The Commonweal Podcast

Last month’s Synod on Synodality in Rome is perhaps one of the most important ecclesial gatherings to take place since the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s. But what exactly happened remains unclear. On this episode, Commonweal editor Dominic Preziosi is joined by two experts on Vatican affairs to help explain and contextualize the synod’s work. Paul Elie is a senior fellow at Georgetown University’s Berkley Center and a regular contributor to Commonweal and the New Yorker, which sent him to Rome for a week to report on the synod. Anna Rowlands, Professor of Catholic Social Thought at Durham University in the United Kingdom, helped draft the synod’s working documents and served as an observer and expert theological advisor in the synod hall. For further reading: Austen Ivereigh’s report from Rome Massimo Faggioli’s analysis of the synod Commonweal’s collection of recent articles on the synod

Today, the political and social philosophy known as liberalism—which champions democracy, individual rights, and free enterprise—is on the defensive. Conservatives often charge it with eroding community, while some progressives view it as a justification for economic exploitation. On this episode, Yale political theorist Samuel Moyn, author of the new book Liberalism against Itself, joins features editor Alex Stern to discuss the debates that surrounded liberalism during the Cold War. Instead of a narrow liberalism that focuses on individual liberties, Moyn argues that a broader, more expansive view of the idea is possible—one that retrieves the original Enlightenment emphasis on egalitarianism and emancipation. For further reading: Samuel Moyn on the theology of liberalism Alex Stern on how not to defend liberalism A symposium on Patrick Deneen’s Why Liberalism Failed

Dead Man Walking, based on the acclaimed memoir by Sr. Helen Prejean, may be the world’s most popular contemporary opera. But it had never before been performed on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City—until now. On this special episode, in anticipation of the Met Opera’s Live-in-HD broadcast in cinemas on October 21, host Dominic Preziosi is joined by bass-baritone Ryan McKinny, who plays the condemned murderer Joseph DeRocher, and Sr. Helen Prejean herself. Together, they discuss the significance of this new production of Dead Man Walking, and why its message of mercy, forgiveness, and redemption continues to resonate with audiences today. For further reading: Commonweal’s review of Dead Man Walking An interview with the composer, Jake Heggie Sr. Helen Prejean remembers her 1950s novitiate

With its frequent earthquakes, mudslides, wildfires, and other maladies, California is no stranger to environmental disaster. But in the long run, even these highly visible effects of climate change pale in comparison to the looming threat of sea-level rise. On this episode, Commonweal’s Claudia Avila Cosnahan, a resident of southern California, speaks with Rosanna Xia, an environmental reporter at the LA Times. Xia’s new book California Against the Sea blends traditional reportage with an unconventional and important perspective on concepts like “managed retreat,” climate resilience, and what it means to listen to and even love the ocean itself. Listen to more Commonweal interviews about climate change: Bill McKibben on suburban carbon emissions Dorothy Fortenberry on adapting climate change for TV Katie Worth on climate change in schools

The fact that nearly 40 million Americans live in poverty is a national embarrassment. But it’s also a choice. If poverty exists, it’s because we “wish and will it to.” That’s the thesis of Princeton sociologist Matthew Desmond, who joins Commonweal editor Dominic Preziosi to discuss Desmond’s recent book Poverty, By America. We don’t need to capitulate to the ultra-wealthy or the corporations hoarding resources, Desmond argues. Instead, we can change the way we shop, work, and vote not just to alleviate poverty, but to eradicate it completely. For further reading: Robin Antepara on working-class women in the Ozarks Max Foley-Keene explains the Nordic welfare model The editors on ending child poverty

The 2016 presidential election brought “fake news” to the center of national debates over media bias, election interference, free speech, and content moderation. But the phenomenon isn’t exactly new. Misleading stories, sensationalism, and outright lies, explains Andie Tucher, have been part of American journalism from the very beginning. A professor at Columbia Journalism School, Tucher is also the author of Not Exactly Lying: Fake News and Fake Journalism in American History. On this episode, Tucher joins Commonweal features editor Alex Stern to discuss how lessons from the history of journalism in America can help reform the profession in the age of the internet, social media, and AI. For further reading: The editors condemn Fox’s factual malice Paul Baumann on the history of Time magazine Paul Moses on the legacy of Fr. Charles Coughlin

