Emily McGowin is an associate professor of theology at Wheaton College as well as a priest in the Anglican diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others. She is the author of three books: Quivering Families, Christmas, and Households of Faith. Today Emily comes on the show to talk about family: what it is, what Scripture says about it, and how family can be a blessing to our communities and our world. We dig into her newest book, Households of Faith: Practicing Familiy in the Kingdom of God, and From parenting as accompaniment to seeking justice, our conversation was a deep encouragement and blessing to me and I pray it will be one to you as well. Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe
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103: Owl’s Nest Publishers
Starting a business is not for the faint of heart. Starting a publishing business might take the most courage of all.Enter Karin Hoyle. This author and birder wanted to broaden the landscape of middle grade literature with more books that feature the good, the beautiful, and the true. Middle grade lit is a field that is often filled with books that skew much older than the kids preteens and teens who read them. As a parent myself, I know firsthand that finding books that are both challenging enough for my young readers and still being age-appropriate can be a real uphill climb.Join us as we pick Karin’s brain about Owl’s Nest Publishers, the state of young adult literature, the joys and struggles of writing, and why owls just might be the coolest birds. Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe
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102: Birding for Better Health
When Jack Bruce founded WellBirds, he was excited to merge two of his passions—birding and health. It’s no secret that birding can improve our mental health, but did you know it can improve our social, emotional, and physical health as well?Join us on this episode of The Thing with Feathers as we learn from Jack about the birds of Atlanta and the myriad of ways birding can strengthen and connect us. Plus, a window into fabulous programs like Mental Health First Aid that can help us love our neighbors well. Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe
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101: Birding with Kids
As a mom of three youngish kids (6, 9, and 12), I was so excited to talk to Barbara Hunsicker. Barbara is a Florida birder, a theologian, and a mom of two. She shares her best birding tips to welcome kids into the joy, the gift of watching youngsters discover the world of birds, and how we might learn from our kids, too.Plus, we talk hurricane relief and what natural disasters can mean for us and our feathered friends. Barbara and her family were new to Florida—her husband Dave pastors a Presbyterian church there—when Hurricane Helene came through, wreaking havoc on their church property as well as many of their congregants’ homes. It was a trial-by-fire in beginning their ministry, and in many ways they are still recovering.She helps answer the questions: what happens to birds in a hurricane, and how does a community’s recovery shape its togetherness and its love?Plus, we celebrate the birds of Florida and talk theology, mystery, favorite birds, nemesis birds, and the small, surprising places where Barbara is finding hope today.You can follow Barbara’s birding journey on Instagram, too, where she’s one of my very favorites for bird photography and Florida joy. Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe
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100: Our One Hundredth Episode!
Today on the podcast, Daryl Ellis—beloved and patient birding spouse—joins the show to celebrate our 100th episode. Together we talk about the origin story of The Thing with Feathers, what it’s like to be married to a birder (and discover that you’re slowly becoming one yourself), and the importance of purusing joys and hobbies in midlife.Plus: which local bird we can set our watch by, the delight of mulch (yes, really), and how to support your spouse in that which brings them joy.A great word of thanks to all those who have supported The Thing with Feathers in its journey. From molting to migration, faith to falcons, bird fests to binoculars, sparrows to spiritual reawakenings, we’ve covered so much ground in these 100 episodes.I can’t wait for the next 100.What topics haven’t we covered that you’d like to learn about in the days ahead? Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe
Listen to The Thing with Feathers: birds and hope with Courtney Ellis, Ologies with Alie Ward and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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