Welcome to Poets at War, a podcast documenting the brood of writers, where art, theology, philosophy, and fun beckon your ears.In this episode, Joshua David Ling hosts another Broodcast, where members of the Brood gather to share their latest creative writings and pitches. Joshua and Daniel kick things off by answering a challenge to pitch a D&D-themed cop show, resulting in "DNDPD" and a cozy mystery involving a bookstore-owning Dungeon Master. Ian then shares a thrilling and terrifying chapter from his story "Heart of the Stars," featuring giant spiders, a wizard named Azariah, and a very helpful cat named Fred. Abby brings a fun, urban fantasy vibe with "The Lightning Night," a story about an airport security guard dealing with Fae hooligans trying to smuggle swords through a checkpoint. Finally, Joshua reads a gripping chapter from Marty Francom's Civil War-era story, exploring the sobering reality of war fever.You too can be a part of the brood of writers and Poets at War. Just visit https://JoshuaDavidLing.com/Discord to join. If you're a true poetry patriot, you can support us on Substack and Patreon and get the recordings of all of our encouraging and strategic meetings, along with much more. Once again, all links can be found at joshuadavidling.com. Over and out.Chapters:00:00:00 - Intro & Apology to Joel Stanley00:18:30 - Joshua's Pitch: DNDPD (D&D Cop Show)00:25:55 - Daniel's Pitch00:28:15 - Feedback on Joshua & Daniel's Pitches00:35:00 - Ian Shares: "Heart of the Stars" Chapter 700:48:15 - Feedback on Ian's Story00:59:00 - Abby Shares: "The Lightning Night" Part One01:08:05 - Feedback on Abby's Story01:15:00 - Joshua Reads Marty Frankham's Story (Chapter 2)01:23:45 - Feedback on Marty's Story & Outro

Welcome to Poets at War, a podcast documenting the brood of writers, where art, theology, philosophy, and fun beckon your ears.Today on the program, Joshua David Ling is joined by Alex, Ian, Abe, and later Daniel, for a massive, multi-topic roundtable. The conversation kicks off with some hilarious miscommunications, as Joshua details his struggles with comforting people without sounding like a drill instructor or a battle-ready Narnian mouse. Ian then shares an incredible story of how his childhood understanding of Lego mechanics helped him fix a broken snowblower in the dead of winter, leading to a deep dive into Lego MOCs, misprints, and the controversial new "smart bricks."The crew then pivots to literature and storytelling, unpacking why Christian authors often excel at fantasy and horror compared to their secular contemporaries. They compare The Spiderwick Chronicles to Narnia, debate the pacing flaws in the animated Beauty and the Beast versus the Broadway musical, and discuss the literary framing of Gaston. Joshua also shares a work-in-progress AI-generated folk song, "The Prophecy," to get the group's feedback on syncopation and storytelling. Finally, Daniel drops in after a stressful day to share a workplace whistleblower story and brainstorm a terrifying serial killer villain for his writing project, Midnight Accord.You too can be a part of the brood of writers and Poets at War. Just visit https://JoshuaDavidLing.com/Discord to join.If you're a true poetry patriot, you can support us on Substack and Patreon and get the recordings of all of our encouraging and strategic meetings, along with much more. Once again, all links can be found at joshuadavidling.com. Over and out.Chapters:00:00:00 - Intro & The Drill Instructor Communication Style00:10:16 - Channeling Reepicheep00:17:13 - Fixing a Snowblower with Lego Engineering00:29:57 - Lego MOCs, Smart Bricks, & Corporate Fails00:43:40 - Voicing Hobgoblins & The Spiderwick Chronicles00:46:28 - Why Christians Write Better Fantasy & Horror01:00:00 - Beauty and the Beast: Animated vs. Broadway01:14:54 - A Goofy Movie's Steve Martin Controversy01:18:40 - "The Prophecy" (Joshua's AI-Generated Song)01:31:00 - Workplace Ethics & Whistleblowing01:39:48 - Writing Villains Who Think They're Heroes01:43:50 - Favorite Musicals & Outro

