This week we are MONKEEING AROUND with Micah Khan, the director of The Zombie Wedding, which features Micky Dolenz! We spoke to Micah about his history with the Monkees, his filmmaking process, the making of The Zombie Wedding, and how Micky Dolenz became involved with the picture! We were also joined by special guests Matt Sweatman of Matt and Ela…

This week we're Monkeeing Around with Andrew Sandoval of Beatland Books to discuss The Monkees Smoke-Filled Dreams: The Unseen Archive of Joe Russo! Andrew also gives us some updates on upcoming Monkees releases and even answers our questions about some pie in the sky Monkees rumors! Monkeeing Around is a part of the ESO Podcast Network, Executive …

This week we are MONKEEING AROUND with Craig Smith of The Mixing Links: The Monkees on Disc and Megan Stemm-Wade to discuss Instant Replay, the SEVENTH Monkees studio album! Monkeeing Around is a part of the ESO Podcast Network, Executive Producer Mike Faber. #monkees #instantreplay #mickydolenz #petertork #mikenesmith #davyjones #craigsmith #megan…

This week we're MONKEEING AROUND with Nora Olsen to chat about the episode "Monkees a la Carte"! We also discuss the upcoming double LP reissue of Headquarters and pay our respects to MonkeeMania Radio! Our 'You May Also Like' recommendation this week is As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again, the latest album from The Decemberists! Monkeeing Around i…

This week we're MONKEEING AROUND with special guest Matt Sweatman of Elaine & Matt Watch TV to discuss our favorite appearances from The Monkees Beyond the Monkees! We also touch on Micky Dolenz' upcoming tour dates and the recent online benefit to support the Davy Jones Equine Memorial Foundation! PLUS! We have a pair of groovy 'You May Also Like'…

This week we're MONKEEING AROUND with Annie Maynard, of @magnoliasimmss and @dolenzarchive, to discuss the Monkees episode, "The Chaperone"! e also discuss "Dancing is Dangerous", the never-before-seen Noël video directed by Micky Dolenz which was recently released by Sparks! Our 'You May Also Like' recommendation this week is Retro Metro, the upco…

This week we're MONKEEING AROUND with music journalist Matthew W. Smith to grapple with a big question- Should The Monkees be inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? Sound off in our Facebook Discussion Group and let us know what YOU think! Monkeeing Around is a part of the ESO Podcast Network, Executive Producer Mike Faber. #monkees #inductthe…

In this episode of “Under the Fig Tree,” hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Kati Gaschler sit down with Concordia Seminary alum (’96, ’05) Rev. W. Max Mons, who is pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel and University Center in Iowa City, Iowa, and also chairman of the Seminary’s Board of Regents. During the episode, Max shares what led him to go into minist…

In this episode of “Under the Fig Tree,” hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Kati Gaschler welcome back Dr. Benjamin Haupt, the former podcast host and founder who has been on sabbatical during the spring semester. The two men share big announcements that they both are moving on to other calls: Ben as global executive director of PLI and Micah as head of sc…

This week we're MONKEEING AROUND with Glenn Gretlund, the head of 7a Records, and Monkees historian Mark Kleiner to discuss the new 7a Records reissue of Davy Jones "Incredible!" We also reach into the Monkeeing Around Mailbag to read a pair of very touching listener letters that made Veronica cry! Our 'You May Also Like' recommendation this week i…

This week we're MONKEEING AROUND with Joe Russo about The Monkees Pad Show, his Monkees fandom, and the upcoming book, The Monkees: Smoke-Filled Dreams The Unseen Photo Archive of Joe Russo from Beatland Books! We also chat about the latest single from Davy Jones and 7a Records, rumors of a Monkees movie, and we respond to some emails from the Monk…

In this episode of “Under the Fig Tree,” hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Kati Gaschler sit down with Concordia Seminary alum Rev. Mark Renner (M.Div. ’20), one of the pastors at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Janesville, Wis. During the episode, Mark shares what led him to go into ministry as a pastor and discusses his recently published book, Curious Case…

To celebrate the 50th episode of MONKEEING AROUND we went LIVE to discuss The Monkees' 50th anniversary album, Good Times! Our 'You May Also Like' recommendation this week is the Crooked Boy EP by Ringo Starr! #monkees #goodtimes #mickydolenz #mikenesmith #davyjones #petertork #60smusic #60spopculture #60stv #crookedboy #ringostarr Monkeeing Around…

In this episode of “Under the Fig Tree,” hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Kati Gaschler sit down with Concordia Seminary alum Rev. Will Hanke (M.Div. ’07), who shares some highlights from his time serving as a student recruitment ambassador for the Seminary. As he thinks of creative ways to connect prospective students to the Seminary and help them disce…

In this episode of “Under the Fig Tree,” host Rev. Micah Glenn and fill-in host Kati Gaschler sit down with Concordia Seminary alum Rev. Chaplain Kyle Mietzner (M.Div. ’10), who shares his path to chaplaincy. He shares how he discovered that chaplaincy is a beautiful ministry standing where chaplains serve alongside soldiers and provide religious s…