John McPhee is widely regarded as America’s most prolific nonfiction author. Over a career spanning seven decades, McPhee has written more than thirty books, elucidating everything from shipping and boatbuilding to geology, engineering, and aviation. On this episode, McPhee joins contributing writer Tony Domestico to discuss his latest book, Tabula Rasa, Vol. I, a series of short vignettes about “desk drawer projects”—pieces that McPhee started, but never finished. McPhee stresses that when it comes to good writing, authorial ego must be put aside. Instead, it’s the work—the writing process and the humble attention to the subject—that matters. For further reading: Dominic Preziosi on whether parking explains the world Morten Høi Jensen on the writing life of Martin Amis The latest from Tony Domestico’s books column

Religious life stands in radical opposition to much of modern culture. But what is it, exactly? On this episode, philosopher Zena Hitz speaks with senior editor Matt Boudway about her new book on religious life—a crucial part of the Catholic Church, and one that remains poorly understood. Religious life is not primarily about what you give up, Hitz explains. Rather, it’s a way of orienting your whole self around a single purpose: loving God, and serving God’s people. For further reading: Zena Hitz on renunciation and happiness Jonathan Malesic visits a desert monastery Regina Munch farms with lay Catholics

The border is a place, but it is also a metaphor: for our complicated personal identities and political allegiances, and for the moral claims made on us by those born on the other side. On this episode, interpreter and activist Alejandra Oliva, author of Rivermouth: A Chronicle of Language, Faith, and Migration, shares insights from her work with asylum seekers along the U.S.-Mexico border. Plus, in anticipation of Commonweal’s upcoming centennial, Nicole-Ann Lobo offers a short reflection on the Christian socialism of the late Dominican priest Herbert McCabe. For further reading: A photo essay featuring asylum seekers in Piedras Negras A dispatch from Casa Alitas in Tucson Herbert McCabe’s essay on priesthood and revolution

Though you’ve probably never heard of him, book editor Eugene Exman (1900–1975) exerted tremendous influence on the shape of American religion in the twentieth century. On this episode, special projects editor Miles Doyle speaks with Stephen Prothero, author of the new Exman biography God the Bestseller: How One Editor Transformed American Religion One Book at a Time. Prothero explains how Exman’s relationships with religious leaders like Dorothy Day, Howard Thurman, and Martin Luther King, Jr. helped shift American religious discourse away from denominational boundaries and toward a more personal, individual experience of God. For further reading: Dorothy Day’s collected writing for Commonweal Gary Dorrien on Martin Luther King’s theological mentors Gordon Marino reviews a biography of William James

What should philosophy do? Despite record numbers of practitioners, today the discipline is in crisis, awash in abstraction and increasingly isolated—even within the academy. But there’s a way out, argues veteran philosopher Philip Kitcher. It starts with attending to the ordinary concerns of human life, then illuminating them with clear, rigorous thought. On this episode, Kitcher speaks with Commonweal features editor Alex Stern about Kitcher’s most recent book, What’s the Use of Philosophy? Plus, in anticipation of Commonweal’s centennial in 2024, we’re featuring a special segment by contributor Kate Lucky on author Marilynne Robinson’s understanding of “true community.” For further reading: A collection of pieces by Gary Gutting Alex Stern on Walter Benjamin and democracy Marilynne Robinson on imagination & community

At first glance, John West’s Lessons and Carols: A Meditation on Recovery is an unconventional memoir about addiction and the healing power of community. But it also addresses the challenges of belief today, when almost everything—the nation, religious institutions, the environment—appears on the verge of collapse. On this episode, West speaks with associate editor Griffin Oleynick about the paradoxes of autobiographical narrative, grief and loss, and the power of art. For further reading: Mollie Wilson O’Reilly on Mary Karr’s Lit Matthew Sitman interviews Marilynne Robinson Terry Eagleton on the philosophy of Wittgenstein

