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Wild Olive

S2 Episode 2: Angels In America Part II EPISODE 20

Jennifer and Jeanne continue their in-depth discussion and analysis of angels as portrayed in Tony Kushner's stage play "Angels In America" (1991), an entangled story of various characters struggling with identity, faith and mortality in 1980s New York City during the AIDS crisis. This season, our hosts will be taking on the theme "Queering The Bible" in which we will be featuring writers, stories and interpretations from an LGBTQ+ perspective. New episodes every other Friday. Follow us here! Website: https://www.wildolivebibleandculture.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildoliv3/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WildOlivePodcast

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S1 Episode 1: What is the Wild Olive podcast and how is it different from other Bible podcasts?

S1 Episode 1: What is the Wild Olive podcast and how is it different from other Bible podcasts?

The Wild Olive Podcast brings listeners game-changing conversation about literature, culture, and the Bible. Literature Professor Jeanne Petrolle and Biblical Studies Professor Jennifer Bird talk about the Protestant Bible from a literary perspective, connecting biblical texts with other kinds of texts, and with American culture. In this inaugural episode of Wild Olive, Jeanne and Jennifer introduce the new podcast, explaining what it means to read the Bible as literature, and how the concept of myth can help readers understand some parts of the Bible.

Episode 1: What is the Wild Olive podcast and how is it different from other Bible podcasts?

Episode 1: What is the Wild Olive podcast and how is it different from other Bible podcasts?

The Wild Olive Podcast brings listeners game-changing conversation about literature, culture, and the Bible. Literature Professor Jeanne Petrolle and Biblical Studies Professor Jennifer Bird talk about the Protestant Bible from a literary perspective, connecting biblical texts with other kinds of texts, and with American culture. In this inaugural episode of Wild Olive, Jeanne and Jennifer introduce the new podcast, explaining what it means to read the Bible as literature, and how the concept of myth can help readers understand some parts of the Bible.

S1 Episode 2: What reading lenses do we bring to the Bible and to other literatures?

S1 Episode 2: What reading lenses do we bring to the Bible and to other literatures?

Hosts Jeanne Petrolle and Jennifer Bird talk about their backgrounds and how these backgrounds shape the reading lenses that each brings to biblical texts. Conversation goes on to explore the nature of reading "lenses," and how one's "lenses" shape interpretation of any work of literature, and will certainly shape interpretation of the Bible.

Episode 2: What reading lenses do we bring to the Bible and to other literatures?

Episode 2: What reading lenses do we bring to the Bible and to other literatures?

Hosts Jeanne Petrolle and Jennifer Bird talk about their backgrounds and how these backgrounds shape the reading lenses that each brings to biblical texts. Conversation goes on to explore the nature of reading "lenses," and how one's "lenses" shape interpretation of any work of literature, and will certainly shape interpretation of the Bible.

S1 Episode 4: How does translation into English affect meaning in biblical stories?

S1 Episode 4: How does translation into English affect meaning in biblical stories?

Sometimes, readers of the Bible underestimate the effects of translation on the meanings that arise from particular Bible stories. In this episode, Jeanne and Jennifer discuss the complexities of translation, exploring a number of specific examples in which changes made in the process of translation from Hebrew to English--or Hebrew to Greek to English--introduce meanings that do not exist in the original language, or erase certain ideas or images that are in the original but are missing from the English translation.

S1 Episode 3: What does it mean to read the Bible as myth?

S1 Episode 3: What does it mean to read the Bible as myth?

While some understand the term "myth" to mean "something that's not true," that isn't what biblical or literary scholars mean when they use the term. For scholars, "myth" is the literary term for certains kinds of storytelling. Jeanne and Jennifer explore a range of meanings for the term "myth," and discuss how reading the Bible as myth opens up a range of rich, valuable interpretations.

Episode 3: What does it mean to read the Bible as myth?

Episode 3: What does it mean to read the Bible as myth?

While some understand the term "myth" to mean "something that's not true," that isn't what biblical or literary scholars mean when they use the term. For scholars, "myth" is the literary term for certains kinds of storytelling. Jeanne and Jennifer explore a range of meanings for the term "myth," and discuss how reading the Bible as myth opens up a range of rich, valuable interpretations.

Episode 4: How does translation into English affect meaning in biblical stories?

Episode 4: How does translation into English affect meaning in biblical stories?

Sometimes, readers of the Bible underestimate the effects of translation on the meanings that arise from particular Bible stories. In this episode, Jeanne and Jennifer discuss the complexities of translation, exploring a number of specific examples in which changes made in the process of translation from Hebrew to English--or Hebrew to Greek to English--introduce meanings that do not exist in the original language, or erase certain ideas or images that are in the original but are missing from the English translation.

