Explore every episode of the podcast Renew the Arts Podcast

Michael explores the problem of fame, how the inequality of exposure among artists damages both popular and unknown artists.

Karen Swallow Prior joins Michael for a wide-ranging discussion on her book The Evangelical Imagination, and how it applies to the arts.

Michael is joined by Paul J. Pastor—poet, writer, editor—to discuss the value of poetry both in general and specific terms.

Michael is joined by Brian Brown, founder and executive director of the Anselm Society, to talk about the arts and communal meaning-making.

Michael explores why you need better taste and how to get it. This episode explores both the rationale and practice of developing good taste.

Justus Stout and Katy Martin join Michael for a ten-year Renew the Arts retrospective and a look at the opportunities ahead.

Ryanne Molinari joins Michael to discuss her forthcoming book on the relationship between the worship arts and the fruit of the Spirit.

Michael invites singer-songwriter Carly Taich and producer Jimmy Smith on to the podcast to discuss what it looks like for Christians to pursue art (in this case, music) within the church as a ministry, a hobby, or a profession. They share personal anecdotes about their various struggles in the professional-ministry space in the church, discuss tent-making and other means of support for artists, and give a clear charge to both artists and non-artists about how . . . [ Read More ]

Abbey and Michael get together to discuss how deconstruction within the church is both fed and addressed by the arts. What exactly do we mean by deconstruction? Why is it so prevalent right now? What does it have to do with the arts? Stay tuned at the end to hear “Oh, Sweetest Name” by John Van Deusen from his record, (I Am) Origami Pt. 4 — Marathon Daze. You might also be interested in checking . . . [ Read More ]

This is the first of a new series for the Renew the Arts podcast, Deep Dive, where we pay very close attention to an entire album or song in all of its parts, from composition to production. In this first of the series, Michael interviews Sean Sullivan, the creative force behind the music of Warbler, about his forthcoming third album, Wrestling. In this double-stuffed episode, they introduce the album, listen through it in its entirety, . . . [ Read More ]

Abbey Sitterley interviews Michael Minkoff about the historical development and downfall of patronage. What does it mean for Porchlight and Renew the Arts to resurrect the idea of patronage now when its history seems so tied up in elitism? How do we avoid making the mistakes of the past? Stay tuned at the end for a sneak peak at “The Sixth,” a track from the forthcoming record Wrestling, by Warbler.

Michael interviews co-host Abbey Sitterley (Chief Storyteller for Porchlight) about three intentional communities (L’Abri, Bruderhof, and L’Arche) to glean some of what we can learn from their successes and failures. Stay tuned at the end to hear “Naturally,” by Physick, from their album All the Days.

Justus and Michael discuss the motivations and reasoning behind launching the Porchlight Art and Hospitality Network. They then explain the qualities and virtues they hope to draw together and further cultivate in the network. Stay tuned at the end to hear a live rendition of “Face to Face,” by the Local Hang-Ups.

Justus and Michael finish up their conversation on politics and culture with a few days left for election 2020. Stay tuned at the end for “Worry,” off of Warbler’s self-titled record.

Justus sat down with singer-songwriter Wendell Kimbrough to discuss how the psalms encourage the church to empathy, why we don’t sing them like we used to, and why we need to sing them again. Stay tuned at the end for “The Hand of God (Psalm 82)” from Wendell’s album Come to Me.

Justus and Cynthia talk with Alexia Jones, founder of Rise Theater, about how art made in community can help heal brokenness in pursuit of recovery. Stay tuned at the end for “Dance Hi’s and Lo’s” by Civilized Creature, from the record Steadfast.

Justus and Cynthia interview Chi T. Mathias, a vocalist, author, speaker, and teacher, who tells her incredible story of overcoming trauma in and through creative expression. Stay tuned at the end for Chi’s single, “Forgiveness.”

Justus and guest co-host Cynthia Giles (http://creativeactivation.org and http://cynthiasinspirations.com) talk to medical student and aspiring psychiatrist Lydia Jones about making art and staying mentally healthy during the pandemic and after. Stay tuned after the episode to hear “Still,” a new single by Civilized Creature.

Justus sits down with Erik Løkkesmoe, a former DC press secretary and speechwriter who now produces films from his home-base in Nashville, to discuss politics and patronage and how we can contribute to cultural transformation without feeling like we as individuals need to (or even could) move the whole world. Stay tuned at the end for “When There’s a Mountain” by Anthony Quails, from his record Before the Bright Lights.

Justus Stout talks on the phone with Joseph Pensak, main songwriter for the band Hallowell, about his most recent record, his approach to making music, and running a community art gallery. Stay tuned at the end for “Another World” from Hallowell’s self-titled record.

Your hosts, Justus and Michael, return to launch into this year’s theme at Renew the Arts: Politics and the Arts. In our politics-obsessed climate, cultivating culture can seem like a most ineffective way to affect the future of our polarized nation. Michael and Justus explore the ways that culture precedes and predicts politics. Stay tuned at the end for “Be the Beast,” from Warbler’s Sea of Glass.