Is single-payer health care really feasible in America? For one Texas physician, the answer is an unqualified ‘yes.’ On this episode, Commonweal associate editor Regina Munch speaks with Ricardo Nuila, an internist at Houston’s Ben Taub hospital and author of the new book The People’s Hospital: Hope and Peril in American Medicine. Then, as Commonweal approaches its centennial in 2024, we’re featuring brief reflections on writers we’ve published since our founding. Here, associate editor Griffin Oleynick reflects on the spiritual writing of the late John Garvey. For further reading: Paul Farmer’s theology of accompaniment Luke Mayville campaigns for healthcare in Idaho Pope Francis’s priorities for Catholic healthcare John Garvey on spiritual surrender

Would the world actually be better without us? For most of human history, the question was inconceivable. But now, anxious over climate change and elated at technological breakthroughs, a growing chorus of thinkers is heralding the end of humanity’s reign on Earth. On this episode, poet and critic Adam Kirsch, author of The Revolt Against Humanity: Imagining a Future Without Us, analyzes these ideas with Commonweal senior editor Matthew Boudway. For further reading: Eugene McCarraher critiques the ‘technocratic paradigm’ An interview with ex-environmentalist Paul Kingsnorth Santiago Ramos on the perils of the metaverse

As National Poetry Month draws to a close, Commonweal’s Claudia Avila Cosnahan is joined by poet, scholar, and professor Joshua Bennett to talk about his new book, Spoken Word: A Cultural History. A prominent slam champion himself, Bennett explains how spoken word poetry has shaped his life and how the art form contributes to the ongoing work of community-building and liberation. And be sure to stick around for a short conversation with Mollie Wilson O’Reilly about the life of Claire Huchet Bishop (1898–1993), a writer, librarian, and opponent of anti-semitism who also served for many years as the children’s books editor at Commonweal. For further reading: Alejandro Nava on the theology of hip-hop Anthony Domestico reviews Joshua Bennett’s Owed Daria Donnelly on the imagination of children’s books Claire Huchet Bishop on book bannings in the 1940s

In honor of Earth Week, we’re releasing a special bonus episode featuring our friend Dorothy Fortenberry in conversation with Commonweal editor Dominic Preziosi. Fortenberry, who has written and commented widely on climate change, is also the co-writer and executive producer of Extrapolations, a new show on Apple TV+ that imagines what life on Earth might look like in the near future. Instead of giving in to climate “doomerism,” Fortenberry argues that there are indeed reasons to be hopeful about addressing the environmental crisis—if we could only summon the political will to do it. For further reading: A collection of Commonweal’s best writing on the environment Dorothy Fortenberry explains why she stays Catholic An interview with climate activist Bill McKibben

The billionaire founders of Big Tech firms are constantly touting “revolutionary” new products like cryptocurrency, AI, and the metaverse. They claim these exist “for the good of humanity,” but we should be extremely wary of their altruistic professions. On this episode, Commonweal features editor Alexander Stern speaks with media critic Douglas Rushkoff, author of more than twenty books. His most recent is Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires. Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Peter Thiel want one thing, according to Rushkoff: profit, which comes at the expense of our psychological attention, physical well-being, and social cohesion. Only by understanding their misanthropic mindset can we begin imagining alternatives and fighting back. For further reading: Alexander Stern on the mundanity of AI Meghan Sullivan on the limits of ‘longtermism’ Dominic Preziosi on the arrogance of Elon Musk

In addition to being an accomplished writer, frequent Commonweal contributor Clifford Thompson is also a self-taught painter. On this episode, Thompson speaks with associate editor Griffin Oleynick about his first solo gallery show in New York City. Using Thompson’s art as a jumping-off point, they touch on a range of topics, including music, film, race, and the madness of American politics. Then, in a special segment, Kaya Oakes speaks briefly with special projects editor Miles Doyle about Doris Grumbach’s memorable portrait of Dorothy Day. For further reading: Clifford Thompson on rootedness and political division Clifford Thompson reviews Wendell Berry’s most recent book Doris Grumbach reports on a conference with Dorothy Day

In communities across the United States, the effects of climate change are already displacing tens of thousands of Americans from their homes. How should the federal government respond? What are the responsibilities of homeowners and insurers? These questions lie at the heart of The Great Displacement: Climate Change and the Next American Migration, a new book by Jake Bittle, a reporter and staff writer at Grist. On this episode, Bittle joins Commonweal managing editor Isa Simon for a wide-ranging discussion about how sea-level rise, extreme heat, and water scarcity are reshaping American society. For further reading: Bill McKibben on suburban development and the environment Vincent Miller on the theology of wildfires Solmaz Daryani documents drought in Iran

