JUST FYI POD: Conversations about Culture, Ideas, and Life

We did it! The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE’s first season is to explore the “20 Most Spiritually Significant Films of All Time.” On this episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I continue our countdown—this time focusing, yes, on the #1 film on our respective lists. I begin with Terrence Malick’s 1998 war drama THE THIN RED LINE, while Amy turns to Xavier Beauvois’ 2010 drama OF GODS AND MEN (DE...

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE’s first season is to explore the “20 Most Spiritually Significant Films of All Time.” On this episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I continue our countdown—this time focusing on the #2 film on our respective lists. Amy begins with Robert Duvall’s 1997 drama THE APOSTLE, while I turn to the Coen Brothers’ 2009 dark comedy/existential drama A SERIOUS MAN. In both...

During the first season of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS, my cohost Clark Elliston and I will countdown our ten favorite works of theology. On today’s episode, we turn to the #4 book on our respective lists. I will discuss the short, patristic-era treatise THE MYSTICAL THEOLOGY (Περὶ μυστικῆς θεολογίας), written by an unknown author who, for centuries, was identified with an early Christian convert known as...

During the first season of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS, my cohost Clark Elliston and I will countdown our ten favorite works of theology. On today’s episode, I will discuss Henri de Lubac’s 1944 book THE DRAMA OF ATHEIST HUMANISM (LE DRAME DE L’HUMANISME ATHÉE), while Clark examines Rowan Williams’ 2003 text SILENCE AND HONEYCAKES. For further details, links, essays, and more, please visit cbarnett.substa...

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE’S first season is to explore the “20 Most Spiritually Significant Films of All Time.” On this episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I continue our countdown—this time focusing on the #3 film on our respective lists. Amy begins with Elia Kazan’s 1954 crime drama ON THE WATERFRONT, while I explore Terrence Malick’s 2011 epic drama THE TREE OF LIFE. Subscribe (for...

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE’s first season is to explore the “20 Most Spiritually Significant Films of All Time.” On this episode—and following a brief preview of Sunday night’s 96th Academy Awards—my cohost Amy Welborn and I continue our discussion. Coming in at #4, we each have selected Ingmar Bergman’s historical fantasy film THE SEVENTH SEAL (DET SJUNDE INSEGLET, 1957). Set in medie...

During the first season of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS, my cohost Clark Elliston and I will countdown our ten favorite works of theology. On today’s episode, we will feature *two* works by the great Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-45). I will explore Bonhoeffer’s 1937 spiritual classic DISCIPLESHIP (NACHFOLGE), while Clark will discuss Bonhoeffer’s posthumously published ETHICS (ETHIK). Of c...

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE’s first season is to explore the “20 Most Spiritually Significant Films of All Time.” On this episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I continue our discussion—this time focusing on the #5 film on our respective lists. Amy begins with Carl Theodor Dreyer’s classic historical film THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC (LA PASSION DE JEANNE D’ARC, 1928), while I dive into Wim...

During the first season of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS, my cohost Clark Elliston and I will countdown our ten favorite works of theology. On today’s episode, I will explore REVELATIONS OF DIVINE LOVE by the medieval English anchoress Julian of Norwich (ca. 1343 - after 1416). Meanwhile, Clark will discuss I SEE SATAN FALL LIKE LIGHTNING (JE VOIS SATAN TOMBER COMME L’ÉCLAIR), published by the French polyma...

During the first season of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS, my cohost Clark Elliston and I will countdown our ten favorite works of theology. On today’s episode, Clark will discuss Friedrich Schleiermacher’s 1799 book ON RELIGION: SPEECHES TO ITS CULTURED DESPISERS (ÜBER DIE RELIGION: REDEN AN DIE GEBILDETEN UNTER IHREN VERÄCHTERN), while I will examine NATURAL THEOLOGY—a compendium of two landmark 1934 texts...

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE’s first season is to explore the “20 Most Spiritually Significant Films of All Time.” On this episode, authors Christopher B. Barnett and Amy Welborn continue their discussion—this time focusing on the #6 film on their respective lists. Amy begins with Federico Fellini’s 1954 drama THE ROAD (LA STRADA), while Chris follows with an examination of Paul Thomas A...

During the first season of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS, my cohost Clark Elliston and I will countdown our ten favorite works of theology. On today’s episode, Clark will discuss Helmut Thielicke’s A LITTLE EXERCISE FOR YOUNG THEOLOGIANS (1962), while Chris will examine Jacques Ellul’s ANARCHY AND CHRISTIANITY (ANARCHIE ET CHRISTIANISME, 1988). See cbarnett.substack.com for additional details and links, not...

