PostConsumer Reports Podcast
106 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 months ago - ★★★★★ - 6 ratingsThe PostConsumer Reports Podcast with Chris Marchand. It's like the blog but with sound: Thoughts on art, faith, and the intersection of the two, all spoken after consumption.
Featuring interviews and conversations with artists and thinkers.
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Episodes
Ep 99: Christmas Traditions with April McClure Stewart
December 28, 2023 16:27 - 37 minutes - 52.3 MBReverend April McClure Stewart join PostConsumer Reports for the 99th episode, which also happens to be our annual Christmas episode! It's the last show of the year and the last show before we put together something special for the 100th episode. April is a Disciples of Christ pastor and has served in various leadership positions over the years. But what really makes her qualified for this particular topic is all of the Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany traditions she celebrates with her famil...
Ep 98: Wally Brath on Connexion a Jazz Psalter
December 21, 2023 23:12 - 1 hour - 115 MBMusician, composer, and professor Wally Brath joins the podcast to discuss his new album Connexion a Jazz Psalter. The album consists of nine compositions which set the words of the Psalms to music and along with Brath features the lead vocals of Nikki Lerner and the bass of John Patitucci. You can stream the album everywhere or purchase it on Bandcamp or at his website www.wallybrathmusic.com.
Ep 97: Christmas With Emily Hunter McGowin
November 16, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 90.6 MBIt's time for another Christmas episode! Dr. Emily Hunter McGowin is here to discuss her new book Christmas: The Season of Life and Light. The conversation ranges from the joy and challenges surrounding the holiday, to reclaiming old traditions even while developing new ones, to a lightning round of Emily's Christmas favorites. Her book is out now through InterVarsity Press wherever you purchase books.
Ep 96: Author Katherine Briggs on her novel The Eternity Gate
September 28, 2023 11:44 - 1 hour - 96.1 MBKatherine Briggs joins the podcast to discuss her new novel The Eternity Gate, a fantasy novel about a handmaiden named Seyo who has a key that will unlock the fate of her kingdom. Along with discussing the novel, this conversation goes into Katherine's writing process and her thoughts on the pressure that writers face in today's publishing industry.
Ep. 95: Austin Freeman on his book Tolkien Dogmatics
September 21, 2023 13:13 - 1 hour - 91.6 MBAuthor and professor Austin Freeman joins episode 95 to discuss his book Tolkien Dogmatics, a theological reading of J.R.R. Tolkien's works. Dr. Freeman is a professor at Houston Christian University where he teaches on theology, literature, and apologetics and has also contributed to other books on theological approaches to science fiction and fantasy. He will be a speaker at Urbana Theological Seminary's 2023 Tolkien Conference where Chris Marchand (the guy who runs PostConsumer Reports) ...
Ep 94: Rachel Wilhelm on Singing The Words of Jeremiah
September 07, 2023 12:53 - 1 hour - 95.6 MBRachel Wilhelm joins the podcast again to discuss her new album Jeremiah, a collection of song adapted from the words of the prophet Jeremiah. Like with previous episodes this interview is also a kind of deep dive "radio special" for the album featuring excerpts of the song and the background behind them. Rachel previously appeared on the podcast discussing her album Requiem and she has even written an article for PostConsumer Reports the blog. Please check out her work on Bandcamp and all t...
Ep 93: Caroline Cobb on her album Psalms: The Poetry of Prayer
June 01, 2023 15:07 - 1 hour - 83.4 MBCaroline Cobb joins episode 93 of PostConsumer Reports to discuss her new album Psalms: The Poetry of Prayer. Our conversation is a deep dive into the music and background behind the songs, her other Scripture-based albums, and her life as a working musician. You can stream her music wherever it is available or discover more of her work at: www.carolinecobb.com or https://carolinecobb.bandcamp.com/.
Ep. 92: Rick Lee James on "As I Walk These Halls" and being a hospital chaplain
August 12, 2022 13:00 - 1 hour - 107 MBSongwriter Rick Lee James is on the podcast again to disucss his new single "As I Walk These Halls," a meditation on his experience of training to be a hospital chaplain. You can find out where to stream or download the song here.
