
Francis Effect podcast
Politics and current events, seen through the lens of Catholic teaching and spirituality
Sandburg Media
Show overview
Francis Effect podcast has been publishing since 2017, and across the 9 years since has built a catalogue of 151 episodes, alongside 7 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 180 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a monthly cadence, with the show now in its 26th season.
Episodes typically run an hour to ninety minutes — most land between 1h 6m and 1h 18m — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. It is catalogued as a EN-language Religion & Spirituality show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 4 weeks ago, with 8 episodes already out so far this year. Published by Sandburg Media.
From the publisher
Two theologians walk into a bar... No, seriously: This podcast is about the real world of politics and current events, seen through the lens of Catholic teaching and spirituality. Your hosts, Fr. Dan Horan and David Dault, bring you a mix of perspectives, from Abbey Road to Metaphysical Graffiti. Dan is a Franciscan friar and Catholic priest. David is a radio producer and Catholic convert. They both have doctorates in theology. It is the best possible kind of nerdy.
Latest Episodes
View all 151 episodes#2608 - President Trump's clashes with Pope Leo, Earth Day and ecospirituality, and an interview with Natalia Imperatori-Lee

#2607 - Pope Leo's first Holy Week, Supreme Court conversion therapy decision, and an interview with Aaron Robertson
Heidi, Daniel, and David discuss Pope Leo's strong anti-war stance during his first Holy Week, and they explore the role of the USCCB in a recent Supreme Court decision about conversion therapy. Then Heidi interviews Aaron Robertson about the history of Black Catholics, with a focus on the history of Detroit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S26 Ep 6#2606 - Cesar Chavez controversy, Pope Leo speaks out against the Middle East war, and an interview with Kate Ward
Heidi, Daniel, and David look at recent horrific revelations about the labor leader, Cesar Chavez, as well as exploring the Pope's pushback against the war with Iran. In our third segment, Heidi interviews Dr. Kate Ward about the meaning of work in Catholic Social Teaching. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S26 Ep 5#2605 - The war in Iran, amicus brief on birthright citizenship, and the Oscars
Heidi, Daniel, and David explore whether or not we are, in fact, at war (we are), and whether or not the US should continue to recognize birthright citizenship (we should). Then, in the third segment, David and Heidi try to figure out how we can find time to watch more movies, because Dan has seen them all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S26 Ep 4#2604 - Rubio in Munich, the Olympics, and an interview with Bishop Brendan Cahill
Heidi, Daniel, and David examine the recent speech by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Munich, and they geek out about their favorite Winter Olympic sports. Then Heidi interviews Bishop Brendan Cahill of the diocese of Victoria, Texas, and Chair-Elect for the USCCB Committee for Migration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S26 Ep 3#2603 - NYC and Denver get new bishops, new revelations from the Epstein files, and an interview with Fr. Isaac Slater
Heidi, Daniel, and David look at the possibilities arising from new episcopal leadership in New York City and Denver. Then they turn their attention to the most recent disclosures from the Epstein files. In our final segment, Heidi interviews Fr. Isaac Slater about the spiritual value of not judging others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S26 Ep 2#2602 - US bishops speaking out against Trump policies, remembering John Allen, Jr, and an interview with Laura Fanucci
Heidi, Daniel, and David remember the life and work of John Allen, Jr., and track the shifting landscape of Catholic leadership around the current immigration situation, and Heidi interviews Minnesota author and activist Laura Fanucci. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S26 Ep 1#2601 - The killing of Renee Good, the invasion of Venezuela, and an interview with Maxwell Kuzma
Heidi, Daniel, and David return for their 18th season, and things are a bit dire. Looking first at horrible events in Minneapolis, and then horrible events abroad, they turn to the Gospels and Catholic social teaching for a glimmer of hope. Things are brightened by Heidi's conversation with Maxwell Kuzma in our third segment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S25 Ep 16#2516 - The Pope's first trip, the continuing saga of women deacons, and a pop-culture roundup
We end our 17th season with a look at the current state of the Catholic Church, as well as with a look at what we've been watching, reading, and listening to lately Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S25 Ep 15#2515 - The USCCB Conference, reopening the government, and an interview with Kat Armas