S1 Episode 5: How do the first few chapters of Genesis work poetically?

S1 Episode 5: How do the first few chapters of Genesis work poetically?

Jennifer and Jeanne share observations about rhythm, rhyme, parallelism, and imagery in the first three chapters of Genesis. After exploring how the Hebrew poetry in these Genesis chapters work poetically, the conversation goes on to consider the thematic richness of the story, the myriad ways of understanding the woman in Genesis, and two ways of thinking about genre in connection with the Genesis creation stories. The conversation turns to a brief consideration of Zora Neale Hurston's Harlem Renaissance novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, in which the main character, Janie, functions as an Eve figure.

S1 Episode 6: How does Genesis 3 explore gender, power, and sexuality?

S1 Episode 6: How does Genesis 3 explore gender, power, and sexuality?

Jeanne and Jennifer discuss gender, power, and sexuality in Genesis 3 and in "Loving You," a poem by Vievee Francis.

Episode 5: How do the first few chapters of Genesis work poetically?

Episode 5: How do the first few chapters of Genesis work poetically?

Jennifer and Jeanne share observations about rhythm, rhyme, parallelism, and imagery in the first three chapters of Genesis. After exploring how the Hebrew poetry in these Genesis chapters work poetically, the conversation goes on to consider the thematic richness of the story, the myriad ways of understanding the woman in Genesis, and two ways of thinking about genre in connection with the Genesis creation stories. The conversation turns to a brief consideration of Zora Neale Hurston's Harlem Renaissance novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, in which the main character, Janie, functions as an Eve figure.

Episode 6: How does Genesis 3 explore gender, power, and sexuality?

Episode 6: How does Genesis 3 explore gender, power, and sexuality?

Jeanne and Jennifer discuss gender, power, and sexuality in Genesis 3 and in "Loving You," a poem by Vievee Francis.

S1 Episode 7: What's up with all the violence in the Bible?

S1 Episode 7: What's up with all the violence in the Bible?

Jeanne Petrolle and Jennifer Bird discuss the rampant violence that characterizes so many Bible stories. Using Sherman Alexie's poem "Crow Testament" and American independent film as lenses through which to reconsider the Bible's violence, Jeanne and Jennifer reflect on some of the real-life consequences connected with the location of a collection of violent stories at the center of Christian culture.

Episode 7: What's up with all the violence in the Bible?

Episode 7: What's up with all the violence in the Bible?

Jeanne Petrolle and Jennifer Bird discuss the rampant violence that characterizes so many Bible stories. Using Sherman Alexie's poem "Crow Testament" and American independent film as lenses through which to reconsider the Bible's violence, Jeanne and Jennifer reflect on some of the real-life consequences connected with the location of a collection of violent stories at the center of Christian culture.

S1 Episode 8: Representations of God

S1 Episode 8: Representations of God

In this episode, Jeanne and Jennifer share a poem from Rainer Maria Rilke's poetry collection Love Poems to God. Rilke's poem invites readers to think about the problem of representation as it pertains to the representation of God. To think about the "problem of representation" is to think about the gap that exists between the reality of God--whatever that might be--and the portrayal of God in language or in image. The problem of representing God is one of the Bible's fundamental artistic and intellectual challenges. How can anyone represent something that is beyond language, beyond image, beyond representation? Visit our website http://wildolivebibleandculture.org for episode notes and more information about the show!

Episode 8: Representations of God

Episode 8: Representations of God

In this episode, Jeanne and Jennifer share a poem from Rainer Maria Rilke's poetry collection Love Poems to God. Rilke's poem invites readers to think about the problem of representation as it pertains to the representation of God. To think about the "problem of representation" is to think about the gap that exists between the reality of God--whatever that might be--and the portrayal of God in language or in image. The problem of representing God is one of the Bible's fundamental artistic and intellectual challenges. How can anyone represent something that is beyond language, beyond image, beyond representation? Visit our website http://wildolivebibleandculture.org for episode notes and more information about the show!

S1 Episode 9: Mrs. Lazarus and the Idea of Resurrection

S1 Episode 9: Mrs. Lazarus and the Idea of Resurrection

Jeanne and Jennifer explore "Mrs. Lazarus," a poem by the Scottish poet Carol Ann Duffy. The poem remixes the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. As they engage the Gospel story alongside Duffy's poem, your hosts discuss the meaning of resurrection as a life-death-life pattern that appears in the Hebrew Bible, the Newer Testament and, metaphorically speaking, in life outside literature.

