Podcasts
2013
James Martin, S.J., discusses his new e-book, Together on Retreat: Meeting Jesus in Prayer. Father Martin is a contributing editor at America and author of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything and Between Heaven and Mirth. You can find him on Twitter @jamesmartinsj or www.facebook.com/frjamesmartin.
Naomi Schaefer Riley is a former editor for the Wall Street Journal and a writer whose work focuses on higher education, religion, philanthropy and culture. She is the author, most recently, of the book 'Til Faith Do Us Part: How Interfaith Marriage is Transforming America.
Michael Kennedy, S.J., talks about the Jesuit Restorative Justice Initiative and his work with youth in the California prison system. Father Kennedy is the author of Eyes on Jesus and Eyes on the Cross, among other books. He spoke to Associate Editor Luke Hansen, S.J., at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. After the interview, several juvenile inmates who Father Kennedy works with in Los Angeles wrote powerful letters to Pope Francis, thanking him for washing the feet of juvenile prisoners in Rome on Holy Thursday.
Bishop Nicolas Djomo of Democratic Republic of the Congo explains why 15 years of unrest have left his fellow citizens exhausted and asking for assistance from the international community. Interview by Associate Editor Kevin Clarke.
Peter Eisner talks with Kevin Spinale, S.J., about his book The Pope's Last Crusade: How an American Jesuit Helped Pope Pius XI's Campaign to Stop Hitler. Mr. Eisner's book tells the story of America editor John LaFarge, S.J., who was brought to Rome to help Pius XI write an encyclical condemning Nazi ideology. The Pope's Last Crusade is the Catholic Book Club selection for April.
Greg Boyle, S.J., is founder of Homeboy Industries, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. He is also the author of Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion, which made the New York times bestseller list. Homeboy industries serves high-risk, formerly gang-involved men and women with free programs like tattoo removal, legal services, and mental health services. It also operates seven social enterprises that serve as job-training sites, including Homeboy Bakery, Homegirl Café and Homeboy silkscreen and embroidery. We spoke with Fr. Greg at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress in New York after he offered a talk about his work to a large crowd, moving many to tears.
Scott W. Hahn, a professor of theology at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, and author of Consuming the Word (Doubleday, 2013), is the author of this week's cover story in America, "Mass Evangelization: Sharing Faith with the Eucharist." In this week's Podcast, he speaks with Luke Hansen, S.J., and describes the role of friendship in the work of evangelization.
Speaking with Luke Hansen, S.J., from the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, Maureen Sullivan, O.P., discusses the achievements of the Second Vatican Council, whether the church needs a Vatican III and what her students think of the council.
Kathleen Norris is a poet and author of several books including The Cloister Walk and Acedia and Me. She recently spoke at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress on the spirituality of our everyday lives.
Raymond A. Schroth, S.J., discusses his article "America at War," which traces the magazine's support for the Vietnam War until an editorial reversal in 1971. Father Schroth served as a young editor at America during some of this time. You can read through a collection of editorials from the period here.
David Nasaw, author of The Patriarch: The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy, talks to Kevin Spinale, S.J., about the life of one of the wealthiest and most influential men of the 20th century. Nasaw's book is the Catholic Book Club selection for March. Read Kevin's introduction to the book here. Kevin will be answering questions about the book online on Friday March 22.
Matt Carnes, S.J., of Georgetown University talks about the future of Latin America and U.S. relations with Venezuela after the death of Hugo Chavez.
James Hanvey, S.J., talks about the church's "ecclesial desolation" and what it can do to regain its Easter eyes and rediscover the Spirit of the Second Vatican Council. Father Hanvey's article "Quo Vadis?" appears in the March 18 issue of America.
Mark Burnett and Roma Downey discuss their new History Channel miniseries, "The Bible."
Thomas J. Reese, S.J., the former editor in chief of America, answers common questions about the upcoming papal transition. John W. O'Malley, S.J., reviews the history of Celestine V and Gregory VI, two popes who resigned.
Luke Hansen, S.J., talks about America's controversial editorial "Repeal the Second Amendment."
Is "Zero Dark Thirty" immoral? Does "Beasts of the Southern Wild" make sense? Can Russell Crowe sing? And most of all, which Philadelphia Catholic knows more about "Silver Linings Playbook"? All this in our annual Oscar podcast featuring Bill McGarvey, James Martin, S.J., and Tim Reidy.
Chris Haw talks about his new book From Willow Creek to Sacred Heart: Rekindling My Love for Catholicism. Haw is a carpenter, painter, theologian and potter. He, his son Simon and his wife, Cassie, are members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Camden Houses, a small Christian community in Camden, New Jersey. Here he talks about his return to the Catholic Church and his involvement with the "new monastic" movement.
The Rev. J. Bryan Hehir talks about the legacy of John Courtney Murray, S.J. What would have Murray said about today's battles over abortion, or the controversy surrounding the mandate that requires Catholic institutions to pay for contraception for their employees? Father Hehir is the Parker Gilbert Montgomery Professor of the Practice of Religion and Public Life at Harvard University and the Secretary for Social Services for the Archdiocese of Boston.
Kevin Clarke reports on his visit to Haiti shortly before the third anniversary of the earthquake that devastated the country. You can read Kevin's reporting from Haiti here, including the story of the deaf boy discussed on the podcast, pictured left.
