Best John W Martens Podcasts (2024)

1
The Uses of Idolatry, or Many Old Gods: A Conversation with Bill Cavanaugh 1:01:59

10d ago1:01:59

1:01:59

This is Season Three, Episode Five is here, featuring Dr. Bill Cavanaugh, professor of Catholic studies at De Paul University in Chicago and director of the Center for World Catholicism and Intercultural Theology, a research center housed in the Department of Catholic Studies and focusing on the Catholic Church in the global South—Africa, Asia, and…

1
Catholicism on the Borderlands: A Conversation with Dr. Daisy Vargas 1:16:58

20d ago1:16:58

1:16:58

Season Three, Episode Four is here, featuring Dr. Daisy Vargas, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at the U of Arizona (Ph.D. in History, University of California, Riverside; M.A. in Religious Studies, University of Denver), who specializes in Catholicism in the Americas, especially in the borderlands of the American Southwest. She examines r…

1
It Is Wonderful That You Exist: A Conversation with Dr. Jenny Martin 1:07:10

1M ago1:07:10

1:07:10

Season Three, Episode Three is a banger! Do the kids still say that? Dr. Jennifer Newsome Martin, the director of the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture at the University of Notre Dame, and the John J. Cavanaugh Associate Professor of the Program of Liberal Studies and Associate Professor, Department of Theology, brings incredible joy to theol…

1
Straight Street: Pop Culture Matters 58:13

1M ago58:13

58:13

Welcome to the first episode of Pop Culture Matters, a discussion with Martin Strong and me regarding Gospel music and the song "Straight Street," written by J.W. Alexander and Jesse Whitaker in the 1950s and first recorded by The Pilgrim Travelers in 1955. Today we are especially looking at Ry Cooder’s version of the song "Straight Street" and the…

1
Reading Gender in Revelation: A Conversation with Dr. Lynn Huber 1:24:15

2M ago1:24:15

1:24:15

Welcome to the second episode of the third season of What Matters Most, featuring Dr. Lynn Huber. Dr. Lynn Huber is Maude Sharpe Powell Professor, Professor of Religious Studies at Elon University in North Carolina and author of the new Wisdom Commentary on Revelation, published by Liturgical Press. Apart from her Wisdom Commentary, co-written with…

1
Educating Children in the Early Church: A Conversation with Dr. Margaret MacDonald 1:25:11

2M ago1:25:11

1:25:11

Welcome to the first episode of the third season of What Matters Most, featuring Dr. Margaret MacDonald. Margaret MacDonald is Professor of Religion at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Margaret MacDonald is a prominent and preeminent scholar in the fields of New Testament and early Christianity. We discuss Margaret’s excellent book …

1
Laudato Si' in a Time of Global Disruption: Francis and Politics: Dr. Massimo Faggioli 1:31:31

3M ago1:31:31

1:31:31

Welcome to the twenty-sixth and final episode of the second season of What Matters Most, featuring Dr. Massimo Faggioli. Today’s episode is the keynote lecture Massimo gave on May 4, 2023 at the Pope Francis and the Future of the Church: Prospects and Challenges for Renewal conference held at St. Mark’s College on May 4-6, 2023. His lecture was tit…

1
The Reform of the Church is Not a Change but a Commitment: Dr. Emilce Cuda 1:21:54

3M ago1:21:54

1:21:54

Welcome to the twenty-fifth episode of the second season of What Matters Most, featuring Dr. Emilce Cuda. Today’s episode is the keynote lecture Emilce gave on May 5, 2023 at the Pope Francis and the Future of the Church: Prospects and Challenges for Renewal conference held at St. Mark’s College on May 4-6, 2023. Her paper was titled, “The Reform o…

1
Leaning into the Distant Goal of Vatican II: Pope Francis and Christian Unity: Dr. Cathy Clifford 1:16:11

4M ago1:16:11

1:16:11

Welcome to the twenty-fourth episode of the second season of What Matters Most, featuring Dr. Cathy Clifford. Today’s episode is the keynote lecture Cathy gave to bring to an end the Pope Francis and the Future of the Church: Prospects and Challenges for Renewal conference held at St. Mark’s College on May 4-6, 2023. Her paper was delivered on May …

1
Gender in the Rhetoric of Jesus: A Conversation with Sara Parks 1:22:32

4M ago1:22:32

1:22:32

Welcome to the twenty-third episode of the second season of What Matters Most, featuring Dr. Sara Parks. Sara Parks is Assistant Professor in Religious Studies, teaching and conducting research in the field of Early Christianity at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. She joined St. Francis Xavier University in the Fall of 2022…

