Best Commonweal Magazine Podcasts (2024)

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Ep. 137 - Epic in the Everyday 31:55

13h ago31:55

31:55

Garth Greenwell’s latest novel, Small Rain, is set in a midwestern ICU during the early days of the pandemic, as its unnamed narrator, a writer, experiences a health crisis and lies confined to his bed in excruciating pain. In long pauses between visits with nurses and doctors, amid the weird dilations of ‘hospital time,’ the narrator muses on his …

1
Ep. 136 - Are Catholic Colleges Unique? 31:32

17d ago31:32

31:32

As the fall semester begins, colleges and universities are bracing for fresh controversies over free speech, affordability, and the disruptive potential of artificial intelligence. On this episode, Tania Tetlow, the first layperson and first woman to serve as the president of Fordham University, joins editor Dominic Preziosi to weigh in on what Cat…

1
Ep. 135 - When A Church Dies 33:17

2M ago33:17

33:17

Religious disaffiliation, the drifting away of Americans from their churches, isn’t a new story. But it’s certainly a true one. And yet it’s also not the whole story, as veteran New Yorker journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Eliza Griswold argues in her new book, Circle of Hope: A Reckoning with Love, Power, and Justice in an American Church. Gris…

1
Ep. 134 - Whose Paris? 24:36

2M ago24:36

24:36

The 2024 Paris Olympics have brought massive investment to the City of Light, including the construction of new housing, sports facilities, and public transportation. Yet we shouldn’t let that obscure a more sinister phenomenon: gentrification, which has rapidly transformed many of the city’s former immigrant and working-class strongholds into expe…

1
Ep. 133 - ‘Live from Death Row’ 33:30

3M ago33:30

33:30

Alim Braxton, a convicted murderer who admits his guilt, has been incarcerated in North Carolina prison for more than thirty years, spending seven years in solitary confinement and many more on death row. He was once hopeless, but after his conversion to Islam many years ago, he began working for redemption by advocating for prison reform and the e…

1
Ep. 132 - The Glory of ‘Too Much’ 28:12

3M ago28:12

28:12

Egalitarianism remains one of the core tenets of most liberals and progressives. But does the idea that everyone ought to be equal in the sphere of political economy also hold true for the realm of culture? Absolutely not, argues Becca Rothfeld, nonfiction book critic at the Washington Post and author of the debut collection All Things Are Too Smal…

1
Ep. 131 - How to Talk About Having Kids 27:33

3M ago27:33

27:33

In the past, having kids was simply taken for granted. It was just a thing a person did, like going to college or getting a job. But now, in the face of rising costs and environmental degradation, more and more millennials and zoomers are questioning whether they should become parents at all. On this episode, Commonweal editor Dominic Preziosi is j…

1
Ep. 130 - What Plants Know (And Why We Should Care) 31:08

4M ago31:08

31:08

Can trees ‘hear’? Can flowers ‘see’? Are shrubs ‘intelligent’? A decade ago, these questions might have seemed absurd. But an emerging scientific consensus posits that plants are much more like animals than previously thought. On this episode, managing editor Isa Simon speaks with Zoë Schlanger, a staff writer and science reporter at The Atlantic a…

1
Ep. 129 - Judaism’s Loving Heart 31:18

5M ago31:18

31:18

One of the misconceptions about Judaism is that the religion is concerned primarily with justice and the law, not love and grace. That’s precisely backward, argues Rabbi Shai Held, president and dean of the Hadar Institute in New York and author of the new book Judaism Is About Love. Jewish theology, spirituality, and ethics emerge as free response…

1
Ep. 128 - Diagnosing Disadvantage in America 31:17

5M ago31:17

31:17

For decades, discussions of poverty and inequality in America have tended to focus on cities. That’s understandable—cities are often the places where income disparities are most visible. But as poverty researchers Kathryn Edin, H. Luke Schaefer, and Timothy Nelson argue in their recent book The Injustice of Place, traditional income-based indicator…