Los Angeles Times columnist and podcast host Gustavo Arellano is well known for his acerbic sense of humor and his commitment to holding powerful figures to account. On this episode, Arellano joins Commonweal Director of Mission & Partnerships Claudia Avila Cosnahan for a wide-ranging conversation on his prolific career in journalism. They touch on a number of Southern California topics, including food, faith, and film, as well as local politics, history, and culture. For further reading: Nicole-Ann Lobo on the art of Yolanda López Claudia Avila Cosnahan on Our Lady of Guadalupe The editors on the 2019 L.A. teachers’ strike

It’s been nearly a year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and we’ve since become accustomed to tragic reports and gruesome images of the war. But there’s another side of Ukraine—its complicated history and rich culture—that’s seldom seen by Americans. On this episode, we’re joined by Megan Buskey, author of Ukraine Is Not Dead Yet: A Family Story of Exile and Return. Using family history as a window into broader dynamics within Ukraine, Buskey touches on a number of topics, including memory, migration, and the war’s impact on young Ukrainians. For further reading: John Connelly explains what makes Ukraine different Kathryn David on Ukraine’s Greek Catholic Church Adrian Bonenberger on Ukraine’s Orthodox spirituality

It’s no secret that the demographics of the American Catholic Church are changing rapidly and radically. The future of Catholic parishes depends on their ability to welcome and adapt. On this episode, we speak with Candler School of Theology professor Susan Bigelow Reynolds, also a regular Commonweal contributor. Her new book People Get Ready: Ritual, Solidarity, and Lived Ecclesiology in Catholic Roxbury offers an ethnographic and theological deep-dive into how one small Boston parish has managed to revel in difference, rather than eradicate it. For further reading: Susan Bigelow Reynolds on the parish’s changing landscape Brett Hoover on the ethics of shared parishes James Chappell on how the Church became modern

When a crime is committed or moral injury occurs, we often respond in one of two ways: we condemn the offense and seek redress, or we declare our willingness to forgive and move on. But a reflexive willingness to pardon—though praised by the Christian tradition—can actually be a problem, argues Matthew Potts. He’s a professor and pastor at Harvard Divinity School, and author of the new book Forgiveness: An Alternative Account. Joined by Commonweal literary editor Anthony Domestico, Potts explains how his novel account of forgiveness demands a habit of non-retaliation, and why literary fiction provides the perfect vantage point for parsing the moral complexity of mercy. For further reading: Clifford Thompson on Wendell Berry and forgiveness Adam DeVille on counseling sex offenders B.D. McClay on the sacrament of reconciliation

On this episode, we’re revisiting four of our favorite conversations from the past year. Mallory McMorrow explains how her faith informs her politics and denounces the GOP’s “performative nonsense.” Mollie Wilson O’Reilly and Natalia Imperatori-Lee react to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Fr. James Martin, SJ talks about his expanding ministry with LGBTQ Catholics. And Kim Haines-Eitzen shares desert recordings that shed light on ancient Christian monasticism. Have a great holiday. We’ll be back with new episodes in January. Listen to the full conversations here: ‘McMorrow’s Way,’ with Mallory McMorrow ‘Is This What We Wanted?’ with Mollie Wilson O’Reilly and Natalia Imperatori-Lee ‘An Early Spring,’ with Fr. James Martin, SJ ‘Sounds of Silence,’ with Kim Hains-Eitzen

Last month saw the election of Archbishop Timothy Broglio as leader of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops—a choice seen by many as a reactionary rebuke to Pope Francis and his synodal agenda. On this episode, regular Commonweal contributor Massimo Faggioli joins editor Dominic Preziosi to discuss what Archbishop Broglio’s leadership might mean for the U.S. Church. They touch on a number of other topics, including how Catholics voted in the midterms, the sixtieth anniversary of Vatican II, and the ongoing fallout from the abuse crisis. And, in anticipation of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Natalia Imperatori-Lee, professor of religious studies at Manhattan College, explains how the art and activism of Yolanda López can help us recognize the holiness of lo cotidiano, the everyday. For further reading: ‘No Longer the Bishops’ Church?” Massimo Faggioli ‘The Art of Activism,” Nicole-Ann Lobo ‘Encounters Between Equals,’ Timothy Matovina

