The America Media Podcast

Kevin Clarke talks with Chris Prater at the Great Lake Coffee Shop about the city's future in wake of its decision to declare bankruptcy. Clarke reports on his visit to Detroit in the November 4 issue of America.

Joan S. Dawber, S.C. is the Executive Director ofLifeWay Network, Inc. Lifeway Network is a non-profit organization that works as part of a coalition in New York City to combat human trafficking through the provision of safe housing and education. She lives in community with survivors of human trafficking and with women religious from other congregations.

Bishop Robert W. McElroy talks about his article in America, "A Church for the Poor," which argues for a change in the Catholic political conversation in the United States.

Tom Leopold is a comedy writer who has written and produced for classic shows including "Seinfeld" and "Cheers," as well as for the shows honoring Tina Fey and Will Ferrell for the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Three years ago Leopold converted from Judaism to Catholicism. He chronicled that spiritual journey in a one-man show, "A Comedy Writer Finds God." The show also explores how his family coped with his daughter's struggle with an eating disorder. Tom can also be found cohosting the radio show "Entertaining Truth" with Fr. Leo Patalinghug on SiriusXM's The Catholic Channel. Here he talks with Managing Editor Kerry Weber.

David Cortright of the Kroc Institute for International Peacemaking at the University of Notre Dame talks about UN week in New York and small steps toward peace in Syria in Iran. In 1965, Pope Paul VI called for an end to war in a landmark speech to the United Nations. You can read Professor's Cortright blog on peacemaking here.

Brother Joe Hoover, S.J., talks about his vision for America's poetry pages under his editorship. Brother Hoover is a playwright, actor and teacher living in New York City.

Matt Malone, S.J., talks about the first in the history of America: an interview with the pope.

Kevin Spinale, S.J., the moderator of the Catholic Book Club, discusses Francis of Assisi: The Life and Afterlife of a Medieval Saint, with Rev. Michael Cusato, the book's English translator. Francis of Assisi is the Catholic Book Club selection for July and August, 2013.

James McCann, S.J., talks about the work of the Pontifical Oriental Institute and how the school's students have been affected by the turmoil in the Middle East.

J.P., an undocumented immigrant for most of her life, speaks about why her family moved from South Korea to the United States, the challenges she faced as an undocumented immigrant and how gaining temporary legal status changed her life. She also discusses immigration reform legislation, the subject ofthis week's editorialinAmerica.

Andrea Vicini, S.J., of the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry discusses the ethics of the National Insitute of Health's BRAIN Initiative. The initiative promises the possibility for medical breakthroughs in the field of neuroscience, but who will benefit from these technologies? And could they be put to questionable purposes?

Former Major League Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent speaks about the need for greater moral leadership in baseball in wake of the latest steroid scandal. In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on August 5, Mr. Vincent called for a lifetime ban for all players who use performance enhancing drugs.

Hans Zollner, S.J., the director of the Centre for Child Protection at the Gregorian University, talks about the Vatican's efforts to stop sexual abuse and the challenges of adapting Vatican policy in different cultures worldwide. For more on the centre's e-learning curriculm, visit www.elearning-childprotection.com.

William T. Cavanaugh, discusses his article, "The Root of Evil: Does Religion Promote Violence?" Cavanaugh is the author of The Myth of Religious Violence (Oxford University Press) and the director of Center for World Catholicism and Intercultural Theology at DePaul University.

Mark Naison, a professor of history and African American studies at Fordham University, talks about the tragic death of Trayvon Martin and the state of race relations in the United States today.