Promised Land is a limited series exploring the moral, spiritual, and political challenges presented by the Israel-Hamas War. Host Mike Cosper (The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill) takes listeners with him to locations across the U.S., Israel, and Palestine, bringing you into the homes, lives, and stories of people for whom this conflict is their everyd…

I recently released a book aimed at emerging solo performers putting together an original one-person theatre production. It is called Crafting the Solo Show. In this episode, I read the preface. It explains who I am and why I set out to write the book. https://ia800500.us.archive.org/33/items/the-cultivated-playwright-ep.-41-crafting-the-solo-show-…

A little catch-up episode about what I’ve been doing since this past summer. Plus, big announcement. https://ia802708.us.archive.org/0/items/the-cultivated-playwright-ep.-40-end-of-summer-update/The%20Cultivated%20Playwright%20Ep.%2040%20-%20End%20of%20Summer%20Update.mp3 NOTES | Media/ concepts mentioned: Ep. 17 – Creating the Beast of Hyperborea …

A few factors over the past several months have prompted me to get my act together career-wise as a playwright. Part of that process has been the creation of a new website. The fellow that runs the Playwright’s Spotlight is James Elden (I couldn’t remember while recording the podcast) https://ia601600.us.archive.org/28/items/the-cultivated-playwrig…

In this episode I continue my talk with my indie fantasy author David Hopkins. In this episode we talk about David buckling down and committing to fantasy fiction. We cover a bunch of stuff: David’s experience with Patreon, working with his team of collaborators, how his wife April is essential in offering feedback, how he has learned about his “ta…

In this super-sized episode I talk with my friend and colleague, David Hopkins. He is an indie fantasy author. Over the last few years, he has built a solid author platform (sleek re-designed website with pop-ups, e-mail newsletters, Patreon, team of kick-ass collaborators, etc.) and is selling his goods as a self-published author. He is growing an…

The “Summer of Four Plays” Challenge that I set off to accomplish at the beginning of the summer has come to an end. Here’s how it turned out and what I learned from the experience. https://ia601502.us.archive.org/4/items/the-cultivated-playwright-ep.-34-extrinsic-motivation-and-four-plays/The%20Cultivated%20Playwright%20Ep.%2034%20-%20Extrinsic%20…

Making little narrative discoveries about my solo show and a short debriefing of the 2022 Fort Worth Fringe Festival. https://ia601403.us.archive.org/27/items/the-cultivated-playwright-ep.-33-epiphanies-and-the-fort-worth-fringe/The%20Cultivated%20Playwright%20Ep.%2033%20-%20Epiphanies%20and%20the%20Fort%20Worth%20Fringe.mp3 NOTES | Media/ concepts…

June 23-26, 2022 I was in Colorado for the Denver Fringe, a fringe theatre fest in its third year. I took my solo show Robert’s Eternal Goldfish. It was really nice to be back out in the world with my one-person shows once again after the last few years. Here’s a snapshot of the experience. https://archive.org/download/the-cultivated-playwright-ep.…

Beyond any technological advances, the thing that Theatre might excel at in the future is doing the thing machines (computers, smartphones, A.I., the internet) cannot… asking better questions. Plus, a brief update on the Summer of Four Plays project. https://archive.org/download/the-cultivated-playwright-ep.-31-the-future-of-theatre-is-asking-bette…

Over the summer of 2022, between mid-May and Mid-September, I am attempting an ambitious challenge. I plan to create four distinct theatre projects completely from scratch. Due to the nature of my lifestyle (full time dad, other projects, travel, etc.) and practicality of the time available to me, this challenge is well outside my comfort zone. Upd…

When Mars Hill Church was planted in Seattle in 1996, few would have imagined where it would lead. But in the next 18 years, it would become one of the largest, fastest-growing, and most influential churches in the United States. Controversy plagued the church, though, due in no small part to the lightning-rod personality at its helm: Mark Driscoll…

Jen Pollock Michel is a writer based in Toronto, CA. She’s the author of several books, including Surprised by Paradox and A Habit Called Faith, which is releasing this week. On the podcast, she describes the road that led her to writing, the relationship between her vocations as a writer and a mother, and the place women writers occupy in Christia…

Doug Logan was running a barbershop in Patterson, New Jersey when he met Jesus. Doug, who is black, quickly married his girlfriend Angel, who is white. Within days, he was preaching on the streets to the homeless. In the twenty-five years since, their interracial marriage has been a kind of proving ground for the experience of racial tensions that …

We’re often unprepared or unwilling to face experiences of loss and suffering. But in fact, they are opportunities for deep encounters with the presence and mercy of God. Tish Harrison Warren is a writer and a priest in the Anglican Church in North America. Her book Liturgy of the Ordinary was Christianity Today’s 2018 book of the year, and she jus…

Makoto Fujimura is a painter and the author of several books on the intersection of faith, culture, and the arts. Most recently he’s published Art and Faith: A Theology of Making. In this episode, Mako describes his calling as an artist and how living three blocks from the World Trade Center transformed his painting. He also describes his work in k…

