Resting Church Face with Amanda Allen
Religion & Spirituality Podcas
Did your parents take you aside before church to remind you that the argument they had on the way to Sunday School was “family business”? Have you been told more than once that you need to control your facial expressions? Do you know every word to both Michael W. Smith’s “A Place in This World” and Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise”? Do you love a good deep dive on movies and books and music? Yeah? Me too. Hello. I’m Amanda, and we’re going to be friends. Let’s talk about all the good stuff.
Location:
United States
Description:
Did your parents take you aside before church to remind you that the argument they had on the way to Sunday School was “family business”? Have you been told more than once that you need to control your facial expressions? Do you know every word to both Michael W. Smith’s “A Place in This World” and Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise”? Do you love a good deep dive on movies and books and music? Yeah? Me too. Hello. I’m Amanda, and we’re going to be friends. Let’s talk about all the good stuff.
Language:
English
Episodes
Episode 63: Aging Like Fine Grape Juice with Alana Allen
5/14/2024
This past weekend was Mother’s Day, and I thought it was a perfect time to continue our series on Aging Like Fine Grape Juice and having a good conversation with my mom, Alana Allen! I loved doing this so much, and as much as I thought I knew about my mom, she surprised me with stories I’d never heard (and isn’t that the way it always works with our parents?). She’s also a really smart lady, so I think she sprinkled in some great advice into this chat, too. And…The Beatles!
Duration:00:49:03
Episode 62: Stop Talking About Women’s Bodies
5/7/2024
Oof. This was a hard episode to record. The Met Gala was this week, and once again, we are being bombarded with critiques of women’s bodies. Are they too fat? Too thin? On Ozempic? Did they get plastic surgery? Was it good plastic surgery? Was it bad? And so on and so on until - seemingly - the end of time. And guys? I’m sick of it. Why can’t we just stop talking about women’s bodies? So let’s talk about that.
Duration:00:51:44
Episode 61: Taylor Swift & The Tortured Poets Department, Pt 2
4/30/2024
Get the Kleenex ready guys - we’re doing a deep dive on the second half of Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Dept. Anthology! And just trust me. We are going to feel everything. And we’ll (mostly) like it, because melancholy can be fun when it’s done well!
Duration:00:46:56
Episode 60: Taylor Swift & The Tortured Poets Department Anthology, Pt. 1
4/23/2024
Love her or hate her, Taylor Swift is probably the biggest star in the world right now. And she has a new album with 31 songs on it (yes - 31!) Oh my word, all the feelings. And I do mean AAAAALL the feelings. Let’s do a deep dive on why we all have an opinion about this music and the woman behind the music - and warning - you might need a nap afterwards. To paraphrase our Millennial Poet Laureate, we love her, but it might be ruining our lives (but in a good way?).
Duration:01:07:15
Episode 59: Movies That Transport Us
4/16/2024
Life is hard. And as much as I think Killers of the Flower Moon is an excellent piece of cinema, sometimes I don’t want to be reminded that people can be awful and everyone was sweaty in the 1930s because there were no air conditioners. Sometimes I want to be transported to a place that is totally and completely unlike my everyday reality. So let’s talk about movies that sweep us away and make us happy at the same time.
Duration:00:26:07
Episode 58: A Royal Apology
3/26/2024
A few days ago, Catherine, Princess of Wales (or as we all call her, Princess Kate), announced that she was undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. The world was stunned, and most were rightly ashamed, since the conspiracy theories surrounding her public “disappearance” had reached fever pitch. And everyone was wrong. How did we get here? Why did we go after Kate and her family the way we did? How do we keep it from happening again? Let’s talk about it.
Duration:00:30:39
Episode 57: Spring Glimmers
3/19/2024
Spring is finally here! Trees are green again, flowers are blooming, and let’s just decide to ignore the pollen for a while. On this week’s episode, let’s talk about the little moments of joy that spring is…springing on us. I had to. And I’m not even sorry.
