Season Two is finally here!!!
In this episode of the podcast, the hosts explore Chapter 1 of Unreadable, focusing on how urban learners are moving away from traditional reading toward orality—a natural, story-based way of learning. Don Barger and Grant Lovejoy bring unique insights, blending field experience and academic research. Their findings reveal a significant shift in how people consume information, favoring connection, storytelling, and online platforms.
The discussion highlights how these trends impact faith communication. Through anecdotes, such as a PhD student’s preference for auditory learning and a woman discovering faith through online forums, the episode underscores the power of storytelling, understanding the audience, and authenticity.
Listeners are challenged to adapt their methods of engagement, embracing humility and creativity to connect with a world increasingly oriented toward orality. The episode ends with an optimistic call to view these changes as avenues for transformative communication.
This season, we introduce two new guest hosts! We hope you enjoy the second season of That Reminds Me of a Story!
Season Two of That Reminds Me of a Story begins with a discussion about urban orality. Over the past couple of years, Don and Grant have interviewed over two hundred people in urban centers seeking to learn how information and influence spread organically in these settings. Their premise is that the Gospel message can and should be spreading using the same methods as other information. In this episode, they discuss the questions they used as they listened to others share their stories.
In this episode, Don and Grant discuss a topic that is a frequent question. Instead of crafting stories, why would you not just memorize Scripture?
This is a continuation of the interview with colleagues from Latin America. In this episode, a team discussions their use of oral strategies to engage five different people groups. They talk about the benefits of the Story Together model. They also discuss challenges they have faced in working with remote people groups.
In this episode, Don and Grant are joined by two colleagues as they discuss their use of oral strategies for over a decade in Latin America.
Don and Grant have spent over a year researching how influence and information flow in urban environments. They have interviewed over 200 people globally in many global cities. In this episode, they reflect upon the initial findings of their research.
In this episode, Don and Grant discuss what is meant by story crafting. This frequently misunderstood term is important for those in the Bible storying community. They explain what is meant by the term and also what is not meant by the term. This episode explains some of the Bible translation principles incorporated into the telling of Bible stories.
In this episode, Don and Grant continue their discussion of the use of Back Translations for checking Bible Stories. They discuss the difference between written and oral back translations. This is part two of a two-part discussion on Back Translations.
A common question we receive is, "How can you make sure that stories are accurate?" In this episode, Don and Grant discuss one tool that helps with making sure that Bible stories are accurate to God's Word and that the story is faithfully anchored in the Biblical text. This is part one of a two-part discussion on Back Translations.
Telling Bible stories from the narrative portions of Scripture is natural. In this episode, Don and Grant discuss how to story non-narrative portions of Scripture.
For resources for telling non-narrative portions of Scripture, check out the Notes on Orality section of our website - www.orality.info
In this episode, Grant and Don explore how Bible stories are put together and the processes used to ensure that stories are faithful to God's Word.
Much has changed over the past thirty years of Bible storying. In this episode, Don and Grant discuss some of the shifts in how the orality movement adopted Bible translation models to improve the clarity, accuracy, naturalness, and retellability of Bible Stories. They also discuss how orality encompasses much more than traditional Bible storying sessions. Check out www.orality.info for additional tools and resources.
In this episode, Don and Grant discuss the power of narrative in difficult times. Stories provide a great way to help people deal with the traumas of war, conflict, and uncertainty. Help people process their trauma by listening to their stories and providing hope through Biblical stories.
This is the first of many episodes recorded with JO Terry. He is one of the pioneers of Bible Storytelling. In this episode, he explains how he developed several story sets for different worldviews and situations. He shares from his lifetime of experience in responding to opportunities to share through Bible Stories. At the 24 minute mark, JO gives some pointers for how to develop a story set.
You can purchase several of his resources on Amazon. https://amzn.to/34orRVi
In this episode, Don and Grant talk about a frequently asked question. Once you decide that you want to tell a Bible Story, how do learn the story? They discuss the many different ways for learning to tell a Bible Story and talk about what resources are helpful in the process.
In this episode, Don and Grant take on a common question they receive when training others about oral strategies. Many people ask, "Why don't they just learn to read?" We sometimes assume that models that work for us will work for everyone. A second question addressed on this episode is why tell stories instead of just letting non-readers listen to the Bible being read. Why is a told story different from a story being read?