Makers & Mystics

Stephen Roach

Makers & Mystics is the podcast for the art-driven, spiritually adventurous seekers of truth and lovers of life.

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328 episodes
Updated July 21

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Nov 18, 2025 · 56 min
Creating Monsters: Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein and the Horror of Unchecked Ambition
In this inter-seasonal episode, Stephen Roach is joined by returning guests Paul Anleitner and John Mark McMillan for a discussion of Guillermo del Toro’s new Frankenstein adaptation. Together they explore del Toro’s visual storytelling, the spiritual and theological roots of Mary Shelley’s original vision, and why horror remains one of the most powerful vehicles for truth in our modern age. What We Discuss Mary Shelley’s Origin Story The Geneva “ghost story” challenge, volcanic winter, and the dream that inspired Frankenstein—plus the timely synchronicity with Stephen’s upcoming book. Del Toro’s Visual Parable Color symbolism, the contrast between Victor and the creature, and how the film communicates its meaning through pure imagery. Theology, Philosophy & Monsters Del Toro’s spiritual connection to the story, humanity’s desire to play creator, and how horror works only within a moral universe. Ambition, Ego & Shadow Victor and the creature as two halves of the same self, crucifixion imagery, and why many successful people feel they’ve “created monsters” of their own. Why Horror Still Haunts Us Horror as enchantment, ancient narrative patterns, and our longing for stories that reveal hidden cosmic significance. Guests Paul Anleitner – paulanleitner.substack.com John Mark McMillan – johnmarkmcmillan.com Host Stephen Roach, author of the upcoming How to See Invisible Things (October 2026). makersandmystics.com • thebreathandtheclay.com Send us Fan Mail Support the show Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1 Connect with Makers & Mystics Website: https://makersandmystics.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/makersandmystics Instagram: https://instagram.com/makersandmystics
Sep 23, 2025 · 53 min
S15 E15: Resistance and Flow (Season Finale)
In this season finale, Stephen Roach closes out our exploration of creative flow with a rich conversation with several artists from the Makers & Mystics Patreon community. Joining the discussion are artist and educator Angela Houk, writer and branding expert Steve Brock, and poet and visual artist Corey Frey. Together, the crew explores the interplay between resistance and flow—how creative blocks, limitations, and even frustrations can actually become the conditions that allow new work to emerge and personal character to develop. As Wendell Berry reminds us, “the impeded stream is the one that sings.” This episode examines: Why resistance can be a gift in the creative process. How Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s theory of flow connects to happiness and fulfillment. The balance between focus and receptivity in both art and relationships. How preparation, practice, and openness set the stage for flow. The “radical middle” where challenge and skill converge Connecting the experience of flow to the Holy Spirit This is a thoughtful, inspiring conversation on navigating resistance, finding flow, and staying open to the creativity that emerges when we least expect it. Connect with the guests: Angela Houk Steve Brock Corey Frey ––– Support the Podcast If you’d like to go deeper in these conversations and be part of the Makers & Mystics creative collective, consider joining us on Patreon. You’ll gain access to monthly online gatherings, bonus content, creative prompts, and a vibrant community of artists pursuing faith and imagination together. 👉 Join the community on Patreon Send us Fan Mail Support the show Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1 Connect with Makers & Mystics Website: https://makersandmystics.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/makersandmystics Instagram: https://instagram.com/makersandmystics
Aug 21, 2025 · 34 min
S15 E14: Sound Symbols: Foley Art in Film with Ronnie Van Der Veer
Behind the curtain of cinema lies a hidden language, spoken not in words, but in sound. In this episode of Makers and Mystics, Stephen Roach interviews Foley artist Ronnie Van Der Veer, exploring the intricate world of sound design in film. Ronnie shares his journey into Foley art, the importance of creating realistic sound effects, and the techniques he employs to enhance the cinematic experience. The conversation explores the creative process behind sound symbolism, and practical advice for aspiring Foley artists. Through case studies of films like 'The Occupant' and 'The Forgotten Battle,' listeners gain insight into the art of sound and its profound impact on storytelling. About the guest: Ronnie van der Veer is an award winning foley artist from the Netherlands. From his studio just outside Amsterdam he has worked on movies like The Lobster by Yorgos Lanthimos, Girl by Lukas Dhont, war movie The Forgotten Battle and various Netflix, Disney and Amazon Originals. Ronnie uses his background as a drummer in his work as a foley artist. See more of Ronnie's work: www.foleytales.