something beautiful

greg russinger :: 2.39

jonathan@casadeblundell.com (Jonathan & Thomas) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:37:32 +0000

this week we talk with Greg Russinger, a husband, father, avid reader, film lover and a lover of humanity. as part of his journey, he was one of the editors of Practitioners, a book that journaled many of the reflections and conversations that were born out of the Soliton events and network.

Greg is also one of the co-founders of JustOne, a movement formed to “stimulate greater global awareness about extreme poverty, and to provoke compassionate ideas and intelligent giving in order to provide sustainable relief.”

during our conversation, Greg talks about JustOne and what he’s learned about compassion and caring for others along his journey. he also shares some insight into the upcoming Idea Camp in the Pacific Northwest.

music ::
half handed cloud – all we like sheep have gone astray

2.8.3 :: mark horvath (remix)

jonathan@casadeblundell.com (Jonathan & Thomas) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:41:38 +0000

due to the continual overwhelming popularity of our interview with Mark Horvath (which was originally published in two episodes) we’re re-releasing the interview with Mark in it’s entirety in one complete episode.

Mark Horvath is a homeless advocate whose using twitter and other social media to increase awareness about the growing issue of homelessness here in America. not only does Mark see these issues daily on the streets, he’s also lived them himself.

Mark admits that some of the stories he shares are offensive — but he hopes they make the viewers mad enough they’ll get up and do something.

From invisiblepeople.tv ::

On the street I saw a small girl cold and shivering in a thin dress, with little hope of a decent meal. I became angry and said to God; “Why did you permit this? Why don’t you do something about it?” For a while God said nothing. That night he replied, quite suddenly:

“I certainly did something about it. I made you.”

I once heard a story about a homeless man on Hollywood Blvd who really thought he was invisible. But one day a kid handed the man a Christian pamphlet. The homeless guy was shocked and amazed, “what! You can see me? How can you see me? I’m invisible!”

It isn’t hard to comprehend this man’s slow spiral into invisibility. Once on the street, people started to walk past him, ignoring him as if he didn’t exist… much like they do a piece of trash on the sidewalk. It’s not that people are bad, but if we make eye contact, or engage in conversation, then we have to admit they exist and that we might have a basic human need to care. But it’s so much easier to simply close our eyes and shield our hearts to their existence.

I not only feel their pain, I truly know their pain. I lived their pain. You’d never know it now but I was a homeless person. Fourteen years ago, I lived on Hollywood Blvd. But today, I find myself looking away, ignoring the faces, avoiding their eyes — and I’m ashamed when I realize I’m doing it. But I really can feel their pain, and it is almost unbearable, but it’s just under the surface of my professional exterior.

if you’d like to listen to this podcast in it’s original presentation check out part 1 and part 2.

music ::
fast distance – heaven’s melody
derek webb – a king and a kingdom
brian lee and his orchestra – wake up
dave andrews – let justice roll

mike rusch :: 2.38

jonathan@casadeblundell.com (Jonathan & Thomas) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:56:55 +0000

this week we talk to Mike Rusch, husband, father, follower, and one of the co-founder of the Cobblestone Project, a community movement in northwest Arkansas.

from the Cobblestone website:

The Cobblestone Project was founded in April 2008 by families who were committed to stepping forward to make a meaningful difference in their community. The motivation of this movement to action was the belief that every person has a unique and immeasurable value by virtue of their shared human story. These families believe that this human story is defined by a movement towards the restoration of the image that all people were created in. They believe that every human heart deserves dignity, respect and the opportunity to fully realize their beauty.

When a community of people engages together in bringing to light those whose image can not fully be achieved, true change begins to take place.

The dream of the Cobblestone Project is to work towards

“A Community Without Need”

music ::
moby – pale horses (apparat remix)
bifrost arts – i sought the Lord

justin m. snyder :: 2.37

jonathan@casadeblundell.com (Jonathan & Thomas) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:30:11 +0000

this week we talk with Justin Snyder, storyteller, guacamole aficionado, founder of Abandon Films and all around great guy. Justin talks about his faith, film and how the two intertwine.

after spending a year as a media missionary for the Southern Baptist Convention, Justin joined with several friends to found Abandon Films.

