Makers & Mystics

In this episode of Makers & Mystics, Stephen Roach sits down with author Stasi Eldredge to explore the contemplative journey toward union with God. Drawing on biblical imagery and themes from her book, The Ladder of Love, Stasi describes a series of rungs that invite us into an increasingly intimate relationship with our Creator, from clay being formed by the hands of God to a beloved child who knows the safety and delight of the Father's embrace. Stephen and Stasi explore how shame, pain...

**This episode contains sensitive subject matter** Can horror become a means of redemption? What might the stories that frighten us reveal about ourselves, our faith, and the world we inhabit? Can people of faith engage horror as a legitimate artistic practice? In a culture that often encourages us to avoid discomfort, the darker dimensions of art can challenge us to confront realities we might otherwise prefer to ignore. But when we sanitize our faith, we risk losing our ability to speak hon...

Why do we need stories? And what if the purpose of art is not simply self-expression, but a way of helping us understand what it means to be human? In this episode of Makers & Mystics, Stephen Roach sits down with acclaimed author Daniel Nayeri to explore the relationship between storytelling, meaning-making, and identity. From the stories we tell to make sense of our lives to the narratives that connect us to one another, Daniel reflects on why storytelling is essential to the human expe...

Contemplation is the inhale, and creativity is the exhale. Author and spiritual director Kayla Craig shares how we can make space for both. Her devotional, Our Daily Breath, guides readers through contemplative prayer practices designed to renew creative energy in a loud, distracted world. Stephen Roach and Kayla explore why cynicism comes so easily, and how stillness opens the door to compassion, nuance, and hope. Kayla shares the research behind mindful breathing and why it matters fo...

What if memories were real entities that inhabit places, and what if music could give those places a voice? In this episode of Makers & Mystics, Stephen Roach sits down with composer Michael Anderson to explore the strange and beautiful relationship between memory, time, place, music, and faith. Michael's latest work, Hallov, is a 24-piece musical journey through birth, pain, joy, death, and what might come after. Described by Michael as “a movie score without the movie,” the album follow...