Best Robin Allender Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 13: Jordan Brookes 55:40

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9d ago55:40

55:40

On the month's episode of The Allender Calendar I talk to the fantastic comedian Jordan Brookes. 2019 Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Bleed: https://youtu.be/z5O3PI9whAo?si=K9WSnV8YrJftiliy I've Got Nothing: https://youtu.be/myOoRrMIyO8?si=YbwPZl5-Ei8348lD Body of Work: https://youtu.be/D_yQ9eHQq70?si=tBDyQ_9MRJ2G4Fua Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p…

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Josh Crane and Elizabeth Zurlinden, Educators 53:08

1M ago53:08

53:08

As the school year starts up around the country, parents and educators are hoping, working, and praying for good educational outcomes. On this episode of Working with Dan Doriani, Dan is joined by Elizabeth Zurlinden and Josh Crane, who lead independent schools in very different contexts. Dan, Elizabeth, and Josh discuss unique challenges schools a…

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Episode 12: Rebecca Watson 59:22

1M ago59:22

59:22

This month on The Allender Calendar I talk to the novelist Rebecca Watson about her books little scratch (2021) and I Will Crash (2024). We discuss whether Rebecca is an 'experimental' writer, or if her unique fragmentary style is really just the most effective and immediate way of communicating first person consciousness. We talk about how both no…

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Robin John, Investor, CEO, Author 38:02

2M ago38:02

38:02

How far can we go with impact investing? What if we evaluated the impacts of companies and products by examining supply chains, employment practices, and second-order effects on customers, communities, and the world? Meet Robin John, co-founder and CEO of Eventide, a Boston-based investment firm. Robin joins Dan on this episode to talk about why ou…

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Episode 11 (Part 2): Gorky's Zygotic Mynci with Elis James 53:20

2M ago53:20

53:20

Part 2 of my chat with comedian Elis James about the brilliant Welsh psychedelic folk band Gorky's Zygotic Mynci. Check out Rhodri Viney's latest EP here: https://ratatosk.bandcamp.com/album/1 And here are a few of my favourite Gorky's moments on YouTube: The Banana film with all the early music videos: https://youtu.be/nYt4KApiPMw?si=lJHHzfY9g5Psr…

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Episode 11 (Part 1): Gorky's Zygotic Mynci with Elis James 1:00:04

2M ago1:00:04

1:00:04

This month on The Allender Calendar I had the great pleasure of talking to the comedian and broadcaster Elis James about our favourite band Gorky's Zygotic Mynci. Because Elis and I chatted for over two hours I've decided to release this episodes in two parts (both out today!). In Part 1, Elis and I talk about the beginnings of the group and how we…

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Robbie Griggs and Dan Doriani, Theologians and Authors 52:05

3M ago52:05

52:05

Christians throughout history have wrestled with the questions around virtue - what is it? How is Christ's virtue ethics different from the ethics of other philosophers? In this episode, Clay Smith interviews Dan and Robbie Griggs about their work on the book "The Death of the Seven Deadly Sins." Tune in to hear what the Bible and its ancient comme…

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Gary Palmer, U.S. Representative 46:06

3M ago46:06

46:06

"If you can help people become more prosperous, they can become more peaceful." On this episode of the podcast, Dan is joined by Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL) to talk about his journey from engineering into politics, the rationale behind policy decisions, and Gary's involvement in recent significant world events.…

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Episode 10: Bloomsday Special with David Collard 1:28:24

3M ago1:28:24

1:28:24

It's the 16th of June which can mean only one thing: it's Bloomsday, the day on which James Joyce's masterpiece Ulysses is set. To celebrate, I spoke to the amazing writer David Collard about his book Multiple Joyce: 100 Short Essays About James Joyce's Cultural Legacy. And, of course, we also discuss what makes Ulysses such a brilliant, difficult,…

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Christine Gordon and Trent Casto, Authors 52:49

