Listening and learning on the go

MYRNA BROWN, HOST: Next up on The World and Everything in It: Keeping the creative juices flowing.

With back-to-school busyness, it can be tricky for parents to find time to tackle their personal hobbies. Today, WORLD reviewer Bekah McCallum has a few podcast recommendations to help keep parents…and the rest of us… inspired.

BEKAH MCCALLUM, REVIEWER: That’s how Wendy Hornback opens each episode of her podcast. Her episodes are short, but they’re chock full of tips about homemade cooking. For listeners interested in growing their own produce, she recommends companion planting, or growing certain plants with your fruits and vegetables.

HORNBACK, EP23: So for instance, marigolds and basil deter, among other things, they deter aphids which can attack those homegrown tomatoes and other plants, aphids are terribly destructive.

Hornback brings her Christian faith into the program even when she’s talking about practical things…like how to make sourdough starter, also known as leaven.

HORNBACK, EP24: Maybe you’ve heard the quote, "A little leaven leavens the whole lump." This is actually a verse from the Bible where the Apostle Paul is using it as a metaphor to talk about allowing sin into your life. But looking at it literally, a small amount of sourdough starter is enough to make an entire loaf of bread.

For Hornback, you don't have to be a Michelin-star chef to enjoy making nourishing food for your family. Not everyone will agree with all of her opinions—for instance, she prefers salt that doesn't have iodine. But for the most part, Hornback sticks to practical tips, and she’s realistic about what families actually have time for.

HORNBACK, EP11: Some chefs actually recommend salting your meat up to a day in advance and letting it set in the fridge overnight. But in my simple kitchen, that generally doesn’t happen. It’s just too much.

All in all, the From Scratch Cookery podcast makes home cooking more accessible, and that’s something that a lot of families can appreciate.

The next recommendation is for listeners who want to learn more about visual arts, specifically storybook illustration. The 3 Point Perspective podcast is hosted by Will Terry, Lee White, and Jake Parker.

EP162: All three of us are professional illustrators. We’ve all worked for all the major publishers in the business. Together we’ve published somewhere around 75 children’s books, and we’ve all taught illustration at university art schools.

These illustrators offer mature advice about how to create and sell art. They even have an episode dedicated to self-publishing. Using a publishing company has its perks, but giving them authority over your book might not be worth it.

EP153: What if they change the story to a story that I don’t like? Right, that’s the big one. Yeah.

They also discuss how technology is changing the game for artists, especially when it comes to Artificial Intelligence.

EP166: Any computer can generate a story handcrafted for your taste, right? The only problem though is that it’s all based on stuff that’s previously been created. And it lacks, I think it’ll lack that x-factor. That, "Oh, wow. I did not see that coming."

I’ve only listened to a fraction of the more than 150 episodes. But the only problematic content I’ve encountered so far is one mild swear word. Still, keep in mind this isn’t a Christian podcast, and it might be a good idea to listen with headphones if kids are in the room.

ROCK STAR PASTORS EPISODE: Welcome to the Mortification of Spin. I’m your host Carl Trueman.

Finally, if you like reading, the Mortification of Spin podcast offers thought-provoking author interviews. The podcast is put out by the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, and two hosts head the ship—first, Todd Pruitt, who serves as a pastor in Virginia, and second, Carl Trueman. He’s an author and professor at Grove City College and a contributor to WORLD Opinions.

SOCIAL CONSERVATISM EPISODE:  Many of the questions pressing on us today are questions connecting to ethics and morality. Whether we’re talking fertility treatments, sexuality. The big questions a lot of pastors are facing are not theological directly, they’re ethical. And so it’s a great pleasure to introduce my friend, Andrew Walker.

The podcast began in 2013, so there are plenty of episodes to choose from. And you’ll quickly notice it’s not all business. The guys often keep things light.

SOCIAL CONSERVATISM EPISODE: "I’m standing with my wife in an elevator next to an elk." [LAUGHTER] I pull into the parking lot of our hotel. At first, I think is it college game day somewhere? Because I’m looking at what I think are mascots until I realize, oh no, I’ve read about these people. And they were by the hundreds!

But the podcast does tend toward conservative writers and ideas. Author Amy Byrd was once a host on the show. Her departure back in 2020 underlines the point that not all Christians will agree with their views. That said, these hosts routinely offer insights and recommendations worth taking seriously

KIDS TALK CHURCH HISTORY EPISODE: I was so encouraged to be reminded of the deep rootedness of what we’re apart of. We’re not a part of something that just came on the world scene, but we’re part of a big story that God’s been writing and that was really encouraging to me.

The back-to-school season can be a busy one for families. But parents may want to take note of these three podcasts—From Scratch Cookery, the 3 Point Perspective, and Mortification of Spin. They can help you keep learning and growing, even on the go.

I’m Bekah McCallum.

WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.