This week we're MONKEEING AROUND with Derek Miner, of Mixing Links: The Monkees on Disc and CutOut Bin, for a freewheeling conversation about The Monkees' 2020 LIVE album along with our favorite Monkees concert memories! We also discuss the upcoming release of Davy Jones' Incredible from 7a Records and The Monkees – Smoke-Filled Dreams (The Unseen …

In this episode of “Under the Fig Tree,” host Rev. Micah Glenn and fill-in host Kati Gaschler sit down with Deaconess Studies student Abby Reynolds, who shares her unique path to the Seminary. She offers details about how God nudged her from being a pre-medical student to a deaconess student. “I had to really switch my mindset from caring for peopl…

In this episode of “Under the Fig Tree,” host Rev. Micah Glenn and fill-in host Kati Gaschler (while Dr. Benjamin Haupt is on sabbatical) sit down with Master of Divinity (M.Div.) student Erik Johnson and his wife, Erin. The couple shares the unique pathway to Seminary after Erik served as a Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) in New York City. They off…

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, host Rev. Micah Glenn and fill-in host Kati Gaschler (while Dr. Benjamin Haupt is on sabbatical) chat with Jessica Bordeleau, a rostered church worker who serves as the Seminary’s director of digital publishing. A Wisconsin native, she developed a love for theology at an early age and spent many years working …

This week we're MONKEEING AROUND with Kit Frascella- animator, filmmaker, illustrator, media enthusiast, DJ, and Sunny Girlfriend! We talk to Kit about her Monkees animation project, hosting a college radio show, meeting Michael Nesmith, and introducing her campus to the pop culture of the 1960's! We also discuss Micky Dolenz' upcoming film project…

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, host Rev. Micah Glenn and fill-in host Kati Gaschler (while Dr. Benjamin Haupt is on sabbatical) talk via Zoom with Dr. Maurice Boyer, music director for the American Kantorei and associate professor of music at Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill. He shares about his journey from a child of music …

Why should fans of The Monkees care about The Turtles? This week we're Monkeeing Around with Charles Rosenay, of MonkeeMania Radio, and Mark Arnold, co-author of two books about The Monkees, to discuss their latest book, Not Just Happy Together: The Turtles From A-Z (AM Radio to Zappa)! We discuss the similarities and crossovers between The Monkees…

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, host Rev. Micah Glenn and fill-in host Kati Gaschler (while Dr. Benjamin Haupt is on sabbatical) talk with first-year Residential Alternate Route student Craig Wenzlick and his wife, Angela. He grew up in a small town in western Nebraska and earned an undergraduate degree from the Concordia University, Nebrask…

Join hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and fill-in host Kati Gaschler (while Dr. Benjamin Haupt is on sabbatical) as they talk with Professor Emeritus Dr. Robert Kolb, an esteemed Lutheran Confessions and Martin Luther scholar, in the first of a two-part conversation. Listen in as Kolb shares about constructive theological dialogue, his time teaching history …

This week we're MONKEEING AROUND with Glenn Gretlund of 7a Records to discuss the reissue of Davy Jones: The Bell Records Story as well as the growing 7a catalog including releases from Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork! Glenn also discussed his Monkees fandom and and gave us some hints about what 7a Records has coming up next! Monkeein…

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, host Rev. Micah Glenn and fill-in host Kati Gaschler (while Dr. Benjamin Haupt is on sabbatical) chat with first-year Master of Divinity student Justin Hampton, who grew up as a missionary kid on a medical missionary ship off the coast of West Africa. He shares some of his experiences on the ship and how he la…

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, host Rev. Micah Glenn and fill-in host Kati Gaschler (while Dr. Benjamin Haupt is on sabbatical) sit down with first-year Master of Divinity student Dan Hampton, an Indiana native, and his wife, Christie, who also serves as a communications specialist at the Seminary. The couple share how they ended up at the …

This week we're MONKEEING AROUND with Melanie Mitchell, author of Monkee Magic: A Book about a TV Show about a Band, to chat about the classic episode, "Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth!" Earth Station Trek is a part of the ESO Podcast Network, Executive Producer Mike Faber.By Monkeeing Around

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, host Rev. Micah Glenn and fill-in host Kati Gaschler (while Dr. Benjamin Haupt is on sabbatical) visit with Kati’s husband, Rev. Paul Gaschler, associate pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in St. Louis. A 2019 graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., Paul grew up in a small town in Nebra…

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, host Rev. Micah Glenn and fill-in host Kati Gaschler (while Dr. Benjamin Haupt is on sabbatical) share some New Year’s goals and insight into their positions at the Seminary to recruit and welcome prospective students. They also talk about plans to further connect the Seminary with Lutheran summer camps. “We’r…

This week we're discussing I’m Told I Had A Good Time: The Micky Dolenz Archives, Vol. 1 with Beatland Books founder and editor Andrew Sandoval and Derek Miner of Mixing Links: The Monkees on Disc and CutOut Bin! Mr. Sandoval is an author, DJ, journalist, songwriter, professional musician, and a Grammy Award nominated reissuer and compiler and engi…

