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The Brothers Zahl

The Brothers Zahl

Mockingbird

Welcome to The Brothers Zahl podcast, a collaboration between John, David and Simeon Zahl, three siblings engaged in "the God business"--one as a writer, one as a professor, one as a priest. Each episode is devoted to a single topic of spiritual or religious interest in the hopes of sketching an overarching picture of grace and everyday life. The music is pretty good, too. Brought to you by Mockingbird Ministries.
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Top 10 The Brothers Zahl Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Brothers Zahl episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Brothers Zahl for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Brothers Zahl episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

The Brothers Zahl - Episode 1: God

Episode 1: God

The Brothers Zahl

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02/25/21 • 63 min

The first ever episode, in which the brothers introduce themselves and then jump into the sprawling subject at the center of their lives: capital-G God. Recommended and Referenced Resources include:

  • Lectures: "On Not Being C.S. Lewis" by Francis Spufford
  • Books: The Harrowing of Hell by Evan Daum, Dangerous Journey by John Bunyan, PZ's Panopticon by Paul Zahl
  • Songs: "God Knows" by Donna Eyes, "Stand Back" by Stevie Nicks, "Shot Down in Denver" by Chalice, "When You Wish Upon a Star" by Gene Simmons, "Son of the Father" by Elton John, "More Than Molecules" by Fox, "Funky Funky Beat" by Jean-Michelle Navarre

Click here to listen to a playlist of the available tracks on Spotify.

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The Brothers Zahl - Episode 11: Salvation

Episode 11: Salvation

The Brothers Zahl

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07/08/22 • 79 min

"Jesus saves" reads the bumper sticker. But what does it mean? This one is about soteriology, past, present, and future. Referenced and recommended resources include:

  • Quotations: Who Will Deliver Us by Paul Zahl
  • Books and Literature: The Crucifixion by Fleming Rutledge, The Holy Spirit and Christian Experience by Simeon Zahl, “On the Incarnation of the Word” by Athanasius, Augustine’s Confessions (first 9 books), Dangerous Journey by Oliver Hunkin
  • Movies and Television: Magnolia (1999), The Lives of Others (2006), Amazing Grace (2018), Battlestar Galactica "Exodus Pt 2"
  • Songs: "Amazing Grace" by John Newton, “Save Me Jesus” by Bobby Charles, “Where Will I Be?” by Emmylou Harris, “Tickle Robot”, “Hvorfor Ikke Mig” by Elmer, “My Own Worst Enemy” by Lit, "You Changed My Life" by Bob Dylan, “You Never Can Tell” by Chuck Berry, “Mockingbird [remix]” by Derek Webb, “Save Me” by Nanette Workman, “Save Me” by Aimee Mann, “Walking on Broken Glass” by Annie Lennox, “Coreur Bingo” by Silvana, “最悪の日々 Pt.1”, “Jesus Dropped the Charges” by The O’Neal Twins

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The Brothers Zahl - Episode 7: Jesus

Episode 7: Jesus

The Brothers Zahl

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07/08/22 • 96 min

The second season kicks off with an extended episode about the Good Shepherd himself, Jesus of Nazareth. Recommended and referenced resources include:

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The Brothers Zahl - Episode 9: Creativity

Episode 9: Creativity

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07/08/22 • 87 min

This one could also be called Freedom. Or possibly Fruit. Maybe even Living. Recommended and referenced resources include:

  • Quotations: Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, Calvin and Hobbes, "Ode to Failure" by Allen Ginsberg
  • Books and Literature: Young Eliot by Robert Crawford, Show Your Work by Austin Kleon, Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, The Space Trilogy by CS Lewis
  • Movies and Podcasts: Get Back (2021) dir. Peter Jackson, The Well of Sound
  • Songs: “Problem Child” by The Beach Boys, “Walking on Thin Ice” by Yoko Ono, “Underwater” by Harry Thuman, “I’m so Afraid” by Fleetwood Mac, “Tri-Tra-Trallula” by Joachim Will, “A Ist Wieder Da” by Robert Gorl, “Learn How to Fail” by The Replacements, “The Fear in My Heart” by Luc Van Acker, “Can You Picture That?” By Electric Mayhem, “Xanadu” by Olivia Newton-John, “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes, “Jazzburger” by Loukas Thanos, “Reader Meet Author” by Morrissey, “Deadlines and Commitments” by The Killers, “Manhattan Jungle” by Per Tjernberg, “Perfumed Garden” by Rah Band