Welcome to Poets at War, a podcast documenting the brood of writers, where art, theology, philosophy, and fun beckon your ears.In this episode, Joshua David Ling sits down with Ian, Brendan, Daniel, and others for a wide-ranging conversation spanning sci-fi lore, fantasy writing, career changes, and deep theology. They kick things off by debating the best and worst Star Trek captains, the charm of 80s practical effects, and why the four-episode rule applies to almost every show.Ian then pitches his new Arthurian tragedy following Uther Pendragon, leading to a masterclass discussion on writing tragic character arcs, the narrative structure of the Star Wars prequels, and using magic as a metaphor for AI. Later, the guys discuss the nobility of the trades as Daniel shares his journey to becoming an electrician, touching on the foster care system and the vital need for strong fathers. Finally, Ian opens up about conquering intrusive thoughts through Eastern Orthodox practices, sparking a profound theological discussion on Anselm's Satisfaction Theory, Calvinism, and the nature of sin.You too can be a part of the brood of writers and Poets at War. Just visit https://JoshuaDavidLing.com/Discord to join. If you're a true poetry patriot, you can support us on Substack and Patreon and get the recordings of all of our encouraging and strategic meetings, along with much more. Once again, all links can be found at https://joshuadavidling.com Over and out!Chapters:00:00:00 - Intro & Sci-Fi Captains00:02:40 - Star Trek Cancellations & Firefly00:09:20 - The D&D Movie & 80s Fantasy Practical Effects00:18:30 - Ian's Arthurian Pitch: Uther & The Whispering Stones00:28:50 - Writing Tragedies & The Star Wars Prequels00:46:30 - Why the Movie 'Seven' is Too Dark01:02:00 - Why Harry Potter Doesn't Appeal to Us01:04:50 - Daniel's Career Shift to Trade School01:07:20 - Being "Too Intelligent" for a Job & The Foster System01:12:40 - Joshua's Calling as "The Bard"01:20:40 - Conquering Intrusive Thoughts & Eastern Orthodoxy01:26:00 - Anselm's Satisfaction Theory vs. Penal Substitution01:36:00 - Outro & Final Thoughts

Welcome to Poets at War, a podcast documenting the brood of writers, where art, theology, philosophy, and fun beckon your ears.In this episode, Joshua David Ling and the Brood gather to tackle everything from theological debates to classic literature and Disney lore. The conversation kicks off with life updates before grappling with a controversial internet take: Was Gaston actually the hero of Beauty and the Beast? The squad breaks down the narrative framing of Belle's "provincial" town and explores G.K. Chesterton's profound observation that "a thing must be loved before it is lovable."The discussion then sails into the high seas of Treasure Island, comparing the tragic heroism of John Silver across adaptations like Treasure Planet and Muppet Treasure Island. From there, the boys dive into deep theological waters, debating the nuances between Vantillian and Clarkian apologetics, the role of logic versus Scripture, and the concept of Christian humanism and sub-creation.In the second half, the Brood laments the current drought of good fantasy adaptations, analyzing the struggles of bringing The Chronicles of Narnia to the screen and anticipating the inevitable flood of fan films once Narnia hits the public domain. Finally, they wrap up with a deep dive into the non-fiction works of C.S. Lewis, discussing where new readers should start, the timeline of his final books, and the emotional weight of A Grief Observed.Timestamps:00:00:00 - Intro, Life Updates, & Hospital Visits00:03:55 - The Great Debate: Was Gaston the Hero?00:05:54 - John Silver: Treasure Island, Treasure Planet, & The Muppets00:14:26 - Sean-Nós Singing & Psalm 7700:16:35 - Vantillians vs. Clarkians: Logic, Scripture, & Christian Liberty00:34:20 - Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Provincial Town & Chesterton's Orthodoxy00:46:50 - The Struggle of Fantasy Adaptations & Stephen Lawhead00:54:30 - The Chronicles of Narnia: Movies, Adaptations, & Public Domain01:06:58 - C.S. Lewis Deep Dive: Mere Christianity, Free Will, & Christian Humanism01:12:30 - Where to Start with C.S. Lewis Non-Fiction01:16:30 - Lewis's Final Books & A Grief Observed01:21:50 - Vintage Narnia Editions, Reading Orders, & Pronunciations

