The Mockingcast

About the show

The Mockingcast is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by RJ Heijmen, Sarah Condon and David Zahl, and brought to you by Mockingbird Ministries, an organization which seeks to connect the Christian faith with the realities of everyday life in fresh and down-to-earth ways. You can find out more about Mockingbird at www.mbird.com.

Audio production provided by TJ Hester.

The Mockingcast on social media

Episodes

  • Episode 222: The Best Place to Cry in Public

    January 18th, 2022  |  1 hr 5 mins

    In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk habit formation, performative meetings, Latin American religion, and the benefits of falling apart in church. Also, George Costanza chimes in with some tips on working less.

  • Episode 221: The Fastest Way to End a Miracle

    December 7th, 2021  |  1 hr 10 mins

    Our last episode of the year, in which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk mallstalgia, gift aversions, parent-child privilege gaps, and gambling addictions. Also, Sarah gives away some dish towels. To respond to the opening appeal and support Mockingbird, please visit mbird.com/support.

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    Episode 220: Beauty, Betrayal, and Burnout

    November 15th, 2021  |  1 hr 5 mins

    In which Dave, RJ, and Sarah talk college essays, supermodel insecurities, ferocious coziness, and because-because propositions. Also, Sarah attends a Renaissance Festival and Dave visits some European comic book stores.

  • Episode 219: Hell Is Getting Everything You Want

    November 2nd, 2021  |  1 hr 8 mins

    In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk the fastest growing sport in America, the allure of conspirituality, exvangelical hashtags, and renamed churches. Also, a pair of golden girls wipe the pickleball court with Mr. Zahl.

  • Episode 218: Too Good to Be True

    October 18th, 2021  |  1 hr 7 mins

    In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk travel selves, generational generalizations, optimistic pitfalls, and forgiving bad fathers. Also, Sarah spies some aliens and RJ jumps off several cliffs.

  • Episode 217: Not Captain Material

    September 28th, 2021  |  1 hr 46 secs

    In which Sarah, Dave, and RJ talk self-awareness, gracious friendships, nap ministries, and the "gift" of rejection. Also, RJ explores his haze-ability while Sarah buys a bridesmaid dress.

  • Episode 216: No One Is Enjoying Their Life

    September 17th, 2021  |  1 hr 12 mins

    In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk favorite comedians, status games, personal progress, and re-enchantment. Also, somehow RJ keeps winning. He's insufferable that way.

  • Episode 215: Blessed Are the Brokenhearted

    August 30th, 2021  |  1 hr 19 mins

    In their first episode after the summer hiatus, Dave, RJ and Sarah talk misbehaving consumers, trapped perfectionists, and controversial forgiveness before taking a detour to a little church in Mississippi. Also, Sarah dons a babooshka while Dave drums up some tips.

  • Episode 214: God Is On The Bathroom Floor

    June 21st, 2021  |  1 hr 5 mins

    In their last episode before the summer hiatus, RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk brand loyalty, thought-terminating cliches, father's day championships, the religion/psychoanalysis intersection, and God's downstairs neighbor. Also, RJ changes his mind about Michael Jordan (sort of). To support Mockingbird, please visit www.mbird.com/support.

  • Episode 213: Don't Count Another Man's Money

    May 24th, 2021  |  1 hr 4 mins

    In which Sarah, RJ, and Dave talk spite, ubiquitous burnout, chaplaincy booms, and our conflicted relationship with newness. Also, Dave marvels at how refreshed the cicadas are looking.

  • Episode 212: The Secret to Complete Mastery

    May 11th, 2021  |  1 hr 3 mins

    Recorded live in front of an audience at the Mockingbird Tyler festival, Sarah, RJ, and Dave talk ambivalent mothers, Nordic expectations, getting "on top of things", and elite religiosity. Also, Sarah indulges in some, er, splendid show-and-tell.

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    Special Episode: The Surprise Issue

    May 3rd, 2021  |  1 hr 9 mins

    Surprise! It's a special edition episode of The Mockingcast, in which CJ Green introduces the unpredictable content of the Surprise issue of The Mockingbird magazine. You'll hear an incredible personal essay read by author and professional listener, Helena Dea Bala; an interview on unexpected grief with the Rev Liz Tichenor; and a discussion about jazz and John Coltrane with musician Sam Bush. Plus some stuff about Disneyland.

  • Episode 210: Don't Stop Beliebing

    April 26th, 2021  |  1 hr 7 mins

    In which Dave, RJ and Sarah talk subtraction strategies, birth order effects, Justin Bieber's redemption, and the spiritual dangers of courting controversy. But maybe that's just what a couple of oldest children (and one middle child) would discuss.

  • Episode 209: What If You Weren't Afraid Anymore?

    April 11th, 2021  |  1 hr 8 mins

    In which Sarah, RJ and Dave talk vaccinated no-no's, real estate obsessions, recalibrated ambitions, and Easter messages. We almost titled it House Hunters: The Mockingcast Edition.

  • Episode 208: God Is Insane

    March 29th, 2021  |  1 hr 13 mins

    In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk last chance basketball programs, true selves, teenage errors, and gracious dispositions. Also, Sarah gets kicked off AOL Instant Messenger.

  • Episode 207: Tangled Redemption

    March 15th, 2021  |  1 hr 4 mins

    In which Sarah, RJ and Dave talk baby busts, Instavangelists, and epiphanies of the heart. Also, RJ comes clean about his favorite Disney princess. Clue: It's not Anna or Elsa.