Heidi, Daniel, and David do a deep dive into the recent Bishops' Conference, and we look at the ongoing fallout from the government shutdown as the country struggles to reopen. Then Heidi interviews Kat Armas about the spirituality of resisting empire during Advent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S25 Ep 14#2514 - The loss of SNAP benefits, LMU labor dispute, and America's attacks on boats in the Caribbean
Heidi, Daniel, and David look at the cascading effects of the government shutdown, as well as the recent attacks by the American military on civilian fishing boats in the Caribbean. Finally, we take a look at the unfolding situation at Loyola Marymount, where their Board of Directors has refused to recognize union negotiations moving forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S25 Ep 13#2513 - Effects of the government shutdown, Pope Leo's first apostolic exhortation, and an interview with Fr. David Inczauskis, SJ
Heidi, Dan, and David look at the ongoing government shutdown from the perspective of Catholic Social Teaching, and the notion that the government should exist to promote the common good. Then they look at Dilexi Te, the Holy Father's first apostolic exhortation to the faithful. Finally, Heidi interviews Fr. David Inczauskis, SJ, who was involved in the recent efforts to bring the Eucharist to imprisoned migrants at an ICE facility near Chicago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S25 Ep 12#2512 - Pope Leo's comments on Senator Dick Durbin, Pete Hegseth's unprecedented meeting with the generals, and an interview with J.D. and Tamara Long-Garcia
Heidi, Daniel, and David look at the recent comments made by Pope Leo in the wake of Cardinal Blase Cupich offering to honor Senator Dick Durbin for a lifetime of service, and then we try to understand exactly what was going on with the recent meeting of generals and other military leaders called by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Finally, Heidi interviews J.D and Tamara Long-Garcia, the parents of a child with autism, to get their response to recent false claims made about the condition by President Trump and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S25 Ep 11#2511 - Pope Leo's long interview, free speech fallout, and Tricia Bruce on synodality
Heidi, Daniel, and David explore what we might learn from the first official interviews with the Holy Father. We then turn to the recent bouts of alleged political violence and the chilling effects on free speech in the public sphere. Then Heidi interviews sociologist Tricia Bruce about the continuing work of synodality in the Church. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S25 Ep 10#2510 - LGBTQIA+ Jubilee pilgrimage, RFK and vaccines, and an interview with Joe Paprocki
Heidi, Daniel, and David look at the unsettling shifts in America's vaccine policies, and the recent pilgrimage to Rome by LGBTQIA+ Catholics. Heidi interviews author and catechist Joe Paprocki. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#2509 - Our summer, Trump's summer, and an interview with Archbishop Wester
Heidi, Daniel, and David catch up on the many projects and changes they've been working on over the summer break. They also recap the many moves of the Trump administration and what they might mean for America and the Church. Heidi interviews Archbishop Wester of Santa Fe about nuclear disarmament. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summer Special - We have a new Pope!
bonusHeidi, Daniel, and David gather for a special episode to look at the first weeks of the papacy of Pope Leo XIV. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S25 Ep 8#2508 - The death, impact, and legacy of Pope Francis
Heidi, Daniel, and David reflect on the papacy of Poe Francis, end talk about the next steps that will be happening in the Vatican following his death this past Monday. Then they look ahead to the future of the Church, and discuss how we each can take up the legacy of Francis into the heart of the 21st century. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S25 Ep 7#2507 - Tariffs, preaching on creation, and an interview with Stephanie Clary about Laudato Si'
Heidi, Daniel, and David look at the negative effects of a fabricated trade war on global commerce, and then they explore how pastors can use their positions to help raise awareness about climate change. Then Heidi interviews Stephanie Clary, of NCR's EarthBeat, about the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si'. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S25 Ep 6#2506 - Illegal deportations, survey of women in ministry, and an interview with Meghan Clark
Heidi, Daniel, and David look at the recent actions of the Trump administration to violate civil rights and judicial oversight, and discuss a recent survey of women in the San Diego Diocese. Then Heidi interviews theologian Meghan J. Clark Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices