Podcasts by Table of (Mal)Contents
Join Aaron Armstrong, Dave Schroeder and friends as they talk about the books they love (and many they really don't) to help you be a better reader.
Further podcasts by Aaron Armstrong, Dave Schroeder, Scarlet Hiltibidal and friends
Podcast on the topic Bücher
All episodes
Introducing Your Next Favorite Book from 2023-01-17T06:00
Introducing Your Next Favorite Book, a new podcast from Aaron Armstrong. Learn more and subscribe at https://anchor.fm/aarmstrong
ListenA Very (mal)Contented Christmas from 2021-12-15T06:00
It's the most wonderful time of the year. The trees are decorated. The stockings have been hung with care. The lights are all over every tree. And Aaron is grinching about the whole thing. Which me...
ListenIntroducing: Feel For the Game, Season 2 from 2021-07-07T18:32:15
Welcome back to the Area Code neighborhood: Feel For the Game. Nick and Noah return with a series of (mainly basketball) conversations about nostalgic moments in NBA history, current issues plagui...
ListenIntroducing: Wildwood Flower from 2021-06-04T20:14:45
Welcome the newest resident to the Area Code neighborhood:Wildwood Flower: Stories of Women who Built Country Music. Season 1 premiering on June 4th! Available on all platforms.To find out more ab...
ListenThe Trial Separation from 2021-05-24T05:00
Dave and Aaron have to have a talk. It's a hard talk, but it's a good one. Feel the randomness as we discuss: The realities of our lives right nowIf Grease 2 is the best sequel of all time (and wh...
ListenSitting at the Top of the Christian Publishing World from 2021-05-17T05:00
Our friend Mary Wiley joins us this week for a chat about publishing, writing theology books for kids, why we need more books like Gentle and Lowly, and the time a group of people lost their minds ...
ListenFeeling the Randomness from 2021-05-10T05:00
It's the day of random on today's episode and Aaron&Dave share different moments from silly and ridiculous books they love. A few of the books mentioned on this episodeGreenlights by Matthew McCon...
ListenWhy Dave Can't Stop Talking About the End of the World (on World Book Day) from 2021-04-26T05:00
Dave and Aaron are back in the saddle with a promptly released episode, recorded within an hour of Dave getting his shot of a certain vaccine. Will he grow a second head? Will he have a sudden urge...
ListenWhen Sports Books Aren't About Sports from 2021-04-21T05:00
After a tiny delay due to Aaron being tired and Dave being busy, we're back with a brand new episode recorded roughly 8 hours before it found its way onto the Interwebs. Listen in as we discuss why...
ListenHemingway, Returning to Conference Bookstores, Canada's Ken Burns from 2021-04-12T05:00
Nature may or may not be healing, folks, because Aaron is back on duty in an exhibit hall for TGC's Women's and National Conferences! But that didn't Aaron from taking a few minutes on a Friday aft...
ListenCelebrating Beverly Clearly from 2021-04-05T05:00
The literary world lost another giant when Beverly Cleary died a couple of weeks before her 105th birthday. Listen in as we discuss her enduring legacy, some of the surprise books we didn't realize...
ListenSpecial Announcements&Questionable Timing from 2021-04-01T05:00
A trend has emerged in recent years within Christian publishing circles: the book contract announcement photo. As it has evolved, it has taken on many different forms, beginning with the blurry con...
ListenMourning McMurtry from 2021-03-29T05:00
The literary world lost a legend last week when it was announced that Larry McMurtry, acclaimed author of Lonesome Dove, The Last Picture Show, and more than two dozen others, died at age 84. Liste...
ListenIdentity Crisis-ish from 2021-03-22T05:00
Every organization, church, blog, and even podcast can succumb to mission drift if its identity is not continually being clarified. So today, much like Derek Zoolander did when he saw his reflectio...
ListenToo Christian and Not Christian Enough from 2021-03-15T05:00
One of the creative cohorts&publishing companies Dave and Aaron both love is The Rabbit Room, for many different reasons, not the least of which being the people running it. So this week, Dave and ...
ListenEnd Times Prophesying, Fathers&Sons, and Basic Reading Comprehension from 2021-03-09T06:00
Dave and Aaron are excited to one of our favorite authors, Lin Enger, join us on the podcast this week for an outstanding chat about… well, pretty much everything. (In fact, we were having such a g...
