The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 267
Frankenstein, Part 3
Welcome to Episode 267 of The Thinklings Podcast!

In this episode, the Thinklings continue their exploration of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, delving deeper into the creature’s story and the moral complexity that unfolds as creator and creation confront one another. Themes of justice, empathy, and alienation intertwine as the Thinklings reflect on how Shelley’s narrative raises timeless questions about what it means to be human.

Thanks for joining us for this week’s thoughtful discussion!
📖 Main Content

Examining the creature’s perspective and the longing for companionship.
Discussing Victor’s moral responsibility and the consequences of isolation.
Exploring how Shelley’s story bridges science, morality, and theology.

🌿 Final Meditation
Thinkling Boyd closes with a reflection from 2 Cor 1!



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The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 266
Boyd — “The Collar”
Welcome to Episode 266 of The Thinklings Podcast!

In this episode, Dr. Boyd leads the Thinklings through a poetic and theological reflection on “The Collar” by George Herbert — a powerful exploration of rebellion, restlessness, and the return to submission under God’s call. Together, the Thinklings unpack Herbert’s imagery and emotion, considering how poetry can shape our understanding of faith, struggle, and surrender.

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s conversation!
📚 Books & Business

Thinkling Little: Worship and Song
Thinkling Boyd: How to Read a Book
Thinkling Stearns: To the Far Blue Mountains
Thinkling Carter: Milton’s Sonnets

📖 Main Content
Dr. Boyd walks through George Herbert’s poem The Collar!
🌿 Final Meditation
Thinkling Carter closes the episode with a reflection from 2 Corinthians 4, encouraging endurance and hope in the midst of life’s challenges.



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The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 265
Frankenstein, Part 2
Welcome to Episode 265 of The Thinklings Podcast!

In this episode, the Thinklings continue their journey through Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, picking up where Victor’s story begins to unfold in full. They reflect on how ambition, creation, and alienation shape both Victor and the creature — and what Shelley’s writing reveals about humanity, responsibility, and the moral weight of knowledge.

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s conversation!
📖 Main Content

A deeper dive into Frankenstein as Victor’s obsession grows and consequences emerge.
Reflections on themes of ambition, alienation, and the human condition.

🌿 Final Meditation
Thinkling Stearns shares a final meditation from 2 Chronicles 33.



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The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 264
Psalm 68 in Ephesians 4
Welcome to Episode 264 of The Thinklings Podcast!

In this episode, the Thinklings survey different views on the use of Psalm 68 in Ephesians 4. The conversation explores interpretive perspectives, theological implications, and how this passage fits into Paul’s larger message to the church.

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s conversation!
📚 Books & Business

Thinkling Little: Becoming the Pastor’s Wife
Thinkling Boyd: The Faerie Queene
Thinkling Stearns: To the Far Blue Mountains
Thinkling Carter: Ephesians commentaries

📖 Main Content
The Thinklings examine different interpretations of Psalm 68 as it is used in Ephesians 4, discussing how Paul draws on Old Testament imagery to reveal the victorious work of Christ and its implications for the church today. This episode offers a thoughtful look at textual meaning, context, and application.
🌿 Final Meditation
The episode closes with a meditation on Ephesians 4, focusing on unity, Christ’s victory, and the gifts He gives to His people.



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The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 263
Frankenstein, Chapters 1–5
Welcome to Episode 263 of The Thinklings Podcast!

In this episode, the Thinklings begin their discussion of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, covering Chapters 1–5. Together, they explore themes of ambition, grief, and longing woven through Victor Frankenstein’s story — and how Shelley’s work still speaks to questions of humanity, wisdom, and responsibility.

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s conversation!
📖 Main Content
Opening Discussion Points

An introduction to Mary Shelley and her life context.
A look at the narrative structure through the letters of Robert Walton.
A free-flowing discussion about the early chapters and how they set the stage for Victor’s obsession and isolation.

🌿 Final Meditation
Thinkling Carter closes with a meditation from 1 Corinthians 15, reflecting on life, resurrection, and true hope beyond human achievement.



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The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 262


The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 262
Good Mornings, Harry Potter, and Hand-Raising

Welcome to this week’s episode of The Thinklings Podcast!

We begin with our regular Books & Business discussion, then move into a lively set of listener questions and literary reflections—from Gandalf and Bilbo’s “Good Morning” exchange in The Hobbit, to whether Harry Potter belongs in the same category as Tolkien and Lewis, to thoughtful questions about worship practices, laughter, and the Christian life.

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s conversation!

