David Zahl
Co-Host of The Mockingcast
David Zahl is the founder and director of Mockingbird Ministries, editor-in-chief of the Mockingbird website, and co-host of both The Mockingcast and The Brothers Zahl podcasts. Zahl is the author of Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What To Do About It and Low Anthropology: The Unlikely Key to a Gracious View of Others (and Yourself). His latest book, The Big Relief: The Urgency of Grace for a Worn-Out World appeared in April 2025 from Brazos Press. His writing has been featured in The Washington Post, Christianity Today, and The Guardian, among other venues. He and his family live in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he also serves on the staff of Christ Episcopal Church.
Even after all these years, he’s still mourning the end of Calvin and Hobbes (and hoping that Morrissey and Marr will bury the hatchet). His favorite theologian is probably a cross between Johnny Cash, Flannery O’Connor and his brother Simeon.
David Zahl has hosted 270 Episodes.
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Episode 124: Academy of Imputation
March 9th, 2018 | 43 mins 38 secs
In which RJ, Sarah and Dave discuss their waning interest in the Oscars and their waxing interest in the psychological, theological and cinematic dimensions of imputation. Also, RJ's son does well on his math test (but poorly on his grammar quiz).
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Episode 123: Opiates of the People
February 26th, 2018 | 37 mins 41 secs
Recorded in front of an audience at the 4th annual Mbird Conference in Tyler, TX, Dave is joined by long-time contributors Aaron Zimmerman and Charlotte Getz, as they talk Billy Graham and the opioid crisis. Also, Aaron ponders some things you can't say.
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Episode 122: Free Juice
February 10th, 2018 | 41 mins 29 secs
RJ, Sarah and Dave talk Olympic forgiveness, resurrected Valentines and their favorite Wednesday of the year (Ash). Also, RJ drinks some free juice.
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Episode 121: Cradles, Quarterbacks, and the Angel of Death
February 2nd, 2018 | 38 mins 39 secs
Sarah, RJ and Dave talk football, motivation and the kingdom of God before consulting the NY Times on what suffering people really want. Also, Sarah airs her distaste for the term "Cradle Episcopalian".
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Episode 120: Humblebragging about Aziz and Atonement
January 19th, 2018 | 42 mins 54 secs
atonement, aziz ansari, dating, humblebragging, sexual misconduct
After not-so-humbly bragging about themselves, RJ, Sarah and Dave dive into the Aziz Ansari / #MeToo headlines, which leads into a discussion of their favorite atonement models. Also, RJ sings highlights from The Little Mermaid.
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Episode 119: A New Year, Some Good Books, and an Old Church
January 5th, 2018 | 33 mins 38 secs
Sitting in for vacationing RJ this week, Dr. Todd Brewer joins David and Sarah to talk about the top theology book(s) of 2017, as well as hopes and fears for the new year. Together they try to answer the question, "what is church for?"
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Episode 118: Tis Better To Receive Than to Give?
December 15th, 2017 | 41 mins 39 secs
christmas, exercise, social media, star wars, u2
In our second episode after the hiatus, RJ, Sarah & Dave talk about Persistent Pirates, U2, Facebook Guilt, Exercise Cults, and Christmas.
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Episode 117: The Mockingcast Rides Again!
December 1st, 2017 | 40 mins 8 secs
Our first "proper" episode in eight months(!), David and Sarah are joined by new co-host RJ Heijmen, as they talk Disneyland, church types, sexual harassment, male libido, Advent, and the difference between justice and revenge.
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Episode 112: Can't Stop the Signal: Enduring Hope for Divided Times - David Zahl
November 10th, 2017 | 44 mins 54 secs
mbird dc 2017
David addresses the crowd on Saturday afternoon, October 28th, 2017, at our "500 Years of Grace" event All Saints Episcopal Church in Chevy Chase, MD.
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Episode 92: Another Decade Ends - David Zahl
May 9th, 2017 | 31 mins 28 secs
mbird nyc 2017
Closing Saturday morning talk at our 2017 Conference in New York City, given by David Zahl. Delivered April 29th, 2017 at St George's Episcopal Church.
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Episode 84: Fear and Trembling
March 24th, 2017 | 1 hr 4 mins
Our guest this week is Jeffrey Hanson, author of "Kierkegaard and the Life of Faith: The Aesthetic, the Ethical, and the Religious in 'Fear and Trembling'". Then the roundtable talks Yik Yak, the breeding grounds of resentment and more Melissa Febos.
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Episode 83: What's Zacchaeus Got To Do With It?
March 17th, 2017 | 1 hr 13 mins
Our guest this week is Tony Jones. Tony is a theologian, author and the trade editor at Fortress Press. He's also a consultant on Hulu's popular serial drama "The Path". Then the roundtable talks happiness, headwinds and the Zacchaeus option.
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Episode 82: The Power Of Meaning
March 10th, 2017 | 1 hr 7 mins
Our guest this week is Emily Esfani Smith. She's the author of The Power Of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters. Then the roundtable talks tribalism, storytelling and failure.
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Episode 81: Outrage, Escape and Immortality
March 3rd, 2017 | 1 hr 12 mins
Our guest this week is Adam Morton. Having successfully avoided the pitfalls of money and social standing, sometime Mockingbird contributor Adam Morton serves as pastor of Christ Lutheran Church and associate pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, both in Lancaster, PA. After the conversation with Adam, David Zahl and Scott Jones are joined by Mandy Smith to talk about outrage, the church escaping the world and the denial of death.
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Episode 80: Abandon Me...In Texas
February 24th, 2017 | 1 hr 2 mins
This week's guest is Melissa Febos. She's the author of the critically acclaimed memoir, Whip Smart (St. Martin’s Press 2010) and the forthcoming essay collection, Abandon Me (Bloomsbury 2017). Then the roundtable comes to you live from Texas at the mbirdtyler.com conference.
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Episode 79: Love, Religion & Death
February 17th, 2017 | 1 hr 6 mins
Our guest this week is Jason Micheli. Jason is a United Methodist pastor. He's the author of Cancer Is Funny: Keeping Faith in Stage-Serious Chemo. He's the co-host of the Crackers and Grape Juice podcast. Then roundtable talks loved, religion and death.