Listen#ComicBookClub from 2021-03-01T06:00
The day has finally arrived—Dave and I are talking about reading Undiscovered Country volume 1 by Charles Soule and Scott Snyder, which is his first time reading a graphic novel! But to make it ext...
ListenStorytelling vs Culture Warriors from 2021-02-22T06:00
Dave and Aaron are joined by Russ Ramsey for a conversation about art, pastoring in a pandemic, and why we can't stop banging the drum on reading fiction. Listen in as we discuss:The results of the...
ListenHaircuts, Heresy,&Hockey Fights from 2021-02-15T06:00
Dave and Aaron are joined by friend and former coworker Brandon Smith for a fun conversation about the Church Fathers, Batman, and the revolving door of heresy. Listen in as we discuss:How Christia...
Listen"It's Not Me, It's You (Two)" from 2021-02-08T06:00
Dave, Scarlet, and Aaron are joined by former co-host/recurring guest Barnabas Piper to talk about… well, you'll just have to listen to hear. Listen in as we discuss:Dave's feelings on the graphic ...
ListenIntroducing: No Chill Enneagram: Watch Party from 2021-02-03T20:24:37
Check out another show on the Area Code Network, No Chill Enneagram: Watch Party: We can't stop talking about the enneagram, so we started a podcast to get it all out of our system. No Chill Enneag...
ListenNot At All Controversial Opinions from 2021-02-01T06:00
Dave&Aaron are back on Zoom talking about all kinds of not-at-all controversial subjects. As one does when on a Zoom call with a microphone. Instead, we talked current events, Star Wars, stock mark...
ListenFunny Book Titles, Failure,&More Books with Pictures from 2021-01-25T06:00
Recently I (Aaron) went to the local Dollar General and was confronted with the most ridiculous book title I've seen in a long time. So naturally, I sent a picture to Dave and Scarlet, to which Dav...
ListenSurvival Stories, Poor Choices,&Lukewarm Receptions from 2021-01-18T06:00
We're back at it this week, discussing all the latest and greatest in our lives (reading, writing, and otherwise), including a possible near-death experience! Listen in as we discuss:Scarlet's tale...
ListenOrganizing Bookshelves, Positive Boosts in Book Sales,&Purely Hypothetical Publishing Decisions from 2021-01-11T06:00
We're kicking off the new year in style—although sadly sans Scarlet—as we talk about all kinds of wild and crazy things that have happened in the last week or so. Listen in as we discuss:Whether or...
ListenPlanning Our Reading Plans for 2021 from 2020-12-21T06:00
Just as the end of the year brings with it scores of end-of-year book lists, so too does it bring a bevy of plans for how to make this next year the best year ever! Whether it's choosing a theme wo...
ListenIntroducing: We Wonder: Advent from 2020-12-15T15:13
Check out another show on the Area Code Network, We Wonder: Advent. The podcast where we wonder together about the story of God. We Wonder is a contemplative devotional for children.Find our more h...
ListenIntroducing: We Wonder: Advent from 2020-12-15T15:13
Check out another show on the Area Code Network, We Wonder: Advent. The podcast where we wonder together about the story of God. We Wonder is a contemplative devotional for children.Find our more h...
ListenIntroducing: We Wonder: Advent from 2020-12-15T15:13
Check out another show on the Area Code Network, We Wonder: Advent. The podcast where we wonder together about the story of God. We Wonder is a contemplative devotional for children.Find our more h...
ListenThe 2020 (mal)Contents Book Awards! from 2020-12-14T06:00
It's that time of year where every website, podcast, and Twitter-er is spreading holiday cheer with annual favorite book lists. And, as good friends to our listeners and lovers of books, how could ...
ListenSchool Libraries and Mermaids in the Time of COVID-19 from 2020-12-10T06:00
By popular demand, we've got a brand new bonus episode for you all this week as Abigail Armstrong returns to the show for a quick dad to big kid chat about bad parenting advice, public school, how ...
ListenThe Art of Audiobook Narration from 2020-12-08T06:00
What makes or breaks an audiobook? Almost as important as the content itself is the narrator. Theseoften unsung heroes of the medium are the people who keep you coming back time and again, carrying...
ListenProg Rock, Christmas Persecution,&Christmas Seminary from 2020-11-30T07:00
We're about to enter into that special time of year that is full of holiday cheer, and so we are going to try to celebrate it well here on the podcast. But in order to really kick it off well, we f...
