In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb podcast, host Matt McChlery speaks with author Katharine Hill about her book 'A Mind of Their Own,' which focuses on building emotional well-being in children. The conversation touches on the importance of mental health awareness, the pressures children face to be extraordinary, the significance of allowi…

In this episode of Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery interviews author Katy Morgan about her book 'A Short Guide to the Bible.' They discuss the importance of making the Bible accessible to children, tips for reading the Bible, and the different writing styles found within it. Katie shares her insights on engaging young readers and the signi…

In this episode of Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery engages with authors Mary and Charles Hippsley about their book, 'Reimagining the Landscape of Faith.' They explore the concept of spiritual formation, emphasizing the importance of intentional strategies in growing one's faith. The conversation delves into the metaphor of maps to illustra…

In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb podcast, host Matt McChlery engages with author Adam Mabry about his book 'When God Seems Gone.' They explore the struggles of faith, particularly when God feels distant or silent. Adam shares personal experiences that inspired his writing, emphasizing the importance of lamentation, understanding God's ti…

In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb podcast, host Matt McChlery interviews author Tania Harris about her new book, 'God Dreams.' Tania shares her personal journey of discovering how God communicates through dreams and visions, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and interpreting these experiences. The conversation delves into biblical…

In this episode of Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery interviews children's author Terry Fahning about her book 'Mercy's Happenings.' They discuss the inspiration behind writing for children, the importance of faith-based literature, and the unique approach of storytelling in non-fiction. Terry shares insights on engaging children in discussi…

In this episode of Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery engages with author Martin Whitehouse to discuss his book, The Transparent Truth, which explores the concept of truth within Christianity. They delve into the nature of absolute truth, the reliability of the Bible, the significance of different translations, and how to approach reading the…

In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb podcast, host Matt McCleary interviews author Lydia Jenkins about her dystopian fiction series, 'Son of Endless Days.' They discuss the themes of worthiness, authenticity, and the Christian worldview within the genre. Jenkins shares insights on how dystopian fiction can serve as a tool for exploring faith…

In this episode of Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery speaks with author Kate Nicholas about her journey through cancer and the profound connection she found with God during her trials. They discuss the importance of sharing personal stories of faith, the growing popularity of audiobooks, and the healing power of authenticity. Kate shares her…

In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb podcast, host Matt McChlery speaks with author Richard Littledale about his new book, 'In Step with God: 101 Devotional Walks Through the Bible.' They discuss the metaphor of walking in relation to faith, the importance of community, and how to approach scripture with a fresh perspective. Richard shares i…

In this episode of Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery engages with author Gordon Giles about the significance of Christmas carols, exploring their historical context, spiritual meanings, and the evolution of Christmas traditions. They discuss the dual nature of Christmas as both a religious and secular celebration, the role of music in enhanc…

In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery interviews author P.H. Bray about his novel 'Search for the Healing Cloth.' They discuss the inspiration behind the book, the themes of calling and destiny, and the extensive research that went into writing the story. Bray shares insights into his writing process, the characters, and t…

In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb podcast, host Matt McChlery speaks with author Joanne Gilchrist about her journey into writing children's literature, the importance of Christian resources for children, and her latest book, 'Why Did God Make Me?'. They discuss the challenges and joys of writing for children, the role of illustrators, and…

In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery interviews author Clive Bowsher about his book 'One: Being United to Jesus Changes Everything.' They discuss the significance of Jesus' 'You Will' sayings, the importance of unity with Christ and among believers, and the deeper meaning of worship. Clive shares insights on intimacy with…

In this episode of Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery interviews veteran Christian author Bob Hartman. They discuss Hartman's extensive body of work, focusing on the importance of children's literature in passing on faith. Bob shares insights into his creative process, the significance of storytelling in faith, and the balance between fun and…

In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb podcast, host Matt McChlery interviews author Jenny Sanders about her book 'Polished Arrows'. They discuss the metaphor of arrows in relation to God's work in our lives, the process of discipleship, the importance of community, and the challenges of forgiveness. Jenny shares insights on how to navigate th…

In this episode of Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery interviews author Michael T. Gowen about his book 'Daniel Being Distinctive in Uncertain Times.' They discuss the relevance of the Book of Daniel in today's society, the importance of devotional Bible reading, and how to live authentically as a Christian in the workplace. Michael shares in…

In this episode of The Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery interviews authors Ellie Limebear and Jane Kirby about their book 'Say Goodbye to Anxiety.' The authors discuss the prevalence of anxiety among Christians and the rising levels of anxiety in today's culture. They share their personal experiences with anxiety and the tools they have fou…

