Starting a Podcast… it’s up and running!

For some people, figuring out the technology of podcasting may come easily, but not for me. Thankfully, I had a good teacher… yes, I took a class on how to start a podcast!

 

Our houseguest cats helped to supervise

Due to COVID, it took a long time for the microphone to arrive, and it was thrilling to connect it to the computer and figure out how to designate the microphone as the source for audio. I set up an online appointment calendar for guest speakers to sign up for recording spots, and so far, 15 episodes have been recorded and published!

 

Except on the hottest days, I had tea while recording, complete with rubber Duckie tea strainer!

I started off asking specific friends to consider talking with me about a particular Bible passage or theme, and gradually other people and topics emerged organically. The first five episodes were about fear, social justice, our relationship with God, waiting, and an introductory interview about “why start a Bible study podcast?”

 

Our farm share included LOTS of zucchini, shown here as mini pizzas

I’ve developed a basic website before, but had more technology to learn with this podcast site https://40minutesoffaith.com  Each episode has a blog which includes a partial transcript of the conversation along with resources mentioned during the episode, such as books, other websites, etc.

 

It wasn’t fun for me to learn how to connect to podcasting sites, but the episodes can be downloaded from https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-minutes-of-faith-podcast/id1518514761 and also https://open.spotify.com/show/0THkaDB3C371bPeAAtfT0B

 

In addition to those sites, some episodes are recorded with both audio and video, and they can be viewed on YouTube 40 Minutes of Faith Whew! I am not a fan of social media, but I post each new episode on Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn and the Facebook page for the podcast. As far as I am concerned, those locations are outreach opportunities for people to find out about the podcast so they might hear a word of welcome regarding faith. 

 

planting flower bulbs to bloom in the spring

I felt nervous before the first recording, and developed a checklist which included listening to a choir song, closing the window, etc.! I found out afterwards that many people are nervous about recording a podcast, even people who I ***thought*** were confident in other public faith settings. I appreciate people’s honesty and vulnerability in trying something new like this!

 

The prayers for each episode are recorded by Stephanie, even in the midst of her cross-country move! We started off with flute music at the beginning of episodes, and have recently added a newly composed and recorded version of "The Lord's Prayer" at the end of episodes.

I am starting a podcast!

What? Starting a podcast? Why? Well, a few reasons. They are apparently very popular (I wouldn’t know because I don’t listen to them very much!), and many people find them informative. I am astounded at the great variety of podcasts out there, as the only two I have listened to are Rick Steve’s travel podcasts, and Martha Beck’s. I believe that in the past when I have listened to recorded sermons from church services, they have not technically been podcasts at the time. Although I guess anything recorded and broadcast is a podcast? Enough of my technical ineptitudes!

our beautiful new-dish neck of the woods

I have been facilitating Bible studies for more than 20 years and learning from them for even longer. I have realized that there are seasons for giving more as well as seasons of life when we need more support, encouragement and learning. Sometimes I can give and learn at the same time. On occasion, what I think I need turns out to not be entirely true, and it takes other people and prayer to figure it out. 

trying to figure out where I am & where to next (look in the shadows of the tree branches)

In snowville, where the weather after mid-May is actually lovely, there are not many opportunities to learn from local Bible studies. I’m fortunate to be able to participate in the study on our nearby military installation. As a student, I always learn from Bible studies. Facilitators learn, too, but there are other administrative things to be aware of, so it’s not the same as being a student. 

learning about wildlife around here!

During seminary courses, we are in the Bible every day. Most faculty start and end the class with prayer, and most textbooks are about the Bible or theologians. Now that summer break is here, and church services remain online, I have a shortage of learning from and with other people. I can sit with a devotional, printed Bible study, or be a student via zoom or a website Bible study, but it’s not the same and I’m ready to give more.

someone hunkered down for a few days on our front steps!

It was actually Mr. Spice’s idea (what I used to call him when I was focusing on food & cooking earlier in the blog). He listens to podcasts all the time and suggested that a podcast Bible study would be a good way to get The Word out there. I considered the pros and cons of varying ways of leading a summer Bible study, and after some local options were no-gos, a podcast might be nice for people who can listen to it any time they want. The only thing missing will be live group participation.

Here’s the plan: I’m taking a class right now about how to start a podcast. I have 3 ring binders because I like to organize stuff! The smallest is about general podcast information including potential topics, guest speakers, and technical things like microphones and editing software. The next one is Bible studies that I wrote for a seminary class last semester. The biggest binder is for “social statements” that my church body has written with guidance about best practices for care of our neighbors and creation. 

I’d love to hear your comments, questions, and suggesions! 

