The Commonweal Podcast

It's often remarked that America has become less religious, especially during recent decades. But what if that religiosity hasn't disappeared, but just taken less visible forms? That's exactly what was happening in the arts in 1980s NYC, argues Paul Elie, author of The Last Supper: Art, Faith, Sex, and Controversy in the 1980s.  As Elie tells it, the era wasn't just marked by the ascendance of the moral majority and the authority of tradition—figures like Pope John Paul II and Ronald Reagan.  It also featured subtle engagement with spiritual themes by the likes of figures like Leonard Cohen, Andy Warhol, Madonna, Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen, and Martin Scorcese, and provides a template for understanding where Catholicism stands today.  For further reading:  An excerpt from Paul Elie's new book Kaya Oakes on why religion must ask better questions Susan Bigelow Reynolds on millennial religious rejection

The swift elevation to the papacy of Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost—known simply as ‘Bob' among his fellow Augustinian friars—defied pundits' predictions even as it was met with joy by Catholics around the world.  It's impossible to say just how Leo XIV's papacy will unfold, though in his early Masses and remarks the pope has already voiced strong support for the continuation of Francis's project of synodality. Leo's chosen name signals his commitment to the advancement of Catholic social teaching. On this episode, Commonweal contributors Natalia Imperatori-Lee and Mollie Wilson O'Reilly and editor Dominic Preziosi reflect on Pope Leo's first week on the chair of Peter.  For further reading:  The editors on Leo's election Anthony Annett on Pope Leo and AI Stephen Millies on Leo and Chicago's CTU Massimo Faggioli on what Leo's pontificate signals for the U.S. Church

Three theologians—Massimo Faggioli, Susan Bigelow Reynolds, and Terence Sweeney—reflect with Commonweal editors on the pope's legacy. More coverage of the death of Pope Francis: Isabella Simon on Let Us Dream César J. Baldelomar on Laudato Si'  Griffin Oleynick on Evangelii gaudium

Catholics listen to snippets of the Bible read every Sunday, but how many of them actually sit with and ponder the text?  It's long been a truism that Catholics don't actually read the Bible — at least not as much or in the same way as their Protestant brethren. But that doesn't mean Catholics don't encounter it, whether in books, films, plays, or popular culture.  On this episode, Fordham theology professor and frequent Commonweal contributor Michael Peppard, author of the new book How Catholics Encounter the Bible,  joins editor Dominic Preziosi to discuss how, paradoxically, the Bible shapes Catholic lives—just usually not in the shape of a book.  For further reading: Michael Peppard on the Bible and Marian art Christian Wiman on the Bible as poetry Eve Tushnet on the queer Catholic imagination

What should great fiction do for us? That's the question asked by Edwin Frank, editorial director of New York Review Books and author of Stranger than Fiction: Lives of the Twentieth-Century Novel.  Good books—and there were many written during the past hundred years—can entertain, just as they can give us pleasure. But great ones have the ‘power to breach,' that is, to upset and provoke us, shattering our illusions about the world.  On this episode, Frank speaks with Commonweal contributor and literary critic Tony Domestic about authors like Dostoevsy, Proust, and Virginia Woolf, among others. For further reading: Fiction by Alice McDermott Mollie Wilson O'Reilly on George Eliot's double life  Tony Domestico's latest books column 

In his first month back in office, Donald Trump has made cruelty toward migrants and refugees central to his agenda, while J. D. Vance has used his flawed understanding of Catholic social teaching to justify the administration's plans for mass deportation.  Their actions and remarks have alarmed many in the Church. On this episode, three guests tell us how and why. Massimo Faggioli, Commonweal contributor and Villanova University professor addresses the challenges for Catholicism in the second Trump era.  Kerry Robinson, the head of Catholic Charities USA, explains the vital work of her organization and who will be most harmed by the freezes in federal funding.  And Cardinal Blase Cupich of the Archdiocese of Chicago speaks about why “the protection and advocacy for the dignity of migrants” is the Church's new “preeminent urgency.” For further reading:  Massimo Faggioli on what American regime change means for the Church Griffin Oleynick on Francis's rebuke of J. D. Vance's ethno-nationalism Terence Sweeney on how the bishops may respond to Trump

