The America Media Podcast

Tim Reidy, America's digital editor, and James Martin, S.J., editor at large, meditate on the Catholic themes in this season of their favorite series, "Mad Men." Take a look at Don, Peggy, Betty, Roger, Betty, Pete, Bob and Joan through the lens of confession, fidelity, family, honesty, poverty and redemption

Paul Elie talks with Kevin Spinale, S.J, about the Catholic Book Club selection for June, Flannery O'Connor's The Violent Bear It Away. Elie is the author of The Life You Save May Be Your Own and Reinventing Bach. His essay on "Love and Violence" in the work of Caravaggio appears in the new book, Not Less Than Everything:Catholic Writers on Heroes of Conscience, from Joan of Arc to Oscar Romero. Kevin Spinale's introduction to The Violent Bear It Away and the conversation that followed can be found here.

Maxine Margolis, author of Goodbye, Brazil: Émigrés from the Land of Soccer and Samba, talks about causes of the widespread protests in Brazil

Jon M. Sweeney, editor in chief at Paraclete Press, discusses his essay in America on the state of book publishing, and his recent visit to the London Book Fair. Sweeney is also the author of The Pope Who Quit. He spoke to Digital Editor Tim Reidy by Skype.

George A. Lopez discusses the future of Syria and the ethics of intervention in an interview with associate editor Kevin Clarke. Professor Lopez is a professor of peace studies at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame.

John Sexton talks about his book Baseball As a Road to God: Seeing Beyond the Game, which was co-written by Thomas Oliphant and Peter J. Schwartz. Sexton is the president of New York University and a graduate of Fordham University and Brooklyn Prep. Learn more here about Charlie Winans, one of Sexton's teachers at Brooklyn Prep.

Rob Weinert-Kendt talks with Associate Editor Kerry Weber about the year in New York theater. In addition to reviewing theater for America, Rob is an associate editor at American Theatre magazine and runs the blog The Wicked Stage. His article on the spirituality of theater for America appeared in May 2011.

James Martin, S.J., discusses his new e-book, Together on Retreat: Meeting Jesus in Prayer. Father Martin is a contributing editor at America and author of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything and Between Heaven and Mirth. You can find him on Twitter @jamesmartinsj or facebook.com/frjamesmartin.

Naomi Shaefer Riley is a former editor for the Wall Street Journal and a writer whose work focuses on higher education, religion, philanthropy and culture. She is the author, most recently, of the book 'Til Faith Do Us Part: How Interfaith Marriage is Transforming America

Michael Kennedy S.J.,  talks about the Jesuit Restorative Justice Initiative and his work with youth in the California prison system. Father Kennedy is the author of Eyes on Jesus and Eyes on the Cross, among other books. He spoke to Associate Editor Luke Hansen, S.J., at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress

Bishop Nicolas Djomo of Democratic Republic of the Congo explains why 15 years of unrest have left his fellow citizens exhausted and asking for assistance from the international community. Interview by Associate Editor Kevin Clarke.

Peter Eisner talks with Kevin Spinale, S.J., about his book The Pope's Last Crusade: How an American Jesuit Helped Pope Pius XI's Campaign to Stop Hitler. Mr. Eisner's book tells the story of America editor John LaFarge, S.J., who was brought to Rome to help Pius XI write an encyclical condemning Nazi ideology. The Pope's Last Crusade is the Catholic Book Club selection for April.

Greg Boyle, S.J., is founder of Homeboy Industries, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. He is also the author of Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion, which made the New York times bestseller list. Homeboy industries serves high-risk, formerly gang-involved men and women with free programs like tattoo removal, legal services, and mental health services. It also operates seven social enterprises that serve as job-training sites, including Homeboy Bakery, Homegirl Café and Homeboy silkscreen and embroidery. We spoke with Fr. Greg at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress in New York after he offered a talk about his work to a large crowd, moving many to tears

Scott W. Hahn, a professor of theology at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, and author of Consuming the Word (Doubleday, 2013), is the author of this week's cover story in America, "Mass Evangelization: Sharing Faith with the Eucharist." In this week's podcast, he speaks with Luke Hansen, S.J., and describes the role of friendship in the work of evangelization.

Speaking with Luke Hansen, S.J., from the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, Maureen Sullivan, O.P., discusses the achievements of the Second Vatican Council, whether the church needs a Vatican III and what her students think of the council.