Under the Fig Tree

Join hosts Rev. Tom Schlund and Kati Gaschler in a conversation with Dr. Samuel Eatherton, the new kantor at Concordia Seminary. In addition to directing music for chapel, concerts and leading the various music groups, Eatherton is an associate professor of practical theology, teaching worship courses as the Kreft Professor of Music Arts.  

"Music conveys the Gospel," Eatherton shares. "We do that in our hymnody, in our liturgy, where we're literally singing parts of the Bible... All these deep theological truths can be conveyed through music, and we do that every day in chapel." 

Listen in as Eatherton describes his own journey of music ministry and what his job at the Seminary entails. He also gives an inside look at the musical opportunities available for students at the Seminary and around the St. Louis community. 

Interested in viewing our daily chapel services? You can watch the livestream on our Facebook page or on ourwebsite, csl.edu/chapel. Learn more about music and the arts at the Seminary at csl.edu/music-arts.

Want to learn more about vocational ministry?Start a conversation with our admissions team at https://ask.csl.edu/register/Request-Information. Learnmore about Concordia Seminary at http://www.csl.edu orby contacting the admissions team at [email protected]or 800-822-9545. “Under the Fig Tree” is a video and audio podcast of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. New video and audio episodes are added semi-weekly during the academic year. 

 “Under the Fig Tree” can be found on YouTube, the Seminary’s Scholar site (scholar.csl.edu) and most podcast platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

In this episode, hosts Rev. Tom Schlund and Katie Gaschler sit down with Dr. Jason Lane, associate professor of Historical Theology. Through various life experiences, Lane shares how he said "Yes" to the opportunities and encouragements given to him on his journey to Seminary, graduate school, the parish and professorship. Whether someone attends a Concordia University, a state school or wherever they receive their education, he encourages those thinking about Seminary, "You can come in with joyful courage to do the stuff that is required of you." Listen to hear about the connection to Lane's psychology degree, his time in Germany, the joys of the parish and how he came to be a Seminary professor.

You may have heard about the Seminary's visit event Vocatio: High School. In this episode, hear first-hand how this retreat impacted two current students. If you've thought about attending Vocatio, or you know a high school student who might be interested, this is an episode you don't want to miss!

A new episode of "Under the Fig Tree" has dropped! Join hosts Rev. Tom Schlund and Katie Gaschler "behind the scenes" as they chat with Michael "Mike" Broberg, administrator of Residential Services at Concordia Seminary. Mike shares how he helps single and married students navigate on-campus housing and talks about the Food Bank and Re-Sell It Shop, two resources available to students to aid them during their Seminary years.

Want to learn more about life on the Seminary campus? Start a conversation with our admissions team at

In this episode, join hosts Rev. Tom Schlund and Katie

While talking about his time in the parish, Fickenscher

Additionally, you'll learn a little bit about the exegetical

In the recurring segment "Ripe for the picking or leave

Interested in vocational ministry? Start a conversation with

“Under the Fig Tree” is a video and audio podcast of

In this episode, hosts Rev. Tom Schlund and Katie Gaschler are joined by one of Concordia Seminary's newest professors, Dr. Ryan Tinetti. While studying journalism during his undergraduate years at Michigan State University, Tinetti felt a call toward ministry. After graduation, he followed God's call with a few different stops along the way. He says, "Ministry is a trailhead, not a terminus. When you get into

After serving in the parish for more than 10 years, Tinetti now is a professor in the Seminary's Practical Theology department. He shares some of his passions as a professor and what excites him about the courses he teaches. He also gives some insights into his specialty as a homiletics professor and shares his favorite things about St. Louis and the Seminary Community.

When discussing future students and people considering full time church work or applying to the Seminary, Tinetti shares, "My advice to anyone is not to rule yourself out... There are so many different paths [to Seminary]. What's important is the

Do you like eating toasted ravioli? Find out who does during the recurring segment "Ripe for the picking or leave it on the tree." You'll also find out who enjoys camping, who goes blueberry picking and how everyone feels about Imo's Pizza.

Interested in vocational ministry? Start a conversation with our admissions team at https://ask.csl.edu/register/Request-Information. Learn more about Concordia Seminary at http://www.csl.edu or by contacting the admissions team at [email protected] or 800-822-9545.

“Under the Fig Tree” is a video and audio podcast of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. New video and audio episodes are added during the academic year. “Under the Fig Tree” can be found on YouTube, the Seminary’s Scholar site (scholar.csl.edu) and most podcast platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

In this episode, Rev. Tom Schlund and Kati Gaschler sit down with President Dr. Thomas J. Egger who gives some updates about things around Concordia Seminary. They discuss with Egger the excitement and joy of starting a new school year, looking back on Orientation and looking forward to the year ahead. They reflect on the impact of having these new students on campus, each with their own story and journey to the Seminary. Egger shares, "It's always inspiring when you see the new students coming in. You just remember the Lord is at work in his church. And here are a whole bunch of people who He has placed His gospel in their hearts in such a way that they want to offer themselves to serve the church in the name of Christ with that word of hope."