Fights over federal spending usually follow a predictable pattern, with Republicans attempting to cut entitlement programs as Democrats seek to expand the social safety net.  One thing that's rarely threatened, though, is Social Security, a testament to the political clout of “older people”—formerly known as “senior citizens” in America. How did things get that way?  On this episode, historian James Chappel speaks about his recent book Golden Years: How Americans Invented and Reinvented Old Age, which details the creation of Social Security as it criticizes the failure of the political left to make its benefits more broadly available.  For further reading:  Peter Quinn on aging, aging, and gratitude Rand Richards Cooper on caring for aging parents James Chappel on material insecurity Charles Morris on the future of social security

For as long as humans beings have existed, we have had a knack for forgetting—not only when memory proves difficult, but when it becomes inconvenient.  We need only look at Donald Trump's pardoning of the January 6 “hostages” for the latest, most egregious example.  Why do humans long to forget? Why do we hide the truth from ourselves? What is the function of memory in democratic societies?  On this episode, senior editor Matt Boudway speaks with Mark Lilla, professor of humanities at Columbia University and author of the new book Ignorance and Bliss: On Wanting not to Know. For further reading:  Timothy Snyder on the indignity of voting for Donald Trump  Tomáš Halík on what some in the Church prefer to forget

As you probably know by now, 2024 was a big year for Commonweal, marking one hundred years of continuous publication.  It was also an important one for the podcast, which for five years—and nearly one hundred and fifty episodes—has been bringing you reflective conversations with inspiring writers, thinkers, artists, and political and religious leaders.  On this episode, we're revisiting four of our favorite episodes from the past year: Marilynne Robinson and Christian Wiman on Genesis Anastasia Berg and Rachel Wiseman on the ethics of having children Vinson Cunningham on criticism as a way of life Rabbi Shai Held on Judaism's loving heart. 

What does it mean to “have hope,” especially during challenging times? Is it something we can possess, like a talisman to ward off despair? No, argues Norman Wirzba, distinguished professor of Christian theology at Duke and author of the new book Love's Braided Dance: Hope in a Time of Crisis. Instead, “hope” is a verb—an action we have to do. On this episode Wirzba explains how he manages to hope, even in the face of some of our most intractable problems—including war, migration, and the climate crisis. For further reading:  Oscar Romero on politics and Christian love Vincent Miller on Pope Francis's ecological hope Eric Miller on the fiction of Wendell Berry

In the wake of the 2024 election, many are wondering how to make sense of the results—including how a capable, qualified woman could lose to a man like Donald Trump, an adjudicated rapist whose campaign regularly celebrated a version of masculinity that many find offensively misogynistic.  On this episode, Commonweal editor-at-large Mollie Wilson O'Reilly and Natalia Imperatori Lee, professor of religious studies at Manhattan University, reflect on what just happened. They also parse what the second Trump administration might portend for Democrats, the Church, and especially women. It's long past time, they argue, not only for men to confront sexism and misogyny, but to work to articulate healthy versions of masculinity. Trump's election may be a massive setback for feminism—but how the story ends depends on our response. For further reading:  Mollie Wilson O'Reilly ponders Trump's 2016 election Regina Munch on why we can't disengage The editors on why the appointment of Justice Brett Kavanaugh

The invitation-only Catholic prelature known as Opus Dei, founded in Spain in 1927 by the recently canonized priest Josemaría Escrivá, currently counts just around 3,000 members in the United States. Yet its influence, especially among rightwing Catholics who occupy significant posts in Washington, is vast.  On this episode, editor Dominic Preziosi speaks with financial journalist Gareth Gore, author of the new book Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right-Wing Conspiracy inside the Catholic Church.  Relying on bank records and the testimony of whistleblowers, Gore demystifies the secretive world of Opus Dei, showing how it has recruited powerful individuals and harmed vulnerable ones in its quest for political sway. For further reading:  Daniele Palmer on Opus Dei's ‘ordinary secularity' George Scialabba reviews Opus for The Baffler

