Ignatius Press Podcast

Author Kevin Wells felt like his marriage—his whole life, even—was falling apart. His wife, Krista, was mired in an addiction to alcohol that cut her off from God, family, and friends, and Kevin felt helpless and alone. When, at last, supported by the grace of the sacraments, Krista started to find her way to healing and sobriety, the Covid-19 pandemic plunged the whole world into confusion and isolation. In his new book, “The Hermit,” Kevin tells the story of a remarkable priest, Fr. Martin Flum, who extended a life-line to Krista and to many others during the dark days of 2020. In this episode, Kevin speaks with host Andrew Petiprin about the healing he and Krista have found through suffering, about the deep reservoirs of grace to be found in the sacraments, and about the profound witness of Fr. Flum in their family’s dark night of the soul. Find “The Hermit: The Priest Who Saved a Soul, a Marriage, and a Family” at Ignatius.com.

There are multiple ways in which Abigail Favale’s conversion to Catholicism may be seen as unlikely. First as an ex-Evangelical, then as a feminist academic, Favale had built a worldview—and career—on the rejection of “patriarchy” and on the promotion of progressive causes. How could she enter a Church known for male-only leadership, and for rigorous opposition to contraception and abortion? In this episode, host Andrew Petiprin speaks with Favale about her conversion—which in many ways began after she had entered the Catholic Church and began to explore its rich teachings and traditions in earnest. Her conversion memoir, “Into the Deep: An Unlikely Catholic Conversion,” is available now at Ignatius.com, as is her bestselling book “The Genesis of Gender: A Christian Theory.”

Pope Francis wrote recently about the importance of literature in moral formation. For millennia, humans have used story-telling to communicate religious beliefs and moral values, and to ensure that history and culture remain alive for future generations. As a teacher in Catholic classical schools, Abigail Palmer has a passion for using stories as vehicles for learning history, language, and the Faith. Her new novel for middle-grade readers, "Faelan and the Miracle Machines," grew out of that passion. It tells the story of a young British slave during the days of the Roman Empire, and is full of adventure and mystery as well as history and culture. In this episode, host Andrew Petiprin speaks with Palmer about the book, about the fascinating historical period in which it is set, and about why stories are indispensable for teachers and parents wanting to engage their children’s imaginations as they study a wide range of subjects. Find "Faelan and the Miracle Machines" at Ignatius.com.

There was a time when Steve Dawson found himself in trouble with the law, mired in destructive behaviors and relationships. Today he spends his days sharing the Good News with anyone who will listen, as founder and president of Saint Paul Street Evangelization (in between these two stages of his life, he says, he could be found downing Jack Daniels while watching Mother Angelica).   Struck by how Jehovah’s Witnesses, Evangelicals, Mormons, and even atheists are comfortable preaching about their beliefs in the streets, Dawson has devoted his life to combating the perception that street evangelization “isn’t a Catholic thing.” In fact, preaching, teaching, and sharing the Good News in public are practices that go all the way back to the Apostles, and many great saints have engaged in them.   During his years as a street evangelist, Dawson and his team have honed skills and developed methods of communicating the Faith in simple, accessible, and compelling ways. In this episode, Andrew Petiprin speaks with Dawson about his powerful conversion story, some of the amazing things that he’s seen in his years of street evangelizing, and why the basics of evangelization are important for every Catholic to master—whether they’re sharing the Faith on the street, in the workplace, or in their own families. Related reading: “Catholic Evangelization: Stories of Conversion and Witness”, now available at Ignatius.com. Learn more about Dawson’s work at Saint Paul Street Evangelization: https://streetevangelization.com/

If someone looked at the way you live your life, would they say, “That’s a person who is seeking Christ?” While many Catholics might be able to give personal or intellectual reasons why they practice their Faith, how many really allow the interior conversion necessary for a relationship with Christ to shine through in their daily lives? How many have essentially adopted a secular way of living? These challenging questions are at the heart of Edward Sri’s new book, “What Do You Seek?”, out now from Ignatius Press and the Augustine Institute. In this episode, Dr. Sri speaks with your host, Andrew Petiprin, about the necessity of coming to know and love Christ, and not just facts about the Catholic Faith—important as those may be—in order to share the Gospel with others. Find “What Do You Seek? Encountering the Heart of the Gospel” at Ignatius.com. Learn more about Edward Sri and his work at www.edwardsri.com.

