4 Uplifting Podcasts To Listen To
Photo by Diana Onfilm
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
It is not only important but necessary to fill our minds and hearts with “such things” as a counterweight to the thoughtlessness, coarseness, and cruelty that is all too prevalent on our screens and airways and in our daily lives. Searching for beauty and goodness does not mean we are indifferent to suffering and evil or that we shun anything that’s not spotless and devoid of life’s messiness. It means we are keenly aware of what is necessary to lessen the hurt and dispel the darkness and are actively determined to find the light amidst the shadows.
With that purpose in mind, here are four podcasts that will hopefully help you to build up your reservoir of “noble, lovely, and admirable” things.
01 | Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermons from Word on Fire
Bishop Barron is renowned for his online ministry of evangelization “engaging the culture and sharing the truth of Christ.” Each week, he delivers a 15-minute sermon based on the Sunday Gospel reading for the Catholic Mass.
I enjoy listening to him because he not only draws on theology and philosophy but he also has a depth of knowledge in literature and history. He’s learned and articulate while getting down to practicalities and real-life applications of the Gospel as well. Moreover, you don’t need to be Catholic to benefit from his words. He helps to make anyone smarter and holier!
02 | Speaking with Joy with Joy Clarkson
Author and professor Joy Clarkson’s podcast Speaking with Joy is a thoughtful, delightful listen for anyone interested in contemplations of faith, art, books, beauty, and life. In the show’s introduction, Clarkson aptly describes herself as an “evangelist for all things good, true, and beautiful.”
I love this approach because, I believe, the pursuit of these three transcendent qualities has the potential to overcome denominational faith differences as well as even starker discrepancies between believers and those who consider themselves non-religious. Most people, if they allow themselves, possess an innate desire for truth, a natural attraction to goodness, and a fundamental reverence for beauty.
Joy’s listeners can delve into these and related themes with her and her guests and come away wiser and more hopeful.
Her latest podcast episodes revolve around the various chapters of her new book You are a Tree: and Other Metaphors to Nourish Life, Thought, and Prayer, which as of this writing, I am currently reading and enjoying.
03 | Risking Enchantment with Rachel Sherlock
Risking Enchantment is a “discussion about beauty in art and culture, and its place in the Catholic faith.” Like Bishop Barron’s sermons, you don’t need to be Catholic to benefit from and enjoy these conversations. Each show features a guest, frequently her friend Phoebe Watson, (yes, Sherlock and Watson!) and focuses on a particular theme. Everything from Little Women to Charles Dickens to Roald Dahl to poetry to movie musicals have been subjects of this podcast. Tune in for a thoughtful exploration of each topic and enjoy Rachel’s lovely, lilting accent.
04 | Dear Wallflower with Keelia Clarkson
I would be remiss if I did not include Wallflower Journal’s podcast hosted by our own talented editor-in-chief Keelia Clarkson! In this show “for the woman who desires to deepen her inner world,” Keelia chats with guests and answers readers’ anonymous letters, offering thoughtful, practical and fun advice. It is a lovely accompaniment to Wallflower’s online articles!
Bonus recommendation | What the Austen? with Izzy Meakin
Specifically, episodes 8, 12, and 13 of the Jane Austen-themed podcast What the Austen? Episode 8 is a fun conversation of comparing and contrasting Austen’s heroines with Disney princesses while in Episodes 12 and 13, Izzy and her guest sort Austen’s heroines into the Hogwarts Houses from Harry Potter. These whimsical shows are sure to bring a smile to your face and satisfaction to your inner bookworm.
In short…
Anne Frank said, “Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.” This sound advice, offered by someone who endured unthinkable horror, can be a gentle exhortation for all of us to consciously be alert to the good and beautiful in the world. Sometimes it may be hidden like a jewel in the earth but we must trust that it is there, shining and awaiting our discovery.