The meeting of "The Brood of Writers" begins with casual catch-up, including the Joshua's recent vehicle troubles and his completion of a Peter Pan-themed pop-punk concept album, before transitioning into sharing and critiquing creative works. Carey shares an early draft of an animal-centric story titled "The Great Bayou Adventure," prompting a discussion on target demographics and pacing, with the group drawing comparisons to Redwall and The Secret of NIMH. Joshua then reads a chapter from absent member Marty's Civil War-era story, which the group highly praises for its authentic narrative voice, engaging atmosphere, and effective repetition of key character details.The session continues with Brendan sharing an action-packed excerpt from his anime-inspired screenplay set in the magical realm of Avalon, leading to a brief discussion on the unique challenges of performing script reads and a proposal to do a full voice-cast reading in the future. Next, Joshua reads a sci-fi chapter by Joel, where characters navigate a teammate's nightmarish mindscape; the group critiques the scene's heavy reliance on exposition and suggests ways to better balance showing versus telling. Finally, Joshua reads three narrative poems from his "World of Wrestling" series. Brendan provides constructive feedback, suggesting Joshua pad out the emotional beats and refine the dialogue to better contrast the protagonist's core identity against corporate marketing pressures, bringing the creative meeting to a close.

Welcome to Poets at War, a podcast documenting the brood of writers, where art, theology, philosophy, and fun beckon your ears.Today on the program, Joshua David Ling and Abby kick off the new year by catching up on holiday adventures, new creative setups, and the perils of online book orders. Joshua details his evolving philosophy on using AI for "iconography" rather than art, aiming to communicate ideas visually without competing with traditional artists.The conversation flows into a deep reflection on the legacy of the Inklings, the importance of building a lasting creative community, and the bittersweet story of their final meeting. This sparks a nostalgic tour through favorite childhood book series, from The Chronicles of Narnia to The Prydain Chronicles and lesser-known gems. The hosts then have fun deconstructing famous villains, debating who might be a better candidate for a "misunderstood hero" story than Gaston.To cap off the night, Abby shares a fantastic and atmospheric reading from the prologue of her new Norse-inspired fantasy novel, "The Dragon's Vein," and Brendan makes a late appearance to show off his latest miniature kitbashing project.You too can be a part of the brood of writers and Poets at War. Just visit https://JoshuaDavidLing.com/Discord to join.Chapters:00:00:00 - Intro: New Year, New Setups, and Narnia Woes00:04:35 - The Nature of AI Art and Iconography00:12:16 - Building a Legacy to Outlast the Inklings00:30:56 - A Tour of Favorite Childhood Books00:53:07 - Deconstructing Villains: From Gaston to Denethor01:08:45 - The Lost Art of Everyday Singing01:35:50 - Reading: The Prologue of "The Dragon's Vein"01:50:46 - Kitbashing Norse Wolf Riders01:54:25 - Outro

