The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana

In celebration of the publication of Better Than Normal: Virtues for an Off-Script Life, and to explore the themes of the book, I’m excited to launch Off-Script, a series on Substack Live/podcast series. And our first guest was a rockstar! Joseph Yoo is a pastor and writer who went big on social media with his wonderful video about his son. I think it resonated with so many people because he exposed the oppressiveness of a world that demands people conform to cultural expectations of “normal.” Loved this conversation and I know you will too. Thanks again Joseph! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

A sermon preached on Sunday, April 19 at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Herndon VA.Here is the text.Thanks for listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Pete Nunnally, pastor of Water and Wilderness Church and mega social media star (at least as far as religious types go) was gracious to invite me to chat on Instagram Live about writing, the spiritual life, our respective books, and how the world can be made new. Just some tiny topics… Here’s the video/audio for your enjoyment! Pete is a great hang.Pete is the author of the upcoming Catching Hope: The Hidden Spiritual Wisdom of Fishing. I’ve started the book and let me tell you, this is a book for anyone who’s looking to COME ALIVE, whether you ever pick up a fishing rod! As always, you can order my book, Better Than Normal: Virtues for an Off-Script Life anywhere books are sold, and at the publisher for a 40% discount with the code NORMAL40.Pete will be with Ed and me on Pop Culture Pastors Hour later this month to talk about our favorite works of pop culture that deal with creation and the natural world.Steady on. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

This may have been my (MaryAnn’s) favorite episode so far. The Pitt is a hyper-realistic peek into a trauma ED, with lots of wisdom and heart—deserving of its many accolades—and it was awesome to hear from Amy Snow and Christine Vaughan Davies, two chaplains with deep experience, about the work chaplains do in all kinds of hospitals and contexts. As mentioned at the end of our conversation, April is National Donate Life Month. Please consider giving the gift of life by opting to be an organ donor, and letting your loved ones know of your choice. You can reflect this on your drivers license, or even in the Health app of your iPhone. All major religions in the U.S. support donation as a final act of compassion and generosity (which was reflected in season one of The Pitt!). See you on April 28 at 3 p.m. EDT for our next episode of PCPH. We’ll be joined by Fr Pete the Wilderness Priest, author of the upcoming book Catching Hope: The Hidden Spiritual Wisdom of Fishing to celebrate spring and talk about our favorite works of pop culture about nature. Link to join.Follow Pop Culture Pastors Hour on Substack or in your favorite podcast app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Amaze amaze amaze! Directors Lord and Miller hit it out of the solar system with this creative and heartfelt adaptation of Andy Weir’s warm-hearted and science-stuffed novel. The conversation explores Ryland’s bravery, the power of friendship, the nature of sacrifice, and more. Articles referenced in our conversation are here and here. The Jamar Tisby book mentioned is called The Spirit of Justice.See you next Monday, April 6 at 1 p.m. EDT as we take up The Pitt. Two bona fide chaplains will join us and make the case for that wonderfully chaotic ER needing some chaplains on staff… See you there! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

This. Was. So. Fun!Three days and counting until we get to see Andy Weir’s charming, funny, optimistic, humanity-affirming book brought to life on the screen. In this conversation we recommend some space fiction and discuss our favorite Project Hail Mary themes, our hopes for the film adaptation, and more.See you March 30 when we take up the movie version of Project Hail Mary. See you at 3 p.m. EDT via this link. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

A sermon preached at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Herndon VA on March 8, 2026. Text: Mark 6:32-44Note for context: this reflection was a lead-in to the first of three all-church conversations we’re having as part of our pastoral transition process. Thank you for listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

What a joy to talk about Ryan Coogler’s masterpiece with Marlon Weems and Edward Goode! There’s so much we didn’t have time to cover, but I loved the conversation. Check out Marlon’s Substack; he’s working on an article about the film (we’ll update this post with the link when it comes out).Coming up on PCPH! Mark your calendars for TWO Project Hail Mary conversations! We’ll take up Andy Weir’s wonderful book on Monday March 16 at 3 p.m. EDT (link to join), then the highly-anticipated film adaptation starring Ryan Gosling on Monday March 30 at 3 p.m. EDT (link to join). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