In the aftermath of the midterm elections, political experts and the media are once again trying to make sense of the choices that Latino voters made at the ballot box. On this episode, editor Dominic Preziosi is joined by Eli Valentin, a contributing columnist at Gotham Gazette and frequent political analyst for Univision New York, who says that much of that analysis misses the mark. Valentin doesn’t just highlight the myths about Latino voters that need debunking. As a former pastor attuned to how beliefs shape elections, he suggests that a new “political pastoral theological agenda” could help many more voters, not just Latinos, think differently about their decisions at the polls. For further reading: “Sweet Home Hialeah,” César J. Baldelomar “The Complicated Case of Hispanic Voters,” Brandon Sanchez “Who Will Save the Bronx,” Eileen Markey

Women who cross the border to perform care work for American families—cleaning their homes, running their errands, and raising their kids—number among the most hidden and undervalued laborers in our society. Too often, their voices go unheard. On this episode, Commonweal associate editor Regina Munch speaks with Elizabeth Cummins Muñoz, a lecturer at Rice University and author of Mothercoin: The Stories of Immigrant Nannies. Cummins Muñoz points out that while these workers don't see themselves as “victims,” the conflict between providing care and being paid to do it—sometimes at the expense of one's own family—can be devastating. For further reading: “The Empowerment Trap,” Emma McDonald “Putting Ourselves Together Again,” Rebecca Bratten Weiss “The Feminist Wife,” Kate Lucky

It’s no secret that access to affordable housing in America is increasingly out of reach. Activists in the growing YIMBY (“Yes In My Back Yard”) movement believe they have a solution: build more of everything. On this episode, associate editor Griffin Oleynick speaks with Max Holleran, a sociologist at the University of Melbourne in Australia and author of Yes to the City: Millennials and the Fight for Affordable Housing, a detailed study of the YIMBYs. The YIMBYs’ push for new construction, Holleran argues, won’t entirely solve the problem of housing affordability. To do that, we must not only re-invest in alternatives like community land trusts, but also continue fighting for higher wages and greater income equality. For further reading: “Making the Rent,” The Editors “The Bay Area’s Infinite Loop,” Kaya Oakes “Poverty and Profit in the American City,” Frank Pasquale

It’s no secret that the United States has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. Less well known, though, is what actually takes place within prison walls. On this episode, Commonweal editor Dominic Preziosi speaks with veteran journalist Bill Keller, founder of the Marshall Project and author of the new book What’s Prison For? Punishment and Rehabilitation in the Age of Mass Incarceration. Having spent years immersed in prisons as a reporter and teacher, Keller offers a blunt indictment of our broken prison system, while also pointing out real possibilities for reform. For further reading: “The Purposes of Punishment,” Derek Jeffreys “Carceral Aesthetics,” Griffin Oleynick “Waking the Giants,” Regina Munch

For many Catholic women experiencing infertility, the Church has not been a welcoming, listening place—and that’s something that needs to change. On this episode, associate editor Regina Munch speaks with Emma McDonald, a doctoral candidate at Boston College who has researched the issue extensively through a series of ethnographic interviews with Catholic women, doctors, and clinicians. McDonald argues that synodal dialogue alone is inadequate for confronting the Church’s culture of silence around infertility. What’s need is real structural reform based on the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. For further reading: “Listening to the Laity,” Emma McDonald “Finding Our Way,” Ellen Koneck “Making Pregnancy Safer,” Jessica Keating Floyd

Ancient monks entered the desert wilds of Egypt and the Holy Land in search of solitude and silence. What they found instead was a rich sonic landscape replete with melody, cacophony, and deep spiritual resonance. On this episode, associate editor Griffin Oleynick speaks with Kim Haines-Eitzen, professor of religious studies at Cornell, about her new book, Sonorous Desert: What Deep Listening Taught Early Christian Monks—And What It Can Teach Us. Haines-Eitzen’s project, which includes field recordings made in the deserts of the Middle East and the American Southwest, shows us how the ancient monks’ attentiveness to sound can help us slow down and better connect with ourselves and our communities. For further reading: “Taming the Demon,” Jonathan Malesic “Silence in the City,” Kaya Oakes “Opening to the World,” Luke Timothy Johnson

