Diana Glyer Talks Inklings with Babylon Bee

In a new episode of The Babylon Bee Podcast, hosts Kyle Mann and Ethan Nicolle talk to Diana Glyer, author of Bandersnatch: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the Creative Collaboration of the Inklings

The Babylon Bee calls itself “Your Trusted Source For Christian News Satire” and going by posts I’ve seen linked on Facebook, they’re pretty good at teasing the foibles of the church. I had no idea they did anything as serious as an interview podcast prior hearing about this episode, and be warned in advance that the set decorations suggest the hosts would not be shocked to meet someone who voted for Trump, although contemporary politics are not under discussion this time.

Dr. Glyer is on the show because —

She has spent 40 years combing through archives, studying old manuscripts, and is considered a leading expert on C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Her scholarship, her teaching, and her work as an artist all circle back to one common theme: creativity thrives in community. Kyle and Ethan talk to Dr. Glyer about Tolkien, Lewis, and the creativity that can happen in a community like The Inklings.

Diana plays it straight, giving good information about the writers while the hosts nibble around the edges for punchlines. Indeed, one host remarks, “Such deep answers to my stupid questions. That’s what makes a good guest.”

A free excerpt is on YouTube, and the rest of the conversation is available to subscribers.

2 thoughts on “Diana Glyer Talks Inklings with Babylon Bee

  1. I’m always amused when someone mistakenly thinks anyone who makes fun of religion’s faults, foolishnesses, and excesses is automatically irreligious.* I’ve repeatedly seen people post Babylon Bee articles on Facebook thinking the BBee must be liberal. It’s not. But it is often quite funny, even when it hurts.

    *It took me a while to realize side two of Aqualung was actually pro-religion, but I had still being a teenager as an excuse, and I figured it out before drinking age, which at the time was eighteen in Oklahoma, if you were buying beer and if you were not female, but not very long before.

  2. The Bee’s podcast used to be on my list for regular listening. But they put them out too frequently and they run long-ish. The podcasts are rarely satirical or snarky. More serious explorations of faith come in from time to time. I’ll have to give this episode a listen.

    The Bee’s satirical pieces are hilarious in large part because the site does routinely engage in self-criticism. The better comedians (Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Gabriel Iglesias, Dave Chappelle, Jeff Dunham, Iliza Shlesinger, Diane Spencer, the list could go on) are able to effectively comment on a broad range of topics because they are willing to target themselves and their respective cultural sub-groups for an equal level of criticism.

    Regards,
    Dann
    Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual. – Thomas Jefferson

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