Duration:00:25:02
Episode 56: Books - Winter Roundup Pt 2
3/12/2024
It’s time for part 2 of the roundup of books I read this winter! The latter part of the season was a little hit or miss for me, but there were still a lot of really good reads. And honestly? Some of these “bad” books were so bad they were…good? You know what I mean. So let’s discuss!
Duration:00:22:06
Episode 55: Books - Winter Roundup Pt 1
3/5/2024
It’s booooook tiiiime! (I hope you sang that.) I read 35 books this winter, so this roundup will be split into two episodes. I have some good ones for us (and a few duds), so let’s talk about it!
Duration:00:31:05
Episode 54: Pet Peeves
2/27/2024
I consider myself a (usually) upbeat person. But sometimes, it feels good to let it out and rant a little bit. So this week, we’re talking about pet peeves - specifically, my pet peeves. It’s possible that my pet peeves are yours too, and if they are, let’s be best friends! Just don’t chew anything around me, ok?
Duration:00:17:56
Mini (Mini) Episode: Please Watch 15 Minutes of This Terrible Movie
2/23/2024
Guys. I recorded this because I need you to share in the hilarity of this soon-to-be-leaving movie on Hulu called “Among the Shadows.” It has everything: Lindsay Lohan as a VAMPIRE. Werewolves. Age confusion. Green screens. The President of France! It’s too good not to share.
Duration:00:04:16
Episode 53: The Best of What’s Streaming Now
2/20/2024
Are you in the mood to binge some good tv (and one movie)? You have come to the right place! I have some recommendations that I think will satisfy your entertainment itch (and none of it involves Travis Kelce or Taylor Swift)!
Duration:00:18:08
Episode 52: Lessons in Grieving
2/6/2024
My dad passed away on January 18th. I am by no means an expert on grieving the loss of a parent, but there are some lessons I’ve taken away from these past few weeks while I’ve been processing aaaaaall my emotions (I’ve had a lot), and I want to share them with you. Because you are My People. ❤️
Duration:00:28:02
Episode 51: Best of 2023 — Books
1/9/2024
Happy New Year! To kick off the first episode of the year, let’s talk about the best books I read in 2023. It was HARD to narrow them down to a manageable list, but I think I did it! So get cozy and let’s chat about my favorite subject ever - books. All the books.
Duration:00:26:30
Episode 50: Remember When Christmas Was Magic?
12/19/2023
We are less than a week away from Christmas, and this week, I have some special guests joining me to tell me about what makes Christmas so magical when you’re a kid! If this doesn’t put you in the Christmas spirit, then your heart is just two sizes too small.
Duration:00:15:04
Episode 49: Christmas Movies for Every Christmas Mood
12/12/2023
Sometimes we’re in a jolly and festive Christmas mood, but sometimes we want to embrace our humbug natures, so good news! I’ve got movie recommendations for all our different holiday feelings - from happy to sappy and everything in between. And believe it or not, The Holiday isn’t on this list. Well. Barely.
Duration:00:20:59
Episode 48: Books - Fall Roundup Pt 2
12/7/2023
This is Part 2 of our fall book roundup, and there are some good ones in here! Get those Amazon Christmas gift cards out and put them to some good literary use by stocking up on your TBR pile of books. You know you have one.
Duration:00:27:36
Episode 47: Books - Fall Roundup Pt 1
12/5/2023
I read almost 30 books this fall, so I’m breaking this book roundup into two episodes - make sure to come back on Thursday for the second installment! There are some super good books (and some not so good duds), so get out your TBR list and let’s talk about it.
Duration:00:33:18
Episode 46: More Twinkle Lights
11/29/2023
Christmas is upon us! And for some of us, we feel that very literally - it is UPON US. So in this episode, let’s discuss how we can enjoy the festive season in a calming and comfortable way. As Kathleen Kelly famously said, “It will all shake out. Meanwhile, I’m putting up more twinkle lights.” Also, Rooms to Go Christmas movies.
Duration:00:19:14
Episode 45: Thanksgiving Traditions
11/22/2023
Thanksgiving is tomorrow! Let’s talk about all the fun (and maybe not so fun) traditions that make Thanksgiving really feel like Thanksgiving. Also, robotic dogs from 2001.
Duration:00:23:26