It's no secret that there's a mental health crisis affecting young people in the United States. Rates of anxiety, symptoms of depression, and even suicide attempts have hit record highs.  That's partly what motivated Anna Moreland and Thomas Smith to write The Young Adult Playbook, a kind of “self-help” book intended to help high school and college students think through the deep questions of life, love, and vocation.  On this episode, Moreland and Smith speak with associate editor Regina Munch about their book, explaining how young people can live rich, flourishing, and meaningful lives.  For further reading:  Meghan Sullivan and Paul Blaschko on the good life Regina Munch on the advantages of marriage Brenda Noriega on synodality, young people, and leadership

The Trump campaign has made us all too familiar with the ideology of Christian Nationalism, with its violent rhetoric and racist undertones.  Far less well-known, though, is the tradition of Black Christian Nationalism, a radical social and religious movement founded by Rev. Albert Cleage, Jr., in civil-rights-era Detroit. On this episode, associate editor Griffin Oleynick speaks with writer Aaron Robertson, author of The Black Utopians: Searching for Paradise and the Promised Land in America.  Blending history and memoir, Robertson's book traces the untold story of Black Christian Nationalism while grappling with a question: what does Utopia look like in black? For further reading:  Tia Noelle Pratt on Black Catholic parishes Shannen Dee Williams on Black nuns in Baltimore Gary Dorrien on the theology of Sen. Raphael Warnock

Corporate boosters of artificial intelligence promise that the technology will vastly improve efficiency in the world of work. But is that actually desirable?  On this episode, associate editor Regina Munch speaks with University of Virginia sociologist Allison Pugh, whose new book The Last Human Job explores the concept of what she calls “connective labor”—interpersonal work that relies on empathy, human contact, and mutual recognition.  In fields like medicine, teaching, and even chaplaincy, such connective labor is increasingly performed by machines. Pugh challenges us to resist this trend, both by deprioritizing efficiency and by returning to authentic human relationships.  For further reading:  Miles Doyle on efforts to regulate AI in congress A symposium on our posthuman future The editors call for a moratorium on AI development

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 suffering and disappointments, but also the nature of art and the ‘adventure' of domestic life. On this episode, Greenwell joins Commonweal contributor Tony Domestico to talk about the novel.   For further reading: A review of Garth Greenwell's Cleanness Another interview with Garth Greenwell

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 Catholic colleges and universities can do differently.  If entering students increasingly hail from diverse religious backgrounds—or sometimes no faith background at all—that's an opportunity for “mission,” pursued with openness, inclusivity, and a willingness to be proven wrong.  For further reading:  Nancy Dallavalle on whether Catholic colleges have a future Susan Bigelow Reynolds on public scholarship An interview with former UC Chancellor Nicholas Dirks

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.  Griswold's is a work of ‘immersion journalism,' reported by embedding for four years with a progressive evangelical community in Philadelphia. She stuck with the story even as heated conflicts over race, gender, and power threatened the church's survival.  On this episode, Griswold speaks about the book and the future of American Christianity, with Commonweal associate editor Griffin Oleynick.  For further reading:  Brett Hoover on young Catholics' waning religiosity Kate Lucky on the ‘ex-vangelicals' Julia Marley on the ‘Jesus Freaks'

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 expensive quarters for the newly affluent.  On this episode, Commonweal senior editor Matt Boudway speaks with journalist Cole Stangler, author of Paris Is Not Dead: Surviving Hypergentrification in the City of Light. Stangler, who lives in France, explains Paris's historical transformation, as well as more recent developments in French politics.  For further reading: Cole Stangler's writing for Commonweal Fran Quigley on social housing Max Holleran on gentrification and the YIMBYs

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 exoneration of innocent inmates.  Braxton is also a rapper, and just released his first album, along with a book, Rap and Redemption on Death Row, co-written with UNC Chapel Hill musicologist Mark Katz.  On this special episode, Commonweal's Claudia Avila Cosnahan speaks with both Braxton and Katz about Braxton's spiritual and artistic journey. For further reading:  Dominic Preziosi on Biden's broken death penalty promise David Bentley Hart on Christians and capital punishment Burke Nixon on the Texas prison system