Episode 9: Mrs. Lazarus and the Idea of Resurrection

Episode 9: Mrs. Lazarus and the Idea of Resurrection

Jeanne and Jennifer explore "Mrs. Lazarus," a poem by the Scottish poet Carol Ann Duffy. The poem remixes the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. As they engage the Gospel story alongside Duffy's poem, your hosts discuss the meaning of resurrection as a life-death-life pattern that appears in the Hebrew Bible, the Newer Testament and, metaphorically speaking, in life outside literature.

S1 Episode 10: Annunciation and Virginity

S1 Episode 10: Annunciation and Virginity

This week, Jennifer and Jeanne dive deep into "The Annunciation" by Edward Muir. Pairing it with Luke Chapter 1, they discuss conception, purity, motherhood and how other interpretations can affect our understanding of the story.

Episode 10: Annunciation and Virginity

Episode 10: Annunciation and Virginity

This week, Jennifer and Jeanne dive deep into "The Annunciation" by Edward Muir. Pairing it with Luke Chapter 1, they discuss conception, purity, motherhood and how other interpretations can affect our understanding of the story.

S1 Episode 11: Anne Sexton and the Humanity of Jesus

S1 Episode 11: Anne Sexton and the Humanity of Jesus

This week, Jeanne and Jennifer explore the poem "Jesus Walking" by Anne Sexton, which refers to the "Temptation in the Wilderness" scene from Luke Chapter 4. The poem and the Gospel scene engage with concepts of divinity, humanity, temptation, and the idea of mission. The idea of "temptation" can be thought of as anything that diverts or distracts a person away from their mission.

Episode 11: Anne Sexton and the Humanity of Jesus

Episode 11: Anne Sexton and the Humanity of Jesus

This week, Jeanne and Jennifer explore the poem "Jesus Walking" by Anne Sexton, which refers to the "Temptation in the Wilderness" scene from Luke Chapter 4. The poem and the Gospel scene engage with concepts of divinity, humanity, temptation, and the idea of mission. The idea of "temptation" can be thought of as anything that diverts or distracts a person away from their mission.

S1 Episode 12: Humanity of Jesus Redux

S1 Episode 12: Humanity of Jesus Redux

Jeanne and Jennifer revisit Anne Sexton's poem "Jesus Walking," diving deeper into the poem's rhythms, the process of experiencing poetry, and how literary strategies also get used to illuminate the Jesus of the Gospels. Close reading reveals that the Jesus of each Gospel is highly distinct from the Jesus of the other Gospels, with each Gospel emphasizing different ideas about Jesus and even describing the same event using different details. Jennifer suggests that in recognizing the differences between the Gospels, we respect each Gospel more. We don't have to "harmonize" them to honor them.

Episode 12: Humanity of Jesus Redux

Episode 12: Humanity of Jesus Redux

Jeanne and Jennifer revisit Anne Sexton's poem "Jesus Walking," diving deeper into the poem's rhythms, the process of experiencing poetry, and how literary strategies also get used to illuminate the Jesus of the Gospels. Close reading reveals that the Jesus of each Gospel is highly distinct from the Jesus of the other Gospels, with each Gospel emphasizing different ideas about Jesus and even describing the same event using different details. Jennifer suggests that in recognizing the differences between the Gospels, we respect each Gospel more. We don't have to "harmonize" them to honor them.

S1 Episode 13: Conversions Part I

S1 Episode 13: Conversions Part I

In this episode, Jennifer and Jeanne talk about the conversion stories associated with Saul, who became known as Paul, after he went from being a Jewish Roman citizen who arrested followers of "the Way," to a primary messenger for the Way modeled by Jesus, proclaiming the sonship of Jesus to non-Jewish peoples. Your co-hosts also explore a poem by Nick Flynn, a living American poet who took inspiration from the Saul/Paul story, among other things, for his poem "Harbor (conversion)."

Episode 13: Conversions Part I

Episode 13: Conversions Part I

In this episode, Jennifer and Jeanne talk about the conversion stories associated with Saul, who became known as Paul, after he went from being a Jewish Roman citizen who arrested followers of "the Way," to a primary messenger for the Way modeled by Jesus, proclaiming the sonship of Jesus to non-Jewish peoples. Your co-hosts also explore a poem by Nick Flynn, a living American poet who took inspiration from the Saul/Paul story, among other things, for his poem "Harbor (conversion)."

