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PODCAST

The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana

MaryAnn McKibben Dana

A place to breathe amid the clamor of everyday life. Hosted by author, pastor, and hopemonger MaryAnn McKibben Dana maryannmckibbendana.substack.com

religion & spirituality spirituality

All Episodes

52:23

Pop Culture Pastors Hour: KPop Demon Hunters

The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana ·

2025/11/21

Hello to our little Soda Pops! Substack Live was being a huge pain, so I recorded this from my iPad, hence the strange framing of my Very Large Head.Today we talked KPop Demon Hunters! We cover shame, original sin and original blessing. The healing that comes through authentic relationship. Workaholics and “hustling for worthiness.” Why the song “Takedown” didn’t stop the demons, but “Golden” didn’t either. What’s in a name? And more! Here’s a link to a discussion about the Korean concept of “han,”

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57:12

Pop Culture Pastors Hour: It’s the Great Pumpkin,...

The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana ·

2025/10/29

Happy Halloween week! I promise Ed did not wear his costume for the whole hour… (Vader is looking quite comfy in that crew neck)We use this 1966 children’s classic to talk about faith, imagination, and the push and pull of sincerity v. cringe. Also, what *are* we to make of Lucy as a character?As you listen, relish these beautiful images from the wordless interlude of the episode in which the World War I Flying Ace must creep through enemy lines. Stunning.See you next time! Get full access to The

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55:23

Pop Culture Pastors Hour - Life Soundtracks

The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana ·

2025/10/22

What fun! Music is a powerful creator of community, which we discuss in our kickoff to the conversation, followed by answers to four prompts:* If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life* Song that unlocks tears/emotion* Song that saved your life* Last song you shared with someone elseTroy Bronsink is a wonderful musician in his own right, and a deep and good human. And it’s always great to chat with my wingman Edward Goode. If you haven’t subscribed to their Substacks, do

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16:18

Brave: Braving the Unknown

The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana ·

2025/10/16

Hi folks, here’s last Sunday’s sermon, a riff on one of my favorite Old Testament passages, in which Jeremiah makes an audacious real-estate purchase. I’ve preached on this text before, but always love revisiting it. Steady on. Get full access to The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana at maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

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44:02

Celebrating Banned Books Week: Pop Culture Pastors Hour

The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana ·

2025/10/11

Thank you Nathan Webb, Emily Dunevant, Elizabeth Nordquist, Capitol Jill, Charlotte, and many others for tuning into our latest Pop Culture Pastors Hour with Edward Goode and our wonderful guest, Frances Wattman Rosenau! I encourage you to follow/subscribe to these great writers and thinkers.This was a great conversation—very excited by these recommendations from my fellow pastors. I’ve got some reading to do…We used this book of banned books via Pen America. And here’s the episode of the Moth

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57:03

Pop Culture Pastors Hour: Battlestar Galactica...

The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana ·

2025/09/25

Thank you to everyone who tuned into today’s live video! Spoilers for Battlestar Galactica (miniseries, plus a little bit of the show as a whole), in which we talk AI, the true meaning of apocalypse, the role of religion, and the power and frailty of ordinary people. And will we ever get over 9/11? Bonus nightmare: Roko’s Basilisk, a philosophical concept about AI that gives some people anxiety attacks when they hear it. Fun with game theory!Thanks Ed for recommending this great show, can’t wait to

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15:33

Brave: In the Lion's Den

The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana ·

2025/09/22

Today’s podcast offering is my sermon from yesterday, part of our congregation’s worship series, Brave: Faithful Living in Turbulent Times.Focus, faithfulness, and weak foolish kings. And a man in his early 30s, with a wife and young children, who lost his life to political violence… but probably not the one you think. The entire scripture text is here—this recording only includes the second part, but as you’ll hear, the first part is at least as important.At the end of the audio you’ll hear me

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52:01

Pop Culture Pastors Hour: Station Eleven

The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana ·

2025/09/18

It’s good to be back in the saddle! Thanks Edward Goode, I looooove this show and I loved this conversation about the power of story, beauty as a means of survival, and other favorite topics. A few additional links. Here’s the scene where the characters dance as one of them raps a Tribe Called Quest song, and here’s the link to a very silly, extremely white ladypastor (cough) doing the same in a sermon on Palm Sunday last year. And here’s the book Ed mentioned: The Fourth Turning.Station Eleven is

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17:36

Let Justice Roll Down

The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana ·

2025/09/10

“Let justice roll down like water, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Here’s a reflection on that famous verse, invoked so faithfully by MLK and others in the civil rights movement. Originally preached at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Herndon on September 7, 2025.Big credit to Rebecca Solnit and her article on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. If this message speaks to you, please share it with friends and loved ones. And if you’re listening on a podcast app, rating and

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20:04

Tyranny, Irises, and Sleepless Nights: On Finding the...

