About Magic Like This – A C.S. Lewis Book Club Podcast
Magic Like This is a C.S. Lewis Book Club hosted by Christina Wallace. Anyone who loves a deliciously crafted sentence or a spiritually compelling idea is welcome. So grab a cuppa your favourite somethin' somethin' and join us as we explore Christianity through the literary jollies of C.S. Lewis!
magiclikethis.substack.com (https://magiclikethis.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
Screwtape’s 27th Letter: Prayer is kind of silly. With writer and theologian, Griffin Gooch.
Do you feel guilty when you get distracted during prayer? Or even wonder ‘why am I praying in the first place’? And what do you do when it feels like your prayers aren’t actually working? I’m joined by author, lecturer, and theologian, Griffin Gooch (https://substack.com/@griffingooch?utm_source=global-search), to look at Letter 27 of Screwtape, which interestingly throws the idea of prayer into a completely different light. We also talk about the theology of happiness (ever been told that you should aim to be “joyful” but not happy?) and how the early Church taught a different perspective than what we normally hear from the Western Church today. Griffin reminds us that there is a lovely, transcendental silliness to prayer, and that much of our “guilt” for desiring happiness is rooted in the work of ancient philosophers — not necessarily in the teachings of Christ.
Mentioned in this episode:
Find Griffin on Substack here. (https://substack.com/@griffingooch?utm_source=global-search)
Book your spot on the (https://christinalynnwallace.com/windandbreath)Wind & Breath (https://christinalynnwallace.com/windandbreath) Creative Writing Retreat (https://christinalynnwallace.com/windandbreath)
The Screwtape Letters (https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/the-screwtape-letters-letters-from-a-senior-to-a-junior-devil-c-s-lewis-signature-classic-c-s-lewis?variant=32555414224974) by C.S. Lewis
Surprised by Joy (https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/surprised-by-joy-c-s-lewis-signature-classic-c-s-lewis?variant=40026292584526) by C.S. Lewis
The World’s Last Night (https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-worlds-last-night-c-s-lewis?variant=32116606861346) by C.S. Lewis
(Please buy from your local bookstore wherever possible. Note: I have not personally read all books mentioned in this episode. Sharing them here is not necessarily a personal endorsement.)
Support the show
Become a patron of Magic Like This for £5 a month here (https://magiclikethis.substack.com/subscribe).
OR leave a review for us on Apple Podcasts! (https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/2034395/private/c7a1b3e1-76e0-4e45-9d9b-7eb44d51fcc7.rss)
Find me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/magiclikethispodcast (https://instagram.com/magiclikethispodcast)
For fellow writers:
Join us for 4 days of rest, liturgical prayer, and creative writing on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, April 8th-12th, 2026: Book onto the (https://christinalynnwallace.com/windandbreath)Wind & Breath (https://christinalynnwallace.com/windandbreath) Creative Writing Retreat here (https://christinalynnwallace.com/windandbreath) OR join the waitlist for the next retreat here. (https://christinalynnwallace.com/retreats)
Enrol in Pick Up Your Sword, my writing course for aspiring Christian writers who want to write their first book: https://christinalynnwallace.com/course (https://christinalynnwallace.com/course)
Wanting personal support to develop your writing practice? Book a Writer’s Audit (https://www.christinalynnwallace.com/shop/p/writers-audit), 1:1 writing mentorship calls with Christina. (https://www.christinalynnwallace.com/shop/p/writers-audit)
Or if you just want a little magic sent straight to your inbox each month to encourage and inspire your writing practice, you can get my free monthly newsletter, The Grammarian, here: https://christinalynnwallace.com/newsletter (https://christinalynnwallace.com/newsletter)
Click here to find me on Fable (https://fable.co/christina-lynn-wallace-278012175082?referralID=opwFstKAlR)
Read my essays and join my Celtic Prayer Writing Workshops at The Battle Cry:
https://christinalynnwallace.substack.com/subscribe (https://christinalynnwallace.substack.com/subscribe)
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit magiclikethis.substack.com/subscribe (https://magiclikethis.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)
29 Jul 2026
Screwtape's 26th Letter: Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. With C.S. Lewis podcaster, Thornton Thompson
What happens when so starry-eyed in love that we don’t really care what we do as long as the other person is happy? When we don’t voice our own feelings or needs? When this silence about our desires turns into a habit that lasts weeks, months, years? When we congratulate ourselves on how “selfless” we’re being all whilst ignoring that niggling feeling of resentment bubbling away beneath the surface? How might that impact our relationships over time? And more importantly… how might we be blind to it? My friend Thornton, the host of his own C.S. Lewis podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mere-c-s-lewis/id1511641226), joined me to share how Screwtape’s 26th letter really opened his eyes and helped him improve his marriage in incredible ways…
Mentioned in this episode:
(Please buy from your local bookstore wherever possible. Note: I have not personally read all books mentioned in this episode. Sharing them here is not necessarily a personal endorsement.)
Thornton’s podcast: Mere C.S. Lewis (https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/the-horse-and-his-boy-the-chronicles-of-narnia-book-3-c-s-lewis?variant=56338169069947)
The Screwtape Letters (https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/the-screwtape-letters-letters-from-a-senior-to-a-junior-devil-c-s-lewis-signature-classic-c-s-lewis?variant=32555414224974) by C.S. Lewis
The Horse and His Boy (https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/the-horse-and-his-boy-the-chronicles-of-narnia-book-3-c-s-lewis?variant=56338169069947) by C.S. Lewis
The Last Battle (https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/the-last-battle-the-chronicles-of-narnia-book-7-c-s-lewis?variant=56353261584763) by C.S. Lewis
Support the show
Become a patron of Magic Like This for £5 a month here (https://magiclikethis.substack.com/subscribe).
