The Mockingcast

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk diminished partying, fearful motivations, radical saints, and the difference between spells and prayers. Also, Sarah shares what will happen when all the yards are finally mowed. Click here for more details about our Spring Conference in NYC (5/1-3) Click here to pre-order Dave's new book, The Big Relief Click here to read Oshan Jarow's newsletter about mediation...

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk peak reviewing, Martha Stewart's redemption, and Vietnamese recovery. Also, Spotify brings Dave full circle while Sarah uncovers a lost monologue from an 80s classic. Click here to read "Whatever You Do, Don't Review This" by Eric Taub in the NY Times. Click here to read Belle Tindall's "What Spotify Wrapped Really Tells Us About Ourselves" on Seen & Unseen. C...

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk prepositional gratitude, backfiring fatalism, overgrown cemeteries, and lighthearted Advents. Also, RJ expounds on the benefits of bumblefat. Click here to respond to the opening appeal and support Mockingbird this year-end! Click here to read Joshua Rothman's essay in The New Yorker, "Why Is Gratitude So Difficult?" Click here to read Bryan Jarrell's piece for Mb...

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk post-election uncertainty, grieving non-grandparents, digital self-worth, and the bondage of the will. Also, Dave shares an important new use for q-tips. Click here to read Adam Grant's op-ed in the NY Times, "If You’re Sure How the Next Four Years Will Play Out, I Promise: You’re Wrong". Click here to read Dave's post-election round-up on Mbird. Click here to rea...

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk vibes, clutter, high school bullies, and fortunate falls. Also, Sarah contemplates Elvis, while RJ comes to terms with his uncoolness. Click here to read Kyle Edward Williams piece on Vibes in the Hedgehog Review. Click here to read Matt Alt's essay on The Joy of Clutter for Aeon. Click here Simeon Ellin's piece for Buzzfeed about Tracking Down the Girls Who Bulli...

Recorded in front of an audience in Tyler, TX, Sarah and Dave do their best to explain the What and Why of The Mockingcast. Think of it as a rare peek behind the curtain as well as a perfect jumping on point for new listeners. Also, Sarah spills some serious tea about a presidential funeral.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk Michelin stars, friends with money, autonomy traps, and Kristofferson's conversion. Also, Sarah and Dave gush about their favorite poet-priest-prophet-musician-TacoBellObsessive Andy Squyres. Click here to listen to The StoryMakers Podcast. Click here to read The Economist's report on The Curse of the Michelin Star. Click here to read about backfiring wellness ini...

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk school drop-off insanity, mindful underparenting, Silicon Valley rationalism, and anorexic recovery. Also, Sarah listens to a parking lot confession, while RJ fails to keep up. This episode is lovingly dedicated to the memory of Everett Lees. Click here to give to the Lees Family Trust. Click here to read about How School Drop-Off Became a Nightmare by Kendra Hurl...

In their first episode back, RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk peak loneliness, familial estrangement, and forgiven shoplifters. Also, our new logo/icon debuts, and a pair of Condons learn to surf. Click here for more information about our upcoming event in Tyler, TX (Sept 27&28) Click here to read "Why Is the Loneliness Epidemic So Hard to Cure?" in the NY Times Magazine Click here to order a copy of...

For Mockingcasters looking for something to listen to while the gang is on hiatus this summer, look no further! We hope you enjoy the first episode of the new season of Mbird's The Brothers Zahl podcast, "Faith". Click here to subscribe or listen to more episodes on Spotify Click here to subscribe or listen to more episodes on Apple Click here to visit the The Brothers Zahl landing page on Firesid...

In their last episode before the summer hiatus, RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk wedding snobbery, tearjerker movies, and secular exorcisms. The gang wish listeners a fruitful unburdening these next few months! If you feel so led, visit www.mbird.com/support to respond to the opening appeal. Click here to read Francesca Carington's article in the The Guardian, "Why Are We So Snobby About Other People's We...

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk weight loss drugs, hypochondria, and the hound of heaven. Also, Sarah attends a pool party while Dave fesses up to his inner Christian Scientist. Click here to listen to the recordings of our recent NYC Conference. Click here to watch Jerry Seinfeld's commencement address at Duke. Click here to read "So Was Body Positivity a Big Lie?" by Samhita Mukhopadhyay in Th...

Recorded live in front of the audience at Mockingbird's annual conference in NYC, RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk quarter-life crises, parental control, dating types, and the relief of not being God. Also, Dave and RJ finally figure out who won. Click here to read The New Quarter-Life Crisis by Maggie Mertens in The Atlantic. Click here to Kathryn Jezer-Morton's piece on "Parenting Through Control Issues...

