Podcasts

Two America staff members, and rabid fans of the ABC TV show “Lost,” look back over the hit show’s four seasons and analyze the various themes that have emerged. On the eve of the premiere of Season 5, Literary Assistant Regina Nigro and Associate Editor Jim McDermott, S.J., consider Jack Shepard’s command to “live together […]

Deacon Greg Kandra talks about his blog, “The Deacon’s Bench,” the state of the Catholic blogosphere and making the move from CBS News to New Evangelization Television, a new cable channel run by the Brooklyn diocese. Powered by Podbean.com

Jeff Johnson, SJ, discusses a documentary he co-wrote and produced on St. Francis Xavier. Narrated by Liam Neeson, “Xavier: Missionary and Saint” traces the saint’s journey from the halls of the University of Paris to his early days as a Jesuit to his misson to India and Japan. Powered by Podbean.com

Editorial director Karen Sue Smith considers the importance of slowing down during the Christmas season.

To celebrate its 100th anniversary, America unveiled a new print design with its January 5-12 issue. Associate editors James Martin, S.J., and Matt Malone, S.J., discuss the new design and how the look of the magazine has changed over the last 15 years. Father Martin also introduces America’s new Books & Culture section, which will […]

Why did Pius XII choose to act as he did during World War II? Could he have spoken more forcefully against the slaughter of the Jews? Has he been misunderstood by his critics? Historian Gerald P. Fogarty, S.J., takes up these questions as he considers the complicated legacy of Eugenio Pacelli. Read Father Fogarty’s article, […]

Australian film critic Richard Leonard, S.J., reflects on the popularity of “The Dark Knight,” “Wall-E” and other fantasy films from 2008. The fantasy genre has been big since the early 1970s, Leonard argues, and our fascination with superheroes and villains has had a notable impact on our views on politics and even faith. Father Leonard […]

Controversial peace activist and Jesuit priest John Dear talks about his new book, A Persistent Peace: One Man’s Struggle for a Nonviolent World, which chronicles his conversion from a “spoiled frat boy” at Duke University to a crusading opponent of war who has been arrested over 70 times. A frequent traveler who has visited war […]

Tim Reidy visits Symphony Space, a concert hall in New York, for a centennial celebration of the music of Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992), a Catholic composer who, in the words of Father John Coleman, sought to use music to “communicate the mysteries of Christ to non-believers.” The artistic director of Symphony Space, and two of the […]