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, host Rev. Micah Glenn is joined by temporary host Kati Gaschler (while Dr. Benjamin Haupt is on sabbatical) in a thought-provoking discussion with Jacob Manning, a second-year Master of Divinity student who is preparing for next year’s vicarage. Jacob grew up in California. His father was a pastor and his moth…

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt chat with Lydia Grabau, a first-year residential Deaconess Studies student. Grabau, whose father is a pastor, is a second-career student. She studied theater and English as an undergraduate student and worked in Lutheran camps before feeling the tug to church work. It’s…

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt sit down with fourth-year Master of Divinity student Dillon Weber, who also serves as the Student Association president. Weber grew up in Washington and describes his nontraditional path to the Seminary. “I didn’t grow up Christian,” he says. “My parents were Christian …

Join us as we bring the year to an end with a discussion of The Monkees' Christmas Party and then look back at our favorite MONKEEING AROUND memories of 2023! Monkeeing Around is a part of the ESO Podcast Network, Executive Producer Mike Faber.By Monkeeing Around

This week we are Monkeeing Around with Gary McGrath of the McGrath Project! Gary was a young Monkees fan who reached out to Peter Tork- that fateful decision led him to becoming a recording engineer on both Justus and Rays, producing for Shoe Suede Blues, and performing on stage with The Monkees! Gary's current work with The McGrath Project can be …

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt chat with Rev. Lawton Thompson, associate pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Des Peres, Mo. A former firefighter, he completed both the Specific Ministry Pastor Program (SMP) and the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) programs at Concordia Seminary. The SMP Program is a f…

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt bring Allen Dass, a fourth-year Master of Divinity student, into the studio. Allen, who immigrated to the United States from India with his family when he was 1 month old, shares highlights from his journey to Lutheranism and to the Seminary. His advice for prospective …

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt chat with Sam Aizenberg, a fourth-year Master of Divinity student. Raised by a Jewish father and Southern Baptist mother, Sam took a long and winding road to Lutheranism. After being raised in the Conservative Jewish faith, he attended Faith Lutheran High School in Las …

This week we're Monkeeing Around with Alan Siler of Modern Musicology and Cary Gordon of Metal Geeks to discuss the Head soundtrack! Monkeeing Around is a part of the ESO Podcast Network, Executive Producer Mike Faber.By Monkeeing Around

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt sit down with Jacob Rhodes, a Master of Divinity graduate and Master of Sacred Theology student at Concordia Seminary. Hear what Jacob found so surprising about his historical theology courses at the Seminary and his thoughts on being single in the church. “The church c…

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt chat with Lucas “Luke” Frauenhoff, a second-year Master of Divinity student at Concordia Seminary. He shares his journey to ministry after majoring in finance and marketing as an undergraduate. It took him a while to feel the time was right to come to the Seminary. As a…

The biggest bands of the Sixties are back on top sixty years later! Join us for a special bonus episode commemorating this special moment in music history as we discuss The Beatles new #1 single, "Now and Then," and The Rolling Stones hit album, Hackney Diamonds! We are thrilled to welcome Derek Miner, of CutOut Bin and Mixing Links: The Monkees on…

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt chat with Jessica Thompson, a residential Deaconess Studies student and a new admissions officer at Concordia Seminary. Thompson, whose husband is a pastor, previously served as a Lutheran teacher before she started the deaconess program. “It’s been everything that I ho…

This week we're Monkeeing Around with a new EP from Micky Dolenz and 7a Records, Dolenz Sings R.E.M.! We review the new EP and recount our adventures at the record release party at Wuxtry Records in Athens, GA, joined by Derek Miner of Cutout Bin and Mixing Links. Monkeeing Around is a part of the ESO Podcast Network, Executive Producer Mike Faber.…

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt chat with the Dr. James “Jim” Baneck, executive director of pastoral education for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). Baneck shares his own journey to ministry and explains a big focus of his current work — the LCMS’ church-wide church worker recruitment initiat…

It's the 55th Anniversary of HEAD! This week we're Monkeeing Around with Alan Siler, host of Modern Musicology, and Derek Miner, of Mixing Links: The Monkees on Disk and CutOut Bin, for a discussion of The Monkees' landmark 1967 film! Monkeeing Around is a part of the ESO Podcast Network, Executive Producer Mike Faber.…

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt chat with the Seminary’s new Recruitment Coordinator Kati Gaschler. Growing up a PK (preacher’s kid) and now a preacher’s wife, Kati shares some bits of her life from St. Louis to Fort Wayne, Ind., to Indianapolis. She also shares a bit about her love of photography, th…

In this second episode of the 2023-24 academic year, hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt are joined by Professor of Systematic Theology Dr. Joel Okamoto. Okamoto shares why he is often seen wearing shoes and how he became a pastor after studying engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Theology. The trio also dive a discussion about the A…

This week we're Monkeeing Around with Monkees in a Ghost Town! We also touch on the latest Monkees news concerning Micky's new EP, Dolenz Sings REM, from 7a Records, the record release party at Wuxtry Records Athens, a benefit concert for Denny Laine, and the Black Friday Record Store Day exclusives from Friday Music! We introduce a new segment thi…