3M ago52:49

52:49

The "Seven Deadly Sins" are struggles that Christian tradition has recognized as persistent in the human heart. Earlier this year, Dan edited and contributed to "The Death of the Deadly Sins," a book on how we can tackle the root of these sins with virtue. Two contributors to the book, Christine Gordon and Trent Casto, to talk about the chapters th…

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Ron Adair, Illustrator 28:54

4M ago28:54

28:54

Drawing is a playful activity that many children take up, but drop by the time they become adults. Drawing can also be a worshipful, working activity. Ron Adair joins Dan on this episode to talk about his work as an illustrator, which has spanned decades and produced beautiful portraits for all kinds of uses. Ron talks about what it takes to be a s…

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Matt Papa, Singer/Songwriter 31:03

4M ago31:03

31:03

You may know some of Matt's songs from the radio or from singing them in your church. In this episode of Working with Dan Doriani, Dan and Matt discuss the reasoning behind writing hymns for worship, the inspiration for writing "His Mercy is More," and the ability that songs like "I Set My Hope (Hymn for a Deconstructing Friend)" have to connect wi…

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Episode 9: Evie King 1:23:20

5M ago1:23:20

1:23:20

This month on The Allender Calendar I talk to the incredible writer and council worker Evie King. Evie's book Ashes to Admin: Tales from the Caseload of a Council Funeral Officer was published in 2023 and is a profound and moving account of her job. Also, for a book about death, it is very funny. Evie writes brilliantly about the bathos and inadver…

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My First Job - Todd Carlisle, Attorney 9:53

5M ago9:53

9:53

The world of work is hard to navigate; what do you do when you’re learning the ropes? Todd Carlisle joins Dan on this new special episode format to talk about his first job out of college and how mentorship plays a vital role in helping us thrive.

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Episode 8: Back to the Future with Pravanya Pillay 58:50

6M ago58:50

58:50

On this month's podcast, I chat to the brilliant stand-up comedian Pravanya Pillay about the Back to the Future trilogy, a firm childhood favourite. We talk about time travel paradoxes, how the films stand up today, and why it's such a special and mind-blowing series of films to watch when you're young (apart from the third one maybe). Also Pravany…

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Brett Smith, Professor of Entrepreneurship 53:53

7M ago53:53

53:53

How do we balance impact and profit when we're investing? What if we're hoping for a deeper spiritual impact with our investments? Brett Smith, founder and director of the Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Miami University and the Leading Integration of Faith and Entrepreneurship program, joins Dan Doriani on this episode to talk about Christia…

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Episode 7: Luke Turner 1:10:46

7M ago1:10:46

1:10:46

On this month's Allender Calendar I chat to the writer Luke Turner about his book Men at War. Luke's book examines the legacy of the Second World War and shines a light on the real lives of the people who fought in it; their complications, loves, and lusts. We talk about the experiences of gay, bi and transgender soldiers, and discuss contemporary …

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Dan Allender, Trauma Therapist, Professor, Author 54:28

7M ago54:28

54:28

Small-t traumas affect all of us. They are the things that happen inside of us when we experience the world letting us down. When we marry and work to make a new family, we have to deal with the hard things with your own parents. Dan Allender, a therapist and writer on a variety of topics, joins Dan (Doriani) to discuss topics from Allender's new b…

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Clay Smith, Pastor 42:49

7M ago42:49

42:49

Even when we're working to benefit our corner of the world, we can fall into "work-ism," where work becomes our primary source of meaning and purpose. Clay Smith, a previous finance professional turned pastor, joins Dan on this episode to talk about how God's Word not only encourages our work but also puts limits on it. Dan and Clay dive deep into …

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Episode 6: Josie Long 1:14:52

8M ago1:14:52

1:14:52

This month I chat to the amazing comedian, writer and activist Josie Long about her book of short stories Because I Don't Know What You Mean and What You Don't. Josie's stories are rich and varied – very funny and powerfully moving. The book covers a range of topics including political apathy, romance, motherhood, and the climate crisis. We talk ab…

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Kathleen Wadkins, Head of Content at The Pour Over 31:36

