Cooper & Cary Have Words

Cooper and Cary reunite for one special jingly episode recorded at the end of 2025, looking back on their book highlights and lowlights of the year. Against the Machine by Paul Kingsnorth is given the third degree. James explains why there are a number of books he has some serious problems with (I'm looking at you, George RR Martin). Barry's read some Thomas Hardy. Seriously. Very seriou...

Cary is back behind the mic. And Coops has written the theme tune - can you tell? And Cary is talking to friend of the show, Nate Morgan-Locke. Let's go! Shownotes and links here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2528873/episodes/17736377 Further episodes will appear on The Stand-Up Theologian feed. Subscribe! Support the show Unlock extended ad-free episodes, advance access, a huge episode archive...

And so adieu, adieu, to yieu and yieu. What have we learned in seven years? What's changed? How have we changed - and why are conservative evangelicals so reluctant to admit to changing? I guess the clue is in the title... Anyway, here are Cooper & Cary's Last Words, with a few fresh jingles as well as some golden oldies. Keep in touch with Cary at Cary’s Almanac Keep up to date with...

Ahead of the last ever episode dropping next time, Cooper and Cary thought this would make a good episode for our last 'replay'. Recorded in front of a tiny audience at Speak Life back in November 2021, this one has a bit of Cooper and Cary behind-the-scenes backstory and the importance of the absurd and daft jingles. And the interviewer/MC is friend of the show, the one who became Refor...

Originally entitled 'Too cool for School?', this stridently pro-homeschooling episode from 2021 generated more emails than any other to date. Have a listen and you might find out why. Or maybe you feel differently now? Support the show Unlock extended ad-free episodes, advance access, a huge episode archive, and bonus content, by subscribing to Cooper & Cary+ on Apple Podcasts . Or g...

Back in November 2020, we released this episode as "I'm Not Your Buddy Guy", which is a South Park reference Cary doesn't get, so he changed it to The Rest is Guy Fawkes, for obvious reasons. If you want to go to Cary's Almanac , you'll find that HERE . Support the show Unlock extended ad-free episodes, advance access, a huge episode archive, and bonus content, by sub...

Ever heard an audible voice from God? Or fetl that God was clearly instructing you to do something? Does that make you a "Charismatic" Christian? What's the difference between a Cessationist and a Continuationist? Back in October 2022, Coops and Cary chatted this one through. For other back episodes - dozens of them! - join us on Patreon ! And access to our Discord server which is b...

Back in September 2021, Coops and Cares got together to talk about the uncomfortable idea of rewards in heaven. Christians don't tend to dwell on this. Not today. Why? And what is the truth of the matter? Let's look at Luke 19. For other back episodes - dozens of them! - join us on Patreon ! And access to our Discord server. Support the show Unlock extended ad-free episodes, advance acce...

While we await our final episode #180, here's one from back in May 2021 about a question that comes round and around: should I leave my church? You could listen to an extended version via Patreon where you can access all previous 179 episodes! https://www.patreon.com/cooperandcary Support the show Unlock extended ad-free episodes, advance access, a huge episode archive, and bonus content, by...

Back in 2019, before everything got really weird, Coops and Cares recorded this episode about endings. The presenting issue was the Game of Thrones season finale, but it's not really about that. How do you end something? I guess we've been thinking a bit about that around here... Hope you enjoy. More from the archives over on Patreon . You're still welcome to join us there and fill...

This is not episode 180. That's still to come. But that'll be the last one. After that, it'll be "So long, and thanks for all the fish." You can listen to back episodes if you join us on Patreon. Support the show Unlock extended ad-free episodes, advance access, a huge episode archive, and bonus content, by subscribing to Cooper & Cary+ on Apple Podcasts . Or get every...

Cary has words with fellow writer, SD Smith (Green Ember) - and whaddayaknow? They complain about how hard it is to be a writer, even though they get to live in castles. In fact, it's mandatory. Anyway, the Green Ember series is huge. Find out why and how and what happened next. And check out SD Smith's wares at his website: https://sdsmith.com Support the show Unlock extended ad-free ep...

Cary has words with Dr Ted Turnau, academic, author and fanboy. What does it mean to be a fan, dress up and go to conventions? Is it a form of religion or a rival faith? And what happened with those guys who collected My Little Ponies? Is it high time we learned to Love Thy Nerd? https://lovethynerd.com And check out Oasis of the Imagination: https://amzn.to/4cMxURZ Imagination Manifesto https://a...

