Bonus Episode: Martin Smith

Earlier this year, I traveled to the beautiful country of England. While I was there, I had the opportunity to meet with singer/songwriter Martin Smith in his hometown of Brighton. We shared a breakfast together and afterwards I asked if he would be willing to answer a few questions I could share with our listeners. Martin was gracious and obliged, so I quickly pulled out my cell phone and captured our conversation.

**Disclaimer: Because the conversation was recorded on my iPhone, the production is a bit raw. But I felt the conversation was inspiring enough to share with you anyway.

Music, Singer-songwriter, Bonus Episode, WorshipStephen RoachMay 17, 2019sin, worship, Martin Smith, Delirious

S5 E9: Art & The Transcendence of God with Jeremy Begbie

Jeremy Begbie is Thomas A. Langford Distinguished Professor in Theology at Duke Divinity School. He is also Senior Member at Wolfson College, Cambridge, and an Affiliated Lecturer in the Faculty of Music at the University of Cambridge. He is Founding Director of Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts, one of the main aims of which is to foster theological-artistic links between Duke and Cambridge.

In this episode, Stephen joins Dr. Begbie at Duke Divinity School to talk with him about music, art and the transcendence of God.

This episode is sponsored by:

Art and Theology

Hope Writers

Artist Profile Series 16: Notre Dame

This artist profile episode is about the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral and how writer Victor Hugo’s novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame inspired a generation to restore this historical landmark.

The human heart longs for restoration and it is the artist who embodies this longing through artistic works and creative acts. We long to preserve and sustain beauty because in beauty’s longevity is tied our own hope that there is something more enduring than the ephemeral passing of our own bodies and physical structures. Places of beauty and historical landmarks become symbols of a deeper human impulse and reveal our longing for the eternal.

S5 E8: Quench with Poet Amy Orazio

Amy Orazio is a poet, teacher and writer from the Pacific Northwest. She received her MFA in Creative Writing at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles California. Her work has appeared in publications such as Bitterzoet, Gap Tooth, Pidgeonholes, Synasesthesia, and The Curator magazine. Amy’s latest collection of poems, titled Quench, is a meditation on exile and coming home.

In this episode, Stephen talks with Amy about sitting with mystery and overcoming the need for resolve in her poetry.

This episode features musical interludes by Colorado-based recording artist VNE.

Patrons of the podcast can join us for an additional interview segment with Amy as we talk on Wendell Berry, Mary Oliver and the influence of nature within her writings.

Join The Makers and Mystics Creative Collective

Stephen RoachApril 24, 2019

S5 E7: Keep Going with Austin Kleon

Austin Kleon is the New York Times bestselling author of Steal Like an Artist, Show Your Work!, and The Steal Like an Artist Journal: A Notebook for Creative Kleptomaniacs. His work has been translated into over twenty languages and featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, PBS NewsHour, and in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

The New Yorker said his poems “resurrect the newspaper when everybody else is declaring it dead.” He speaks about creativity in the digital age for organizations such as Pixar, Google, SXSW, TEDx, and the Economist.

In this episode, Stephen talks with Austin about his thoughts on creativity, originality and his brand new, follow up release titled Keep Going, Ten Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad.

**Patrons of the podcast can access an additional interview segment with Austin on Creativity as subtraction and how the deconstruction process of his blackout poetry creates a new art form.

Join Our Creative Collective today!

Artist Profile Series 15: Corita Kent

Sister Corita Kent was an artist, printmaker, educator and an advocate for social justice. She broke through religious norms in the art world of her day by incorporating popular song lyrics, advertising images and slogans into her work. Her pop-art style is reminiscent of the works of graphic artist, Andy Warhol. When Corita viewed Andy’s artwork in the Los Angeles Ferus Gallery, in 1962 she soon began producing her own pop-culture inspired prints.

