Evangelization & Culture Podcast

Fr. Leonard Andrie writes, “Isolated and exhausted, Elijah, the worn-out prophet lies by a broom tree. He is, without question, a portrait of despair. He not only wants to resign his office as prophet but says in exasperation, ‘It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors’ (1 Kings 19:4).”  He asks to die because of his perceived failure. But God is not done with him yet. And, likewise, he is not done with you. Join me in the Spirit-filled conversation with St. Therese of Deephaven’s Fr. Leonard Andrie. Stay up-to-date with the latest episodes of the Evangelization & Culture Podcast biweekly on WordOnFire.org, on YouTube, or on your favorite podcast hosting platform. Get more content like this in the quarterly print journal of the Word on Fire Institute, Evangelization & Culture.

Dr. Tracey Rowland, a noted scholar on Pope Benedict XVI and the St. John Paul II Chair of Theology, discusses the Pope's impactful theological legacy. She emphasizes his deep understanding of grace and forgiveness within the Church. Acknowledging the clash between ideology and truth, Rowland critiques the influence of Marxism and feminism on Catholic thought. She also reflects on the evolution of German Catholic intellectualism post-World War II, highlighting how past ideologies continue to shape modern discourse. Her insights affirm the relevance of Benedict’s teachings today.

Joshua Hren, Founder of Wiseblood Books, discusses the art of Catholic publishing, the challenges faced by Catholic writers, the impact of universities on writers, and the power of storytelling and fiction in conveying moral lessons and depicting everyday reality.

What Belarusian Svetlana Alexievich observed, upon winning the Nobel Prize for Literature, could as easily be ascribed to the Russian novelists: “Suffering is our capital, our national resource. . . Not oil or gas—but suffering.” What is it about Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, Chekhov and Turgenev that so keenly wrestles with suffering and the human soul? Dr. Gary Saul Morson, a scholar of Russian literature at Northwestern University, joins me in exploring the depths of suffering in Russian literature.  Stay up-to-date with the latest episodes of the Evangelization & Culture Podcast biweekly on WordOnFire.org, on YouTube, or on your favorite podcast hosting platform. Get more content like this in the quarterly print journal of the Word on Fire Institute, Evangelization & Culture.

Living as a young man under Nazi occupation, a priest enduring Communist oppression, and a pope in an unbelievable world, St. John Paul II was no stranger to suffering. Eminent thinker and papal biographer, George Weigel, insists that John Paul II was a towering spiritual father because he "knew suffering from the inside." Join us as we explore what St. John Paul II can teach us about faith and suffering in the modern world. Stay up-to-date with the latest episodes of the Evangelization & Culture Podcast biweekly on WordOnFire.org, on YouTube, or on your favorite podcast hosting platform. Get more content like this in the quarterly print journal of the Word on Fire Institute, Evangelization & Culture.  

Catholicism engages everything. In the Evangelization & Culture Podcast, Tod Worner discusses faith and politics, history and literature, art and humor, work and leisure—everything. Catholicism is the joyful secret meant to be shared—with everyone, everywhere, and for all time. In each episode, you'll hear stimulating conversation with renowned intellectuals of our time. Tod also shares a reflection of his own and a book recommendation.   Get more content like this in the quarterly print journal of the Word on Fire Institute, Evangelization & Culture.