Words Do Things
Claim This Podcastby Sørina Higgins
Podcast Overview
<p>Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words... can really hurt you. Join Dr. Sørina Higgins and guests to think about the powers and limits of language. Are words magical? Can they actually effect change? Why do people weaponize them? Can we shift our use of public rhetoric? What have great authors believed about the relationship between writing and the divine? How can you become a more powerful and effective writer?</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
10/5/2025
1 verified contact email on file for Words Do Things
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
June 28, 2026
"Read Old Books!" says Larry Swain
In which the host talks far too much (ahem!), but the guest—when allowed to get a word in edgewise—gives great insights into the teaching of classic literature. We need to read old books, he says, for their sheer beauty and for their themes, which we badly need today. The same goes for the works of Tolkien, and Larry and Sørina work through the complexities of how “the long defeat” and “eucatastrophe” are both true. #tolkien #lordoftherings #literature #books #fantasy #reading #rhetoric #languages #language #myths #myth #mythology #theology #heaven #eucatastrophe Dr. Larry Swain’s profile at Bemidji State University: https://www.bemidjistate.edu/directory/facstaff/larry-swain/ Larry’s profile at Signum University: https://signumuniversity.org/people/larry-swain/ If you like this work, please support it by joining my Author’s Circle https://buymeacoffee.com/higginssorina If you’re a writer, hire me as your Consulting Editor: https://wyrdhoard.com/ If you want more thoughts on politics, subscribe to my Substack: https://substack.com/@sorinahiggins
June 21, 2026
War & Peace with John Garth
The award-winning author of Tolkien & The Great War and several other books on Tolkien joins Sørina to talk about John Ronald’s war experience, the relationship between trauma and silence, what’s wrong with generative AI, and more. John Garth’s website: https://johngarth.co.uk/ John’s fundraising page: https://steady.page/en/john-garth-on-tolkiens-life-and-works/about John’s blog: https://johngarth.wordpress.com/ If you like this work, please support it by joining my Author’s Circle https://buymeacoffee.com/higginssorina If you’re a writer, hire me as your Consulting Editor: https://wyrdhoard.com/ If you want more thoughts on politics, subscribe to my Substack: https://substack.com/@sorinahiggins
June 14, 2026
Did Tolkien Believe in Faeries? with Janet Brennan Croft and David L. Emerson
That’s not the only topic we discuss! Sørina gets her clearest answer yet about the relationship among consciousness, language, and mythology, and Janet solves the mystery of animal sentience! They dive into the history of Tolkien’s fame and what he’s done for the fantasy genre, and they close with a look at how The Lord of the Rings applies to their situation living in Minneapolis at the height of ICE activity and citizen response. Janet on Tolkien Gateway: https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Janet_Brennan_Croft David on Tolkienists: https://tolkienists.org/david-l-emerson/ If you like my work, please support me by joining my Author’s Circle: https://buymeacoffee.com/higginssorina If you’re a writer, hire me as your Consulting Editor: https://wyrdhoard.com/ If you want thoughts on politics, subscribe to my Substack: https://substack.com/@sorinahiggins
44 total episodes available
Similar Podcasts
Discover related shows you might enjoy
The Inklings Variety Hour
The Inklings Variety Hour
Mythgard Academy
Mythgard Institute
The Prancing Pony Podcast
The Prancing Pony Podcast
The Theology Pugcast
The Theology Pugcast
The Symbolic World
Jonathan Pageau
Trinity Forum Conversations
The Trinity Forum
Read-Aloud Revival ®
Sarah Mackenzie
The History of Byzantium
thehistoryofbyzantium@gmail.com
The Book Club
Goalhanger
Everything Happens with Kate Bowler
Everything Happens Studios
The Rest Is History
Goalhanger
Up First
NPR
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf
The World and Everything In It
WORLD Radio
Books of Titans Podcast
Erik Rostad
Deep-dive analytics for Words Do Things
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is Words Do Things?
<p>Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words... can really hurt you. Join Dr. Sørina Higgins and guests to think about the powers and limits of language. Are words magical? Can they actually effect change? Why do people weaponize them? Can we shift our use of public rhetoric? What have great authors believed about the relationship between writing and the divine? How can you become a more powerful and effective writer?</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.