A sermon on John 2:11, preached at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Herndon VA on Sunday, February 22. Water into wine!Thanks for listening. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

A sermon preached at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Herndon VA on Sunday, February 8. Here’s the scripture text.AI, the Epstein files, and the Walk for Peace. A little of everything in this one. Thank you for listening. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Pluribus, Season One! It’s the mark of a good show that we talked for almost an hour, going deep on a number of themes in the show, and somehow didn’t get to some major plot points, like how the Others get their sustenance. I’ll just leave it at that. But we did talk about the show as commentary on AI, what makes a human a human, and the appeal of complex characters. Plus: how would we preach this show?Here’s the podcast episode Ed referenced about the Darien Gap. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

We have come to the end of our journey (for now) through Middle Earth! After our first week of “Will it Preach?” and our second week of the “BIG Themes of the Stories” we come to “Category Crowns” - discussing a bit more light-hearted topics like:* Best/Worst change from books to movies* Which “villain” do you like the most, and which “hero” annoys you?* Best music cue* What meal (or scene?) that we witness would you most want to be a part of?* Best hair acting (This was put in specifically for MaryAnn to comment on Eowyn’s hair)* No LOTR actors were nominated for Oscars. Who gets best and best supporting?And some more fun ones too!We will be leaving the realms of dwarves, elves, hobbits, humans, ents, and wizards and moving back to sci-fi (of a sort) with AppleTV’s series Pluribus. We’ll be talking on this on Monday, February 9 at 12pm ET. We’d love for you to join us live or you can follow here or via your favorite podcast app! Link to join. Mae govannen! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Mae govannen, friends!Haha so… MaryAnn could not see anyone logged in to this conversation due to some quirk of Substack, but they were there! We ran the themes of Lord of the Rings through Ed’s standard signoff on his posts: GPLHJ, or Grace Peace Love Hope Joy.Book recommendation: Everything Is a Story by Kaitlin CurticeAnd here’s the quote MaryAnn read from Return of the King:But even as hope died in Sam, or seemed to die, it was turned to a new strength. Sam’s plain hobbit-face grew stern, almost grim, as the will hardened in him, and he felt through all his limbs a thrill, as if he was turning into some creature of stone and steel that neither despair nor weariness nor endless barren miles could subdue.We’ve got one more LOTR episode next Tuesday, February 3 at 1:00 p.m.: Category Crowns! Favorite villain, most annoying hero, and lots more fun. Link to join. Catch all replays of PCPH at our dedicated Substack page or your favorite podcast app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

The Oscar nominations are out and Sinners dominated, Pluribus continues to confound and intrigue audiences, and we are… spending three episodes talking about movies that came out 25 years ago.What can we say? The nerdery must flow. And the themes in the Lord of the Rings are RICH.In honor of the LOTR trilogy’s re-release in theaters, we begin our series with a few rounds of “Will It Preach?” in which our magic wheel chose random scenes we had to wrestle some meaning out of. Tolkien being Tolkien, that wasn’t hard, but the conversation did take us in some unexpected places.Watch this space for future episodes. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Thanks for joining us this afternoon! Before we dive in, here’s the audio of Dr. King reading Letter from Birmingham Jail, as Ed referenced. And there’s a lot of videos of Willie Pearl Mackey King telling the story of putting together the letter from the scraps of paper Dr. King had available while in the jail, and her work for civil rights in general. Here’s one. As for pop culture that was saving our lives (h/t to Barbara Brown Taylor for the question), we came up with quite an eclectic list of things that are keeping us going amid ~gesturing at everything~. Art is sustaining, illuminating, diverting, and more—and you see that full gamut reflected in our choices.Viewer discretion advised on some of the items below.MaryAnn’s list:* Somebody Somewhere, HBOmax* Hank Green’s comedy special “Pissing Out Cancer”, originally on DropoutTV, now free on YouTube* “Killing in the Name” by Rage Against the Machine—the louder the better* A Man on the Inside, Netflix* Pachinko, Min Jin LeeEd’s list:* The “Time” Quintet by Madeleine L’Engle: A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters, and An Acceptable Time* Rooted: A Spiritual Memoir of Homecoming, Christy Berghoef (and here’s her Substack)* The Soundtrack Show (podcast)* Clair Obscur (video game)* Sports! (Go Broncos)What’s saving your life lately? Thanks to viewer Mark who shared the song “This Is My Country” by Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