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE’s first season is to explore the “20 Most Spiritually Significant Films of All Time.” On this episode, authors Christopher B. Barnett and Amy Welborn continue their discussion—the time focusing on the #7 film on their respective lists. Amy begins with the Oscar-winning historical drama A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS (Fred Zinnemann, 1966), while Chris turns to one of...

During the first season of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS, my cohost Clark Elliston and I will countdown our ten favorite works of theology. On today’s episode, I will focus on DEATH AND IMMORTALITY (TOD UND UNSTERBLICHKEIT, 1968), written by the German Catholic philosopher Josef Pieper (1904-97). Meanwhile, Clark will examine THE DOORS OF THE SEA: WHERE WAS GOD IN THE TSUNAMI? (2005), penned by the American...

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE’s first season is to explore the “20 Most Spiritually Significant Films of All Time.” On this episode, authors Christopher B. Barnett and Amy Welborn continue their discussion—this time focusing on the #8 film on their respective lists. Amy examines Akira Kurosawa’s 1952 classic IKIRU (生きる), while Chris ponders John Michael McDonagh’s 2014 drama CALVARY. T...

JUST FYI POD is now effectively two podcasts in one: (i) JUST FYI POD: CULTURE with Amy Welborn, which is now approaching the 15th episode of its inaugural season, with a current focus on “spirituality and movies;” and now (ii) JUST FYI POD: IDEAS with Clark Elliston, which is getting underway on today’s episode. In this introductory podcast, Clark and I will discuss life at the University of Oxfo...

Authors Christopher B. Barnett and Amy Welborn continue to countdown the most spiritually significant films of cinematic history. On this episode, they discuss and debate the #9 film on their respective lists—for Chris, Stanley Kubrick’s dystopian satire A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971); for Amy, Andrew Niccol’s sci-fi drama GATTACA (1997). As always, please listen, rate, and comment. For more details, s...

Authors Christopher B. Barnett and Amy Welborn continue to discuss the most spiritually significant films of all time. On this episode, they breakdown the #10 film on their respective lists: Chris turns his attention to Gabriel Axel’s 1987 drama BABETTE’S FEAST (BABETTES GÆSTEBUD), while Amy opts for Harold Ramis’s 1993 comedy GROUNDHOG DAY. As always, please listen, review, and comment. For more...

Authors Christopher B. Barnett and Amy Welborn endured the holidays and now resume their countdown of the 20 most spiritually significant films of all time. On today’s episode, they both concentrate on Woody Allen’s 1989 drama-comedy CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS. It’s dark film made by a controversial auteur. So, how is it “spiritually significant”? Tune in and find out! As always, please give us a “fo...

Authors Christopher B. Barnett and Amy Welborn temporarily pause their series on the most spiritually significant films of all time and instead offer a “Best of 2023” retrospective. Topics include literature, politics, media, cinema, music, and television.

Authors Christopher B. Barnett and Amy Welborn continue to countdown the 20 most spiritually significant films of all time. On today’s Christmas-themed episode, Chris takes a look at Frank Capra’s 1946 drama IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, while Amy tells us why Billy Wilder’s 1960 romantic comedy THE APARTMENT should be remembered as a great Christmas movie. So, pour yourself a mug of eggnog (with a dash...

Authors Christopher B. Barnett and Amy Welborn continue to countdown the 20 most spiritually significant films of all time. On today’s episode, Amy analyzes the 1963 comedy LILIES OF THE FIELD, starring Sidney Poitier, while Chris examines the 1994 prison drama THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman.

Authors Christopher B. Barnett and Amy Welborn return to countdown the 20 most spiritually significant films of all time. On today’s episode, Chris examines ANDREI RUBLEV (Andrei Tarkovsky, 1966), while Amy considers AMADEUS (Miloš Forman, 1984). Listen, like, subscribe!

Authors Christopher B. Barnett and Amy Welborn return to countdown the 20 most spiritually significant films of all time. On today’s episode, Amy selects JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO (John Patrick Shanley, 1990), while Chris delves into THE DARK KNIGHT (Christopher Nolan, 2008). Listen, like, subscribe!

Authors Christopher B. Barnett and Amy Welborn return to countdown the 20 most spiritually significant films of all time. On today’s episode, Amy discusses DEAD MAN WALKING (Tim Robbins, 1995), while Chris examines DOGVILLE (Lars von Trier, 2003).