Podcast #035 - Blue Christmas 2019

"Blue Christmas"

Alan and Em are not discussing the Elvis song in this episode. Instead, they are talking about the growing trend of "Blue Christmas" services, in which churches make space for people who aren't quite ready to celebrate the season, but are instead dealing with loss, grief, discouragement, and the general stresses of modern life.

Merry Christmas, seasons greetings, happy holidays, and we wish all out listeners a blessed 2020.

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Link to Opening Song: "Veni Veni Emmanuel" by Heather Dale


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Podcast #034 -- Babylon 5: Monks in Space

"Religion in Sci-Fi: Babylon 5"

Alan and Em are joined by their podcasting buddy Chris Tyler from The Two True Freaks network to discuss the TV show Babylon 5.They talk about how well creator J Michael Straczynski did handling religious themes and content on the show. Special attention is given to the Season 3 episode "Passing Through Gethsemane," guest starring Brad Dourif.

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Link: The Babylon 5 Lurkers Guide
Link: Chris Tyler's"Vault of Startling Monster Horror Tales of Terror" podcast
Link: JMS' memoir "Becoming Superman"


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Podcast #033 - Feedback

"It's a Feedback Episode!"

Alan and Em take the huge chance of turning over the responsibility for creating podcast content to their lovely listeners. Fortunately, The Dorks ask great questions and make wonderful points.

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Podcast #032 - Harry Whodunit!

"Harry Whodunit: The Phantom of the Barn Mystery"

As discussed on last episode, the Harry Whodunit series of audio mysteries was one of Em's favorite things growing up. And here ... with maybe not the best results in digitization from a 20+ year old audio cassette ... is "The Phantom of the Barn Mystery."

Photos of the cards that came with the cassette can be found here. 

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Podcast #031 - Good Things in Evangelical Culture

"Surprisingly Good Things From Christian Pop Culture"

Alan and Em talk about some of the surprisingly good products that have come out from Evangelical pop culture over the year. They talk about some of the music, books, and other items that they enjoyed long ago and still think (mostly) hold up.

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Link: The book Leaper, by Geoffrey Wood
Link: The Million Dollar Mysteries, by Mindy Starns Clark
Link: Author Gilbert Morris' Daystar Voyages
Link: Author Stephen R. Lawhead
Link: The Book "Selling Satan"
Link: Radio U
Link: The band Iona
Link: Super House / Flying House
Link: Jars of Clay 
Link: Switchfoot's The Beautiful Letdown 

We would love to hear from you about this topic, the podcast episode, or Evangelical pop culture in general. Send e-mail feedback to dorknesstolight@gmail.com 

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New Blog Spot

As discussed in podcast episode 29, new blog posts (and all of the old ones, too) have moved to a new location:

Dorkness to Light Blog . Blogspot . Com

This change will not effect the podcast subscriptions - no updates needed to keep the podcasts coming. This change only effects blog posts.

Podcast #030 - Congratulations, Timbre

"Congratulations, Timbre "

Alan and Em talk about the music of the harpist Timbre, who they discovered at the Cornerstone and Audiofeed festivals. We talk about her latest album, Sun & Moon, which was recently awarded a prestigious honor by an arm of the United Nations.

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Link: Timbre's Sun & Moon album on Band Camp
Link: Timbre on Twitter

We would love to hear from you about this topic, the podcast episode, or monsters in general. Send e-mail feedback to dorknesstolight@gmail.com 

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Podcast #029 - Updates, Current Events & Feedback

"Current Events, etc ... "

Alan and Em talk about some Dorkness-related current events, give some updates about past episodes and guests, talk about the new Dorkness to Light blog, and then go over lots and lots of terrific feedback from terrific listeners.

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Link: Dorkness to Light Blog (new address) 
Link: Musician Jeff Anderson's campaign
Link: Coyote Kid's campaign
Link: The Audiofeed Festival
Link: The Religion Prof Podcast
Link: A Christian Gaming Podcast

We would love to hear from you about this topic, the podcast episode, or monsters in general. Send e-mail feedback to dorknesstolight@gmail.com 

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Podcast 28 - 1980s Christian Music (Justus)

"Surrender"

Alan and Em are joined by Garret Godfrey of the Good patron podcast to discuss Christian music in the 1980s. The episode also includes 25 minutes of a 1987 episode of Alan's college radio show, where he played "the best in today's Christian rock."

We we  about the new album, and play portions of two songs.

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Link: Good Patron Podcast
Link: Justus on Discogs
Link: "Someone's Waiting" at YouTube

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Podcast 27 - Hide No Truth

"Hide No Truth"

During our Audiofeed episode, we talked about the "Death by 1000 Cuts" seminar that featured musician Nate Allen, in which he discussed the spiritual abuse he had suffered, and his recovery process. 

We were pleased to talk with Nate about his news album, "Hide No Truth," which he recorded under the name Good Saint Nathanael, in which he addresses many of those issues. This conversation covers the topic of spiritual abuse, the goods and bads of being raised in the church, the recovery process, and how to identify people who can help. We also talk about the new album, and play portions of two songs.

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Link: Good Saint Nathanael's new album "Hide no Truth"
Link: Video for the song "Lightning"
Link: Twitter for Destroy Nate Allen
Link: Good Saint Nathanael website
Link: Purchase a Nate Allen prayer candle

We would love to hear from you about this topic, the podcast episode, or monsters in general. Send e-mail feedback to dorknesstolight@gmail.com 

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Podcast Preview

On Sunday's upcoming episode #27, we talk with musician Nate Allen (performing as Good Saint Nathanael), about his new album, and the difficult circumstances that led him to produce the album.

Here is the first video from the new album:

And some info about it

About Hide No Truth (photos by Larissa Van Der Vyver)

Near the end of Nate Allen’s first Destroy Nate Allen tour he spray painted the words “My Goal Is Resolution” boldly on his acoustic guitar. The vulnerability and complexity of that statement unknowingly charted a course for his life.

With his new project Good Saint Nathanael, Nate Allen is turning to face his demons leading with a rare-disarming vulnerability. On Hide No Truth (available on Feb. 1st), the harder Nate looks at himself in the mirror, the more humanity reveals its bitter, beautiful complexity.

The nine songs on Hide No Truth find Nate stripping back his sonic pallet to reveal stark, memorable, acoustic songs full of detail and intention.

In what is a cathartic move towards self-choice, honest art and emotional health, Nate uses religious language to explore human vulnerability and his own broken Christian religious experience.

Faced with a choice between ignoring his past or leaving his faith and community, Good Saint Nathanael is a project seeking a 3rd path, one that lances the wounds, protests somberly, and grieves deeply while still refusing to give up.

Hide No Truth was recorded and mixed by Jon Terrey (Listener, The Chariot). Then Nate assigned different friends to add whatever their vision of “noise” was to each track, further adding to the haunting soundscape. Lastly, the record was mastered by Jim Demain at Yes Master Studios (John Prine, Frank Black, June Carter Cash).