Table of (Mal)Contents

While our hiatus as a podcast continues, I started a new podcast called Your Next Favorite Book, where I share about one book I really enjoy in every episode. These books run the spectrum of genres and styles—in much the same way the books Dave and I would share here do. But this is a bit of a deeper dive, almost a book review experience. And today, I want to share with you one of my favorite episodes so far, which focuses on a book that I discovered by accident. This is Faith, Hope, and Carnage by Nick Cave and Sean O'Hagan. And if you like what you hear, I hope you'll subscribe to Your Next Favorite Book on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast app.

Even though we’re still on a hiatus, it doesn’t mean that Dave and Aaron aren’t still doing things together. In fact today’s episode is a conversation recorded at Landmark Booksellers in Franklin Tennessee on March 1, 2023, to commemorate the release of Aaron's new book, I’m a Christian—Now What? A Guide to Your New Life with Christ. In this conversation, we discuss why Aaron wrote the book and some of its key themes. We also talk about some of the advice he wishes he’d been given and things he would have done differently if he could have a do-over as a new believer. We even had a chance to take a few questions from the audience at the store! I’m a Christian—Now What? A Guide to Your New Life with Christ is available now. Order today from Amazon or wherever you buy books.

Introducing Your Next Favorite Book, a new podcast from Aaron Armstrong. Learn more and subscribe at https://anchor.fm/aarmstrong

It's the most wonderful time of the year. The trees are decorated. The stockings have been hung with care. The lights are all over every tree. And Aaron is grinching about the whole thing. Which means it's a perfect time for us to drop a very special episode of Table of (mal)Contents! Listen in as we discuss Our favorite books of the year Getting and receiving books as gifts What's happening with the show—are we back? A few of the books in this episode Some of Aaron's favorites of 2021 The Storyteller by Dave Grohl Hail Mary by Andy Weir American Gospel by Lin Enger Art Matters by Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell The Hardest Job in the World by John Dickerson A few of Dave's favorites of 2021 Man at Arms by Steven Pressfield A Life in Parts by Bryan Cranston Surprised by Oxford by Carolyn Weber The High Divide by Lin Enger The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield A quick note for listeners: I'm using new software for editing and it's taking a bit to get used to, so if it's a bit echo-y, I apologize.

Wildwood Flower: Stories of Women who Built Country Music is back for Season 2! Intro episode will drop on October 1st! Available on all platforms. To find out more about the podcast, listen to the introductory episode here. Subscribe and follow on Instagram at wildwoodflowerpod to stay updated on new episodes and special announcements.

Welcome back to the Area Code neighborhood: Feel For the Game. Nick and Noah return with a series of (mainly basketball) conversations about nostalgic moments in NBA history, current issues plaguing the league, how coping and mental health play a role in sports, and more. Tune-in as they unprofessionally, but sincerely explore why sports are bigger than just the score of the game. Subscribe now, and follow along to find out how many times Noah makes an unwarranted Kansas Jayhawks basketball reference. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feelforthegamepod/ ✌️

Welcome the newest resident to the Area Code neighborhood:Wildwood Flower: Stories of Women who Built Country Music. Season 1 premiering on June 4th! Available on all platforms. To find out more about the podcast, listen to the introductory episode here. Subscribe and follow on Instagram at wildwoodflowerpod to stay updated on new episodes and special announcements.

Dave and Aaron have to have a talk. It's a hard talk, but it's a good one. Feel the randomness as we discuss: The realities of our lives right now If Grease 2 is the best sequel of all time (and why does Dave think the answer is yes) The best horror writers (since we don't read those books) A Stranger Things and Lonesome Dove connection Introducing kids to Nicolas Cage A few of the books we mentioned Superman: Exile & Other Stories Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir The Book Thief by Markus Zusak The Midnight Library by Matt Haig Freedom by Sebastian Junger

Our friend Mary Wiley joins us this week for a chat about publishing, writing theology books for kids, why we need more books like Gentle and Lowly, and the time a group of people lost their minds when Dave told them about a little book she wrote. A few of the books mentioned on today's episode Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund The Gospel Story and Everyday Theology by Mary Wiley The Last Kind Words Saloon by Larry McMurtry

