Unseriously

Friends, there are PG episodes and then there are PG episodes…you are not going to believe this one—it’s like everyone agreed beforehand that all of the stories should lean into a certain theme, so let’s go ahead and name that theme The Mishaps of Being Female. We’ve got stories from so many fun recent Unseriously guests—you’ll hear Mary Ryan Brown give us a fashion tip, Karen Swallow Prior have a fashion emergency right before class, Hope Blanton and Chris Gordon from At His Feet Studies have their bodies betray them, Nicole Conrad forget it's a projector, Brittany Salmon crown herself the Love Spell Queen, Elizabeth Harwell almost become Mrs. Brad Paisley, Ashley George get compared to her sisters, and our lone male, Harrison Scott Key, survive his all-girl household.Don't miss the previous full episodes from each of these guests. See you back next week with with an Unseriously first!Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of ⁠⁠The Corner Room⁠⁠, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously ⁠⁠@hollymacklebooks⁠⁠.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Just in time for "small talk season," a.k.a. holiday party season, it's communications specialist and consultant Dr. Ashley George here to help us with a three-part series, starting today. In this episode Ashley challenges us to think about how we're showing up in a situation that is likely to require small talk, giving us one easy step to combat communication apprehension or straight-up anxiety. She'll offer a takeaway trick for how to enter a room in a more present posture, because as Ashley faithfully teaches--it's all about making more meaningful connections.Ashley helps professionals in all industries with their communications needs. Find her at ashleygeorgeconsulting.com or on Instagram, but you can also email her directly: [email protected] for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of ⁠⁠The Corner Room⁠⁠, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously ⁠⁠@hollymacklebooks⁠⁠.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The crown has been placed, the sash bedazzled--ladies and gentlemen, the reigning queen of Unseriously iiiiiis: Portia Collins! Lest Miss Third Grade outcompete them, in this episode Portia and Holly will crown themselves with age-appropriate superlatives, explain how the Mama Bear just won't quit (even when gaming), discern the difference between "crazy" and "magnetic," and quilt you a flag long past bedtime--but only because it's a church night. They may also put on blast a couple PSA's on life in the Mississippi Delta. And oh yeah, if you've already listened to Portia's first appearance on Unseriously (here), be prepared for a shock when she gives the update on Kendrick Lamar. Portia has recently transitioned to teaching and will tell us all about it, plus she'll talk about how God is still using her study on Galatians, Finding Freedom in Christ, in her own heart one year after its release.Both Dapper Sam and Landon Bryant will garner shout-outs--and speaking of stepping into giftings--Portia's Unseriously return is one you won't want to miss!Find Portia on Instagram, on Substack, or on her web site, portiacollins.com.Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of ⁠⁠The Corner Room⁠⁠, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously ⁠⁠@hollymacklebooks⁠⁠.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's a super fun mini-episode just in time for thinking about Christmas gift-giving--consider stuffing those toddler to early elementary stockings with a seek and find book from our friend from across the pond, Sarah Parker. On this episode Sarah and Holly will delve into the origin of "loggerheads," confuse the tar out of themselves with earbuds/airpods/Air Bud/ear plugs...(you get the idea) plus hear why Sarah was so nervy to share a wall with a family from their small group. We'll hear all about Sarah and her husband, Andre's, collaboration on the Seek and Find series from The Good Book Company, and Sarah's heartfelt and early connection to books that offered engagement without the need to understand every word.Find all the Seek and Find offerings from The Good Book Company here, and find out more about Sarah and Andre at their web site, seekandfind.com. You can also follow them on Instagram.Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of ⁠⁠The Corner Room⁠⁠, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously ⁠⁠@hollymacklebooks⁠⁠.