Magic Like This: A C.S. Lewis Book Club

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, 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.
Book your spot on the Wind & Breath Creative Writing Retreat
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis
The World’s Last Night 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.
OR leave a review for us on Apple Podcasts!
Find me on Instagram: 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 Wind & Breath Creative Writing Retreat here OR join the waitlist for the next retreat here.
Enrol in Pick Up Your Sword, my writing course for aspiring Christian writers who want to write their first book: https://christinalynnwallace.com/course
Wanting personal support to develop your writing practice? Book a Writer’s Audit, 1:1 writing mentorship calls with Christina.
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
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Read my essays and join my Celtic Prayer Writing Workshops at The Battle Cry:
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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, 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
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis
The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis
Support the show
Become a patron of Magic Like This for £5 a month here.
OR leave a review for us on Apple Podcasts!
Find me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/magiclikethispodcast
Read my essays and join my Celtic Prayer Writing Workshops at The Battle Cry:
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
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
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.
Wanting personal support to develop your writing practice?Book a Writer’s Audit, 1:1 writing mentorship calls with Christina.
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
Click here to find me on Fable


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

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. 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 by C.S. Lewis
The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics
The Celtic Daily Prayer Book
Support the show
Become a patron of Magic Like This for £5 a month here.
OR leave a review for us on Apple Podcasts!
Find me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/magiclikethispodcast
Read my essays and join my Celtic Prayer Writing Workshops at The Battle Cry:
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
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
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.
Wanting personal support to develop your writing practice?Book a Writer’s Audit, 1:1 writing mentorship calls with Christina.
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
Click here to find me on Fable


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

What happens when new Christians start to judge the people who just “don’t get” their faith? Is it all too easy to get a bit “up ourselves” when we find camaraderie in our new Christian circles? How do we starve the pride that Screwtape hopes will cut us off from our non-Christian friends?
For letter 24, I’m joined by two guests who have different perspectives on how they related and loved on their non-Christian people when they came to faith. Join me as I chit chat with my best friend, Dusty Hegge AND, making his podcast debut *drum roll please*… my sweet husband, Christopher! It was sooo fun to talk with two of my favourite humans for this episode, and they offer some beautiful insight in to what it means to become a new, excited Christian and still lead with humility and love for those who haven’t quite “gotten it” yet.
We're back, baby!
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 by C.S. Lewis
The Biggest Storybook Bible
The Christina and Dusty Show — in case you want more Dusty and Christina chit chat.
Find Dusty's work here.
Support the show
Become a patron of Magic Like This for £5 a month here.
OR leave a review for us on Apple Podcasts!
Find me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/magiclikethispodcast
Read my essays and join my Celtic Prayer Writing Workshops at The Battle Cry:
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
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
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.
Wanting personal support to develop your writing practice?Book a Writer’s Audit, 1:1 writing mentorship calls with Christina.
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
Click here to find me on Fable


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

“That’s not my Jesus.” It’s a sentiment we see all the time on social media — maybe we’ve even used it ourselves — when people cherry pick parts of Scripture to create a version of Christ that suits their world view. Uncomfortably prophetic to this cultural moment, Screwtape’s 23rd Letter shows us that this phenomenon is not new. It was happening in Lewis’ day through what he defines as the “historical point of view.” In other words, a “historical” version of Jesus which people of all faiths and none have used as a prop for their own agendas.
Do we still look at Jesus through the “historical point of view” today? Or has our culture in the West moulded Jesus into a different kind of mascot? And most importantly, how is Screwtape using this “mascot Jesus” to destroy a life of devotion to the actual Jesus? I’m joined by Dr. Gregory Lippiatt, Senior Lecturer in Medieval History at the University of Exeter (who also has a fascinating personal connection to Lewis) to pick apart what Screwtape can teach us about our own Christian devotion today.
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 by C.S. Lewis
Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis
First and Second Things, essay by C.S. Lewis
The Unintended Reformation by Brad Gregory
The Myth of Religious Violence by William T Cavanaugh
Tolkien's Letter 306 by J.R.R. Tolkien
Support the show
Become a patron of Magic Like This for £5 a month here.
OR leave a review for us on Apple Podcasts!
Find me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/magiclikethispodcast
Read my essays and join my Celtic Prayer Writing Workshops at The Battle Cry:
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
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
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.
Wanting personal support to develop your writing practice?Book a Writer’s Audit, 1:1 writing mentorship calls with Christina.
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
Click here to find me on Fable



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