In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb podcast, host Matt McChlery interviews author Christine Westhoff about her book 'Reframing the Prophetic.' They discuss the definition of the prophetic, its purpose, and its relevance in today's world. They also explore the difference between the office of a prophet and operating in a prophetic gifting. T…

In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb podcast, host Matt McChlery interviews author Stephen McAlpine about his book 'Future Proof.' They discuss living for Jesus in a changing culture and the challenges Christians face in navigating societal changes. McAlpine emphasizes the importance of the church in providing a framework for Christians to n…

In this episode of The Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery interviews author Joanne Berthelsen about her book Swan Song. They discuss the importance of speaking life-giving words and the impact our words can have on others. Joanne shares that there is so much negative talk in society and that our world needs hope, which can be provided through…

In this episode of Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery interviews author Jamie Erickson about her book 'Holy Hygge' and the importance of hospitality in our relationship with God and others. Jamie shares her journey of discovering the art of hospitality and how it is linked to her faith. She explains the concept of hygge, a Danish word that en…

In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb podcast, host Matt McChlery interviews author Jennifer Kvamme about her book 'More to the Story: Deep Answers to Real Questions on Attraction, Identity, and Relationships.' They discuss the importance of understanding the biblical perspective on sexuality and relationships, the significance of the body in…

In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb podcast, host Matt McCleary interviews author Andy Bannister about his book 'How to Talk About Jesus Without Looking Like an Idiot.' They discuss the fear and panic that often accompanies conversations about faith, the importance of asking questions, and the role of the Holy Spirit in evangelism. Banniste…

In this episode of Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery interviews author Kevin Elliott about his book 'See Miracles.' They discuss the definition of miracles, whether miracles still happen today, and the reasons why some prayers for healing may not be answered. Kevin shares stories of miracles he has witnessed in Macedonia and emphasizes the i…

In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb podcast, host Matt McChlery interviews author Bryony Wood about her book, The Sound of Musings, which explores the connection between the Sound of Music movie and God. Bryony shares her love for the film and how it inspired her to write a devotional book. She discusses the symbolism in songs like 'Edelwei…

In this episode of Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery interviews authors Claire and Steve Musters about their book, Grace-Filled Marriage. The couple shares their personal journey of building a healthy marriage and the challenges they faced along the way. They discuss the importance of hard work, taking responsibility, and dying to self in a …

In this episode of Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery interviews author Georgie Tennant about her book 'The God Who Sees You.' The book is a devotional that speaks to those who feel unseen and draws inspiration from biblical characters who may have felt the same way. Georgie shares her personal experiences of loss and grief and emphasizes the…

In this episode of Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery interviews author John Hindley about his book 'Weakness Our Strength: Learning from Christ Crucified.' The conversation explores the misconceptions surrounding strength and weakness, the role of weakness in creation, and the importance of embracing weakness instead of running away from it.…

In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb podcast, host Matt McChlery interviews author James Poch about his book 'Holy Grit: Gaining Traction on Life's Journey with Jesus.' The conversation explores the definition and importance of discipleship, the role of walking with others, and the concept of grit in discipleship. They discuss roadblocks to …

Summary In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb podcast, host Matt McChlery interviews Dr. Gary Chapman about the language of love. They discuss the importance of celebrating relationships, the difficulties in relationships, and the role of selfishness in causing problems. Dr. Chapman shares his personal experiences in marriage and how changing…

I had a wonderful discussion with author Russ Ewell about how we can discover God for ourselves, based on his book 'He's Not Who You Think He Is'. We speak about how to build relationship with God as well as how to form a deeper connection with Him. We also discuss his love of music, basketball and his favourite TV show Downton Abbey. Listen now. H…

Author Katherine Blessan takes some time out from an Air BnB retreat to chat with me about truth telling and cancel culture - two big topics that are explored in her novel 'T for Tolerance'. We also talk about her love of travelling, how the Holy Spirit communicates with her as well as her involvement with the social enterprise 'Kaleido Arts For We…

Welcome to our 2024 New Year's Special episode! I chat with author and church leader Malcolm Macdonald about his passion for revival and his book 'Saturated with God'. We also speak about the importance of prayer and a return to a dependence upon Jesus for every Christian. He shares his heart for the local church and we hear about his involvement w…

