, & Sparta | (Ep. 190)
This episode offers a smorgasbord: Nate has never finished a Neil Gaiman book. Brian tells him why. They also discuss:- Sparta, Lycurgus, and delicacies.- Feminine vs Masculine glory.- Stoics vs Epicenes.
IT'S HERE! Pre-Order the 4th installment of the Ashtown Burial Series at ashtownburials.com.
Nancy Drew and Soul Food | (Ep. 189)
This episode offers a SASF smorgasbord:
Is Nancy Drew healthy soul food for a teenager?
The guys discuss syndicate writing such as Nancy Drew, Tom Swift, and the Hardy Boys.
Also on this episode: Why theater is so often gay, why Broadway is boutique, and why Shakespeare isn't a counterexample.
... with a chaser of why you should still, probably, be writing and directing plays (on your wa
China Beats Pixar | (Ep. 188)
Brian forces Nate to watch two new kids movie trailers... one from Pixar, and one from China.
Pixar's new movie Elio flopped harder than anything that's come before.
The top-grossing animated movie this year comes from China... it's Ne Zha 2, and it's made 2.2 billion (!) dollars.
The guys talk about why Ne Zha 2's trailer is better than Elio's.
But it still kinda stinks: The last couple
The Future of Christian Fiction | (Ep. 187)
The guys welcome Scott Minor of Realm Makers for a cameo on Christian fiction...
Meet the Realm Makers conference: A decade or two ago, Christian fiction publishers only wanted Amish romance; but Scott's wife Betty was a Christian fantasy writer... so together they founded Realm Makers!
Nate's headlining at Realm Makers in two weeks: So Nate asks Scott about fantasy authors' greatest str
Help Help We're Being Repressed! Ft. Nate's Daughters | (Special Episode!)
We've got good news for you: Lucia and Ameera come on SASF to discuss HELP HELP!Yes, it's about the launch of Lucy and Ameera's new movie/book review podcast!The new podcast/show is named Help Help We're Being Repressed. (Yes, that's a Monty Python reference.)On this first episode of Help Help, Nate and the girls discuss writing female characters badly (and goodly).Subscribe to their new
Social Media Controls Hollywood | (Ep. 186)
Brian says he showed "Batman Begins" to his kids and enjoyed it; Nate goes on a rampage.Nolan's Batman earnestness necessitated the Joker to give us all some relief. "Why so serious, Batman?"Nolan is a great artisan but a terrible philosopher. "I run because they need me to run."... But it was all worth it for LEGO Batman.How long can Hollywood's obsession with superhero movies continue?
Overcoming Trauma and Hardship | (Ep. 185)
When you've been hurt, what kind of character will you be?
God gives you hardship as a Storyteller does: because readers love what happens when a character is down but finds a way to get back up;
Remember that it's in the cellars of affliction that God makes his choicest wines (Rutherford);
Be at once tender and merciless with your own victimhood;
Stop assuming nobody else at church has
Fake Christians | (Ep. 184)
Time to talk about Christians in novels:+ Secular novelists love to make their villains hypocritical Christians.+ Christian novelists are very honest about their Christian characters' flaws as well.+ So don't be offended when you bump into a fake Christian in a story.+ Nate walks through the flaws of his Christian protagonists (Niffy, Rupert, etc.).This episode dissects Christians and the
Be The Director | (Ep. 183)
Brian asks Nate what tips he'd give a teenage SASFer who wants to become a movie director. And, perhaps surprisingly, Nate's advice has nothing to do with movies. Because if you want to direct feature films when you grow up, you're the kid saying "I am gonna be an NFL quarterback." That kind of career wish has everything to do with whether you're the kind of person who could manage someon
Stomach for the Fight | (Ep. 182)
You're used to saying "stories are soul food" -- this episode discusses why Nate thought kids in our time especially need to read stories about corrupt institutions failing them, and how to reconsecrate an institution in its own rubble. This takes courage, strength, and determination. It takes having stomach for the fight. It takes a leader who refuses to sabotage himself by turning aroun
Netflix Narnia | (Ep. 181)
Brian springs an awful Aslan casting surprise on Nate, and the results are delightful. The SASF discussion of Greta Gerwig's new Netflix Narnia series ranges far afield. Planet Narnia, which book of the series is Nate's favorite, Lewis's repeated character archetypes, adaptation of books to film... this one has all things Lewis. Including Nate's claim that Edmund / Eustace / Digory all be
The Boys Aren't Reading | (Ep. 180)
It's old news that the boys aren't reading. The NY publishing industry was obsessed with the idea when they first took at look at Nate's work twenty years ago. This episode of SASF features the story of the (female) editor who wanted to reach boys with Nate's manuscript of Leepike Ridge by 1) taking out the treasure, 2) taking out the father figure, and 3) making the book about the relati
Invasion of the Consumers | (Ep. 179)
What should your decision process be when you are thinking about moving your family across the country to a new place? Well, the answer is rooted in story. Are you moving to a place where you can be a better character, where your kids can be more active, where your family can grow -- or are you relocating yourself merely to consume the products that are brought to you by this new communit
Animation Studio Autopsy Feat. Nate's Daughters | (Ep. 178)
Many of us remember a time when Pixar reigned supreme over the many competing Animation Studios. But now, 15ish years later, that distinction has become blurry. Can we bet on any one Animation Studio for quality? Join Nate, Amira, and Lucia as they talk about childhood movie memories and the problem with animation today.