8M ago31:36

31:36

For those who have ever felt discouraged by the relentless feed of news, The Pour Over delivers news to your inbox with an eternal perspective. Kathleen Wadkins, Head of Content, joins Dan on this episode to talk about how faith in Jesus informs her and her organization as they read and communicate world news to their readers. The Pour Over: https:…

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Episode 5: Our Mutual Friend with Sam Amidon 1:12:54

9M ago1:12:54

1:12:54

This month's episode is a bit different! I got together with the American folk musician Sam Amidon to talk about Charles Dickens's last completed novel Our Mutual Friend. Along the way we talk about William Gaddis, Jacques Tati and Kazuo Ishiguro. We also chat about Sam's new album Salt River which is released on 24 January 2025; you can pre-order …

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Peggy Townes, Executive Director of Briarwood Ballet 35:35

9M ago35:35

35:35

Briarwood Ballet has been training girls and boys in classical ballet since 1980. Ballet Exaltion, the performing arm, has been performing around the world since 1993. Executive Director Peggy Baker Townes joins Dan this week to talk about ballet from a Christian perspective–dancing as a response to the King who made us, because He made us able to …

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Webb Simpson, Pro Golfer, U.S. Open Champion 40:42

9M ago40:42

40:42

This week, Dan is joined by professional golfer Webb Simpson to talk about the pressures of playing golf on the PGA tour–playing in adverse conditions, facing intense pressure in the public eye, and being on the road, away from his family. Being a follower of Jesus influences every part of Webb’s game, from the longest drives to the shortest putts.…

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Jonathan Pennington, Scholar, Pastor, Author 36:42

10M ago36:42

36:42

We bring all of who we are into our jobs, including our emotions. We might feel like emotions have no place in the workplace, but this is unrealistic and might lead to some unintended emotional consequences. Jonathan Pennington, author of “Jesus the Great Philosopher,” joins Dan to talk about our emotions, and why they should lead us to deep questi…

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Episode 4: James Blackshaw 1:25:30

10M ago1:25:30

1:25:30

On this month's episode I chat to the guitarist James Blackshaw. We talk about James's influences, his guitar playing technique, and why he decided to take a break from music. I go through a few of my favourite songs by him, and we discuss the making of his new album. We also talk about cooking! James and his wife run a pop-up ramen restaurant at S…

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Matthew Kaemingk, Professor, Author 47:09

10M ago47:09

47:09

Should we leave our every day lives at the door when we come to worship? Is there a way for us to worship in a way that’s unique to our work? Matthew Kaemingk, Associate Professor at Fuller Theological Seminary and founder of Worship for Workers, joins Dan to talk about how God’s people in the past have connected their work to their worship, and ho…

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Christopher Frost, Trial Lawyer 43:23

10M ago43:23

43:23

Christopher Frost is a trial lawyer and an elder in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). He joins Dan to talk about trial law, which isn’t (usually) like what we see on TV. In this episode, Christopher explains how his faith challenges him to honor everyone, protect his clients, and uphold the truth even when the stakes are high.…

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Jonathan Barlow, Associate Director of the Data Science Center at MSU 52:03

10M ago52:03

52:03

Should you be concerned about AI negatively impacting your workplace, home, school, or church? Dr. Jonathan Barlow holds degrees in philosophy and theology, and he currently works as the Associate Director of the Data Science Center at Mississippi State University. In this episode, Dr. Barlow joins Dan to talk about Artificial Intelligence–what it …

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Episode 3: Dan Hancox 1:16:18

11M ago1:16:18

1:16:18

This week on The Allender Calendar I talk to the journalist Dan Hancox about his new book Multitudes: How Crowds Made the Modern World. Dan's Substack: https://danhancox.substack.com/ Buy the book from Verso here: https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/3176-multitudes?srsltid=AfmBOoqy2ieOOXaF3SOVrqp665ddddqoHLOSBCYkyOumLc4pJJxWtCBO Townsville by…

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Episode 2: Frances Leviston 1:15:36

