Shows
Cross Word BooksWhat Happens When Information Outruns A KingSend a textContact michele at https://www.bookclues.comWhat if a city without modern newspapers learned to think like a public anyway? We sit down with historian Robert Darnton to chart how Paris, from 1748 to 1789, became an information society powered by parades, fireworks, songs, rumor, and street theater. Instead of headlines, “publication” meant a royal herald reading peace aloud while bands played—and a celebration that ended in a deadly crush. Those moments didn’t just inform people; they taught them how power felt.Darnton guides us through the mechanisms that carried i...
2026-02-0658 minCross Word BooksCivil War Memory, NowSend a textConnect with Michele at https://www.bookclues.comHeadlines keep tossing around the phrase “civil war,” but what are we really talking about when we invoke that history today? We sit down with historians John Kinder and Jennifer Murray, co-editors of They Are Dead and Yet They Live: Civil War Memories in a Polarized America, to unpack how memory gets made—and why it gets weaponized. From the Lost Cause to the language of conflict we see online, we explore the difference between personal remembrance and public storytelling, and how...
2026-01-3042 min
Cross Word Booksits a Charlie brown ChristmasSend a textMerry Christmas everyone!!! This is a re-run but one of my most popular podcasts about the beloved Charlie Brown. Who doesn't love the Charlie brown Christmas Tree? I hope all of you are captured by the wonder of this season, surrounded by love and to remember what it is to love. God Bless all Look forward to everyone in the New Year.Michele McAloon We explore how Charles Schulz turned Peanuts into a cultural mirror for Cold War fear, public faith, and civil rights, and why that gent...
2025-12-2036 minCross Word BooksHistory of German Christmas MarketsSend a textIf you love Christmas history, urban culture, or just the glow of a winter night, this conversation will change how you walk a market lane. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend who loves Christmas markets, and leave a quick review to tell us your favorite Christmas market whereever you are in the world.Connect with the Catholic Thing Fear – and Hope – in Europe’s Christmas Markets' from The Catholic Thing.https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2025/12/13/fear-and-hope-in-europes-christmas-markets/with Michele Mcaloon https://www.bookclues.comCold air...
2025-12-1941 minCross Word BooksOne King, Two Kingdoms; A colorful LifeSend a textIn this fascinating podcast episode, historian Gareth Russell delves into the riveting life of King James I. Michele McAloon, the host, describes Russell's latest book, 'The Six Loves of James the First,' as a compelling historical narrative that rivals even the most intricate fiction. Russell shares captivating anecdotes about James I's dramatic upbringing amidst religious turmoil, his complex relationships, and his influence on history, including the creation of the King James Bible and Jamestown. Throughout the discussion, Russell emphasizes the importance of balancing historical accuracy with the dignity of both historical figures and...
2025-12-0341 minCross Word BooksRivalry That Built The SouthSend a textWar Eagel! Roll tide! College game day! The Iron BowlA single game can define a state. We sit down with Yahoo Sports senior writer Jay Busbee to unpack how Alabama vs Auburn became the South’s fiercest mirror, reflecting pride, pain, progress, and power from 1893 to NIL. Jay’s new book, Iron in the Blood, traces the Iron Bowl’s evolution from picnic blankets and early tailgates to bowl-driven TV eras and today’s high-dollar recruiting wars, revealing how a rivalry without pro competition in the state grew into a year-round identity...
2025-11-2637 min
Conversations with ConsequencesEP 343 Dr. Sophia Aguirre on Catholic International University & AI, Veterans Day with Michele McAloon, A Look at New USCCB Leadership, & DC’s Catholic Young Adult SceneEpisode Description
Economist and university president Dr. Maria Sophia Aguirre joins Ashley to share the bold new vision of Catholic International University, the fully online Catholic institution formerly known as Catholic Distance University. She explains how CIU is going global with new programs while remaining person-centered, affordable, and faithful to the heart and mind of the Church. Dr. Aguirre also reflects on the promises and perils of AI, and why the Church must lead in designing technology that serves the human person rather than replaces it.
As we mark Veterans Day, retired Army officer-turned-canon-lawyer Michele...