Ep. 91: Joel Heng Hartse on how Dancing About Architecture is a reasonable thing to do
July 27, 2022 12:28 - 1 hour - 64.9 MBJoel Heng Hartse is the author of the new book Dancing About Architecture is a Reasonable Thing To Do: Writing about Music, Meaning, and the Ineffable." He joins Chris on the podcast to discuss how writing about music is similar to dancing about architecture and they ponder their favorite bands and songs all while figuring out how to continue having a critical eye toward art while still allowing others to enjoy the music they love. You can find Joel's book here and anywhere you purchase bo...
BONUS: The REAL War on Christmas
December 31, 2021 18:32 - 36 minutes - 66.8 MBIt's the REAL war on Christmas! It's THE real war on Christmas! It's the real WAR on Christmas! It's the real war on CHRISTMAS! You get what I'm saying? If you're interested in part one of this talk about resting and debauchery at Christmastime, please see the Tent Talks podcast.
Ep 90: Brian Doerksen on his song "215"
December 16, 2021 13:00 - 52 minutes - 72.6 MBBrian Doerksen is a songwriter, church music leader, and teacher who recently wrote "215" a call for lament and repentance from within the Canadian church for the atrocities committed against the Indigenous children at numerous church and state run boarding schools. He joins PostConsumer Reports to discuss his process in writing the song, what it means to write from a place of sorrow, and to reminisce with Chris about his past worship songs (those he still sings and those he's moved on from)...
Ep 89: Author Martin Matthews on his Dream Chasers Trilogy
November 23, 2021 22:03 - 1 hour - 87.6 MBMartin Matthews is the author of four published novels, including The Dream Chasers trilogy and the Pencraft Award-winning The Graveyard Girl and the Boneyard Boy. The final book of his trilogy, Moria Versus the Universe, was just released in November 2021. Our conversation goes into detail about the world building of his trilogy of novels, how it is a meditation on the possible future of humanity, and the process and craft of novel writing.
Ep 88: Rachel Wilhelm on Composing a Modern Requiem
October 13, 2021 16:00 - 1 hour - 68.9 MBRachel Wilhelm is a songwriter and church music leader who has recently released her new album and work Requiem, which draws from ancient and modern texts and musical styles to offer us a meditation on death, grief, and our hope in the resurrection. Our conversation, along with these set of songs, offers us a chance to slow down and contemplate what it means that our days our numbered and how we are to best live in the time we have left. You can find Rachel's music at: https://www.rachelwilh...
Ep 87: Harmony Smith Vineyard Worship Leader, Songwriter, and Pastor
September 15, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 83.5 MBHarmony Smith is the Director of Worship for the Vineyard Movement in the UK & Ireland where she encourages, raises up, and trains worship and music leaders. She also co-pastors Belfast City Church with her husband Andy. She joins PostConsumer Reports to discuss her song "You Have Our Yes," how people in Ireland and America might wrestle with its lyrics differently, and the responsibility that church worship leaders have to not only lead people to God but also challenge them to love their ne...
Ep 86: Singer-songwriter Adam Whipple on his Basement Apartment EP
August 18, 2021 03:50 - 59 minutes - 54.9 MBAdam Whipple is a singer-songwriter from Knoxville, Tennessee who has just released his new EP Basement Apartment, which is available on all streaming platforms (Soundcloud, Apple, Spotify). You can discover more about Adam and his work at his website (https://www.adamwhipple.com/), which includes visual and video art, and read his prose and poetry and Foundling House, a writing community (https://www.foundlinghouse.com/).
Ep 85: Singer-songwriter Rick Lee James
May 27, 2021 14:30 - 52 minutes - 49.2 MBEp 85 features and interview with Rick Lee James, a singer-songwriter, guitarist, recording artist, and music pastor. He joined PostConsumer Reports to discuss his songwriting and recording process, the struggle to lead church music during the time of COVID (when we are not singing together), being able to authentically address people's pain through worship music, and his Mister Rogers podcast "Welcome to the Neighborhood." Rick has a podcast of his own, "Voices in My Head," which has had ...