📚 Books & Business

Thinkling Tim: Current State of OT Studies
Thinkling Josh: Sir Gawain & the Green Knight
Thinkling Andy: Sackett’s Land, Louis L’Amour (Strong 6)
Thinkling Charlie: A Farewell to Arms


📖 Main Content

Jeremiah Simpson’s Question (via Charlie): Why does Gandalf press Bilbo on the meaning of “good morning” in The Hobbit? What does this reveal about Tolkien’s view of language, and how should we think about Bilbo’s response?
Bethany Snell’s Question (via Josh): How should Christians think about Harry Potter compared to Narnia or The Lord of the Rings? What value might the series have, and where do Christians differ?
Dakota Holaday & Taylor Jarmon’s Questions (via Little): How do studies on worship apply to camp songs with actions? Is there a biblical connection between hand-raising and Sabbath observance?
Josiah Little’s Question (via Stearns): What is the correlation between humor, laughter, and spirituality? Why do we laugh, and what does it reveal about our hearts?


🌿 Final Meditation
Thinkling Stearns closes with a meditation on prayer, reflecting on the example of Manasseh.



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Welcome to Episode 261 of The Thinklings Podcast!
This is Episode 6 of Season 11! 🎉

We kick off with our usual Books & Business discussion, then move into the main content: Thinkling Little explores the topic of so-called “failed” Old Testament prophecies — digging into context, meaning, and application for today.

Tune in for thoughtful dialogue, biblical insight, and a bit of fun-nonsense along the way!
📚 Books & Business & Meditation

Stearns: Otherworld
Little: The Men We Need
Boyd: City of God
Carter: Piranesi

📖 Main Content: “Failed” OT Prophecies
Thinkling Little takes us through a careful look at so-called “failed” Old Testament prophecies, examining the historical context, literary form, and theological meaning behind them. This episode invites listeners to see how God’s Word remains trustworthy and relevant.
🌿 Final Meditation
Throughout the episode, Thinkling Little walks us through several passages of Scripture, so there’s no single final text this week — the whole conversation serves as our meditation in the Word. 📖



🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Stay connected with The Thinklings Podcast for more books, theology, and engaging conversation every week in Season 11!

Episode 260 - The Thinklings Podcast


Welcome to Episode 260 of The Thinklings Podcast!

This is Episode 5 of Season 11! 🎉

We start with our usual Books & Business segment before moving to the main content: Thinkling Stearns walks us through A Little Theology of Exercise, exploring how physical discipline and theology intersect.

Thinkling Little wraps up the episode with a closing thought from Psalm 103.

📚 Books & Business & Meditation

Stearns: A Little Theology of Exercise
Little: Sin of Empathy (Quote)
Boyd: Euthyphro
Carter: Frankenstein


📖 Main Content: A Little Theology of Exercise
Thinkling Stearns leads an engaging discussion on the book A Little Theology of Exercise. Together, we consider how the rhythms of physical training can point us toward deeper spiritual truths.

🌿 Final Meditation
Thinkling Little concludes the episode with reflections from Psalm 103, helping us end the conversation grounded in Scripture. 📖



🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Follow The Thinklings Podcast for more from Season 11—where books, theology, and thoughtful banter meet every week!

Episode 259 - The Thinklings Podcast


Welcome to Episode 259 of The Thinklings Podcast!

This is Episode 4 of Season 11! 🎉

We kick things off with our regular Books & Business discussion before diving into the main content: Thinkling Boyd guides us through John Donne’s classic poem, A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning.

📚 Books & Business & Meditation

Stearns: Thoughts Worth Thinking Blog – A Lot Can Change in Four Years
Little: Sing Hymnal
Boyd: Main Content – A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning
Carter: Phantastes


📖 Main Content: John Donne’s Poetry
Thinkling Boyd takes us on a literary journey through John Donne’s A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning, exploring its imagery, meaning, and significance. This classic poem opens up a conversation on love, parting, and deeper theological insights.

🌿 Final Meditation
Thinkling Carter concludes the episode with a meditation on Psalm 103, bringing us back to Scripture for encouragement and reflection. 📖



🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Stay tuned to The Thinklings Podcast for more from Season 11—where books, poetry, and theology come together each week!

Episode 258 - The Thinklings Podcast


Welcome to Episode 258 of The Thinklings Podcast!

This is Episode 3 of Season 11! 🎉

We begin with our regular Books & Business discussion, followed by the main content where Thinkling Carter starts a conversation in Ephesians 4, aimed at unpacking the theme of Christian maturity.

Tune in to hear our thoughts and reflections!

📚 Books & Business & Meditation

Stearns: Ploductivity
Little: The Messiah in the OT
Boyd: Federalist 51
Carter: Wuthering Heights


📖 Main Content: Ephesians 4 & Maturity
Thinkling Carter leads the way in a thoughtful discussion on Ephesians 4, examining what biblical maturity looks like and how believers are called to grow together in Christ.