ListenYes, Christians Can Write Good Fiction Too from 2020-11-16T07:00
Okay, I'll admit: when I see the words "Christian" and "fiction" together, I generally assume the book with that label will be terrible. But that is also totally unfair of me, because while there i...
ListenAll the Tenuous Connections from 2020-11-09T07:00
Sometimes a conversation is full of… how can I say this? Tenuous connections. Abrupt changes of topic, subject matter, and tone is often the way a real-life conversation goes. And this week, Dave a...
ListenA (Thankfully) Short Talk About Being Thankful from 2020-11-02T07:00
We're two days past Halloween, which means two things: higher blood sugar for all, and stores have become winter wonderlands overnight. But we don't want to be grumpy about it—instead, we're reclai...
ListenSpooky Season, Christmas,&Mormons at the Door from 2020-10-27T06:00
It's almost Halloween, and we're talking… well, we're talking Christmas, apparently. But not intentionally. Dave wanted to talk about Halloween and spooky books, but we don't really read those all ...
ListenPolitics, Reading Lists,&Other Dinner Conversations from 2020-10-19T05:00:32
There are two topics you traditionally don't bring up at family dinners over the holidays: religion and politics. (Scarlet, meanwhile, is glad she missed out on this one.)The spectrum of types of p...
ListenScience Faction, Ezekiel, Apollos,&English Class Confessions from 2020-10-12T05:00
We typically don't talk a ton about Bible reading on the podcast. Not because we don't care about it (because obviously we do), but because we typically assume that our Christian listeners are acti...
ListenFinding Happiness&Failing to Finish Sentences from 2020-10-05T05:00
It's been a week. Read into that whatever you wish, and you're probably going to be correct. We could all use a little bit of happiness (I know I could), so this week, Scarlet, Dave, and I are join...
ListenHaving None of It in Nunavut from 2020-09-28T05:00
Fall—or rather, Autumn—is finally here! With it comes cardigans, superfluous scarves, and pumpkin spice, as well as thinking about what to read in this new season. Listen in to discuss:What makes a...
ListenPocket Protectors, Activate! from 2020-09-21T06:00
So, the trailer for the Dune movie was released last week, and the folks who made it clearly did a great job. In honor of this, we're getting extra nerdy as we talk Dune, sci-fi, and Dave having me...
ListenAudience Questions, 9/11,&Drastic Tonal Shifts from 2020-09-15T06:00
We're back with a new episode, recorded on a life-changing date for most of the modern world. But that doesn't stop us from getting downright silly at times as we talk about books, history, and pet...
ListenBach, Bono&Music Bios from 2020-09-08T07:00
We don't always have friends of the podcast on the show, but when we do, it's Matt Redmond! Matt is a Christian counselor, teacher, author, and longtime listener of the podcast. We have wanted to c...
ListenMasters of Tangents from 2020-08-31T11:21:35
One of the things we love best about this show is our audience. Seriously, we have some really fun and fantastic people who listen to this show and put up with our silliness week in and week out. S...
ListenInfluencers of Influencers from 2020-08-24T06:00
We're back once again with our latest episode of Table of (mal)Contents! This week, Scarlet, Dave, and I are joined by our friend Jenaye White. Jenaye works as part of B&H Publishing Group's market...
ListenCat Fashion Shows from 2020-08-17T05:55:47
We've got a new episode of Table of (mal)Contents this week, and it's a big one—our 100th episode of the show in its current form!And what better way for us to celebrate than to have Barnabas Piper...
ListenIt's All Dave's Fault (and Other True Sayings) from 2020-08-10T06:00
I wanted to make some sort of reference to Wayne Gretzky in this episode's title, but it wouldn't make any sense. Aside from it being the 99th episode of the podcast since we relaunched as Table of...
ListenThe Writer's Kid from 2020-08-03T06:00
This past week was rough on Team (mal)Contents, y'all. Scarlet's shared a bit about what's going on with her family on social media recently (so go read about it there). Dave was feeling pretty rou...
ListenThe One Where We Keep Not Talking About Books from 2020-07-27T06:00
So, we had a plan for this episode. (Maybe.) And it was a good plan, too. (Also maybe.) But then one of our co-hosts was called away unexpectedly and couldn't join us when we hit record. So, instea...
ListenQuest Squads, Book Club Names,&Boring Book Descriptions from 2020-07-20T05:30
This week, we decided to keep things serious and tackle the tough topics that are shaping the world in which we live. Which, of course, means we're answering questions inspired by Goodreads and our...