It's the day of random on today's episode and Aaron & Dave share different moments from silly and ridiculous books they love. A few of the books mentioned on this episode Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost A Hard Thing on a Beautiful Day by Ted Kluck Radical by David Platt Open by Andre Agassi

This week we're taking things easy and letting the Internet guide our discussion, with three questions from our friends over at Goodreads: What's the last book that busted a reading slump for you? What was the last book you stayed up too late reading? Is there a best time to read? A few of the books we mentioned in this episode The Clanlands Book by Sam Heughan and Grant McTavish The High Divide and American Gospel by Lin Enger Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund The Multi-Directional Leader by Trevin Wax The Secular Creed and 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) About Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin South of Broad by Pat Conroy Man at Arms by Steven Pressfield Norco '80 by Paul Houlahan

Dave and Aaron are back in the saddle with a promptly released episode, recorded within an hour of Dave getting his shot of a certain vaccine. Will he grow a second head? Will he have a sudden urge to buy Microsoft products? Will his cell signal improve? We don't know! But we do know he can't stop thinking about the end of the world, so we're talking about that, World Book Day, and why writers need to write what connects with themselves first. A few of the books we mentioned in this episode Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders The Multi-Directional Leader by Trevin Wax

After a tiny delay due to Aaron being tired and Dave being busy, we're back with a brand new episode recorded roughly 8 hours before it found its way onto the Interwebs. Listen in as we discuss why it's not bad for people to read books where sports play a key role—especially for people like Aaron who don't have a sports at all. A few of the books we mentioned in this episode Shoeless Joe by WP Kinsella Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby Friday Night Lights by H. G. Bissenger Open by Andre Agassi A Life in Parts by Bryan Cranston Beartown by Fredrik Backman

Nature may or may not be healing, folks, because Aaron is back on duty in an exhibit hall for TGC's Women's and National Conferences! But that didn't Aaron from taking a few minutes on a Friday afternoon to talk with Dave about what it's like being back in exotic Indianapolis and to be around all the books after all this time. Meanwhile, Dave woke up at 2 in the morning to watch Ken Burns' Hemingway documentary and couldn't wait to talk about it and to ask an important question: who is Canada's Ken Burns? A few of the books mentioned on this episode: The Terrifics Vol. 3: The God Game by Gene Luen Yang Lightning Strike by William Kent Krueger The Last Kind Words Saloon by Larry McMurtry 2034: A Novel of the Next World War by Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stravridis Sharing and supporting the show Leave a five-star rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to the show. Give us a follow on Twitter and Instagram at @MalContentsPod Be sure to use the Amazon affiliate links above to help us pay for the costs of producing and hosting the show. Interested in sponsoring Table of (mal)Contents? Let’s talk via email or DM us on Twitter or Instagram.

The literary world lost another giant when Beverly Cleary died a couple of weeks before her 105th birthday. Listen in as we discuss her enduring legacy, some of the surprise books we didn't realize she wrote, and a whole lot more. A selection of Beverly Cleary's books mentioned in this episode Henry Huggins Ralph S. Mouse Ramona & Beezus But really, all her books are delightful. A couple of other books we discuss The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead True Believer: The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee by Abraham Riesman Undiscovered Country Vol. 2 by Scott Snyder & Charles Soule Sharing and supporting the show Leave a five-star rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to the show. Give us a follow on Twitter and Instagram at @MalContentsPod. Be sure to use the Amazon affiliate links above to help us out. Interested in sponsoring Table of (mal)Contents? Let’s talk via email or DM us on Twitter or Instagram.

A trend has emerged in recent years within Christian publishing circles: the book contract announcement photo. As it has evolved, it has taken on many different forms, beginning with the blurry contract corner and getting progressively more interesting as they go. Today we're discussing several styles—what we like, what we don't, and what we wish we'd see—along with Aaron making a special announcement of his own. But what is that announcement? You'll have to listen to this special bonus episode to find out! (And keep a close watch on Aaron's social medias too.) Sharing and supporting the show Leave a five-star rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to the show. Give us a follow on Twitter and Instagram at @MalContentsPod Be sure to use the Amazon affiliate links above to help us pay for the costs of producing and hosting the show. Interested in sponsoring Table of (mal)Contents? Let’s talk via email or DM us on Twitter or Instagram.

