AMDG: A Jesuit Podcast

Here’s a fun lawyer joke: Why does New Jersey have so many toxic waste dumps and Washington, DC have so many lawyers? Because New Jersey got the first pick. The stereotype about dishonest, soulless, ambulance-chasing lawyers who put their own wallets ahead of the needs of their clients might have some basis in reality. But the legal profession can be a great way to promote justice and work for the common good. This episode’s guest is one of these sorts of lawyers who has dedicated his whole career to making the world a more just place. Kevin Walsh is the former acting state comptroller for the state of New Jersey. In that role, to which he was appointed by Governor Phil Murphy, Kevin’s job was to lead a team that investigated fraud and abuse within government systems and government-funded programs. Before that job, Kevin led a public interest nonprofit that fought for the construction of more affordable housing in the state. And while doing that job, he was one of the lawyers who spearheaded the successful movement to get rid of the death penalty in New Jersey. Kevin’s Jesuit connection is that he is a proud alumnus of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. After his first year of law school, he took a year off to serve with JVC in Richmond, Virginia, where he worked as a volunteer with legal aid. His experience that year set him on his path of using a legal career for public service, work he’s now been at for more than a quarter century. Host Mike Jordan Laskey first met Kevin when Mike worked for the Diocese of Camden in southern New Jersey, where Kevin served on the board of the local Catholic Charities agency and on a bunch of other committees. And as Kevin just finished his term working as a state government watchdog, Mike wanted to ask him about the experience and if fraud and corruption in government are as bad as they sometimes seem. Mike also asked him to reflect on the other good fights he’s been part of as an attorney. Kevin’s doggedness and total commitment to using the law for the public interest are hugely inspiring, and we think you’ll notice his passion and energy come through clearly throughout the interview. More about Kevin Walsh: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/10/12/kevin-walsh-new-jersey-political-class-00181187 AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/ Programming note: Two Jesuits Talking will now appear on its own dedicated feed: https://open.spotify.com/show/4pynrnM6MPZBWANbpkOyfa

A conversation that begins with Girl Scout Cookies and sweet cereal slowly finds its way to something deeper: what home really means. Father Damian and Father Eric reflect on hometowns, family houses, Jesuit communities and the places that shaped them,, while wondering how those places still live in them. Somewhere between nostalgia, laughter and prayer, this episode asks a tender question: Where is the place, or who is the presence, that lets you breathe differently and be fully at rest? About the show: Two Jesuits Talking is a Catholic podcast hosted by Fr. Eric Immel, SJ, and Fr. Damian Torres-Botello, SJ. Through candid, unscripted conversations, they explore Ignatian spirituality, Catholic life, ministry, culture, prayer and the everyday questions that shape modern faith. This isn’t a lecture. It’s not a debate show. It’s two Jesuit priests talking honestly about what it means to follow Jesus today, with humor, depth and real friendship. Whether you're a practicing Catholic, spiritually curious, returning to the Church, or just interested in authentic conversations about faith, you're welcome here. During Lent, Two Jesuits Talking episodes will appear here on the AMDG feed every Saturday. After Easter, we'll move the show onto its own dedicated feed. You can also watch episodes of the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/societyofjesus Two Jesuits Talking is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Learn more: jesuitmedialab.org/

This is the second episode in our little two-part miniseries featuring Catholic scientists. Be sure to check out last week’s conversation with Deacon Matthew Pinson, SJ, who has a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from MIT. Today’s guest is Dr. Michelle Francl, a professor of chemistry at Bryn Mawr College outside Philadelphia. In addition to being one of the 1000 most-cited chemists in academic literature, Michelle writes about both science and faith for a broad audience. She also serves as an adjunct scholar at the Vatican Observatory, where she has worked with Jesuit astronomers like Brother Guy Consolmagno. (She actually worked with Br. Guy on an audio book series highlighting various Catholic scientists through the ages: https://www.audible.com/pd/Great-Catholic-Scientists-Discoveries-and-Lives-of-Faith-Audiobook/1632517213?srsltid=AfmBOopuQZ9bq8EJ-PDGWMewb2E1OwaNfACWNbBphFE5blNnOUuWp7up) Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Michelle about how faith and science go together for her and how she responds to popular arguments about how faith and science are totally incompatible. Mike also asked her about wonder and awe in science, and they talked a bit about the book she wrote on the chemistry of brewing tea. You’ll learn once and for all on this episode if those fancy pyramid-shaped tea bags are worth it. We’re sure you’ll love Michelle’s perspective and depth of insight. Dr. Michelle Francl: https://www.brynmawr.edu/inside/people/michelle-francl Michelle's spirituality writing: https://www.michellefrancldonnay.com/ "Steeped: The Chemistry of Tea": https://www.amazon.com/Steeped-Chemistry-Tea-Michelle-Francl/dp/183916591X

