Peculiar Crossroads Podcast

A special Easter post, where I reflect on the lasting effects of bad doctrine and the joy of being rewarded by Christ. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit korimorgan.substack.com

It's been a year since Why I Dyed My Hair Purple came out...and the year didn't go the way I planned. Here, I share thoughts about God's sovereignty, loving discipline, and the knowledge that He always tells a better story than the ones we tell ourselves. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit korimorgan.substack.co...

I was a Wicked fan before it was cool. Here, I share my memories, connections to my Christian faith, and how the story left me changed for good. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit korimorgan.substack.com

We are back for our first episode since June. In this installment, I share my thoughts on Springsteen: Delivery Me from Nowhere, talk about my love of the album Nebraska , and discuss the role creative writing can play in healing from trauma. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit korimorgan.substack.com

After a month away, I returned to Substack last week, and the response was deeply humbling. So many of you said you missed my words. That means more than I can say. But the truth is, I’m still not quite back. April brought a back injury, emotional weight, and some unfolding circumstances that are asking a lot of me. So, I’m pressing pause. Just for a little while. I'll still be around—you just won...

“Well. I’m back.” After an unexpected (and painful) pause, I’m easing back into writing—with help from The Sound of Music , couch-bound memories, and a reminder that beauty and hope can coexist with affliction.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This week’s Substack isn’t about my injury. It’s about Maria, marionettes, and the strange comfort of a movie that faces down darkness with joy. This is a public episode. If you wo...

When I was 13, I had a crush on a boy who liked country music. Predictably, the crush was fleeting . . . but the love of the music was not. In this new installment of Why I Dyed My Hair Purple: B-Sides, I share an essay about teenage love, generational trauma, & how music can be the bridge between our most painful moments & our deepest personal connections. Read or listen on Substack now. This is...

This month has been hard. Nothing catastrophic. Just . . . a lot.  Work. Stress. Health. Life. But here’s what I’m learning from God’s Word: You don’t have to feel ready to show up. You just have to show up. In my latest Substack post, I talk about the tension between needing rest and needing to take responsibility, between being overwhelmed and being faithful in the small things.  Between waiting...

What if the most powerful stories you carry aren’t meant to be written—at least not yet? In this reflective Substack post, I share thoughts on the 2024 total solar eclipse and how it became more than just a natural wonder—it became a sacred encounter with the majesty of God. From there, I explore why some experiences defy immediate articulation and how rushing to write can short-circuit their deep...

I’ve always been a writer. But I’ve never been only a writer. Creativity and practicality have shared a desk in my life for as long as I can remember. When I made my initial visit to Ohio Northern University, where I went to college, I met the head of the English department. We sat at the long desk in his office, the same one I’d sit at four years later as I discussed graduation requirements with...

Is it just me...or were YA books from the '80s and '90s super dark? 😱 Like, there was a high body count. Lots of ghosts and supernatural stuff. Many situations of peril. This week, I'm sharing with you a few of my favorite weird '90s book titles. You just might find yourself on the darkest end of memory lane, or with some new recommendations. Read or listen now. This is a public episode. If you w...

Today is the 100th birthday of my favorite author, Flannery O'Connor. 🦚🎂 In honor of this momentous occasion, this month's installment of Why I Dyed My Hair Purple: B-Sides features an essay about Flannery that didn't make it into the final book. Flannery and I had similar life-altering experiences at the same points in our lives, and in this essay, I imagine going through these turning points a...

A couple of years ago, my husband and I started attending a new church, and one of the biggest changes we encountered was how worship was conducted. No projection screens. No elaborate musical arrangements. Just voices raised together, singing from hymnals, word for word. At first, it seemed like a small difference. But over time, I realized something: when you sing an entire hymn, you’re not just...

I spent last weekend at the Square Halo conference in Lancaster and tried a bunch of really cool, new stuff. Learn about my experiences with songwriting, pottery, letting go of traumatic elementary school experiences, and the benefits of stepping outside your artistic box. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kori...

Confession time: I didn't always like Lord of the Rings. This is a dangerous admission given that I run around in a lot of circles where the books are revered. Yet, today, I count them among my favorite stories. What changed? I'm honestly not sure...but on this week's Substack, I'll share my story and explore some ways that our relationship with books can change over time. Maybe we can have a disc...

Welcome to the inaugural installment of Why I Dyed My Hair Purple: B-Sides, where I share outtakes from my essay collection, Why I Dyed My Hair Purple and Other Unorthodox Stories! This piece explores my somewhat off-brand fascination for monster truck races, how it all got started, and why experiencing the passions of other people just might have rewards waiting for you. This is a public episode....

People are often surprised to learn that Metallica is one of my favorite bands. It's true that I'm not a huge metal fan, but their melodic approach to the genre and thought-provoking lyrics fascinate me. In my newest Substack, I talk about their often-misunderstood 1996 album Load . Specifically, I explore my favorite track, "Hero of the Day," in the context of my experiences struggling with menta...

This week, I reflect on my time at the Rabbit Room’s North Wind Manor during the winter edition of The Habit Membership writer's retreat. As I celebrate the release of Why I Dyed My Hair Purple and Other Unorthodox Stories , I’m struck by the passage of time—not just in my own creative journey but in the growth of my community. Five years have passed since I joined The Habit, and in that time, I’v...

This week on my Substack, I’m reflecting on something unexpected. Several people from my church family have now read Why I Dyed My Hair Purple —and their feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. I wasn’t expecting harsh criticism, but given my past experiences with religious people judging my art, I couldn’t help feeling a little anxious. Their comments, however, revealed something I never inten...

Sharing your work with readers is a big reason why writers do what we do... ...but it can also be one of the most agonizing and anxiety-provoking parts of the process. This week, I talk about how I've processed this reality during my first week of Why I Dyed My Hair Purple's release and offer a creative liturgy as a response. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other s...

Celebrate the release of Why I Dyed My Hair Purple with a lesson on writing, some artifacts from the Purple Hair Era, and some thoughts on this book entering the world. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit korimorgan.substack.com

The number of people I know who have been through spiritual trauma of some kind is staggering. From false teachers to bad doctrine to corrupt leadership, there is no shortage of reasons for this. I've been through this, too, but it's become a powerful part of my testimony and a crucial thread in my book, Why I Dyed My Hair Purple and Other Unorthodox Stories, which debuts next week. This week, I w...

While my new book is a collection of essays, I didn't always want to write nonfiction. Discover how I changed my mind, as well as how writing essays mirrors the biblical process of repentance. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit korimorgan.substack.com

My thoughts on Behold the Lamb of God, creative community, and how all of this relates to my forthcoming book launch. Plus: learn about how to join the launch team! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit korimorgan.substack.com

Introducing Why I Dyed My Hair Purple & Other Unorthodox Stories , my essay collection about art, faith, and being a misfit while belonging to Christ, coming January 21, 2025, from Calla Press Publishing. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit korimorgan.substack.com