2025-11-1400 minCross Word BooksVampire Epidemics ExplainedSend a textYou can contact Michele at https://www.bookclues.com Have you ever read Dracula??? child's play compared to John Blair's Killing the Dead; Vampire Epidemics from Mesopotamia to the New World.A corpse that won’t stay put tells you as much about the living as it does about the dead. We sit down with Oxford’s Professor John Blair to chart how vampire epidemics rise when communities are shaken by disease, war, or rapid change—and why the freshly buried become suspects w...
2025-10-2941 minCross Word BooksNo Wi‑Fi Underwater, Still Plenty Of DramaSend a textConnect with Michele at https://www.bookclues.comWhat if the most important maps we’ll ever draw are hidden under miles of water and thousands of PSI? We sit down with physicist and exploration roboticist James Bellingham to trace a life spent pushing past pressure, busting tethers, and building the autonomous systems that make the deep sea knowable.We start with the physics that rule the depths: hydrostatic pressure that crushes air spaces, why small pressure vessels survive better than big ones, and how neutral buoyancy and material science se...
2025-10-2053 minCross Word BooksMurder in the CathedralSend a textMichele McAloon is the host. You can find more interviews on her website https://www.bookclues.com.The name Thomas Becket echoes through history as one of medieval England's most compelling figures – a man whose dramatic transformation from royal chancellor to martyred archbishop continues to captivate our imagination nearly a millennium later. In this episode, we're joined by Professor Michael Stotten from University College Dublin, a medieval historian whose expertise brings this extraordinary 12th-century drama to vivid life.Born to Norman merchant parents in bustling London around 1120, Becket's early years gav...
2025-09-2954 minCross Word BooksBeyond the Body: What Defines Our Humanity?Send a textContact the host of Cross Word, Michele McAloon https://www.bookclues.comWhat makes us human? It's a question at the heart of today's most heated cultural debates, from abortion to artificial intelligence to gender identity. In this profound conversation, Princeton's Professor Robert George offers a compelling framework for understanding human dignity that transcends political divides.The conversation explores how ancient philosophical errors resurface in modern debates. George identifies elements of Gnosticism – the belief that humans are essentially minds trapped in irrelevant bodies – in contemporary discussions about gender and...
2025-09-0241 minCross Word BooksFrom Kremlin Access to Exile: Surviving Putin's Media PurgeSend a textContact Michele at her website https://www.bookclues.comAndrei Soldatov shares his firsthand account of Russia's transformation under Putin, explaining how the free press was systematically dismantled and the country became increasingly isolated from the West. His powerful narrative weaves personal stories of journalists who either resisted or succumbed to the system, providing crucial context for understanding Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its hostile stance toward America.Check out Andrei Soldatov's and Irina Borogan's website https://agentura.ru
2025-08-1951 min
Cross Word BooksBombs and Beasts: The Hidden Battle for Zoo SurvivalSend a text "World War Zoos: Humans and Other Animals in the Deadliest Conflict of the Modern Age." University of Chicago PressTo find our more about Michele McAloon: Your host.https://www.bookclues.comWhat happens to zoo animals when war breaks out? It's a question few of us consider, yet the answer reveals profound truths about humanity's moral compass. Professor John M. Kinder takes us on a haunting journey through World War II's forgotten captives in "World War Zoos: Humans and Other Animals in the De...
2025-06-1142 min
Cross Word BooksThe Secret Truth About Ukraine Nobody is Telling YouSend a textMichele McAloon speaks with Olena Tregub, a Ukrainian civil society leader and anti-corruption advocate, about the realities of war in Ukraine and why American support remains crucial despite political uncertainty.• Olena describes the terrifying routine of air raid alerts and Russia's intensified attacks on Ukrainian civilians• Ukrainian defense relies heavily on US-supplied Patriot systems which cannot be replaced by European support• Most corruption stories about Ukraine are Russian propaganda - approximately 60% are completely fake• Ukraine has implemented significant anti-corruption reforms even during wartime, including new procurement agencies and oversight mechanis...