Welcome to Poets at War, a podcast documenting the brood of writers, where art, theology, philosophy, and fun beckon your ears. Today on the program, the Brood kicks things off by discussing the loss of America's open-road Route 66 culture and the modern feeling of being "stuck" in a hyper-regulated world. Then, Aaron shares the opening chapters of his new sci-fi/fantasy epic, The Sword of Simeon, where Hebrew slaves are rescued by space-faring dragons, prompting a great discussion on first-person epistolary storytelling.Later, Joshua details a Powerpuff Girls tabletop RPG he designed for his kids using Narnia analogies, dives into the historical and poetic patterns of the Zodiac, and opens up about the very real struggles of post-performance anxiety and the need for creative decompression.You too can be a part of the brood of writers and Poets at War. Just visit https://JoshuaDavidLing.com/Discord to join. If you're a true poetry patriot, you can support us on Substack and Patreon and get the recordings of all of our encouraging and strategic meetings, along with much more. Once again, all links can be found at https://joshuadavidling.com Over and out!Timestamps:00:00:00 - Intro & Gathering the Brood00:08:48 - Walkable Cities vs. Route 66 Culture00:26:20 - Why Modern Society Feels "Stuck"00:35:10 - Using AI as a Creative Sounding Board00:44:00 - Aaron's Sharing: "The Sword of Simeon" Chapter 100:50:00 - Feedback on Aaron's Story00:54:50 - Aaron's Sharing: Chapter 2 & Further Feedback01:03:50 - Daniel's Updates & Financial Wins01:05:30 - Joshua's Sharing: Powerpuff Girls Tabletop RPG01:17:20 - Vintage Cars & The Freedom of the Open Road01:28:50 - Joshua's Sharing: Poetic Patterns of the Zodiac01:41:20 - Joshua's Sharing: Post-Performance Anxiety & Decompression01:54:10 - Checkout Conversations & Rare Coins

Welcome to Poets at War, a podcast documenting the brood of writers, where art, theology, philosophy, and fun beckon your ears.The episode from 12/16/25 kicks off with Abbi’s sharing and feedback period, where the Brood discusses how to craft a historical, third-person narrative voice. Abby also shares the touching backstory of writing her first draft while her family was temporarily homeless. The conversation quickly grapples its way into a hilarious, reimagining of the Rankin/Bass Christmas universe as a Game of Thrones-style grimdark fantasy.Joshua then dives into his sharing period, giving personal updates on his audiobook projects, the historical weight of naming his daughter after Lady Jane Grey, and lessons learned from his past life as a mobile DJ. In the second half, the Brood reviews their favorite Christmas movies, debates the tactical advantages of the mom in Gremlins, and explores the beauty of Queen Anne architecture. Finally, the squad lands on a brilliant nostalgic journey, breaking down the sci-fi brilliance of the old-time radio show The Shadow and the epic 90s wrestling storyline of Sting versus the NWO. The episode wraps up with a wild, real-life interruption from Carey and Jesse.Timestamps:00:00:00 - Intro & Broodcast Roll Call00:01:21 - Abby's Sharing & Feedback Period: Crafting a Historical Narrative Voice00:16:03 - Abbi's Inspiration: Writing the First Draft While Homeless00:18:25 - The Codex Borealis: Rankin/Bass as a Grimdark Fantasy00:37:05 - Joshua's Sharing Period: Audiobooks, Christmas Plans, & Family Dynamics00:44:09 - The Legacy of Lady Jane Grey & Other Famous Janes00:52:33 - Queen Anne Architecture & Haunted Houses00:56:22 - Favorite Christmas Movies: Gremlins, Joyeux Noel & Classics01:07:20 - December Birthdays & Famous Birthday Twins01:16:24 - Joshua's Audio Tech Upgrades & Mobile DJ Background01:24:24 - Unique Family Names: Galadriel, Elsa, & Eowyn01:28:56 - Old Time Radio: The Shadow & "The Man Who Killed Time"01:34:11 - The Epic Wrestling Storyline of Sting vs. The NWO01:44:09 - Carey & Jesse's Update: Real-Life Interruptions & Outro