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Severance Season 2 Shakedown | (Ep. 177)
This week the guys discuss some frustrating creative decisions behind the new Season of Severance. #severance #benstiller #adamscott
IT'S HERE! Pre-Order the 4th installment of the Ashtown Burial Series at ashtownburials.com.
House of David, Raining Frogs | (Ep. 176)
A project Nate worked on is arriving this February: It's House of David, a serious retelling of the life of David. But Nate only worked on early drafts, and it's now a Prime Video project. The guys watch the preview; Brian criticizes vestiges of what feels like Rings of Power; Nate talks about the vision for the project, and (even if he were to have quibbles about the final result) talks
Animals are Soul Food | (Ep. 175)
Yes, animals are real food -- but they're also soul food. You might think animal documentaries aren't that important, but imagine this: What if the only commentaries on the Bible were written by atheists? That's the modern-day situation we have with nature documentaries. Remember, God has revealed himself in two huge ways -- through the book of Scripture AND the book of nature. But for th
Capitalism Doesn't Produce Great Art | (Ep. 174)
As a conservative artist who's been working in the mainstream since 2007, Nate has an artistic opinion that's going to get conservative folks angry: Capitalism doesn't produce great art. Lest you join this commenter who said "this take is so dumb it got me to engage, brilliant", if you care about this topic, you need to listen to the whole episode. Nate's argument is that the incentives o
Year of the Looney Toon | (Ep. 173)
This episode is a justification for the Stories Are Soul Food manifesto. First, Brian makes Nate react to the worst SASF episode from last year; then, Brian makes Nate react to the 2025 Golden Globes winners (The Brutalist, Emilia Perez, The Substance, Flow, etc.); and lastly Brian makes Nate justify the importance of story in a time when everybody else seems to be crazy. Kinda seems like
Mediocrity of Input | (Ep. 172)
Longtime listeners will get that particular feeling in the pit of their stomach when they hear Nate start talking about life in a particularly bleak way -- you know, the "make that heartbeat count because we're all going to die" kind of way. Brian has named this manifestation of his podcast co-host "Black Pill Nate." For today's episode, Black Pill Nate goes on a rampage against those who
171: Flattering Your Kids
Nate and Brian discuss flattering your kids versus telling them the truth, what would happen if we stopped giving gifts on Christmas (it would be really really really horrible), and touch on some Christmas movie classics.
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170: A Judeo-Christian Christmas
Listeners of this podcast know that when Christmastime rolls around, the SASF podcast likes to focus on the less appreciated Bible stories that lead up to the birth of the Christ:. You may remember past Advent episodes on the Levite's concubine, Onan, and Tamar. This year, the guys discuss the place of the Jewish people in the Christmas story. Why? Well, nobody needs a reason to talk abou
169: Undermining Gladiator's Nobility
Under duress, Brian admits that Gladiator (the original) is still his favorite movie, having stayed atop the BK Movie podium since Brian was a teenager. Nate attacks Brian for his bashfulness at recommending what is, in fact, an all-time great movie, and the guys have a pleasant reminiscence of Russell Crowe and 2000's Gladiator, remembering all the great parts and forgetting all the supp
168: Bored of That Hideous Strength (feat. Calvin Robinson)
Get The Things of Earth today: https://canonpress.com/products/the-things-of-earth-treasuring-god-by-enjoying-his-gifts-2nd-ed
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167: All Fiction is Fantasy
The guys make a oliphaunt-sized announcement -- the 1977 animated Hobbit is now streaming on Canon+ (along with the cartoon Return of the King!). Naturally, it's our next LAMPC pick (Look At Moving Pictures Club, for those of you who don't know). The discussion of the Rankin-Bass cartoon Hobbit leads to a discussion of Family Movie Night, and how all fiction is fantasy, really. In process
166: Potty Talk and Shrek Fulfillment
Yes, these two topics are both related, but not in the way you're thinking. Brian asks Nate a vital parenting question for anyone with boys -- how do you deal with kids talking about gross things? Nate points out that it's God who made the world with poop, pee, and barf in it, but it's also God who forbid coarse jesting. So Nate's family had a no-tolerance approach to fart jokes, for exam
165: The Beauty Pageants of Babylon
Around election time people get addicted to bad stories, downing them cocktail after cocktail. And that's because presidential elections, which are the beauty pageants of babylon, usually turn on this simple storytelling question: Who can tell the most compelling tale about their opponents? Harris-Walz is trying with video games and guns and abortion; Trump-Vance is trying with filthy com
164: The Gospel of Story