S5 E6: The Language of Movement with Kelly Archer

Kelly Archer is the founder and artistic director of the Cadash Contemporary Dance Movement. The vision and mission of Chadash is to cultivate renewal, reparation, and restoration in a broken world. Combining dance with film, poetry, multi-media, visual art and spoken word performances, Cadash Dance tells stories in an effort to honestly acknowledge the world as it is, but then seeks to engage in the conversation about what the world can be.

In this episode, Stephen talks with Kelly about the language of movement and what it means to “stand in the ashes of the barn burned down and point to the moon. One half in suffering and one half in hope.”

Artist Profile Series 14: Rainer Maria Rilke

Rainer Maria Rilke was a Prague-born poet and novelist. His verses embody the human heart’s yearning to commune with God in an age of disbelief. His transcendent themes are deeply existential and contemplative in nature.

S5 E5: The Creative Environment with Graham Cooke

Graham Cooke is an internationally recognized author, public speaker and strategist. He is known for a radical faith and friendship with God.

Graham's books have helped organizations and individuals overcome negative, limited thinking and transition toward a higher level of corporate and spiritual life.

An integral part of Graham's work involves producing resources for helping the poor and for eradicating human trafficking through supporting the organization, NOT FOR SALE.

In this episode, Stephen talks with Graham about cultivating environments to serve his creative and spiritual disciplines.

*Patrons can enjoy additional interview segments on how to deal with rejection and establishing healthy rhythms.

Artist Profile Series 13: Teilhard de Chardin

Teilhard de Chardin was a French Catholic priest, philosopher, paleontologist, geologist and World War I veteran who earned the Legion of Honor citation. He wrote extensively on science, on his scientific discoveries, and on his most intimate thoughts of Christ as the consummate culmination of spiritual and material realities.

S5 E4: The Lost Art of Found Objects with Lonnie Holley

Lonnie Holley is an African American artist who has devoted his life to the practice of improvisational creativity. His art and music, born out of struggle, hardship, but perhaps more importantly, out of furious curiosity and biological necessity, manifests itself in drawing, painting, narrative sculpture, photography, performance, and sound.

Holley’s sculptures are constructed from found materials in the oldest tradition of African American sculpture. Objects, already imbued with cultural and artistic metaphor, are combined into narrative sculptures that commemorate places, people, and events.

Artist Profile Series Episode 12: Georg Hegel

In this episode guest host Marie Teilhard of Kilns College explores the artistic and spiritual views of German Philosopher, Georg Hegel.

S5 E3: Return To Wonder with Harris III

Harris “The Third” is an award-winning illusionist and communicator. In recent years his career has grown to become one of America’s most sought-out speakers, storytellers, creative consultants and event curators.

In 2015, Harris founded the Istoria Collective, a production company that creates meaningful and transformative experiences for people and brands through events, films, and digital media.

In this episode, Stephen talks with Harris about his work as an Illusionist and what it means to create moments of wonder that inspire and move people to a place of transformation.

S5 E2: The Symbolic World with Jonathan Pageau

Jonathan Pageau is a professional artist, writer and public speaker. He delivers several lectures every year in Universities, conferences and other venues around North America. He speaks on art, but mostly on the symbolic structures that underlie our experience of the world.

Through his YouTube channel and podcast, The Symbolic World, he also furthers the conversation on symbolism, meaning and patterns in everything from movies, to icons, to social trends.

As an artist, Jonathan is one of the only professional icon carvers in North America, taking on institutional and personal art commissions from all over the world. You can view his works in his carving website.

Jonathan is the editor and a contributor for the Orthodox Arts Journal which looks at the revival and significance of liturgical art today. He also gives weeklong carving classes with Hexaemeron School of Liturgical Arts , which are credited by Pontifex University.

S5 E1: Moving Through Space with Natalie Shaw

Natalie Shaw is a Chicago native who holds a studio fine art degree and is a graduate of Yale University, Virginia Commonwealth University and Shasta College. In 2016, she was selected for the Barbara Jane Carr Scholarship for excellence in the visual arts. Natalie has recently joined the artistic community in Austin, TX and has been selected for the Open 30 Juried Exhibit at the Martha Fenstermaker Gallery.