Ep 84: Jonathan Hodges of Bomethius on his new album Seasons of Limbo
April 30, 2021 04:32Bomethius is the "alter ego" of Jonathan Hodges, a songwriter, pianist, violinist, guitar player, and vocalist living in Dallas, Texas. This far-ranging conversation features an in-depth look at his new album Seasons of Limbo. You can find his music at: http://www.bomethius.com/
Ep 84: Jonathan Hodges of Bomethius on his new album Seasons of Limbo
April 30, 2021 04:32Bomethius is the "alter ego" of Jonathan Hodges, a songwriter, pianist, violinist, guitar player, and vocalist living in Dallas, Texas. This far-ranging conversation features an in-depth look at his new album Seasons of Limbo. You can find his music at: http://www.bomethius.com/
Ep. 83: Blair Masters—Keyboardist and Composer
March 12, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 66.1 MBAn interview with Nashville musician, keyboardist, and composer Blair Masters. Blair has played on numerous albums over the years, from Newsboys, Amy Grant, Charlie Peacock, Rich Mullins, Margaret Becker, Steven Curtis Chapman and yeah, even Barry Manilow, Andy Williams, and Megadeth. He's also the touring keyboardist for Garth Brooks and has composed and recorded music for a number television shows. Our talk focuses on the span of his career and gives an in-depth look into the music of his ...
New Christmas Music and Serving Others Through Lula
December 23, 2020 13:00 - 21 minutes - 20.2 MBThis episode features info about Chris's new EP of Christmas music "Let Nothing You Dismay" as well as about Lula, a nonprofit in Peoria, Illinois that feeds, clothes, and offers care to those without housing and living on the streets. All proceeds from the EP will go to support Lula. The talk on serving others at Christmas is an excerpt from Tent Theology, another podcast Chris has been helping produce this year.
Ep 82: Christmas in July & a New Podcast
July 31, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 112 MBEpisode 82 features a talk given at Living Waters Church in Peoria, Illinois in 2019 about the book Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas. This episode also features an excerpt from Tent Theology, a new podcast Chris is helping to produce that aims to help renew the social and political imagination of Christians by following in the way of Jesus.
Ep 81: Rain For Roots' Flo Paris Oakes and Katy Hutson
June 15, 2020 04:30Episode 81 features my interview with Flo Paris Oakes and Katy Hutsoon of the children's worship music group Rain For Roots, who are described as "a collective group of musicians and songwriters who write singable Scripture songs for kids and grown ups alike." They released their fourth album All Creatures this spring, which focuses primarily on settings of the Psalms.
Ep 81: Rain For Roots' Flo Paris Oakes and Katy Hutson
June 15, 2020 04:30Episode 81 features my interview with Flo Paris Oakes and Katy Hutsoon of the children's worship music group Rain For Roots, who are described as "a collective group of musicians and songwriters who write singable Scripture songs for kids and grown ups alike." They released their fourth album All Creatures this spring, which focuses primarily on settings of the Psalms.
Ep 80: Dr. Susan K. Roll on December 25 and the origins of Christmas
December 30, 2019 05:56 - 1 hour - 56.9 MBEpisode 80 of the podcast features my interview with Dr. Susan K. Roll with her expert and scholarly insights into the origins of December 25 as the date for Christmas. The author of the book Toward the Origins of Christmas, my conversation with Dr. Roll touches on the earliest documents adhering to that date and to how to address the pagan origins and influences on the holiday. As a Catholic lay woman, we also discuss her passions, insights, and ongoing work of being an advocate for women'...
Ep 79: Blair E. Clark and Artwork for the 12 Days of Christmas
December 16, 2019 05:19 - 38 minutes - 36 MBEpisode 79 features an interview with Blair E. Clark about the artwork she did for my book Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas. A native of Michigan, Blair is a Central Illinois artist whose work you can find at: https://blairjeffers.wordpress.com/. In our conversation, Blair talks about her process, some of the imagery embedded in the her work on the book that might not be immediately obvious, and also her approach to making Mary and Joseph people who were not white Europeans and yet stil...
