PODCAST · religion
Believe to See
by Anselm Society
The podcast of the Anselm Society's Arts Guild. Join host Matt Mellema and a rotation of guests at the digital pub table for conversations about faith and storytelling. "Some things have to be believed to be seen." -Madeleine L'Engle
Episodes
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It's Catastrophic, But in a Good Way
In his essay "On Fairy-Stories," J.R.R. Tolkien introduced the literary world to the concept of "eucatastrophe." Join Mandy, Christina, and Matt as they discuss where eucatastrophe shows up in art, literature, and the real world—and how (and why) it affects us.
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Why Spider-Man Never Gets Old
Spider-Man has been one of the world's most popular superheroes for more than sixty years—but why has the character endured through so many radically different versions? In this episode, we trace the history of Spider-Man from Stan Lee's original Peter Parker through the Sam Raimi films, the MCU,...
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What Makes Batman . . . Batman?
Why has Batman remained one of the world's most popular superheroes for nearly 90 years? From the dark, pulp-inspired Batman of 1939 to Adam West's colorful 1960s TV series, Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, and even The LEGO Batman Movie, Batman keeps reinventing himself. In this episode,...
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Dolly Parton, Wendell Berry, and the Christian Artist
What could Dolly Parton and Wendell Berry possibly have in common? One embraced rhinestones, celebrity, mass media, and an audience of millions; the other championed farming, limits, local community, and resistance to consumer culture. Yet both offer surprisingly powerful models for Christian...
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Tradition! Tradition!
Words like "rules" and "tradition" tend to make us squirm We're creative! Aren't we supposed to break free of the ordinary? Join the roundtable as the hosts discuss the necessity of learning, understanding, and practicing the "rules" in order to unleash our own creativity.
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Wanted: Obscurity, Dead or Alive
Some artists find fame while they're living . . . and may wind up forgotten once they're gone. For others, that script is flipped. Join the hosts at the roundtable as they share stories of artists whose works were only truly appreciated after their deaths. Why was their brilliance overlooked when...
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Food Is Fuel . . . Or Is It?
Our modern culture seems to struggle with how to treat food. Sometimes it's a nuisance to choke down that protein bowl so we can get back to the "real" work. Other times, it's a struggle not to overindulge in our food-flooded society. And at others, food is broken down into its scientific...
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Have We Become Too Ironic?
Our culture has become terribly serious about not taking anything seriously. From satire and postmodernism to the internet's endless layers of irony, we've become afraid to be earnest. Some artists have called for a rebellion against this irony, and renewed emphasis on "New Sincerity." But irony...
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Ancient Paths Made New
It's not easy to feel grounded in our busy, 21st century lifestyles. Our spiritual journeys can feel truncated, stale, or simply seem another "to-do" list item to improve upon. But what if we could renew our spiritual journeys by way of our ordinary lives? How might ancient practices give us a...
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Look for the Story: Storytelling in Visual Art
Join Mandy's conversation with oil painter Nicole Beck and road trip photographer Isaac Hans — both members of the Anselm Society Arts Guild. Nicole and Isaac discuss how storytelling is integral to their work, from inception to public showings. (Warning: You're going to want to attend more…
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The Art of King Arthur's Court
How much Arthurian art have you seen? Chances are, it's more than you think. From medieval illuminated manuscripts to seemingly vague romantic paintings of knights on horseback wooing maidens with flowing hair, join the hosts for an exploration of visual depictions of Arthurian legends across the...
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The Once and (Always) King: Arthur Legends through the Centuries
For more than a thousand years, the legends of King Arthur have been retold, expanded, and reinvented. In this episode, we trace the remarkable evolution of the Arthurian legends from the shadowy origins in post-Roman Britain through Saxon England and the French courts, up through Victorian…
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Why Phantastes Still Matters
What did C.S. Lewis mean when he said that George MacDonald's Phantastes "baptized my imagination"? Meredith Finch is the writer of the new graphic novel adaptation of Phantastes from Cave Pictures Publishing. We discuss the unique challenge of adapting a dreamlike and deeply symbolic novel into…
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Who Continues the Lore?
Dovetailing with last week's episode on the ownership of stories, Matt, Mandy, and Sarah discuss the mysterious and oft-maligned world of fanfiction. Is it a silly way for mostly young women to get validation and fix the problems they see in other stories? Or is it a low-stakes environment to…
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Who Owns the Lore?
For most of human history, nobody "owned" the great stories. Nobody owned Achilles, Beowulf, or King Arthur. These tales belonged to civilization itself—passed down, expanded, and reinterpreted generation after generation. Every age added something new, and every storyteller helped keep the…
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The Other Inklings
What if we've misunderstood the Inklings? When most of us think of the Inklings, we picture C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien: two brilliant minds meeting in an Oxford pub and changing literature forever. But that's only one part of a much bigger story. G. Connor Salter joins the Anselm Digital Pub...
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The Theology of Vampires and Zombies
We love a good vampire yarn, or speculating about how we would react to a zombie apocalypse. Pop culture loves them too: vampires sexy, zombies scary. But what is the value in telling these kinds of stories? Is there more to it than just Hollywood trying to make more money? Dr. Amy Hughes, a...