12M ago1:15:36

1:15:36

On this month's episode I interview the author Frances Leviston. Frances has written two books of poetry – Public Dream (2007) and Disinformation (2015), both published by Picador. Her debut collection of short stories, The Voice in My Ear, was published by Jonathan Cape in 2020, and that's the focus of our chat. We talk about the differences betwe…

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Episode 1: Olivia Chaney 1:17:54

1y ago1:17:54

1:17:54

In the first episode of The Allender Calendar, Robin chats to folk musician Olivia Chaney. Olivia's latest album Circus of Desire was released in March 2024: https://oliviachaney.bandcamp.com/album/circus-of-desire Olivia recently performed at the Proms as part of an orchestral celebration of Nick Drake. Here's a video of here playing 'River Man' f…

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David Bahnsen, Founder & Managing Partner of The Bahnsen Group 43:28

1+ y ago43:28

43:28

David Bahnsen has built a career over the past 20+ years in finance and investment, having previously worked for Morgan Stanley, he then formed The Bahnsen Group which now oversees over 5 billion in assets. David has written several books, including his latest, Full Time: Work and the Meaning of Life. In today’s conversation, Dan and David talk abo…

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Tom Gibbs, President of Covenant Theological Seminary 40:08

1+ y ago40:08

40:08

Tom Gibbs joins Dan in today’s episode to discuss the unique challenges of ministry leadership. Tom began his career planting a chapter of RUF (Reformed University Fellowship) on Baylor University's campus, and then a few years later planted Redeemer Presbyterian Church, a multicultural church in the heart of San Antonio. Redeemer blossomed under T…

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Mike Duke, Former CEO of Walmart 36:57

1+ y ago36:57

36:57

Mike Duke spent years in senior leadership for Walmart, ultimately serving as CEO from 2009-2013. At the moment he took over the global economy was in the midst of significant upheaval, and rapid change was affecting the retail industry. In the early years, he pioneered a push for more online sales, bringing Walmart into a new era of growth and pro…

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Alan Barnhardt, CEO Barnhardt Crain & Rigging 34:21

1+ y ago34:21

34:21

Alan Barnhart inherited his family's business and, alongside his brother, has grown a relatively small regional business into a nationwide one. Over the past 34 years, he developed several principles that are at the core of how they operate. They give away nearly half their yearly profit, and they task their employees with helping determine where t…

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Joel Salatin, Farmer, Activist. 42:50

1+ y ago42:50

42:50

Season 9 episode 1 Joel Salatin gained national purchase through his appearance in the 2006 book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan. Joel had been known for years prior due to his pioneering work in regenerative farming. Joel has been at the forefront of a unique movement in American farming and husbandry that sought to bring sustainability …

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Jim Fiala and Mike Duffy, Restaurateurs 48:35

1+ y ago48:35

48:35

We are fascinated by restaurant culture; from celebrity chef’s, to cooking competitions, to fancy food photography, or finding out the latest hottest place to open in our neighborhood. But behind the facade is the hard day to day work of running a restaurant, managing people, and perhaps most importantly offering true hospitality. Today, Dan talks …

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Brent Harriman, Pastor, Former Campus Minister 55:01

1+ y ago55:01

55:01

What is work life balance? Is it something to strive for, or is it merely something we have been inculturated to? In today’s podcast, Dan talks with Brent Harriman, the founding pastor of Resurrection Presbyterian Church in Knoxville and former campus minister with RUF about the specific challenges of ministry life. What are the expectations toward…

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Matt Darr, Owner of Darr Tutors and Peggy Demetri, Executive Director 31:51

1+ y ago31:51

31:51

Building and maintaining work culture is one of the most challenging, yet important, facets of running a successful business. Both today’s guests, Matt Darr and Peggy Demetri have years of experience in doing exactly that. They share insights and lessons learned on how best to cultivate the kind of healthy work environment that allows employees to …

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Tyler Stephens and Sarah Doriani, Architect, Designer 52:20