Intractable racism, increasing inequality, and intensifying climate change—for author and environmental activist Bill McKibben, these are some of the legacies wrought by the growth of American suburbs during the past forty years. On this episode, McKibben joins Commonweal associate editor Griffin Oleynick to speak about his new memoir, The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon, which identifies the 1970s as the pivotal decade that marked a definitive shift toward individualism. Our problems are real, but not insurmountable, McKibben argues. Our situation can be improved by organizing for change, and reclaiming American symbols of patriotism, faith, and fairness. For further reading: “Tears & Ashes,” Vincent Miller “Beyond Growth,” Max Foley-Keene “At Our Mercy,” Elizabeth Johnson

For most of its history, the Catholic Church clung to a deep skepticism concerning the legitimacy of democracy. But that all changed during the twentieth century, explains Notre Dame historian and longtime Commonweal contributor John McGreevy. On this episode McGreevy talks with Commonweal editor Dominic Preziosi about how that unlikely shift occurred, and offers suggestions for how the Church can help bolster our wavering faith in democracy today. For further reading: “‘Natural Enemies’ No More,” John McGreevy “Sturzo in Exile,” Massimo Faggioli “Radical, Moderate, & Necessary,” E.J. Dionne, Jr.

One quality of a Catholic poet is a heightened capacity to see—not just into the future, but into the past as well. On this episode, poet Paul Mariani speaks with Commonweal contributor Anthony Domestico about his latest collection, All That Will Be New. Their discussion touches on a number of topics, including Mariani’s working-class upbringing in New York City, his love of the American idiom of William Carlos Williams, and the spirituality embedded in visual art. For further reading: “Broken Beauty,” Paul Mariani “Inscape, Instress & Distress,” Anthony Domestico “Elegy for Our 130-Year-Old Catalpa,” Paul Mariani

In the American Church today, few figures are as outspoken about the need for Catholics to treat LGBTQ people with love, respect, and compassion as Jesuit priest Fr. James Martin. Martin is also the subject of a new documentary, Building a Bridge, which offers a close look at Martin’s LGBTQ ministry—from its origins after the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando in 2016, to Martin’s meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2019. On this episode, Commonweal associate editor Griffin Oleynick speaks with Fr. Martin and filmmaker Evan Mascagni about the film. For further reading: “Still Beloved,” Robert Fieseler ‘Gender, Sex, and Other Nonsense,” Dan Walden ‘Necessary Affirmation,’ Jason Steidl ‘Facing Down the Wolf,’ James Alison

Few living writers speak as eloquently and incisively about the terrible contradictions of armed conflict as Marine Corps veteran and award-winning author Phil Klay. On this episode, Klay joins Commonweal senior editor Matt Boudway to discuss his new book Uncertain Ground: Citizenship in an Age of Endless War, a collection of essays, journalism, and other nonfiction written over the past ten years. Their conversation touches on a number of topics, including war and religious faith, the complex reintegration of returning soldiers, and the deceptive political rhetoric that surrounds and shrouds modern combat. For further reading: “A Whip of Cords,” Phil Klay “War & Penance,” Philip G. Porter “The Paradoxes of Deterrence,” Bernard G. Prusak

It’s been just over a week since Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s draft opinion appearing to overturn Roe v. Wade was leaked to the press. On this episode, Commonweal editor-at-large Mollie Wilson O’Reilly and theologian Natalia Imperatori-Lee share their initial reactions to the news. In addition to pointing out the potentially damaging consequences of reversing Roe, they also highlight the complex realities of women’s reproductive health, discuss their experiences as mothers, and identify what a true “culture of life” might look like. For further reading: “When Abortion Isn’t Abortion,” Mollie Wilson O’Reilly “When Timing Is Paramount,” Peter Steinfels “My Two Abortions,” Anonymous