1
The Liturgy and Life Study Bible: A Conversation with Fr. Nick Meisl and John W. Martens 1:11:12

5M ago1:11:12

1:11:12

This is the twenty-second episode of the second season of What Matters Most, featuring me speaking with Fr. Nick Meisl! Why? I was interviewed by Father Nick Meisl, my colleague and friend, who appeared on episode 13 of season 2 of What Matters Most. The original interview took place on June 3, 2024, at St. Mark’s Library for the book launch of the…

1
The Prophet Jeremiah and African-American Maternity in the USA: A Conversation with Dr. Jaime L. Waters 1:17:29

5M ago1:17:29

1:17:29

This is the twenty-first episode of the second season of What Matters Most, featuring Dr. Jaime L. Waters of Boston College, an Associate Professor of Old Testament and Program Director of Courage to Preach. I met Jaime in person last summer in Omaha, Nebraska at the Catholic Biblical Association meetings and we bonded over biblical studies, a shar…

1
What is Sikhism? A Conversation with UBC Sikh Chaplain Inderjeet Singh 1:48:17

6M ago1:48:17

1:48:17

This is the twentieth episode of the second season of What Matters Most. I spoke with UBC Sikh Chaplain Inderjeet Singh. This episode was recorded in February 2024, but due to a backlog of episodes is only being released in May 2024. I am happy for you to be able to hear it and learn about Sikhism. Indy, as his friends know him, offered a lot of in…

1
What makes a person a Saint? A Conversation with Dr. Hans Harmakaputra 1:15:17

6M ago1:15:17

1:15:17

We are deep into season 2 now with the nineteenth episode of What Matters Most. I spoke with Dr. Hans A. Harmakaputra, an Assistant Professor of Religion in the Department of Philosophy, Religion, and Classics at Augustana University, Sioux Falls, South Dakota about Christian and Muslim saints and views of sainthood. Hans Harmakaputra is the author…

1
The Cry of the Poor and Healthcare: A Conversation with Dr. Alexandre Martins 1:26:39

7M ago1:26:39

1:26:39

Welcome to the eighteenth episode of season 2 of What Matters Most. I spoke to Alex Martins from his office in Milwaukee in February and have been waiting to get this episode to you for the past two months. Alexandre A. Martins is a theologian and bioethicist from Brazil; he is also a nurse. He received a Ph.D. in theological ethics/bioethics from …

1
Panpsychism, Pantheism, Panentheism and Classical Christian Doctrine: A Conversation with Dr. Joanna Leidenhag 1:22:31

7M ago1:22:31

1:22:31

A note before the significant stuff: you will notice that the intro and outtro are noisier than usual. I was not able to record at home in my home office with my regular equipment, but had to record in my office at work. It's a different location, and a worse microphone, and I will make sure to record at home again. And always. The episode itself s…

1
Theology of the peripheries, Theology of the People: A Conversation with Dr. Emilce Cuda 57:43

8M ago57:43

57:43

Welcome to the sixteenth episode of season 2 of What Matters Most. I spoke to Dr. Emilce Cuda, an Argentinian theologian, university professor, and Roman Curia official. In 2021, Pope Francis appointed her to serve the Holy See as an official in the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, first as head of the office and then as Secretary. In the s…

1
Green bioethics and Sustainable Healthcare: A Conversation with Father Myles Sheehan, SJ 56:05

8M ago56:05

56:05

Regular listeners know that this episode is late! I apologize for that but blame a nasty norovirus that has run amok through our extended family. And directly through me. It seems right, then, that the fifteenth episode of the second season focuses on health and public health with Fr. Myles Sheehan, SJ. Fr. Sheehan is a Jesuit priest, physician, an…

1
Japanese Buddhism in Canada: A Conversation with Reverend Grant Ikuta 1:14:50

9M ago1:14:50

1:14:50

This episode is the fourteenth episode of the second season of What Matters Most and features Reverend Grant Ikuta. Since 2008, Grant has been the minister at Steveston Buddhist Temple outside of Vancouver. From April 2011 to April 2013, he served as Bishop of Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of Canada. He was educated at the University of Alberta, ho…

1
On Celibacy in the Church in Antiquity and Today: A Conversation with Father Nick Meisl 1:10:15

9M ago1:10:15

1:10:15

This episode is the thirteenth episode of the second season of What Matters Most and features Father Nick Meisl. Fr. Nick Meisl is an Assistant Professor at Corpus Christi and St. Mark’s Colleges where he teaches the Bible. In addition, he is Pastor of St. Peter’s Parish in New Westminster, BC. He completed his License from the Pontifical Biblical …

