Forged: Timeless Ways of Living
Making Room for Beauty in Everyday Life with David and Phaedra Taylor
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What would change if we treated every part of our lives as worthy of prayer? And how might we learn to notice the beauty of the world when so much of modern life competes for our attention? On this episode of Forged, Brian Williams welcomes David and Phaedra Taylor for a conversation about prayer, art, family, and the habits that shape a meaningful life. They discuss their collaborative book Prayers for the Pilgrimage, the importance of making room for beauty in our homes, and the small decisions that help families resist the pull of digital distraction. Drawing on their experiences as artists, parents, and stewards of twenty-one acres of Texas prairie, the Taylors offer a thoughtful vision for living with greater attention, patience, and purpose. Along the way, David reflects on why artists are essential to human flourishing, while Phaedra shares what painting, motherhood, and restoring the land have taught her about creativity, limitation, and learning to let go of control.
Guest
David and Phaedra Taylor
W. David O. Taylor is Associate Professor of Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary and the author of ten books, including To Set the World Aflame, Naming the Spirit, A Body of Praise, and Prayers for the Pilgrimage. An Anglican priest, he has written essays for a range of publications, including the Christian Scholars Review, Image Journal, The Washington Post, and the T&T Clark Companion to Theology and the Arts. In 2016 he produced a short film on the psalms with Bono and Eugene Peterson. He lives on twenty-one acres of land east of Austin, Texas, with his wife and children. Phaedra Taylor is an artist, illustrator, and high school art teacher, based in Austin, Texas, with her husband, theologian Rev. Dr. W. David O. Taylor, and their two children. She primarily works in encaustic (wax) and watercolor, exploring themes of place, memory, and story. She’s the illustrator of various collections and produced 22 paintings for the book Prayers for the Pilgrimage (2024, IVP). Phaedra loves walking in wild places, a strong pot of tea, and time to putter around in her garden. You can see more of her work at her website or on her instagram page.
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Host
Dr. Brian Williams
Podcast Host and Contributing Writer
Brian A. Williams (DPhil, Oxon) is Dean of the Templeton Honors College, Professor of Ethics and Liberal Studies, and Co-Director of the MA in Classical Teaching at Eastern University in Philadelphia. He is the founding editor of Principia: A Journal of Classical Education, speaks internationally on classical education, and serves on several academic and educational boards, including the Classic Learning Test (CLT). Previously, he taught at Cair Paravel Latin School and the University of Oxford. Dr. Williams earned degrees in theology and Christian ethics from Regent College and the University of Oxford, and his research focuses on education and formation in the Christian Intellectual Tradition. Brian is a runner, art collector, and traveler, having visited over 40 countries, often in search of sites and cities of the ancient world. He is married to Kim, a visual artist and teacher, and has three children: Ilia, Brecon, and Maeve.
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