OR leave a review for us on Apple Podcasts! (https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/2034395/private/c7a1b3e1-76e0-4e45-9d9b-7eb44d51fcc7.rss)
Find me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/magiclikethispodcast (https://instagram.com/magiclikethispodcast)
Read my essays and join my Celtic Prayer Writing Workshops at The Battle Cry:
https://christinalynnwallace.substack.com/subscribe (https://christinalynnwallace.substack.com/subscribe)
For fellow writers:
Enrol in Pick Up Your Sword, my writing course for aspiring Christian writers who want to write their first book: https://christinalynnwallace.com/course (https://christinalynnwallace.com/course)
Battling imposter syndrome?Purchase my 7-day journalling devotional for aspiring Christian writers: https://www.christinalynnwallace.com/shop/p/invited-by-joy-digital-devotional-for-aspiring-authors (https://www.christinalynnwallace.com/shop/p/invited-by-joy-digital-devotional-for-aspiring-authors)
Always wondered about the difference between a colon and a semi-colon?Join Swordsmanship, my free 21-day punctuation mark email course: https://www.christinalynnwallace.com/swordsmanship (https://www.christinalynnwallace.com/swordsmanship).
Wanting personal support to develop your writing practice?Book a Writer’s Audit (https://www.christinalynnwallace.com/shop/p/writers-audit), 1:1 writing mentorship calls with Christina. (https://www.christinalynnwallace.com/shop/p/writers-audit)
Or if you just want a little magic sent straight to your inbox each month to encourage and inspire your writing practice, you can get my free monthly newsletter, The Grammarian, here: https://christinalynnwallace.com/newsletter (https://christinalynnwallace.com/newsletter)
Click here to find me on Fable (https://fable.co/christina-lynn-wallace-278012175082?referralID=opwFstKAlR)
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit magiclikethis.substack.com/subscribe (https://magiclikethis.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)
9 Jul 2026
Screwtape's 25th Letter: A war of church traditions? With OCCA Speaker, Victoria Bøe
What happens when we start to see church tradition through a lens of “us vs. them”? What are we missing by assuming that our style of worship or prayer is more holy than someone else’s? Joining me to discuss Screwtape’s 25th letter is Victoria Bøe, a Speaker for the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (https://theocca.org/). She candidly shares her testimony of growing in humility and openness as she discovered liturgy and ancient tradition after growing up in a charismatic church in Norway. At it’s core, Screwtape 25 is warning us against a judgement of “the same old thing,” showing us how tradition, discipline, and “emotionless” worship can sometimes lead to the greatest spiritual growth.
Mentioned in this episode:
(Please buy from your local bookstore wherever possible. Note: I have not personally read all books mentioned in this episode. Sharing them here is not necessarily a personal endorsement.)
The Screwtape Letters (https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/the-screwtape-letters-letters-from-a-senior-to-a-junior-devil-c-s-lewis-signature-classic-c-s-lewis?variant=32555414224974) by C.S. Lewis
The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (https://theocca.org/)
The Celtic Daily Prayer Book (https://shop.northumbriacommunity.org/product/celtic-daily-prayer-book-1-the-journey-begins/)
Support the show
Become a patron of Magic Like This for £5 a month here (https://magiclikethis.substack.com/subscribe).
OR leave a review for us on Apple Podcasts! (https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/2034395/private/c7a1b3e1-76e0-4e45-9d9b-7eb44d51fcc7.rss)
Find me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/magiclikethispodcast (https://instagram.com/magiclikethispodcast)
Read my essays and join my Celtic Prayer Writing Workshops at The Battle Cry:
https://christinalynnwallace.substack.com/subscribe (https://christinalynnwallace.substack.com/subscribe)
For fellow writers:
Enrol in Pick Up Your Sword, my writing course for aspiring Christian writers who want to write their first book: https://christinalynnwallace.com/course (https://christinalynnwallace.com/course)
Battling imposter syndrome?Purchase my 7-day journalling devotional for aspiring Christian writers: https://www.christinalynnwallace.com/shop/p/invited-by-joy-digital-devotional-for-aspiring-authors (https://www.christinalynnwallace.com/shop/p/invited-by-joy-digital-devotional-for-aspiring-authors)
Always wondered about the difference between a colon and a semi-colon?Join Swordsmanship, my free 21-day punctuation mark email course: https://www.christinalynnwallace.com/swordsmanship (https://www.christinalynnwallace.com/swordsmanship).
Wanting personal support to develop your writing practice?Book a Writer’s Audit (https://www.christinalynnwallace.com/shop/p/writers-audit), 1:1 writing mentorship calls with Christina. (https://www.christinalynnwallace.com/shop/p/writers-audit)
Or if you just want a little magic sent straight to your inbox each month to encourage and inspire your writing practice, you can get my free monthly newsletter, The Grammarian, here: https://christinalynnwallace.com/newsletter (https://christinalynnwallace.com/newsletter)
Click here to find me on Fable (https://fable.co/christina-lynn-wallace-278012175082?referralID=opwFstKAlR)
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit magiclikethis.substack.com/subscribe (https://magiclikethis.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.9 / 5
7 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
10 ratings
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