Why Tolkien Still Matters: The Hobbit, LOTR & the Power of Story | Debra Peck | Ep. 27

Disclosure: This description contains affiliate links.As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.Episode 27 — Debra Peck (my mom)We talk about the books that shaped us—and why stories form people in a way slogans never will.Debra shares why she *wasn’t allowed* to read The Hobbit / Lord of the Rings growing up (because “wizards”), how her view of faith and story changed over time, and why some modern culture feels like it’s losing the ability to think clearly about good, evil, and community.A few threads we hit:- Tolkien, redemption, and “reading through a lens”- Why cookie-cutter stories die (and why writing changes the way you read)- How name-calling turns into dehumanizing (and why that’s dangerous)- Worship as formation + communion as communal grace- Fairy tales, warnings, and what gets lost when we sanitize storiesWhat book shaped you the most—and why?Website (episodes + transcripts):https://www.brentonpeckpodcast.comFollow / connect:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrentonPeckPodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brentonpeckpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brentonpeckpodcast/------------------------------Books / media mentioned (Amazon affiliate links)As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.• Penelope Wilcock — Father Peregrine / “Hawk and the Dove” series (Debra’s favorite)https://amzn.to/4cUBfBm (Paid link)• Left to Tellhttps://amzn.to/46v2iiP (Paid link)• The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion (Jonathan Haidt)https://amzn.to/4u3h0ri (Paid link)• Invitation to a Journey (M. Robert Mulholland Jr.)https://amzn.to/4sbGCAy (Paid link)• Happiness Is a Serious Problem (Dennis Prager)https://amzn.to/4kZEQA6 (Paid link)• The Way of Kings (Brandon Sanderson)https://amzn.to/4sdFPiv (Paid link)• We Who Wrestle With God (Jordan Peterson)https://amzn.to/4reQHMs (Paid link)------------------------------Chapters0:00 Intro1:35 Tolkien & “wizards” (The Hobbit / LOTR)4:17 The lens you read through changes over time9:21 Why cookie-cutter stories don’t work11:35 Writing changes how you read (plot mechanics)12:50 Getting “lost” in books (book vs movie)23:54 Stories move people (not slogans)26:46 Shadow, humility, and Father Peregrine (Wilcock)36:36 Reading Scripture with context (Judges / Proverbs)51:46 What our fiction says about our values (gray morality)1:00:53 Name-calling and dehumanization1:13:30 The Righteous Mind & why we divide1:25:56 Worship and the “call to worship”1:31:06 Communion: fear → grace → community1:46:52 Books that formed us (Invitation to a Journey, Prager)1:54:33 Why stories endure (human condition)1:56:25 Fairy tales, warnings, and sanitizing stories (Disney/Shrek)2:03:44 Wrap-up + next read (We Who Wrestle With God)------------------------------Hashtags#Reading #Storytelling #SpiritualFormation #Worship #Communion