Interviews with brilliant people to fan the flames of your curiosity.

Episodes
Family Proclamations: “Building LGBTQ Families,” with Abbie E. Goldberg
Family Proclamations: “Building LGBTQ Families,” with Abbie E. Goldberg

The path to becoming a parent is complicated for LGBTQ people. Dr. Abbie E. Goldberg has evidence-based advice to help make it happen, debunking stereotypes and increasing the visibility of queer families. Her work can benefit all families. Including yours.

Family Proclamations: “Separation Revolution,” with April White
Family Proclamations: “Separation Revolution,” with April White

Divorce can be difficult today, but wait until you hear what it was like at the turn of the century. April White introduces us to the women who changed divorce in the United States.

Family Proclamations: “Leaving the Ghost Kingdom,” with Angela Tucker
Family Proclamations: “Leaving the Ghost Kingdom,” with Angela Tucker

As an adoptee, Angela Tucker invites us to consider the impacts of transracial adoption.

Family Proclamations: “All the Closets,” with Jessi Hempel
Family Proclamations: “All the Closets,” with Jessi Hempel

When Jessi Hempel came out of the closet she had no idea her whole family had been hiding in there with her.

Family Proclamations: “Won’t Someone Think of the Children,” with Adam Benforado
Family Proclamations: “Won’t Someone Think of the Children,” with Adam Benforado

Adam Benforado says expanding children’s rights will benefit everyone.

Family Proclamations: “Healing From Family Trauma,” with Mariel Buqué
Family Proclamations: “Healing From Family Trauma,” with Mariel Buqué

Mariel Buqué invites us to heal from our family traumas.

Family Proclamations: “Meet the Eves,” with Cat Bohannon
Family Proclamations: “Meet the Eves,” with Cat Bohannon

Cat Bohannon puts women back into the story of human evolution.

S’mores (Bonus Episode)—Tara Boyce on Hope
S’mores (Bonus Episode)—Tara Boyce on Hope

Tara Boyce says parenting with hope is more complicated than she anticipated.

Joy, with Ross Gay
Joy, with Ross Gay

Ross Gay says joy is something like what we feel like when we help each other carry our sorrows.

Invisible, with Meghan O’Rourke
Invisible, with Meghan O’Rourke

As a silent epidemic of chronic illnesses afflicts tens of millions of Americans, Meghan O’Rourke calls for revolution.

Transitions, with Susan Stryker
Transitions, with Susan Stryker

A transgender scholar makes history writing about transgender history.

Mission, with Kathryn Gin Lum
Mission, with Kathryn Gin Lum

The word “heathen” has fallen out of use, but the racist ideas behind it persist in the White American imagination.

Shell Play, with Toni Jensen
Shell Play, with Toni Jensen

A Métis woman reflects on the violence enacted on the bodies and lands of Indigenous people, especially women, in the United States.

Hope, with Tom Whyman
Hope, with Tom Whyman

A philosopher and prospective father wonders if things in the world are hopeful enough to bring children into it.

The Fire, with Danté Stewart
The Fire, with Danté Stewart

A Black Christian writer discovers the sacredness of rage.

Heritage, with Masha Rumer
Heritage, with Masha Rumer

An immigrant falls back in love with her culture and yearns to pass it along to her children.

Monsters, with David Livingstone Smith
Monsters, with David Livingstone Smith

When fighting monsters, we risk becoming monstrous.

Voices, with Jeff Chu
Voices, with Jeff Chu

After Rachel Held Evans died, Jeff Chu was there to finish her final book.

Margins, with Fatimah Salleh and Margaret Olsen Hemming
Margins, with Fatimah Salleh and Margaret Olsen Hemming

Reading scripture from the margins can change everything.

The Books, with Vanessa Zoltan
The Books, with Vanessa Zoltan

Vanessa Zoltan wanted to know if her childhood favorite ‘Jane Eyre’ stands the test of time. What she found can breathe new life into our favorite books.