1
Ep. 127 - Criticism as a Way of Life 27:50

6M ago27:50

27:50

Vinson Cunningham is one of the most dynamic critics working today. Best known as the New Yorker’s theater critic and co-host of the weekly podcast Critics at Large, he’s also the author of the novel Great Expectations, based on his experience working for the Obama campaign in 2008. On this episode, Cunningham joins Commonweal contributing writer A…

1
Ep. 126 - God, According to Marilynne Robinson 29:28

6M ago29:28

29:28

We’re all familiar with the tired stereotype of the “God of the Old Testament,” a capricious creator Who subjects His chosen people to endless cycles of punishment and retribution. But in her reading of the Book of Genesis, novelist and essayist Marilynne Robinson describes a God of gentleness, one wildly in love with creation and humanity. In this…

1
Ep. 125 - What Are Universities For? 29:16

7M ago29:16

29:16

The past year or so hasn’t been the best one for higher education. Debates over affirmative action, free speech, and affordability, combined with recent cuts to the humanities, have led many to wonder what the future holds. Here to speak about all of this is Nicholas Dirks, former chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley, and author of …

1
Ep. 124 - The GOP Attack on Catholic Shelters at the Border 22:38

7M ago22:38

22:38

Recent weeks have seen an intensification of the Republican campaign against Catholic groups that offer assistance to migrants and refugees along the southern border. Last month, Texas state attorney general Ken Paxton announced a lawsuit against Annunciation House, a network of houses of hospitality run by Catholic volunteers in El Paso, Texas. On…

1
Ep. 123 - The Hall Beside Belief 32:46

7M ago32:46

32:46

For many religious people, the pandemic accelerated a decline in institutional allegiance and trust that was already well underway. Many Catholics stopped attending Mass and still haven’t returned. One figure who thinks deeply about the contemporary decline in religious practice and affiliation is Irish poet and theologian Pádraig Ó Tuama, host of …

1
Ep. 122 - The New Suburbia 28:43

8M ago28:43

28:43

For the first time, a majority of Americans now live in the suburbs—places that have been transformed over the past several decades by boom-and-bust construction cycles and rapid demographic shifts. On this episode, associate editor Regina Munch speaks with journalist Benjamin Herold about his new book Disillusioned: Five Families and the Unravelin…

1
Ep. 121 - Rescuer of the Written Word 26:19

8M ago26:19

26:19

For decades, Fr. Columba Stewart, a Benedictine Monk of St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota, has traveled the world in an effort to preserve manuscripts belonging to endangered communities. On this episode, Fr. Stewart joins Commonweal editor Dominic Preziosi to discuss how he first got involved in this work, the care and attention it requi…

1
Ep. 120 - An Evening with Christian Wiman 28:13

9M ago28:13

28:13

Last month, Commonweal hosted a book launch in New York City with poet Christian Wiman. The topic was his new book Zero at the Bone: 50 Entries Against Despair, a mixture of poetry, essays, quotations, and close readings. The former editor of Poetry magazine and now a professor at Yale Divinity School, Wiman has long been an admirer of Commonweal. …

1
Ep. 119 - Best of 2023 32:59

9M ago32:59

32:59

On this special year-end episode, we’re revisiting four of our favorite conversations from the past year. Sociologist Matthew Desmond explains how the United States can choose to abolish poverty. Sr. Helen Prejean and singer Ryan McKinney discuss the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Dead Man Walking. Poet-scholar and slam champion Joshua Bennett …

1
Ep. 118 - Why Conservatives Should Be Pro-Labor 34:52

10M ago34:52

34:52

American workers have fared poorly in recent decades, suffering the loss not just of purchasing power, but of political power, too. On this episode, Commonweal senior editor Matt Boudway speaks with journalist Sohrab Ahmari, a conservative political commentator and editor whose new book Tyranny, Inc critiques corporate power in a way that will reso…

