Makers & Mystics

BC25 Presenter | John Mark McMillan | Technology, AI Jesus and Meaning Making

"Technology does a really good job of floating us past all of these inconvenient blessings." - John Mark McMillan Today on the show, singer-songwriter John Mark Mcmillan joins me to talk about his new music, technology's impact on the arts, confessing to an AI Jesus, and recovering a sense of meaning in our disenchanted world. If you’ve listened to the Makers and Mystics podcast or have been to any of our Breath and Clay events, then you’ll know that John Mark is no stranger to our community. He’s been a part of the Breath and Clay and Makers and Mystics world since the beginning. We love keeping up with his creative work and appreciate his voice to this community. John Mark will be bringing his full band to perform some of the new songs for the first time ever in public at The Breath and The Clay March 21-23, 2025. Topics:The Impact of Technology on The ArtsAI JesusGod embraces your whole storyLinks/Resources: Connect with John MarkBook Mention: I'll Take You There: Pop Music and The Urge for Transcendence by Bill Friskics-WarrenAI Jesus ArticleKosuke Koyama BookGet Tickets to The Breath and The Clay

Makers and Mystics | Live In Boulder, Colorado

This episode features a live discussion with Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Victory Boyd, Gospel recording artist Leeland Mooring, visual artist and curator Corey Frey, and podcast host Stephen Roach.This conversation was recorded live at the Resound Creative Arts event in Boulder, Colorado. Reserve Your Spot at The Breath and The Clay March 21-23 in Winston Salem, NC.

BC25 Presenter | Theopoetics and Comic Book Mythology with de'Angelo DIA

In this series of conversations, Makers and Mystics will highlight several of the presenters and themes for the BC25 creative arts gathering, March 21-23, in Winston Salem, NC. Today’s guest is Theo-poet and mystic Dr. de’Angelo DIA. The conversation explores the intersections of poetry, theology, and personal experience. DIA discusses how his early exposure to literature and comic book mythology shaped his understanding of sacredness and black charismatic spirituality. Stephen Roach highlights BC25 themes of fragmentation and wholeness, the search for the divine in secular spaces, and the influence of neo-Appalachian art on DIA’s work.Learn more about Dr. de’Angelo DIAGet Tickets to BC25Join the Makers and Mystics Creative Collective Treat us to a cup of coffee for our work on the podcast.

S14 Reclaiming Wonder Finale with Stephen Roach

In the season 14 finale of Makers and Mystics, Stephen Roach reflects on the theme of reclaiming wonder. Drawing from personal stories, spiritual insights, and the wisdom shared by this season’s guests, Stephen examines how we can rediscover awe and beauty in our everyday lives, even in a world that often feels disconnected from the miraculous.Stephen closes the episode with a thought-provoking insight: Wonder is not just an experience; it’s an invitation. It’s the residue of the divine, a call to transformation, and a reminder that we are made for more than survival. When we open ourselves to wonder, we become what we behold and begin to see the possibility for beauty and meaning in every corner of life.Get Tickets to The Breath and The Clay Join the Makers and Mystics Creative CollectiveHelp us continue our work with a one-time donation.

S14 E22: Etiquette of The Wild with Martin Shaw

Myths and storytelling have been a part of human culture since ancient times. From the oral traditions of indigenous peoples to the epic tales of gods and heroes, stories have shaped our understanding of the world, our place in it, and our deepest desires.For artists, these narratives offer more than a glimpse into the past—they are a source of guidance, inspiration, and meaning. In this final conversation of our ‘Reclaiming Wonder’ series, I am joined by renowned storyteller, mythologist and Christian thinker Martin Shaw.In our conversation, Martin and I discuss the profound relationship between storytelling and the arts. Martin shares the importance of allowing stories to remain wild, to breathe, and not become domesticated by rushing to interpretation. We discuss the concept of being 'wedded to the wild' and the role of artists in re-wilding faith.You can learn more about Martin’s work hereYou can explore our library of over 300 episodes with artists, mystics, theologians, and creative thinkers at http://www.makersandmystics.comThank you to everyone who has followed along in this series of conversations. I’d love to hear from you. Which conversations inspired you most? Which ones did you wrestle with or skip over? Send me a line, and if you want to go deeper into these conversations, please consider joining our creative collective at http://www.patreon.com/makersandmysticsWe’d love to have you with us. I hope to meet you all at The Breath and The Clay event March 21-23, in Winston Salem, NC.When you see me, come say hi. You’ll be in good company with other artists and creative seekers such as John Mark McMillan, Amanda Cook, Sho Baraka, Joshua Luke Smith, Kendra Apache, Elissa Weichbrodt and many others.