Sick Pilgrim
When we decided to start Sick Pilgrim, we imagined it as more than a blog. We wanted a multi-layer community that would involve a number of different pieces–though we couldn’t quite imagine what they’d be. In the early Sheed and Ward days, they set up soapboxes in the street and talked to anyone who listened. Then they moved on to the respectable college lecture circuit. Neither or us could imagine ourselves doing either. We don’t really want to lecture; we want to have a conversation.
Then Breadbox Media called and offered us a soapbox. And a phone number so you can call us. And The Sick Pilgrim Travelin’ Medicine (radio!) Show was born. We’re in pre-production right now with an eye towards a spring launch.
So, what is Breadbox Media? It’s Internet radio designed to give the power back to local communities through app-based programming. It’s an old-school radio revolution. As general manager Leo Brown says, they want to “connect the unconnected.” It’s a new way for fellow travelers to accompany each other, no matter where they are, but through local streams that will also connect them with their own communities. That’s a mission we can get behind.
Plus, you’ll be able to download our shows on all podcast outlets, including iTunes.
What will you hear on the Sick Pilgrim Travelin’ Medicine Show?
We’re taking inspiration from the old school medicine shows that traveled around the country, selling miracle cure medications (snake oil!), putting on plays, dancing, singing, and “preaching.”
Special Guests: We’ll have a few guests each week who will share their “testimony”–whether that’s a song or a book excerpt or a personal story. They might be musicians or actors or dancers or writers who want to share their struggles with faith (not just Catholicism) or just have a thing for the transcendent. But really we want to welcome anybody we think might have something interesting, disturbing, or inspiring to share with our audience, and ask them to tell us their stories. Like Chaucer’s pilgrims.
Call us! Our shows are going to be live, which means you’ll be able to hear Jess drinking to get through them. Also, you can call us! We’ll have themes like “worst thing my kid ever drew in Mass and passed to me during the consecration” (hint: it was a detailed diagram of a certain part of the male anatomy). You can also ask us questions we probably won’t be able to answer. But we’ll all have a good time.
Things that are Keeping Us Alive, Radio Edition: The books and music and stuff we’ve discovered that get us through the day. Because sometimes you have to make life bearable, as St. Teresa of Avila said (while clicking her castanets). Jonathan cannot wait to tell you about how good his beard smells.
Weird News: In the pilot, we shared a few news stories of mysterious disappearances, which led somehow to a discussion of why Catholicism is the church of the weird. Something about eating a man’s flesh. It’s a blur.
Popular Piety: the obscure Catholic devotions, processions, traditions, and stories that keep us here.
The Pope Francis Conspiracy Minute: Not everybody loves Pope Francis. Can you believe that? We’ll keep you informed of all his sinister machinations to shelter the homeless and feed the hungry and minister to the sick.
And we’ll end every show with The Dark Devotional, tent revival preacher style, as our writers share their takes on the daily mass readings.
And much, much more … as we make this up as we go along.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In