Episode 27: "Against Killing Children"

In today’s episode, Matt and John discuss “Against Killing Children,” the first essay in Wendell Berry’s new essay collection, Dispatches from Rural America. That essay touches on everything from school shootings and the total destruction of war, to the inadequacies of the materialist worldview, and the demands of Christian conscience if children are made in the image of God. We also discuss how the essay is made even more poignant by Berry’s passing in August.

Reading along? In the next episode, we will be discussing the second essay from Dispatches from Rural America: “The Problem is Industrialism.”

"Against Killing Children"
The Membership: A Wendell Berry Podcast

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Episode 26: Introducing New Host Matt Wheeler & Season 4 Preview

In this episode, we introduce new co-host Matt Wheeler, a singer-songwriter from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. John and Matt talk about Matt's experience turning Wendell Berry's short stories into an album, how Matt answers the question: "What Wendell Berry book should I read first?", and how he started corresponding with the Berrys.

Then John and Matt preview Season 4 and reveal the book they will be discussing first: Berry's forthcoming essay collection, Dispatches from Rural America (out October 27).

Next episode: We will be discussing the essay "Against Killing Children," the first essay in Berry's new collection Dispatches from Rural America.

New Host Matt Wheeler | Season 4 Preview
The Membership: A Wendell Berry Podcast

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Episode 25: Re-launching "The Membership" | "How to Be a Poem"

In this episode, John announces the relaunch of the podcast with a new cohost, singer-songwriter Matt Wheeler. The first episode with Matt comes out on Tuesday, October 13. John also reads an article that he wrote for Substack in the days after Wendell Berry’s death on August 31.

Relaunching the Podcast | "How to Be a POEM"
The Membership: A Wendell Berry Podcast

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THE MEMBERSHIP ONLINE

Episode 24: "Whitefoot: A Story from the Center of the World"

In this episode of The Membership, David and John discuss a book that is an unusual in the Port William series -- it's about a mouse, and is sometimes classified as a children's book -- but still feels right at home. That book? Whitefoot: A Story from the Center from the World, by Wendell Berry. We talk about the experience of compressing the imagination to the size of a mouse, where this book sits among Berry's other works, and why the realization that one lives at the center of the world is "the world's profoundest thought." And much more.

"Whitefoot: A Story from the Center of the World"
The Membership: A Wendell Berry Podcast

Episode 23: A Sabbath Poem for Christmas: "Remembering that it happened once..."

In his poem “Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front,” Wendell Berry calls the reader to “Practice resurrection.” In today’s episode, we discuss one of Berry’s Sabbath poems. It has a Christmas theme that could be summarized this way: “Practice incarnation.”

A Sabbath Poem for Christmas: "Remembering that it happened once..."
The Membership: A Wendell Berry Podcast

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Episode 22: Singer-Songwriter Matt Wheeler on His New Port William-inspired Album

In this episode, we interview singer-songwriter Matt Wheeler about his new album, A Hard History of Love. That album is inspired by five short stories in Berry’s story collection, That Distant Land. We talk about the process of writing songs inspired by great literature, about some of our favorite Port William characters, and what “membership” looks like in Matt’s life.

UPDATE: The Kickstarter for Matt’s album release is now fully funded. All backers will now receive a print of Ned Bustard’s cover art for the album. The Kickstarter ends on August 25 at 7:15 a.m. Eastern.

Kickstarter for A Hard History of Love: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hardhistory/a-hard-history-of-love-by-matt-wheeler

Singer-Songwriter Matt Wheeler on His New Port William-inspired Album
The Membership: A Wendell Berry Podcast

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Episode 21: A Returning, a New Voice, and a Look Ahead

The Membership Podcast returns! We catch you up on the last three years, introduce a new co-host, and preview some of the books we’ll be reading in Season 3. Our next episode is coming in just a couple days, so be on the lookout!

A Returning, a New Voice, and a Look Ahead
The Membership: A Wendell Berry Podcast

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Episode 20: "Nathan Coulter"

In this episode, John and Tim discuss Nathan Coulter, Wendell Berry’s debut novel.

 
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Season 2 Episode 5: "Nathan Coulter"
The Membership: A Wendell Berry Podcast


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HOSTS

Jason Hardy
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John Pattison
Twitter

Tim Wasem
Twitter


If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, head over to Patreon to pledge a small monthly donation. Donations will go toward the costs of making this podcast. Thank you.


Top image via Unsplash.

Episode 19: "Farming: A Hand Book"

In this episode, Jason, John and Tim discuss Farming: A Hand Book, Wendell Berry’s 1970 poetry collection.

 
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Season 2 Episode 4: "Farming: A Hand Book"
The Membership: A Wendell Berry Podcast


SHOW NOTES AND LINKS

HOSTS

Jason Hardy
Facebook

John Pattison
Twitter

Tim Wasem
Twitter


If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, head over to Patreon to pledge a small monthly donation. Donations will go toward the costs of making this podcast. Thank you.


Top image via Unsplash.