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Peculiar Purpose
It's human to want to fit in. And it's human to fail at fitting in. What if our peculiarities aren't necessarily weaknesses to be overcome, but gifts from God that He wants us to use? Join us at the virtual pub table as we discuss the pain of feeling like a weirdo, and the joy of finding our...
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The Case for Toilet Humor
Why do our greatest stories—Chaucer, Shakespeare, and even the Bible—include moments that feel . . . a little crude? In this episode, we make a surprising case: what we call "toilet humor" isn't just childish—it may actually serve a deeper purpose in storytelling. From the shocking story of Ehud…
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The Saints As Stand-Up Comedians
Stand-up comedy has become one of our culture's most important artistic forms. And that sounds strange. How can something as simple as a single person telling funny observations and anecdotes be one of our most important art forms? But look around. Stand-up is all over Netflix and other major...
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Jim vs. The Future
Theoretical physicists are debating whether the multiverse is plausible or bonkers. But regardless of the math, the idea of multiple realities is endlessly compelling for storytellers—from classic literature and pulp science fiction to contemporary film and television. At the digital pub table,...
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Writing Music for Video Games (And Movies. And TV.)
Video game music has come a long way. Simple electronic beeps have evolved into some of today's most ambitious musical scores. In this episode, we explore how music shapes storytelling across all sorts of visual media, and why video game scores deserve to be taken as seriously as their movie...
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The Bible Is a Story About Dragons
Throughout church history, having a Christian imagination meant telling stories about dragons. If that sounds a bit strong, then look at your Bible. From the opening verses of Genesis to the climactic battle at the end of Revelation, dragons play an important role in the story of Scripture. So…
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Truth Is Stranger . . .
Is it possible to stumble into the Upside Down and come back with a handful of transcendent truths? Join Mandy, Christina, and Matt at the pub table as they discuss the themes and characters of the series Stranger Things—beauty in weakness, strength in fragility, the power of story, and more....
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On Birds and Grief and Hope -- Courtney Ellis
Courtney Ellis—author, pastor, and podcaster—joins Mandy at the pub table to discuss all things feathered (including hope) and how God speaks to our hearts through the wonder and beauty of His creation. (Find Courtney's books and podcast: courtneybellis.com)
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When Bad People Make Good Art
We've all been there at some point. There's an artist who does great work. We admire their talent, and we use their art as a model for our own. And then we learn the artist did something terrible in their personal life. How should we respond as Christian artists? Can we enjoy the art on its own...
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Our Stories Need "Undaunted Joy"
Our world has more material prosperity than ever. So why does everybody seem so dour? And why are so many of our culture's stories devoid of hope? Author Shemaiah Gonzales's latest book is Undaunted Joy: The Revolutionary Act of Cultivating Delight. This collection of essays makes the case that…
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Why Should We Care About Jane Austen's Bookshelf?
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen is one of our greatest novelists. Her place in the literary canon is secure. Her influence on later generations is profound. But what about the novelists who influenced Jane Austen? Hardly anybody reads them nowadays, and they are not in the...
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Shakespeare and the Dallas Cowboys
Even people who don't follow sports know about the Dallas Cowboys. They're "America's Team." Giant stadiums and superstar players and Super Bowl victories. The team that's always in the news because of drama with their owner. But here's the thing: the Cowboys haven't been to a Super Bowl in 30...
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Do Audiobooks Count As Reading?
For many people, audiobooks are the primary way they engage with novels. Other people view audiobooks as something lesser that doesn't really "count" as reading. What are the benefits (and drawbacks) of audiobooks? Of e-readers? Of old-fashioned paper books? The cohosts debate all this and more...
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Daughters of Bronze--Ashlee Cowles
Ashlee Cowles returns to the digital pub table. She's both an Arts Guild member and one half of the AD Rhine writing duo. Their latest novel, Daughters of Bronze, concludes their retelling of the Trojan War from the viewpoint of four Trojan women. Cowles discusses the ways she grounded the novel…
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BEST OF Believe to See: Is It a Christmas Movie?
To celebrate the holidays, Believe to See is re-airing episodes from past Christmases. Or should we say from Christmas Past? "Is It a Christmas Movie?" first aired on December 3, 2022.
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BEST OF Believe to See: 12 Days of Christmas Carol
To Celebrate the week of Christmas, Believe to See is re-airing episodes from past Christmases . . . Should we say from Christmas Past? "12 Days of Christmas Carol" first aired on December 29, 2020.
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Are Today's Literary Novels Only for Women?
The clear majority of literary novels are read by women. The clear majority are written by women, too. Women also dominate the publishing industry around these books. As a result, more and more men are feeling alienated by this new literary landscape. What's led to this shift in the literary…
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From Rend Collective to Children's Author
Ali Gilkeson is a founding member of Rend Collective. She's also a best-selling children's author. Her latest book, "Keeping the Light," is newly-published from WaterBrook Multnomah. Gilkeson joins the digital pub table to discuss how her background with Rend Collective has influenced her…
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Harry Potter in 500 Years
How will people in the future, say 500 years from now, view today's art? What are the novels, movies, and songs that will still be relevant and important to people in the year 2525? Each of the co-hosts offers their best guess.