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 Small: Essays in Praise of Excess. The modern insistence that all cultural objects are “equal” is actually a symptom of our failure to create a society in which genuine equality is present.  That, Rothfeld insists, is why we need more of everything—more personhood, more sincerity, more critical judgment, and even more chaos. It's the only way to overcome the ascendance of anodyne minimalism that has stifled contemporary culture.  On this episode, Rothfeld joins Commonweal senior editor Matthew Boudway to discuss her book, medieval mysticism, and more.  For further reading:  Costica Bradatan on the theology of Simone Weil Thomas Merton on whether mysticism is normal Matthew Boudway on the agony of Gerard Manley Hopkins

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 joined by Rachel Wiseman and Anastasia Berg, editors at The Point and co-authors of What Are Children For? On Ambivalence and Choice.  They explain (and lament) how having kids has become so highly politicized in our culture, and offer suggestions for how to make better decisions about becoming a parent.   For further reading:  Jennifer Banks on reckoning with childbirth Kate Lucky reads to her new baby A symposium on anti-natalism and posthumanism

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 and author of The Light Eaters. Schlanger shows how the study of plants—and the wonder their behaviors inspire—can offer a welcome alternative to the despair induced by climate change.   For further reading:  Vincent Miller on plant ‘communities' in old growth forests David Pinault on environmental activism in Cambodia Isa Simon on Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass

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 responses to a generous, loving God. On this episode, Held speaks with associate editor Griffin Oleynick about how recovering this more accurate view of Judaism can help believers and non-believers alike lead richer, fuller, more joyful lives.   For further reading: Why Christians should read Leviticus and Deuteronomy Tzvi Novick on Jewish memory after October 7 An update on Jewish-Christian dialogue

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 indicators of poverty can mask the “deep disadvantage” faced by rural communities across the country.  On this episode, they join associate editor Regina Munch to discuss how centuries of resource extraction, racism, and “internal colonization” have blocked the advancement of regions like Appalachia, southern Texas, and the “cotton belt” from sharing in American prosperity.  For further reading: Luke Mayville on how progressives can win in rural America  An interview with poverty expert Matthew Desmond The editors on pandemic-era relief bills

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 Anthony Domestico for a discussion about criticism—engaging deeply with a work of art on a personal level, and then responding in writing and speech—as a way of life. Along the way, they also touch on the theological dimensions of Great Expectations. Anybody, Cunningham argues, can be a critic. All it takes is curiosity, and the willingness to share your observations with others.  For further reading:  Vinson Cunningham on Pope Francis's Fratelli tutti William Giraldi on criticism as an act of love Paul Baumann reviews Barack Obama's memoir

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 special episode of the Commonweal Podcast, moderated by senior editor Matt Boudway, poet and memoirist Christian Wiman joins Robinson for a conversation about the Book of Genesis.  Robinson and Wiman also discuss scripture and theology more generally—especially as the two practice it through fiction and poetry.  For further reading:  Marilynne Robinson on forgiveness in Genesis Christian Wiman on the Bible as poetry Jack Miles on the Bible and translation

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 City of Intellect: The Uses and Abuses of the University.  Dirks argues that we certainly need structural change. Even more important is that colleges and universities return to their core functions: the pursuit of free inquiry, reasoning about fundamental human values, and training future generations of engaged citizens.  For further reading:  Zena Hitz on why we need the humanities Nancy Dallavalle on whether Catholic colleges have a future Our recent editorial on affirmative action and affordability

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 this special episode, activist Ruben Garcia, director of Annunciation House, speaks with associate editor Regina Munch about the recent controversy—and why we need comprehensive immigration reform.  For further reading:  Brett Hoover on the inadequacies of migration metaphors An interview with El Paso bishop Mark Seitz Alejandro Nava describes working at a hospitality house in Tucson Susan Bigelow Reynolds attends an Easter Vigil in Matamoros

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 the weekly podcast Poetry Unbound and author of the new book Being Here: Prayers for Curiosity, Justice, and Love. On this episode, he joins associate editor Griffin Oleynick for a conservation sparked by this collection of ‘anarchic' prayers. Touching on the Church's difficult relationship with women, LGTBQ people, and abuse victims, Ó Tuama testifies to the peace and freedom made possible by laying down “the burden of belief.” For further reading:  A collection of essays on staying in and leaving the Church Christian Wiman on poetry in the Bible A profile of the poet Fanny Howe

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 Unraveling of America's Suburbs, which profiles five families in the suburbs of Dallas, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Los Angeles.  American suburbs were never sustainable, Herold argues. They were built for upwardly mobile white families, who extracted wealth and benefits before moving further out and sticking subsequent generations—often families of color—with the bill.  Now that we've begun reckoning with this painful legacy, Herold invites us to look for seeds of renewal. For further reading:  Bill McKibben explains what's wrong with the ‘burbs Max Holleran on American housing scarcity Diane Ravitch on the fight over public education

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 requires, and why digitizing ancient manuscripts remains so necessary.  These texts, Fr. Stewart points out, are in a sense the original “internet of things.” Books and fragile documents carry not just the stories and ideas that connected diverse communities, but also the physical traces of the individual scribes and librarians who cared for them. For further reading:  Luke Timothy Johnson on the earliest Christian manuscripts Jonathan Malesic on how monks put work in its place A profile of Columba Stewart in Harper's Magazine 

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. As he told the audience, he dutifully reads every issue cover to cover. On this episode, we're featuring some of the conversation from that evening—including Wiman reading and discussing his poetry—and his interview with Commonweal senior editor Matthew Boudway. More from Christian Wiman in Commonweal:  The radical vision of poet Lucille Clifton Listening to the poetry of the Bible On the mystic Etty Hillesum

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 talks about the history of spoken word. And philosopher Zena Hitz unpacks the spirit of “wholeheartedness” at the center of religious life.  Listen to the full conversations here:  Matthew Desmond on poverty in America Sr. Helen Prejean and Ryan McKinney on Dead Man Walking Joshua Bennett on spoken word poetry  Zena Hitz on the essence of religious life

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 resonate with left wing progressives.  It's time for a new left-right consensus on labor, Ahmari argues, and enhancing the collective bargaining power of workers is crucial to the project of restoring American democracy. But can the Republican Party really help do that?  For further reading:  Our review of Ahmari's Tyranny, Inc. Regina Munch on corporate consumerism Joseph McCartin on the scourge of wage suppression

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.  Paul Elie is a senior fellow at Georgetown University's Berkley Center and a regular contributor to Commonweal and the New Yorker, which sent him to Rome for a week to report on the synod.  Anna Rowlands, Professor of Catholic Social Thought at Durham University in the United Kingdom, helped draft the synod's working documents and served as an observer and expert theological advisor in the synod hall.  For further reading: Austen Ivereigh's report from Rome  Massimo Faggioli's analysis of the synod Commonweal's collection of recent articles on the synod

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 new book Liberalism against Itself, joins features editor Alex Stern to discuss the debates that surrounded liberalism during the Cold War.  Instead of a narrow liberalism that focuses on individual liberties, Moyn argues that a broader, more expansive view of the idea is possible—one that retrieves the original Enlightenment emphasis on egalitarianism and emancipation.  For further reading:  Samuel Moyn on the theology of liberalism Alex Stern on how not to defend liberalism A symposium on Patrick Deneen's Why Liberalism Failed 

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 Dominic Preziosi is joined by bass-baritone Ryan McKinny, who plays the condemned murderer Joseph DeRocher, and Sr. Helen Prejean herself.  Together, they discuss the significance of this new production of Dead Man Walking, and why its message of mercy, forgiveness, and redemption continues to resonate with audiences today. For further reading:  Commonweal's review of Dead Man Walking An interview with the composer, Jake Heggie Sr. Helen Prejean remembers her 1950s novitiate

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, speaks with Rosanna Xia, an environmental reporter at the LA Times.  Xia's new book California Against the Sea blends traditional reportage with an unconventional and important perspective on concepts like “managed retreat,” climate resilience, and what it means to listen to and even love the ocean itself.  Listen to more Commonweal interviews about climate change:  Bill McKibben on suburban carbon emissions Dorothy Fortenberry on adapting climate change for TV Katie Worth on climate change in schools

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 capitulate to the ultra-wealthy or the corporations hoarding resources, Desmond argues. Instead, we can change the way we shop, work, and vote not just to alleviate poverty, but to eradicate it completely.  For further reading:  Robin Antepara on working-class women in the Ozarks Max Foley-Keene explains the Nordic welfare model  The editors on ending child poverty

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 professor at Columbia Journalism School, Tucher is also the author of Not Exactly Lying: Fake News and Fake Journalism in American History. On this episode, Tucher joins Commonweal features editor Alex Stern to discuss how lessons from the history of journalism in America can help reform the profession in the age of the internet, social media, and AI. For further reading:  The editors condemn Fox's factual malice Paul Baumann on the history of Time magazine Paul Moses on the legacy of Fr. Charles Coughlin

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 Rasa, Vol. I, a series of short vignettes about “desk drawer projects”—pieces that McPhee started, but never finished.  McPhee stresses that when it comes to good writing, authorial ego must be put aside. Instead, it's the work—the writing process and the humble attention to the subject—that matters.  For further reading:  Dominic Preziosi on whether parking explains the world Morten Høi Jensen on the writing life of Martin Amis  The latest from Tony Domestico's books column

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 explains. Rather, it's a way of orienting your whole self around a single purpose: loving God, and serving God's people.  For further reading:  Zena Hitz on renunciation and happiness Jonathan Malesic visits a desert monastery Regina Munch farms with lay Catholics

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 asylum seekers along the U.S.-Mexico border.  Plus, in anticipation of Commonweal's upcoming centennial, Nicole-Ann Lobo offers a short reflection on the Christian socialism of the late Dominican priest Herbert McCabe.  For further reading:  A photo essay featuring asylum seekers in Piedras Negras A dispatch from Casa Alitas in Tucson Herbert McCabe's essay on priesthood and revolution

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 One Book at a Time. Prothero explains how Exman's relationships with religious leaders like Dorothy Day, Harold Thurman, and Martin Luther King, Jr. helped shift American religious discourse away from denominational boundaries and toward a more personal, individual experience of God. For further reading:  Dorothy Day's collected writing for Commonweal Gary Dorrien on Martin Luther King's theological mentors Gordon Marino reviews a biography of William James

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 thought.  On this episode, Kitcher speaks with Commonweal features editor Alex Stern about Kitcher's most recent book, What's the Use of Philosophy?  Plus, in anticipation of Commonweal's centennial in 2024, we're featuring a special segment by contributor Kate Lucky on author Marilynne Robinson's understanding of “true community.” For further reading:  A collection of pieces by Gary Gutting Alex Stern on Walter Benjamin and democracy Marilynne Robinson on imagination & community

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 associate editor Griffin Oleynick about the paradoxes of autobiographical narrative, grief and loss, and the power of art.    For further reading: Mollie Wilson O'Reilly on Mary Karr's Lit Matthew Sitman interviews Marilynne Robinson Terry Eagleton on the philosophy of Wittgenstein

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 Commonweal approaches its centennial in 2024, we're featuring brief reflections on writers we've published since our founding. Here, associate editor Griffin Oleynick reflects on the spiritual writing of the late John Garvey. For further reading:  Paul Farmer's theology of accompaniment Luke Mayville campaigns for healthcare in Idaho Pope Francis's priorities for Catholic healthcare John Garvey on spiritual surrender

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: Imagining a Future Without Us, analyzes these ideas with Commonweal senior editor Matthew Boudway.  For further reading:  Eugene McCarraher critiques the ‘technocratic paradigm' An interview with ex-environmentalist Paul Kingsnorth  Santiago Ramos on the perils of the metaverse

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 community-building and liberation.  And be sure to stick around for a short conversation with Mollie Wilson O'Reilly about the life of Claire Huchet Bishop (1898–1993), a writer, librarian, and opponent of anti-semitism who also served for many years as the children's books editor at Commonweal.  For further reading:  Alejandro Nava on the theology of hip-hop Anthony Domestico reviews Joshua Bennett's Owed Daria Donnelly on the imagination of children's books  Claire Huchet Bishop on book bannings in the 1940s

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 Earth might look like in the near future.  Instead of giving in to climate “doomerism,” Fortenberry argues that there are indeed reasons to be hopeful about addressing the environmental crisis—if we could only summon the political will to do it.  For further reading:  A collection of Commonweal's best writing on the environment Dorothy Fortenberry explains why she stays Catholic An interview with climate activist Bill McKibben