Abandon Films began in 2007, launching with the quirky road trip documentary, The Great American Road Trip, and multiple projects for churches and non-profit ministries. Since then, the body of work has expanded to include three short films (one receiving an award for best graphics at the Richmond 48 Hour Film Festival), and an impressive portfolio of client work for non-profits and high profile organizations such as the Taubman Museum of Art and Geneva World.

Their client projects have taken them across the country, from disaster relief efforts in the California fires, to exclusive tours at the United Nations headquarters in New York. They have clients in Geneva, Nashville, Atlanta, Richmond, and Roanoke, and have collaborated on projects with various industry professionals including Access Advertising, Portnoy Media Group, and Red Cloud Productions.

so listen in, be inspired and then share your thoughts about Christians in film, Christian films, Christian art or anything else that comes to mind… and then share it with your friends.

also – huge props to Brooke Waggoner for giving our listeners an exclusive listen to her new single – which drops digitally on Oct. 6.

Click here to view the embedded video.

music ::
dm stith – morning glory cloud
ashley cleveland – the blessing
bluegrass orphans – bare kitchen floor
brooke waggoner – chromates soft love

jason c. dukes :: 2.36

jonathan@casadeblundell.com (Jonathan & Thomas) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:33:47 +0000

this week we talk with Jason C. Dukes about his mission to Live Sent and how he’s found ways to practically live it out 168 hours a week.

From his blog:

I am a follower and a leader. a husband and a father. a son and a brother. a learner and a teacher. a writer and a dreamer. I try to listen to and live for Jesus everyday. I try to give my family more than leftovers, creatively and passionately investing into their lives. I try to think about the interests of others ahead of my own, but that’s really hard. I really enjoy seeing other people dream and live those dreams. I really dig Duke basketball, and I cheer for Jeff Gordon.

I currently serve on pastoral team with Westpoint Church, which my wife and I were asked to start back a few years ago. I also helped to start some really cool stuff since then: HouseBlendCafe.com, ReproducingChurches.com, theChurchofWestOrange.com and areopagus.tv and HumanityBeautiful.com.

Jason is also the author of Live Sent – You Are a Letter which was published this month, delving deeper into this idea.

music ::
horsefeathers – working poor
phil wickham – eden

bonus audio :: 2.35

jonathan@casadeblundell.com (Jonathan & Thomas) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:22:09 +0000

our co-hosts Thomas and Stewart chatted about our guest Rick Reynolds this week but our editor in chief missed the notification. doh!

so here it is, in it’s entirety. listen to Rick’s story, enjoy the chat from Thomas and Stewart and then call in with your own thoughts :: 972-535-8980.

rick reynolds :: 2.35

jonathan@casadeblundell.com (Jonathan & Thomas) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:36:41 +0000

this week we talk with Rick Reynolds, who’s currently serving as the missions pastor for Lifechurch Reno, Nevada. Rick is also working to plant a new church (launching early 2010) in the downtown Reno area, with a goal of making Jesus real to the unchurched through loving and serving them in practical ways.

music ::
kings of leon – use somebody
yeah yeah yeahs – zero

innes johnston :: 2.34

jonathan@casadeblundell.com (Jonathan & Thomas) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:27:43 +0000

on the show this week, we hear from Innes Johnston, who talks about his life, growing up in a multitude of different churches, traveling the seven seas — well one or two of them at least and then coming to find out what full-time ministry is really all about.

music ::
kevin macmeod – protofunk
shannon stevens – in summer in the heat

johnny laird :: 2.33

jonathan@casadeblundell.com (Jonathan & Thomas) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:49:06 +0000

this week Thomas chats with our good friend Johnny Laird.

