The Englewood Review of Books Podcast

In this episode, Chris Smith, founding editor of ERB, speaks with best-selling author Shannan Martin and first-time author Amar Peterman about the intersecting themes of faith, justice, and community in their new books. Their conversation explores the tension between life’s “heavy goodness” and its “undercurrent of grief,” demonstrating that "we can only counter what we're first willing to weigh," as Martin puts it. In addition, the authors explore the tension between one’s personal comfort and the call to “draw near in mercy” to our neighbors, especially those who are marginalized, as Peterman points out. Both authors emphasize that meaningful change begins not with grand gestures but with everyday relationships, accompanying our neighbors across lines of difference through joys and struggles. Overall, the episode, like the books, is not prescriptive but rather rooted deeply in how the authors work to cultivate a sense of belonging for everyone in their local neighborhoods.

If you’d like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books (an independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger)

Books by Shannan Martin
Counterweights
The Ministry of Ordinary Places
Start with Hello
Falling Free

Work by Amar Peterman
Becoming Neighbors: The Common Good Made Local

Other Books Mentioned
A Theology of Liberation by Gustavo Gutiérrez
Paul Farmer: Servant to the Poor by Jennie Weiss Block
Make Your Home in this Luminous Dark by James K. Smith
God Without Being by Jean-Luc Marion
Hope for the Mission by Kevin Nye
Cherished Belonging: The Healing Power of Love in Divided Times by Gregory Boyle

Kin by Tayari Jones (novel)

The Message, a Bible translation by Eugene Peterson

Joel hosted a fun and freewheeling discussion, with a stand-out panel of readers, of our favorite books from 2025. They discuss many books that were published in 2025, but not exclusively new titles, covering a wide swath of genres from biblical studies to young adult literature to poetry. There's something in this discussion for everyone!
Jessica Hooten Wilson is the Fletcher Jones Endowed Chair of Great Books at Pepperdine University (’23). She co-hosts a podcast called The Scandal of Reading, and is the author of many books, including READING FOR THE LOVE OF GOD and THE SCANDAL OF HOLINESS.
Nijay K. Gupta is Julius R. Mantey Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary. He is the cohost of the Slow Theology podcast, and author of books including TELL HER STORY, STRANGE RELIGION, and many scriptural commentaries.
Dorothy Littell Greco is a writer, speaker, and photographer. Her writing has been featured in many publications including Christianity Today, Missio Alliance, and The Common Good and her most recent book is FOR THE LOVE OF WOMEN.
If you’d like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) 
Reading for the Love of God: How to Read as a Spiritual Practice by Jessica Hooten Wilson
The Scandal of Holiness: Renewing Your Imagination in the Company of Literary Saints by Jessica Hooten Wilson
Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught & Ministered in the Early Church by Nijay Gupta
Strange Religion: How the First Christians Were Weird, Dangerous & Compelling by Nijay Gupta
Slow Theology: Eight Practices for Resilient Faith in a Turbulent World by Nijay Gupta & A.J. Swoboda
For the Love of Women: Uprooting and Healing Misogyny in America by Dorothy Littell Greco
The Anti-Greed Gospel: Why the Love of Money is the Root of Racism and How the Church Can Create a New Way Forward by Malcolm Foley
Redeeming Eden: How Women in the Bible Advance the Story of Salvation by Ingrid Faro with Joyce Koo Dalrymple
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali
The Teacher of Nomad Land by Daniel Nayeri
Holes by Louis Sachar
Do Not Judge Anyone: Desert Wisdom for a Polarized World by Isaac Slater
Where God Happens: Discovering Christ in One Another by Rowan Williams
Jesus and the Law of Moses: The Gospels and the Restoration of Israel Within First-Century Judaism by Paul Sloan 
Know My Name: A Memoir by Chanel Miller
You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good & Beautiful by Karen Swallow Prior
Romans: An Interpretation Bible Commentary by Susan Eastman
1 Corinthians: A Theological, Pastoral & Missional Commentary by Michael Gorman
For Such a Time as This: An Emergency Devotional by Hanna Reichl
When Courage Calls: Josephine Butler and the Radical Pursuit of Justice for Women by Sarah C. Williams
Nervous Systems: Spiritual Practices to Calm Anxiety in Your Body, the Church and Politics by Sara Billups
A Pilgrimage Into Letting Go: Helping Parents and Pastors Embrace the Uncontrollable by Kara Root & Andrew Root
Some of the Words are Theirs: The Art of Writing and Living a Sermon by Austic Carty