Ep 78: Dr. Michael Ward on C.S. Lewis, Paganism, and Christmas
November 29, 2019 06:05 - 1 hour - 69.2 MBDr. Michael Ward is a professor at both Oxford University and Houston Baptist University where he teaches on imaginative apologetics. Dr. Ward is perhaps best know as a C.S. Lewis scholar and for his groundbreaking work Planet Narnia. I interviewed Dr. Ward in research for my book Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas, and in our interview we discuss Lewis's views on paganism and touch on the famed author's own beliefs and practices surrounding Christmas
Ep 77: Artist and Musician Jimmy Abegg
November 13, 2019 15:53 - 1 hour - 76.3 MBJimmy Abegg is a veteran of both the music and art worlds. Currently Jimmy is in need of financial help to complete the building Blind Jimmy's Lighthouse, an art and music studio he's building behind his home. You can support him through direct donations or simply by buying his art at his website www.jimmyabegg.com. Associated with Rich Mullins's Ragamuffin Band, Charlie Peacock, and the band Vector, our conversation intentionally focuses on his own art and music, especially his plans once h...
Ep 76: Tim Barnes on the World Wide Refugee Crisis
October 31, 2019 03:16 - 1 hour - 61.4 MBTim Barnes is the executive vice president of International Association For Refugees (IAFR) a non-profit that seeks to empower and support refugees and displaced people groups around the world. Our conversation touches on the complexity of the current situation, where there is over 70 displaced people in the world, and offers some insight on what we might be called to do about it.
Ep 75: Jeff Frankenstein of Newsboys
October 16, 2019 17:52 - 38 minutes - 35 MBThis episode features an interview with longtime Newsboys keyboardist, programmer, arranger, and even bass player (on synth!) Jeff Frankenstein. He details what it has been like to navigate the changes to the music industry in the past decades as well as changes within Newsboys themselves. He also describes how they've found a balance in being a touring band with families. The episode also discusses the release of Chris's new book on the 12 days of Christmas.
Bonus: Stu G on The Beatitudes Film and Study Guide
September 26, 2019 04:31 - 16 minutes - 15.8 MBThis bonus episode features excerpts from a previous interview where guitarist and author Stu G discusses his Beatitudes project. Stu G has recently released a film and study guide to go along with his musical album and book, all of which can be purchased at: https://www.thebeatitudesproject.com/
Ep 74: Charlie Peacock—Artist, Producer, and Writer
September 16, 2019 03:43 - 1 hour - 66.2 MBEp 74 features an interview with Charlie Peacock, and artist with four decades of experience in the music as a songwriter and solo artist, but also as a producer of renowned artists like Switchfoot, The Civil Wars, and Marc Martel. Our conversation ranges from his thoughts on fame, the state of the Christian music industry, and the wisdom he's gained from getting debilitatingly sick after years of pushing himself. Check out https://www.charliepeacock.com/ and https://thewriterthehusband.co...
Ep 73: Phil Joel on his new book and being in Newsboys and Zealand
August 05, 2019 05:50 - 49 minutes - 46.4 MBEp 73 features Phil Joel, notably of the bands Newsboys, Zealand, and also a prolific solo music career, who has just released his first book Redwoods and Whales.
Ep 72: The 12 Days of Christmas, New Years, and Epiphany
January 04, 2019 01:46 - 1 hour - 67.8 MBIt reads like a bad joke, but this episode features interviews with 2 Anglican bishops and an Eastern Orthodox priest. Bishop Alberto Morales, Bishop Keith Ackerman, and Fr. Andrew Kishler all gave Chris time to talk about an assorted amount of Christmas traditions, both secular and ecclesiastical. They discuss Puerto Rican Christmas traditions, how to do New Years and the Feast of the Holy Name as a church, and what Epiphany/Theophany looks like for Eastern Orthodox Christians. And please c...