Timothy Dalrymple is the President and CEO of Christianity Today. His road to CT is marked by a number of surprise turns, the first being a significant, career-ending injury as an elite gymnast. In the years that followed, he pursued a sense of calling through a variety of ministries, ivy league schools, and the tech industry. This episode explores…

Aundi Kolber is a therapist and the author of Try Softer: A Fresh Approach to Move Us out of Anxiety, Stress, and Survival Mode--and into a Life of Connection and Joy. On this episode of the podcast, Aundi and Mike talk about the impact of complex trauma on the body and soul, and how Aundi’s own experiences of trauma led her into the work she does …

Cultivated veteran Latifah Alattas returns to the podcast this week to talk about life, faith, and creative work after divorce. When her marriage ended in 2017, it derailed a host of dreams and left her asking hard questions about forgiveness, healing, and relationships. Her work in churches was almost entirely halted, and for months she had to att…

Ross Mason’s work has crossed the country and crossed the globe, from Moscow to Silicon Valley, and back to Georgia, where he’s from originally. A lifelong adventurer, he loved climbing, diving, competing in triathlons, and was even certified as a NASCAR driver. In 2007, even after he suffered a C6 spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from th…

Dominic “Dom” D’Agostino is an Associate Professor at the University of South Florida, where he teaches at the Morsani College of Medicine and the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology. He’s also a Research Scientist at the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) where he leads research efforts to optimize the health and perf…

Cultivated features the stories and ideas of Christians from a wide variety of perspectives. Their opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Christianity Today. From the time he was a teenager, Rich Lowry aspired to write for National Review. In 1992, that dream came true and by 1997, he became the editor of the magazine. You’ve likely seen Rich…

Miroslav Volf’s writing is considered some of the most significant theological work of the last century. He was born into a family of Pentecostal Christians in Croatia, under oppressive Communist rule, and a “minority of a minority” (as he would later describe it). For almost four decades, his writing has been a testament to the power of the gospel…

This sponsored episode of Cultivated is brought to you by CT Creative Studio in partnership with American Awakening, an ambitious multi-platform effort that embodies a campaign for the soul of America in an effort to slay the giants of death and despair in this American moment. Go to AmericanAwakening.us to learn more. John Kingston is a social ent…

Beth Moore has a passion for the scriptures that has guided her ministry for decades. On this episode, she recounts her story and some of the figures – like John Bisagno – who helped her along the way. She also revisits the moment in 2016 when, to her own shock and disappointment, she knew that she’d have to stand up to her own tribe. This episode …

David French's story takes him from rural Alabama and Kentucky to Harvard law school. Afterwards, he found himself fighting for religious liberty and free speech throughout America's court system, and literally fighting for liberty in the surge in Iraq. In 2015, he turned to writing full-time, just about a month before Donald Trump descended an ele…

On this episode of Cultivated, Mike sits down with obstetrician and friend Dr. Heather Lewis. Wildly funny, smart, and confident, Heather talks about the challenges of practicing medicine, caring for and loving her patients. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesDi Christianity Today

Jeremy Casella has been a singer songwriter and performing artist for nearly twenty years. He’s performed and collaborated with people like Andrew Peterson, Phil Keaggy, and the Blind Boys of Alabama. Casella has released 6 full-length albums and an EP. He’s also been an integral part of the influential hymn collective Indelible Grace Music whose s…

James K.A. Smith talks with Mike Cosper about his story, his new book on Augustine, fatherlessness, and a wide range of other topics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesDi Christianity Today

On this episode, Mike Cosper and David Zahl talk about his story, why he came to start Mockingbird, and what their mission is all about. They also talk faith and pop culture, secular religions, and how coping with life really does demand that we get serious about faith in a crucified and resurrected savior. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit p…

Ashley Hales holds a PhD in English from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. She’s a writer, speaker, and hosts The Finding Holy Podcast. Ashley’s married to a church planter in the southern California suburbs and the mother to 4. Her writing has been featured in such places as The Gospel Coalition, Books & Culture, and Christianity Today. Her f…

On this episode, we'll hear Chuck DeGroat's story – one that's full of surprising turns and surprising transitions. We'll talk about contemplative spirituality, the church's struggle with narcissism, and the resources available to us in church history for those seeking wholeness and spiritual vitality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcas…

Mike Cosper sits down with Kyle Idleman to discuss his career as a church planter, his evolution as an author, and his role as teaching pastor at Southeast Christian Church, one of the largest churches in the U.S. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesDi Christianity Today

Daniel Baltzer is a New York visual artist, and in this episode, he and Mike get into the grind of being an artist, and what it means to be a Christian artist at this cultural moment.Cultivated is a production of Harbor Media and Narrativo Group. This episode was produced and mixed by Mike Cosper and edited by Quinnette Connor and TJ Hester. Specia…

