The story is there are innumerable ways to categorize art and entertainment—by genre; by era; fiction or nonfiction; art created as propaganda, or art as escape—and over the course of our first season of Lightwise, we’ve touched on all of these, but we’ve tried to focus on stories that amplify light. At the end of each episode throughout this first season, I’d ask our guests what films amplified light for them. Today we listen to what they had to say. This season we’ve visited wit...
The story is we know people often intentionally write or CREATE art for therapy, but how often are we CONSUMING art for therapeutic purposes—and is it effective? And how often are we unintentionally consuming messages, for better or worse, that alter our perspectives and therefore our experience? Today we discuss the realities and possibilities of cinema as therapy Jonathan Decker is a licensed therapist. His friend and associate Alan Seawright is a filmmaker. Together they make up a dynamic...
The story is good artists copy, but great artists steal. And now omputer systems are disrupting industries everywhere, doing things once believed only possible by humans: dealing with uncertainty; learning from experience; making predictions; interpreting language in complex, contextual ways. Even, perhaps especially, technology is now creating art—imitating (or stealing from?)the great creative geniuses—even in media as multifaceted as film. Austin Craig is an American filmmaker, author and...
The story is every medium has its unique strengths: Sculpture is different from painting; poetry from prose; ballet from theater. One is not better than the other, but its unique characteristics make it suited for certain kinds of experiences, messages, or audiences. So what are the unique strengths of animated film, as opposed to, say, live action? Today we discuss: “The Peculiar Super Powers (and Weaknesses?) of Animation.” J. Chris Wall is an American creator of kids-and-family, redempti...
The story is some films possess more than the power to entertain. Some start a movement or change lives. Jaime Hernandez is a film producer whose most recent film Sound of Freedom was released by Angel Studios in July 2023. Be sure to check out Sound of Freedom, still playing in select theaters. Go to angel.com/tickets now. Follow Lightwise on all the socials! Facebook: Lightwise Podcast Instagram: @lightwisepodcast Twitter: @lightwisepod TikTok: @lightwisepodcast YouTube: @Light...
The story is there’s a difference between flawed, imperfect people and evil people. But is that a difference of degree or kind? And how do you tell stories that portray evil convincingly and in a way that doesn’t turn off audiences? Today, we discuss “The Challenges of Portraying Evil.” Elijah Alexander is an American film and TV actor who has been in the business for nearly 30 years. He stars in the role of Atticus, a secret agent for Caesar, in “The Chosen”—Angel Studios’ hit show about th...
The story is every once in a while a member of the human race achieves another level of Divinity. Whether they’re called saints, prophets, or popes, the Messiah or the Dalai Lama—they are revered by huge populations as being Holy—having the quality of Godliness. Forget about attaining that level of righteousness in our real lives, what about simply trying to capture the essence of these sacred figures as a story-teller or actor? Today, we discuss “The Challenges of Portraying Holiness.” This ...
The story is almost one third of the world’s population is Christian, nearly two-thirds of the US population, yet for decades now Hollywood has had an aversion to explicitly Christian films, leaving this audience under-served or suffering with sub-par productions. Why is that and what’s behind the recent resurrection of quality Christian content? Jon Erwin is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer known for such films as I Can Only Imagine and this year’s Jesus Revolutio...
Be warned, what follows is important, but disturbing. The story is human trafficking is a problem for other people in other countries, but the truth is it is a growing problem here in the United States, even as awareness increases. While the facts are horrific, there is hope for survivors, and there are things you can do. Today we discuss “Shining a Light on the Darkness of Human Trafficking.” For almost 8 years now Jessica Mass has worked providing immediate and long-term care for victims...
The story is the film industry tells stories which support all matter of causes, yet there are some stories which they seem to steer away from, including the life of Christ, and on the other end of the spectrum, exposing the evils of human-trafficking. Yet brave people like actor Jim Caviezel have tackled both subjects. Today we discuss the “Quality of Courage in Film and in Life.” Jim Caviezel is an American film and TV actor who has starred in hits such as “The Count of Monte Cristo” and ...
The story is stories of substance frequently ask us to explore worlds that challenge us and are uncomfortable. But is there a way to tell a true tale about the disturbing world of child-trafficking that can also inspire hope? Today, we discuss revealing light in a story of darkness. Alejandro Monteverde is a screenwriter, producer and director from Tampico, Mexico, whose films include the award-winning Bella, the world war 2 film Little Boy, and in July this year, his most recent film Sound o...
The story is that those who don’t learn from history are condemned to repeat it. That’s why two children, twins by birth, and surnamed Tuttle, travel throughout time and space to learn from the giants of history principles of freedom, economics, and government. What inspired the Tuttle Twins adventures and how are they inspiring millions of people, young and old, to think deeper and differently about the world around them? Connor Boyack is the president and founder of the Libertas Institute,...
The story is that laughter is the best medicine, but this intangible tonic is often the byproduct of the suffering of its developers—comedians dealing with personal demons. Today, along with DryBar comedian Jeff Allen, we explore how these hilarious humorists are sometimes, sadly, truly dying for laughs. Jeff Allen is an American stand-up comedian who regularly appears on TV and Radio, being featured on America’s Got Talent, Netflix, Amazon, and Dry Bar Comedy among others. His humor, ...
The story is that science and religion are at odds—that they are incompatible, or at least, that they rely on distinct methods of knowing, and ne’er the twain shall meet. Yet throughout history, and still today, many scientists ARE believers in God or ascribers to a religion. How do they deal with the apparent contradiction, and how do their peers deal with them? Today we discuss the curious, but not uncommon case of “Being a Scientist and a Believer.” Michael Behe is an American bioch...
The story is that comedy is a second class art form, not that it doesn’t require great skill, but that it is not as “important” as dramatic, “serious” works. And while what tugs our heartstrings remains mostly constant over the millenia, what tickles our funny bone seems always in flux. What is this unstable element whose byproduct—laughter—has been called the best medicine? Today we explore the somewhat subjective healing power of comedy. I’m Joel Ackerman. This is Lightwise. Whitney Call ...
The story is that when most Germans were falling for Hitler’s lies, or were too afraid to fight against them, a sixteen-year old boy recognized the truth, and began a peaceful resistance to shed light on the gross sins of Hitler and the Nazi regime. He rallied a couple of his teenage friends around him to join him in the cause until he was eventually found out, caught, and stopped. Today, we explore the story and importance of “Truth and Conviction.” Matt Whitaker is an American film and TV ...
The story is that about 4,000 years ago, early in the second millennium BC, God spoke to the prophet Abraham and asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac as a burnt offering in the mountains of Moriah. According to the scriptural account, Abraham journeys three days, builds an altar and binds his son upon it, and is stopped by an angel only after he has taken the knife to slay his son. It is one of the most startling and controversial accounts in all of scripture. Today we explore the story of Ab...
The story is that there are a few big questions: who are we? Where did we come from and why are we here? And what is coming? Science and religion have different approaches to answering these questions, with science often abstaining from prognosticating and offering more philosophical responses, but science fiction, on the other hand, often boldly goes where science has never gone before. Today, we discuss the complicated relationship between “Science Fiction and Religion.” Barna Donovan is a...