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/foley.tales/ Films referenced in this episode: The Forgotten Battle: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10521092/?ref_=nm_knf_t_2 The Occupant: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7230422/?ref_=nm_flmg_job_1_cdt_t_6 Connect with Makers and Mystics: Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/makersandmystics Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/makersandmystics APPLY FOR OUR NOVEMBER 21-23, 2025 WRITER'S RETREAT IN THE BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS OF N.C. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScaiDW84Ktc1KH1JLt236fNPaiKW22E_XnzJqIgjHc5zijzfA/viewform?usp=header Send us Fan Mail Support the show Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1 Connect with Makers & Mystics Website: https://makersandmystics.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/makersandmystics Instagram: https://instagram.com/makersandmystics
Aug 12, 2025 · 10 min
Artist Profile Series 39: Simeon Stylites
What does the life of a bizarre fifth-century monk have to offer our lives in the modern world today? This episode of the Makers and Mystics podcast explores the life and influence of Simeon Stylites, a Syrian Christian ascetic known for his extreme devotion and outlandish lifestyle of standing atop a pillar for 37 years. Stephen Roach highlights Simeon's early life, his ascetic practices, and the profound impact he had on society during his time. The discussion reveals how Simeon's unwavering commitment to prayer and his role as a public figure offers an example for how we stand atop our own pillars and digital platforms today. Join the Makers and Mystics creative collective Apply to attend The Breath and The Clay writer's retreat, November 21-23rd, in Moravian Falls, NC. Support The Podcast Send us Fan Mail Support the show Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1 Connect with Makers & Mystics Website: https://makersandmystics.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/makersandmystics Instagram: https://instagram.com/makersandmystics
Aug 5, 2025 · 38 min
S15 E13: Confessional Transcendence with Poet and Actor Amy Leigh Wicks
Amy Leigh Wicks is a poet, actress, and educator from New York City. She holds a PhD in Creative Writing from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand and an MFA from The New School in New York. She recently served as Dean of Performing Arts at Bethel Conservatory of the Arts and is the author of The Dangerous Country of Love and Marriage (Auckland University Press, 2019) and Orange Juice and Rooftops (Eloquent Books, 2009). In this episode, Stephen Roach talks with Amy about the intersection of presence, performance, and poetic confession. Their conversation explores the emotional depth of character work, the daily rhythms that sustain creativity, and the subtle terrain where vulnerability gives way to transcendence. At the heart of the conversation, Amy unpacks the idea of confessional transcendence—the mysterious way raw honesty in art can lead beyond self-expression into something sacred and universal. Through personal stories and reflections, she explores how poetry and acting together deepen her awareness of beauty, pain, and the human condition. The episode culminates in a moving reading of her poetry that embodies the very themes explored. Resources: Get Amy's Book: The Dangerous Country of Love and Marriage Support The Podcast! Show some love! If this, or other episodes, have helped you in your creative/spiritual journey, become a monthly patron. Follow us on Instagram Send us Fan Mail Support the show Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1 Connect with Makers & Mystics Website: https://makersandmystics.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/makersandmystics Instagram: https://instagram.com/makersandmystics
Jul 22, 2025 · 33 min
S15 E12: The Ghost Life with Prasanta Verma
As artists, we live our lives between worlds, the one in which we imagine and the one in which we must survive. But what do we do when the life we imagine and the life we live are incongruent? Often our lives look much different on paper than they do in our dreams. Joining us for this conversation is author, speaker, and public health professional Prasanta Verma. Prasanta's first book, Beyond Ethnic Loneliness, was released in April 2024 and is a 2024 INDIES Foreword Book of the Year Finalist. Prasanta is a graduate of the Kenyon Writers Workshop, a Write On Door County Writing Residency, and one of her essays won Honorable Mention in the WI Writers Jade Ring Essay Contest in 2023. Prasanta writes to help us feel seen and find a sense of belonging, and wants to help us envision a society where we are healthier and more connected. She is both an academic and creative, and is currently working on her doctorate in public health. In this episode, Prasanta shares about the concept of the ghost life and how art bridges the gap between our lived experiences and our aspirations. She shares insights on the importance of community, the difference between solitude and isolation, and the need for radical acceptance to keep creative flow through life's unexpected turns. Resources: Join the Makers and Mystics Creative Collective Follow Us on Instagram Prasanta's Substack Send us Fan Mail Support the show Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1 Connect with Makers & Mystics Website: https://makersandmystics.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/makersandmystics Instagram: https://instagram.com/makersandmystics