Public perception of Christianity has soured in the past decade -- and so has most of the famous "Christian" nonfiction -- titles such as The Shack, Love Wins, Blue Like Jazz, Love Does, Wild at Heart have aged like milk. In contrast, Brian asks Nate why his own nonfiction seems so well suited for the negative world. Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl is now a barrel-aged 15-year whiskey, the go
163: A Soul Food Challenge
See if you can guess this author who has sold over 200 million copies: His comic work consists of nonstop adventure featuring a boy-faced hero and his little white dog. Yes, this Stories Are Soul Food episode is about Herge, Tintin, and Snowy (or Milou, if you're Belgian, and want the dog to be named after Herge's girlfriend). Nate and Brian discuss Herge's influence on their development,
162: Taking Down Churchill
The internet is still smoldering from the aftermath of a Tucker Carlson interview in which Darryl Cooper of the pop history podcast Martyr Made called Winston Churchill "a chief villain of World War 2." Brian asks Nate about historical heroes, the great wars, whether Winston Churchill is hero or villain, and why the explosion of boomer rage over the Churchill criticism in the first place.
161: How to Fake the Shroud of Turin
Did you know that N.D. Wilson found a method that would have allowed a medieval to fake the Shroud using glass and paint, including photo negativity and all? This Stories Are Soul Food episode has the entire scoop -- including: Nate's impetus for the whole experiment (a professor discarded the Bible because the Shroud was "proof of the resurrection"); how the inspiration came to him (thro
160: 8 Million Copies
After a quick discussion of Brian's decision to shout more at Nate to please a few vocal liseners, the SASF guys discuss what it takes to sell more than 8 million copies of your books. Turns out, if you published in the 2010s, putting "Girl" in the title pretty much did it. If you follow publishing, you should be able to guess the books that sold the most copies in the 2010s: EL James's 5
159: Living Forever
Will we tell stories in heaven? Nate says the answer is so obvious it's a dumb question. Brian tries to make him answer anyway. Instead, Nate talks about a sci-fi story he is working on in which nobody lives past age 18. Turns out storytelling is fundamental to humanity, and we should be living like it now. Then Brian brings up a related listener question about how to choose what you're d
158: Fast Starters Who Fade
Prepare for a very convicting episode of Stories Are Soul Food. Jesus warns of one kind of seed that springs up fast but quickly withers away. It's this kind of character the SASF guys discuss today, with Brian asking questions about Saul and Judas. Nate identifies one fundamental error such characters always make: They mistake their place in the story, making themselves the main characte
157: The Boy and the Heron (feat. Crispin's Rainy Day)
Nate and Brian invite Forrest Dickison on to make sure he takes first place as SASF'S Most Invited Guest. But really they want to discuss Forrest's debut picture book, Crispin's Rainy Day, a story about a boy who wants to join a crew of pirate frogs -- but only if he can escape from his little sister first. The book is a perfect chocolate chip story with stunning illustrations -- meant to
156: Trump Survives
How do we, the members of a rotting democracy, read the story of the botched assassination of President Trump? God put a few more minutes back on the clock when DT turned his head to look at that immigration chart. Not only did we get a key character moment from Trump -- courage after being shot cannot be faked -- but we also got even bigger helpings of legacy news spin cycles flailing an
155: Unsung Heroes
This week Brian has abandoned Nate to attend the birth of his daughter, so Nate strikes back by having two of his own daughters on the pod instead. The discussion begins with what books the girls, Lucy and Ameera, are reading, and why Lucy hates detective novels and green food. Lucy is moved to love, though, when the trope of "unsung heroes" is introduced. Nate pursues this l
154: Innocence in the Postapocalypse
Today's Stories Are Soul Food episode covers two new dystopian tales, a book and a show. The book is Leif Enger's "I Cheerfully Refuse", which Brian cheerfully despised for Leif's overly luminous characters and bass-playing giant protagonist. The show is Amazon Prime's "Fallout," which Nate skipped his way through, watching the innocence of the virginal protagonist be stripped from her ep
153: Not All Burgers Are Equal
If you're a crippled Eskimo girl, would the best story you could ever read have a crippled Eskimo girl as the hero? Many book publishers and movie studios today would say YES. (The part they don't say is that the only reason they don't make more movies about Eskimos on crutches is because that demographic doesn't sell enough tickets.) Another way to ask this question: Do stories appeal be
152: Filtering Bad Books
Nate talks about his ability to sense changes in the weather, and proceeds to roast Brian for his opinions on prologues. But that's not the occasion for this wandering episode: If you're a regular SASF listener, you'll know that the guys are big proponents of filtering films for family movie night (they recommend ClearPlay and VidAngel both). But what about books? When do books cross the