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Caroline Saunders is BACK for a return episode of Unseriously, and oh my, the topics she and Holly will (wait for it...) cover, as they celebrate the launch of Caroline's latest book, But What Do I Wear? The Biblical Story of Clothing and How it Helps Us Think About Getting Dressed and Approximately Seventeen Stories I May Regret Telling.Listen in for stories about husbands who more or less approximate NFL quarterbacks, getting clear direction on what you mean by "bring an appetizer," and why Caroline is afraid of Anne Frank. The conversation on the sanctification of self-image is rich as Caroline covers how our assumptions about what the Bible says about getting dressed couldn't be more wrong. Both this book (and Caroline herself!) comfort others with the comfort she has received in Christ, and for women in particular--what a moment for underscoring how the most important thing about a believer in Jesus is that she is clothed in Christ.Holly and Caroline collaborated on the mom humor essay collection Same Here, Sisterfriend, Mostly True Tales of Misadventures in Motherhood, which they discuss. Jen Wilkin's Dust to Dust also makes an appearance in the conversation, as well as the picture book Quit Calling Me a Monster!Find Caroline on Instagram or on her web site, and find Caroline's first episode of Unseriously here.Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of ⁠⁠The Corner Room⁠⁠, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously ⁠⁠@hollymacklebooks⁠⁠.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As promised, all the links! Happy Christmas present-ing! You can say thank you by leaving a review of Unseriously on your favorite podcasting platform ;)Winnie-the-Pooh, The Graphic Novel, adapted by Kevan Chandler and Joe SutphinGruffalo Granny, Julia Donaldson and Axel SchefflerDragonKeeper Chronicles series, book 1 is called DragonSpell, Donita K. PaulThe Jolly Postman: Or Other People's Letters or Jolly Christmas Postman, Janet & Allan AhlbergThe Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Barbara RobinsonMatilda, hardcover edition, Roald DahlLego Star Wars Luke Skywalker's Galactic Adventures, Elizabeth DowsettKing Hugo's Huge Ego, Chris Van DusenHeaven for Kids, Randy AlcornFriday Night Wrestlefest, J.F. Fox and Micah PlayerFortunately, Remy CharlipDollhouse Sticker Book, Usborne BooksBattle Bunny, Jon Scieszka, Mac Barnett, Matt MyersThe Smithsonian First Ladies Collection, Lisa Kathleen Graddy and Amy PastanThe Future Book, Mac Barnett and Shawn HarrisGreeking Out, Epic Retellings of Classic Greek Myths, Kenny Curtis, Jillian Hughes, and Javier EspilaHoops: A Graphic Novel, Matt TavaresThe Panda Problem, Deborah Underwood and Hannah MarksThe Action Bible: God's Redemptive Story, Sergio CarielloCalvin and Hobbes, Bill WattersonSam & Dave Dig a Hole, Mac Barnett and Jon KlassenLittle Professor, Homewood's Unseriously book recs landing pageMusic for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of ⁠⁠The Corner Room⁠⁠, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously ⁠⁠@hollymacklebooks⁠⁠.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Get ready to be out-niced, it's author, speaker, professor, Bible teacher, mom to 6, and reliable banter buddy, Brittany Salmon. Don't miss this connection with Brittany as she and Holly discuss how Brittany lives with Ben and also...The Fabulous Mr. Tom Hanks?? This episode spans all the way from solidarity in the Sam's Club aisle to Level 5 Chick-fil-A Corporate Secrets and Full-Court Press Chick-fil-A Requests. Also, Holly has a wide-range questions for Brittany, who is navigating the beauties and complexities of adoption and searching for the source of all those copays. They'll also swing for the fences in caring for friends--prepare to pick up on a trick or two--shout-outs and hand-hearts to Heather, Karen, Diana, and Laura.Brittany's brand new 6-week Bible Study, Nothing to Prove, Nothing to Earn, is just out, plus you won't want to miss Brittany on Instagram, or find her on her web site.You can find the liturgy they discuss in volume 1 of Every Moment Holy.Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of ⁠⁠The Corner Room⁠⁠, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously ⁠⁠@hollymacklebooks⁠⁠.