Jul 15, 2025 · 27 min
S15 E11: Urgency and Intimacy with Julian Davis Reid
“How do we hold both urgency and intimacy in our creative practices? How can an artist become a vessel of divine presence — not only in churches, but on club stages, in studios, and in everyday life?” In today’s episode, I’m joined by jazz and gospel pianist Julian Davis Reid — a Chicago-based artist-theologian whose work sits at the crossroads of sound, spirit, and scholarship. Julian is a founding member of the jazz-electronic fusion group The JuJu Exchange and the creator of Notes of Rest, a ministry that invites the weary into the rest of God practiced in the Bible and Black music. In our conversation, Julian and I talk about finding flow as a spiritual discipline, the tension between performance and presence, and what it means to make art that is both urgent and intimate. Support the Makers and Mystics podcast! Follow us on Instagram Send us Fan Mail Support the show Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1 Connect with Makers & Mystics Website: https://makersandmystics.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/makersandmystics Instagram: https://instagram.com/makersandmystics
Jul 8, 2025 · 45 min
S15 E10: The Art of Becoming: Jon Guerra on Music, Imagination, and Spiritual Formation
How does imagination shape not only our art but our spiritual formation? And what does it mean to hold space for play, growth, and even disappointment within our creative process? In this episode, Stephen Roach is joined by Jon Guerra — a singer, songwriter, and film composer based in Austin, Texas, whose work is marked by its devotional nature and spiritual depth. Jon shares the inspiration behind his latest record, Jesus, a deeply personal and contemplative album born from the tension between daily life and artistic calling. The conversation explores his experience scoring Terrence Malick’s A Hidden Life, the unpredictable and iterative nature of the creative process, and how imagination serves as a vital tool in both spiritual formation and the search for creative flow. Topics Include: Imagination as a tool for spiritual and artistic formation Finding creative flow amidst life’s changing seasons The role of play, growth, and disappointment in the creative process Scoring for film and the collaborative, iterative nature of that work The inspiration behind Jon’s new album Jesus The relationship between daily demands and sustained creativity Support The Podcast: One time donation or monthly Send us Fan Mail Support the show Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1 Connect with Makers & Mystics Website: https://makersandmystics.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/makersandmystics Instagram: https://instagram.com/makersandmystics
Jul 1, 2025 · 32 min
S15 E09: Ecstatic States and The Artistic Impulse P2
In this concluding segment of our Artist Roundtable, Stephen Roach, Corey Frey, and Donna Matthews continue their conversation on ecstatic experiences, flow states, and the artist’s impulse through a Christian lens. This episode explores ecstatic states in both Pentecostal and Orthodox traditions, highlighting the shared hunger for transcendent encounter across streams of faith. The discussion also hits on the need for a deeper theological framework around flow states, offering both spiritual and practical insights for artists navigating these immersive creative moments. About The Guests: Donna Matthews is a musician and creative artist. In the 1990’s she played lead guitar in Elastica and lo-fi, DIY band Klang, and in subsequent years devised and facilitated creative workshops for people in recovery from addiction. She is currently in her final year of a practice-based PhD in Music at the University of Glasgow. Interested in issues such as poetic intuition, inspiration, and gift, her work explores how the intuitive state might be conveyed through aesthetic form, while also exploring improvisation as a means of 'undoing form' to experience the inspired state. Corey Frey is a visual artist, poet, and musician. He and his wife, Christy, are the founders of The Well Collaborative, a community in Frederick, Maryland, dedicated to wonder, hospitality, and creativity. Corey works as the Exhibitions Manager at The Delaplaine Arts Center in Frederick’s downtown area. He is also the co-host of the Makers and Mystics podcast’s creative collective book clubs. Stephen Roach is the host of the Makers and Mystics Podcast and the founder of The Breath and The Clay creative arts organization. He is a published author, keynote speaker, and multi-instrumentalist with a background in ethnomusicology and film composition. He has penned five volumes of poetry, a practical guide for artists titled Five Creativity Killers and How To Avoid Them, and his most recent book, Naming The Animals: An Invitation To Creativity, published by Square Halo Books. Stephen lives in North Carolina with his wife, Sarah, and children Evangelyn Belle and Isaac Brighton. His next book, published by Zondervan Reflective, is scheduled for release in October 2026. Resources: The Gifted State: Previous episode with Donna Matthews If you’ve been inspired by this podcast, please consider helping us continue our work of advocating for the arts by becoming a monthly patron at http://www.patreon.com/makersandmystics As an independent creator, your generosity enables us to continue our work! Thank you!! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1 Connect with Makers & Mystics Website: https://makersandmystics.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/makersandmystics Instagram: https://instagram.com/makersandmystics
