A Drink With a Friend

Doomscrolling is a new-but-real habit in our culture, and it’s not good for us — yet we all fall prey to its siren song of despair. What’s the counter, even sacramental, practice for staying informed and involved without losing hope? Seth and Tsh have thoughts and ideas.Seth’s website and newsletterTsh’s website and newsletterIt’s not too late to order Shadow & LightOnyx coffee – MonarchLaity LodgeIt Can’t Happen Here, by Sinclair LewisThe Social Dilemma (on Netflix)Doomscrolling as a global pastimePandemic fatigueFeedlyPocketAllSidesInto the Lantern Waste, by Sarah SparksDear Wormwood, by The Oh HellosShadow & Light on SpotifyBrowse Tsh’s recommended booksCreate Your Rule of LifeRothys.com/GOODLISTThirdLove.com/GOODLIST Get full access to The Commonplace at thecommon.place/subscribe

It's always been easy in our culture to numb ourselves so we don't have to face honest truth, goodness, and beauty. ...The temptation's been even stronger in 2020. So what does it look like these days to posture ourselves toward healthy adoration — to devote ourselves to what is actually true, good, and beautiful, even when it's hard? Tsh talks with Seth Haines over drinks.Seth’s website and newsletterTsh’s website and newsletterIt's not too late to order Shadow & LightSeth's habit tracking spreadsheet (go to File > Make a Copy)Atomic Habits, by James ClearShadow & Light on SpotifyBrowse Tsh’s recommended booksCreate Your Rule of LifeStoryWorth.com/tsh Get full access to The Commonplace at thecommon.place/subscribe

The conversation continues over drinks as Tsh Oxenreider and Seth Haines talk about Advent, why leaning into the liturgical calendar's rhythms is a gift, and how it's an outcome of thinking more sacramentally.Seth’s website and newsletterTsh’s website and newsletterOrder Shadow & Light and join the Advent CommunityThe Liturgical Year: The Spiraling Adventure of the Spiritual Life, by Joan ChittisterOfferings, by TyphoonThe Divine Comedy, by Dante AlighieriBrowse Tsh’s recommended booksCreate Your Rule of LifeRothys.com/GOODLISTStoryWorth.com/tsh Get full access to The Commonplace at thecommon.place/subscribe

The next few episodes will feature a special series called A Drink With a Friend. Tsh talks with her longtime friend and fellow writer Seth Haines, where over drinks they'll discuss what's meant by "sacramental living." What the heck does that word mean? How is it different than just being religious? And what does it have to do with our day-to-day life? A lot, it turns out.Seth's website and newsletterTsh’s website and newsletterThe Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet by David MitchellThe Inspector Gamache series by Louise PennyShadow & LightBrowse Tsh’s recommended booksCreate Your Rule of Life Get full access to The Commonplace at thecommon.place/subscribe

Right now it’s all the more important to take in current events as necessary, then purposely stop the news feeds and take in other things as well. These five help, either by helping us stay informed or by helping us recalibrate with something besides the news. Throughline from NPR / episode: The Evangelical VotePantsuit Politics / episode: Political ShiftsJesuitical from America Media / episode: Joe Biden’s Catholic FaithOn This Day in Esoteric Political History from Radiotopia / episode: The President Catches the Virus (1919)Poetry Unbound from The On Being Project / episode: A Blessing by James WrightShadow & LightGet Tsh’s weekly email, 5 Quick ThingsBrowse Tsh’s recommended booksCreate Your Rule of Life Get full access to The Commonplace at thecommon.place/subscribe

It’s okay to not be exceptional — really. Also, our metrics for success are really odd, and don’t forget about art.How to Say GoodbyeWhy You Don’t Need to Be ExceptionalTall Poppy SyndromeShadow & LightBrowse Tsh’s recommended booksCreate Your Rule of LifeThirdLove.com/GOODLIST Get full access to The Commonplace at thecommon.place/subscribe

We know they’re good for us, but why? And how? Tsh’s teen daughter Tate has discovered a new love for plants this year (thanks, quarantine), so she’s taking over the pod with this quick episode about how we can add more green to our life.Tsh’s new book, Shadow & LightBrowse Tsh’s recommended booksCreate Your Rule of LifeRothys.com/goodlist Get full access to The Commonplace at thecommon.place/subscribe

Many of you call me often to tell me about something on your own good lists... Here's a collection of them.Shadow & LightBrowse Tsh’s recommended booksCreate Your Rule of Life Get full access to The Commonplace at thecommon.place/subscribe

Because of this paradox about the internet: that it can be both a thing of beauty and a dumpster fire, we all have to do our individual parts to make it more of the first description: a place of needed connection, education, encouragement, and personal and communal growth, and much, much less of the latter. There's more than one way we can do this, but this episode is about one specific idea.Shadow & LightBrowse Tsh’s recommended booksCreate Your Rule of Life (pay what you want)Who Tsh supports on Patreon: Annie Jones’ From the Front Porch, Beth & Sarah’s Pantsuit Politics, The Catholic Traveler, Dear Hank and JohnWho Tsh supports on Substack: David French’s The Dispatch, Claire Diaz-Ortiz’s Newsletter, Knox McCoy's Sectional Healing, Amber Haines’ Story Letters, Seth Haines’ The Examined Life, Circe Institute’s Forma Journal, Hank Green’s Pay Attention, Nicole Bennett’s Book is the Watchword, Mark Galli’s Galli Report, Jeff Chu’s Notes From a Make-Believe Farmer, Stephanie Smith’s Slant Letter, Michael Wear’s Reclaiming Hope, Anna Cordrea-Rado’s The Professional Freelancer, Sarah Bessey’s Field Notes, Erin Moon’s The Swipe Up, and Caroline TeSelle’s I’ll Be Witty TomorrowThe Repair Shop, on NetflixRothys.com/goodlist Get full access to The Commonplace at thecommon.place/subscribe

Tsh talks with YA author Mitali Perkins about writing, reading, the pursuit of beauty and truth, and the magic of rereading childhood classics, especially when life feels uncertain.Mitali Perkin's websiteMitali on Twitter & FacebookForward Me Back to You, by Mitali Perkins on Amazon & BookshopThe Silver Chair, by C.S. Lewis on Amazon & BookshopShadow & LightBrowse Tsh’s recommended booksCreate Your Rule of LifeTsh on Twitter & Instagram Get full access to The Commonplace at thecommon.place/subscribe