"Our life will be decided by how we handle disappointment. Do we ignore it, slowly numbing ourselves from any real desires? Do we sink into a permanent state of griping, as bitterness takes over our personality and life like a parasitic weed? Or do we grieve, wash our faces, and stoop to pick up worn out tools, praying for new energy and creativity to make something beautiful with the shards and pieces we’ve been given."

In this episode of Speaking with Joy, we explore the theme of disappointment through the honesty of the Mancunian punk band the 1975, the gentle correction of the film Ladies in Lavendar, and the grounded hope of Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry.

ABOUT SPEAKING WITH JOY

A podcast that explores pieces of great art and discusses how art shapes our character and our world. Hosted by Joy Clarkson, this wonderful addition to our podcast family gives listeners the chance to delight in classics you might have missed.

Subscribe on iTunes | Podbean | Stitcher | RSS

Recent Podcasts
Navigating the Nonfiction Market
Navigating the Nonfiction Market

Will Parker Anderson, a senior editor and writing coach, discusses how to navigate the often fraught waters of the Christian nonfiction market, and how we can all help support work that is excellent and edifying.

Sharing Is Caring
Sharing Is Caring

Join the hosts at the roundtable as they talk about their favorite obsessions: the art and artists they love so much, they want the world to love them too. What does this impulse say about the impact of art on our hearts? How can shared (or not shared) affinities shape community?

The Language of Creation
The Language of Creation

Join us as we consider, through C.S. Lewis’s disenchanted Narnia, what it means to participate in creation as an act of worship.

Should Novels Have Architecture?
Should Novels Have Architecture?

Whether you’re a new novelist, an experienced novelist, or not a novelist at all, there’s something to learn from the intricacies of story structure. Author Elisa Lambert joins the table to discuss it.

How to Make a Video Game
How to Make a Video Game

Bryan Engram, co-founder of Brazen Animation, explains the building blocks of effective  gameplay and how to use those blocks to create a compelling story.

Interview: Malcolm Guite on Pipe Smoking and Stillness
Interview: Malcolm Guite on Pipe Smoking and Stillness

A huge treat: Malcolm Guite joins the podcast!

Battle of the Books
Battle of the Books

Join us as Matt and Mandy battle it out to determine which book is better -- The Great Gatsby, or To Kill a Mockingbird.

Distraction and Mastery
Distraction and Mastery

From the decision fatigue of modern life to the machine expectations we place on ourselves, this conversation unpacks why we struggle to be present and offers practical wisdom for reclaiming the art of attention.

Stories Tell the Truth
Stories Tell the Truth

Author Jennifer Layte is a firm believer in the power of story to draw us closer to Jesus and closer to an understanding of who we are. Join Mandy and Jenn at the pub table as they discuss story, nicknames, and Jenn's latest book, Follower: How Getting Close to Jesus Brings You to Yourself.

When Art Gets the Blues
When Art Gets the Blues

Mandy asks her cohosts to consider: why do some of us gravitate toward sad art when we're already sad? What is the purpose and value of art that's a little bit (or very much) heartbreaking?