On this episode, Mike Cosper talks to Christine Caine, founder of A21, whose mission is to end slavery around the world.Cultivated is a production of Harbor Media and Narrativo Group. This episode was produced by Mike Cosper, recorded and edited by TJ Hester, and mixed by Mark Owens. Music by Dan Phelps and Roman Candle, with theme music by Roman C…

Mike Cosper sat down with hip hop recording artist Lecrae to discuss his life and work, and how he has come to terms with the idea that his career is an anomaly. Cultivated is a production of Harbor Media and Narrativo Group. This episode was produced and recorded by Mike Cosper, edited by Quinnette Connor, and mixed by Mark Owens. Music by Lecrae,…

Sebastian Traeger is an author, entrepreneur & executive VP of the IMB. On this week’s episode, we hear his story and how he's worked through the tension of faith & work, a wrestling that resulted in his book, The Gospel at Work.Cultivated is a production of Harbor Media & Narrativo Group. This episode was produced and mixed by Mike Cosper and edit…

Russ Moore’s career straddles the line between faith & politics & culture, and in his role as President of the ERLC, he is often called upon to speak to Christians and the world at large about the implications of everything from the Trump phenomenon to the corrosive effects of technology on families.Cultivated is a production of Harbor Media & Narr…

This week, Phil Keaggy returns to discuss his faith and how it has shaped his life and music. Along the way, Keaggy shares the story of how he came to jam with Paul McCartney at a wedding. Cultivated is a production of Harbor Media. This episode was produced by Mike Cosper, recorded by Eddie Morris, Edited by Quinnette Connor & Mixed by Mark Owens.…

This week is the first of a two-part interview, and in this installment, Keaggy walks Mike through his fascinating career gently and unpretentiously dropping some pretty big names along the way.Cultivated is a production of Harbor Media and Narrativo Group. This episode was produced by Mike Cosper, recorded by Eddie Morris, Edited by Quinnette Conn…

This week, Mike sits down with Justin Forsett, retired NFL running back and entrepreneur. Forsett’s story, where he was always deemed too small or too slow, is a study in faith and perseverance.Cultivated is a production of Harbor Media and Narrativo Group. This episode was produced by Mike Cosper and recorded, edited and mixed by Mark Owens. Our t…

Mike is joined by his two best friends, Sarah Cosper (who also happens to be Mike's wife) and Lachlan Coffey, to talk about their favorite moments from the last three seasons of Cultivated. This episode was recorded and mixed by Mike Cosper. Music by Dan Phelps, and our theme song by Roman Candle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoi…

This week, we visited with Alison Whitehurst in New York, where she’s been busy in productions like The Fortress of Solitude, at The Public Theatre. She opened up about her journey from Texas to New York and the central role her faith plays in guiding her life.Cultivated is a production of Harbor Media and Narrativo Group. This episode was produced…

This week, Esteban Shedd stopped by to talk to Mike about the music he makes with Alert312 and how hip-hop culture shaped faith and led him to launch Streetlights Bible, an audio version infused with hip-hop rhythms to engage folks who might otherwise not read the Bible. Cultivated is a production of Harbor Media and Narrativo Group. This episode w…

Rachelle Starr, Founder and Executive Director of Scarlet Hope, describes her journey of sharing the love of Christ with women in the adult entertainment industry. Cultivated is a production of Harbor Media and Narrativo Group. This episode was produced by Mike Cosper, recorded and edited by TJ Hester and mixed by Mark Owens. Our theme music is by …

Dr. Gregory Alan Thornbury talks about his new book "Why Should The Devil Have All the Good Music?" about Larry Norman and the origins of Christian rock music. It’s a fascinating story that raises questions about both the role of the artist and the dangers of the Christian subculture.Cultivated is a production of Harbor Media & Narrativo Group.This…

Brian Koppelman, along with his creative partner David Levien, is the creator of the Showtime series Billions and writer of the film Ocean's Thirteen. Brian also hosts Mike's favorite podcast, The Moment, which you can check out here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-moment-with-brian-koppelman/id814550071?mt=2 Today's conversation focuses o…

This week, Mike talks with Skip and Timshel Matheny from Roman Candle. Conversation includes what it's like being husband and wife in a band, why so much of Christian music sucks, and how their faith has changed and shifted over the years. Check out Roman Candle's website here http://www.romancandlemusic.com/ And check out Skip and Timshel's podcas…

Vito Aiuto is one half of the indie band Welcome Wagon, along with his wife Monique. He’s also the pastor of a church in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. On this episode, we talk about the parallel journeys he’s taken as an artist and a pastor, about working with Sufjan Stevens, and about a variety of challenges that pastors and Christians face in our world…

Jonathan Seale is a record producer and the co-founder of Mason Jar Music. He’s worked with Feist, Fleet Foxes, Josh Garrells, and many more. On this episode we talk about making records, about Mason Jar’s “analog” approach to music, about living in community, and about how his faith informs his the way he works. Learn more at: www.MasonJarMusic.co…