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The Brothers Zahl - Episode 6: Grace

Episode 6: Grace

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02/25/21 • 78 min

In the final episode of the first season, the brothers talk about their all-time favorite word, what John calls "a pool that's shallow enough that babies can wade into it and deep enough that elephants can swim." Recommended and Referenced Resources include:

  • Quotations: Mockingbird glossary entry for Grace, Dorothy Martyn on Beyond Deserving
  • Articles: "My Priceless, Worthless Baseball Cards" by Ryan Hockensmith
  • Books: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (musical too); The Brothers Karamazov (first 80 pages) by Fyodor Dostoyevksky; The Horse and his Boy by CS Lewis; Kingdom, Grace, Judgment by Robert Capon; Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle, Seculosity by David Zahl
  • Movies: Soul, Little Miss Sunshine, About a Boy, The Best Years of Our Lives
  • Songs: "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" by The Pet Shop Boys, "You Know I Couldn't Last" by Morrissey, "Grace Under Pressure" by Elbow, “Our Park by Night” by Craft Spells, "Super Freak" by Rick James, "You Still Believe in Me" by The Beach Boys, "Endless Race" by Wally Badarou, "Living Without Your Love" by The Imperials, "Airport of Love" by Love International

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The Brothers Zahl - Episode 5: Abreaction

Episode 5: Abreaction

The Brothers Zahl

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02/25/21 • 68 min

The most esoteric sounding subject in the first season may also be the most gut-level. In this episode the brothers discuss the role of art, story, and humor as it relates to ministry and healing. Recommended and Referenced Resources include:

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The Brothers Zahl - Episode 8: Prayer

Episode 8: Prayer

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07/08/22 • 80 min

What are we doing when we pray? In the second episode of the second season, John, David, and Simeon venture a few theories (and a bunch of stories). Referenced and recommended resources include:

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The Brothers Zahl - Episode 12: Aging

Episode 12: Aging

The Brothers Zahl

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07/08/22 • 88 min

For the final episode of the second season, the brothers enlist a special guest to help them make sense of getting older. Referenced and recommended resources include:

  • Books and Literature: Peace in the Last Third of Life by Paul Zahl, The Happiness Curve by Jonathan Rauch, “Crossing the Bar” by Alfred Lord Tennyson, Churchy by Sarah Condon, Being Mortal by Atul Gawande, The Genius and the Goddess by Aldous Huxley, Quatermass by Nigel Neale, "East Coker" by TS Eliot, Ecclesiastes
  • Movies and Television: The Twilight Zone (“Spur of the Moment” and “The Trade-Ins”), Letters to Father Jacob (2009), Friday Night Lights (2006-2011), Journey to Italy (1954), The Adam Project (2022)
  • Artwork: "The Voyage of Life" by Thomas Cole (1839-40)
  • Songs: “Seventeen” by Sharon Van Etten, “The Boxer” by Simon and Garfunkel, “When I Grow Up to Be a Man” by The Beach Boys, “Ashes to Ashes” by David Bowie, “Tired of Waiting” by The Kinks, “When I Was a Boy” by The Who, “Regret” by New Order, “Old" by Staryflyer 59, "Everybody Wants to Be a DJ", “Sixteen Tons” by Bob Cobra, “As Far as I Can Remember” by Pasteur Lappe, “Just Ain’t Easy” by The Allman Brothers, “Highlands” by Bob Dylan

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The Brothers Zahl - Episode 16: Imputation