2025-06-0237 minCross Word BooksParis 1919: How the Treaty That Ended World War I Continues to Shape Modern EuropeSend a textLike and subscribe to Crossword on YouTube at Crossword Author Interviews. You can also find us at bookclues.com and follow Michele McAloon on X, BlueSky and TrueSocial, all @MicheleMcAloon1.Professor Margaret MacMillan joins us to explore how the 1919 Paris Peace Conference shaped our modern world and why understanding this pivotal moment is essential for making sense of today's European conflicts.• World War I as the war that made World War II possible and ended the relatively peaceful 19th century• The challenge of self-determination in ethnically mixed regions where bord...
2025-03-2046 minCross Word BooksThe Enduring Influence of the Bible: A Journey Through History and Culture with Professor Bruce GordonSend a textHow has the Bible managed to influence cultures across the globe for over two millennia? Join me, Michelle McAloon, as I sit down with Professor Bruce Gordon, the distinguished Titus Street professor of ecclesiastical history at Yale Divinity School, to uncover the Bible's remarkable journey. Together, we promise to unearth how this sacred text has continued to evolve, both through its divine inspiration and as a cultural artifact. Professor Gordon offers a wealth of knowledge from his acclaimed work, "The Bible: A Global History," as we explore the intricate historical and linguistic transformations that...
2024-12-1148 minCross Word BooksNavigating Divided Berlin in 'The Berlin Apartment' with Bryn TurnbullSend a textEver wondered how a city could be divided by more than just a wall? Join me, Michele McAloon, as I sit down with the brilliant Bryn Turnbull to navigate the poignant and gripping world of historical fiction in her latest book, "The Berlin Apartment." We promise you'll gain a deeper understanding of Berlin's turbulent history post-World War II, from the city's division by Allied powers to the eventual rise of the Berlin Wall in 1961. Through the compelling story of Lise, a medical student caught on the West side while her fiancé remains trapped in t...
2024-08-2730 minCross Word BooksNew Perspectives on Presidential HistorySend a textmysteryhints@gmail.com email for Michele McAloonTrump. Presidential history was made this past week whether or not you agree or disagree with the verdict. The President of the United States of America. There is no other political office in the world like it. The 45 men who have filled the office have come from diverse backgrounds to embrace the many different challenges unique to the American experiment. Mary Carol Ghislin, a seasoned teacher and author has written a very charming and important book; Growing Up to Be President: U.S. history for kid...
2024-06-0138 minCross Word BooksA Hiker's Guide to PurgatorySend a textWhat is purgatory? is it horrible? Does it lack joy? What is it suppose to achieve? Join me in conversation with first time author Michael Norton to discuss his book A Hitchhiker's Guide to Purgatory published by Ignatius Press. This is a charming tale of the possible journey toward eternity. Find Michele McAloon @MicheleMcAloon1
2022-11-1521 minCross Word BooksDracula-the original Catholic horror story!Send a textBecause you can never get enough Dracula this time of year. This is a repeat performance! Dracula..the Motherlode of all horror stories just in time for all hallows eve and all souls day .Join me in conversation with Dr Doug Mitchell, my friend with a PhD in literature, as we talk about Brahm Stoker"s 1897 classic Dracula. Redemption. purity, bats and werewolves all rolled into this towering gothic novel. We discuss the Catholic and literary themes that have long held a fascination for a clas...
2022-10-2729 minCross Word BooksThe Sassoon’s: Global MerchantsSend a textThe Sassoon family was one of the richest families in the world in the 19th century, From a Baghdadi Jewish community to the dizzying heights of British aristocracy the Sassoons were an economic success story mirroring the fortunes of colonial Britian. Join me in conversation with Joseph Sassoon, author of The Sassoons: The Great Globbal Merchants and the Making of an Empire published by Pantheon Books.