1
The Journey from Rock and Roll to the Lutheran Pulpit: A Conversation with Reverend Mark Kleiner 1:10:36

9M ago1:10:36

1:10:36

This is the twelfth episode of the second season of What Matters Most and features Reverend Mark Kleiner from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Mark is open, vulnerable, and honest, about the role of the Gospel in his life, his past struggles with alcoholism, his rock n’ roll life, and his passion for men’s health. As Mark said in the podcast, and as you ca…

1
Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church: A Conversation with Rev. Dr. Mark Miller 1:10:31

10M ago1:10:31

1:10:31

This episode is the eleventh episode of the second season of What Matters Most and features Reverend Dr. Mark Miller. Fr. Mark is currently the visiting scholar in health care ethics for St. Mark’s College and Providence Health Care in Vancouver for the academic year of 2023-2024. Fr. Mark Miller, C.Ss.R., was ordained in 1975 as a Redemptorist pri…

1
Pope Francis's Laudato Deum: A Conversation with Cristina Vanin 1:14:04

10M ago1:14:04

1:14:04

This episode, the tenth of the second season of What Matters Most, features Dr. Cristina Vanin, an associate professor of theology and Director of the Master of Catholic Thought program at St. Jerome’s University in Waterloo, Ontario. I invited Cristina on the podcast to discuss Laudato Deum, Pope Francis’s newest apostolic exhortation, released in…

1
Leonard Cohen and the Apostle Paul: A Conversation with Matthew R. Anderson 1:29:32

11M ago1:29:32

1:29:32

Our guest on today's episode of What Matters Most, the ninth episode of our second season, is Dr. Matthew Anderson. Matthew Anderson holds a Gatto Chair in Christian Studies at St FX in Religious Studies. He is also an affiliate assistant professor at Concordia University, Montreal. Matthew was born to settlers on Treaty 4 territory. His PhD in Rel…

1
How is the Bible The Good Book? A Conversation with Jill Hicks-Keeton 1:01:18

11M ago1:01:18

1:01:18

Today's episode Our guest on this episode of What Matters Most, the eighth episode of our second season is Dr. Jill Hicks-Keeton. Jill Hicks-Keeton (PhD, Duke) is currently Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Oklahoma, where she teaches courses on biblical literature. In 2024, she will begin a new position, as Associate Pr…

1
Everyday Wisdom: Interreligious Studies in a Pluralistic World: A Conversation with Hans Gustafson 1:39:08

12M ago1:39:08

1:39:08

Our guest on this episode of What Matters Most, the seventh episode of our second season, is Dr. Hans Gustafson, Director of the Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, where he also teaches courses in the study of religion and theology for the Theology Departm…

1
The Rise of Christian Nationalism in the 1930s and Today in the USA: A Conversation with Charles Gallagher, S.J. 1:31:18

1y ago1:31:18

1:31:18

This episode with Charles Gallagher, S.J. takes us into some dark history concerning Nazis and the Christian Front, a Catholic lay organization, in Boston and New York in the 1930s and 1940s just prior to and during the early stages of World War II. The story of Frances Moran, head of the Boston National Front and his Nazi handler, the German consu…

1
How Children in the Gospels Can Shape Inclusive Ministry: A Conversation with Amy Lindeman Allen 1:13:26

1y ago1:13:26

1:13:26

Dr Amy Lindeman Allen is an Associate Professor of New Testament at Christian Theological Seminary (CTS) in Indianapolis and only a couple of weeks ago was appointed to an endowed chair, the Indiana Christian Church Chair in Biblical Studies at CTS. Amy is also an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Allen earned …

1
Islam and Christianity in Ghana: A Conversation with Imam Abubakar Mohammed Marzuq 1:09:05

1y ago1:09:05

1:09:05

Today's guest on What Matters Most, Imam Dr. Abubakar Mohammed Marzuq, is from Ghana. Imam Marzuq introduces us in this episode to the country of Ghana generally and to the interfaith situation in the West African country specifically. Imam Marzuq is the assistant to the Chief Imam of Ghana, Shaikh Dr. Osman Nuhu Sharubutu who is 104 years old. Mar…

1
Pope Francis, Laudato Si', the Synod, and the Church Today: A Conversation with Massimo Faggioli 59:49

1y ago59:49

59:49

Our guest on this episode of What Matters Most, the second (new) episode of our second season, is Dr. Massimo Faggioli, a full professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Villanova University (Philadelphia). Massimo is one of the most prominent Catholic theologians working today in North America and Europe. Massimo is a friend …