Lent has a way of bringing the word "sacrifice" to the surface, and we’re not just talking about giving up chocolate. Father Damian and Father Eric share stories about family, adoption, commitment and the quiet ways love asks something of us over time. From the Eucharist to everyday relationships, this conversation leans into a simple truth: Real love always costs something, and that’s precisely what makes it sacred. About the show: Two Jesuits Talking is a Catholic podcast hosted by Fr. Eric Immel, SJ, and Fr. Damian Torres-Botello, SJ. Through candid, unscripted conversations, they explore Ignatian spirituality, Catholic life, ministry, culture, prayer and the everyday questions that shape modern faith. This isn’t a lecture. It’s not a debate show. It’s two Jesuit priests talking honestly about what it means to follow Jesus today, with humor, depth and real friendship. Whether you're a practicing Catholic, spiritually curious, returning to the Church, or just interested in authentic conversations about faith, you're welcome here. During Lent, Two Jesuits Talking episodes will appear here on the AMDG feed every Saturday. After Easter, we'll move the show onto its own dedicated feed. You can also watch episodes of the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/societyofjesus Two Jesuits Talking is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Learn more: jesuitmedialab.org/

With this episode, we’re starting a two-week miniseries featuring Catholic scientists. Today, our guest is with Deacon Matthew Pinson, SJ. Matthew is studying theology at Boston College as part of his Jesuit formation, but it’s the not the first time he has gone to school in the greater Boston area. Matthew has a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from MIT, which he earned before entering the Society of Jesus. Originally from Australia and a member of the Australian province of the Jesuits, host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Matthew to share a bit about his life journey and how faith and science live in harmony for him. And be sure to tune in next week for Mike’s conversation with a Catholic chemist who told him something about water he’ll be telling everyone in his life over the next month. More about Matthew Pinson: https://melbournecatholic.org/news/star-struck-matthew-pinson-sj-on-how-science-and-wonder-can-deepen-our-faith AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Gymnastics. Theater. Sacraments. Muscle memory. Fathers Eric and Damian talk about the body, not as something separate from faith, but as the place where faith actually happens. Movement, gesture, breath, touch: Our bodies preach, pray and remember. Grace isn’t abstract. It’s embodied. About the show: Two Jesuits Talking is a Catholic podcast hosted by Fr. Eric Immel, SJ, and Fr. Damian Torres-Botello, SJ. Through candid, unscripted conversations, they explore Ignatian spirituality, Catholic life, ministry, culture, prayer and the everyday questions that shape modern faith. This isn’t a lecture. It’s not a debate show. It’s two Jesuit priests talking honestly about what it means to follow Jesus today, with humor, depth and real friendship. Whether you're a practicing Catholic, spiritually curious, returning to the Church, or just interested in authentic conversations about faith, you're welcome here. During Lent, Two Jesuits Talking episodes will appear here on the AMDG feed every Saturday. After Easter, we'll move the show onto its own dedicated feed. You can also watch episodes of the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/societyofjesus Two Jesuits Talking is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Learn more: jesuitmedialab.org/

There is a new book out from Ave Maria Press. It’s called “A Book of Everyday Blessings”—and today’s host, Eric Clayton, was eager to get his hands on it. He knew this would be one of those books to reach for time and again to begin a meeting, to ground a retreat, to start moments of personal prayer. It’s just full of beautiful, nuanced and poignant blessings for every moment of life. Eric was so excited about it that he wanted to learn more about the author, Christine Valters Paintner. In his research, he discovered that she is the online abbess for the Abbey of the Arts. He poked around the website, abbeyofthearts.com, and found in so many ways the workings of a kindred spirit. Here was someone—a whole community of someones—who cared deeply about the intersection of creativity and spirituality. But where we at the Jesuit Media Lab approach these questions through the lens of the Ignatian tradition, the Abbey of the Arts and its abbess, Christine Paintner, approach these questions and the journey they beget through the monastic tradition. Eric knew he had to talk to her. And in reaching out, he came to learn that—not only is she Jesuit educated, with degrees from Fordham and Santa Clara, among many other credentials—but she has written a library worth of books including, “The Artist’s Rule: Nurturing Your Creative Soul with Monastic Wisdom.” They had a really delightful conversation. For those of you who—like all of us at the Jesuit Media Lab—live at this intersection of creativity and spirituality, we believe you’ll find the integration of another spiritual tradition helpful. Abbey of the Arts: https://abbeyofthearts.com/ A Book of Everyday Blessings: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/a-book-of-everyday-blessings The Artist’s Rule: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/The-Artists-Rule

