- 10 – Alone
On the last episode of this podcast, Anna, Mark, Dan, and Meg talk about the song Alone. This song is the saddest on the album and very personal to Anna. They talk about growing up and the loneliness that comes in adulthood and raising kids in an individualistic culture.
They also discuss the importance of asking God the real questions and sitting in the silence if he doesn't answer. It was important to Anna to write a sad song without putting a spiritual bandaid on it.
They talk about the album as a whole. Each person shares their favorite song from the album and a favorite memory while recording it. Thank you to all of those of you who listened. That's a wrap!
Listen to the song HERE
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44m - Jul 11, 2023 - 09 – Rocky Ground
In this episode, Anna, Mark, Dan, and Meg talk about the song Rocky Ground. They discuss faith and doubt--how grief shakes up your worldview. What is faith? Do you have to have a certain amount of it to be counted as faith? What did Jesus mean about having faith of a mustard seed? How can we walk into these questions rather than avoiding them if they feel taboo within Christianity?
They also talk about how they recorded this song and how it was Dan's favorite.
Listen to the song HERE
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30m - Jul 11, 2023 - 08 – Ache
This episode contains the heavier topics of suffering and pain.
Jan Quick (Anna's mom) joins the group for this episode. They talk in depth about sadness and grief. How our culture doesn't know how to feel grief, how technology provides a perpetual distraction from facing and working through pain, and how the loss of rituals in the protestant church has brought us further away from the cost of sin.
They also discuss how the church ought to be the safest place for someone to bring their wounds to the surface, but how we often don't know how to deal with other people's deep pain. Because we're uncomfortable, we don't walk alongside the hurting as we should. This is not the story of the Bible, but often the story inside church.
Listen to the song HERE
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40m - Jul 5, 2023 - 07 – Nothing New
In the 7th episode of the Certain podcast, Megan Folgado joins Anna, Mark, and Daniel to talk about the song Nothing New. Megan is Daniel's wife and also a licensed therapist.
They discuss Ecclesiastes 1:9 and why it was an inspiration for Anna to write this song. Is this verse hopeless, hopeful, or a mix of both? They talk about the circular nature of Ecclesiastes and how they interpret that in our current modern world.
Listen to the song HERE
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18m - Jul 5, 2023 - 06 – Revival
In this episode, Dan, Mark, and Anna discuss Christian church culture. What it's like growing up in the church and how people often feel pressure to be different than they are. They talk about their personal experiences with God and with the church. They also discuss the concept of waiting in the Bible and how God is often slow to speak. The slowness and patience of God in the Bible does not always match the expectations for God to reveal Himself today.
Listen to the song HERE
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37m - Jun 20, 2023 - 05 – Do I Not Believe Enough?
In the 5th episode of the Certain podcast, Daniel, Mark, and Anna discuss the song snippet "Do I Not Believe Enough?" They talk about recording the choral vocals for the album and how they shaped future album decisions. They also discuss Anna's insecurities about wanting to make "cool music" and the freedom that came from making music that she likes regardless of whether or not it was "cool."
Listen to the song HERE
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18m - Jun 20, 2023 - 04 – I Believe
In this episode, Mark, Daniel, and Anna discuss the 4th song from the album Certain: I Believe. This song is a weightier song and it lends itself to heavier discussion. Anna talks about the story behind the song and how grief brought about questions about faith for her. The improvisational aspects of the music are purposeful to the lyrics. They also discuss the honesty of lyrics, the tension between asking questions and having faith, and the necessity for the church being the safest place to ask your questions.
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38m - Jun 13, 2023 - 03 – Change
Rachael Teixeira joins Anna, Mark, and Daniel for this episode. She's featured on the song Change, but also added many background vocals on other songs from the album. The four talk about how they recorded the song, whether the 3 verses are connected or not, and how Rachael wrote out all her vocal parts using a melodica. Rachael gives her take on the song and the album as a whole.
Listen to Rachael Teixeira here
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32m - Jun 13, 2023 - 02 – I Am Certain (That I'm Glad I Chose You)
In this episode, Mark, Daniel, and Anna talk about the 2nd track from the album Certain: I Am Certain (That I'm Glad I Chose You). Anna wrote this song for Mark for their 10 year anniversary. They discuss the ups and downs of marriage, the distinctiveness of the song compared to others on the album, and the difficulties in getting it right.
Watch the music video here
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- Bandcamp
24m - Jun 5, 2023 - 01 – Blessed
In this episode, Mark Palfreeman, Daniel Folgado, and Anna Palfreeman introduce the album Certain and talk about the first song, Blessed. They discuss the goals of making the album, how it was recorded, and what the experience was like. Anna goes deeper into the story behind the song Blessed, which sparks a conversation about feeling emotions, the fear of vulnerability, and what the Bible has to say it all.
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35m - Jun 5, 2023
