Is AI art really stealing from artists—or is the backlash missing the point? In this episode of the Circle Dwellers podcast, Matt and Tim Krell offer a clear, philosophically grounded Christian perspective on AI-generated art, creativity, copyright, and human soulfulness. They dismantle common arguments against AI art (consent, job loss, environmental harm, “Miyazaki hates it”) and explain why AI is largely ethical and legal under U.S. copyright and fair use law—while still asking the more important question: is it good? Drawing on theology, aesthetics, game design, anime, and real-world AI tools, they argue that most AI art is kitsch—sentiment without sacrifice—and that true art requires human iteration, risk, and meaning that machines cannot replicate. If you’re confused or angry about AI art, worried about the future of creativity, or wondering how Christians should think about technology without fear or hype, this episode will challenge your assumptions and sharpen your thinking.

We are Life Mission Fellowship--a Protestant monastic order completely dedicated to Christ, His work, and His people. This is a podcast dedicated to the ins-and-outs of living the Benedict Option.

Is anxiety slowly destroying your spiritual life—and what if you could stop it before it’s too late? In this episode of the Circle Dwellers podcast, Matt and Tim Krell break down Dr. William Backus’s powerful “truth therapy” approach to defeating anxiety through biblical thinking, honest self-examination, and life-giving community. Drawing from Telling Yourself the Truth, they explain how anxiety is fueled by hidden misbeliefs (“I won’t be able to handle the future,” “If I don’t feel good, I shouldn’t do it”) and how replacing these lies with God’s truth brings freedom. Matt shares his own story of facing panic while joining their Protestant monastic order—and how trusting God and living in real Christian community carried him through the COVID lockdowns. If you’re struggling with fear, overthinking, or the pressure to control the future, this practical, faith-filled conversation will show you how to break the cycle of worry and live courageously in Christ.

What if the cure for modern weakness, loneliness, and nihilism isn’t “progress” but a return to chivalry? In this episode of the Circle Dwellers podcast, Matt and Tim Krell argue that the medieval chivalric ideal—rooted in courage, virtue, duty, honor, and self-sacrifice—is exactly what today’s men and women need. Drawing from Maurice Keen’s Chivalry, Brad Miner’s The Complete Gentleman, and C.S. Lewis’s classic essay “The Necessity of Chivalry,” they show how modern culture has flattened manhood into something soft, passive, and anxious, while historic Christianity called men to be both dangerous and good. The brothers break down how true chivalry forms a whole person—warrior, lover, monk, and citizen—and how recovering these virtues can strengthen marriages, restore community, and reshape the church. If you’re tired of modern decadence, confused masculinity, and the loss of noble ideals, this conversation will inspire you to reject modernity and reclaim a Christian vision of heroic virtue.

Is eating animals actually a moral good—not just “permissible”? In this episode of the Circle Dwellers podcast, Matt and Tim Krell dismantle the viral vegan documentary Christpiracy and offer a bold Christian, philosophical, and ecological case for why humans not only may eat animals, but in many cases have a moral duty to do so. Drawing on Roger Scruton’s On Hunting, the arguments of philosopher Nik Zangwill, biblical teaching (from Acts 10 to Old Testament sacrifice), and real ecological data, they explain why domesticated animals like cows, sheep, and goats only exist because humans steward them—and why good animal husbandry creates far more flourishing than suffering. They expose the flawed hermeneutics of “Jesus was vegan” claims, discuss consciousness arguments, factory farming vs. regenerative farming, and why treating animals like moral agents ultimately harms both animals and humans. If you’ve ever wrestled with ethical eating, vegan claims, Christian stewardship, or the meaning of dominion, this episode will give you a clear, compelling, and surprisingly compassionate framework for why eating meat is good.