1
Incarnation, Soteriology, Exclusivity/Inclusivity, Pluralism, Particularism, and Universalism: A Conversation with Rev. Dr. Rob James 1:30:08

1y ago1:30:08

1:30:08

Our first guest on the second season of What Matters Most is Rev. Dr. Robert James, Associate Professor, Anglican Formation and Studies at VST. Rob James is an Anglican priest who was ordained in the Church of England and worked as a parish priest in Gloucestershire and then as Canon Chancellor of Wells Cathedral, Somerset, before coming to Canada.…

1
Encore: "Neither Categories nor Stereotypes, These are Real People": A Conversation with Father Jim Martin 58:54

1y ago58:54

58:54

As What Matters Most prepares to begin its second season in September 2023, I thought we should return to the first episode with Fr. Jim Martin, released on October 7, 2022. Many of you were not listening to the podcast when this episode was released, so to prepare you for the upcoming season, this is a taste of what's on offer. I will say that a n…

1
"Interfaith is not about Conversion, it's about Completion": A Conversation with the Interfaith Amigos 1:23:09

1+ y ago1:23:09

1:23:09

Welcome to What Matters Most. On this episode I speak with the Interfaith Amigos, who are Imam Jamal Rahman, Pastor Don MacKenzie, and Rabbi Laura Duhan-Kaplan. Rabbi Laura replaced the recently retired Rabbi Ted Falcon as a part of this interfaith trio. When you listen to the episode you will notice that I did not start with saying, "A Rabbi, an I…

1
A North American Catholic: A Conversation with Sam Rocha 1:43:42

1+ y ago1:43:42

1:43:42

Today’s guest on What Matters Most is Sam Rocha, associate professor of philosophy of education at University of British Columbia. This was a wide-ranging conversation and as I say at in the intro to the podcast, I am still processing all of it because we covered so much territory. Sam is the author of a number of books, including A Primer for Phil…

1
Creator of the Earth and Northern Lights: A Conversation with Sister Damien Marie Savino 1:12:54

1+ y ago1:12:54

1:12:54

On this episode I speak with Sister Damien Savino, F.S.E., Ph.D., Dean of Science and Sustainability at Aquinas College in Michigan. Sister Damien Marie has a Ph.D in Civil (Environmental) Engineering from The Catholic University of America (CUA), a M.A. in Theology from CUA, a M.S. in Soil Science from the University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, an…

1
The Solid Right and Scattered Left of the Church: A Conversation with Nick Olkovich on the Pope Francis Conference 44:42

1+ y ago44:42

44:42

The guest on this episode is Nicholas Olkovich, my colleague at St. Mark’s College in Vancouver. Nick was just promoted to Associate Professor at St. Mark’s and is the Marie Anne Blondin Chair of Catholic Theology at St. Mark’s. Nick has a Ph.D. in Theology from the University of St. Michael’s College (2009-2016), an S.T.L., Regis College (2009-201…

1
A Jewish Paul: A Conversation with Matthew Thiessen 1:08:27

1+ y ago1:08:27

1:08:27

My guest on this episode of What Matters Most is the Canadian biblical scholar Dr. Matthew Thiessen, an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University and formerly an Assistant Professor at St. Louis University. It was a fascinating conversation for me as Matt works in the same field, biblical studies and studies of Paul in particu…

1
The Bible and The Quran: A Conversation with David Penchansky 1:12:45

1+ y ago1:12:45

1:12:45

Welcome to our episode with Dr. David Penchansky, professor emeritus in the Department of Theology at the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota. This was a fascinating conversation. We learn about David growing up in Brooklyn in a family that were atheists and his own religious conversion on a "hippie commune," his words, in Washington State fifty ye…

1
Ecumenism: The Communion of Diverse Churches: A Conversation with Catherine Clifford 1:00:11

1+ y ago1:00:11

1:00:11

On this episode of what matters most I speak with Dr. Catherine E. Clifford, a Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She holds a PhD in Theology from the University of St. Michael’s College, Toronto, and an STL from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. Her teaching, research, and pu…

1
Reupholstered Psalms: A Conversation with Greg Kennedy, Part 2 36:02

1+ y ago36:02

36:02

Welcome to part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Greg Kennedy. In the first epiosde we talked about ecology, animals, and spiritual direction. In this, the second episode, we discuss his books the Reupholstered Psalms and Amazing Friendships between Animals and Saints. What does he mean by Reupholstered Psalms ? We talk about that title and how he is …

