Erik Lokkesmoe talks about marketing reach and impact in creative work.

In this episode of Persuasion, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson continue their series called The Creative Process by inviting Mike Cosper to a conversation about productivity in creative work. Mike is a writer, speaker, and podcaster who has been quite...

Erin and Hannah continue their new series called The Creative Process by inviting baker and theologian (and Christ and Pop Culture staff writer!) Kendall Vanderslice to a conversation about art’s temporal nature. Kendall shares about her work that...

In this episode of Persuasion, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson kick off a new series called The Creative Process, exploring how the emergence of the gig economy is shaping our creative pursuits. For example, digital platforms allow anyone to become...

In this episode of Persuasion, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson wrap their Never Seen series with a thorough discussion of Titanic—a film on Hannah’s Never Seen list and one that Erin saw on the big screen almost 22 years ago. They offer gut...

Erin and Hannah discuss Chariots of Fire, a film on the Never Seen list for them both. Erin was familiar with the film due to her background in running, while Hannah knew of it from the faith community angle. Both were surprised by its gentle, quiet...

Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson pack the Persuasion house with two guests to discuss The Breakfast Club: Wade Bearden and Kevin McLenithan, who host the Christ and Pop Culture film podcast Seeing and Believing. Only Erin had seen The Breakfast Club...

In this episode of Persuasion, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson discuss Singin’ in the Rain after watching it for the first time ever. To help with the analysis, classic movie enthusiast and Christ and Pop Culture staff writer Gina Dalfonzo joins the...

Erin and Hannah continue their Never Seen series with Mean Girls—a film never seen by either. After watching this 2004 film for the first time, conversation begins with gut reactions, favorite lines, and memorable scenes (some quite cringeworthy!)....

Erin and Hannah discuss Casablanca in all its silver screen glory. With its memorable lines and Hollywood glam, Casablanca has shaped our cultural narrative in countless ways. Casablanca is responsible—at least in part—for why we associate Paris...

In this episode of Persuasion, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson kick off a new series titled Never Seen, exploring a collection of key movies that you might be surprised to learn have never been seen by your Persuasion hosts. To help with the series...

In this episode of Persuasion, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson invite Anne Kennedy for a Holy Week Primer. Anne is a writer and serves in an Anglican church in New York with her husband who is the rector. First Anne gives an overview of Holy Week...

In this episode of Persuasion, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson wrap-up their Ready, Set, Think! series with a conversation about the way our brains can grow and change. And this is good news considering the frustration we can...

In this episode of Persuasion, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson continue their Ready, Set, Think! series by inviting Laura Turner to the conversation. Laura is a freelance journalist covering religion and politics for outlets such...

In this episode of Persuasion, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson continue their Ready, Set, Think! series looking at the way our mental frames are shaped by the groups and systems we live within. Despite the way independent thinking is favored in our...

In this episode of Persuasion, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson continue their Ready, Set, Think! series with a conversation about taking a fresh look at how the status quo shapes our thinking. Things that have always been a certain way become the...

Good thinking can be hard to come by in the world today. Between the troubles we endure and the frustrations we face, the negative things loom large in our hearts and minds. Some say we should just choose joy and see the glass as gloriously half full....

For all the thinking we do, we usually don’t think twice about the preconceived notions we use to keep life simple. We like to place ideas into categories and give everyone a label according to their personality type or their social leanings. It’s...

It’s a rare person who’s willing to engage in thoughtful dialogue to consider the possibility that his or her own view is flawed. Because really, we all stick to our opinions because we believe them to be correct. Not every idea can be correct,...

For most of us, Christmas delivers us everything but the Silent Night we sing about in that iconic carol. Our preparations for celebrating Christmas could rarely be described as heavenly peace. It’s more like earthly chaos as we race about...

What do you want for Christmas? Children are ready for that question, quick to list all the toys and treasures their little hearts desire. We’ve learned from an early age to make our lists and send our requests to Santa, all in the hope that come...

Christmas blues are nothing new. And in today’s therapeutic and authentic age, we’re more willing to admit to and discuss how the holidays are something anything but merry and bright. For some of us, it’s grief. For others, it’s troubles and...