Justus talked with David Hamilton of RYFO to discuss what David sees as some key ways to heal the apparent divide between artists and the church through better community practices. Stay tuned at the end for “Living Water” by Fuel Music off their EP “The Life.”

Justus and Michael sat down with hip-hop artist Sho Baraka to discuss his work, his latest collaborative album with Vanessa Hill, and why he thinks the Christian community is so squeamish to discuss sex. Stay tuned at the end for the track “Nasty,” from So Many Feelings, by Sho Baraka and Vanessa Hill.

Justus chats on the phone with singer-songwriter John Van Deusen to discuss his life as a signed artist with Tooth & Nail Records, his testimony, and expanding the boundaries of what Christians are willing to call hymns. Stay tuned at the end to hear two tracks from John Van Deusen: “All Shall Be Well” from Every Power Wide Awake, and “You Don’t Know What You’re Asking” from A Catacomb Hymn.

Your hosts Michael and Rusty get you up to date on the back-and-forth that has ensued from former Hillsong singer Marty Sampson’s announcement that he’s losing his faith. Along the way, they discuss John Cooper (of Skillet) and his viral rebuke, truth and feelings, psalms of doubt and lament, and the important role the local community plays in an artist’s spiritual health. Stay tuned until the end to hear “Valley” by Civilized Creature off of . . . [ Read More ]

Justus and Michael talk on the phone with Michael Wright about engaging the arts as a Christian guest in “secular” cultural spaces. As a culture curator who helps develop curriculum resources for Fuller Seminary’s Brehm Center for the Arts, Michael Wright is well-suited to assist newly awakening patrons to develop fruitful practices of appreciation. Stay tuned at the end for “Riverwide (Bendblock Remix)” by Lolo Meares. (mateoandlo.squarespace.com) (mattlumpkin.com) Things mentioned in the episode:

Justus and Michael meet with author and pastor George Grant in his home in Franklin, Tennessee to discuss the relationship between the Reformed church and the arts. If the Reformed church has very good theological reasons for supporting the arts, why does it seem like there is so much resistance to the arts and artists in Reformed communities?

Your host Justus sits down with singer-songwriter Anthony Quails who shares stories of becoming a sponsored artist, knowing God’s grace through shortcomings, evangelizing in music, and his new album of his most personal songs yet. Stay tuned to the end for the demo of “I Wish That I Was Him” from Anthony’s forthcoming EP The Man I Thought I’d Never Be. Check out his Kickstarter before it ends Saturday, June 29!

Justus sat down with singer-songwriter Derek Webb to discuss his experience in the Christian music industry and how it may have contributed to his loss of faith. Stay tuned at the end for “Wedding Dress” from Webb’s 2003 record She Must and Shall Go Free. We also want to thank Ryan Lane of Civilized Creature for permission to use “Unexpected Gifts” from his forthcoming record The Way Back Home.

Allison and Michael field your questions about art history, tackling some new material to close out the season. Stay tuned at the end to hear the full version of “Eyes Closed Dance Party” off of Permission to Feel by Civilized Creature. Thank you all for writing in!  

In a fully-loaded episode, Allison and Michael discuss the art historical trends and challenges of today, with a discussion of digital, indie, and multi-media art. Then they present a flyby of how the various movements covered in this season might apply to or inform artists and patrons now. Stay tuned at the end for “Before the Silver Tether Breaks,” composed and arranged by Phil Hodges, from Death is Their Shepherd, by Physick.  

Allison and Michael discuss the Pop Art movement, the divide between “high brow/low brow” art, and the prominence of celebrity and popular culture. Stay tuned at the end for Phil Hodges’ classical guitar arrangement of Neil Young’s “Old Man.”  

Allison and Michael unpack the hopelessness of existentialism, and they discuss why despair concerning merely human attempts at meaning provide fruitful ground for the Gospel. Stay tuned at the end for a John Cage piece performed on the classical guitar by Phil Hodges.

Your hosts Allison and Michael discuss some reasons to appreciate Modern Art, bringing up some of the most famous of the nearly 70 movements comprised by it. With all of its snark, modern art has a lot to say about honesty in the face of the brutal realities of human existence, and Christians can learn something from it about how to make “ugly” art the right way. Stay tuned at the end for a classical . . . [ Read More ]

Allison and Michael discuss some of the features of realism and impressionism, and how these movements represent the first murmurings of “modern” art. Additionally, they address how and why female artists began to enjoy greater representation in the mid to late 1800s. Special thanks to Dr. Sachs for his contributions, and stay tuned at the end for another classical guitar piece from Philip Hodges.

Allison and Michael discuss the important transition from the Baroque to the Romantic era. Why did Nature vs. Civilization become such a central theme of Romantic artists, and why does it still matter? Special thanks to Dr. Sachs from Kennesaw State University for his contributions on the relationship between the Neo-Classical and Romantic movements. And stay tuned at the end to hear Philip Hodges play the first movement of Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” arranged for classical . . . [ Read More ]

Your hosts Allison and Michael unpack the transition from Renaissance into Baroque art with an emphasis on the impact the Reformation had on culture in its time (and beyond). Stay tuned at the end for a Bach Cello Prelude played on classical guitar by Phil Hodges.  