What I’m learning in school this semester

Sooo, what’s new in school-land? Here is a photo of my textbooks. I was also supposed to buy a Bible “commentary”, but I didn’t because I have access to a bunch of different commentaries for free through the school library. Last semester I read parts of a different commentary every week for my course on “Minor Prophets”, which was interesting- both the class and seeing the different commentaries. My favorite at the time was a commentary about women in the Bible. 3 commentaries into the new semester, and I like Charles Swindoll’s style the best of those 3.

My fancy vocabulary is increasing exponentially, but I’d still rather talk and write “normal”. My favorite new word is “polyvalence”, which does not mean that I have a lot of curtains (although I do). It means that when each person reads the Bible they can understand it in a different way based on their own life experience and perspective. That is refreshing to hear!

Next, I recommend the book “Sacred Pauses” by April Yamasaki. I’ve read several books about trying to lower the amount of craziness and running around in our lives. This text approaches quiet time with respect, rather than mocking it according to our historical “Puritan work ethic”. Working hard is fine, but you don’t have to prove your value by being busy all of the time. I look forward to reading a chapter or two each week throughout the semester.

Our new house has built in bookcases!

I am writing a paper about something that I first learned at Simmons College (now University) in Boston. Research has shown that teachers may not realize how they call on boys more often than girls in classrooms. Attending a women’s college allowed space for women to be leaders, to answer ALL questions in the classroom, and to not worry about what boys/men/boyfriends/ex-boyfriends, etc. thought about what they were saying. There were plenty of opportunities for friendships and dating relationships in Boston, and the classroom was reserved for women’s academic advancement. My question now is: do women have stronger faith development experiences in single-gender Bible studies?

Finally, a course on faith development and discipleship. We’ve already finished a book by Austin Channing Brown, “I’m Still Here”, which I also highly recommend. More interesting books are on the syllabus for the spring semester. As always, holler if you have comments or questions!

What I’ve been learning in school!

Going back to graduate school after working full time for decades is not too bad. That said, I’m grateful for the G.I. Bill, which allows me to be a student and not have to worry about bringing in a paycheck at the same time. Good thing, since I couldn’t find a social work job in this corner of Germany!

Last walk through "our" woods in Germany

Anyway, my classes are really interesting, so here’s a sneak peak:

“Lutheran Ethics” includes reading about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who participated in the resistance movement during WWII. We are also reading the social statements here about diverse topics such as the care for our creation, peace, and many other relevant topics. I was very sorry to learn that Martin Luther wrote some terrible things about others, including Jewish people. I want to offer my apology over that transgression. Growing up, I had only heard about Luther saying that some practices of the Catholic church were not in accordance with his understanding about the Bible, which I agreed with.

I don't normally sit in my car for class, just when our home router is packed up!

In “21^st Century Leadership” we read a wonderful booklet by Henry Nouwen, whose writing I highly recommend. We are learning about boundaries, servant leadership, and organizational development. There have been guest lecturers in both classes. I am participating by a video conferencing service called “Zoom” from my home in Germany, and either watching the class live or checking out the recording the next day if it’s too late at night for me. I’m really glad that I met my classmates and professors in person during the first week of September in Iowa.

 

Hotel restaurant in Frankfurt, Germany before our flight

What, you ask, are “plural worlds”? I have had some tough textbooks, where I needed an English dictionary to understand the vocabulary words! In “theological orientation”, students “explore the place and meanings of religion for human life in our contemporary and culturally plural worlds…”  I hope I will pass this class! I’m spending plenty of time in the Bible as well as other documents, such as the “Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification”. The class is basically about how Jesus and Christianity interact with other faiths around the world. Let me know if you want details!

In Research, I’m learning all the nifty things I can see from really far away. For example, I borrowed a Bible Commentary from the military library near where we live, and it was published in 1971. This tome is POUNDS heavy but full of interesting information. Now, the Bible itself has not changed since then, but I thought our living situation & upcoming transition would be a good time for me to go online and see about other commentaries through the school library.  I’m also reminded about how many millions of hits you can get on information you don’t want when you search for a topic with more than 1 word.

 

German garden show over many acres

In my course about the minor prophets, we’ve read Hosea, Joel, and are starting on Amos now. Classes have written assignments and also a new type of discussion board called a voice thread. I was nervous about those at first, but now feel that they are way better than typed discussion boards. The professor asks a question and students make a short video recording of their answer. Then each student replies to 2 other students (same as a regular discussion board), except again in a short video comment. 

In Spiritual Practices we are also reading Bible passages each week, always including a Psalm, and reading a terrific book by Deanna A. Thompson, “The Virtual Body of Christ in a Suffering World”. How can faith communities support people through web-based methods? Some might say “no way, no how”, but for ill, homebound, snowbound, or people with long work schedules, online church may be their only church. Prayer can also be done on Facebook (see Planting Roots).

OK, that’s it for today. Ask some questions, and you’ll eventually get some answers!