The America Magazine Podcast

July 6-13 - Struggling with Infertility

americamagazine — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:45:37 +0000

Julie Irwin Zimmerman discusses the difficulties facing Catholics encountering infertility. Too often, she argues, Catholics feel bewildered by the moral implications of the choices offered by the fertility industry. In this environment, the church should do more to reach out to couples weighing these difficult matters, to listen and guide them to a life-affirming decision. Look for Zimmerman’s article, “Science and the Path to Parenthood,” in the July 6-13 issue.

June 22-29 Podcast - Gone Walkabout

americamagazine — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:26:22 +0000

Jim McDermott, S.J., describes the terrible beauty of Australia, a country that he experienced as both exotic and familiar. Father McDermott spent seven months down under as part of the final stage of his Jesuit formation. Read his article, “Gone Walkabout,” from the June 22-29 issue of America.

June 8-15 Podcast - A Prayer for the Motor City

americamagazine — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:45:20 +0000

Dave Nantais, a frequent contributor to America’s pages and a Detroit native, reports on the mood of the Motor City as the American auto industry continues to shrink, what the church is doing to help the unemployed and why the city’s cultural scene continues to hum despite the troubles.

May 25-June 1 Podcast - Whither the Ambo?

americamagazine — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:25:45 +0000

Jaime Lara of Yale Divinity School considers trends in church architecture from early church history, when no seating was provided for the congregation, to the innovations introduced after Vatican II. Professor Lara also offers a critique of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, and an appreciation of the new Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland, Calif.

May 18 Podcast - Getting to Know Thoreau

americamagazine — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:30:51 +0000

Robert Sullivan, author of The Meadowlands and How Not To Get Rich and a frequent contributor to the New Yorker and Vogue, talks about rats, swamps and his new book, The Thoreau You Don’t Know. Inspired by the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins and the theology of Karl Rahner, Sullivan’s writings seek out the divine spark in even the most repellent of God’s creations.

May 11 Podcast - Catholic Schools and the Education Debate

americamagazine — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:45:54 +0000

As President Barack Obama charts a new course for the country’s educational system, Robert J. Birdsell, the president of the Cristo Rey Network, argues that Catholic schools should have a seat at the table. The potential economic collapse of Catholic schools could become a major issue for the president and his education team, Birdsell says, and both sides need Catholic schools to survive to improve the educational outcomes of inner city students.

May 4 Podcast - A Saint in the Family

americamagazine — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:15:32 +0000

A conversation with Justin Catanoso, author of My Cousin The Saint. Eight years ago, Catanoso, a business journalist and self-described lapsed Catholic, discovered that his grandfather’s Italian cousin was up for canonization. His book chronicles his attempts to find out more about his long forgotten relative, and his own faith journey along the way.

April 20-27 Podcast - The Green Bible Revealed

americamagazine — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:59:18 +0000

J. Matthew Sleeth, a former physician who now writes and preaches on care for the environment, introduces “The Green Bible,” a new project that seeks to highlight the passages from Scripture that are environmentally friendly.

April 13 Podcast - The Editors Reminisce

americamagazine — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:51:08 +0000

Members of the editorial staff share memories of America on the occasion of the magazine’s 100th anniversary. Featuring Fathers James Martin, Joseph O’Hare, George Anderson and others.

March 30-April 6 - Remembering Karl Rahner

americamagazine — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:25:17 +0000

Leo J. O’Donovan, S.J., a former student of Karl Rahner, remembers the great Jesuit theologian and offers five questions to guide the reading of his work. Father O’Donovan also shares personal memories of Rahner, a man who had little time for small talk but who enjoyed riding in fast cars and ordering dessert for dinner. Read Father O’Donovan’s article from the March30-April 6 issue, “Reading Karl Rahner.”

March 23 Podcast - The Human Poetry of Faith

americamagazine — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:17:58 +0000

Michael Paul Gallagher, S.J., author of The Human Poetry of Faith, talks about how to nourish the religious imagination. Gallagher, an Irish priest on the faculty of the Gregorian University in Rome, also suggests ways of ministering to young people, and analyzes the religious impulse at work in the films of two of his former students: directors Jim Sheridan and Neil Jordan.

March 16 Podcast - The End of Catholic Health Care?

americamagazine — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 21:58:04 +0000

Daniel P. Sulmasy, O.F.M., director of the ethics program at Saint Vincent Medical Center and New York Medical College, tells the story of the unraveling of health care in New York City, and makes the case for keeping Catholic hospitals open even in difficult times.

March 9 Podcast - Women in Parish Leadership

americamagazine — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:48:19 +0000

Mary M. Foley discusses the four years she spent as a pastoral life coordinator in a Midwest parish. Drawing on her article, “Exceptional Pastoring,” from the March 9 issue of America, Foley details the responsibilities of a lay leader charged with leading a parish, and the growing pains that can ensue when a woman takes on a role traditionally held by an ordained man.

March 2 Podcast - Travel Tales

americamagazine — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:57:22 +0000

Karen Sue Smith shares travel tales from her trips to Western Europe and Japan. Karen’s article, “The World by Chair,” from our March 2 issue, explores the lure of travelling in place.

February 23 Podcast - Oscar Race 2008

americamagazine — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:42:07 +0000

James Martin, S.J., America’s culture editor, and Bill McGarvey of BustedHalo.com analyze “Milk,” “Slumdog Millionaire” and the other Oscar nominees for Best Picture of 2008.

The Radical Roots of the Pro-Life Movement

americamagazine — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:45:54 +0000

James R. Kelly of Fordham University anaylzes the radical roots of the abortion movement, looking back at the days when peace activists like Tom Cornell and Gordon Zahn sought to link their anti-war activities with the fight against legalized abortion. With the advent of a new Democratic adminitration, Kelly argues now is the time for the pro-life movement to recover that consistent ethic of life. Read Kelly’s article from the February 16 issue of America, “Finding Renewal.”

February 9 Podcast - The Spirituality of ‘Lost’

americamagazine — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:05:00 +0000

Two America staff members, and rabid fans of the ABC TV show “Lost,” look back over the hit show’s four seasons and analyze the various themes that have emerged. On the eve of the premiere of Season 5, Literary Assistant Regina Nigro and Associate Editor Jim McDermott, S.J., consider Jack Shepard’s command to “live together or die alone” and what the show has to say about second chances.

February 2 Podcast - Deacon Greg Kandra on Blogging

americamagazine — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:49:52 +0000

Deacon Greg Kandra talks about his blog, “The Deacon’s Bench,” the state of the Catholic blogosphere and making the move from CBS News to New Evangelization Television, a new cable channel run by the Brooklyn diocese.

January 19-26 - Xavier: Missionary and Saint

americamagazine — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:18:18 +0000

Jeff Johnson, SJ, discusses a documentary he co-wrote and produced on St. Francis Xavier. Narrated by Liam Neeson, “Xavier: Missionary and Saint” traces the saint’s journey from the halls of the University of Paris to his early days as a Jesuit to his misson to India and Japan.

January 5-12 - America’s New Look

americamagazine — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:53:51 +0000

To celebrate its 100th anniversary, America unveils a new print design with its January 5-12 issue. Associate editors James Martin, S.J., and Matt Malone, S.J., discuss the new design and how the look of the magazine has changed over the last 15 years. Father Martin also introduces America’s new Books & Culture section, which will expand the magazine’s coverage of film, television and theater.