Podcasts

The editors discuss the PBS Frontline documentary, “Syria Undercover”; George Packer’s analysis of inequality in America from Foreign Affairs; and Karen Sue Smith’s essay from the November 21 issue on the life of Leonard Woolf.

Michael F. Suarez, S.J., describes his role as director of Rare Book School, and discusses the moment of crisis and opportunity facing the book industry. Father Suarez is also a poet, who won the Foley Poetry Prize in 2008 for his poem “Going.”

Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York recently spoke with James Martin, S.J., about his new book Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor, and Laughter Are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life during the the archbishop’s weekly radio program on The Catholic Channel. Audio courtesy Sirius Satellite Radio.

Daniel Hendrickson, S.J., reports on Contemplative Leaders in Action, an initiative of the Jesuit Collaborative. CLIA “is designed to nurture faith-centered leaders so they can impact society and culture.” The program comprises retreats, lecture, study, and service work, and brings together young people from a variety of professions. Fr. Hendrickson is chaplain to the CLIA […]

John W. O’Malley, S.J., the esteemed Georgetown University historian, compares the role of theologians at the Council of Trent to the Second Vatican Council. At Trent, the theologians were not pre-selected by the pope, and represented a wide array of theological opinion. Theologians gave extended lectures to the assembled bishops, who then made decisions based […]

The editors discuss the coming Mass translations and whether or not Catholic are allowed to criticize them; the outpouring of grief following Steve Jobs’ death and what it says about the spiritual needs of our society; and the surprising religious language used to describe the Occupy Wall Street protests. Read Fr. Jim Martin’s blog post […]

Dr. Christine Firer Hinze is a professor of Christian ethics and the director of the Francis and Ann Curran Center for American Catholic Studies at Fordham University. She was one of the organizers of a recent conference called “Learning to Listen: Voices of Sexual Diversity and the Catholic Church.” The conference was the first of […]

James Martin, S.J., explains why joy and laughter are essential to the spiritual life and why they have been too often neglected in the church. Discussing his new book, Between Heaven and Mirth, Fr. Martin retells some humorous stories from the Bible, and remembers the lives of light-hearted saints like Philip Neri. He also shares […]

In this week’s podcast Associate Editor Kerry Weber interviews Mary Karr, a poet and author of three memoirs. The most recent of these is the bestselling Lit, which describes her struggle with alcoholism and her eventual conversion to Catholicism. Kerry Weber spoke with Karr from the author’s apartment in Manhattan. Read Timothy W. O’Brien’s essay […]

Associate Editors Raymond A. Schroth, S.J., and Kerry Weber join Tim Reidy for a conversation about Manning Marable’s new biography of Malcolm X. Read Fr. Schroth’s review of Marable’s book in the September 26 issue. Also discussed: the controversial memorial for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—why does he look so serious?—and David Brooks’ recent column […]