Sacred and Profane Love
Sacred and Profane Love is a podcast in which philosophers, theologians, and literary critics discuss some of their favorite works of literature, and how these works have shaped their own ideas about love, happiness, and meaning in human life. Host Jennifer A. Frey is the inaugural dean of the Honors College at the University of Tulsa. The podcast is generously supported by The Institute for Human Ecology at the Catholic University of America and produced by Catholics for Hire.
Latest episodes
Jun 27, 2025 • 56min
Episode 77: Rooney's "Beautiful World Where Are You?" with Rachel Wiseman and Anastasia Berg
In this episode, I speak with Rachel Wiseman and Anastasia Berg, both of whom are editors at The Point magazine, about Sally Rooney's "Beautiful World Where Are You?" I hope you enjoy our conversation.
Jun 27, 2025 • 49min
Episode 76: James's "The Portrait of a Lady" with Merve Emre
In this episode, I speak with Merve Emre, renowned author and literary critic, on Henry James's "The Portrait of a Lady". I hope you enjoy our conversation.
Jun 27, 2025 • 43min
Episode 78: Law and Literature with Donald Kochan
In this season finale, I speak with Donald Kochan, who is a Professor of Law at George Washington University's Antonin Scalia Law School. We discuss George Orwell's essay, "Politics and the English Language". I hope you enjoy our conversation.
Jun 27, 2025 • 1h 11min
Episode 74: Boethius's "Consolation of Philosophy" with John Marenbon
In this episode, I speak with John Marenbon, Cambridge Professor of medieval philosophy and world expert on Boethius, about Boethius's masterwork "Consolation of Philosophy". I hope you enjoy our conversation.
Jun 27, 2025 • 56min
Episode 73: St. Bonaventure's "Journey of the Mind into God" with Carlos Eire
In this episode, I speak with Carlos Eire, renowned historian of the late medieval and early modern era and winner of the National Book Award for Nonfiction for "Waiting for Snow in Havana." In this episode, we discuss St. Bonaventure and desire. I hope you enjoy our conversation.
Jun 27, 2025 • 51min
Episode 72: The 'Sacred' and the 'Profane' with Michael Foley
In this episode, Professor Michael Foley and I discuss the differences between the titular concepts of this podcast, namely, the 'sacred' and the 'profane'. I hope you enjoy our conversation.
Jun 27, 2025 • 57min
Episode 75: Ghali's "Beer in the Snooker Club" with Phil Klay
In this episode, I speak with National Book Award winner Phil Klay, author of "Redeployment" and "Missionaries". We discuss a novel you've probably never heard of, but very fun: "Beer in the Snooker Club" by Egyptian writer Waguih Ghali. I hope you enjoy our conversation.
Jun 21, 2024 • 57min
Episode 71: Dana Gioia on the Tragic Thought of Seneca
In this season finale, internationally acclaimed poet Dana Gioia and I discuss Seneca's thought in general, and his tragic work The Madness of Hercules in particular. I hope you enjoy our conversation!
Jun 7, 2024 • 1h 4min
Episode 70: The Poetry of John Donne w/ Lars Engle
In this episode, I speak with my colleague, Lars Engle, on the poetry and person of John Donne. There is no poet more attuned to the connections between the sacred and the profane than Donne, and it was a pleasure to hear Donne's poetic voice through Engle's readings. I hope you enjoy our conversation!
May 24, 2024 • 58min
Episode 69: Cormac McCarthy's "Blood Meridian" w/ Aaron Gwyn
In this episode, I discuss Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian with Aaron Gwyn. I hope you enjoy our conversation!