Natalie’s work is informed by a sense of air and space, and how we as humans move through it. She describes it as a push and pull, an up and then letting go, a play with gravity.

In this episode Stephen talks with Natalie about her work as a contemporary abstract artist and dives into what motivates her creative explorations.

S4 E15: Season Finale! The Missing Connection Between Faith & Art

This episode is an Official Highjack!! StoryBrand Guide, Luke Humbrecht turns the mic around and interviews our host, Stephen Roach. In this season finale episode Luke and Stephen discuss why the conversation of faith and art is important for our cultural moment and how you can be involved in the discussions. Stephen shares from history and personal stories on what compels him to host these conversations.

Artist Profile Series 11: Eriugena

John Scotus Eriugena was an Irish theologian, philosopher, and poet. This artist profile is guest hosted by spiritual director, Sarah DeShields.

S4 E14: Re:Piano with Chad Lawson

Pianist and composer Chad Lawson is a Classical musician whose career has visited byways of various musical genres, including Jazz, Latin, Film scores and Experimental music.

Chad’s compositions have been featured in countless films and television shows such as The Walking Dead, Vampire Diaries and the Award-winning podcast, Lore.

In this episode, Stephen talks with Chad about his background as a musician, what motivates his work and how his journey has led him to the poetic and meditative feel of his current musical expressions.

MusicStephen RoachNovember 28, 2018Chad Lawson, The Walking Dead, Lore, Vampire Diaries, Film Score, Composition

The Breath & the Clay 2019

The Breath & the Clay is a creative arts gathering hosted by Stephen Roach of the Makers & Mystics Podcast. This weekend event explores the intersections of art, faith & culture in a communal setting.

The event includes performances, a curated art gallery and keynote talks from various creative voices from the Makers & Mystics podcast.

Join us March 22-24th 2019 in Winston-Salem, NC for a weekend connecting with other artists from around the world on this journey of art and faith.

Tickets and details here.

***Early Bird Prices until December 31st***

***Student Discounts and Group Rates Available.***

Artist Profile Series 10: Madame Jeanne Guyon

Madame Jeanne Guyon was a controversial French mystic who wrote poems and spiritual writings on experiential forms of prayer.

S4 E13: The Nero Monologues with Sarah Toth

Sarah Toth is a performer and writer who uses singing, spoken word, and improvisation within opera to courageously tell stories of truth, vision, and possibility. Through collaborations in music-based theater, Sarah seeks to bring healing, inspire dreams, and empower people to walk boldly forward in their own personal story.

In this episode Stephen talks with Sarah about her opera The Nero Monologues and her involvement in creating new and experimental music-based theater.

S4 E12: God and Hamilton with Kevin Cloud

Kevin Cloud sees Hamilton as a “modern-day parable” that carries a depth of spiritual and transformative power.

In this episode, Stephen talks with Kevin about his perspectives on this Broadway musical and how the art form of theater has the ability to access the deeper parts of the human heart.

Artist Profile Series 09: Wassily Kandinsky

Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky is considered by many to be the father of abstract art. In this episode Stephen takes a look into the life and art of Wassily Kandinsky, particularly his interest in the relationship between sound and color.

GET TICKETS TO THE BREATH AND THE CLAY

S4 E11: Onward Like A Storm with Liz Vice

Liz Vice is a singer/songwriter based in Brooklyn, NY. She is best known for her Gospel, Soul and R&B roots. On her latest album titled, “Save Me,” Liz breaks the mold of any one particular genre and explores a wide range of musical territory.

In this episode, Stephen talks with Liz about her creative process and the vulnerability within her songs and personal story of overcoming fear.

Music, Singer-songwriterStephen RoachOctober 18, 2018Liz Vice, gospel, R&B, singer-songwwriter, singer/songwriter