Ep 71: Happy Pagan Christmas! (and support Chris's book)
December 17, 2018 23:27 - 1 hour - 60.2 MBEpisode 71 features an interview with Gabi and Petr Michlik about the Christmas traditions they knew growing up in the Czech Republic, traditions with a surprisingly Pagan bent... This conversation is being released to help promote the Kickstarter campaign Chris is putting on to help fund the completion of his new book on the history and traditions of the 12 Days of Christmas. You can find out more info and support the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chrismarchand/book-cel...
BONUS: Vinyl Release of John Van Deusen's With Every Power Wide Awake
September 30, 2018 20:56 - 19 minutes - 27 MBJohn Van Deusen (interviewed in Ep. 67) has just released his album "With Every Power Wide Awake" on vinyl, so we're taking the opportunity to release an bonus episode of our conversation that didn't make it into the full interview. Also, it's national podcasting day, so enjoy the extra podcasting goodness. You can find Van Deusen's music at: https://iamjohnvandeusen.bandcamp.com/
Ep 70: Glenn Kaiser and Michelle Van Loon
August 15, 2018 03:56 - 1 hour - 82.2 MBEp. 70 features an interview with Glenn Kaiser, a true music legend. His blues and rock and roots music spans 5 decades, from his work in the Resurrection Band to his solo work and the Glenn Kaiser Band. Kaiser is also a pastor and teacher at the Jesus People USA ministry and community (http://jpusa.org/). You can find Kaiser's music at: https://grrrrecords.com/glenn-kaiser https://glennkaiser.bandcamp.com/ This episode also features an interview with author Michelle Van Loon, who re...
Ep 69: Ex-Mormon Ministry Founder Lynn Wilder
August 08, 2018 20:14 - 1 hour - 70.8 MBDr. Lynn Wilder is a retired education professor who began the ministry Ex-Mormon Christians United For Jesus with her husband Michael Wilder, which you can read more about at: http://www.unveilingmormonism.com/. Dr. Wilder has written or co-authored a number of books about walking away from the Mormon faith and coming to know the Good News of Jesus as found in the Bible. Our conversation goes into her personal story as well as the history and beliefs of the Mormon religion.
Ep 68: E. Byron Anderson on his book Common Worship
July 19, 2018 15:55 - 1 hour - 81.3 MBE. Byron Anderson is Professor of Worship at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. His most recent book Common Worship: Tradition, Formation, Mission explores the various tensions of the Church's worship: traditional vs. contemporary, habit vs. freedom, canon vs. creativity, unity vs. diversity, and mission focused worship vs. congregationally focused worship. However, instead of pitting these concepts against each other, he puts them in conversations that cause pas...
Ep 67: Singer-songwriter John Van Deusen
July 05, 2018 16:49 - 1 hour - 98.3 MBSinger-songwriter and musician released his latest album Every Power Wide Awake late last year, and it's slowly been building buzz with people on the look out for great independent music as well as with church worship leaders. We go in-depth about his career in the music industry (he previously fronted the band The Lonely Forest for over a decade) and the stories behind the songs on the new album.
Ep 66: Alec DeJesus on almost giving up on art and then choosing to keep going
June 27, 2018 04:53 - 1 hour - 84.3 MBArtist Alec DeJesus was first a guest on the podcast a year ago. Since then he's had some of his highest highs and lowest lows. He found success with an art commission through Broward College in Florida, painting two murals for them, but then progress on the murals wasn't happening and he almost gave up on art altogether. In the end he didn't abandon his art career and he found tremendous success in actually getting the murals done and inspiring a group of young artists at the college.
Ep 65: Gretchen Filz of Catholic Company
June 05, 2018 21:16 - 34 minutes - 32 MBGretchen Filz is a writer and communicator with the Catholic Company and an editor at the daily devotional Morning Offering. In our conversation we discuss the work she is doing developing a catechism for the Catholic faith at: www.goodcatholic.com, as well as her personal journey to Catholicism. You can find many of her writings at: https://www.catholiccompany.com/ Get Fed Blog
Ep 64: Brian Roberts of Ha Ha Tonka
May 23, 2018 04:44 - 1 hour - 88.1 MBHa Ha Tonka is a band originally from southern Missouri, who've released five albums through Bloodshot Records. Their music is a seamless mixture of American music: classic rock, southern rock, country, folk, and Americana. The important thing is their songs are amazing. Episode 64 features an interview with their lead singer Brian Roberts, who connected over the phone for a conversation with Chris and guest host Ben Mitzelfelt about their early years and the stories behind a number of their...
