The America Media Podcast

Kathleen Norris is a poet and author of several books including “The Cloister Walk,” and “Acedia and Me.” She recently spoke at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress on the spirituality of our everyday lives

Raymond A. Schroth, S.J., discusses his article "America at War," which traces the magazine's support for the Vietnam War until an editorial reversal in 1971. Father Schroth served as a young editor at America during some of this time. You can read through a collection of editorials from the period here.

Matt Carnes, S.J., of Georgetown University talks about the future of Latin America and U.S. relations with Venezeula after the death of Hugo Chavez.

David Nasaw, author of The Patriarch: The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy, talks to Kevin Spinale, S.J., about the life of one of the wealthiest and most influential men of the 20th century. Nasaw's book is the Catholic Book Club selection for March. Read Kevin's introduction to the book here. Kevin will be answering questions about the book online on Friday March 22.

James Hanvey, S.J., talks about the church's "ecclesial desolation" and what it can do to regain its Easter eyes and rediscover the Spirit of the Second Vatican Council. Father Hanvey's article "Quo Vadis?" appears in the March 18 issue of America.

Mark Burnett and Roma Downey discuss their new History Channel miniseries, "The Bible."

Thomas J. Reese, S.J., the former editor in chief of America, answers common questions about the upcoming papal transition. John W. O'Malley, S.J., reviews the history of Celestine V and Gregory VI, two popes who resigned.

Luke Hansen, S.J., talks about America's controversial editorial "Repeal the Second Amendment."

Bill McGarvey, James Martin, S.J., and Tim Reidy review this year's nominees for Best Picture.

Chris Haw talks about his new book From Willow Creek to Sacred Heart: Rekindling My Love for Catholicism. Haw is a carpenter, painter, theologian and potter. He, his son Simon and his wife, Cassie, are members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Camden Houses, a small Christian community in Camden, New Jersey. Here he talks about his return to the Catholic Church and his involvement with the "new monastic" movement.

The Rev. J. Bryan Hehir talks about the legacy of John Courtney Murray, S.J. What would have Murray said about today's battles over abortion, or the controversy surrounding the madate that requires Catholic institutions to pay for contraception for their employees? Father Hehir is the Parker Gilbert Montgomery Professor of the Practice of Religion and Public Life at Harvard University and the Secretary for Social Services for the Archdiocese of Boston.

Kevin Clarke reports on his visit to Haiti shortly before the third anniversary of the earthquake that devastated the country. You can read Kevin's reporting from Haiti here, including the story of the deaf boy discussed on the podcast.

Gabriel Bol Deng is the founder of Hope for Ariang, a non-profit organization focused on promoting education, particularly for girls, in South Sudan. As a child, Deng fled his hometown of Ariang, in Sudan, due to violence in the area. He spent years in refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya before immigrating to the United States in 2001 and earning a Bachelors Degree from LeMoyne College in 2007. That same year, he founded Hope for Ariang after visiting his hometown for the first time in 20 years and seeing the challenges there. Deng recently spoke with associate editor Kerry Weber at the Ignatian Family Teach-In in Washington, D.C.

Matt Malone, S.J., talks about his vision for America as he begins is tenure as Editor in Chief. Fr. Malone served for two years as an associate editor, from 2007-2009, when he covered foreign policy and domestic politics. He was the recipient of the 2006 first place Catholic Press Association award for essay writing. Earlier in his career, Fr. Malone served as deputy director of MassINC, an independent political think tank, and co-publisher of CommonWealth, an award-winning review of politics, ideas and civic life.

Fred Kammer, S.J., talks about the prospects for immigration reform and the Biblical roots of the concept of amnesty. Fr. Kammer is the executive director of the Jesuit Social Research Institute at Loyola University New Orleans. He spoke to associate editor Luke Hansen, S.J., at the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in Washington, D.C., in November 2012.