Tolkien had just graduated from Oxford when the Great War broke out. Each member of the TCBS was sent into active duty, including Tolkien. He endured the Somme, the bloodiest battle in British history, only to face a fortuitous difficulty: trench fever. While Tolkien was recovering, he would begin the saga that he would spend the rest of his life completing. 

If there's one theme that runs through J.R.R. Tolkien's early life, it's friendship. Orphaned before his teens, Tolkien surrounded himself with friends throughout his life. And this theme runs through The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit as well. In this first episode on the life and writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, Cole and Terry discuss his early life and the theme of friendship in his writing. 

As we head into the busyness of the holidays, it's important to stop and remember what Christmas is all about and prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of our Savior. In this episode, Cole and Terry discuss Advent and how to celebrate with families and friends. 

Get a copy of our Advent booklet on Amazon! 

Support So We Speak in 2025! 

In the last twenty years, the landscape of the Middle East has changed again. Following the Arab Spring, the Obama administration oriented its policy around Iran, only for the Trump administration to orient its policy around Saudi Arabia. In the middle of the back-and-forth, the Abraham Accords were born and gave the best shot for peace in the Middle East since the founding of Israel. 

What's happening now, and what's ahead for Israel? Cole and Terry discuss in this final episode on modern Israel. 

After the wars in 1967 and 1973, Israel saw the rise of a new group of enemies. Previously, it had fought against rival states in the region. Next, radical terrorist groups arose across the region. In this episode, Cole and Terry discuss the formation of Hezbollah, Hamas, Al Qaeda, and other militant groups that have come to dominate the Middle East. 

How did we get here? With all the arguments flying around about Israel and its neighbors, we turn to history to understand the making of modern Israel. In this three-part series on Israel, we look at how the major factions in the Middle East arose, how they operate, and what the future holds. 

In this first episode, Cole and Terry discuss the founding of the nation of Israel and the ensuing wars, running up to the Yom Kippur War in 1973. 

For more on the lead-up to the formation of the state of Israel in 1948, see Terry's series, The Making of Modern Israel.

As of this morning, we are live on YouTube! Check out the So We Speak channel and our first series, Empires. Subscribe for more series in the coming weeks. 

In addition, Cole gives a preview of our next two series coming up on the podcast. 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sowespeak 

Jesus was so many things, but a genius? This is a neglected attribute. Jesus was the most brilliant teacher to ever walk the earth. In his new book, The Surprising Genius of Jesus, Peter Williams makes the case that Jesus was not just wise, he was also a genius. Cole sits down with Peter to discuss the new book and the teachings of Jesus. 

Revelation is a difficult book. The symbols, cryptic messages, and all the different interpretations can make it a daunting part of the Bible to study. But it's also one of the most encouraging, comforting, foundational books of the Bible. In this episode, Cole gives four keys to reading and understanding Revelation. 

Resources:

"Apocalypse" - Terry Feix 

"Visions" - Cole Feix

"Revelation: Part 1" - So We Speak

"Revelation: Part 2" - So We Speak 

"Revelation: Part 3" - So We Speak 

"Revelation Questions: Part 1" - So We Speak 

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem is the holiest site in Christendom. It is the historic site where Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead. But is it the real spot? 

In this episode, Cole and Terry discuss the church's history, theories, and oddities and debate whether or not this is the real location of the empty tomb. 

Resources:

• “Jesus’ Tomb Opened in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher” - National Geographic