What if UFOs aren’t demons—or aliens—but something far stranger? In this episode of the Circle Dwellers podcast, Matt and Tim Krell explore the exploding UFO/UAP conversation and ask what Christians should actually make of it. From Victor Davis Hanson’s surprising 50/50 stance, to Diana Walsh Pasulka’s research on UFO religion, to stories like the Varginha Incident and modern UAP sightings, they wrestle with whether these phenomena are physical beings, spiritual powers, government psyops, or all of the above. Instead of jumping to simplistic answers like “They’re just demons,” the brothers examine medieval angelology, spiritual-physical overlap, the re-enchantment of the modern world, and the dangers of building a new secular religion around UFOs. If you’re a Christian fascinated by aliens, conspiracy culture, or the supernatural—and want a grounded, thoughtful take—this episode will challenge your assumptions and strengthen your faith.

Is it immature for adults to love fantasy, anime, video games, or tabletop games—or is that a shallow view of maturity? In this episode of the Circle Dwellers podcast, Matt and Tim Krell respond directly to Matt Walsh’s claim that grown men should abandon “childish” hobbies like Warhammer, Star Wars, or video games and pursue only “serious” adult interests. Drawing from C.S. Lewis’s famous line—“When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up”—the brothers explain why Christianity affirms imagination, storytelling, play, and creative hobbies. They unpack the difference between being childlike and childish, why hobbies do not define your identity, and how art and fantasy can point us toward truth, beauty, and God. If you’ve ever felt shamed for liking “geeky” hobbies or wondered whether Christians should feel guilty for enjoying games, this thoughtful conversation offers a freeing, biblical perspective—and a gentle rebuttal to Matt Walsh.

Can revival really be planned—or is it only something God does spontaneously? In this episode of the Circle Dwellers podcast, Matt and Tim Krell of Life Mission Fellowship unpack Lecture 3 of Charles Finney’s classic Lectures on Revival of Religion to reveal the practical, biblical steps that ignite genuine renewal. Drawing on Hosea 10:12 (“Break up your fallow ground”), they explain how revival begins with the church itself—through repentance, self-examination, and obedience rather than emotional hype. The brothers walk through Finney’s process of spiritual bookkeeping, how to write a “sin list,” and why real change starts when believers stop waiting for a feeling and simply repent. They also share Finney’s remarkable conversion-retention results (from Getting Evangelicals Saved by Paris Reedhead and Deeper Experiences of Famous Christians by J. Gilchrist Lawson) and explore how disciplined holiness, not hype, brings lasting fruit. If you’ve ever prayed for revival or wondered why modern efforts fizzle, this episode will give you Finney’s time-tested roadmap for true transformation.

Is America actually experiencing a Christian revival—or just a spiritual awakening? In this episode of the Circle Dwellers podcast, Matt and Tim Krell of Life Mission Fellowship unpack the difference between a true revival and a cultural stirring of religious interest. Responding to the post–Charlie Kirk movement and the surge in Bible sales, church attendance, and online conversions, they draw on Charles Finney’s Lectures on Revivals of Religion to clarify what real revival looks like: repentance, reformation, and the church returning from her backslidings. The brothers discuss Finney’s 90% conversion retention rate, why modern evangelism often fails to produce lasting fruit, and how believers can begin genuine revival within their own congregations. If you’re a Christian pastor, leader, or layperson wondering how to tell hype from the Holy Spirit, this conversation will give you biblical clarity and practical direction for awakening the true church.

Did Christianity really shape everything we believe about morality, justice, and human rights? In this episode of the Circle Dwellers podcast, Matt and Tim Krell review historian Tom Holland’s landmark book Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World. They unpack Holland’s central claim—that every modern Western value, from equality and compassion to human rights and the separation of church and state, originates in Christianity, even among atheists and secular humanists. Along the way, they discuss pagan ethics, the moral inversion introduced by the crucifixion, and why thinkers like Richard Dawkins and the New Atheists can’t escape the Christian moral framework they reject. If you’re a Christian, historian, or seeker wondering what makes Western civilization unique—or why we can’t sustain its values without the faith that birthed them—this conversation will deepen your understanding of both history and the Gospel’s world-changing power.