Why do monster stories never go out of style? From Gilgamesh to Jaws, Harry Potter to Stranger Things, humanity has always told stories of heroes facing overwhelming threats.

In this first episode of our Narratology series, Brad and Grace unpack why the “Overcoming the Monster” storyline is so universal—and so personal. What monsters are we really fighting today? Fear, shame, addiction, cynicism? And what happens when we mistake people for monsters instead of naming the real forces that threaten us?

Blending theology, psychology, and pop culture, this conversation explores why these stories matter, how the Bible itself is filled with them, and why naming our own monsters might just be the first step toward freedom.

What’s your story—and how do you tell it? In the opening episode of our new season of Narratology: The Stories We Live By, Grace and Brad explore the idea of the narrative self—that inner storyline that helps us make sense of life. ✨

Together, they unpack why it’s so hard to pin down a plotline, how conflict shapes who we are, and why reframing struggle as part of a story can bring both meaning 📖 and risk ⚡️. From grief and therapy to theology and the seven basic plots, this conversation invites you to see your life not as “one damn thing after another” but as a story worth telling. 💫

In the season finale of The Sacred Sofa, Brad and Grace turn down the volume of the world to tune into the subtle voices that shape our lives. 🛋️👂

From marketing messages to childhood wounds, social scripts to the spiritual realm, they explore the quiet “whispers” that influence how we think, feel, and live.

Are your thoughts truly your own—or are they echoes from culture, trauma, or something deeper?

Through candid conversation, therapeutic insight, and spiritual reflection, they ask:

💭 How can we tell the difference between the voice of love and the voice of shame? ✨ What does divine guidance sound like in a world full of noise? 🌿 And how do we tune our hearts to hear something sacred in the static?

🎧 Whether you’re on a faith journey, a healing path, or just navigating your own thoughts, this episode invites you to listen more deeply—and discover what’s truly worth hearing.