Episode #136
Andrew Peterson: Where Can Our Curiosity Lead Us?
Description: Nine years and about 150 episodes after Andrew Peterson was one of Andrew Osenga's very first guests, the two catch up on everything in between — starting with what it's like to watch a story you wrote in your own head become a TV show and then a graphic novel in other people's hands. He talks about a fan comment that pushed him to publicly clarify he hadn't quietly stepped away from touring, and tells the story of spending three years teaching himself a mandolin piece by ear — only to discover the person who wrote it was twelve years old at the time. From there, the conversation winds through an 80-mile walk in England that ends by crossing tidal sand to Holy Island, ten minutes spent staring at a maple tree, and a private sketchbook he has no intention of ever selling — all circling one idea: that curiosity, not mastery, might be the whole point. Thought-Provoking Quotes: "As a songwriter, if you hear somebody cover your song, for the most part you're thrilled that anybody would care enough to like your song enough to put their own spin on it. But it's also really fun to see somebody else's expression of something that you made." - Andrew Peterson "Somewhere between the four Gospels is the real Jesus — each Gospel writer is seeing different aspects of him. So somewhere in the middle of all of this is the man himself." - Andrew Peterson "I need to be okay with not being great at mandolin. I'm gonna move on to the next thing." - Andrew Peterson "Curiosity, I think, leads to delight. It doesn't lead to mastery — it leads to delight. And delight is a very biblical idea." - Andrew Peterson "This is my reason to be outside for an hour and to be still and to look at a tree, without asking anything of it. I'm not trying to write a lyric. I'm not trying to come up with some brilliant idea. I'm just admiring and enjoying this thing that God made." - Andrew Peterson "It's great if a lot of people buy your book or listen to your music, but — the Lord first, and after Him — if you're writing for a certain person or group of people, then you've done your work: you've loved your neighbor well and loved your Lord." - Andrew Peterson Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned : Theo of Golden by Allen Levi The Terrible Speed of Mercy: A Spiritual Biography of Flannery O'Connor by Jonathan Rogers On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness: The Graphic Novel: The Wingfeather Saga, Book 1 adapted by Matt Mikalatos Behold the Lamb of God — Andrew Peterson's annual Christmas album and tour The Wingfeather Saga animated series adapted from Andrew Peterson's book series, made with Chris Wall What Went Wrong — a podcast about how difficult it is to make a movie, "let alone a good one, let alone a classic" *Watch this interview on Andrew’s YouTube channel ! *All episode music is by Andrew Osenga. Guest’s Links: Official Website Facebook Instagram YouTube X Connect with Andrew: Website YouTube Substack Spotify Facebook Instagram How to Remember by Andrew Osenga Hold the Light by Andrew Osenga *The Pivot is produced in conjunction with Four Eyes Media .
