Really Cool People

A backstory to the podcast, Really Cool People.

This past spring I have had an incredible privilege to conduct and record a number of interviews, with Really Cool People. The interviews were turned into a podcast by that name and the podcast is available in all the places you may listen to this content. 

The podcast became a vision and work because of a number of converging realities. 

1) In December of 2022 I was looking for a book, biography preferably, that I could give as a gift to Anna. Specifically I was looking for biography of a wise woman (or women), and of someone who wasn't writing because they were 'famous,' but because they were 'accomplished' apart from lights and screens. I could not find a new biography, not on the normal web sites, or in the still existing new books stores. I could find twenty such books on guys, but none on a woman.

2) About the same time, I was looking for a publisher for my work on Joseph. One of the publishers replied with an offer letter. Accompanying the offer to publish was a fact sheet about the publishing world. As I read each bullet point of fact it became obvious that publishing, marketing, and selling books is a hard business. One fact was jarring - 80% of works published will sell less than 300 copies in their lifetime. (This is one reason why professors assign their own books for a class, they are trying to recoup the publishing costs.) The fact sheet was from 2009; the last decade has, in my observation, not improved the outlook for increased engagement in books. I had given some thought to writing a biography, or an anthology with several mini-biographies, but the market for written material, and the cost to produce it, made the project look bleak.

3) For several years one of my co-workers has made a case for podcasting. Until a couple of years ago I had not listened to a single podcast. Then a neighbor revealed that she worked for a news podcast that is produced by the same group that produces a magazine I've taken for over two decades. It was good. I began exploring other podcasts. As I listened to other podcasts, it dawned on me that one of the ways I've appreciated and taken in stories is through the aural tradition; most generally around a table, in a barn, in a car or truck. Aural wisdom sharing is as old as time, and I've been privileged to be a participant, as the kids say, 'IRL - in real life' (in person), and by listening to the radio. I saw the possibilities for a podcast.

Following Christmas break of 2022, I approached my co-worker, and said, "now is the time for a podcast."

Taking all the back-story into consideration we planned out the spring. My co-worker did the technical work, and I worked on the line-up for Season 1. Taking a lead from my earlier desire to find the story of a wise woman, I asked women who were over 60 years of age. In the end, four decades were represented - 60's - 90's. They all are active at Schweitzer Church, and while some talked of their church experience, I was really looking for the stories of their lives, and the wisdom they might share, for whomever might listen.

One of my aunts listened to all of the stories. She said she thought there was a theme to the whole season, one beyond my parameters: a theme of trial, and the theme of faith. I'll leave that for listeners to discern what theme(s) may be present, if any at all. What I remain convinced of is something I say briefly in the podcast, that comes from CS Lewis' sermon, "The Weight of Glory":

It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, it at all, only in a nightmare. . .  There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, art, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. (The Weight of Glory, 39)

In the midst of recording there has been much laughter, a few tears, and a high regard for the lives that have been shared. The people I've interviewed are Really Cool People. Their lives, in a thousand different ways, have been marked with trials, and deep goodness. Each one has joy, real joy. The Lord is their Good Shepherd. I hope you will take a listen. (I'd also welcome you to rate it and share it.)

In the fall, after my co-worker and I return from sabbaticals, we look forward to producing Season 2.