Civility, with Alex Zamalin
Civility, with Alex Zamalin

Alex Zamalin shows how civility has been used to perpetuate oppression in the United States.

Hidden, with Ayala Fader
Hidden, with Ayala Fader

Ayala Fader examines the lives of hidden heretics within ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities.

S’mores (Bonus Episode)—Let’s Talk, with Anna Sale
S’mores (Bonus Episode)—Let’s Talk, with Anna Sale

Anna Sale knows how to talk about hard things like death, sex, money, family, and identity.

Options, with Taylor Petrey
Options, with Taylor Petrey

Taylor Petrey traces the development of doctrine about gender and sexuality within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Home, with Lauren Sandler
Home, with Lauren Sandler

Lauren Sandler shines a light on homelessness in America through the experience of a young pregnant mother in New York City.

Slow Down, with John Swinton
Slow Down, with John Swinton

John Swinton invites us to slow down and rethink what we think about time, especially in light of people with intellectual disabilities.

Reckoning, with Anthea Butler
Reckoning, with Anthea Butler

Anthea Butler says conservative Christianity in America has scored big victories in American politics, but not without significant cost.

No Compartments, with David Dark
No Compartments, with David Dark

David Dark explains why he thinks ‘Life’s Too Short to Pretend You’re Not Religious.’

Lost and Found, with Elaine Pagels
Lost and Found, with Elaine Pagels

Her research shook up Christian history even while, behind the scenes, her life was being turned upside-down.

Revision, with Kiese Laymon
Revision, with Kiese Laymon

When Kiese Laymon was growing up he didn’t see anyone who looked like him in the literary canon. So he decided to change the game.

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Hosted by Blair Hodges

Generously co-sponsored by the Howard W. Hunter Foundation, the Mormon Studies program at Claremont Graduate University, and the Dialogue Foundation.

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Exceptional

“Phenomenal. These thought-provoking interviews leave me mulling for days. I probably have an entire bookshelf full of books both read and to-be-read thanks to my introduction to them via Blair’s work. Looking forward to each new episode!” — JudgeRee, Apple Podcasts

Inspirational

“Blair is a master interviewer who has a gift for asking questions and starting conversations that are desperately needed if we’re to learn how to better understand, live with, and love each other. These challenging and enriching interactions have left me a better person spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally.” — DadBodice, Apple Podcasts

Attentive Listening, Deep Dialogue

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Excellent host and cutting edge topics

“Great podcasts have one thing in common: a great host. Blair Hodges is a gifted interviewer and conversationalist. He asks the right questions and allows the guests space to expound on their writings. You’ll enjoy his dry wit humor as much as his theological exploration.” — TBlack99, Apple Podcasts

Expansive and Thoughtful

“Not only do I love Blair Hodges’ gracious interviewing style, but I thrill at the interplay between guest and host. Blair is a prepared host, who has a sincere fascination and appreciation for the wayfarer’s journey.” — Tishbw, Apple Podcasts

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Joy and care. 🔥🙌
It was a true joy talking with Ross Gay about joy! We might be talking about elbow patches, or disappointed fathers, or late-night hangouts, or poetry, or basketball, or gardening, or writing workshops, or or or. A fitting finale for season 2.
Learn to let time take time. 🔥🙌
There was so much we couldn't cover in Ross Gay's book. His definition of grief, for example. The metabolization of change. (And check out the beginning of yet another beautifully digressive footnote!)
💔🔥 Audio and full transcript available.
We talk about parents growing old, gardening, basketball, poetry, writing workshops, ADHD, hanging out, piano lessons, education, and more. Ross Gay is blessedly digressive. Check out the season finale of Fireside with Blair Hodges. 🔥🙌
What does joy look like to you? Don’t miss the season finale. Ross Gay reimagines joy. 🔥🙌
🔥🙌
"It is wild and beautiful. And it is actually the fundamental point of the game, I say. The point of the game is actually making the game go, you know?" Ross Gay joins us today on Fireside with Blair Hodges.

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