The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana ·

2025/08/13

This sermon from last Sunday hit a nerve for a bunch of folks, and my husband said “this is one that more people need to hear.” So, in hopes that it speaks to you, here’s a reflection on Hebrews 11 that attempts to speak to our current moment. Originally preached at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Herndon on August 10, 2025.Credit to Austin Kleon and his book Keep Going, which is the source for the final story about Leonard and Virginia Woolf.If this message speaks to you, please share it with friends

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47:06

Pop Culture Pastors Hour! — The Life of Chuck

The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana ·

2025/08/11

Thank you Edward Goode for the great conversation, but also for recommending this charming film! Eager to watch it again, and also to read the Stephen King novella one of these days. The Life of Chuck is available to rent or purchase on streaming platforms and features a wonderful cast that includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Mark Hamill, Nick Offerman, Mia Sara, and The Hiddleston, who dances. DANCES, y’all. We talked about sincerity v. cynicism, the meaning of a single life, the power of core

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9:23

“Take up your cross and follow”

The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana ·

2025/08/04

I’ve heard “take up your cross and follow me” my whole life. These days I hear it somewhat differently. Here’s the video that kicked it off… Get full access to The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana at maryannmckibbendana.substack.com/subscribe

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58:02

Pop Culture Pastors Hour! Superman (2025)

The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana ·

2025/07/23

What an absolute joy this conversation was! Edward Goode and I were so thrilled to be joined by writer, theologian, and artist Phuc Luu, Ph.D. for this episode, in which we talked immigration, identity, family, and cultural legacies. In addition, Phuc wrote a great post this morning about the movie:Learn more about Phuc’s books, coaching work, and more here. (Ed gives high praise to his first book, Jesus of the East, and his latest, Jesus and Buddha Talk: About Desire, Suffering, and Happiness comes

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52:14

Pop Culture Pastors Hour! Stranger than Fiction

The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana ·

2025/07/02

After a delayed start due to technical difficulties, Ed and I had a great chat about the 2006 film Stranger Than Fiction, a favorite of both of us. The movie stars Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Emma Thompson, Queen Latifah, and Dustin Hoffman, and has a lot to say about free will, sacrifice, and the power of story.The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.A few resources:*

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19:44

Pop Culture Pastors Hour! Check-in and Preview of...

The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana ·

2025/06/23

It’s summer and it’s HOT. We all need things to look forward to, eh? Today Edward Goode and I check in, share what we’re reading/watching, and preview what’s to come this summer.First, we’ll be talking about the 2006 film Stranger Than Fiction next Wednesday July 2 at 1 p.m. EDT, giving you more than a week to watch this deep and delightful movie starring Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Emma Thompson, Queen Latifah, and Dustin Hoffman. Here’s the link, so you can get it on your calendar!Then later

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62:21

Pop Culture Pastors Hour! Andor Wrap-up and Rogue One

The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana ·

2025/05/30

And that’s a wrap! After doing a review of Rogue One in light of what we experienced with Andor, we celebrate the conclusion of a majestic TV series with some hall of fame categories. GOAT of the Rebellion? Most entertaining dinner party guests? Ed and MaryAnn get into all of that and more, including our ideas for best Andor tattoo.Spoilers for all of Andor, Rogue One, and Star Wars: A New Hope.A few links and resources:* The House of R podcast, which has done some marathon-length breakdowns of the

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56:47

Pop Culture Pastors Hour! Andor Season 2 Episodes 10-12

The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana ·

2025/05/26

Thanks to everyone who joined Edward Goode and me for our fourth conversation about Andor. We talked about the power and perils of a human-driven movement; disease, disgust and the rhetoric of dehumanization; the fate of our heroes; and the impact of one small word: TRY. Spoilers for all of Andor, Rogue One, and The Last Jedi.Follow Ed at Imago Scriptura.Here’s the article I mentioned from Sojourners, We Have What We Need to Fix This. And here’s the quote I read:Plugging into national organizations

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60:59

Pop Culture Pastors Hour! Andor Season 2 Episodes 7-9

The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana ·

2025/05/14

Thanks to everyone who joined Edward Goode and me for our third conversation about Andor. We drew some historical and scriptural parallels to the show, talked about the communal nature of calling, explored the power of prophetic speech, and lifted up the nature of resistance, full of small moves and tag-team efforts. And much more! This was a meaty episode—fitting for some of the best television we’ve ever seen (just because I’m prone to hyperbole doesn’t mean it’s not true).Spoilers for all of

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46:53

Pop Culture Pastors Hour! Andor Season 2 Episodes 4-6

The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana ·

2025/05/07

Thanks to everyone who joined Edward Goode and me for our second conversation about Andor. We talked about the benefits and pitfalls of episodic storytelling, the strength and frailty of human beings, the perils of building a movement, and more.Spoilers for all of Andor season 1, plus season 2 episodes 1-6, the movie Rogue One, and The Last Jedi.Here’s the book I mentioned: Preaching in Hitler’s Shadow: Sermons of Resistance in the Third Reich. And don’t miss Ed’s charming story of adventure for

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40:35

Pop Culture Pastors Hour! Andor Season 2, Episodes 1-3

The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana ·

2025/04/30

What a blast. Thanks to everyone who joined Edward Goode and me for our first of four (or more?) conversations about Andor. We talked about gender, power and privilege; the “cost of discipleship”; accelerationism as faithful strategy (or not?); and more. Spoilers for all of Andor season 1, plus season 2 episodes 1-3, and the movie Rogue One, and a brief reference to The Last Jedi. See you next week. Between now and then, May the Fourth (and the Force) be with you. Get full access to The Blue Room

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