I’m joined by author Michael Blanding to talk about his fascinating new book THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO HOBBY LOBBY.
Hobby Lobby is the multibillion-dollar craft store chain you may have wandered through for picture frames and fake flowers at some point, founded and owned by the Greens, an evangelical Christian family who have spent decades quietly using their fortune to push their religious beliefs into American law and culture, from a Supreme Court case that gutted contraception coverage, to a Bible museum blocks from the Capitol, to a long, well-funded campaign to remake the country in their image.
Michael’s book traces the Greens' rise from a single picture-frame shop in Oklahoma to one of the most quietly powerful families in the country. His reporting took him from the Oklahoma prairie to plundered museums in Iraq to a monastery library in Egypt, and he's also the author of THE MAP THIEF and IN SHAKESPEARE'S SHADOW. This episode’s a little heavier than our usual fare, but I loved hearing Michael talk about the process of writing this book and I think you will too.
Check out Michael and his upcoming appearances in support of the book at his website: https://www.michaelblanding.com/
You can get THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO HOBBY LOBBY at a cool indie bookstore near you, or through bookshop.org: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO HOBBY LOBBY
I was recently a guest on the podcast Channel 37's After Midnight to talk about the bonkers 1977 Japanese horror movie House! Listen here: AFTER MIDNIGHT: HOUSE
Our theme music is by Mister Michael Brousseau
Per usual, You can email this show at gleamingpod@gmail.com.