Shows
The Religion and American Life Podcast“Catholic Fundamentalism in America,” with theologian and director of the Boisi Center, Mark Massa, S.J.Join us for a special episode of Religion and American Life in which Fr. Mark Massa, S.J., is interviewed by the student employees of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life about his recently published book, Catholic Fundamentalism in America. This important conversation unpacks the characteristics of Catholic fundamentalism, its social and historical trajectories, integralism, the role of social media, healthy vs. unhealthy pluralism, and more.
Credits:
Podcast Hosts: Madeline Jarrett, William Adamczyk, Joseph Monti
Production: Madeline Jarrett
Music: • Bourree 4th Lute Suite; Exzel Music Publishing (freemusicpublicdomain.com); Lic...
2025-05-1335 minThe Religion and American Life Podcast“Conflict Resilience in a Divided Church,” with conflict resolution expert, Bob BordoneJoin us for an engaging conversation between Mark Massa, S.J., and acclaimed conflict expert, Bob Bordone, as they discuss insights from Bordone’s recently published book, Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement without Giving Up or Giving In. In the episode, Bordone, a lifelong Catholic, unpacks the ways that these insights might apply to parish life and help us navigate polarization in the Church.
Bordone is an internationally-recognized expert, author, speaker, and teacher in negotiation, conflict resolution, mediation, and facilitation, recently selected as one of the Top 30 Negotiation Professionals by Top Global Gurus. A Senior Fellow at Harvard Law...
2025-04-2439 minThe Religion and American Life PodcastA Conversation with BC Head Football Coach, Bill O’BrienThis episode is a recording of a live event we hosted with Bill O’Brien, the head coach of the Boston College football team, for a conversation about faith and football. Join us as Mark Massa, S.J., interviews Coach O’Brien about Jesuit culture, cultivating his vision for the program, his hopes for the team, and what made him decide to take the position at BC.
Credits:
Podcast Host: Mark Massa, S.J.
Production: Madeline Jarrett
Music: • Bourree 4th Lute Suite; Exzel Music Publishing (freemusicpublicdomain.com); Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribu...
2024-12-1724 min
The LYHL PodcastJohn C. PollardSend us a textIn this episode, Elle Bottrell is joined by none of than - John C. Pollard - musician and sometimes marketer. John's presence in the world as a creative, contemplative learner and achiever comes through right away in the discussion with myriad references to useful thinker, researchers, and philosopher's words, insights, findings and more.Their shared history in Evangelical Christianity makes numerous appearances in their conversation as they share about their expanding views of the world, life, and spirituality.The arching discussion reaches such places as:the importance of...
2024-11-261h 27The Religion and American Life PodcastFr. James Martin’s Reflections on the 2024 SynodIn this episode of Religion and American Life, James Martin, S.J., discusses his experiences at the 2024 Synod gathering in Rome. Host Mark Massa, S.J., engages Fr. Martin on the differences between the 2023 and 2024 meetings, the topics that were (and were not) discussed, moving moments, the process of implementing the Synod, and even the best Synod jokes. After giving this episode a listen, and to hear more of Fr. Martin’s Synod experiences, check out the recording of an event we hosted on the 2023 Synod last spring.
Credits:
Podcast Host: Mark Massa, S.J.
P...
2024-11-2032 minThe Religion and American Life PodcastChristian Nationalism in the United States Today, with Theologian and Episcopal Priest, Daniel Joslyn-SiemiatkoskiIn this episode of Religion and American Life, Mark Massa, S.J. interviews the theologian and Episcopal priest, Dr. Daniel Joslyn-Siemiatkoski, on the rise of Christian nationalism in the United States. Joslyn-Siemiatkoski discusses the roots of Christian nationalism, the complex ways that it appears in our culture, and what it might mean for the 2024 election. Join us for this important and timely conversation.
Credits:
Podcast Host: Mark Massa, S.J.