Ep 63: Artist Jaci Musec
March 29, 2018 05:17 - 1 hour - 73.9 MBJaci Music paints abstract landscapes filled with symbols open to a surplus of interpretations...but she never really intended to...Jaci's story is one of an artist whose creativity was borne out of her pain. After numerous years of sorrow, frustration, and longsuffering from infertility she began to paint simply for the sake of her own personal health. You can find out more about Jaci at: http://www.capturedandreclaimed.com/
Ep 62: Stephen Backhouse on the life of Kierkegaard
March 23, 2018 04:27 - 1 hour - 69.6 MBStephen Backhouse is a theologian and teacher and the author of Kierkegaard: A Single Life, a biography and survey of the work of the iconoclastic Danish writer Soren Kierkegaard. You can find out more about Stephen's Tent Theology teaching program at: https://www.tenttheology.com/ While our conversation is mostly about Kierkegaard and his work, we also discuss the dangers of Christian Nationalism (or Christendom), including a segment on whether or not American Christians should recite the ...
Ep 61: Dan Leman—The art of lament
March 15, 2018 04:55 - 1 hour - 70.8 MBPastor Dan Leman discusses the background and poetry of the book of Lamentations, and how God births art out of tragedy. The music and Rachel Wilhelm, Bifrost Arts, and Nathan Peterson are also mentioned in the intro.
Ep60: A Discussion on Nathan Peterson's Song "Is It A Sin?"
January 31, 2018 22:21 - 1 hour - 65.5 MBNathan Peterson returns to the podcast for an in depth discussion of his recent song "Is It a Sin?" It's not so much an interview as it is a conversation about the song and how we respond to art that challenges us and perhaps even offends us. Please check out out www.nathanpeterson.net for Nathan's music and writings.
Ep 59: Jeremy Casella's New Album and Kickstarter Campaign
January 19, 2018 06:27 - 2 hours - 133 MBJeremy Casella is a singer-songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee. He has released four albums over the years and is currently putting on a Kickstarter campaign to fund his fifth album Spirit. Jeremy is an artist I've had the privilege to get to know over the years after meeting him after a Caedmon's Call concert in 2004. Episode 59 features two interviews with him, one from 2014 done right before a house show he did in 2014 after the release of his album Death in Reverse and the other done th...
Ep 58: What Are Christians To Do With Halloween? A conversation with pastor and author Kevin Wright
October 30, 2017 04:33 - 1 hour - 96.8 MBKevin Wright is the pastor of First Covenant Church in Peoria Illinois and is also author of The Danse trilogy, a series of horror/mystery novels. If you are thinking that is a strange combination you'd be right, but it is also makes Kevin the perfect conversation partner surrounding the issue of what Christians are supposed to do with the holiday of Halloween. Get ready for a complex and "nuanced" (to use a word that came up a few times) discussion on All Hallow's Eve, All Saints Day, Harve...
Ep 57: Does Christian Music Need a Savior? UTR Media's Dave Trout Thinks So
October 05, 2017 16:07 - 1 hour - 61.2 MBEp 57 of the PCR Podcast features my conversation with Dave about his re-launch of UTR Media, which has already started with 5 new podcasts and looks to continue with live concerts, videos, interviews, and articles featuring independent music by Christian artists. You can find out more at: http://utrmedia.org/
Ep 56: Andrew Osenga—musician, producer, consultant, podcaster
September 28, 2017 16:16 - 50 minutes - 69.2 MBAndrew Osenga is a veteran musician, artist, and producer. Lead singer and founding member of The Normals, Osenga also had a stint as the lead guitarist and vocalist for Caedmon's Call, and continues to record and tour with Andrew Peterson's band. Lately Osenga has morphed into an artist mentor and consultant, as well as a podcaster with The Pivot, which focuses on interviews with people who find themselves changing direction mid-career and doing something they never expected to be doing. Yo...