Johnny describes himself as ::

Follower of Jesus, Husband to my beautiful Janet, Dad to the wonderful Mia Alana & Noah Joseph, Salvationist, Scot with an English accent, International Director of sitting around & drinking coffee,

we just know him as a good friend and an inspirational chat who’s always encouraging us on our journey. listen in and then get to know Johnny online via his blog and twitter.

if you’d like to listen to this episode in 2 parts, visit drop.io/sbpodcast.

music ::
helado negro – awe owe-deja
noah and the whale – first day of spring

peter rollins :: 2.32

jonathan@casadeblundell.com (Jonathan & Thomas) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 02:39:44 +0000

this week our good friend Adele Sakler (@existentialpunk) shares audio from a chat with her friend, author Peter Rollins.

Rollins is the founder and coordinator of the experimental collective in Belfast, Ireland, Ikon. he is also a writer, speaker and blogger.

he’s the author of the books, “How (Not) To Speak Of God,” “The Fidelity of Betrayal: Towards a Church Beyond Belief,” and most recently, “The Orthodox Heretic and Other Impossible Tales.”

music ::
steven delopoulous – gospel plough
derek webb – my enemies are men like me

paula spurr :: 2.31

jonathan@casadeblundell.com (Jonathan & Thomas) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 05:26:02 +0000

this week we talk with the first canadian to join us on our show, paula spurr (aka @cowpunkmom). we talk about her life as a preacher’s kid, her rebellious college life, becoming a pastor’s wife, her music, creativity and her unique nickname. we also throw in some legalism, grace along the way.

from her blog:

I am an artist. I am an actor. I am a musician. I am a dancer. I am a lover. I am a writer. I am not very good at any of these things yet, but I continue to do them. Why let mediocrity stop me? The things I’m good at, like rage and laziness, I’d rather stop practicing anyway.

music ::
bluegrass orphans – studebaker
bluegrass orphans – bare kitchen floor
bluegrass orphans – shining path

amanda kloer :: 2.30

jonathan@casadeblundell.com (Jonathan & Thomas) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 04:05:05 +0000

this week we talk with abolitionist and editor of Change.org’s end human trafficking section, Amanda Kloer. she shares some of her story and fills us in about the 27 million individuals that are being being bought and sold around the world – today.

we hope this story interrupts you today. that you start thinking about what you’re saying with your wallet and you start standing up for those held in bondage and oppression.

But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women.
It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don’t take yourself too seriously — take God seriously. – Micah 6:8

the national human trafficking hotline :: 1-888-3737-888

UPDATE (9/3/09) :: Chipotle responds

Click here to view the embedded video.

related ::
humantrafficking.change.org
amanda on twitter
fairtrade usa (transfair)
fairtrade.change.org
tell Chipotle to stand up for the rights of farmers – UPDATE (9/3/09) :: Chipotle responds
madebysurvivors.com
chainstorereaction.com – see companies and their responses to human trafficking
Stop the Traffik
chaste.org.uk
salvation army anti-trafficking campaign

music ::
radiohead – all i need
dj haggis – funkyuniverse
mr. j. medeiros – constance

stewart and avril cutler :: 2.29

jonathan@casadeblundell.com (Jonathan & Thomas) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:30:19 +0000

at the beginning of July Stewart and his wife Avril were asked to go to the Holy Land to help to lead a week-long summer camp for a very special group of young people. these young people are Arab Christians living in Israel/Palestine, many of whom have suffered due to the violence in that volatile region.