ListenDave vs the Internet Connection from 2020-07-13T06:00
We're wrapping up our special summer series today, where each of the co-hosts jumps into the hot seat to introduce him or herself to our listeners! This time, Dave is in the hot seat—as long as his...
ListenScarlet vs the Canadian from 2020-07-07T06:00
We're continuing our special summer series today, where each of the co-hosts jumps into the hot seat to introduce him or herself to our listeners! This time? It's my (Aaron's) turn. But there's a t...
Listen5 Questions for Scarlet from 2020-06-29T11:09:34
As you are no doubt aware, podcasts are always growing and changing, and new people pick up the show along the way. (At least, we hope that's happening.) So, today we're kicking off a special summe...
ListenSocial Media is Bad For You from 2020-06-22T06:00
Is social media the worst, or are we? What if the answer is yes? Our friend Chris Martin joins us to talk about all things social media and give us the inside track on his upcoming book on the subj...
ListenThe Nicolas Cage of Podcasts from 2020-06-15T06:00
So, we had a plan for this episode. We were going to have some fun talking through some decent questions Goodreads has been posting lately. But instead… well, you'll have to listen to what exactly ...
ListenA Conversation on Learning About Other People’s Experiences from 2020-06-09T06:00
So with everything that's happening in the world recently, we decided to talk together about books we've read that have helped us explore the experiences of others. Specifically, the experiences of...
ListenPet Advice, Dave’s Deflection,&SWAT Team Rabbits from 2020-06-02T06:00
Recently it looked like we were maybe hopefully getting toward a happier and healthier place in this pandemic. The sun was shining, stores were opening… and well, 2020 keeps happening. But we're no...
ListenHope, Happiness,&Lunch Shovels from 2020-05-26T13:02:52
So, many weeks ago, back in the long forgotten times when people socialized together and we recorded our podcast in-person, and before Scarlet teamed up with us to class up this show and keep it fi...
ListenAmerican History Pop Quiz, Hot Shot! from 2020-05-19T05:00
As you all know, Dave loves history (almost as much as he loves cats). And because I am a Canadian, he and Scarlet both wanted to help me learn more about American history, in the hopes that I can ...
ListenThe YA Grab Bag of Surprise! from 2020-05-12T05:05:36
Recently I discovered that McKay's, our favorite second-hand bookstore, has been offering themed grab bags of books to help people stay on top of their reading during this season.So, of course, I b...
ListenConcentric Circles of Canadian Hatred from 2020-05-04T06:00
Two countries unite on today's episode of the show as Drew Dyck joins us for a chat about being Canadians in Americaland, Canadian geography, and life on the interwebs. For those not in the know, D...
ListenReading in the Time of Quarantine, Losing Literacy,&Favorite Reading Spots from 2020-04-27T06:00
As we continue to trudge through this season of social distancing and everyone sheltering at home, we're all finding it to be a struggle to do some of our favorite things. Y'know, like reading. So ...
ListenReal Celebrities, Diet Ice Cream,&How We Speak Online from 2020-04-20T06:00
We're back with a brand-new episode, and we've brought a friend along! Daniel Darling joins us to talk about some nice, easy subjects including politics, online discussion, and the nature of celebr...
ListenScarlet the Benevolent Dictator from 2020-04-13T06:00
We're back with a brand-new episode, in which Scarlet takes over as our benevolent dictator (she wanted me to call her our benign dictator, but I can't do it). Listen in as we discuss:The myth of e...
ListenVirus Punching, Proverbs,&Being C.S. Lewis-ish from 2020-04-07T00:42
Well, we're a day later than normal, friends, but we've got a fun episode featuring the whole crew—and our friends, Scott James, as our special guest! Scott is a pediatric physician based in Birmin...
ListenBig News, Deserted Islands,&the Many Ways to Spell Charlotte from 2020-04-01T06:00
We're coming at you with a special bonus episode of the show today, one that we hope is filled with optimism and joy as Dave continues to prep for the apocalypse. Listen in to hear:An announcement ...
ListenSocial distancing's toll, new projects,&sucker-punching 2020 from 2020-03-30T06:00
We're not going to lie: this whole social distancing thing is taking its toll on us here at (mal)Contents HQ. Dave's wearing Tina Turner's outfit from Thunderdome, I'm preparing to put spikes on my...