S1 Episode 14: Conversions Part II

S1 Episode 14: Conversions Part II

-Links to today's material- Shelly Matthews: The Perfect Martyr: The Stoning of Stephen and the Construction of Christian Identity (Oxford University, 2010) The Acts of the Apostles: An Introduction and Study Guide: Taming the Tongues of Fire (T&T Clark, 2017) Pamela Eisenbaum: Paul was not a Christian: The Original Message of a Misunderstood Apostle (HarperOne, 2010)

Episode 14: Conversions Part II

Episode 14: Conversions Part II

-Links to today's material- Shelly Matthews: The Perfect Martyr: The Stoning of Stephen and the Construction of Christian Identity (Oxford University, 2010) The Acts of the Apostles: An Introduction and Study Guide: Taming the Tongues of Fire (T&T Clark, 2017) Pamela Eisenbaum: Paul was not a Christian: The Original Message of a Misunderstood Apostle (HarperOne, 2010)

S1 Episode 15: Apocalypse Never Part I

S1 Episode 15: Apocalypse Never Part I

Jeanne and Jennifer talk about Revelation to John (Book of Revelation) as political allegory and means of exploring historical trauma, using Sherman Alexie's poem "Crow Testament" as a means of considering what history. trauma, and political persecution have to do with the idea of apocalypse.

Episode 15: Apocalypse Never Part I

Episode 15: Apocalypse Never Part I

Jeanne and Jennifer talk about Revelation to John (Book of Revelation) as political allegory and means of exploring historical trauma, using Sherman Alexie's poem "Crow Testament" as a means of considering what history. trauma, and political persecution have to do with the idea of apocalypse.

S1 Episode 16: Apocalypse Never Part II

S1 Episode 16: Apocalypse Never Part II

Jeanne and Jennifer continue their conversation about Revelation to John (Book of Revelation) using Sherman Alexie's poem "Crow Testament" as a means of considering what history, trauma, and political persecution have to do with the idea of apocalypse, as well as how imagined worlds hold their influence over our own.

Episode 16: Apocalypse Never Part II

Episode 16: Apocalypse Never Part II

Jeanne and Jennifer continue their conversation about Revelation to John (Book of Revelation) using Sherman Alexie's poem "Crow Testament" as a means of considering what history, trauma, and political persecution have to do with the idea of apocalypse, as well as how imagined worlds hold their influence over our own.

[Redux] Episode 1: What is Wild Olive?

[Redux] Episode 1: What is Wild Olive?

While we prepare for Season 2, please enjoy one of our earlier episodes. Wild Olive returns for Season 2 in October, 2023! The Wild Olive Podcast brings listeners game-changing conversation about literature, culture, and the Bible. Literature Professor Jeanne Petrolle and Biblical Studies Professor Jennifer Bird talk about the Protestant Bible from a literary perspective, connecting biblical texts with other kinds of texts, and with American culture. In this inaugural episode of Wild Olive, Jeanne and Jennifer introduce the new podcast, explaining what it means to read the Bible as literature, and how the concept of myth can help readers understand some parts of the Bible.

[Redux] Episode 2: Reading Lenses and the Bible

[Redux] Episode 2: Reading Lenses and the Bible

While we prepare the next season of Wild Olive, please enjoy one of our older episodes you may have missed! Hosts Jeanne Petrolle and Jennifer Bird talk about their backgrounds and how these backgrounds shape the reading lenses that each brings to biblical texts. Conversation goes on to explore the nature of reading "lenses," and how one's "lenses" shape interpretation of any work of literature, and will certainly shape interpretation of the Bible.

S2 Episode 1: Angels In America Part I

S2 Episode 1: Angels In America Part I

Jeanne and Jennifer kick off the new season with an in-depth discussion of Tony Kushner's stage play "Angels In America" (1991), an entangled story of various characters struggling with identity, faith and mortality in 1980s New York City during the AIDS crisis. This season, our hosts will be taking on the theme "Queering The Bible" in which we will be featuring writers, stories and interpretations from a LGBTQ+ perspective. Stay tuned for Part II, available October 20th, 2023! New episodes every other Friday. Follow us here! Website: https://www.wildolivebibleandculture.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildoliv3/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WildOlivePodcast

S2 Episode 3: Angels In America Part III

S2 Episode 3: Angels In America Part III

This week, Jeanne is joined by professor and author, Deborah Holdstein. Together they explore Christian and Jewish concepts of forgiveness and reconciliation present in Tony Kushner's play Angels In America (1991), continuing this season's theme "Queering The Bible". Follow us here! Website: https://www.wildolivebibleandculture.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildoliv3/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WildOlivePodcast

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