Your hosts Michael and Allison discuss the birth and rebirth of Greek and Roman values in ancient and Renaissance art, discussing the history and impact of Platonism on culture and the church. Stay tuned at the end for a Renaissance lute piece arranged for the classical guitar played by Phil Hodges. Special thanks to Dr. Sachs from Kennesaw State University for his helpful contributions.  

Is art history important for anyone but museum managers? Michael and co-host Allison Knight talk about the substance and importance of our season 3 theme for everyone—artists, consumers, leaders, and taste-makers. How does art history differ from just plain history? How does it direct you and your culture even if you remain ignorant of it? Listen to the end to hear sponsored artist and classical guitarist Philip Hodges play Opus 35, No. 13, by Fernando . . . [ Read More ]

Join your hosts, Justus and Michael, as they field your questions and discuss your comments from two seasons of the Renew the Arts podcast. What was our most controversial episode? What’s so great about raw milk? Were we wrong about Tolkien? Stay tuned through the end to hear the lyrics-included version of the Season 2 theme song, “Sounding Brass,” by Civilized Creature from Of the Uncaused Cause.

Clearly, artists within the church need greater support from Christians, but what about artists outside the church? Should Christians support or receive art from unbelievers? And if so, how? Special thanks to Bryan John Appleby for allowing us to close this episode with “Noah’s Nameless Wife” from his record Fire on the Vine.

Given the degree to which Renew the Arts supports art and artists, it might surprise you to hear Justus and Michael talking about how some aspiring artists should be discouraged from pursuing their dreams. In this episode, they pitch some practical ideas on how you can determine if God has really called you to the arts, and what that might look like. Wait until the end to hear “Songs for Friends” from Physick’s Songs for . . . [ Read More ]

What do prophets have to do with art? Throughout the Scriptures, the prophetic calling is closely associated with the arts, especially with music, poetry, and prophetic theater. In this episode, Justus and Michael explore the way in which this close association persists today, closely following the discussion of this in Steve Turner’s excellent book, Imagine. Special thanks to singer-songwriter Drakeford Lanier for permission to end this episode with the song “Whitewash” from his record, The . . . [ Read More ]

Does church architecture matter? Does it do anything more than house people and programs at the lowest possible cost with the potential side goal of attracting new members? Or should we be aiming higher and deeper? Justus and Michael discuss what our architecture says about our priorities and why we should be giving greater leadership to visionary artists in this crucial area. Stay tuned at the end for another excellent track from Warbler off of . . . [ Read More ]

Why devote any time to craft? If the information being communicated is all that matters, wouldn’t the quickest, cheapest, most direct form of communication be best? In this episode, Justus and Michael are joined again by Rusty Hein to discuss why good craft makes art hospitable and why that’s so important. Stay tuned at the end for “Testimony” by Warbler off of Sea of Glass.

Why does it seem like the same churches that dismiss the arts also tend to marginalize the material world and the other profound implications of the Incarnation? Is it possible the evangelical church has become overrun with Platonism and its rationalist offspring Gnosticism? Justus and Michael point to some signs of this growing problem and discuss how art can be part of the solution. Stay tuned at the end to listen to “Utah,” by Brock’s . . . [ Read More ]

Most unbelievers will not go to church, so it seems pretty obvious that the church needs to go to unbelievers. But is this done only through street preaching, personal evangelism, and apologetics? In this episode, Justus and Michael explore what we can learn from the Court of the Gentiles and the parables of Jesus about how to introduce unbelievers to God. Stay tuned until the end to hear “People Change” from I Have Seen the . . . [ Read More ]

Singer-songwriter Jesse Murray joins Michael and Justus to discuss his upcoming EP “Trail of Tears,” a collection of songs written concerning the historical and present relationship between Native Americans and the United States. Along the way, they discuss the idea of collective repentance—is it possible for children to repent of the sins of their forefathers? And what good can it do? Also, Jesse plays two tracks from the forthcoming album live—the title track “Trail of . . . [ Read More ]

Never ones to back down from a challenge, your intrepid hosts Justus and Michael open up season 2 by tackling the age-old thorny question, “What is Art?” They are joined by Renew the Arts Creative Director Rusty Hein for this all-too-brief, but we hope productive, discussion. Stay tuned at the end for “Man Walked Out,” by Micah Stout from his record Without Reservations. A special thanks to Douglas and Siri Gregory for sponsoring this episode . . . [ Read More ]

Are the arts as trivial and inconsequential in and for the church as their place in the Protestant church would seem to indicate? Being an arts organization, perhaps Renew the Arts has overestimated the crucial value of the arts in the church out of some unwittingly self-serving desire to think of ourselves and our work more highly than we ought. We’re certainly willing to explore this possibility and examine again why we’re so dedicated to . . . [ Read More ]