It's human to want to fit in. And it's human to fail at fitting in. What if our peculiarities aren't necessarily weaknesses to be overcome, but gifts from God that He wants us to use? Join us at the virtual pub table as we discuss the pain of feeling like a weirdo, and the joy of finding our purpose (among our fellow weirdos).

Recent Episodes

Peculiar Purpose

Join us at the virtual pub table as we discuss the pain of feeling like a weirdo, and the joy of finding our purpose (among our fellow weirdos).

The Case for Toilet Humor

In this episode, we make a surprising case: what we call “toilet humor” isn’t just childish—it may actually serve a deeper purpose in storytelling.

The Saints As Stand-Up Comedians

Joining us at the table is Jason Crawford, a professor of English at Union University, who has written a fantastic new book called God’s Fools: Saints, Prophets, Martyrs, and the Making of Modern Comedy.

Jim vs. The Future

At the digital pub table, we’re joined by filmmaker and culture critic Joseph Holmes to explore why the multiverse captivates us.

Writing Music for Video Games (And Movies. And TV.)

Joining the Anselm Society Digital Pub table is Vinicius Barbosa Pippa, a composer and conductor whose work spans film, television, and video games. He delves into his process for creating music to tell stories across many different genres.

The Bible Is a Story About Dragons

Author and podcaster Laurie Christine discusses the ways that the Bible’s understanding of dragons can shape our stories today.

Truth Is Stranger . . .

Join Mandy, Christina, and Matt at the pub table as they discuss the themes and characters of the series Stranger Things.

On Birds and Grief and Hope

Courtney Ellis—author, pastor, and podcaster—joins Mandy at the pub table to discuss all things feathered (including hope) and how God speaks to our hearts through the wonder and beauty of His creation. (Find Courtney's books and podcast: courtneybellis.com)

When Bad People Make Good Art

There’s an artist who does great work. And then we learn the artist did something terrible in their personal life. Can we enjoy the art on its own terms and sift out the artist’s mistakes? Or are the artist and the art so intertwined that we can’t separate them?

Our Stories Need "Undaunted Joy"

Author Shemaiah Gonzales’s latest book is Undaunted Joy: The Revolutionary Act of Cultivating Delight. She joins the pub table to discuss the implications of telling stories that cultivate authentic joy.

Believe to See Podcast

A podcast of the Anselm Society Arts Guild. Join host Matt Mellema, Mandy Houk, Christina Brown, and a rotation of guests at the digital pub table to explore how art and storytelling matter for faith and to connect our stories, great stories, and the Great Story.

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