Friendship is not accidental in Jesuit life; it’s foundational. Fr. Eric and Fr. Damian reflect on trust, vulnerability and the risk of being known, and how real friendship shapes ministry and discipleship. Grounded in Jesus’ own invitation to friendship, this conversation explores how human relationships can quietly mirror divine love. About the show: Two Jesuits Talking is a Catholic podcast hosted by Fr. Eric Immel, SJ, and Fr. Damian Torres-Botello, SJ. Through candid, unscripted conversations, they explore Ignatian spirituality, Catholic life, ministry, culture, prayer and the everyday questions that shape modern faith. This isn’t a lecture. It’s not a debate show. It’s two Jesuit priests talking honestly about what it means to follow Jesus today, with humor, depth and real friendship. Whether you're a practicing Catholic, spiritually curious, returning to the Church, or just interested in authentic conversations about faith, you're welcome here. During Lent, Two Jesuits Talking episodes will appear here on the AMDG feed every Saturday. After Easter, we'll move the show onto its own dedicated feed. You can also watch episodes of the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/societyofjesus Two Jesuits Talking is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Learn more: jesuitmedialab.org/

With more than 120 Jesuit high schools and universities in the US and Canada, it’s no surprise education is what the Society of Jesus is best known for in our part of the world. And listeners to AMDG might be familiar with newer educational initiatives that have Jesuit roots, like the Cristo Rey Network of high schools or MiguelNativity presecondary schools or the relatively new handful of two-year colleges growing out of Jesuit universities. These last three initiatives were designed to serve students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. If you head to Central and South America, you’ll find yet another innovative Jesuit-rooted approach to education that has been growing and transforming lives for more than 70 years: Fe y Alegría, which is Spanish for Faith and Joy, is an international education movement that was founded in Caracas, Venezuela in 1955 by a Jesuit named Fr. José María Vélaz. Today, the network is working in more than 20 countries in Latin America, Africa and Europe, and its mission is to provide quality education to people living in poverty and on the margins. Fe y Alegría serves well over a million students through schools, vocational training programs, and community education initiatives, all rooted in a commitment to human dignity. Fr. Marco Gómez, SJ, is the national director of Fe y Alegria in Panama. He joined host Mike Jordan Laskey for an interview during a recent speaking tour of the United States. Fr. Marco talked about his background and the important work Fe y Alegría is doing in Panama, where it is serving young people who are facing extremely difficult living situations. As American foreign and domestic policy decisions can have an impact on the lives of our neighbors here in this hemisphere, especially those who are already struggling with poverty and violence, we hope you’ll find it both enlightening and challenging to hear Fr. Marco’s perspective from his vantage point in Central America. And we hope you’ll learn that Fe y Alegría movement is doing work all Jesuits and Catholics should be proud of, no matter where you live in the world. Fe y Alegría: https://www.feyalegria.org/en/home-fya-international/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Every life has a soundtrack. Fathers Eric and Damian swap stories about the music that formed them, the songs that carried faith, doubt, longing and joy. Along the way, they wrestle with sacred versus secular, passive listening versus real attention, and why music so often becomes prayer before we even realize it. About the show: Two Jesuits Talking is a Catholic podcast hosted by Fr. Eric Immel, SJ, and Fr. Damian Torres-Botello, SJ. Through candid, unscripted conversations, they explore Ignatian spirituality, Catholic life, ministry, culture, prayer and the everyday questions that shape modern faith. This isn’t a lecture. It’s not a debate show. It’s two Jesuit priests talking honestly about what it means to follow Jesus today, with humor, depth and real friendship. Whether you're a practicing Catholic, spiritually curious, returning to the Church, or just interested in authentic conversations about faith, you're welcome here. During Lent, Two Jesuits Talking episodes will appear here on the AMDG feed every Saturday. After Easter, we'll move the show onto its own dedicated feed. You can also watch episodes of the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/societyofjesus Two Jesuits Talking is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Learn more: https://jesuitmedialab.org/

