Believe to See

Mar 07 2025 257 ep. 53 mins 263
Believe to See Podcast artwork

The podcast of the Anselm Society's Arts Guild. Join host Matt Mellema and a rotation of guests at the digital pub table for conversations about faith and storytelling. “Some things have to be believed to be seen." -Madeleine L'Engle

  Religion & Spirituality  Arts
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How to Destroy a Child's Imagination

Mar 07 2025 55 mins  
Fostering a healthy imagination in kids is a worthy goal--but what are the obstacles in today's society actively making that difficult, and what do we do about them? In this episode, we discuss several arguments in Anthony Esolen's satirical book "10 Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child" and ask the question, "How can we give kids a world where creatively engaging their en

Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue, Is It a Good Love Story?

Feb 28 2025 72 mins  
It's Valentine's Day, so of course we want to talk about the best and worst love stories of all time! Join the hosts as we delve into what qualities make for a good love story annnnnd what qualities produce a bad one. Pulling from sources such as Shakespeare's famous sonnets and modern cinematic rom-coms, we explore it all. And there might be something about a little Scarlet Pimper

Effective Christian Characters

Feb 14 2025 66 mins  
Where Are the “Good Christian” Characters? Too often, the broader culture portrays Christians as narrow-minded hypocrites. We can all imagine plenty of explanations for this. But that leads to a more fundamental question. Why is it so hard to create a character who is both: (1) well-developed and compelling, and (2) a sincere Christian? On this roundtable, the hosts discuss w

"Insert Perfect Title Here"

Jan 31 2025 72 mins  
From paintings to novels, titles can guide expectations of viewers and readers, for good or for ill. And for some artists, coming up with a title can be as challenging as making the art itself. Join the hosts at the roundtable as they talk about titles — and “untitles” and subtitles and more — and see how you handle Mandy’s genre quiz!

Art that’s Cool to Hate

Jan 17 2025 57 mins  
Ever feel like there was a band, tv show, or book that you were “supposed” to hate? Like hating it was required to prove you’re cool and sophisticated? When Matt was in college, that band was Nickelback. And he’s wondered why ever since… Why do we do things like this? Is this a good impulse, or something we should fight against? On this roundtable, the hosts explore the

Can Kids’ Cartoons be Great Cinema?

Jan 03 2025 73 mins  
It never fails. Whenever someone on the internet complains that an animated film is bad, someone else on the internet replies: “It’s a kids’ cartoon. Who cares?” On this roundtable, the hosts discuss whether we should expect children’s animation to be serious art. They do this primarily by analyzing some of their favorite animated films.

Solitude and Community

Dec 20 2024 62 mins  
Artists need solitude to create (or “conjure”), but we need one another too. Mandy and Matt and Christina discuss finding a balance between these seemingly contradictory needs.

SD Smith and the Found Boys

Dec 07 2024 38 mins  
Author SD Smith has previously joined the Anselm pub table to talk about his classic Green Ember series (an Anselm Society staple), and the Jack Zulu series that he’s writing along with his son. Now, SD Smith returns to the table to discuss his new book, The Found Boys. It’s a middle grade story that touches on a lot of complex issues—racial tension, forgiveness, reconciliati

The Hosts Debrief: Naming - We Just Can't Escape It!

Nov 22 2024 60 mins  
Matt, Mandy, and Christina gather together to debrief about our recent podcast with guest Lancia E. Smith on the power of naming. There may be more than a little talk about best and worst fantasy football names and houseplants christened after famous authors, but what can we say? Names matter. And when you sit down to talk about it? You may be startled to discover how

Sense of Wonder: Delighting in God’s Presence Throughout the Holiday Season

Nov 10 2024 44 mins  
Another holiday season is upon us, bringing with it the potential for wonder—or for stress, consumerism, and detachment. Amanda Luedeke and Hannah Oplinger have created a new devotional that walks us from Thanksgiving through the new year, engaging all six of our senses (yes! There are six!). Join Mandy as she talks with Amanda about how we might “reclaim the holidays for [our