A sermon from Sunday, January 11, based on Genesis 1, as part of Trinity Presbyterian’s latest worship series based on Michael Adam Beck’s book Never Alone: Sharing the Gift of Community in a Lonely World.The “seven stuff” I mentioned comes from this source.Thanks for listening!If you’re listening on Substack, you can also access the Blue Room from the podcast app of your choice. If you appreciate this program, please rate and review, and consider sharing with others.Steady on. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you to everyone for tuning into today’s Pop Culture Pastors Hour! What a rich film… We went everywhere from Christian Nationalism to Rick Astley, and there was stuff we didn’t even get to!A few items referenced:Christ and Culture (book), H. Richard NiebuhrDisobedient Women (book), Sarah StankorbThe Four Shapes of Transformation, Richard RohrSee you in January, for discussions of Pluribus (AppleTV+) and Lord of the Rings. Please note that moving forward, we’ll be hosting these conversations at our Pop Culture Pastors Hour dedicated feed. Subscribe there for all the latest. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Here’s last Sunday’s sermon on Matthew 2:13-23. Synopsis: Herod was an awful dude who killed lots of people and if anything, the scripture undersold what a brutal paranoid tyrant he was. But all is not lost, because maybe it also undersold the other side?Hat tip to Howard Thurman’s The Work of Christmas, and Carrie Newcomer’s story about Christmas in the bar at 2 a.m. Also my friend Chris Tuttle of Westminster Presbyterian in Durham NC for his research into Herod, much of which came from the book Jerusalem: A Biography.Thanks for listening. Steady on. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you Michael Moore, Marion Hardwick, Capitol Jill, and many others for tuning into our latest episode! Our lists of favorite pastor portrayals (and two dishonorable mentions) ran the gamut from cozy book series to acerbic satire and everything in between. Join us Wednesday 12/31 at 11 a.m. for a discussion of the movie that inspired today’s conversation: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, available on Netflix. Here’s the link to join us. And if you haven’t, check out our dedicated Pop Culture Pastors Hour page, where we’ll be putting all of these conversations (once we work out some kinks). Happy New Year! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Hello, Blue Roomies! Today, a sermon based on Matthew 1:18-25, Joseph’s dream. “Poor Joseph. It’s only once every three years, when we’re in the book of Matthew, that we even hear anything about Jesus’ earthly father. Every other year, Joseph is basically a donkey jockey and a travel agent. And it’s the final Sunday in Advent when this story appears, when Christmas is so close we can taste the eggnog, when the energy in the room is vibrating, whether with excitement at what’s to come, or stress over too much to do, or tension over complicated relationships, family members long gone, and the baggage that often comes from this holiday. The timing of this story doesn’t lend itself to deep consideration of this quiet giant of the faith.But that’s what he is.”~And here’s a link to the Nate Bargatze sketch I started with. Wonderful!Steady on. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Oh what fun! Thanks everyone for tuning into this latest episode with Edward Goode, where we took up six holiday classics and tried to wrestle some deeper meaning from them. Some were definitely easier than others! The complete list of candidates is below, so you can play your own game of Will It Preach. Here’s the link to the Christmas Carol article Ed mentioned: The Heresy of a God Who Hates Empathy.Coming up in future PCPH episodes, specific dates to be announced: * End of December: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix)* Early January: Pluribus (Apple TV+)* End of January: Lord of the Rings extended edition (coming to theaters again!)The complete list of holiday content—listen to the episode for which ones were chosen by our nifty online spinning wheel! Songs:* 12 Days of Christmas* Last Christmas* Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer* Santa Baby* My Favorite ThingsMovies:* Home Alone* Die Hard* A Christmas Story* Love Actually* Elf* Muppet Christmas Carol* Christmas Vacation* Nightmare before ChristmasTV:* Carol of the Bells - Ted Lasso Christmas Episode* Rankin Bass Christmas Specials * In Excelsis Deo - West Wing episode This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Thanks to all who tuned into the latest episode with Edward Goode! We talked about this most iconic of holiday specials, celebrating its 60th birthday this year. Those little kids look great for their age. We discuss commercialism, Christmas melancholy, tradition v. traditionalism, and more.A few references from the episode:Advent for the Troubled Soul, Winn Collier Why ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ almost didn’t air − and why it enduresNext week on Pop Culture Pastors Hour! A holiday grab-bag edition, featuring a game called “Will It Preach?”, in which we’ll randomly choose a handful of holiday-related songs and specials to try to wrestle some kind of deeper message out of them. See you next Thursday December 11 at 11 a.m. EST. Link to join. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Hello Blue Roomies! Sneaking this in before Advent officially begins—one last moment with Christ the King Sunday. Here’s last Sunday’s sermon preached at Trinity Presbyterian, Herndon VA. Scripture text was Luke 23:33-43.Podcast listeners: would love the quick favor of a share, rating or review on the app of your choice! It helps others find the Blue Room pod.Steady on. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Hello and gobble gobble!“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” doesn’t loom as large as some of the other Peanuts holiday specials. But Edward Goode and I found a lot to say about authenticity, tradition, and expectation, and the dangers of triangulation. Plus: Franklin’s amazing ‘fit. A few items we mentioned during the episode: ‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving’ marks its 50th anniversary — how has it held up? (NPR)Gratitude, Grace, and Relationship (Center for Action and Contemplation)And don’t miss Ed’s excellent post from this morning, that connects with some of what we talked about:Happy Thanksgiving! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Hello to our little Soda Pops! Substack Live was being a huge pain, so I recorded this from my iPad, hence the strange framing of my Very Large Head.Today we talked KPop Demon Hunters! We cover shame, original sin and original blessing. The healing that comes through authentic relationship. Workaholics and “hustling for worthiness.” Why the song “Takedown” didn’t stop the demons, but “Golden” didn’t either. What’s in a name? And more! Here’s a link to a discussion about the Korean concept of “han,” which significantly, was the name of the healer the hunters go and see.We loved all the folks chiming in on chat! Please join us next Wednesday, November 26 at 10:00 EST for A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Link here. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Halloween week! I promise Ed did not wear his costume for the whole hour… (Vader is looking quite comfy in that crew neck)We use this 1966 children’s classic to talk about faith, imagination, and the push and pull of sincerity v. cringe. Also, what *are* we to make of Lucy as a character?As you listen, relish these beautiful images from the wordless interlude of the episode in which the World War I Flying Ace must creep through enemy lines. Stunning.See you next time! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