ListenEpisode titles, writing advice,&what’s bad for bookstores from 2020-03-23T06:00
We step back in time to the week to the beginning of the month when we last sat in a room together to record a podcast! This time around, we had some fun that’s We riff on different title ideas for...
ListenSocial Distancing, Post-Apocalyptic Nightmares,&the Special Handling List from 2020-03-19T06:00
Since we're all being encouraged to practice social distancing these days, Dave, Scarlet and I decided to plug in our mics and record our first-ever episode where we weren't in the room together (s...
ListenAdvance Memoirs, Nick Cage’s Pyramid Tomb,&Recording Around Landscaping from 2020-03-16T02:24:07
Coming to you from an undisclosed location in Franklin Tennessee, Dave and I are back together, and we’ve got a friend with us! Scarlet Hiltibidal, longtime friend of the podcast, is joining us on ...
ListenSincerity, Awkwardness,&Some Reasonably Big News from 2020-03-09T06:00
Dave and I are back recording in Nashville after our adventures in Minneapolis, and I've been a bit concerned about something of late: have we become too sincere? Listen in as we also discuss:Why c...
ListenThe Mechanics of Mystery Stories, Minnesotan Authors,&Holden Caulfield from 2020-03-02T07:00
Shortly before heading out to Minneapolis, Dave and I were starting to get into a couple of books by William Kent Krueger. Well, it turns out that he lives in the area, so while we were in town, he...
ListenCriticism&Community, Side Hustles, and the Power of Moments from 2020-02-24T07:00
Continuing our adventures in balmy Minneapolis, Dave and I had the chance to chat with our friend Jeremy Writebol. Jeremy is the director of Gospel-Centered Discipleship (our sponsor for the last f...
ListenHalf-Canadians, Fluid Language,&the Uniqueness of American Christianity from 2020-02-17T06:00
While in exotic Minneapolis, sitting in a fancy executive lounge at our hotel, Dave and I had a chance to talk with Canadian blogger and author Tim Challies—and as soon as the mics were on, things ...
ListenSuper Bowls, Anna Karenina,&Cries for Help from 2020-02-10T06:00
Work travel is often challenging, but one benefit of it is going to conferences is that I have the opportunity to chat with writers who don't often come to Nashville. During the Super Bowl last wee...
ListenUFOs, Scary Stories,&J.J. Abrams from 2020-02-03T05:00
One of my favorite people to interview is Andrew Peterson. He's been on the show once before (in its previous incarnation), and he's a great guy to talk books, music, and theology with. Well, today...
ListenLibraries, weird publishing stories,&Eastern Orthodoxy from 2020-01-27T06:00
Dave and I are back in the studio, and we've brought along a friend—Joel J. Miller, Chief Content Officer of Michael Hyatt&Company. Dave and Joel are old pals, having worked together at another pub...
ListenBoys in a Bookstore Wearing Microphones from 2020-01-23T06:00
Today, we're offering a special Dave-less bonus episode featuring our friend Nick Rynerson. Nick was in town on business, and we decided that we should to something amazing: we should go to McKay's...
ListenWeird Manliness Book Trends, John Eldredge,&Fairy Tales from 2020-01-20T06:00
What's my problem with the weird books that tell men how to be men? Bill Delvaux joins Dave and me in the studio to talk books for men, faith, and gender stereotypes (a little). Listen in as we dis...
ListenSaints and Scoundrels, Women's Bible Studies,&Teleconferencing Guests from 2020-01-13T06:00
Nancy Guthrie, who is already in the running for best guest ever after last episode, returns for another round of talking books, banter, and throwing shade at Dave (well, actually at me, but I like...
ListenBecoming an Author, Endorsing a Book vs a Person,&the Story You Need to Tell from 2020-01-06T06:00
At long last, Nancy Guthrie joins us in the studio this week! Nancy is a Bible teacher, host of Help Me Teach the Bible, and the author of many books, including the upcoming Saints and Scoundrels i...
ListenMisunderstood Authors, Tom Clancy, and the Wendell Berry Jar from 2020-01-02T07:30
Our friend Nick Rynerson joins us as he auditions to take over for our former co-host (but still friend of the podcast), Barnabas. Listen in as we discuss: Why Nick's coworkers have a Wendell Berr...
ListenOur Best Books We Read For Our Enjoyment in 2019 from 2019-12-09T07:30
'Tis the season for exhaustive lists of top- something or others from bloggers and podcasters everywhere. So, we're getting right down to business on this episode as we present to you our completel...
