A Drink With a Friend

Rootedness and flourishing are essential for personal growth, but acedia poses a threat. Acedia is a form of spiritual sluggishness that hinders engagement in the life of God. To combat acedia, we must take small actions and do things we don't feel like doing. Lent serves as a boot camp for goal setting and emphasizes the importance of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Despite adversity, we find hope and perseverance by embracing uncertainty and finding goodness in dark times.

Join Tsh Oxen and Joy Clarkson as they discuss their drink choices and explore the metaphor of humans as trees. They also delve into the surprising presence of trees in urban areas and finding joy in the small things. The hosts express gratitude for technology and listener support.

We’re starting a new season with a few changes — Tsh Oxenreider unpacks what you can expect this spring by way of the season’s theme: rootedness. What does it mean to know who you are, whose you are, and where you belong? How do we become more rooted in an ever-digitized world?* Host: Tsh Oxenreider* Create Your Rule of Life* Ascend: The Great Books Podcast* Young Heretics (another good but unmentioned resource for unpacking old texts)* Buy a round of drinks* Recommended reads* Come to Greece this summer! (just a few spots left)* Comment on this episode (for Commonplace subscribers)* Send an email: adrinkwithafriend@gmail.com Get full access to The Commonplace at thecommon.place/subscribe

In this final chat of the year, hosts Seth and Tsh reflect on the passing of time, their listenership demographics, and their New Year's Eve tradition of posting reflection questions. They also discuss unexpected joy, personal changes, their favorite books of the year, connecting with like-minded readers and writers, the song 'All My Tears' by Julie Miller, and their appreciation for a local band called Blue Water Highway.

‘Tis the season to have more options than possible to read, watch, and listen to. Authors Seth Haines and Tsh Oxenreider share what they're currently imbibing in this department, along with what's in their queue for the holidays.* Hosts: authors Seth Haines and Tsh Oxenreider* Buy a round of drinks* Tsh's 2023 Holiday Gift Guide* Six Reads for Advent on Tsh's Substack newsletter* Winter Fire, by Ryan Whitaker Smith* Christmas Karol, by Faith Moore* Perelandra, by C.S. Lewis* This Hideous Strength, by C.S. Lewis* Ben Rector's holiday playlist* Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald* Pray with C.S. Lewis on Advent* It's a Wonderful Life* All Creatures Great and Small on PBS* Vikings on Hulu Get full access to The Commonplace at thecommon.place/subscribe

Whether you're a seasoned Advent adherent or a barely-even-heard-of-it curious onlooker, Advent really is for everybody. Writer Tsh Oxenreider shares why Advent, as well as the rest of the liturgical calendar, really is a gift to us, even in (especially in?) our insanely busy and information-packed world. She also shares a brief introduction to the season, as well as a few ideas on how to get started (sharing an excerpt from her Advent book!).* Host: author Tsh Oxenreider* Tsh’s Advent book, Shadow & Light* Buy a round of drinks* Recommended reads* Tsh’s 2023 Gift Guide Get full access to The Commonplace at thecommon.place/subscribe

Third places are what they sound like: they’re not your home, and they’re not your workplace—they’re the third place where you hang out (think Cheers). Authors Seth Haines and Tsh Oxenreider chat about their third places, why they matter to neighborhoods and communities, and what to do if you haven’t yet found your third place. (Hint: they can’t be digital.)* Hosts: authors Seth Haines and Tsh Oxenreider* Buy a round of drinks* Recommended reads* Merch!* Orthodox Farmhouse Brewery* 309 Coffee* Strong Towns* New Polity’s series Good Cities* Tsh’s essay: Third Places & Homesteads in the Shadowlands * Not Just Bikes YouTube channel * Out of the Silent Planet, by CS Lewis* Come to Greece!* Ask a question! Email adrinkwithafriend@gmail.com Get full access to The Commonplace at thecommon.place/subscribe

Why hope? Because we have no other choice. A few years ago, Amber Haines entered a season of pain and despair when she resigned from her role as church curate and walked out those doors for the last time. Since then, she and Seth have been learning that hope requires a recognition of the deep-down things. Writers Seth, Amber, & Tsh Oxenreider talk about why we HAVE to hope, even when (especially when?) things are bleak.* Guest: Amber Haines* Hosts: authors Seth Haines and Tsh Oxenreider* Seth & Amber’s new book, The Deep Down Things: Practices for Growing Hope in Times of Despair* Buy a round of drinks* Recommended reads* Merch* Go to Greece with Tsh* Why We’re Required to Find Beauty* Orthodox Farmhouse Brewery* Patty Griffin: her self-titled 2019 album* God of the Garden, by Andrew Peterson* Ask a question! Email adrinkwithafriend@gmail.com Get full access to The Commonplace at thecommon.place/subscribe

Social media isn't great for us, neither individually nor collectively. Know what's better? Substack. Not just for writers or creators — for readers and listeners, too! That means you. Writers Seth Haines and Tsh Oxenreider share why they dig this bright spot on the internet, and why you should, too. It's not perfect, but it’s doing a good thing.* Hosts: authors Seth Haines and Tsh Oxenreider* Buy a round of drinks* Recommended reads* Merch* Go to Greece with Tsh!* Buy Seth’s new book!* Over the Field, by Hadden Turner* La Beef, by Anonymous* The Blue Scholar, Nate Marshall* Flak Photo, by Andy Adams* School of the Unconformed, by Ruth Gaskovski* A Pilgrim in Metropolis, by B. Christof Wachtel* Hearthstone Fables, by Kristin Haakenson Get full access to The Commonplace at thecommon.place/subscribe

The hosts dive into the profound impact of AI on creativity, pondering its benefits and risks in the publishing world. They tackle the human nuances often missing in AI-generated news, raising crucial ethical concerns. A humorous look at our penchant for creating our own problems offers relatable insights into daily life. The desire for tangible experiences in a digital landscape takes center stage, highlighted by the storytelling prowess of musician Anna Tivel. They also reflect on literary wisdom from 'The Rule of Benedict' and its personal significance.