Jun 23, 2025 · 28 min
S15 E08: Ecstatic States and The Artistic Impulse P1
In this Artist Roundtable, Stephen Roach, Corey Frey, and Donna Matthews explore the concept of flow states, ecstatic experiences, and their intersections with art and faith. They discuss how creative processes can lead to profound spiritual encounters, the importance of vulnerability and surrender in accessing these states, and the role of discernment in navigating spiritual experiences. This Two-Part conversation highlights the deep longing for human connection, speaking in tongues, and the challenges artists face within faith communities. About The Guests: Donna Matthews is a musician and creative artist. In the 1990’s she played lead guitar in Elastica and lo-fi, DIY band Klang, and in subsequent years devised and facilitated creative workshops for people in recovery from addiction. She is currently in her final year of a practice-based PhD in Music at the University of Glasgow. Interested in issues such as poetic intuition, inspiration, and gift, her work explores how the intuitive state might be conveyed through aesthetic form, while also exploring improvisation as a means of 'undoing form' to experience the inspired state. Corey Frey is a visual artist, poet, and musician. He and his wife, Christy, are the founders of The Well Collaborative, a community in Frederick, Maryland, dedicated to wonder, hospitality, and creativity. Corey works as the Exhibitions Manager at The Delaplaine Arts Center in Frederick’s downtown area. He is also the co-host of the Makers and Mystics podcast’s creative collective book clubs. Stephen Roach is the host of the Makers and Mystics Podcast and the founder of The Breath and The Clay creative arts organization. He is a published author, keynote speaker, and multi-instrumentalist with a background in ethnomusicology and film composition. He has penned five volumes of poetry, a practical guide for artists titled Five Creativity Killers and How To Avoid Them, and his most recent book, Naming The Animals: An Invitation To Creativity, published by Square Halo Books. Stephen lives in North Carolina with his wife, Sarah, and children Evangelyn Belle and Isaac Brighton. His next book, published by Zondervan Reflective, is scheduled for release in October 2026. Resources: The Gifted State: Previous episode with Donna Matthews If you’ve been inspired by this podcast, please consider helping us continue our work of advocating for the arts by becoming a monthly patron at http://www.patreon.com/makersandmystics As an independent creator, your generosity enables us to continue our work! Thank you!! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1 Connect with Makers & Mystics Website: https://makersandmystics.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/makersandmystics Instagram: https://instagram.com/makersandmystics
Jun 10, 2025 · 34 min
S15 E07: Recasting The Familiar with Faith Bryant
Overfamiliarization can blind us from recognizing the beauty and power of certain truths. When we think we have heard the story before or believe we already know what a particular truth has to offer, we lose the curiosity that opens us to deeper revelation. The work of the artist is to disrupt that familiarity, make the known strange again, and the familiar unfamiliar again, so that we see the world anew. My guest today is New York-based visual artist Faith Bryant. Faith's original style of oil painting recasts the gospel story through the lens of surrealism and deep color theory. Her work explores the complexities of Christian faith, personal identity, and the journey of healing. Through her layered compositions and hidden imagery, Faith invites viewers to take a second look at the truths we thought we understood. Connect with Faith on Instagram @edenesq_ Support the podcast with a single donation Join the Makers and Mystics creative collective Join Stephen Roach, Tanner Olson, Sarah Westfall, and many other presenters at the Cultivate Online Retreat. June 20-22. Details and registration here. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1 Connect with Makers & Mystics Website: https://makersandmystics.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/makersandmystics Instagram: https://instagram.com/makersandmystics
Jun 3, 2025 · 31 min
S15 E06: Sacred Impressions with Visual Artist Elizabeth Bowman
Elizabeth Bowman is a self-taught impressionist painter based in Charlotte, NC. Her work is steeped in imaginative renderings of biblical stories and visual meditations on the life of faith. In this conversation, Elizabeth shares how motherhood and prayerfulness give shape to her art, the importance of rest and reflection, and how she finds creative flow amidst the demands of everyday life. http://www.patreon.com/makersandmystics Music By: Some Were At Sea Send us Fan Mail Support the show Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1 Connect with Makers & Mystics Website: https://makersandmystics.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/makersandmystics Instagram: https://instagram.com/makersandmystics
May 28, 2025 · 33 min
S15E05: A Resonance Across The Ages with Barbara Hannigan
Barbara Hannigan is a world-renowned conductor, soprano, and performer whose work pushes the boundaries of classical and contemporary music. Known for her fearless interpretations and deeply expressive performances, Barbara has built a career that defies convention and celebrates the transformative power of sound. In this episode, Barbara and I discuss her recent album Electric Fields, which offers modern arrangements of centuries-old vocal music. At the heart of the album are the compositions of Hildegard of Bingen — a 12th-century mystic, composer, and visionary whose sacred works still resonate with profound clarity today. In keeping with the season theme, we explore Barbara’s experience of finding flow in those transcendent, improvisational moments when the music seems to move through her rather than from her — and how this state of creative surrender shapes both her artistry and her life. Mentioned in this episode: Electric Fields by Barbara Hannigan Artist profile: Hildegard of Bingen Connect with Barbara Hannigan: https://www.barbarahannigan.com/home| https://www.instagram.com/hannigan.barbara https://outhere-music.com/en/albums/electric-fields Support the Podcast: As an independent creator, your support makes this work possible. Learn how you can become a patron and keep these conversations alive at http://www.patreon.com/makersandmystics Make a one-time donation Send us Fan Mail Support the show Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1 Connect with Makers & Mystics Website: https://makersandmystics.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/makersandmystics Instagram: https://instagram.com/makersandmystics
May 20, 2025 · 11 min
S15 E04: Imitate The Ocean: A Dream, A Poem & An Encouragement with Stephen Roach
In this episode, Stephen Roach explores creative flow as a generative, life-giving way of being. He highlights the need for trust in the process and the vulnerability that comes with sharing one's art. Stephen encourages listeners to embrace rhythms of rest and rebirth and imitate the ocean. Join the Makers and Mystics Creative Collective Support the podcast with a one-time donation. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1 Connect with Makers & Mystics Website: https://makersandmystics.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/makersandmystics Instagram: https://instagram.com/makersandmystics
May 6, 2025 · 28 min
S15E03: The Discipline of Inspiration
I would imagine most of us think of inspiration as a sudden flash of insight that hits us out of nowhere and compels us create. It’s not something we control. The wind blows where it wishes and we don’t know where it comes from or where it goes. But what if inspiration were a discipline? Brooklyn-based author and artist Carey Wallace has written an incredible book titled, The Discipline of Inspiration. Here, she addresses this question and shines a new light on how we think about our relationship to the things that move us. Poet and songwriter Patti Smith writes that "This book articulates... the beautiful compexity of what drives us to create and what we encounter when we do." In keeping with our season theme of finding flow, consider how nurturing our inspirations prepare us for those beautiful moments of creative transport. We’ll be talking more about this in the Makers and Mystics creative collective. Music by: Some Were At Sea Send us Fan Mail Support the show Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1 Connect with Makers & Mystics Website: https://makersandmystics.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/makersandmystics Instagram: https://instagram.com/makersandmystics
Apr 28, 2025 · 31 min
S15E02 | The Faraway Nearby with Leah Song of Rising Appalachia
Leah Song is a storyteller, song-catcher, musician, poet, and community builder. She’s best known as the front-woman of the beloved band Rising Appalachia, which she leads alongside her sister Chloe. As a solo artist, Leah draws from the rich traditions of Southern soul, the diasporic sounds of the Celtic Isles, and her deep studies of folk music from across the Americas. In this episode, Leah talks with Stephen Roach about her journey through music, exploring the intersections of various cultural traditions and how the pace of our lives impacts creative flow. Resources: Join the Makers and Mystics Creative Collective Support The Podcast with a one-time donation Patreon: Patreon.com/makersandmystics Send us Fan Mail Support the show Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1 Connect with Makers & Mystics Website: https://makersandmystics.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/makersandmystics Instagram: https://instagram.com/makersandmystics
Apr 22, 2025 · 11 min
S15E01: Tuning The Room with Stephen Roach