1
Ep. 117 - Processing the Synod 34:37

10M ago34:37

34:37

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.…

1
Ep. 116 - Saving Liberalism 45:20

11M ago45:20

45:20

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 …

1
Ep. 115 - An Opera for ‘Life People’ 29:08

11M ago29:08

29:08

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 Domi…

1
Ep. 114 - Moving With the Ocean 27:59

12M ago27:59

27:59

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, sp…

1
Ep. 113 - How to Abolish Poverty 32:47

1y ago32:47

32:47

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 capit…

1
Ep. 112 - Has News Always Been ‘Fake’? 32:42

1y ago32:42

32:42

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 profess…

1
Ep. 111 - Writers Shouldn’t ‘Prance’ 26:05

1y ago26:05

26:05

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…

1
Ep. 110 - Living for God Alone 35:12

1y ago35:12

35:12

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…

1
Ep. 109 - Bordering on Compassion 39:33

1y ago39:33

39:33

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 a…

1
Ep. 108 - God’s Editor 31:25

1y ago31:25

31:25

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…

1
Ep. 107 - Rescuing Philosophy 37:11

1y ago37:11

37:11

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 …

1
Ep. 106 - Belief in Something Big 30:20

1+ y ago30:20

30:20

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…

1
Ep. 105 - How Hospitals Could Be 39:50

1+ y ago39:50

39:50

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 Commonwe…

1
Ep. 104 - After We’re Gone 29:17

1+ y ago29:17

29:17

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:…

1
Ep. 103 - Out Loud 42:00

1+ y ago42:00

42:00

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 co…

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Ep. 102 - Writing Climate Change 18:08

1+ y ago18:08

18:08

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 Eart…

1
Ep. 101 - A ‘Mindset’ of Misanthropy 36:20

1+ y ago36:20

36:20

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 Ru…

1
Ep. 100 - Renaissance Man 42:33

1+ y ago42:33

42:33

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,…

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Ep. 99 - Hot & Bothered 31:18

1+ y ago31:18

31:18

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…

1
Ep. 98 - Gustavo Arellano’s California 31:20

1+ y ago31:20

31:20

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…

1
Ep. 97 - Ukraine, Revisited 30:54

1+ y ago30:54

30:54

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…

1
Ep. 96 - Unity, not Uniformity 36:20

1+ y ago36:20

36:20

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: Ritu…

1
Ep. 95 - Must We Forgive? 25:32

1+ y ago25:32

25:32

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 …

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Ep. 94 - Best of 2022 36:21

2y ago36:21

36:21

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 e…

1
Anika Prather on Democratic and Classical Education for Freedom 2:04:02

2y ago2:04:02

2:04:02

This is the tenth episode of the second season of Folk Phenomenology, hosted by Sam Rocha, featuring Anika Prather. Folk Phenomenology is generously sponsored by: Wipf and Stock Publishers St. Mark’s College Centre for Christian Engagement Give Us This Day Solidarity Hall Black Catholic Messenger U.S. Catholic: See everything U.S. Catholic has to o…

1
Ep. 93 - A Flock without Shepherds? 30:46

2y ago30:46

30:46

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 m…

1
Tracey Salisbury on Wakanda Forever and Black and Brown Solidarity 2:07:00

2y ago2:07:00

2:07:00

This is the ninth episode of the second season of Folk Phenomenology, hosted by Sam Rocha, featuring Tracey Salisbury. Folk Phenomenology is generously sponsored by: Wipf and Stock Publishers St. Mark’s College Centre for Christian Engagement Give Us This Day Solidarity Hall Black Catholic Messenger U.S. Catholic: See everything U.S. Catholic has t…

1
Ep. 92 - Which Latino Voter? 34:16

2y ago34:16

34:16

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 m…

1
Ep. 91 - Care, Commodified 30:30

2y ago30:30

30:30

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 …

1
Jenn Morson on Antisemitism and Journalism in and out of Catholicism 1:10:01

2y ago1:10:01

1:10:01

This is the eight episode of the second season of Folk Phenomenology, hosted by Sam Rocha, featuring Jenn Morson. Folk Phenomenology is generously sponsored by: Wipf and Stock Publishers St. Mark’s College Centre for Christian Engagement Give Us This Day Solidarity Hall Black Catholic Messenger U.S. Catholic: See everything U.S. Catholic has to off…

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