1
Political Polarities and the Church: A Conversation with Steven Millies 1:04:27

1+ y ago1:04:27

1:04:27

I spoke to Dr. Steve Millies on February 6, 2023. Steve Millies is a Catholic political theorist and the director of the Bernardin Center at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, his hometown, and Professor of Public Theology. He has written Joseph Bernardin: Seeking Common Ground (Liturgical Press, 2016), a book which won first place in the b…

1
"We are homeless in many ways": A Conversation with Greg Kennedy, Part 1 42:08

1+ y ago42:08

42:08

Dr. Greg Kennedy is a doctor of philosophy and a Jesuit priest. As we discuss in this episode, though, Greg is leaving the Catholic priesthood and has requested laicization. He is not, however, leaving the Jesuit life as he continues what he calls the "joyful disciplines of poetry, spiritual direction, retreat leadership and farming on the graceful…

1
The Realities and Truths of Human Trafficking in Canada: A Conversation with Sister Nancy Brown 1:11:31

2y ago1:11:31

1:11:31

In 2012 Sister Nancy Brown received the Order of British Columbia. This is what was written about Nancy on her reception of the award: “Sister Nancy Brown is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable in British Columbia: homeless youth and young people at risk for human trafficking and sexual exploitation." In this episode I speak to Nancy, who w…

1
Catholicism and Indigenous Spirituality: A Conversation with Donna Naughton 59:37

2y ago59:37

59:37

Donna Naughton is an Ojibway and Cree from Biigtigong First Nation located in northern Ontario. Donna holds both a BSW and a MSW. With a Master’s Degree in Social Work, Donna has been helping Indigenous communities for almost 30 years. She is also the Executive Director of Kateri Native Ministry, a role she has held since 2016. Kateri Native Minist…

1
The World in An Acorn: A Conversation with Martin Strong 1:00:24

2y ago1:00:24

1:00:24

Martin Strong is a veteran of radio in Vancouver, starting out as an announcer and writer in the 1980s at CFOX. He then moved to the Bro Jake Show at Rock 101 and hosting at Roundhouse Radio. He also wrote and hosted "Radio Shangri-La" for the CBC under the pseudonym "Marty Beaumont," which featured the best in cocktail lounge music (Frank, Dean, S…

1
From Rock and Roll to Remembering Fr. Ed: A Conversation with Dawn Eden Goldstein 58:44

2y ago58:44

58:44

In this conversation I speak with Dr. Dawn Eden Goldstein about her new biography Fr. Ed: The Story of Bill W.'s Spiritual Sponsor. We focus on the life of Fr. Ed, his own struggles to become a priest, his debilitating medical issues, and his indelible mark on AA and the founder of AA Bill W. I hope that when we talk again, we can discuss some of t…

1
Reimagining Biblical Animals: A Conversation with Rabbi Laura Duhan-Kaplan, Part 2 23:48

2y ago23:48

23:48

In part 2 of my conversation with Rabbi Laura Duhan-Kaplan, Professor of Jewish Studies and Director of Inter-Religious Studies at the Vancouver School of Theology, we speak about her book Mouth of the Donkey: Reimagining Biblical Animals, a book that rekindles wonder about animals and their place in human lives and in creation. Laura is also Profe…

1
Flooded in Divine Presence: A Conversation with Rabbi Laura Duhan-Kaplan, Part 1 59:50

2y ago59:50

59:50

In this episode I speak with Rabbi Laura Duhan-Kaplan, a professor from Vancouver School of Theology, about her integrated life as a philosopher, rabbi, and professor of Judaism at a Christian school of theology. Rabbi Laura brings a thoughtful approach to the spiritual life, seeing God throughout creation and the natural world, an understanding of…

1
Art Shines Light and Exposes Darkness in the Spiritual Life: A Conversation with Michael W. Higgins 58:38

2y ago58:38

58:38

Michael W. Higgins is an educator, professor, university President, author, and journalist. Most recently he was President of St. Mark's College at UBC. We talked about Pope Francis and his life in academia and as a journalist. Finally we turned to focus on the necessary role for the arts to shine a light on the truth and expose the darkness in the…

1
"Neither Categories nor Stereotypes, These are Real People": A Conversation with Father Jim Martin 58:56

2y ago58:56

58:56

In this episode, I discuss with Fr. Jim Martin, a Roman Catholic priest based in New York City, his outreach to the LGBTQ community and his associated book Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity. We also talk about his pilgrimage to Israel and Jesus, wh…

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