Other updates include changes to faculty and staff on campus, with an emphasis on the experience of visitors to our campus. We see this particularly in the Admissions and Recruitment departments and the process of calling two new admissions officers, as well as with Campus Events and Hospitality. Schlund shares some of his experience in taking his call to the Seminary as a recruitment officer. He says, "It didn't take very long for me to realize... that God is a God of physical means. He's always using people and things to accomplish his tasks. And so, I discovered that the role we play is one of encourager and director along the way... It's not just collecting applications after the Holy Spirit has done his secret work. There is real, useful and important work to be done."

Egger also shares some comments on this year being the 100th anniversary of the Clayton campus, which brings with it a variety of physical maintenance and improvements that must be done. He also gives an overview of the large-scale Campus Plan. Schlund remarks, "Generation after generation, there's always been this investment ensuring there is a place to train and form pastors to go out and serve."

The episode ends with advice from Egger for future students and those considering attending, "Read your Bibles ... Don't wait to start that process of filling yourself with God's Word. Read the Scriptures ... Trust that through his Word, God gives wisdom."

In the recurring segment "Ripe for the picking or leave it on the tree," find out everyone's opinions on a couple classic (or not so classic) movies and star athletes of Major League Baseball and the Women's National Basketball Association.

Interested in vocational ministry? Start a conversation with our admissions team at https://ask.csl.edu/register/Request-Information. Learn more about Concordia Seminary at csl.edu or by contacting the admissions team at [email protected] or 800-822-9545.

“Under the Fig Tree” is a video and audio podcast of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. New video and audio episodes are added throughout the academic year. “Under the Fig Tree” can be found on YouTube, the Seminary’s Scholar site (scholar.csl.edu) and most podcast platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

After a summer off, Under the Fig Tree is back! In this episode, Rev. Tom Schlund joins Kati Gaschler as a new host of the podcast. They sit down with President Thomas J. Egger and take a deep dive into the 2024-25 academic year theme "Let Us Fix Our Eyes on Jesus," based on Heb. 12:2. Egger shares some behind-the-scenes about the selection process the theme and why this year's choice rose to the top. He encourages listeners, "Don't let Jesus come into the world and be right near you and find yourself looking everywhere but [at him]...There's no one so worthy of our gaze and our attention as Christ through His Word and through His Sacraments." They discuss the importance of being daily reminded to keep Jesus the focus of our lives. 

When giving advice to future students, Egger shares, "The church is certainly saying to young people who are looking at 'What should I do in life? How can I serve my

During the recurring segment "Ripe for the picking or leave it on the tree," find out how everyone feels about pumpkin flavor, if they enjoy the fall task of raking leaves and if hay rides and apple picking are on their fall to-do lists.

Interested in vocational ministry? Start a conversation with our admissions team at https://ask.csl.edu/register/Request-Information.

In this episode of “Under the Fig Tree,” hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Kati Gaschler sit down with Concordia Seminary alum (’96, ’05) Rev. W. Max Mons, who is pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel and University Center in Iowa City, Iowa, and also chairman of the Seminary’s Board of Regents.

In this episode of “Under the Fig Tree,” hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Kati Gaschler welcome back Dr. Benjamin Haupt, the former podcast host and founder who has been on sabbatical during the spring semester. The two men share big announcements that they both are moving on to other calls: Ben as global executive director of PLI and Micah as head of school at Sierra Lutheran High School in Carson City, Nev. Kati surprises Micah with some pineapple pizza, a recurring topic on the podcast, which he agrees to eat and continues to loathe. The two men also share some words of advice and parting words. “Concordia Seminary not only shaped and formed me to be a pastor my first time around as a student but deeply molded, shaped, formed my life to be a witness for Jesus in profound ways, ways that I will never understand,” Ben says. “This is a fantastic place to come and learn the Word of Christ and to study who God is and to learn what it means to serve Christ’s church among people who absolutely love His church. Listeners, hear loud and clear that Micah and I absolutely love this place. And you would do very well to check out Concordia Seminary.” Micah thanks everyone for listening and told them not to lament. “This isn’t the end of the podcast,” he says. “There’s something that happens when you come to study here,” Micah says. “You are blown away. You’re completely overwhelmed. You probably have a little bit of imposter’s syndrome. In the midst of all that, you are growing closer and closer to your classmates. You’re growing closer and closer to the faculty members. You’re growing closer to God’s church. And before you know it, somebody’s calling you to be their pastor. God has blessed me with this experience. … There is no other place in the world like Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.” In the recurring segment, “Ripe for the picking or leave it on the tree,” hear how the trio feel about cold pizza, grilled pizza, McDonald’s McCrispy chicken sandwich, stargazing and more!

“Under the Fig Tree” is a video and audio podcast of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. New video and audio episodes are added weekly each Monday during the academic year. “Under the Fig Tree” can be found on YouTube, the Seminary’s Scholar site (scholar.csl.edu) and most podcast platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.