The literary world lost a legend last week when it was announced that Larry McMurtry, acclaimed author of Lonesome Dove, The Last Picture Show, and more than two dozen others, died at age 84. Listen in as we discuss what we know (and learn) about his work, and make plans to read one of his books together. A selection of Larry McMurtry's books mentioned on today's episode The Last Picture Show Anything for Billy Terms of Endearment Comanche Moon Streets of Laredo Dead Man's Walk A couple of other books we discuss True Believer: The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee by Abraham Riesman The Whole Story for the Whole Family by Michael Kelley Big Truths Bible Storybook by Aaron Armstrong Sharing and supporting the show Leave a five-star rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to the show. Give us a follow on Twitter and Instagram at @MalContentsPod Be sure to use the Amazon affiliate links above to help us pay for the costs of producing and hosting the show. Interested in sponsoring Table of (mal)Contents? Let’s talk via email or DM us on Twitter or Instagram.

Every organization, church, blog, and even podcast can succumb to mission drift if its identity is not continually being clarified. So today, much like Derek Zoolander did when he saw his reflection in a puddle, we're getting a little introspective on the show and asking the question, "Who am I?" Listen in as we discuss: What we're really all about—and who are we really trying to be Why our faith can't not be a part of the show (even when we rarely discuss books connected to our faith) Carrying conversations when we're having a bad day Dave's thoughts as he's finally reading A Man Called Ove A few of the books mentioned on this episode: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund A Swim in the Pond in the Rain by George Saunders Sharing and supporting the show Leave a five-star rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to the show. Give us a follow on Twitter and Instagram at @MalContentsPod Be sure to use the Amazon affiliate links above to help us pay for the costs of producing and hosting the show. Interested in sponsoring Table of (mal)Contents? Let’s talk via email or DM us on Twitter or Instagram.

One of the creative cohorts & publishing companies Dave and Aaron both love is The Rabbit Room, for many different reasons, not the least of which being the people running it. So this week, Dave and Aaron are joined by none other than Pete Peterson, its executive director and managing editor. Listen in as we discuss: The story of The Rabbit Room The publishing philosophy of "do less better" The challenges of reading for pleasure when working in publishing The feedback Pete—and his brother Andrew—has received because of the content of his books Why it can be challenging for some authors to be too Christian and not Christian enough How Pete quit smoking A few of the books mentioned on this episode: Every Moment Holy Vol. 1, and the forthcoming Every Moment Holy Vol 2 by Douglas McKelvey The Fiddler's Gun and Fiddler's Green (the Fin's Revolution series) by Pete Peterson (Though really, get these direct from The Rabbit Room store—it's a great way to support them directly!) Sharing and supporting the show Leave a five-star rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to the show. Give us a follow on Twitter and Instagram at @MalContentsPod Be sure to use the Amazon affiliate links above to help us pay for the costs of producing and hosting the show. Interested in sponsoring Table of (mal)Contents? Let’s talk via email or DM us on Twitter or Instagram.

Dave and Aaron are excited to one of our favorite authors, Lin Enger, join us on the podcast this week for an outstanding chat about… well, pretty much everything. (In fact, we were having such a good time that we completely forgot the time and went about 20 minutes over—and you get to reap the benefits of it!) Listen in as we discuss: The recurring themes of religion, sacrifice, forgiveness, and father-son dynamics in Lin's writing The importance of place to storytelling What does Lin need to teach students about writing The danger of over-editing The relationship between end-times prophesying and the weird climate in which we find ourselves today Books written by Lin Enger: Undiscovered Country The High Divide American Gospel Comeback: A Gun Pederson Novel (co-authored with Leif Enger) Sharing and supporting the show Leave a five-star rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to the show. Give us a follow on Twitter and Instagram at @MalContentsPod Be sure to use the Amazon affiliate links above to help us pay for the costs of producing and hosting the show. Interested in sponsoring Table of (mal)Contents? Let’s talk via email or DM us on Twitter or Instagram.