🌿 Final Meditation
Thinkling Carter guides us through multiple passages, and that serves as our meditation in the Word for this episode. 📖



🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Don’t miss an episode of The Thinklings Podcast—Season 11 is underway with books, theology, and fun-nonsense every week!

Welcome to Episode 257 of The Thinklings Podcast!
This is Episode 2 of Season 11! 🎉

We kick things off with our regular Books & Business discussion, which includes a few great quotes and a review. Then, for the main content, Thinkling Little leads us through a handful of passages as we consider: Should Christians observe the Sabbaths?

Tune in to hear our discussion!
📚 Books & Business & Meditation

Stearns: Ploductivity
Little: Scrolling Ourselves to Death
Boyd: How to Write A Lot
Carter: The Wind in the Willows (Ranking)

📖 Main Content: The Sabbath
Thinkling Little guides us through multiple biblical passages in a thoughtful discussion about the Sabbath. Should Christians observe the Sabbath today? We wrestle with the question and its implications.
🌿 Final Meditation
Thinkling Little’s Scripture exploration counts as our meditation in the Word for this episode. 📖



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Welcome to Episode 256 of The Thinklings Podcast!
This episode is a bit unique! Each of the Thinklings brings a couple of book titles to discuss (and argue for), and at the end, we vote on which two we’ll read together—one in the fall and one in the spring.

We hope you’ll grab these books too and read along with us! A schedule for the first book will be released in the coming weeks. For now, enjoy the conversation as we thresh out the list of books!
📚 Books & Business & Meditation

Stearns: The Wheel on the School; The Weight of Glory
Little: Jane Eyre; Scrolling Ourselves to Death
Boyd: Frankenstein; Confessions
Carter: The Orphan Master’s Son; Beowulf

📖 Main Content: Book Threshing
The main segment of this episode is our “book threshing” session—where each Thinkling brings forward book suggestions, we hash them out, and decide together what to read as a group.
🌿 Final Meditation
Thinkling Boyd closes the episode with a devotional from Deuteronomy 8. 📖



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Episode 255 - The Thinklings Podcast


Welcome to Episode 255 of The Thinklings Podcast!

We’re keeping the summer style series rolling with more books, conversation, and Scripture. Thinkling Carter and Little each share a book, and Thinkling Boyd brings the episode home with a reflection from Psalm 90.

Thanks for joining us for another week of fun and thoughtful discussion!

📚 Books & Business & Meditation

Stearns: Opens with the joke, “Have you heard about the restaurant on the moon?” 🌙
Little: The Warrior Poet Way
Boyd: Psalm 90
Carter: The Divided Soul


📖 Main Content: Books & Psalm 90
This episode’s main segment combines a lively book conversation with biblical reflection, culminating in a focus on Psalm 90 and its timeless wisdom.

🌿 Final Meditation
Thinkling Boyd closes with a devotional from Psalm 90. 📖



🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Don’t miss an episode of The Thinklings Podcast—where books, Bible, and a bit of fun-nonsense meet each week!

Episode 254 - The Thinklings Podcast


Welcome to Episode 254 of The Thinklings Podcast!

We’re back with another summer style episode—a mix of books, banter, and Bible. Thinkling Boyd and Stearns each share what they’ve been reading, while Thinkling Carter wraps up the show with a reflection from Mark 10.

Thanks for joining us this week!

📚 Books & Business & Meditation

Stearns: Talking all about Deacons
Little: Hosts (and wrangles) an unruly episode 😅
Boyd: From Plato to Christ
Carter: Mark 10


📖 Main Content: Books & Mark 10
This episode features a blend of theological insight and lighthearted discussion. After covering this week’s books, the team shifts into a biblical reflection drawn from Mark 10.

🌿 Final Meditation
Thinkling Carter closes the episode with a final thought from Mark 10. 📖



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Episode 253 - The Thinklings Podcast


Welcome to Episode 253 of The Thinklings Podcast!

This week’s episode continues the summer style series—filled with books, reflections, and a bit of campfire humor. Thinkling Stearns and Carter each share about a book they’re reading, and Thinkling Little wraps things up with a devotional from Deuteronomy.

Thanks for listening to this week’s episode!

📚 Books & Business & Meditation

Stearns: Tells a bad joke and discusses Humbled
Little: Final meditation in Deuteronomy and Luke
Boyd: Shares highlights from Camp Swampy 🏕️
Carter: The Great Gatsby


📖 Main Content: Books & Deuteronomy
The episode features a blend of humor, literature, and biblical reflection. Book conversations lead into a closing meditation centered on the truths of Deuteronomy.