Production: Madeline Jarrett
Music: • Bourree 4th Lute Suite; Exzel Music Publishing (freemusicpublicdomain.com); Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0; http://creativecommons.org/li...
2024-10-0332 min
The Wise and the WhereforesThe Season of Creation and Laudato Si’ – a view from the US in this election yearThe environment is a key platform of the papacy of Francis and his encyclical will form a significant part of his legacy over decades if not centuries. So why has Laudato Si’ not taken root in the US as it has in the UK and elsewhere? Could one reason be the polarisation of society and Church where climate change has itself become so politicised? Yet the lack of engagement with Laudato Si’ is not along Democrat-Republican lines, it seems to cross the political divide. At the root of it is how to bring the common good into debate in a so...
2024-09-0638 minThe Religion and American Life PodcastA New Era of Jesuit University Leadership – A Conversation with the President of Fordham University, Tania TetlowIn this episode of Religion and American Life, Mark Massa, S.J., interviews the first non-Jesuit and female President of Fordham University, Tania Tetlow. Join us as President Tetlow discusses the gifts and challenges of entering her leadership position, the benefits of a Jesuit education, and the unique obstacles and opportunities presented to Catholic universities in our political era.
Credits:
Podcast Host: Mark Massa, S.J.
Production: Madeline Jarrett
Music: • Bourree 4th Lute Suite; Exzel Music Publishing (freemusicpublicdomain.com); Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/.
• Doubl...
2023-12-1127 minThe Religion and American Life PodcastBarbie and the Loss of Paradise - A Conversation with Theologian Cathleen KavenyThe Barbie movie has taken the world by storm since its release in July 2023. The movie, directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margo Robbie and Ryan Gosling, follows “stereotypical Barbie” as she moves through an existential crisis and toward self-discovery. Join Mark Massa, S.J. as he engages Dr. Cathleen Kaveny about the theological themes of the Barbie movie.
The Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life also hosted a panel with Dr. Kaveny and two other scholars on the theological themes of the Barbie movie. Find the recording of the event here.
See al...
2023-12-0524 minThe Religion and American Life PodcastArt as Spiritual Practice: An Interview with Stuart HobbsFor people of faith, the attempt at teaching and understanding the divine is frequently done through the various media of art. Whether music, literature, poetry, or sculpture, these are grasps at the ultimately ungraspable. For the Lenten Season of 2023, Ohio artist Stuart Hobbs created a series of paintings for his parish, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Columbus, Ohio. The installation is a series based on the Seven Last Words of Jesus. In this episode, Boisi Center director, Mark Massa, S.J., speaks with Hobbs about the installation and the relationship between art and spirituality.
For more information on the S...
2023-04-0328 minThe Religion and American Life PodcastThe Protests in Iran: An Interview with Natana Delong-Bas and Kristin PetersonIn September of this year, Mahsa Amini was found dead after having been taken into custody by Iran's "morality police." This sparked national and global outrage, leading to large protests in the streets of Iran, pressure from the rest of the world on Iran's government and religious leaders, and what appeared to be the dissolution of the morality police. Join Mark Massa, S.J. as he discusses with Boston College professors Natana Delong-Bas and Kristin Peterson the circumstances of Amini's death, the solidaristic protests of Muslim women around the world, and what the future holds (or should hold) for I...
2022-12-2030 minThe Religion and American Life PodcastThe Future of American Religion: An Interview with Pew Research Center’s Stephanie KramerIn September of 2022, the Pew Research Center published a study that indicated that religious switching is changing the face of American politics. The report concludes that if the trends continue as they are, Christianity in the United States will fall below 50%. And regardless whether this exact scenario continues or another one emerges, the report concludes that the Christian population in the US will continue to decline. Join Mark Massa, S.J. as he discusses with senior Pew researcher, Stephanie Kramer, the causes and consequences of this projection.
Credits:
Podcast Host: Mark Massa, S.J.
P...