There’s a stereotype out there that Catholics don’t know much if anything about the Bible. If you have a question about a specific book or verse from Scripture, better to ask a Protestant. Why is this a stereotype? And is it a fair one? Or do those of us who are Catholics perhaps know more about the Bible than we think we do? These are some of the questions at the heart of Michael Peppard’s book “How Catholics Encounter the Bible,” which was published in 2024 by Oxford University Press. Michael is a professor of theology at Fordham University, and this book is a true joy to read – host Mike Jordan Laskey learned something on almost every page. It’s scholarly but also incredibly readable for non-experts. In this wide-ranging conversation, Michael and Mike talked about the lectionary, early Christian sculpture, Bruce Springsteen and so much more. To go along with the episode, we’re running an excerpt of the book about the Biblical imagination found in the rosary and in St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises up at Jesuits.org. So after you listen, head to https://www.jesuits.org/stories/what-the-rosary-and-st-ignatius-spiritual-exercises-have-in-common/ to read the excerpt. Dr. Michael Peppard: https://www.profpeppard.com/ “How Catholics Encounter the Bible”: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/how-catholics-encounter-the-bible-9780190948696?cc=us&lang=en&# AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Two Jesuits. Real life. Real faith. Today's episode: Nighttime! There’s something about nighttime that loosens the soul. In the quiet, defenses drop, memories surface and prayer shifts. Fr. Eric and Fr. Damian talk honestly about being night owls, about what darkness reveals, and about how surrender often happens when everything else goes still. The night isn’t empty, it’s inhabited. About the show: Two Jesuits Talking is a Catholic podcast hosted by Fr. Eric Immel, SJ, and Fr. Damian Torres-Botello, SJ. Through candid, unscripted conversations, they explore Ignatian spirituality, Catholic life, ministry, culture, prayer and the everyday questions that shape modern faith. This isn’t a lecture. It’s not a debate show. It’s two Jesuit priests talking honestly about what it means to follow Jesus today, with humor, depth and real friendship. Whether you're a practicing Catholic, spiritually curious, returning to the Church, or just interested in authentic conversations about faith, you're welcome here. During Lent, Two Jesuits Talking episodes will appear here on the AMDG feed every Saturday. After Easter, we'll move the show onto its own dedicated feed. You can also watch episodes of the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/societyofjesus

In the life of a Catholic, there are set times when we pray for and with the Pope. At Mass, during the prayers of the faithful, for example. There’s that one bead on the rosary where we say an Our Father for the pope’s intentions. There are feast days when we are called to hold the pope in prayer in a special way. But often, these calls to prayer can feel rote, distant, hasty. What if there’s another way to pray with the pope? What if you could know exactly what the pope’s prayer intention was for any given month? What if this invitation to prayer was one of depth, intimacy and an ongoing encounter with Christ? You may be familiar with the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network. You may even know it by an older name: the Apostleship of Prayer. Under Pope Francis, this Jesuit apostolate took on a renewed mission, becoming a Pontifical Work — still entrusted to the Society of Jesus — and shared ever more widely through digital media and the pope videos. Now, under Pope Leo, the work continues. As you’ll hear from today’s guest, Fr. Cristóbal Fones, a Chilean Jesuit who now serves as the international director, Pope Leo is excited and eager to get the word out about this unique network of prayer. This isn’t just about reciting Our Fathers and Hail Marys — though that’s important. This is about uniting our hearts to the suffering Christ so present in our world. This is about practicing a spirituality that is concerned for those who are suffering by lifting up and naming specific instances of need around the world. Fr. Cristóbal was a great guest; we had a really engaging conversation not only about the Pope’s Worldwide Network, but about the nature of prayer and the hopes of this American pope. Learn more about the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network by visiting the global site: popesprayer.va. And the North American site: popesprayerusa.net.

Here’s an exciting announcement: We here at the Jesuit Media Lab have a brand-new podcast we’re producing. It’s called Two Jesuits Talking. (As you can tell, we are not trying to be subtle with the show title.) The two Jesuits in question are Father Damian Torres-Botello and Father Eric Immel, both priests from the USA Midwest province who are also close friends. We’re working with Damian and Eric to make a conversation-based show about spirituality and faith that doesn’t take itself too seriously. We’re aiming for deep and funny, human and surprising, warm and accessible. And we’re also hoping that two Jesuit friends sharing stories and reflections with each other in this sort of laid-back forum will be a way to pull back the curtain on Jesuit life a little bit, helping all of us who aren’t Jesuits learn more about their life of faith and service. Each Saturday in Lent, we’ll bring you a new episode of Two Jesuits Talking right here on the AMDG feed. Today, we have the first-ever episode for you. Our regular AMDG episodes will continue to drop on Wednesdays. Also, if you want to watch Fathers Damian and Eric instead of just listening to them, Two Jesuits Talking is a video podcast, and you can find it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXxQTtosZfI&t=1s After Easter, our plan is to move Two Jesuits Talking over onto its own audio feed, but you don’t have to worry about that for now. We’ll let you know when that happens and where to find it. In the meantime, during Lent, enjoy getting to know Fr. Eric and Fr. Damian a little bit, and I think you’ll find out quickly why they’re two of our favorite Jesuits around. AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/