At Sea with Justin McRoberts

Writing the Book Is Only Half the Story Literary agent and author Joy Eggerich joins Justin McRoberts for a conversation about the realities of modern publishing and what it means to pursue creative work in an industry that doesn’t always reward the things artists value most. Joy explains how the publishing landscape has changed, why traditional publishers have become more cautious, and how the ri...

Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Narnia adaptation has generated plenty of conversation, particularly around the reported casting of Meryl Streep as the voice of Aslan. Rather than deciding whether that interpretation is right or wrong, Justin uses the controversy to ask a larger question: What happens to art once the artist releases it into the world? Justin shares the story of artist Laura Van Daren’s “T...

Justin welcomes back W. David O. Taylor , theologian, author, and professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, for a conversation about art, faith, and the vocation of the artist. They begin with David’s own creative process and his somewhat unexpected path toward becoming a writer. David talks about learning to write in public, studying writers whose craft he admired, and discovering that while he l...

Why the AI conversation is bigger than functionality The hidden story underneath productivity and efficiency When accomplishment becomes a measure of human worth Why peace should be the source of work, not the reward for it Navigating religion when the rest of life is falling apart Spirituality as something that encompasses the whole person Signs that a religious system may be functioning like a c...

Nihilism is not the same as apathy Why nihilism can become a justification for inaction The pain and personal cost of continuing to care How information overload creates paralysis Why the systems feeding us outrage benefit from our inaction Turning down global noise without abandoning social responsibility Why meaningful action is usually local Art-making as an antidote to reactivity and overwhelm...

Starting with the surprisingly complicated question, “Does a book ever actually feel finished?”, they wander into the deeper realities of creativity, friendship, identity, vulnerability, and hope. Together they explore: Why is releasing creative work emotionally complicated? The people who quietly shape our work behind the scenes. How trusted relationships help us become better artists and better...

This episode is a listener Q&A covering some surprisingly connected themes: ambition, gratitude, creativity, faith, neurodivergence, and artificial intelligence. Justin explores: Why “being held back” isn’t always something to overcome. How gratitude changes our relationship with ambition. What to do when your faith feels like it’s falling apart. ADHD, executive functioning, and practical ways to...

Justin sits down with Charles Lee for a deep conversation around meaning, implementation, purpose, and the future of human fulfillment. Drawing from Charles’ new book framework, the conversation moves beyond surface-level productivity into the deeper questions most people avoid: Why are you doing what you’re doing? What kind of life are you actually building? What happens when achievement no longe...

Justin reflects on a recent interview with Diplo about AI replacing singers and uses it as a doorway into a deeper conversation about art, product, beauty, and human value. He argues that art is not valuable because it sells or because it reaches technical perfection. Art matters because it comes from a human being in process. Drawing on examples from Diplo’s collaborations, Billy Corgan’s resista...

  Breath and Clay as a “house of refuge” from cultural noise Community as collaboration, not organization Why the event works: clarity plus mystery Makers show up with projects, not just opinions Real-world outcomes: collaborations that keep growing after the weekend Letting fruit scatter without controlling the pipeline The 2026 theme: Making Space https://www.thebreathandtheclay.com The icon: th...

  Why “home” is a somatic experience, not just a location Persona vs personhood — and why the difference matters The danger of self-awareness without relationship Why stewardship is a better metaphor than ownership How shame becomes the most familiar somatic state Why healing must be titrated , not rushed The cost of progress-driven spirituality and productivity culture Reintegrating younger selve...

This week, Justin sits down with bestselling author Laura McKowen for an honest, layered conversation about sobriety, identity, creative calling, and the slow, often painful work of becoming whole.   Together they explore: • Why “place” matters for emotional and spiritual grounding • The strange internal pull that guides creative people long before they have language for it • How early snippets of...

• Why “waiting” feels harder now than it did a decade ago • What Arcade Fire’s “We Used to Wait” reveals about our relationship to speed • The spiritual value of slowness—especially during Advent • How desire clarifies identity rather than feeding consumption • A practical invitation: choose something you want, pause before getting it, and explore the desire beneath the desire • Reading from In th...