Cary has words with Christopher. That would be the utterly delightful Christopher Ash, who has just written a massive four-volume work on the Psalms for Crossway that shows us Christ in the Psalms. You can find it here: https://www.crossway.org/books/the-psalms-hcj-5/   Support the show Unlock extended ad-free episodes, advance access, a huge episode archive, and bonus content, by subscribing to C...

Cary has words with Ellie Wiener, a young ancient linguist whose bluff was called and she found herself researching a PhD on the Book of Job. Cary wonders if the beginning is so tragic it teeters over into comedy. And when God speaks to Job, is He sarcastic? Ellie has some thoughts. Support the show Unlock extended ad-free episodes, advance access, a huge episode archive, and bonus content, by sub...

Cary has words with Dr Graham Shearer about politics following his talk entitled:  “ Contemporary Politics and the Crisis of the Spiritual Sense ”. Turns out politics is not downstream from culture, as Cary had often assumed. Who knew? Well, Dr Graham knew. He's a Lecturer in Theology at Union Theological College, Belfast, so I guess he would, right? Support the show Unlock extended ad-free e...

Cary and (Rev Ash) Carter have words about the life and times of an extraordinary man: Richard Baxter. He lived from 1615 until 1691, and went from preaching to Parliament on a day of repentance for executing the King - to being imprisoned for being a theological troublemaker. What can we learn from his life, ministry and truly voluminous writings, including The Reformed Pastor . There's an u...

Cary has words with author, podcaster, failed atheist and former Director of Theos, Elizabeth Oldfield who looks at the seven deadly sins in her new book, Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times.  Support the show Unlock extended ad-free episodes, advance access, a huge episode archive, and bonus content, by subscribing to Cooper & Cary+ on Apple Podcasts . Or get everything on C&a...

What is Protestantism? And why are Protestants reluctant to use the term about themselves? Is it useful anymore? Rhys Laverty should know. He is Editor in Chief at Ad Fontes, Managing Editor at Davenant Press, and Director of Communications at the Davenant Institute. Find him and his work here: https://thenewalbion.substack.com/ Support the show Unlock extended ad-free episodes, advance access, a...

Cooper, Cary and Morgan Locke talk about The State of the Culture, art, entertainment, distraction, addiction and whether dopamine is all that. Plus some EXCITING new jingles... Referring to this article: https://www.honest-broker.com/p/the-state-of-the-culture-2024 And mentioning The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt https://amzn.to/44c7PIz Support the show Unlock extended ad-free episodes, ad...

Cary has words with friend of the show, Randy Newman, author of Questioning Evangelism, Mere Evangelism and a new book about spiritual journey called, Questioning Faith .  This is a conversation about how God uses us despite our terrible attempts at evangelism, and how non-believers are often stopped in their tracks by unexpected things. And it turns out there's one book by CS Lewis that neit...

From November 2022. Cooper and Cary have words about THAT line in the Apostles' Creed. What exactly was Jesus doing between his death and resurrection? https://journal.rts.edu/article/he-descended-into-hell/ Support the show Support the show Unlock extended ad-free episodes, advance access, a huge episode archive, and bonus content, by subscribing to Cooper & Cary+ on Apple Podcasts . Or...

Well, that was 2023. Join James and Barry as they choose their favourite episodes, dive into the C&C mailbag, and talk about their favourite books, films, tv, podcasts, and moments of 2023. Pull up a cocoa, recline by the glowing hearth, and - sure, go ahead - stoke the auld acquaintance, as we see out another year together. Support the show Unlock extended ad-free episodes, advance access, a...

James and Barry have extended words about Unidentified Autonomous (or Anomalous, or Aerial) Phenomena - UAPs to their friends. Strange things are being seen in the skies, even by highly trained and highly sceptical USAF fighter pilots, there is video evidence which has been made publicly available, and these things are being discussed at the highest levels of government. What's going on? Why...

Cooper and Cary have words about spiritual revivals with Jonathan Thomas, writer and presenter of the documentary Welsh Awakenings. Jonathan is pastor of Cornerstone Church Abergavenny, and the presenter of All Things Considered on BBC Radio Wales. Watch the documentary trailer here: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/welshawakenings Jonathan's book, Intentional Interruptions: Learning to be Interrup...