Fireside with Blair Hodges

21/08/2024

Reviews like this help keep me going. They also help build social credit for the show. Possible listeners check reviews to see if there should give it a try. Possible guests check reviews to see if the show would be worth their time. So if you enjoy my show, please take a second to review it. And if you don't listen, take a moment today to review something that you DO spend time with.

13/04/2024

Writing an interview script for this book is going to be DIFFICULT. Still trying to learn how to podcast prep for memoirs, which are so different from the other genres I have more experience with.

Topics include: miscarriage, postpartum depression, divorce, raising kids, partnership equity, and more. Don't wanna announce this guest yet but I'm really excited about this one.

20/02/2024

This is little Jessi Hempel and her dad back in the eighties. I love this sweet photo. But it hurts my heart a little bit, too. Because Jessi grew up in a religious family who believed being gay was sinful behavior rather than a normal experience of human sexuality. And she was terrified that someday her family would discover her secret and an already difficult family situation would completely fall apart.

She had no idea the man in this photo, her father, was also in the closet. Or that the rest of the family was living inside their own unique closets. She tells the story in her book, "The Family Outing."

You can hear all about her story on today's episode of the Family Proclamations podcast.

And if you interact with this, I appreciate it!

20/12/2023

My new show drops in January.

19/12/2023

Truly an honor to be recognized by the American Academy of Religion journalism awards. Being recognized alongside journalists from the LA Times, Associated Press, and other huge outlets meant a lot to me as an independent journalist. AAR generously flew me to San Antonio last month to receive the award and to speak on a panel featuring other award winners.
🔥🙌

10/10/2023

Thanks to everyone who voted! Fireside came in second place for the Listener's Choice award in the indie category...but was selected by the judges as a Gold Award Winner!

05/10/2023

TODAY'S THE DAY!!! Fireside is tied for first place in the best indie category. It truly could come down to you. But you gotta vote. Invite your partner or friend to vote. Invite your enemy to vote. Last night we were knotted up at 38%.

Vote!

Bit.ly/votefireside

03/10/2023

Help Fireside win the Listener's Choice Award for Best Indie Podcast! All you have to do is vote. We're currently tied for first place. Every vote makes a difference!

(Don't forget to verify your email so your vote counts.)

VOTE HERE: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting #/2023/shows/general/best-indie-podcast

Interviews about religion—and more—with brilliant people who will fan the flames of your curiosi

03/10/2023

It's all tied up with two days to go! I need your vote! Let's win this! Don't forget to verify your email.

Link: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting #/2023/shows/general/best-indie-podcast

27/09/2023

🔥“What can I make of this crap?”

—Tara Boyce joins us on Fireside with Blair Hodges.

Tara Boyce says parenting with hope is more complicated than she anticipated.

03/08/2023

Feeling so honored today. Fireside with Blair Hodges has transcended award-worthy status and is now officially an award-winning podcast! The American Academy of Religion (AAR) awarded it 2nd place in the category of "Best In-Depth Multimedia Journalism."

AAR is the world’s largest association of academics who research/teach topics related to religion. Their annual Journalism Awards honor the best in-depth reporting on religion. Past winners include journalists from places like CNN, LA Times, ABC, Christianity Today, Time, & PRI.

From the announcement: "Fireside with Blair Hodges won the second-place award. He submitted two episodes of the podcast series, which explores the breadth and complexity of religion, from Hasidic Jews questioning their community to atheists who pray with the help of Jane Eyre. The jury particularly appreciated Hodges's use of in-depth interviews to make scholarship on religion accessible, engaging, and widely available. Alongside his work as a journalist, Hodges completed a master's degree in Religious Studies at Georgetown University.”

It feels great to see the show recognized like this. I'm really grateful for my listeners. I also reached out to the guests from those two episodes and and thanked them for the invaluable role they played in making those episodes shine.

Thank you AAR for this great honor! Thanks Matthew Bowman for the crucial support of the Hunter Foundation and CGU. Thanks for being in invaluable co-sponsor.

25/04/2023

Joy and care. 🔥🙌

24/04/2023

It was a true joy talking with Ross Gay about joy! We might be talking about elbow patches, or disappointed fathers, or late-night hangouts, or poetry, or basketball, or gardening, or writing workshops, or or or.

A fitting finale for season 2.

23/04/2023

Learn to let time take time. 🔥🙌

22/04/2023

There was so much we couldn't cover in Ross Gay's book. His definition of grief, for example. The metabolization of change. (And check out the beginning of yet another beautifully digressive footnote!)

21/04/2023

💔🔥

Firesidepod.org/episodes/gay

20/04/2023

We talk about parents growing old, gardening, basketball, poetry, writing workshops, ADHD, hanging out, piano lessons, education, and more. Ross Gay is blessedly digressive. Check out the season finale of Fireside with Blair Hodges. 🔥🙌

19/04/2023

What does joy look like to you? Ross Gay joins us on the season finale to reimagine joy.

Firesidepod.org/episodes/gay