2022-10-2039 minCross Word BooksAs I Have Loved YouSend a textWant io understand why individualism does not work for human beings, familiies or communities? Want to understand how our individualistic understanding of our selves is not the turth? Join in Conversation with Father Timothy Vivarek, author of as I have Loved You. published by Emmaus Road Publishing. BE A RADICAL listen to this PODCAST! You can read Father Timothy Vavarek's article on https://www.thecatholicthing.org/Find Michele @michelemcaloon1
2022-10-1236 minCross Word BooksThe PersecutedSend a textCasey Chalk is one of the premier Catholic voices in the US today. Join me in conversation with Casey as we discuss his book, The Persecuted: The Stories of Courageous Christians Living Their Faith in Muslim Lands published by Sophia Institute Press. You can find Casey at https://www.caseychalk.com/Talk to Micele on Twitter @michelemcaloon1
2022-10-0632 minCross Word BooksIslam and ChristianitySend a textOne of my most interesting conversations yet! Join me as we discuss Islam in view of Christianity , with Dr David Pinault, author of The Crucifix on Meccas Front Porch (Ignatius Press) This is not an apology for Islam but an analytical view of Islam in order to better understand Christianity.Dr Pinault is also the author of Providence Blue, a fictional tale of kenotic theology. Youn can listen to my interview here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1677349/9414830-providence-blue.mp3?download=true
2022-09-2844 minCross Word BooksThe True EnglandSend a textJoin me in conversation with Joesph Pearce, author of Faith of Our Fathers, A History of True England (Ignatius Press) as we talk about St Albin, Edward the Confessor, the Glastonbury thron tree, middle English and Shakespeare as a Catholic. Find Michele on Twitter @MicheleMcAloon1.
2022-09-2132 minCross Word BooksRoyalty and RussiaSend a textThe family of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth is an integral part of the history of Europe. Join me in conversation as we talk about some of the Queens 20 th century family desendants . Two young girls Alexandra and Ella, ( who were also Prince Phillip's great aunts) of the royal Hesse family in Darmstadt Germany marry into the Russian royal family for love. They both come to a tragic end at the hands of Russian Bolsheviks. Authr Clare McHugh discusses her research on the lives and deaths of these two young royal women. Clare McHug...
2022-09-1336 minCross Word BooksExtra Terrestrial intelligence and Catholic TheologySend a textIf alien life is discovered on another planet or in another universe how woud they relate to us and God? Would they be marked by origninal sin like us? Would aliens need baptizing? join me in conversation with Dr Paul Thigpen author of ETI and Catholic Theology, published by Tan Books. Dr Thigpen traces the history of man's wandering about the existence of alien life. From the ancient Greek to the Foo Fighters humanity has always looked to the heavens and wondered who else may be in the universe. I BELIEVE! They are...
2022-08-1635 minCross Word BooksShooting At Heaven's GateSend a textIn a world without God can suffering and evil be understood? What makes a Mass Shooter? Kaye Park Hinkcley author of Shooting At Heaven's Gate explores these questions in her well written fictional story set in Alabama. Ms Hinkcley creates a crisp, poignant and sometimes humorous narrative in asking how does suffering and faith shape our lives. Summer Reading at its Best!Find Kay's Book at https://chrismpress.com/
2022-08-0421 minCross Word BooksThe JesuitsSend a textJuly 31st is the Feast Day of St Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order. Join me in dicussion with German Professor Markus Friedrich as we discuss his book The Jesuits; A History, an Amazon's Editor's pick. (published Princeton University Press) From St Ignatius, a wounded war veteran to Pope Francis I, Jesuits have always been on the forefront of contemproary history and controversey. Learn about the history of this storied order.
2022-07-2547 minCross Word BooksAndrew Jackson..the Man and The LegendSend a textWho really was this man President Andrew Jackson? Join me in conversation with David S. Brown author of The First Populist; The Defiant Life of Andrew Jackon published by Scribner. Andrew Jackson looms large in the American historical imagination Find out who the man really was from frontiersman, war hero to the seventh president of the Untied States. A very well informed and balanced bigoraphy of the historical figure of Andrew Jackson
2022-07-2133 minCross Word BooksAlexis de Tocqueville..A man who understood DemocracySend a textJuly 14 is Bastille Day. A great way to commenorate this auspicious event is to grab a glass of chmpagne or a good bordeaux and listen to my interview with Professor Olivier Zunz, author of The Man Who understood Democracy: The Life of Alexis de Tocqueville published by Princeton University Press. A wonderfully well crafted biography about a French man who truly beleived in democracy in both the US and France . You can find out more about the works of Professor Zunz https://press.princeton.edu/our-authors/zunz-olivier Follow Michele on Twitte...
2022-07-1234 minCross Word BooksWhere Cowards Go To DieSend a textHow does a person live with the moral injury of war? Through hope and faith. Benjamin Sledge, combat veteran of the Afghanistan and Iraq battlefields, author of Where Cowards Go To Die -Regnery Gateway Publishing, talks about PTSD, loss, growth and hope. How does one grow out of horrific expereinces? Sledge tells of his path of resiliency and coming home after combat. Connect with Bejamin Sledge https://benjaminsledge.com/
2022-07-0542 minCross Word BooksTearing Us ApartSend a textJoin me to discuss the hottest topic in the nation with Alexandra Desanctis coauthor of Tearing US Apart; How Abortion Harms Everything and Solves Nothing, published by Regnery. Written before the Court decsion to overturn Roe vs Wade, Ryan Anderson and Alexandra DeSanctis were able to foretell some of the logic used by the Supreme Court justices to come to their historical decsion. Read the Supreme Court decsion yourself! Dont let the media tell you what is in the decsion..you can find it here https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pd...
2022-06-3025 minCross Word BooksVeterans Come Home: Best Years of Our LivesSend a textThe Best Years of Our Lives was a 1946 movie classic. The movie narrates a story of three veterans returning from the front lines of World War II and their struggles to adapt to the front lines of home life, work and family. Alison Macor, film critic and author has written a charming book about the making of this award winning classic . Join me in discussion as we talk about her recently published book Making the Best Years of Our Lives; The Hollywood Classic that Inspired a Nation. You can find this book on https...
2022-06-1737 minCross Word BooksThe Rifle and The Greatest GenerationSend a textIn light of DDay June 6, I have decided to rerun this interview made for Veteran's Day of last year. The M-1 Garand, the standard rifle for World War II Infantryman. becomes a microphone for the living members of the Greatest Generation. Join me in conversation with Mr. Andrew Biggio, US Marine, combat veteran, and Massachusetts police officer, author of The Rifle: Combat Stories From America's Last WWII Veterans, Told Through an M1 Garand.. published by Regnery History. Mr. Biggio traveled the country to speak with over 200 living veterans from World War II. He shares with us...
2022-06-0930 minCross Word BooksFierce Valor: The Story of Ronald SpeirsSend a textD-Day is June 6. We have all heard of Easy Company, the Band of Brothers and Dick Winters but little has been written of Ronald Speirs, the longest serving commander of Easy Company. Join me in conversation with co-author Jared Frederick as we discuss his new book Fierce Valor: The True Story of Ronald Speirs and His Band of Brothers published by Regnery History.
2022-06-0335 minCross Word BooksThe Greater Reset is not the Great ResetSend a textBeware of Davos and the World Economic Forum. Join me in conversation with authors Michael D. Greaney and Dawn K. Brohawn as we talk about their recent book; The Greater Reset: Reclaiming Human Sovereignty Under Natural Law published by Tan Books https://tanbooks.com/Forget the conspiracy theories but find out why the solutions of Karl Schwab and the Great Reset might not be good for human community or the dignity of the created human being .Michael D. Greaney and Dawn K. Brohawn can be found...
2022-05-2436 minCross Word BooksZelenskySend a text Zelensky: The Unlikely Ukrainian Hero Who Defied Putin and United the World is a compelling account of this fascinating, enigmatic leader. Join me in conversation with Andrew Urban as we discuss Zelensky's childhood, family history, and astonishing transformation from TV celebrity to president of Ukraine. We also talk about the anti- hero Putin and what the world community faces as this war grinds on. https://www.regnery.com/9781684513789/zelensky/ Regnery PublishingFind Andrew Urban @ https://wrongfulconvictionsreport.org/author/andrew/
2022-05-1732 minCross Word BooksCharles de Foucauld-A new Saint!!Send a textOn May 15, 2022 Pope Francis will declare Father Charles de Foucauld a saint. Learn the story of this enigmatic man of the dessert who began life as a champagne drinking French aristocrat to become a follower of Jesus Christ in the middle of the Saharan dessert. Join me in conversation with Dr David Pinault, a Middle Eastern scholar and a Roman Catholic to talk about the Church's newest saint. The book is Charles de Foucauld written by Jean Jacques Antier and published by Ignatius Press, https://ignatius.com/ Ignatius pressFoll...
2022-05-1037 minCross Word BooksThe Dancer and the Devil: Pavlova and StalinSend a textThe most beautiful and famous ballerina of the world may have been poisoned by Stalin, the brutish dictator of the USSR. There is an eerie line between Stalin's grim poison lab and Covid 19. Join me in conversation with John E. O'Neill and Sarah C. Wynne coauthors of The Dancer and The Devil; Stalin. Pavlova and the Road to the Great Pandemic published by Regnery Publishing. A fascinating true life crime story of communist dictators and the lengths they will go to kill the opposition. This book is an absolute must read for everyo...
2022-05-0234 minCross Word BooksCatholic Literature with Joshua HrenSend a textCatholic literature is on fire these days. Catholic publishing houses, press, and journals are booming. Join me in conversation with Dr Joshua Hren, one of the founders of the University of St Thomas at Houston Master of Fines Arts programming in Creative Writing--a series of comprehensive seminars in the Catholic literary and intellectual tradition. Dr Hren is also the founder of Wiseblood Books and the author of Infinite Regress published by Angelico Press and Contemplative Realism; A Theological-Aesthetical Manifesto The Benedictine Institute .Wiseblood Books https://www.wisebloodbooks.com/Ange...
2022-04-1937 minCross Word BooksThe Poor Friar Who Prays--PADRE PIOSend a textPadre Pio is a spiritual superstar. In his 80 year life, he bore the wounds of Christ, he could be located in two places at once, fought the devil, healed people, read souls, and prophesized. None other than the former Chief Exorcist of the Vatican tells the story of Padre Pio's life Tony Ryan of Ignatius press joins me in conversation to talk about Padre Pio Stories and Memories of My Mentor and Friend written by FR. GABRIELE AMORTH and published by Ignatius PressFR Gabriele Amorth
2022-04-0431 minCross Word BooksHow and How Not To Be happySend a textYou are designed to be happy and you can be happy. What is Happiness? Why is it important to the Human Experience? How Can you Be Happy?Join me in conversation with Professor J. Budziszewski author of How and How Not to be Happy published by Regnery Gateway! Find Dr Budziszewski on his website The Underground Thomist https://www.undergroundthomist.org/Find Regnery publishing at https://www.regnery.com/
2022-03-2937 minCross Word BooksUnraveling GenderSend a textWhat is the difference between sex and gender? How did these two realities diverge in modern culture? Join me in conversation with Dr John Grabowski, author of Unraveling Gender published by Tan books. Understand what is at the heart of gender confusion and personal identity.You can Dr Grabowski's book on Tan Books https://tanbooks.com/ You can find me on Twitter @MicheleMcAloon1
2022-03-2238 minCross Word BooksCharlie Brown's AmericaSend a textGood Grief Brown! We talk to Dr Blake Ball, author of Charlie Brown's America, The Popular Politics of Peanuts about the social commentary of the Peanuts. The security blanket of Linus, the Christmas pageant and Franklin were Charles Schulz's gentle commentary about American society in the last half of the Twentieth Century. If you are a Peanuts Fan, no matter what age, you will discover some nuggets of interesting facts about Charlie, Lucy, Peppermint Patty, Franklin, Snoopy and the rest of the gang. This charming and well written book features Peanuts comic strips...
2022-03-1437 minCross Word BooksPresident Warren G Harding-A good AmericanSend a textWho was the worst president in US history? Often Warren G Harding is ranked at the bottom but Ryan S Walters author of the The Jazz Age President: Defending Warren G. Harding published by Regnery History shows how this much maligned president earned a reputation he did not deserve. Mr. Walters writes an engaging history about this little known and much criticized president. Warren Harding 's presidency occurred after World War I and the Spanish Flu. When he took office in 1920 there was runaway inflation and widespread unemployment. 100 years later there are deep similarities in th...
2022-03-0637 minCross Word BooksPutin's Playbook; Russia's Secret Plan to Defeat AmericaSend a textWhat are Putin's real intentions? Last Fall I had the opportunity to interview Rebekah Koffler author of Putin's Playbook; Russia's Secret Plan to Defeat America by Regnery Publishing. Much of what Rebekah Koffler predicted we are watching play out on the world stage. There are other events of which she writes that have yet to happen but could still happen...these are particularly frightening events connected with our satellites and nuclear capabilities. Her book is written in a way which allows for all to understand the true intentions of Putin's actions.Ma...
2022-02-2843 minCross Word BooksFather Gabriel -A Detective PriestSend a textWhat do you get when you mix a fictional history, and a mystery thriller with a touch of humor? The Father Gabriel series written by Fiorella De Maria and published by Ignatius Press. In this charming mystery series set in the immediate aftermath of World War II Father Gabriel. an amateur detective, bumbles around the English country side solving murders while dealing with some of the very serious issues of post war Europe. The Catholic theme of the book enriches the story in ways that are subtle yet profound. Listen to this discussion as we...
2022-02-1834 minCross Word BooksThe City MotherSend a textIn this achingly beautiful book about parenthood, Maya Sinha in her debut novel The City Mother narrates a tale of humanity and salvation. Her literary down to earth description of the Holy Mother reverberates truth and meaning that echo's though the lived reality of every parent facing the challenge of raising children and supporting a family. If you read one novel this year this is the one you want to read. Watch for Chrism Press. They are a brand new publisher on the scene releasing very solid literature with beautiful themes of faith...
2022-02-1429 minCross Word BooksIgnatius Press Father FessioSend a textIn this interview with Father Joseph Fessio, president of Ignatius Press, we talk about the publishing industry, books, beer and being a Jesuit. In 1978, Father Fessio began Ignatius Press with the publication of two books. Today, almost two million copies a year are published by Ignatius Press, who has became a standard bearer for quality publishing in both the secular and Catholic world. You can find Ignatius Press https://www.ignatius.com/Many of the books we discuss in this interview can be purchased on the website Check out my podca...
2022-02-0721 minCross Word BooksDissolution of the Monasteries; James ClarkSend a textFrom 1536-1540 king Henry VIII closed 850 monasteries in England and Wales. The consequences of this decision have reverberated from his day until now. Join me in a fascinating conversation with James Clark, author of The Dissolution of the Monasteries published by Yale University press. You can find Professor Clark's book https://yalebooks.yale.edu/author/clark-jamesYou find Michele on Twitter @MichelemcAloon1
2022-01-3142 minCross Word BooksJohn Fisher and Thomas More; Men of TruthSend a text John Fisher and Thomas More lived in a time as difficult as ours, but chose to live with truth and fidelity, even at the expense of their earthly lives . Join me in conversation with the Honorable Judge Robert Conrad, author of John Fisher and Thomas More; Keeping Their Souls While Losing Their Heads published by Tan Books. Judge Conrad writes an extraordinary account of how two courageous and holy men stood up for the truth and for what they believed by denying King Henry VIII a divorce fr...
2022-01-2429 minCross Word BooksJames Madison: America's First politicianSend a textJoin me in a great conversation with Dr Jay Cost, author of James Madison, America's First Politician published by Basic Books. This book should be mandatory reading in for every American citizen. Dr Cost not only tells the story of James Madison's life but the story of how the US government was formed. James Madison was probably the most qualified man ever to hold the office of the presidency. He was the author of the US Constitution, the Federalist Papers and one of the principal framers for the American Bill of R...
2022-01-1836 minCross Word BooksRobert R Reilly: Defending the FoundingSend a textHappy New year. we start this year off bigger and bolder than ever! I speak with Robert R Reilly author of America on Trial: A Defense of the Founding published by Ignatius Press. Mr. Reilly traces the intellectual history of the founding of the United States Constitution. The ideas of consent by the governed, no taxation without representation, voting rights and even revolution against tyranny are a natural application of rational and organized thought. When society deviates from rationality the will of the ego and power dominate and personal liberty is dest...
2022-01-1035 minCross Word BooksWe Three kingsSend a textFact or Fiction? we talk about the Three Magi with Father Dwight Longenecker. Author of Mystery of the Magi: The Quest to Identify the Three Wise Men, published by the fabulous Regnery History. The story of the Magi is biblical archeology at it best as Father Longenecker tries to unravel the age old story of who were the three wise men. You can connect with Father Longenecker at https://dwightlongenecker.com/ You can connect with Regnery History at https://www.regnery.com/books/regnery-history/Find me at Twitter ...
2021-12-1925 min