On April 19, Mallory McMorrow, Democratic State Senator of Michigan, delivered a speech in the chamber of the Michigan State Capitol. It instantly struck a chord on social media, and has since been viewed by millions of people throughout the world. Pushing back forcefully against a Republican colleague’s accusations of “grooming and sexualizing children” as well as defending her support of LGBTQ people, McMorrow cited her Christian faith—and in particular her Catholic upbringing—as an inspiration for her political outlook and her insistence on taking the side of the marginalized. On this episode, McMorrow speaks with Commonweal editor Dominic Preziosi about what went into writing that speech, what she hopes listeners will take from it, and what role she hopes a renewed, nuanced understanding of faith might yet play in public life. For further reading: ‘Let Church Be Church Again,’ Sr. Carol Keehan, DC ‘American Politics & Social Catholicism,’ E.J. Dionne, Jr. ‘Civic Virtue & the Common Good,’ Bishop Robert W. McElroy, John T. McGreevy, Cathleen Kaveny, and Matthew Sitman

As the #MeToo movement was unfolding, Washington Post columnist Christine Emba began asking questions about the broader health of American sexual culture. On this episode, Emba speaks with Commonweal contributing writer and Christianity Today editor Kate Lucky about the findings presented in her new book, Rethinking Sex: A Provocation. Our contemporary understanding of sexual consent, Emba argues, is not enough to ground our sexual ethics. For that, we need to recuperate traditional virtues like patience, care, and restraint. For further reading: ‘Finding Our Way,’ Ellen B. Koneck ‘The Feminist Wife,’ Kate Lucky ‘Clearing the Field,’ B.D. McClay

While the humanitarian costs of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continue to make headlines, the war also reveals contemporary religious concerns around global Orthodoxy and Vatican diplomacy. On this episode, we speak with two guests: George Demacopoulos, professor of Orthodox Christian Studies at Fordham University, and Paul Elie, New Yorker staff writer and longtime Commonweal contributor. Demacopoulos frames the fiery rhetoric of Moscow’s Patriarch Kirill, who has called the invasion a “holy war,” while Elie takes Pope Francis to task for not denouncing Vladimir Putin more forcefully. For further reading: ‘From Complacency to Clear Condemnation,’ George Demacopoulos ‘The Pope, the Patriarchs, and the Battle to Save Ukraine,’ Paul Elie in the New Yorker ‘Clarity & Consequences,’ The Editors

It’s been three weeks since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky continues to plead for Western aid, the situation in his country is deteriorating as the Russian army bombards cities, hospitals, evacuation routes, and other civilian targets. How did we get here? And which historical parallels can shed light on what’s happening now in Ukraine? On this special episode, historian John Connelly, professor of history at UC Berkeley and an expert on east central Europe, shares his insights. For further reading: “What Makes Ukraine Different,” John Connelly “Putin’s Apocalyptic Goals,” Piotr H. Kosicki “The Orthodox Response to Putin’s Invasion,” George E. Demacopoulos

Why haven’t Catholic colleges and universities in the United States more urgently engaged Pope Francis’s repeated calls to practice “synodality”? After all, these centers of intellectual development and social change are crucial in getting younger Catholics to care about the future of the Church. On this episode, we’re featuring a series of conversations with three experts on the current state of the synod and American Catholic higher education: Massimo Faggioli of Villanova University, Micah Kiel of St. Ambrose University, and Amirah Orozco of Dominican University. For further reading ‘Unexcused Absence,’ Massimo Faggioli ‘Catholic Colleges & the Synod,’ Micah Kiel ‘Learning from Las Hermanas,’ Amirah Orozco ‘Speak Boldly, Listen Carefully,’ Austen Ivereigh

Shortly before the death of her father, New Yorker staff writer Kathryn Schulz met the woman she would marry. These opposite experiences prompted Schulz to reflect on the ways in which they’re joined. On this episode, Schulz joins Commonweal literary editor Anthony Domestico for a wide-ranging conversation about her new memoir, Lost & Found. Our humanity, Schulz argues, guarantees that we’ll eventually lose the ones we love. But it’s their very finitude that makes them worth loving.