Stewart and Avril share their thoughts on a week that changed their perceptions of the Holy Land, its people and its place at the center of their faith.

music ::
spiritualized – angel sigh (alt mix)
great lake swimmers – everything is moving so fast
this is ivy league – crown of love

greg garrett :: 2.28

jonathan@casadeblundell.com (Jonathan & Thomas) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:00:09 +0000

this week Greg Garrett returns to the podcast to talk about his new book, “We Get to Carry Each Other – The Gospel According to U2.” Greg talks about his new book, U2’s Gospel and some of the spiritual insights we can gain from the band and their music.

music ::
dj earworm – together as one
u2 – zoo station (rock 2000 mix)
u2 – breathe
danyew – beautiful king

lanessa allman :: 2.27

jonathan@casadeblundell.com (Jonathan & Thomas) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:19:12 +0000

this week we talk with Army wife, blogger and now author, Lanessa Allman. Lanessa tells us about the struggles she went through last year after contracting encephalitis shortly after the birth of her fourth son, Clark. she shares some of the battles she went through on the road to recover and what she learned about God and the Body of Christ along the way.

music ::
bluegrass orphans – road to canaan
bluegrass orphans – that home far away
bluegrass orphans – shining path

thomas recaps malcolm gladwell :: 2.26

jonathan@casadeblundell.com (Jonathan & Thomas) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:00:06 +0000

this week on the podcast, two scotsmen chat about the american civil war and the battle at chancellorsville and how relates it back to modern christianity.

the chat developed from thomas’ reflections on a speech given by malcolm gladwell this week in glasgow.

malcolm gladwell is a british-born canadian journalist, author, and pop sociologist, based in new york city. he has been a staff writer for the new yorker since 1996. he is best known as the author of the books, the tipping point (2000), blink (2005), and outliers (2008).

listen in and then share your thoughts via e-mail, facebook, ning or here on our site.

the question that remains is “where do we go from here?”

watch malcolm gladwell’s TED talk::

Click here to view the embedded video.

music::
bo heart – wayfaring stranger
radiotimes – our voices shall be heard (for the protesters in Iran)

musical interlude :: 2.25

jonathan@casadeblundell.com (Jonathan & Thomas) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 03:00:34 +0000

this week we take a break from the chatter and bring you a refreshing musical interlude from Stewart.

Stewart used to be a club DJ, long, long ago. he hung up his headphones a while ago but has come out of retirement for a digital experiment in music curation. the result is a musical interlude with a distinctly summer vibe of blissed out beats for those endless summer days, whether you’re lying on a beach, reading in the garden or talking the night away with friends. relax and enjoy.

music ::

L4 tely – easn
thor’s magic bath – lackluster
second coming – NGC1365
justice – gundonark
summer – mie
rock da dam – comfort fit
waitin’ in a bottle – dadubb
the upper clouds in the water – env(litr)
passing – the inventors of aircraft
beds and dishes – anios
aki – le mepris
limurite tekond – myrakaru
escape from gravity – monoceros
float – praveen
happy plingi – my first trumpet

lawrence moore :: 2.24

jonathan@casadeblundell.com (Jonathan & Thomas) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:02:34 +0000

this week we talk with Lawrence Moore, the director of the Windermere Centre, the United Reformed Church’s residential training centre in the English Lake District. the centre exists to help the Church discover its life-in-mission.

moore grew up in Zimbabwe during the mid 1960’s when Zimbabwe was still under British control. he experienced the country’s civil wars first hand as an officer in the Special Branch, often torturing enemies in the name of “saving Christian culture.” hear his story and what changed his theology along the way.

one year recaps :: bonus episode

jonathan@casadeblundell.com (Jonathan & Thomas) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:06:36 +0000

over the last few episodes, stewart, thomas and jonathan have shared some of their favorite moments from the something beautiful podcast.

we’ve complied them together into a bonus episode for your listening enjoyment.

thanks again for listening and we look forward to sharing another full year with you!

music ::
great lake swimmers – i am part of a large family
spiritualized – shine a light
castanets – sway
tripp fuller – in your people

photo from koalie

annie dorsey (part 2) :: 2.23

jonathan@casadeblundell.com (Jonathan & Thomas) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:29:38 +0000

on this episode we continue our chat with Annie Dorsey who her redemption story after several years of drug abuse and the life it brought with it.

be sure and listen to part one of her story if you haven’t already.

also on this episode, jonathan shares his thoughts and some highlights from our first year.

music ::
matt papa – hallelujah, our God reigns
so elated – redemption
rootdown – real love