🌿 Final Meditation
Thinkling Little closes out the episode with a devotional from Deuteronomy. 📖



🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Don’t miss an episode of The Thinklings Podcast—where deep truth, great books, and summer silliness collide!

Episode 252 - The Thinklings Podcast


Welcome to Episode 252 of The Thinklings Podcast!

This week’s summer-style episode brings more books, more banter, and more Bible! Thinkling Boyd and Stearns each share a book they’ve been reading, and Thinkling Carter leads a devotional in the book of Job.

Thanks for listening to this week’s episode!

📚 Books & Business & Meditation

Stearns: I Cheerfully Refuse
Little: Brings “the bounciest” introduction yet 🎉
Boyd: The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self
Carter: Job


📖 Main Content: Books & the Book of Job
This episode features a blend of cultural and theological reflection, starting with our book discussion and transitioning into a deeper look at the message and meaning of Job.

🌿 Final Meditation
Thinkling Carter closes the episode with a meditation from the book of Job. 📖



🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Stay tuned to The Thinklings Podcast for more summer episodes packed with Scripture, insight, and a bit of fun-nonsense along the way!

Episode 251 - The Thinklings Podcast


Welcome to Episode 251 of The Thinklings Podcast!

This week continues our summer style series with another fun and thoughtful episode. Thinkling Stearns and Little share what they’ve been reading, while Thinkling Boyd wraps up with a devotional from James 4:3.

Thanks for listening to this week’s episode!

📚 Books & Business & Meditation

Stearns: Everything I Learned from Star Wars (Golden Book style)
Little: Jane Eyre
Boyd: James 4:3
Carter: Apparently doesn’t drink coffee anymore... ☕❌


📖 Main Content: Books & James 4
The episode features a mix of literature and theology, with book discussions and a focus on James 4. Expect engaging thoughts, laughter, and biblical reflection.

🌿 Final Meditation
Thinkling Boyd concludes the episode with a meditation on James 4:3. 📖



🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Don’t miss an episode of The Thinklings Podcast—where books, theology, and a little fun-nonsense collide!

Episode 250 - The Thinklings Podcast


Welcome to Episode 250 of The Thinklings Podcast!

It’s a special one—our 250th episode! We continue the summer style with books, laughter, and Scripture. Thinkling Little and Boyd each share a book they’ve been reading, and Thinkling Carter brings us home with a devotional from James 1.

Thanks for joining us for this milestone episode!

📚 Books & Business & Meditation

Stearns: Introduces the podcast
Little: Napoleon
Boyd: The Republic
Carter: James 1


📖 Main Content: Books & James 1
The heart of this episode is a mix of literature and Scripture. The team shares thoughts on their recent reads and dives into the wisdom of James 1—a fitting reflection for episode 250.

🌿 Final Meditation
Thinkling Carter closes the episode with a devotional from James 1. 📖



🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Follow The Thinklings Podcast to celebrate 250 episodes of thought, theology, and a little fun-nonsense every week!

Episode 249 - The Thinklings Podcast


Welcome to Episode 249 of The Thinklings Podcast!

This week’s summer-style episode continues the fun, books, and Scripture rhythm! Thinkling Boyd and Carter each bring a book to discuss, and Thinkling Stearns wraps things up with a devotional from 1 Timothy 3.

Thanks for listening to this week’s episode!

📚 Books & Business & Meditation

Stearns: Devotional on 1 Timothy 3
Little: The Best Introduction in the History of Mankind
Boyd: Traditional Logic I
Carter: Strange Lyre


📖 Main Content: Books & 1 Timothy 3
The main content blends literary reflection and Scripture, with book discussions from Boyd and Carter followed by a thoughtful devotional from Stearns in 1 Timothy 3.

🌿 Final Meditation
Thinkling Stearns leads the closing meditation from 1 Timothy 3. 📖



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Episode 248 - The Thinklings Podcast


Welcome to Episode 248 of The Thinklings Podcast!

In this episode, we continue our summer style series with another blend of books, fun, and Scripture. Thinkling Boyd and Stearns each share about a book they’re reading, and Thinkling Little wraps up the episode with a devotional from Genesis 49.

Thanks for listening to this week’s episode!

📚 Books & Business & Meditation

Stearns: The Conscience
Little: Genesis 49
Boyd: Strangely Bright
Carter: Is a pumpkin… apparently… 🎃


📖 Main Content: Books & Genesis 49
This episode’s main content features a thoughtful book conversation and a biblical focus on Genesis 49. It’s the perfect mix of lighthearted fun and deep reflection!

🌿 Final Meditation
Thinkling Little closes the episode with a devotional from Genesis 49. 📖



🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Be sure to follow The Thinklings Podcast for more summer conversations, literary gems, and Scripture-based encouragement!