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk furniture flipping, rental people, lunar eclipses, and Rwandan redemption. Also, RJ drops some serious science. Click here for more details about next week's Mbird Conference in NYC Click here to read the excerpt from Amanda Montell's new book The Age of Overthinking in Marie Claire Click here to receive Sarah Hinlicky Wilson's newsletter Theology and A Recipe, th...

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk elephant mudslides, liquid death, Alzheimers, and atonement. It's an instant classic! Click here to register for the NYC Conference (April 25-27). To reserve a spot for the James Tissot exhibit, email info@mbird.com ASAP. Click here to read Sallie Tisdale's piece in The Atlantic, "Do Animals Have Fun?" Click here to read Jacob Stern's article on how Of Course Amer...

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk interpersonal dislikes, luxury beliefs, and Roman revenge. Also, polyamory. Click here to read the Ask Polly newsletter, "It's Not a Moral Failure to Dislike Someone" by Heather Havrilesky Click here to read Rob Henderson's op-ed in the Wall Street Journal "Luxury Beliefs That Only the Privileged Can Afford." Click here to Ash French's review of The Book of Claren...

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk rainy days, mean girls, and the strange blessing of Parkinson's. Also, the boys learn an important lesson about temperature. Click here to order a copy of The Mystery Issue of The Mockingbird Magazine. And here for more details about our upcoming NYC Conference (4/25-27). Click here to read about Rod Rosenbladt and the Gospel for Those Broken by the Church Click h...

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk core memories, superegos, uncool churchgoers, and revenge vampires. Also, Dave sights a celebrity while Sarah dials up some French-Canadian cartoons. Oh, and the gang flips out over Fargo! Click here for more information, or to pre-register for our NYC Conference (4/25-27). Click here to read Kathryn Jezer-Morton's newsletter on "Why Are Parents So Fixated on Core...

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk Tetris, youth groups, paganism, and magi interlopers. Also, Dave plays some bingo while RJ questions the wisdom of the buddymoon. Click here to read Angela Watercutter's piece on Why Everyone Is Obsessed With the Kid Who Beat Tetris in Wired. Click here to read Karen Heller's essay, "Fun Is Dead" in the Washington Post. Click here to read "The Return of the Pagans...

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk top words, millennial motherhoods, cancerous insights, and sad Christmases. Everyone also gives a few recs from the year gone by. Click here to read about Mirieam-Webster's word of the year. Click here to read about Oxford's. Click here to read Jordan Griesbeck's post on Mbird, "Thou Shalt Have a Thing." Click here to read Rachel Cohen's essay for Vox, “How Millen...

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk passive aggression, teenage misery, jazz flute comebacks, and wartime prayers. Also, Sarah celebrates Wally Moon day while Dave declares the worst of the meats. [Click here]( www.mbird.com/support ) to respond to the opening appeal. We need your support! Click here to read Josh Cohen's essay on Passive Aggression in 1843 Magazine. Click here to read Zadie Smith's...

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk eldest daughters, crypto parents, and a pair of awe-inspiring conversions. Also, Dave binges some Curb while Sarah discloses the worst thing someone said to her in the early days of grief. Click here to read Sarah Sloat's piece on The Plight of the Eldest Daughter in The Atlantic. Click here to read Katie Roiphe's WSJ essay on "Why Are We So Obsessed with Sam Bank...

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk canine anxiety, celebrity memoirs, and dispensaries (of grace). Also, Sarah prays for high waistlines while RJ uncovers a stroller conspiracy. Click here to read Rose Horowich's "Too Many People Own Dogs" in The Atlantic. Click here to read Patti Davis's column in the NY Times, "Matthew Perry and the Loneliness of Addiction." Click here to order a copy of John Z's...

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk oral hygiene, couples' conflicts, and the Minnesota board of pardons. Also, the gang finally explains the show's name. Click here to Adam Mastroianni's piece on "Do I Have to Keep Flossing?" Click here to read the interview with Esther Perel about the 3 Things Every Couple Fights About. Click here to read Dan Barry's profile of the Minnesota Board of Pardons (and...

In which RJ, Sarah and Dave talk astrology, masculinity, and minor league saints. Also, a certain Scorpio experiences the opposite of good will on a visit to Good Will. Click here to read the Reductress article "Why I Don’t Believe in Astrology Unless It Reaffirms Something I Already Thought." Click here to read Christine Emba's essay "Men Are Lost. Here's a Map Out of the Wilderness" in the Washi...