Give and Take

Conversations at the Heart of the Matter

About the show

Someone once observed that if Howard Stern and Krista Tippett had a love child, it would be Scott Jones. Scott liked that.

At "Give and Take,” Scott Jones talks with artists, authors, theologians, and political pundits about the lens through which they experience life. With empathy, humor, and a deep knowledge of religion, current events, and pop culture, Scott engages his guests in a free-flowing conversation that's entertaining, unexpected, occasionally bizarre, and oftentimes enlightening. He likes people, and it shows.

Past interviewees include Mark Oppenheimer, Melissa Febos, David French, Miroslav Volf, Dan Savage, Nadia Bolz-Weber, Rob Bell, and (yes) Krista Tippett.

Scott is the former host and producer of the popular Mockingcast podcast (https://themockingcast.fireside.fm) and an in-demand consultant on all things “pod.” He’s also the co-host, with Bill Borror, of New Persuasive Words (https://npw.fireside.fm). Scott is also a prolific writer, a frequent conference speaker, a PhD candidate in Theology, and an ordained minister.

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Episodes

  • Episode 14: The Return of the Strong Gods, with R.R. Reno

    May 10th, 2017  |  59 mins 27 secs

    My guest today is R.R. Reno, editor of "First Things", a Journal of Religion and Public Life, and also an old friend.

  • Episode 13: Liturgy of the Ordinary, with Tish Harrison Warren

    May 9th, 2017  |  57 mins 23 secs

    My guest today is Tish Harrison Warren. She's an Anglican priest and the author of "Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practice in Everyday Life". She and her husband Jonathan (who is also an Anglican priest) live in Pittsburgh with their two young daughters in a house chock full of books with no matching forks or matching socks anywhere to be found.

  • Episode 12: Savage Love...With Dan Savage (Who Else?)

    May 4th, 2017  |  56 mins 23 secs

    My guest is Dan Savage. He's a best selling author and sex advice columnist, a wildly popular podcaster, an Emmy winner and above all a great conversationalist.

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    Episode 11: Why Don't Democrats Take Religion Seriously?, and Other Big Questions...with The Atlantic's Emma Green

    May 2nd, 2017  |  42 mins 14 secs

    My guest today is Emma Green. Emma is a staff writer at ​The Atlantic, where she covers politics, policy, and religion.

  • Episode 10: What Is The Bible?...with Rob Bell

    April 27th, 2017  |  45 mins 25 secs

    Rob Bell is The New York Times bestselling author of "Love Wins", "What We Talk About When We Talk about God", and "The Zimzum of Love". You can preorder his forthcoming book "What Is The Bible?" anywhere books are sold. iTunes named his podcast, The RobCast, Best of 2015. He's also a great guy.

  • Episode 9: Reclaiming The Word "Jew", with Mark Oppenheimer

    April 26th, 2017  |  57 mins 29 secs

    Today's guest Mark Oppenheimer is the co-host of one of Scott's favorite podcasts, "Unorthodox". He's written numerous books and is an op-ed contributor to the LA Times. He's also got more daughters than Rush Limbaugh has had wives.

  • Episode 8: The Bible For Normal People, With Pete Enns

    April 25th, 2017  |  49 mins 48 secs

    My guest today is Pete Enns. Dr. Peter Enns (PhD, Harvard University) is Abram S. Clemens professor of Biblical Studies at Eastern University, St. Davids, PA. He has taught courses at several other institutions including Harvard University, Fuller Theological Seminary, and Princeton Theological Seminary. Enns is a frequent contributor to journals and encyclopedias, and is the author of several books, including, The Bible Tells Me So: Why Defending Scripture Has Made Us Unable to Read It (HarperOne).

  • Episode 7: Talking Religion and Politics with Molly Worthen

    April 21st, 2017  |  35 mins 42 secs

    Today's guest is Molly Worthen. Molly is a historian whose specializes in American religious intellectual history. She also is a contributing Op-Ed writer for the NY Times.

  • Everything Belongs To Us, With Yoojin Grace Wuertz

    April 20th, 2017  |  43 mins 44 secs

    Today's guest is Yoojin Grace Wuertz. In her debut novel, "Everything Belongs To Us", two young women of vastly different means each struggle to find her own way during the darkest hours of South Korea’s “economic miracle” in a striking debut novel for readers of Anthony Marra and Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie.

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    Episode 5: Things To Do When You're Goth In The Country

    April 17th, 2017  |  50 mins 13 secs

    My guest today is Chavisa Woods. She's a Brooklyn based award winning literary writer. Her most recent book, "Things To Do When You're Goth In The Country & Other Stories" comes out in May of 2017.

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    Episode 4: Rockstar Lilly Inman

    April 16th, 2017  |  17 mins 1 sec

    My guest on this Easter Sunday special episode is Lilly Inman, rockstar. She's also my niece. She's 6 years old and she's awesome.

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    Episode 3: Fully Belly Laughs, As Do I With Brian Durkin

    April 11th, 2017  |  1 hr 14 mins

    My guest today is Brian Durkin. He's a comedian and he's the creator and curator of www.fullbellylaughs.com. He also hosts the Full Belly Laughs podcast.

  • Episode 2: The Animators

    April 4th, 2017  |  55 mins 1 sec

    My guest this week is Kayla Rae Whitaker, author of The Animators. “A wildly original novel that pulses with heart and truth . . . That this powerful exploration of friendship, desire, ambition, and secrets manages to be ebullient, gripping, heartbreaking, and deeply deeply funny is a testament to Kayla Rae Whitaker’s formidable gifts. I was so sorry to reach the final page. Sharon and Mel will stay with me for a very long time.”—Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, author of The Nest

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    Episode 1: Welcome to Give and Take!

    March 30th, 2017  |  1 min 34 secs

    Give and Take is where Scott Jones interviews artists, activists, authors and a wide array of other thought leaders that help make our world the interesting place it is.