The false promise of “instant clarity” and “quick fixes.” Why bypassing struggle stunts real growth. How to use AI and psilocybin responsibly—without losing your humanity. The value of failure, pain, and disillusionment. Reflections from In the Low by Justin McRoberts & Scott Erickson on living fully in difficult seasons.   Links For Justin: Read Justin's Substack Order In The Low - NEW Book with...

Encouraging imagination in children: why participation beats restriction. Work transitions: how to discern whether to push harder where you are or look for something new. Why Justin doesn’t comment on celebrity-centered current events, and what’s at stake when we confuse spectacle with real importance. Closing with a prayer from In the Low (October 2025 release with Scott Erickson).   Links For Ju...

Justin shares gratitude for support after a recent car accident. Listener questions addressed: - How to reconnect during seasons of rejection and disconnection.  - Managing the overwhelm of life’s constant demands.  - Practicing transparency without sharing every detail. Insights from the Ignatian spiritual tradition on consolation and desolation. The importance of paying attention to your own nee...

Justin shares personal stories about his kids starting a new school year and the emotions that come with it. The myth of “creative block” and what it’s really about. How the Sabbath helps process endings and prepare for new seasons. Distinguishing between wisdom and fear when making choices. Why calling is more about who you’re becoming than choosing perfectly. Closing with an excerpt from Justin’...

Main Question: How to explain your need for a day of silence to family and friends Resistance: Often comes from good people and deserves thoughtful communication Making a Plan: Plans stick; impulses fade Calendar as a Tool: Helps visualize trade-offs and negotiate responsibly Life Built by Consent: Recognizing past choices and agreements as part of transformation Coaching and Investment: Why hirin...

Episode Notes: Authenticity in Art: You're a real artist if you’re doing the work—regardless of metrics or recognition. Internal Metrics for Growth: Choose your own measures of progress and satisfaction. Emotional Expression: Not every feeling needs to be shared online. Say less. Process more. Derek Sivers Insight: Sometimes saying your plans out loud gives you the reward without doing the work. N...

Handling Change: Embracing unpredictability through the lens of the welcoming prayer Prayer and Action: Why a true prayer life leads to action, and how activism should drive us back to prayer Identity and Memory: The myth of hyper-individuality and why our identity is held collectively—by others and by God Resources Recommended: Contemplation in a World of Action by Thomas Merton The Active Life b...

Episode Notes: Legalism vs. Values: Legalism is a rigid, unchanging posture; values evolve with evidence and relationship. Processing Group Hurt: Don’t rush past collective wounds; learn to carry them together. Contemplative Prayer: Prayer as receptivity and openness, not productivity. Caring for a Terminally Ill Friend: Let them teach you; honor their humanity without rushing to fix or control. C...

Episode Notes: Fostering unity in politically split churches: Use group-based creative projects and shared reflection (like Lectio Divina). Staying motivated: You don’t have to feel motivated—learn to work without it. Breaking conflict cycles: Let go of the need to win. Signal that the relationship means more than the argument. Navigating hard conversations: Only have them with people you trust. B...

Listener Question: How do I stay engaged with a broken or compromised system? Coaching Insight: The answer depends on context—but it starts with deciding if you want to engage Hero’s Journey Framework: Crisis, the low point, perspective, and the invitation to re-enter Temptation of Distance: Why staying detached can feel safe but keeps us isolated The Cost of Return: Re-engaging means risking hurt...

Introduction: The evolution of At Sea into a listener-driven Q&A format Public vs. Private Religion: Addressing a critique on public fasting and faith practices Perfectionism in Faith: How the demand for purity can lead to isolation Lessons from Leadership: Reflections on pastoral life and the struggles of maintaining a community Why Public Faith Matters: Creating shared spaces for growth, support...

Introduction: The shift in the podcast’s format and answering listener questions ADHD & Spirituality: Exploring how neurodivergence intersects with faith and spiritual formation Reframing ADHD: Why ADHD isn’t a disorder but a different way of interacting with the world Hyperactivity & Masculinity: How society misinterprets hyperactivity, especially in men Attention Deficit Myth: ADHD isn’t a lack...