Chris (founding editor of the ERB) spoke with first-time podcast guest (and one of our most-frequently mentioned writers!) Kathleen Norris and returning guest Amy Julia Becker, regarding some common themes in their published writing. They speak about disability, what it means to be human, and their experiences accompanying family members with disabilities. Their conversation is humble, sincere, vulnerable and light-hearted, and listeners will find their honest reflections encouraging.
Books Mentioned in this Episode:
If you’d like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) 
The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris
Acedia & Me: A Marriage, Monks & a Writer's Life by Kathleen Norris
Dakota: A Spiritual Geography by Kathleen Norris
Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith by Kathleen Norris
A Good and Perfect Gift: Faith, Expectations & a Little Girl Named Penny by Amy Julia Becker
Rebecca Sue: A Sister's Reflections on Faith, Disability & Love by Kathleen Norris
When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor...And Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert
To Be Made Well: An Invitation to Wholeness, Healing & Hope by Amy Julia Becker
The Hospitality of Need: How Depending on One Another Helps Us Heal & Grow Together by Kevan Chandler & Tommy Shelton
The Dignity of Dependence: A Feminist Manifesto by Leah Libresco Sargeant
How to Read a Book: A Novel by Monica Wood
Do Not Judge Anyone: Desert Wisdom for a Polarized World by Isaac Slater
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Ghost Trail (film)

Lindsey Cornett, Managing Editor of Englewood Press, spoke with authors Sarah Arthur and Mitali Perkins about the value and significance of children’s literature for spiritual formation. We discuss how literature connects us to the heart of God, how Mitali and Sarah think about their own audiences as they write, and why adults should be reading children’s literature. As always, the conversation wraps up with a discussion of what we’ve been reading lately.
Lindsey Cornett is a loud talker, obsessive coffee drinker, and lover of the written word who lives in Indianapolis with her family. She is the Managing Editor of Englewood Press and a Senior Writer at Indianapolis Moms. You can find her writing at lindseycornett.substack.com. 
Mitali Perkins is an award-winning author of novels and picture books for young readers, including You Bring the Distant Near; Forward Me Back to You; Rickshaw Girl; and Bamboo People, among others. Her books have been nominated for the National Book Award, have won the South Asia Book Award, and have been listed as Best Book of the Year by Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and School Library Journal. Born in Kolkata, India, Perkins has lived in India, Ghana, Cameroon, Great Britain, Mexico, Bangladesh, Thailand, and the United States. She lives and writes in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Sarah Arthur is a fun-loving speaker and the bestselling author of a dozen books for teens and adults, including Once a Queen and Walking with Frodo. Among other nerdy adventures, she has served as preliminary fiction judge for the CT Book Awards, was a founding board member of the annual C. S. Lewis Festival in Northern Michigan, and codirects the Madeleine L’Engle Writing Retreats.
Books Mentioned in this Episode:
If you’d like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) 
Once A Queen (Book 1 of the Carrick Hall Novels) by Sarah Arthur
Once a Castle (Book 2 of the Carrick Hall Novels) by Sarah Arthur
You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins
Rickshaw Girl by Mitali Perkins
The Golden Necklace: A Darjeeling Tea Mystery by Mitali Perkins
Steeped In Stories: Timeless Children's Novels to Refresh Our Tired Souls by Mitali Perkins
The God-Hungry Imagination: The Art of Storytelling for Postmodern Youth Ministry by Sarah Arthur
 A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
A Light so Lovely: The Spiritual Legacy of Madeleine L'Engle by Sarah Arthur
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Peace Like a River by Leif Anger
The Same Stuff as Stars by Katherine Paterson
My Friends by Fredrick Backman
The Eyre Affair (Thursday Next #1) by Jasper Fforde
Emily of Deep Valley by Maud Hart Lovelace

Chris sat down for an in-person conversation with 3 of the co-authors of "The Shape of Our Lives" from Englewood Press. They discuss the concept of formation, it's inevitability, and what it means for leaders of congregations to pursue intentional formation in the context of community and worship.
Books Mentioned in this Episode:
If you’d like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) 
The Shape of Our Lives: A Field Guide for Congregational Formation
The Form of the Word: Making Sense of Scripture in the Body of Christ