151: Taylor Swift and Playlist Trouble
Nate claims that talking about music is boring, but in this episode you're going to find out he has written lyrics to more than twenty (!) songs (as yet unscored). You're even going to get one scandalous title. Then Brian ambushes Nate by reading a stanza of Taylor Swift's new lyrics, and the guys discuss all the questions that come along with music. What if you're a mom who sings secular
150: The Great Debate: Art vs Morality & Money (feat. Doug TenNapel)
Can you name a successful Christian artist living today? Right now, to be a Christian artist means to be not a very good Christian and not a very good artist. Nate and Brian welcome the larger-than-life figure of Doug TenNapel to the SASF show to discuss this problem. Doug T. is a comic artist and video game maker who has pivoted with the times and is now reaching a monthly audience of 17
149: Two Students Defy Columbia Mob
Breaking news: Nate's son Rory is a senior at Columbia University where, late last night (Monday April 29th), a mob of professional protestors advocating intifada and abolition of Israel climbed through dorms and tried take possession of a university building. Only Rory and his friend Charles stood up to bullies at the door of Hamilton Hall, defying hundreds of protestors, some profession
148: Demon Possession
FACE YOUR FEARS: If this week's "Soul Food" discussion is a sandwich, the first slice of bread is advice for helping your children face their fears, the other slice of bread is how moms and dads fail to face their fears as adults, and the mystery meat in the middle is delightful discussion on demon possession, Jesus and Legion and the pigs, why demons seem to hate water, and why exorcisms
147: Doug on Tucker, Weak Big Eva
Nate and Brian discuss Doug Wilson's gospel-filled appearance on the Tucker Carlson Network. Turns out, this isn't Doug's first big media rodeo, and it makes perfect SASF fodder to discuss the different characters that come out of the woodwork after such an event. The guys discuss the "I don't agree with Doug on everything, but" guy, the "criticize you publicly and beg for private favors"
146: Worldview of Stories
This episode starts with a discussion of woke adaptations and ends with a discussion of the unavoidability of fiction in shaping your life. Would Nate be fine with having "woke" elements in a major adaptation of his films? His answer might surprise you. You'll hear war stories about ancestor worship in Hello Ninja (the show), the importance of a team with different strengths, and more war
145: Shawshank Revisited (SASF LAMP Club)
Would you say Shawshank Redemption is "a movie with a happy ending"? Years ago as a young husband, that's what Brian picked to watch when his wife made a request for just such a film with a happy ending. (Spoiler: Shawshank Redemption was not the kind of movie she had meant.) For this momentous 145th episode, and the first ever LAMPC pick WITH CLIPS FROM THE MOVIE INCLUDED IN THE EPISODE
144: Dune 2: Making Chani Great
Prepare yourself for the Dune-versation! (Sorry.) The guys liked Dune 2 and Denis Villeneuve proved that he "got" what made Dune great. But of course, the fun of a movie discussion is often in what you hate: Brian really disliked pouty Zendaya and the northern "modernist" Fremen. But Nate says there was nothing wrong with Chani's character that couldn't be fixed (and in fact, an amazing c
143: Harold's Conversion in Chariots of Fire (SASF LAMP Club)
In this episode you'll get to hear Nate sing (!) the unofficial English national anthem "Jerusalem"... but there's lots more: In England 1924, the sport of "sprinting" is in tension between faith and secularism, amateurism and the pros, and the nation versus world. Chariots of Fire is a tale of two athletes making their mark in this moment, and the SASF guys discuss this classic sports fi
142: Real Life Comedy
As regular listeners know, Nate is a high school basketball coach, and for the first half of this episode he updates the SASF crowd with all travail his team has gone through -- the worst having to do with lies being told about his guys. This leads to valuable lessons for these young men, and has amply demonstrated their theme for the season, which Nate has taken from Romans 5: Hardship i
141: The Most Interesting Man
Did you think we were dead? Brian apologizes for the long break between episodes and Nate does not. They then open the new year with a banger about being boring. Let's face it... most of us don't live what could be called "interesting" lives. We don't travel extensively, kill and then circumcise dead Philistines, explore new continents, build spaceships -- and yet, perhaps the most common
140: Dressing Like Vader
What should parents do if their six-year-old son wants to dress up like one of the most murderous bad guys, Darth Vader? It's fine -- and the key lies in a weakness in the story itself: Luke is a vanilla protagonist (at least until he gets his own robot hand). 2D good guys aren't inspiring to your kids? Why should they be? That's most often a problem with the story itself...because, after
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