1+ y ago52:20

52:20

Can the shape of a building, the design, use of materials, even the play of light in its corridors and rooms actually shape us as people? Can it influence our mood? Can it create a sense of awe? Point us toward worship? In today’s conversation with Tyler and Sarah, Dan explores how architecture and design can express personality, advance cultural g…

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Rico Tice, Anglican Clergyman, Evangelist 38:24

1+ y ago38:24

38:24

In today’s podcast Dan interviews Rico Tice, an Anglican evangelist and perhaps best known for his book, Christianity Explored. Mr. Tice was born in Chile, raised in Uganda, and educated in England. He joined All Souls church in London, under the leadership of John Stott in 1994. Dan and Rico discuss why evangelism is so hard, the courage it takes …

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Steven Garber, former Professor of Marketplace Theology and Leadership, Regent College 53:42

2y ago53:42

53:42

Mentorship is much like planting a seed and nurturing it’s growth, tending to it until it bears fruit. As Steven Garber says, mentorship is the act of bringing one into vocation over the course of their life. As part of the burden of mentorship there is a deeper recognition that all of life falls under the Lordship of Christ. Dan and Steven acknowl…

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Katherine Alsdorf, Author, Former Executive Director of Redeemer’s Center for Faith and Work 40:01

2y ago40:01

40:01

Katherine Alsdorf has been at the forefront of the Faith and Work movement since she joined Redeemer’s Center for Faith and Work in 2002. Prior to her work for Redeemer, she spent years leading various firms in tech and entrepreneurial spaces in Silicon Valley and New York City. She co-authored Every Good Endeavor with Tim Keller in 2012. In today’…

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Elliott Kellner, Research Scientist 55:58

2y ago55:58

55:58

Elliot Kellner was “gifted” a love of the outdoors by a childhood spent exploring his family’s Appalachian farm with siblings and cousins. Those early impactful years shaped him into an adult with a profound love of creation, and also for the people who inhabit creation. Dr. Kellner has been a youth pastor, a professor at the University of West Vir…

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Jen Pollack Michel, Author 43:04

2y ago43:04

43:04

To be human is to desire, and that capacity can be directed toward things both sinful and holy. Jen Pollack Michel says desire “can bring us most honestly and vulnerably into the presence of God, and He is the one who rightly orders our desires.” In this wonderfully vulnerable discussion, Dan and guest host Abby Karsten discuss the nature of desire…

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Russ Ramsey, Pastor, Author 54:47

2y ago54:47

54:47

It thrills us, challenges us, moves us, frightens us, fills us with awe, wonder and hope: art. The creative impulse is a vibrant and wonderful thing, fully mysterious in the ways in which it has inhabited individuals throughout human history. On this week’s episode of Working w. Dan Doriani, Dan talks with pastor and noted author Russ Ramsey about …

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Episode 10: Alasdair on Songwriting 56:56

2y ago56:56

56:56

In the final episode of The Clientele Podcast, host Robin Allender talks to singer and guitarist Alasdair MacLean again, this time focussing on songwriting. It's a chance for Alasdair to look back at the early days of the band and talk about learning to play the guitar and write music. It's a very Beatles-heavy episode, but Robin and Alasdair also …

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Collin Hansen, Journalist, Author, Biographer. 39:30

2y ago39:30

39:30

Collin Hansen has been chronicling the modern evangelical church for the better part of the last two decades. He is perhaps best known for his 2008 work on New Calvinism, entitled Young, Restless and Reformed. Collin most recently published a biography of the late Tim Keller, and currently is vice president for content and editor in chief for the G…

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Episode 9 Part 2: Mel Draisey 44:28

2y ago44:28

44:28

In Part 2 of Episode 9 of The Clientele Podcast, Robin Allender talks to multi-instrumentalist Mel Draisey. Following a hopeful MySpace message back in 2006, Mel was asked to join The Clientele and immediately embarked on a US tour which culminated in the recording of the God Save The Clientele album in Nashville. She also appears on, and wrote arr…