ListenThe One With All The Swearing from 2019-12-02T07:30
After a lengthy (?) sabbatical, Barnabas is back with us in the studio to gift you a very special and highly censored discussion of:Where Barnabas has been all this timePeople using nouns as verbs,...
ListenWe're Thankful For That Time We Talked to Leif Enger from 2019-11-25T07:30
About a year ago, Dave and I had the privilege of being joined in-studio by acclaimed novelist Leif Enger while Barnabas was out on a work-related trip.He declared us really bad friends, and we're ...
ListenPoetry&Plumbing, Good Illustrations, and a Defense of Leadership Books from 2019-11-18T08:00:46
With Barnabas still out trying to get his book written, Dave and I are joined by our friend and colleague Todd Adkins, who is the Director of LifeWay Leadership at LifeWay and the host of the 5 Lea...
ListenHutchmoot, Life Changes,&a New eBook from 2019-11-11T07:00
While Barnabas is off trying to meet a deadline or working or something, Aaron&Dave discuss all the things, including: The podcast's birthday and a look back on all its iterationsDutch Family Swea...
ListenPyramid schemes, trolling literary people,&marginalia from 2019-11-07T07:00:33
It's a special bonus episode of the show as Dave, returning guest co-host Elizabeth Hyndman, and me tackle some very serious subjects:Essential oils and pyramid schemesSome of our favorite books wh...
ListenWhat Women Really Want… from 2019-11-04T07:00:13
Dave is back in the studio and now Barnabas is MIA! But that's okay, because our friend, Elizabeth Hyndman to take his place and class up the show, while representing all women everywhere. Listen i...
ListenSensitive Subject Matter, Bad Book Covers,&Audiobook Narration from 2019-10-28T06:00:41
With Dave still off doing something, Jennifer Brogdon returns to take his spot and class up this show. Listen in as we discuss:How men and women might process the difficult elements of Beartown dif...
ListenDentistry vs Writing, Teaching International Students,&a New Definition of Procrastination from 2019-10-21T06:00:16
Dave is off doing something (no one is really sure where he goes), but we've got a special guest! Jennifer Brogdon steps in to replace him talk different kinds of humor, teaching international stud...
ListenNeighborhood Library Boxes, Balanced Diets,&Leadership Book or Captain Picard from 2019-10-14T06:00:48
We're back in the studio with another jam-packed episode of the show. Listen in as we discuss:Which three literary characters would we bring along as part of our own Fellowship of the Ring (that ar...
ListenWorkshopping Gladwell Book Titles, Talking to Strangers,&Middle School Bullies from 2019-10-07T06:00:43
We finally got the three of us back in the studio, which can only mean one thing: more censorship than I would have thought possible! Listen in as we discus:How Barnabas is settling into his new ro...
ListenWhen Reading Got Fun, How Not to Impress Girls,&What Not to Read During Class from 2019-09-30T06:00:41
Dave and I are back in the studio while Barnabas is still off doing something else. So, we're joined by our friends, Nick Rynerson and James Kinnard, to talk about our reading through different sea...
ListenCreeping on Wendell Berry, coffee talk,&why physical books are best from 2019-09-23T06:00:50
Dave's back from vacation, Barnabas is off doing something else, and we're uncomfortable in the studio with a special guest: our friend Nick Rynerson. Nick is the chief creative officer at Useful G...
ListenDestroying Books, Writing Tell-Alls, and Our Favorite International Authors from 2019-09-16T06:00:26
It's rabbit trails, non sequiturs, and listener questions on today's episode! Dave continues to allegedly be on vacation during this episode, leaving it to us to discuss these important issues:Is C...
ListenPat Conroy, Loving Yourself Appropriately,&(mal)Contents vs Gut Check from 2019-09-09T06:00:33
It finally happened: I (Aaron) finished the book I've been struggling to read for months, and Barnabas and I decided to talk through it while Dave was on vacation. (Because that's what friends do.)...
ListenGreat westerns, frustrating sci-fi tropes,&capturing the creative imagination from 2019-09-02T06:00:50
Things get super-nerdy—and even more middle-aged—on this episode of the show as Andrew Osenga joins us for a great conversation about science fiction, westerns, and being cat or dog people. Listen ...
