The Habit

It’s been a little while since we’ve heard from Mission House, the two-woman worship band comprised of Jess Ray and Taylor Leonhardt. They’ve been busy with solo projects and collaborations with various combinations of singer-songwriters. But Mission House is coming back. Jess and Taylor recently announced a Kickstarter campaign to finance a new, independent album. You can find it at MissionHouseGoesIndie.com. In this episode, Jonathan Rogers speaks with Jess and Taylor about the origins and history of Mission House, the creative energy that comes from long-lasting friendship, and Stevie Wonder.Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

W. David O. Taylor is Associate Professor of Theology and Culture at Fuller Theological Seminary, He serves on the advisory board for Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts as well as IVP Academic’s series, “Studies in Theology and the Arts.” A pastor for ten years in Austin, Texas, he has lectured widely on the arts. He is the author of ten books, most recently To Set the World Aflame: How Artists Bear Witness to the Fullness of God's Creation. In this episode, David and Jonathan Rogers talk about what happens when identity precedes work, the freedom that comes from knowing you are beloved, and what it means to love the creatureliness of creation.Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emma C. Fox is a gifted storyteller and also a founding member of The Habit Membership for Writers. The folktales of Russia and Siberia serve as the basis of her novels, which combine historical fiction, fantasy fiction, and folktale retellings. Her most recent novel is Heart of Stone, Book 2 of the Serpents and Stone Series. In this episode, Emma and Jonathan Rogers talk about the challenges of writing historical fantasy, and how a mid-century ballet, spelunking in the Appalachians, and a copper mine tour in Chile gave birth to this fantasy trilogy.Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sophie Killingley is an artist, cartoonist, and writer. She’s also a mother of two autistic teens, a pastor's wife, and a late-diagnosed neurodivergent woman. She says that her new book, Blessed Are the Neurodivergent, is the book she was waiting for someone else to write. She finally decided to stop waiting and write it herself. Blessed are the Neurodivergent is a compassionate, honest and often funny exploration of what it means to be autistic, ADHD, or otherwise neurodivergent in a church culture largely built by and for neurotypical people. In this episode, Sophie and Jonathan Rogers discuss what neurotypical people need to know in order to be better friends, neighbors, and co-congregants to neurodivergent people and their families. They also talk about neurodiversity and creativity, and what neurodivergent congregants add to a church body.Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the beginning of Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin asks the narrator, “Could you very sweetly tell Winnie the Pooh [a story]?” When Joe Sutphin and Kevan Chandler sat down to make a graphic novel of Winnie the Pooh, that’s exactly how they decided to tell the story–very sweetly. In this episode, Joe and Kevan speak with Jonathan Rogers about their beautiful new book, Winnie the Pooh: The Graphic Novel.Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To celebrate the re-release of The Charlatan's Boy by Jonathan Rogers, this episode of The Habit Podcast features the first three chapters of the audiobook, read by the author. The Charlatan's Boy in hardback at the Rabbit Room Store The Charlatan's Boy audiobook on AudibleSupport the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pete Killingley is Head of Church Engagement for CARE–Christian Action Research and Education in the UK.  He helps Christians and churches engage with politics with truth and grace, and think through the big ethical issues being debated in our public square with clarity and compassion. His first book is A Christian's Guide to AI. It’s a book designed to help readers weigh up the everyday implications of navigating life and faith alongside AI–with humility and a hopeful outlook. In this conversation Pete explains why he speaks of AI as apparent intelligence rather than artificial intelligence. And he offers up some helpful questions to ask any time you’re weighing whether or not to use AI in any particular situation.Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jen Pollock Michel is an author, speaker, and mentor in the MFA in creative writing at Whitworth University. She is the author of six books, most recently A Rule for the Rest of Us: An Ancient Practice for Making the Daily Decisions that Shape Faithful Lives, Every Monday she sends out a Substack newsletter, A Habit Called Faith. You can subscribe at jenpollockmichel.substack.com. In this episode, Jen and Jonathan Rogers talk about the Rule of Saint Benedict, and the idea that a “rule for life” has more to do with guideposts or handrails than laws or demands or even catalog of commitments—and certainly not a means of working harder or longer, but a means of simplification and clarification in the midst of of overwhelming choices and the cult of productivity. And we talk about five steps for making your own personal rule.Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

J.R. Briggs is the founder of Kairos Partnerships, an organization committed to serving hungry leaders through coaching, consulting, and speaking. He serves on staff with the Ecclesia Network and Fresh Expressions, and as guest instructor for Friends University in the Masters of Spiritual Formation and Leadership program. He is also the author of several books, most recently The Art of Asking Better Questions. In this conversation, J.R. and Jonathan Rogers talk about questions as a way to connect with others, starting a writing project with questions rather than answers, and the humility required to follow a question to which you don’t know the answer. Also, J.R. offers two questions that can create all kinds of opportunities.Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Jason Crawford is a professor of early modern literature and culture at Union University. In his research and teaching he works on both tragedy and suffering and comedy and laughter. His latest book is God's Fools: Saints, Prophets, Martyrs, and the Making of Modern Comedy. In this episode, Dr. Crawford and Jonathan Rogers talk about standup comedy, Saint Francis, Saint Lawrence (the patron saint of comedians), and the surprising connections among martyrs, holy fools, and the comedians of our own era.Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.