Flow begins with attentiveness. In this episode, Stephen Roach shares how tuning the room became a creative and spiritual practice. Welcome to Season 15 of Makers & Mystics. In this opening episode, host Stephen Roach invites listeners into the unfolding journey of Finding Flow—not just as a creative high, but as a sacred rhythm and intentional spiritual practice. Anchored in a story from his experience as a touring musician, Stephen shares how he developed a pre-show ritual: using a sustained drone and improvised melody to “tune the room”—to draw the audience (and himself) into a space of collective attentiveness. It became more than a musical practice; it became a way of entering flow, of opening space for something beyond performance to emerge. In this episode, Stephen explores: What it means to prepare a space for creativity How flow requires attentiveness and surrender The parallels between creative flow and spiritual presence Why the environment we create—internally and externally—matters to our art Whether you’re a musician, painter, poet, or simply someone longing to move through the world with greater presence, this episode will help you begin to tune your own room—and step into your creative flow. Featured Music: Songs of Water Join the Creative Collective: Patreon Support the Podcast with a one-time donation: Support Follow Us on Instagram: @makersandmystics Five Creativity Killers Book: Get the book mentioned in this episode. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1 Connect with Makers & Mystics Website: https://makersandmystics.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/makersandmystics Instagram: https://instagram.com/makersandmystics
Apr 17, 2025 · 3 min
Finding Flow | An Introduction to Season 15
Have you experienced those moments when the grind gives way to an effortless grace? When a poem or painting tells you what it wants to become, or when a melody sings itself into being? This state of creative flow is one that artists and athletes, saints and mystics alike, each aspire to attain. It is a state where time bends low and reveals a slice of eternity. When our minds are absorbed, the world around us dissolves. Five minutes becomes five hours. Attentiveness and reverie are caught in a kiss that transcends technical ability and becomes magic. In flow, we become the act we give our hands to accomplish. The painter becomes the painting. The dancer becomes the dance. We enter into something greater than ourselves, a move of the Spirit that is ever in flux and available to us all. This season on Makers and Mystics, we’re going to explore how to find flow, Not just as a creative high— But as a practice. A rhythm. A spiritual discipline And a way of life. We’re going to talk about what keeps us from entering it, and why it matters—not just for our art, but for our own development and well-being. You’ll hear from painters, poets, musicians, and makers of all kinds - each sharing stories of what enables them to find flow and the challenges that have kept them from it. You’ll hear from theologians and thinkers who see creativity as a sacred conversation. We’re going to talk about the discipline behind flow, the resistance that rises against it, and the mysterious grace that shows up when we least expect it. So if you’ve struggled to find flow — Or if you’ve ever wondered how to maintain your creative inspiration — Or if you’re simply longing to move through the world more awake and more alive… This season is for you. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1 Connect with Makers & Mystics Website: https://makersandmystics.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/makersandmystics Instagram: https://instagram.com/makersandmystics
Mar 17, 2025 · 45 min
BC25 | Risk Art vs. Shock Art
In this final conversation of our BC25 introductions, Stephen Roach, Corey Frey, and Dr. Marie Teilhard discuss the complexities of art that challenge conventional boundaries. They explore themes of heretical art, the distinction between shock art and risk art, and the importance of trust and exploration in the creative process. **Trigger Warning: This episode deals with sensitive subject matter such as self-harm and cutting. Follow Makers and Mystics on Instagram: @makersandmystics Connect with Dr. Teilhard Connect with Corey Frey Special Thanks to our patrons and friends who help us keep this train running. If you've been inspired by the Makers and Mystics podcast and would like to show the love, you can give a one-time donation here or become a monthly patron here. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1 Connect with Makers & Mystics Website: https://makersandmystics.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/makersandmystics Instagram: https://instagram.com/makersandmystics
Mar 11, 2025 · 22 min
BC25 Presenter | Amanda Cook
Amanda Cook is a writer/musician/lover of books whose music explores the intersections of faith/doubt, love/loss, hope/despair, and fun/notfun. In this episode, Amanda talks with Stephen Roach about her latest EP Survey: Part 2 along with her thoughts on reconciling faith and art and the motivations behind her creative process. This episode continues our introductions to the presenters who will be with us at BC25. Resources: The Breath and The Clay (virtual & In person tix available.) Follow us on Instagram Help us continue our work by becoming a monthly patron or by giving a one time donation. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1 Connect with Makers & Mystics Website: https://makersandmystics.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/makersandmystics Instagram: https://instagram.com/makersandmystics

