In this episode, Jonathan and the Circe Institute's David Kern reminisce about the work of the recently deceased Charles Portis. They discuss the connections between fiction and flim-flammery, the role of the ridiculous in comic storytelling, the importance of leaving some work for the reader to do, the world's smallest perfect man, and one of the world's most perfect opening sentences.

David Kern heads up the Circe Institute's Podcast Network. He hosts the Close Reads podcast, The Daily Poem podcast, and the Libromania podcast. A shortened version of this conversation will be posted as an episode of Libromania.

In this episode, Jonathan and the Circe Institute's David Kern reminisce about the work of the recently deceased Charles Portis. They discuss the connections between fiction and flim-flammery, the role of the ridiculous in comic storytelling, the importance of leaving some work for the reader to do, the world's smallest perfect man, and one of the world's most perfect opening sentences.
David Kern heads up the <a href="https://www.circeinstitute.org/podcast">Circe Institute's Podcast Network</a>. He hosts the Close Reads podcast, The Daily Poem podcast, and the Libromania podcast. A shortened version of this conversation will be posted as an episode of Libromania.

Conversations with writers about writing, hosted by Jonathan Rogers.

The Habit

The Habit Podcast

S2 E9: Remembering Charles Portis, with David Kern

Bethaney B. Wilkinson is a writer, spiritual director, podcaster, and facilitator who is passionate about slow, sustainable, and soul-nourishing living. Her new book is A More Beautiful Way to Live: Nine Practices to Unlearn Habits of Anxiety, Fear, and Urgency. In this episode, Bethaney and Jonathan Roger talk about tending to your inner terrain, paying attention to your longings while also paying attention to realities and limitations, and the difference between your sphere of influence and your sphere of concern.

Bethaney B. Wilkinson is a writer, spiritual director, podcaster, and facilitator who is passionate about slow, sustainable, and soul-nourishing living. Her new book is <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-more-beautiful-way-to-live-nine-practices-to-unlearn-habits-of-anxiety-fear-and-urgency-bethaney-b-wilkinson/72512d28b2198be0?ean=9781587436581&amp;next=t">A More Beautiful Way to Live: Nine Practices to Unlearn Habits of Anxiety, Fear, and Urgency</a>. In this episode, Bethaney and Jonathan Roger talk about tending to your inner terrain, paying attention to your longings while also paying attention to realities and limitations, and the difference between your sphere of influence and your sphere of concern.

Bethaney Wilkinson's More Beautiful Way to Live

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/d699cc26-51ff-4875-9bdb-aa4e006494dd/clips/6760190b-fa28-4527-8dc3-b40700246d84/transcript

Wesley Vander Lugt  is a pastor, theologian, writer, teacher, nonprofit leader, and arts advocate with a passion for beauty, slowness, cultivation, and kinship. He currently works as the Acting Director of the Leighton Ford Center for Theology, the Arts, and Gospel Witness and is Adjunct Professor of Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte. He is also the Co-Founder of Kinship Plot, a community of learning and practice imagining and embodying resonant relationships of every kind. His new book is Beauty Is Oxygen: Finding a Faith that Breathes. In this episode, Wes and Jonathan Rogers discuss just how necessary beauty is.

This episode originally aired in June of 2024.

Wesley Vander Lugt&nbsp; is a pastor, theologian, writer, teacher, nonprofit leader, and arts advocate with a passion for beauty, slowness, cultivation, and kinship. He currently works as the Acting Director of the Leighton Ford Center for Theology, the Arts, and Gospel Witness and is Adjunct Professor of Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte. He is also the Co-Founder of Kinship Plot, a community of learning and practice imagining and embodying resonant relationships of every kind. His new book is <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/beauty-is-oxygen-finding-a-faith-that-breathes-wesley-vander-lugt/21003366?ean=9780802883254">Beauty Is Oxygen: Finding a Faith that Breathes</a>. In this episode, Wes and Jonathan Rogers discuss just how necessary beauty is.
This episode originally aired in June of 2024.

Wesley Vander Lugt Breathes Beauty (from the Archives)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/d699cc26-51ff-4875-9bdb-aa4e006494dd/clips/daf2465e-3e76-4abd-9f8b-b40100d8c198/transcript

Becca Jordan has referred to herself as a wandering songbird. She’s a singer-songwriter, a writer of essays, and a worship leader in Nashville. She is also working on a Masters Degree in Theopoetics. Becca was our guest at The Habit’s 2026 Winter Writer’s Weekend. The theme of that weekend was “Adding to the Glory.” Becca is an artist who has put a lot of glory into the world in a lot of different ways, so she seemed like an obvious fit. This conversation was recorded in front of a roomful of writers. In this episode, Becca and Jonathan Rogers talk about glory, longing, and related topics.

<a href="https://www.beccajordanmusic.com/">Becca Jordan</a> has referred to herself as a wandering songbird. She&rsquo;s a singer-songwriter, <a href="https://beccajordan.substack.com/">a writer of essays</a>, and a worship leader in Nashville. She is also working on a Masters Degree in Theopoetics. Becca was our guest at The Habit&rsquo;s 2026 Winter Writer&rsquo;s Weekend. The theme of that weekend was &ldquo;Adding to the Glory.&rdquo; Becca is an artist who has put a lot of glory into the world in a lot of different ways, so she seemed like an obvious fit. This conversation was recorded in front of a roomful of writers. In this episode, Becca and Jonathan Rogers talk about glory, longing, and related topics.

Becca Jordan Adds Glory to the World

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/d699cc26-51ff-4875-9bdb-aa4e006494dd/clips/5ca2bbb0-0cee-4145-87d0-b3fa00c86e5c/transcript

S2 E9: Remembering Charles Portis, with David Kern

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