ListenMidlife Crises, Ordinary Lives, and #Chafey from 2019-08-26T06:00:30
As you can imagine, we're all getting older and (theoretically) maturing. Well, one of us is, at any rate. In honor of my (Aaron's) 40th birthday (on August 21st), and the tendency for guys to star...
ListenOur favorite sidekicks, the first books in our book clubs,&3-word descriptions from 2019-08-19T06:00:01
We're back in the sauna/podcast studio for another round of Q&A thanks to our friend Andy Whisenant and the fine folks at Goodreads. Listen in as we dig into the following questions:Who are our fav...
ListenShould we reject books by authors who rejected the faith? from 2019-08-12T06:00:15
It grieves all three of us on this podcast when anyone walks away from the Christian faith. Joshua Harris' recent announcement of his "deconstruction" of his faith is just one of many that each of ...
ListenHistorical fiction, splitting hairs, and honoring an American icon from 2019-08-05T06:00:35
Over the last several months, we've mentioned a lot of works of historical fiction, but we've never really talked about historical fiction much at all: it's purpose, some of our favorite works, and...
ListenThe Sewage Blaze from 2019-07-29T06:00:23
There are certain books so good they can only be described as transcendent. Others are cultural phenomena, but are best described as… well, you'll find out as we discuss The Notebook.That's right—a...
ListenWhat made us want to write, imitating others, and the spectrum of writers from 2019-07-22T06:00:46
There's often something that triggers a writer's desire to write—even if that something is as simple as reading a book and saying, "I can do better than that." So what were some of those moments fo...
ListenChristian vacation reads, movie references,&Aaron is boring from 2019-07-15T06:00:51
We don't talk about Christian books a whole lot, which is funny since we all work in Christian publishing. But since it's "summer reading list" season from ministry leaders and websites, we decided...
ListenBias in biographies, sucker punching as a family,&owning #40Dave from 2019-07-08T06:00:18
We love good stories—and great stories are even better when they're true. Real stories, true stories don't just pass on facts, they inspire us. Recently, Dave and I sat down with our friend Catheri...
ListenBeing Terrible at Patriotism, Canada vs America,&Barnabas vs Avocado Toast from 2019-07-01T06:00:43
Fireworks, grilling, and spending time with friends. That's what you do on Canada Day, which happens to be the day we're releasing this episode. Oh, and Independence Day is this week, too, and all ...
ListenBook conventions, cat poetry,&Amazon vs humans from 2019-06-24T06:00:18
Not every conversation makes sense, but sometimes they really make no sense. Such is the case in this episode recorded in Birmingham a couple weeks back, where our nadir was reached after a hard da...
Listen"A story has to be true to be beautiful and good" from 2019-06-17T06:00:22
Recently, the team was in Birmingham for a certain work-related event. Because we needed a break from what we were doing for our work-jobs, we decided to record a couple of episodes of the show… an...
ListenBuying vs borrowing books, loving the library,&being part of the problem from 2019-06-13T06:00:03
In a special bonus episode, we're answering a big question that we've kind of talked about in the past, but we really felt like it would be good to hit directly: What factors determine whether we b...
ListenSummer reading, getting fatter&happier, and what not to read on vacation from 2019-06-10T06:00:41
It's getting hot outside, which means it's the time of year when many blogs are sharing their annual Summer Reading Lists™, mostly filled with big thick theology books and historical works. Which i...
ListenThe Writer’s Process, Writing Like You Speak, and Coldplay vs Dave Matthews from 2019-06-03T06:00:21
Since Dave was being all professional and in a meeting, Barnabas and I decided to have a conversation about what might be the grossest phrase associated with writing: the writing process. What are ...
ListenQuestioning questionable content, preachy fiction, and James Bond from 2019-05-27T06:00:22
We tend to joke a lot about "content," "grit," and "scenes" in books. But today, we're having a serious conversation (as serious as we get anyway) about the place of questionable content in fiction...
ListenWiping books out of existence, organizing our libraries,&hurtful words from 2019-05-20T11:44:03
We love our listeners—you are as much a part of this show as we are, with your questions, feedback, and more than a little shade that gets thrown at us. On today's episode, we introduce a new way f...
ListenProposing to propose, taking chances, and the problem of how-to-books from 2019-05-13T07:00:49
Barnabas is writing a new book. Dave is helping launch a few key new titles for B&H. I'm in the midst of putting together a new book proposal for something I've wanted to write (and have been pokin...