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Why the Hammered Dulcimer Is the Greatest Instrument You've (Probably) Never Heard Of
When most of us hear " dulcimer," we think of Irish peasants in the Middle Ages. Or maybe that "damsel with a dulcimer" in the poem "Kubla Khan." The actual hammered dulcimer, however, is something else entirely. It's a unique blend of percussion and stringed instruments with ancient roots across...
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Neve Foster's Big Reveal
Author Neve Foster joins the table to discuss her new novel, Of Ink and Spirit. Along the way, she makes a shocking revelation. Neve Foster is, in fact, the pen name for Anselm's own Evangeline Denmark! Evangeline—err, Neve—discusses her novel's long journey to print and its grounding in Japanese...
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You Can't Judge a Book . . .
You know the saying, but is it accurate? Perhaps if we said shouldn't instead of can't, it would ring true. The fact is, we do judge books by their covers, all the time. Join our cohosts in a discussion of what makes a book cover good, bad, memorable, or even misleading.
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Beneath, Between, Beyond--Carolyn Leiloglou
Middle grade fantasy author Carolyn Leiloglou returns to the pub table to chat about the conclusion of her award-winning Restorationists trilogy, Beyond the Far Horizon (available 09/09/2025). Carolyn grew up surrounded by the paintings of her art collector grandparents and took that love into…
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What Our Favorite Colors Say About Us
Did you know that your everyday experience with color has a deep effect on your brain? And why have you always hated yellow, anyway? Popular psychology argues that our favorite colors say a lot about us, often claiming that our favorite colors are linked to our personality profiles. Is there any...
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The Happiest Saddest People
JL Gerhardt is an author and partner at Hazefire Studios, where she and her husband, Justin Gerhardt, collaborate on the podcast Holy Ghost Stories. Gerhardt joins the table to talk about one of Hazefire's recent podcast projects: "The Happiest Saddest People." JL Gerhardt writes and narrates…
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All Aboard the Grandparents Express
Chapter books are important. Their target audience is kids between about ages 6 and 10, and they play a major role in developing young readers. Author Leilani Mueller knows all about writing for this age group. She's the author of a brand-new chapter book called All Aboard the Grandparents…
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It's Never Too Late for Beach Reads
Summer may be over, but Beach Reads are always relevant. We all have a favorite Beach Read: a story that is fun and immersive, but not necessarily deep or literary. But how do we feel about Beach Reads as a concept? After all, Believe to See's goal is to help connect the Great Story, the great...
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Carving Light From Darkness
Kreg Yingst is a printmaker, painter, and writer whose work can be found in both private and corporate collections--or in one of his several books. His medium of choice is printmaking, using an antique Showcard proof press to print his hand-carved wood blocks or linoleum sheets onto paper or…
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Superheroes and the Science of the Imagination
Meredith Davis is the author of the Amazing Adventures of Noah Minor series. These middle grade superhero stories draw inspiration from classic comic books and the science of imagination. Davis joins the pub table to discuss how her stories use superheroes to explore themes of friendship,...
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Navigating the Nonfiction Market
Will Parker Anderson is a senior editor at Waterbrook and Multnomah (an imprint of Penguin Random House). He's also an important resource as a writing coach and book industry expert. Will discusses how to navigate the often fraught waters of the Christian nonfiction market, and how we can all…
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Sharing Is Caring
Join the hosts at the roundtable as they talk about their favorite obsessions: the art and artists they love so much, they want the world to love them too. Mandy asks Matt and Christina to discuss where this impulse comes from—this desire for others to love what we love—and why it hurts when our...
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Should Novels Have Architecture?
Whether you're a new novelist, an experienced novelist, or not a novelist at all, there's something to learn from the intricacies of story structure. Author Elisa Lambert joins the table to discuss. She's one of the Anselm Society Arts' Guild's member artists. She's also writing a novel using...
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How to Make a Video Game
We recently talked with SD Smith about the heart and motivation behind the upcoming Green Ember video game. But how do you make a video game in the first place? Bryan Engram is here to help. He's the co-founder of Brazen Animation: the studio that's creating the Green Ember video game. He…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The podcast of the Anselm Society's Arts Guild. Join host Matt Mellema and a rotation of guests at the digital pub table for conversations about faith and storytelling. "Some things have to be believed to be seen." -Madeleine L'Engle
HOSTED BY
Anselm Society
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Believe to See have?
Believe to See currently has 318 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Believe to See about?
The podcast of the Anselm Society's Arts Guild. Join host Matt Mellema and a rotation of guests at the digital pub table for conversations about faith and storytelling. "Some things have to be believed to be seen." -Madeleine L'Engle
How often does Believe to See release new episodes?
Believe to See publishes regularly with 318 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Believe to See?
You can listen to Believe to See on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Believe to See?
Believe to See is created and hosted by Anselm Society.
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