What do scholars do, exactly? Which virtues does a life of scholarship require? On this episode, longtime Commonweal contributor and renowned New Testament scholar Luke Timothy Johnson speaks with editor Dominic Preziosi about his lifelong intellectual journey. One of the keys to being a good scholar (and a good Christian) Johnson argues, isn’t simply discipline and fortitude, but imagination and humility. Read more from Luke Timothy Johnson “Opening to the World” “How a Monk Learns Mercy” “The Commonweal Catholic”

Since the pandemic began, large numbers of Americans working in diverse fields have reported increased levels of burnout and exhaustion. But the phenomenon of burnout is nothing new, argues frequent Commonweal contributor Jonathan Malesic. The problem has been with us for decades, a consequence of the increasingly blurry lines between our professional and personal lives. On this episode, Malesic speaks with Commonweal managing editor Katie Daniels about his new book The End of Burnout: Why Work Drains Us and How to Build Better Lives. If we want to combat burnout, he says, we first need to agree on a definition. Read Jonathan Malesic’s Commonweal essays here: A Burnt-Out Case Taming the Demon Drinking Alone

The pandemic has forced many of us to rethink our answers to some of life’s deepest questions: How should we treat other people? Should we practice a religion? Does it matter what we believe? What would make our lives meaningful? Thankfully, we’re not alone. Virtue ethics, as Notre Dame’s Meghan Sullivan and Paul Blaschko contend, offers a method for reasoning about, and gaining new insights into, these age-old questions. On this episode, Sullivan and Blaschko join Commonweal assistant editor Griffin Oleynick to discuss insights from their new book The Good Life Method: Reasoning through the Big Questions of Happiness, Faith, and Meaning, based on their popular course at Notre Dame. For further reading: “Inside the Seminary,” Paul Blaschko “The Problem with Lazarus,” Meghan Sullivan “Highbrow Self-Help,” Charles McNamara “Should Philosophy Retire?”, George Scialabba

It’s our favorite time of year here on the Commonweal Podcast. On this special episode, we revisit four of our best interviews from 2021: Phil Klay elucidates the complexities of modern warfare. Rita Ferrone explains how Catholic tradition evolves. Alice McDermott tells us what made her decide to become a writer. And Susannah Heschel describes how the spiritual legacy of her father, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, can help us fight for social justice today. Listen to the full-length interviews here: · ‘War Without End,’ with Phil Klay · ‘The Rite Stuff,’ with Rita Ferrone · ‘Life Sentences,’ with Alice McDermott · ‘Friend of God,’ with Susannah Heschel

When the first pandemic lockdowns began back in March 2020, acclaimed novelist Yiyun Li took to social media with a modest proposal: a communal reading of Leo Tolstoy’s masterpiece War & Peace, complemented by daily reflections and live conversation on Twitter. Li’s invitation met with a hearty response from readers around the world: hundreds participated in the online book club. Some of their comments, along with Li’s reflections, were published earlier this fall in Tolstoy Together: 85 Days of War & Peace. On this episode, Li joins Commonweal literary editor Anthony Domestico for a wide-ranging conversation about the project, the pleasures of reading together, and why Tolstoy still matters. For further reading: · “2021 Books in Review,” Anthony Domestico · “Bracing for Impact,” Cassandra Nelson · “The Zen of Tolstoy,” Christopher Bram

In 1940, a group of armed, anti-Semitic Catholic militants were arrested by the FBI in Brooklyn and charged with plotting to overthrow the U.S. government. All were members of the Christian Front, a radical rightwing group inspired by Catholic theology and galvanized by the preaching of notorious “radio priest” Fr. Charles Coughlin. On this episode, we speak with Charles Gallagher, a historian at Boston College and author of the new book The Nazis of Copley Square: The Forgotten Story of the Christian Front. Gallagher doesn’t just fill a major gap in our understanding of the history of Christian extremism. He tells a story about faith curdling into violence, one that holds important lessons for us today. For further reading: - “On Anti-Semitism,” Jacques Maritain - “Hitler’s Gospel,” John Connelly - “From Trotsky to Soros,” James J. Sheehan

The November issue of Commonweal featured a special package of stories on Catholic religious communities in the broadest sense of the term, including religious orders, secular institutes, lay ecclesial movements, pious houses, and houses of hospitality. Despite the variety of communities surveyed, some key themes emerged: the difficulty of adapting to new circumstances, the relationship of community to place, and a sense of hope in the face of precariousness and uncertainty. On this special podcast episode, we’re joined by editors and writers—including Paul Elie and Kaya Oakes—who helped put that issue together.