What fun! Music is a powerful creator of community, which we discuss in our kickoff to the conversation, followed by answers to four prompts:* If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life* Song that unlocks tears/emotion* Song that saved your life* Last song you shared with someone elseTroy Bronsink is a wonderful musician in his own right, and a deep and good human. And it’s always great to chat with my wingman Edward Goode. If you haven’t subscribed to their Substacks, do yourself a favor.And here are our picks (plus some others we discussed) in playlist form: Spotify and Apple Music. On the next PCPH! In honor of spooky season, Ed and I will riff on It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! Next Wednesday, October 29 at noon EDT. Link.Steady on. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Hi folks, here’s last Sunday’s sermon, a riff on one of my favorite Old Testament passages, in which Jeremiah makes an audacious real-estate purchase. I’ve preached on this text before, but always love revisiting it. Steady on. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you Nathan Webb, Emily Dunevant, Elizabeth Nordquist, Capitol Jill, Charlotte, and many others for tuning into our latest Pop Culture Pastors Hour with Edward Goode and our wonderful guest, Frances Wattman Rosenau! I encourage you to follow/subscribe to these great writers and thinkers.This was a great conversation—very excited by these recommendations from my fellow pastors. I’ve got some reading to do…We used this book of banned books via Pen America. And here’s the episode of the Moth podcast Ed mentioned on the topic. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you to everyone who tuned into today’s live video! Spoilers for Battlestar Galactica (miniseries, plus a little bit of the show as a whole), in which we talk AI, the true meaning of apocalypse, the role of religion, and the power and frailty of ordinary people. And will we ever get over 9/11? Bonus nightmare: Roko’s Basilisk, a philosophical concept about AI that gives some people anxiety attacks when they hear it. Fun with game theory!Thanks Ed for recommending this great show, can’t wait to watch the rest. Coming up on Pop Culture Pastors Hour, we’ll be discussing Arrival starring Amy Adams and directed by Denis Villeneuve. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s podcast offering is my sermon from yesterday, part of our congregation’s worship series, Brave: Faithful Living in Turbulent Times.Focus, faithfulness, and weak foolish kings. And a man in his early 30s, with a wife and young children, who lost his life to political violence… but probably not the one you think. The entire scripture text is here—this recording only includes the second part, but as you’ll hear, the first part is at least as important.At the end of the audio you’ll hear me describe an activity in which people wrote down the answer to a question. The question is yours to ponder as well.If you prefer to watch, here’s the video of the service, queued up to the sermon (but the whole service was lovely. Great music!).Steady on. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

It’s good to be back in the saddle! Thanks Edward Goode, I looooove this show and I loved this conversation about the power of story, beauty as a means of survival, and other favorite topics. A few additional links. Here’s the scene where the characters dance as one of them raps a Tribe Called Quest song, and here’s the link to a very silly, extremely white ladypastor (cough) doing the same in a sermon on Palm Sunday last year. And here’s the book Ed mentioned: The Fourth Turning.Station Eleven is currently streaming on HBO/Max/whatever it’s called.Our next PCPH will be Thursday, September 25 at noon EDT, when we’ll be chatting about the Battlestar Galactica miniseries. Link. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

“Let justice roll down like water, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Here’s a reflection on that famous verse, invoked so faithfully by MLK and others in the civil rights movement. Originally preached at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Herndon on September 7, 2025.Big credit to Rebecca Solnit and her article on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. If this message speaks to you, please share it with friends and loved ones. And if you’re listening on a podcast app, rating and reviewing The Blue Room podcast is a great way to help others find our scrappy program on these here Internets.Steady on. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

This sermon from last Sunday hit a nerve for a bunch of folks, and my husband said “this is one that more people need to hear.” So, in hopes that it speaks to you, here’s a reflection on Hebrews 11 that attempts to speak to our current moment. Originally preached at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Herndon on August 10, 2025.Credit to Austin Kleon and his book Keep Going, which is the source for the final story about Leonard and Virginia Woolf.If this message speaks to you, please share it with friends and loved ones. And if you’re listening on a podcast app, rating and reviewing The Blue Room podcast is a great way to help others find our scrappy program on these here Internets.Steady on. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you Edward Goode for the great conversation, but also for recommending this charming film! Eager to watch it again, and also to read the Stephen King novella one of these days. The Life of Chuck is available to rent or purchase on streaming platforms and features a wonderful cast that includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Mark Hamill, Nick Offerman, Mia Sara, and The Hiddleston, who dances. DANCES, y’all. We talked about sincerity v. cynicism, the meaning of a single life, the power of core memories, and what it means to “contain multitudes.” (Thank you Walt Whitman.)Not too many links to share this week, but here’s the book Ed referenced: A Year with Rilke.See you next time! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

I’ve heard “take up your cross and follow me” my whole life. These days I hear it somewhat differently. Here’s the video that kicked it off… This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

What an absolute joy this conversation was! Edward Goode and I were so thrilled to be joined by writer, theologian, and artist Phuc Luu, Ph.D. for this episode, in which we talked immigration, identity, family, and cultural legacies. In addition, Phuc wrote a great post this morning about the movie:Learn more about Phuc’s books, coaching work, and more here. (Ed gives high praise to his first book, Jesus of the East, and his latest, Jesus and Buddha Talk: About Desire, Suffering, and Happiness comes out in paperback in a few days!) And in case you missed it, I mentioned Superman in my most recent sermon.Have you seen Superman? What did you think? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

After a delayed start due to technical difficulties, Ed and I had a great chat about the 2006 film Stranger Than Fiction, a favorite of both of us. The movie stars Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Emma Thompson, Queen Latifah, and Dustin Hoffman, and has a lot to say about free will, sacrifice, and the power of story.The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.A few resources:* Here’s the hymn Ed mentioned: “Have you heard God’s voice? (Will you walk the path that will cost you much?)”* On the Nature of Daylight—a beautiful piece that features in countless movies, including Stranger than Fiction and Arrival (the latter of which is a virtual lock for a future episode of PCPH). * And here’s the picture of Professor Hilbert’s office. Those photos over his shoulder are of a sculpture called Descent of the Spirit which is located, of all places, on the isle of Iona in Scotland. 🤯~Programming reminders! Later in the summer we’ll be sharing our first Pop Culture Pastors Hour challenge! At Ed’s invitation I’ll be watching the 2003 Battlestar Galactic miniseries, and I invited him to watch the first three episodes of Station Eleven on HBO. (Max? HBOMax? Whatever they’re calling it) Those episodes of PCPH will drop later in July/August. Join us for some good genre TV and conversations about faith and culture. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

It’s summer and it’s HOT. We all need things to look forward to, eh? Today Edward Goode and I check in, share what we’re reading/watching, and preview what’s to come this summer.First, we’ll be talking about the 2006 film Stranger Than Fiction next Wednesday July 2 at 1 p.m. EDT, giving you more than a week to watch this deep and delightful movie starring Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Emma Thompson, Queen Latifah, and Dustin Hoffman. Here’s the link, so you can get it on your calendar!Then later in the summer—our first Pop Culture Pastors Hour challenge! At Ed’s invitation I’ll be watching the 2003 Battlestar Galactic miniseries, and I invited him to watch the first three episodes of Station Eleven on HBO. (Max? HBOMax? Whatever they’re calling it) Those episodes of PCPH will drop later in July/August. Join us for some good genre TV and conversations about faith and culture. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

And that’s a wrap! After doing a review of Rogue One in light of what we experienced with Andor, we celebrate the conclusion of a majestic TV series with some hall of fame categories. GOAT of the Rebellion? Most entertaining dinner party guests? Ed and MaryAnn get into all of that and more, including our ideas for best Andor tattoo.Spoilers for all of Andor, Rogue One, and Star Wars: A New Hope.A few links and resources:* The House of R podcast, which has done some marathon-length breakdowns of the show. * Roger Robinson’s poem shared by Ed, “A Portable Paradise.” * Dr. Bettina Love, talking about allies, co-conspirators, and the Underground Railroad, which ran on trust. Steady on, and may the Force be with you! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Thanks to everyone who joined Edward Goode and me for our fourth conversation about Andor. We talked about the power and perils of a human-driven movement; disease, disgust and the rhetoric of dehumanization; the fate of our heroes; and the impact of one small word: TRY. Spoilers for all of Andor, Rogue One, and The Last Jedi.Follow Ed at Imago Scriptura.Here’s the article I mentioned from Sojourners, We Have What We Need to Fix This. And here’s the quote I read:Plugging into national organizations is always an option. My reservation is that I’ve noticed that people who are trying to do the big thing sometimes are not even doing the [things in their] backyard — and they are overwhelmed because they assume the big thing fixes the backyard. The problem is the backyard left unattended becomes a jungle. There wasn’t a national movement for white Christian nationalism; there were pastors giving voice to those ideas over decades, writing books and on talk radio. Those practices then [coalesced and were] expressed in national politics.And Nemik’s manifesto is so soaring, it’s worth sharing in full:There will be times when the struggle seems impossible. I know this already. Alone, unsure, dwarfed by the scale of the enemy. Remember this. Freedom is a pure idea. It occurs spontaneously and without instruction. Random acts of insurrection are occurring constantly throughout the galaxy. There are whole armies, battalions that have no idea that they've already enlisted in the cause. Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward. And then remember this. The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that. And know this, the day will come when all these skirmishes and battles, these moments of defiance will have flooded the banks of the Empire's authority and then there will be one too many. One single thing will break the siege. Remember this. Try.We’ve got one last episode in this season—a recap of the whole story including Rogue One. We’ll have some fun categories and commemorate the end of this majestic show. Join us Friday at 2 p.m. EDT—link to come. Steady on… and may the Force be with you. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Thanks to everyone who joined Edward Goode and me for our third conversation about Andor. We drew some historical and scriptural parallels to the show, talked about the communal nature of calling, explored the power of prophetic speech, and lifted up the nature of resistance, full of small moves and tag-team efforts. And much more! This was a meaty episode—fitting for some of the best television we’ve ever seen (just because I’m prone to hyperbole doesn’t mean it’s not true).Spoilers for all of Andor season 1, plus season 2 episodes 1-9 and the movie Rogue One.Follow Ed at Imago Scriptura.A note that I’ll be away next week, so our next episode on episodes 10-12 (the finale) will take place Memorial Day, Monday May 26 at 1 p.m. EDT. (Link to come, but mark your calendars.) We’ll also do an episode on Rogue One.After that, who knows? There was an upswell of interest in a rewatch (or for MAMD, a first watch) of Battlestar Galactica. Thoughts? Other recommendations?Steady on… and may the Force be with you. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Thanks to everyone who joined Edward Goode and me for our second conversation about Andor. We talked about the benefits and pitfalls of episodic storytelling, the strength and frailty of human beings, the perils of building a movement, and more.Spoilers for all of Andor season 1, plus season 2 episodes 1-6, the movie Rogue One, and The Last Jedi.Here’s the book I mentioned: Preaching in Hitler’s Shadow: Sermons of Resistance in the Third Reich. And don’t miss Ed’s charming story of adventure for Grogu on May the Fourth! See you next week! Until then, may the Force be with you. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

