Seeing how far I can get in 40 days! I appreciate the time and effort put into the production and modernization of an essential classic. Even if I personally digress from the “official digressions”, I still benefit from the discussion.

Great retelling of Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress with thoughtful changes to the original text, preserving and highlighting Bunyan’s original work. The Digress episodes are just as enjoyable as the story itself, yet also useful to better understand the meaning behind the allegory. Those trailers, though, are awful. Don’t bother listening to them.

Engaging

This series is so good! Hoping that season more episodes are coming soon

I grew up listening to pilgrims progress and reading the abridged kid versions. A friend introduced this podcast to me and my family. Now my mother, husband, and I are all working through it. It’s so refreshing to find a Christian podcast and be able to listen to something that’s clean, uplifting, educational, and the discussions have helped me understand the allegory behind the story better. The discussions are very interesting and I love the humor that happens. I am happy to see that more episodes are continuing to be produced so that the story can keep going. I’m very much enjoying listening. I look forward to hearing the rest of pilgrim’s progress 1 and 2 and hopefully will get to hear Holy War later.

6/5 stars Before listening, I wasn’t especially familiar with the pilgrim’s progress, though I’m sure I’ve probably read the kids version and seen in a children’s church play. I am super glad I found this podcast though, both for it’s excellent audio adaptation and the insightful digression episodes. Now that I’m caught up, I keep checking to see if new eps have dropped (wait are these released on a regular schedule?). I’ve been telling people at my church about it too, cuz it’s that good. Zach’s voice acting and narration makes it truly feel like I’m watching a movie in my mind. I guess I should also thank John Bunyan for writing it in the first place. I’d say anyone who’s been a Christian for any number of years will see how accurate this allegory is to daily life. There have honestly been times in my own walk that I’ve thought back on something that was said in this podcast and benefited from it. Can’t wait to hear the rest of the story!

This whole series is like sermon I didn’t know I needed. I absolutely love it. I just started, but i can’t wait to listen to the rest!

I found this podcast maybe a few weeks ago and I have INHALED it - I'm actually very sad to have to wait for new episodes now. 😂 The plot episodes are excellently crafted storytelling - the build-ups to and subsequent reveals of both Faithful's name and Hopeful's burden had me literally involuntarily punching the air, and I've been thinking about the way Zach-as-Faithful said the line "Oh, that's beautiful" at least once a day since I listened to Chapter 14. The digression episodes are so full of wisdom and I adore learning so they're absolutely just as wonderful as the chapter episodes. Also the comedy in the digression episodes cannot be overstated (I was nearly in tears laughing over the throwing-cards-into-people's-backpacks story). This podcast is like a radio drama, a literature class, and a bible study all rolled into one - I love love love it, and I can't wait for more!

Rather than saying “ItS CHristIAn” and cashing in on the guaranteed audience, they put in a lot of effort: music, sound effects, good voice acting, and clever discussions in between story episodes. I don’t care for the cold open (cs Lewis talked about how fairy tales work, starting in a normal situation), but that’s personal preference. You should listen.

The Pilgrim’s Progress has often been recommended to me. When I saw that Zach was doing it in an audio format, I figured it was time to read (or be read to). I absolutely love it. I also love the digress between Zach & and Mr. Sagacity. The discussion about what’s been happening in the story and the allegories to scripture have been great to listen to. The sound effects (especially that of Moses) are great, and the music is on point. Whether you are new to the story, or familiar, this will be a blast. Especially with those younger or new to the faith!

It is a classic tale. It is spoken in understandable English. It adds enough dramatic sounds to enhance the tale but not detract from it. It is good for your soul. Well…get to it now!

I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of Zachary Bartel’s adaption of John Bunyan’s classic allegory. The storytelling is engaging and pulls you right in and his chronological adaptation, along with a deeper focus on lesser known aspects of the book is very exciting to follow. I have enjoyed his “side trip” discussions with his co-host on the pilgrim’s digress and they bring up some thoughtful ideas on the text. Overall, I have been encouraged and built up in my own faith and thoroughly enjoyed this series! Can’t wait for more!

Zach does a great job dramatically retelling the classic tale. You will enjoy the ride and probably pick up details that you missed from Bunyan. The sound effects are a nice effect.

One thing you can be sure of, if Mr. Bartels is doing a podcast, you’re gonna be delighted with it. The quality of the reading, the abridged version of the script, the editing, and the audio effects are impressive, even for the high quality recordings for which Zack has become known. You’d never know this was produced independent of a major studio.

Here’s another in a line of great podcasts from Zach Bartels. The quality and creativity of the production brings new life to a classic story I have loved for years. I’m also looking forward to more of the Digressions episodes.

The reader narrates with clarity and zeal. Great atmospheric background sound without being annoying. A great way to experience this story.

This version of the pilgrims progress is very well read. High quality production and voice acting really bring the story to life. I highly recommend.