ListenShort books, getting self-promo-y,&enjoying Spring from 2019-05-06T07:00:37
The three of us read a lot of books, but even as guys who really like to read, there are too many books that are just way too long. Maybe you feel the same way. So today, we're back in the studio i...
ListenWriting a bestseller, social contracts,&reading Annie Dillard from 2019-04-29T07:00:20
All of us live around Nashville, but sometimes it takes traveling to Indianapolis to make magic happen. That's what happens on this episode of Table of (mal)Contents, as Russ Ramsey joins us for a ...
ListenNostalgia, mindless reading, and untapped holidays from 2019-04-22T07:00:50
It's a podcast crossover! Ronnie Martin of The Happy Rant joins us in-studio in exotic Indianapolis to talk nostalgia, Christmas and romance novels, and trying to read theology.And by "in-studio" I...
Listen"Moby Dick is the reason I went into British literature" from 2019-04-15T07:00:09
A couple weeks' back, we travelled to exotic downtown Indianapolis for TGC19. With so many book loving people in one place at the same time, we took the show on the road to chat with a few friends....
ListenOnline reading groups, platform-building, and pronouncing "against" from 2019-04-08T08:30:13
The Internet taught us something new: We're missing out on some huge opportunities with online book clubs, courses, and whatnot. So we're getting our thinking caps on as we workshop some ideas for ...
ListenGood biographies vs bad ones, the Tolkien movie, and Canadian coffee from 2019-04-01T08:30:09
We all love biographies and memoirs. Well, Dave and I (Aaron) do a lot more than Barnabas. But we all do love to talk about biographies and memoirs! And this week we're joined by Dave's daughter, M...
ListenPersonality types and fictional characters, and books for every Enneagram type from 2019-03-27T08:30:09
Just like everyone else, we’re still talking about the Enneagram. We had a lot of fun talking with Jenaye in our first episode that we needed to make it a two-parter! Listen in as we discuss: * ...
ListenPersonality profiles, the Enneagram, and Chicken Dave Schroeder from 2019-03-25T08:30:50
There are a lot of different personality profiles out there. Some folks swear by Myers-Briggs (e.g. INTJ), while others the DiSC profile, StrengthsFinders, or one of the 78,000 other options out th...
ListenLeaders are Readers, But They’re Not If… from 2019-03-18T08:30
Harry S. Truman famously said, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” (I mean, unless he didn’t, of course. It’s hard to find anything confirming it for certain.) But what if t...
Listen3-Word Descriptions, Retitling Books, and Keeping People from Reading Bad Books from 2019-03-11T09:30:09
It’s a tight, on-point conversation today on the podcast as we let the fine folks at Goodreads guide us once again. Listen in as we talk through the following big questions: * Describe a book yo...
ListenAdvice for aspiring authors, avoiding comparisons, when not to write from 2019-03-04T10:30:12
A couple of days before we recorded this episode, a fond memory popped up in my (Aaron’s) Facebook feed about starting the early work on what would become my first book, Awaiting A Savior. In honor...
ListenHow we read so much, cat-rants, and Dave’s new nickname from 2019-02-25T10:30:22
We’re dealing with some hard truths on this episode of the podcast as we address some bad habits this week. Listen in as we discuss: * Some important (sub-tweeted) listener feedback and Dave’s s...
ListenWhy do they always kill the dog, cats, and Nic Cage ruins everything from 2019-02-18T10:30:55
Dave’s daughter was recently traumatized when she read Where the Red Fern Grows, and we got to thinking: why the heck to teachers keep asking kids to read this book? Listen in as we discuss: * W...
ListenRelationship issues, marriage books, and fur babies from 2019-02-13T10:30
Apparently we need podcasting therapy, as our relationship issues come to the surface. Things got weird in the studio as we recorded a special sort-of-Valentines-Day-y episode of Table of (mal)Cont...
ListenBooks that make you laugh, having dinner with authors, and why we don’t loan books from 2019-02-11T10:30
Imagine being out for dinner with three authors—any three. Who would they be, and what would you ask them? We’re asking ourselves some very random questions today as we present a new edition of Bar...
ListenDo humble C- - - - -ists exist, contract reveals revisited, and pronouncing GIF from 2019-02-04T06:00
We are living on the edge on this episode recorded in balmy downtown Minneapolis during the Bethlehem Pastor's Conference. Why? Because we're talking to Jeff Medders (@mrmedders) about his new book...
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