What a blast. Thanks to everyone who joined Edward Goode and me for our first of four (or more?) conversations about Andor. We talked about gender, power and privilege; the “cost of discipleship”; accelerationism as faithful strategy (or not?); and more. Spoilers for all of Andor season 1, plus season 2 episodes 1-3, and the movie Rogue One, and a brief reference to The Last Jedi. See you next week. Between now and then, May the Fourth (and the Force) be with you. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

A bonus pod! Season two of Andor premieres on Disney+ this week, and to celebrate, here’s a standalone pod featuring conversations recorded two years ago during season one of the television show. Special thanks to Derrick Weston and Marthame Sanders for these conversations. A few spoilers for season one of Andor, but the spoilers are mainly thematic. Enjoy!~Contact MaryAnn McKibben Dana at maryannmckibbendana.net.Order Hope: A User’s ManualEditor and Producer: Amelia Dana This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

A few thoughts on Sen. Cory Booker’s filibuster. I didn’t mention this in the video, but it’s somehow fitting that this is taking place on April Fool’s Day. There’s a kind of reckless foolishness at work here. But as the Franciscan blessing says, “May God bless you with just enough foolishness to believe you can make a difference in the world, so you will do what others say cannot be done.”And here’s the link to the David Lamotte TEDx talk I mentioned.Steady on… together. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Join me for my next live video in the app This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

We did it! Thank you to Ed Goode of Imago Scriptura for trying something new with me, and for the wonderful chat. Watch the recording right here, or check out the episode of What Now with Trevor Noah which inspired our conversation. I appreciated Ed’s connecting Putnam’s work with Peter Block, and am now thinking about the triad concept as a model for ministry. What would it look like to say we don’t go with something—an idea, a new program—without three people at the helm? There are some truly alarming things taking place these last few days. In some ways, this conversation may seem frivolous in light of these emergencies. But I am more and more convinced that we’re in the current morass partly because we’ve been so focused on the immediate and short-term that we’ve neglected deep, decades-long work. Wendell Berry says to plant sequoias. Hey, we’ve tried everything else, haven’t we? There’s so much more to this topic, including how online interactions both help and hinder the work of community. Including right here! Let us know your takeaways and continued questions. The work of rebuilding communities and combating social isolation will require both patience and urgency. Where do you feel moved to start?And lastly, check out Ed’s book, Ordinary BenchMarks. Steady on. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

Join me for my next live video in the app This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

“The way we make change is as important as the change we make.” -Valarie KaurThis moment feels different than eight years ago, and I reflect a bit on why that might be. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe