Everything That Came Before Grace - The Podcast

Benjamin wakes up the next morning, and immediately senses Sophia is gone. He goes out to the dining room and she's left a letter for him. 

Benjamin and Anna spend a day together having brunch, taking  drive up the coast, stopping at the tide pools and sitting down for a heart to heart on the sand. On the drive home, Anna asks Benjamin about his mom, and he tries to decide how much to reveal. After Anna drops Benjamin off, Sophia gets home late again and they fight. Sophia tells her dad she's going to stay at her friend Jordan's for awhile. 

Songs: 

“Hold On” – Alabama Shakes

“Hello Sunshine” – Aretha Franklin

“Real Love” – Father John Misty

“Romeo & Juliet” – Dire Straits

“Maps” – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

“We Flat” – PJ Harvey

“I Only Have Eyes For You” – The Flamingos

“A Love Supreme Pt. IV Psalm” – John Coltrane

In another session with Cassandra, Benjamin shares things are still not any better with Sophia. Cassandra warns him to stop suffocating her, and he tells her he can't let up now that she's so close to heading off to college. Cassandra tells him he's been so obsessed with protecting Sophia, he's missed the fact that she's been fine this whole time. At the end of the session, Cassandra gives Benjamin some unsettling news. 

Songs: 

House That Heaven Built" - The Japandroids 

Check out the ETCBG Playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2WkzxfcBkx5Z4g12XVU9lR?si=xpYN14PVT4aXJhyD46BZ-g

Keith calls Benjamin out of the blue and asks him out for a drink. Benjamin hesitates then Keith tells him it's the 20th anniversary of his dad's death. To his surprise, they start to have a great time, but then he sees something on Keith's phone that changes everything. 

"Pedestrian at Best" - Courtney Barnett

Check out the ETCBG Playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2WkzxfcBkx5Z4g12XVU9lR?si=HvGl0XxRSnG06VIcI39N2g

Sophia gets home late and Benjamin tells her to mind the curfew better. They argue, and Sophia accuses her dad of hiding things again. When he denies it, she tells him she found his Zoloft. When she marches off and locks the door behind her, Benjamin has another panic attack. He calls Anna, but she can't talk. 

Songs:

Check out the ETCBG Playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2WkzxfcBkx5Z4g12XVU9lR?si=HvGl0XxRSnG06VIcI39N2g

Another year has passed, and Sophia is now midway through senior year. She's just been accepted to Columbia and time is winding down for her to head off to college, but Sophia has still not forgiven Benjamin. Benjamin is sitting out front when Sophia comes home from school crying and locks herself in her room. Braving reprisal, Benjamin knocks on her door and heads in to see what's up. They have a talk and start chipping away at some of their issues.  

"Lazarus" - David Bowie

"Hurt" - Johnny Cash

“Tower of Song” – Leonard Cohen

“There Goes My Beautiful World” – Nick Cave

“Wuthering Heights” – Kate Bush

Check out the ETCBG Playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2WkzxfcBkx5Z4g12XVU9lR?si=SCz_0cRXSYWx6Fn83Jccrg

It's later that same night Anna and Benjamin had their meet up. Anna asks wants to know why Benjamin keeps guarding that line between them. He tells her why. She asks if he wants her to back away, and he begs her not to. 

Benjamin and Anna meet for lunch, the first time they've seen each other since the Christmas party over two years ago. Benjamin gives her a birthday mixtape, and then they take a drive over to check out hers and Keith's new house. It's a close call. 

Songs: 

“Sweet Feeling” – Candi Staton

“Long Monday” – John Prine

“Are You The One I’m Waiting For” – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

“Keep a Knockin’” – Little Richard

Check out the ETCBG Playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2WkzxfcBkx5Z4g12XVU9lR?si=e_1fvko8Tku2nxMG-5H91Q

It's been a year of Benjamin and Anna carrying on via emails. Sophia has a boyfriend now and things are still tense between she and her dad. The emails continue, and the envelope keeps getting pushed. They finally agree to meet up in person. 

Songs: 

"Have a Little Faith in Me" - John Hiatt

Check out the ETCBG Playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2WkzxfcBkx5Z4g12XVU9lR?si=pyV5BxFhSKKxx15yGlRENQ

Benjamin levels with Cassandra he's been guilty of emotional infidelity with Anna for the past few months. On the drive home, Benjamin gets a lift listening to a great new song, and he makes out a list of what makes life worth living.  

Songs: 

“Red Eyes” – The War on Drugs

“Magnolia” – Gang of Youths

Check out the ETCBG Playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2WkzxfcBkx5Z4g12XVU9lR?si=Rl-iAr7mTrCry1upHdSZiA