In its earliest days, Christianity was a faith associated with cities. Cities were the spots chosen by the Apostles to begin spreading the Good News, the earliest Christian communities were found in city centers, and cities quickly became the focal points of persecution of Christians—and the blood of the martyrs was always the seed of the Church. Best-selling author Mike Aquilina has written a book about twelve cities in the ancient world where Christianity caught hold and spread despite often brutal persecutions. “Rabbles, Riots, and Ruins” is a lively journey through cities as diverse as Rome, Jerusalem, Milan, and Constantinople. In this episode, host Andrew Petiprin speaks with Aquilina about how the unique characteristics of these cities allowed for the development and flourishing of the faith, frequently in hostile environments. They discuss the cities—some still well-known, others lost to history—that defined and shaped the earliest centuries of our Christian faith. Find “Rabbles, Riots, and Ruins: Twelve Ancient Cities and How They Were Evangelized” at Ignatius.com: https://ignatius.com/rabbles-riots-and-ruins-rrrp/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=Rabbles%2C+Riots%2C+and+Ruins&utm_id=Rabbles%2C+Riots%2C+and+Ruins

The hero of the new novel Death in Black and White is a Catholic priest and classic film buff who finds himself caught in a web of crime, sin, and double-crossings that rivals anything found in his favorite film-noir detective movies. The book’s author, Fr. Michael Brisson—also a Catholic priest and classic film buff—may not have real-life experience of being in the clutches of the Mob, but he does know the unique way a priest is privy to some of life’s hardest and darkest moments. In this episode, Andrew Petiprin speaks with Brisson about the graces on offer in the sacraments, the Catholic faith’s unflinching realism about human nature and our sinful proclivities—and how a film-noir tinged crime novel can be the perfect vehicle for exploring these themes and more. Find Death in Black and White now at Ignatius.com.

Archbishop Emeritus Alfred Hughes, who has served in various roles within the Church and authored a book on spiritual devotion, dives into the wisdom of historical spiritual masters. He encourages listeners to view these figures not just as distant icons but as relatable mentors. The discussion touches on the relevance of St. Benedict's Rule today, the importance of balancing work and spirituality, and the transformative power of prayer. Hughes emphasizes building a deeper, more personal connection with God, using both intellect and emotion.

When Joseph Ratzinger became pope in 2005, there was a perception in some quarters that this new pontiff—a renowned theologian and former head of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith—was a highbrow academic who would preach from the chair of St. Peter in abstruse theoretical language that the average Catholic would find impenetrable. Fortunately for all of us, this turned out not to be the case, and Pope Benedict’s homilies and addresses—while clearly informed by his tremendous scholarly work—were brimful of spiritual insights and pastoral care aimed at helping his world-wide flock grow closer to Christ. The new collection God is Ever New: Meditations on Life, Love, and Freedom, out this spring from Ignatius Press, brings together beautiful excerpts from Pope Benedict’s papal writings, presenting them in a format easy to read and reflect upon. In this episode, Andrew Petiprin speaks with Mark Brumley, president of Ignatius Press, about the new book, Pope Benedict’s deep pastoral sense, and the spiritual and theological legacy he left at his passing in 2022.

In his latest book “Why Does Everything Come in Threes?” philosopher and author Peter Kreeft ponders the ways in which creation—and the story of humanity in creation—are indelibly stamped with the image of the Creator, that is, with the Trinity.   In this episode, Kreeft speaks with host Andrew Petiprin about this three-fold pattern of the universe, and how the mystery of the Trinity echoes throughout human culture, metaphysics, and moral understanding. Find “Why Does Everything Come in Threes?” and many other books by Peter Kreeft at Ignatius.com.