2022-12-0224 minThe Religion and American Life PodcastCharting the ’Way Forward’: An Interview with David Gibson, Mark Massa, S.J., and Michael MurphyIn March 2022, the Boisi Center, Fordham's Center on Religion and Culture and the Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage at Loyola University Chicago hosted the conference, "Pope Francis, Vatican II, and the Way Forward." In attendance were cardinals, archbishops, bishops, academics, and Catholic journalists--all gathered to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing the American Church. Join R. Zachary Karanovich, the Boisi Center's graduate research assistant, as he discusses with David Gibson, Mark Massa, S.J., and Michael Murphy (the three centers' directors) the process and challenges in developing the conference, the insights and outcomes from the...
2022-08-3140 minThe Religion and American Life PodcastThe Consequences of Roe and the Leaked SCOTUS Opinion: An Interview with M. Cathleen Kaveny
In May 2022, a draft Supreme Court opinion authored by Justice Samuel Alito was leaked to the public. The opinion would overturn the holding in Roe v. Wade that afforded the constitutional right to an abortion within the umbrella right to privacy. If the leaked opinion is final, the impact on American society, women, Catholics, and the Supreme Court itself would be seismic. Join Mark Massa, S.J. as he discusses with M. Cathleen Kaveny the legal and religious consequences of the leaked opinion.
Credits:
Podcast Host: Mark Massa, S.J.
Production: R. Zachary Kara...
2022-05-3134 minThe Religion and American Life PodcastGender, Sexuality, and the Church: An Interview with Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas and James Martin, S.J.Historically, the Roman Catholic and Episcopal Churches have responded quite differently to the movements of the LGBTQ community and the voices of women. Yet, the concerns of both groups have been the same and persistent. The Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas and James Martin, S.J. have been powerful voices in the fight for these marginalized groups to be heard in their respective denominations. Join Mark Massa, S.J. as he discusses with Douglas and Martin the history, theology, ongoing challenges, and hopes for the LGBTQ community and women in these two branches of the Jesus Movement.
...
2022-04-2543 minThe Religion and American Life PodcastBoston’s Catholic Nazis: An Interview with Charles Gallagher, S.J.In his recently published book, Nazis of Copley Square, Charles Gallagher, S.J. tells the story of the Christian Front, a Catholic organization of men crusading to cleanse the United States from the perceived influence of Communism. It is a dark chapter of history that includes anti-Semitism, practiced marksmanship, and bomb-making--all under the unofficial umbrella of Catholicism--and the desire to install a "temporary dictatorship" in the U.S. Join Mark Massa, S.J. as he discusses the remarkable story with Gallagher as well as its lessons for our contemporary political moment.
Credits:
Podcast Host: Mark Massa, S.J.
Production: R. Za...
2022-03-2241 minThe Religion and American Life PodcastThe Famous Evangelical Editorial: An Interview with Mark GalliPrior to his resignation as editor of Christianity Today, Mark Galli wrote a now-famous editorial calling for the end of Donald Trump's presidency: "Trump Should Be Removed from Office." As expected, the backlash from Evangelicals supportive of the president was fierce. But Galli stood by his decision. In this episode, Mark Massa, S.J. discusses with Galli the circumstances of and response to his editorial, the politics of Evangelicals, and Galli's own move to Roman Catholicism.
Credits
Podcast Host: Mark Massa, S.J.
Podcast Production: John Sage and Boston College Media Technology Services
Music: Nova Wang (Boston College '21)
2022-02-1542 min
Between the Keys#7 This Is How We’ll Save the WorldIn this episode, I talk about the need for humans as a race to understand the influence of music on our souls, and the need we have for it to heal our souls.
I quote the welcome address to freshmen parents at Boston Conservatory, by Karl Paulnack, pianist and director of the music division.
https://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/centers/boisi/pdf/s091/Welcome_address_to_freshman_at_Boston_Conservatory.pdf
2020-03-0717 min