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Look, I don't know when you appreciate a trigger warning buuuuut for the purposes of anyone listening while driving or making sandwiches or driving through Chick-fil-A to pick up sandwiches...um: TRIGGER WARNING. You might want to just read a few lines of the show's transcript for this one before you decide to dive in.BUT, if you join us, prepare to gross-guffaw with Bible teachers Glenna Marshall and Elizabeth Santelmann as they meet for the first time with what should go on record as the strangest pre-association to one another.Listener, apologies for what we think was a low battery on Glenna's Air Pod--but it's just one of those convos that can't be recreated.Welcome to the first ever *PG* Mini-Bonus. It's going to be a wild ride!Glenna's book Praying in Pain released in June. You can find Glenna at her web site or on Instagram.Elizabeth's Bible study Gently Tended released in September. You can find Glenna at her web site or on Instagram.Listen to Glenna's previous episode of Unseriously here, or Elizabeth's here, here, here, or here.Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of ⁠⁠The Corner Room⁠⁠, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously ⁠⁠@hollymacklebooks⁠⁠.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Listen, cheese is getting a lot of air time this show, but something tells us that author Kelly Yang's cheese-o-phobia is representative of such a small slice (ha ha) of the population that, OH WELL. Less holes in that argument than a slice of...It's middle grade author and podcaster Kelly Yang on Unseriously! She and Holly will talk about that time Kelly's Tiger Bomb ring got shut down by the principal, owning being in what Kelly calls their "cringe era," and the likelihood of Holly showing up in a future Kelly book. Beyond this being the episode where Holly expresses her complicated feels on Kelly's book The Take to its author, this episode also doubles as a Kate DiCamillo love fest and tribute to the power of just showing up. Great words here from Kelly about overcoming self-doubt, sharing your struggles with a trusted friend, and embracing when your process looks different from another's, plus Holly makes an episode request of the StoryKind pod: one about "The Book in the Drawer."Kelly is the author of the very popular Front Desk series and the accompanying graphic novel, just out at the beginning of this month, plus The Take, which Holly references, and co-hosts StoryKind with Kate DiCamillo.Holly also references Dust to Dust and Whistler in this episode.Find Kelly on Instagram or her web site, kellyyang.com.Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of ⁠⁠The Corner Room⁠⁠, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Yes, they're only brother and sister in Christ but Holly felt like she was looking in the rearview mirror during much of this interview, making certain Bekah Hannah and Mike Keller weren't smacking each other upside the head across the bench seat. Come along for this crazy-hilarious road trip with Bekah and Mike as they realize they agree on just how many things they disagree on, not counting the quantities of ice cream bribe their sorority of collective daughters can consume. The brother-sister banter is HIGH on this episode--you're going to want to lace up your sneaks and pull on your flesh-toned track suit to be ready to run to keep up with these two.Michael Keller is the senior pastor of Redeemer, Lincoln Square in New York City, where Rebekah Hannah serves as his wife's best friend...oh yeah, and also Director of Family Formation. (Did we mention the Hannahs and the Kellers are neighbors??)Yeah, about that...you're just going to have to listen...Bekah and Mike's book, Talking to Your Kids About Hard Things, is landing on Holly's Top Books of 2026 post (upcoming in December on Instagram), but that's not the only project they have together. You can find them on Redeemer's Q&R podcast.Separately (as Holly recommends), they each have multiple projects just out or about to come out--(ladies first, Michael):Bekah's children's picture book, Zara and the Mean Girl, as well as her spiritual formation book for grown-ups--a 5-star read for Holly--The Secret to Confidence,and her counseling company, Anchored Virtual.Mike has a new book with his dad, Tim Keller, just out called The Stories We Live By: How Jesus Critiques and Completes What Our Culture Tells Us. Be sure to follow up the post-dinner-reaching group text with silence...it's time for the sibling sparring that should've named this episode: Holly Mackle Stirs the Pot.Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of ⁠⁠The Corner Room⁠⁠, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously ⁠⁠@hollymacklebooks⁠⁠.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.