We could all use a bit of forgiveness in our lives, as well as learning how to give it away a little better too. In this episode I chat with award-winning author Chris Fabry about his new novel 'Saving Greyson'. We chat about forgiveness and reconciliation as well as Alzheimer's disease, working on talk show radio, rattlesnakes in the back yard and…

Anna Hawken shares her heart as well as practical tips on how parents can learn about God and about being His child by observing their children, based on her book 'Being God's Child: A Parents Guide'. We also chat about Christmas season mayhem, how to hear God's voice, the importance of asking questions as well as the Great British Bake Off (also k…

Rachel Yarworth talks about how we can celebrate advent as a family and her new book that she has compiled containing the writing of 25 different Christian authors, 'The Jesse Tree Anthology'. We also chat about home-schooling, seeing dolphins, her love of Cornwall and a precious family advent tradition she has in her own family. Listen now. Help k…

In this episode I chat with acclaimed theologian, author and speaker Amy Orr-Ewing about how Mary, the mother of Jesus, is uniquely placed to tell the nativity story as we discuss her new Advent devotional book 'Mary's Voice'. We discuss advent, the role of women in the church. her love of coffee and art as well as some of her favourite family adve…

This is a fascinating discussion about identity and self-worth that is completely countercultural yet deeply biblical. I chat with Liz Carter about her life and the things she has learnt including that our worth is not defined by how useful we feel centred around her new book 'Valuable'. We also talk about the power of words and her love of the Nin…

In this episode I chat with Matt Fuller about reclaiming a biblical view of masculinity within our toxic western culture. We discuss why friendships are important, why the church should be addressing the topic of masculinity and how the bible helps us gain a more positive understanding of masculinity. We also chat about the 'Barbie Movie' (Spoiler …

Doubt is an area we all find difficult from time to time. Can doubt and faith co-exist? Is it bad to doubt, or is it a normal part of the Christian experience? Kat Wordsworth shares very openly in this authentic interview where she discusses these very topics. Based on her personal experiences of faith and doubt, and her book 'Let's Talk About Doub…

Misreading scripture by placing our own cultural bias and worldviews onto it is very easy to do. By recognising the times when our culture gets in the way of an accurate understanding of The Bible, we can learn to read it better. Listen to this fascinating discussion with author, theologian and scholar E. Randolph Richards and start to open your ey…

This episode is jam-packed with golden nuggets on how to live life well. I speak with Cathy Madavan, author of 'Why Less Means More' about how we should define success, our culture's busyness addiction, the importance of prioritising and pressure performance - all from a biblical worldview. We also chat about her love of live music and Christian fe…

In this episode chat with Sam Hargreaves about rest and worship and about his and his wife, Sara's book 'The Rest is Worship'. We also chat about Star Wars, music and other creative projects he is involved in all finished off with a Christian Book Blurb first - a song. It is well worth a listen. Help keep this podcast on the web by simply buying me…

In this episode I discuss how to keep your faith in difficult times with author of 'Shetland Mist' Heather Leslie Hammer. We talk about her love of the Shetland Islands, her family history and their links to the islands, the Methodist movement and her love of 'Call The Midwife' TV series. Listen now. With thanks to this episode's sponsor Standing i…

In this episode I explore creativity and how we can use it to respond to scripture with poet, Drew Jackson. We also discuss poetry as a spiritual practice, his love of New York City and basketball and find out how hip-hop music led to his love of poetry. Drew also reads two of his amazing poems for us on the show. Don't miss this. With thanks to th…

I am a bit start-struck this episode as I speak with Gemma Hunt (a UK children's TV personality and author - CBeebies, Songs of Praise, Alpha Course etc). This episode is packed full of creative prayer tips and retelling of some of the parables from the Bible within a modern context. We chat about mixed-race representation in Christian books as wel…

An honest discussion about some of the big things that make life difficult, yet finding God in the midst of it all. I chat with Catherine Campbell about success and failure, ageing, coping with a bad health diagnosis and how when we may think God has finished with us - he really hasn't at all. We also chat about Call The Midwife and her love of wom…

A compelling discussion with author and visionary Richard Gamble about his book 'Remember: Revealing the eternal power of answered prayer'. We also talk about his project where he and his team are building a national landmark in the centre of the country as a memorial to God's goodness, his love of Leicester City Football Club, sausage rolls and th…

A frank and honest discussion about singleness in the church and what we can do to navigate it well (as well as what not to say when trying to be helpful). Paula Halliday speaks from personal experience as we discuss her book 'Singled Out: Navigating your season of singleness'. We also chat about dating apps and competitive games nights with her fa…