Episode 16: Imputation

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06/24/24 • 85 min

The brothers talk about "the how of love," also known as imputation. Recommended and referenced resources include:

  • Movies: Toy Story, Hoosiers, The Best Years of Our Lives, Lilo and Stitch
  • Books: The Cross and Christian Confidence by Joanna McGrath & Alister McGrath, Coach by Michael Lewis, The Freedom of a Christian by Martin Luther, The Holy Spirit and Christian Experience by Simeon Zahl, Grace in Practice by Paul Zahl, Justitia Dei by Alister McGrath, Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, Articles 4 and 21 of The Augsburg Confession, Theophilus North by Thornton Wilder
  • TV: Season 2 finale of Stranger Things
  • Podcasts: "Don't be Good -- Be Great" episode of Against the Rules
  • Songs: "No Matter" by Lowell, "Crazy the Lord" by Nick the Record, "Gettin' Back on the Good Side of Love" by Don Black and the Breakaways, "Brass in Pocket" by The Pretenders, "Strange Currencies" by REM, "Why Do I Keep Counting?" by The Killers, "Transformer Man" by Neil Young, "Superbowl Shuffle" by the 1985 Chicago Bears, "I Just Started" by Jackie Moore, "Automatic Amore" by Patrizia Pellegrino, "Love Is a Natural Magical Thing" by Laurie Miller, "The Old Account" by Johnny Cash, "I've Been Surprised" by Josh White
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The Brothers Zahl - Episode 18: Easter

Episode 18: Easter

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07/08/24 • 84 min

Time to talk about the biggest day in the Christian year! Resurrection is the theme of this episode--physical, spiritual, metaphorical, ecclesial, musical, you name it. Note: this one was recorded live, so the sound is a little less sharp.

Recommended and referenced resources include:

  • Poetry: "Seven Stanzas at Easter" by John Updike, "Descending Theology: The Resurrection" by Mary Karr, "Easter" by George Herbert
  • Art: "Resurrection" by Piero della Francesca (1463), "The Resurrection" by Otto Dix (1949), "Easter Morning" by Caspar David Friedrich (1835), "The Resurrection, Cookham" by Stanley Spencer (1924-7), "Travoys Arriving with Wounded at a Dressing-Station at Smol, Macedonia, September, 1916" by Stanley Spencer (1919), "Risen Christ and Soldiers" by Germain Pilon (1572), "Isenheim Altarpiece" by Matthias Gruenewald (1516)
  • Television and Movies: Rev Season 3 Episodes 5&6, The Passion of the Christ
  • Articles: "Finitude and Death" by Katherine Sonderegger in The T&T Clark Companion to the Doctrine of Sin
  • Songs: "Love Is Stronger Than Death" by The The, "Sunrise" by Pulp, "How a Resurrection Really Feels" by The Hold Steady, "He's Alive" by Dolly Parton, "Resurrection Shuffle" by Tom Jones, "Photograph" by Ringo Starr, "Candy" by 1910 Fruitgum Company, "Don't Worry About Death" by Melon, "Back to Heaven" by Number One Ensemble, "I Don't Wanna Be a Solider Mama" by John Lennon, "I Am the Resurrection" by The Stone Roses, "Dance or Die" by Kool Rock Steady, "Get Up and Boogie" by Silver Convention, "Revenge" by The Eurythmics, "Death Is Not the End" by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, "Sing Hallelujah" by Bob & Karin
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FAQ

How many episodes does The Brothers Zahl have?

The Brothers Zahl currently has 20 episodes available.

What topics does The Brothers Zahl cover?

The podcast is about Christianity, Theology, Society & Culture, Grace, Religion & Spirituality, Podcasts, Relationships and Gospel.

What is the most popular episode on The Brothers Zahl?

The episode title 'Episode 1: God' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on The Brothers Zahl?

The average episode length on The Brothers Zahl is 77 minutes.

When was the first episode of The Brothers Zahl?

The first episode of The Brothers Zahl was released on Feb 9, 2021.

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