Welcome to Poets at War, a podcast documenting the brood of writers, where art, theology, philosophy, and fun beckon your ears.Today on the program, we gather the troops for the monthly Broodcast! The writers assemble in the barracks to share their latest dispatches from the creative front lines. The episode kicks off with Carrie sharing his frustrations over a lost 150-pound rogue hog in the Louisiana brush, while John (Jonathan Schleprock) gives an update on his permanent VA benefits and his successful Paladin series on Royal Road.The conversation quickly grapples its way into hand-to-hand combat, where the boys debate the tactical differences between Catch Wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu, the importance of neck conditioning, and why you shouldn't rely on a triangle choke in a real fight. Joshua then dives into the "Theology of Fashion," explaining his disdain for the homogenous corporate suit and why he chooses to wear a kilt and Hawaiian shirt as a ministry of art and personal expression.In the second half, the Brood reviews some fresh thumbnail art and laments the tragic intellectual property hoarding of franchises like Zorro and Narnia. Finally, the squad lands on a brilliant literary theory: why Tolkien’s Palantiri might be the perfect historical blueprint for understanding the dangers and utilities of Artificial Intelligence. The episode wraps up with a heavy metal Dwarven hymn and a tactical review of Joshua's latest audio drama casting calls.Timestamps:00:00:00 - Intro & Broodcast Roll Call00:06:03 - Carrie’s Rogue Hog Hunt in Louisiana00:18:11 - Catch Wrestling vs. Jiu-Jitsu & Hand-to-Hand Combat00:33:29 - Social Media Skirmishes: Baptizing Babies on Threads00:44:09 - The Theology of Fashion: Kilts, Suits, & Zena Larr00:57:23 - Male vs. Female Fashion & Conflict Resolution01:01:24 - Thumbnail Art Critiques & Channel Updates01:07:24 - IP Hoarding: The Tragedy of Zorro & Narnia01:11:42 - Tolkien’s Palantiri as an Analogy for AI01:17:46 - Movie Aragorn vs. Book Aragorn & The Rankin Bass Hobbit01:24:52 - Dwarven Hymns: The Song of Durin01:41:46 - Audio Drama Updates, The Prophecy, & Casting CallsYou too can be a part of the brood of writers and Poets at War. Just visit https://JoshuaDavidLing.com/Discord to join. If you're a true poetry patriot, you can support us on Substack and Patreon and get the recordings of all of our encouraging and strategic meetings, along with much more. Once again, all links can be found at joshuadavidling.com. Over and out.

Welcome to Poets at War, a podcast documenting the brood of writers, where art, theology, philosophy, and fun beckon your ears. Today on the program, we gather the troops for the monthly Broodcast! The writers assemble in the barracks to share their latest dispatches from the creative front lines.First, Ian Wilson reads Chapter 4 of his sci-fi/fantasy novel, Heart of the Stars, where Eddie faces his fears in an entomology lab and later confronts bullies in the woods. Next, Brendan shares a visceral flash fiction piece titled "The Umbral Forces of Trag," exploring the dark, undead magic of Caltifas and his hounds. Abigail Falonga then pitches a complex Beauty and the Beast retelling featuring plant-based magic, ice walls, and thorny barriers, sparking a collaborative brainstorming session with the Brood. General Joshua David Ling steps up to the mic to read the next installment of his wrestling narrative poetry, where Jessica and Joshua finally turn the tables on the corrupt William Rothschild. Finally, Joshua reads a sci-fi chapter from Joel Stanley, diving into the telepathic nanite connections of the Astari and the emotional weight of being a "handler" for traumatized soldiers. The episode wraps up with Jesse Marsalis showing off a stunning gold-leaf masquerade mask and sharing a hilarious Hobby Lobby anecdote.Timestamps:00:00:00 - Intro & Broodcast Roll Call00:07:45 - Ian Wilson's Story: Heart of the Stars (Chapter 4)00:22:14 - Feedback on Ian's Story00:32:16 - Brendan's Story: The Umbral Forces of Trag00:37:46 - Feedback on Brendan's Story00:42:49 - Abigail Falonga's Story Pitch: Beauty and the Beast Retelling00:46:12 - Brainstorming & Feedback for Abigail00:56:20 - Joshua David Ling's Poetry: Wrestling Ribs & Sweethearts01:07:25 - Feedback on Joshua's Poetry01:19:20 - Joel Stanley's Story (Read by Joshua): Astari Nanites & Handlers01:30:29 - Feedback on Joel's Story01:36:30 - Jesse Marsalis's Art: Golden Masquerade Mask01:39:50 - Outro & Sign-offYou too can be a part of the brood of writers and Poets at War. Just visit https://JoshuaDavidLing.com/Discord to join. If you're a true poetry patriot, you can support us on Substack and Patreon and get the recordings of all of our encouraging and strategic meetings, along with much more. Once again, all links can be found at joshuadavidling.com. Over and out.