Makers & Mystics

Support the show

Creating Monsters: Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein and the Horror of Unchecked Ambition

S15 E15: Resistance and Flow (Season Finale)

S15 E14: Sound Symbols: Foley Art in Film with Ronnie Van Der Veer

Artist Profile Series 39: Simeon Stylites

S15 E13: Confessional Transcendence with Poet and Actor Amy Leigh Wicks

S15 E12: The Ghost Life with Prasanta Verma

S15 E11: Urgency and Intimacy with Julian Davis Reid

S15 E10: The Art of Becoming: Jon Guerra on Music, Imagination, and Spiritual Formation

S15 E09: Ecstatic States and The Artistic Impulse P2

S15 E08: Ecstatic States and The Artistic Impulse P1

S15 E07: Recasting The Familiar with Faith Bryant

S15 E06: Sacred Impressions with Visual Artist Elizabeth Bowman

S15E05: A Resonance Across The Ages with Barbara Hannigan

S15 E04: Imitate The Ocean: A Dream, A Poem & An Encouragement with Stephen Roach

S15E03: The Discipline of Inspiration

S15E02 | The Faraway Nearby with Leah Song of Rising Appalachia

S15E01: Tuning The Room with Stephen Roach

Finding Flow | An Introduction to Season 15

BC25 | Risk Art vs. Shock Art

BC25 Presenter | Amanda Cook