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PODCAST

The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J.

What is prayer and how can we pray? How do I know if God is responding to my prayers? What does it mean to live a spiritual life? “The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J.,” focuses on how people experience God in their prayer and their daily lives. The show combines practical wisdom with deep reflections from spiritual masters and well-known seekers, all tracing the mystery of God’s activity in their own lives. You can visit the show"s webpage at www.americamagazine.org/thespirituallife.

religion & spirituality christianity

All Episodes

63:04

Brené Brown on Jesus and vulnerable spirituality

The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. ·

2025/10/28

On our Season One finale of “The Spiritual Life” podcast, Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes the incomparable researcher and storyteller, Brené Brown.Brené is a research professor at the University of Houston, the author of six #1 New York Times bestsellers and the host of two award-winning podcasts. In 2024, she was named as the executive director of The Center for Daring Leadership at BetterUp. In this open and courageous conversation, they discuss: How Brené became Catholic as a child and

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69:36

Why you need a spiritual director

The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. ·

2025/10/21

We’ve heard your questions about spiritual direction and have an episode that should answer (almost) all of them! To help us demystify the art of spiritual direction, host James Martin, S.J. speaks with Jesuit sociologist and trained spiritual director, Patrick Gilger, S.J., about:What spiritual direction is and what it is not What you can expect from a wise spiritual director How spiritual direction helped both Jim and Paddy deepen their relationship with God and dislodge barriers

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57:23

Br. Guy Consolmagno on praying as a scientist

The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. ·

2025/10/14

Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes Br. Guy Consolmagno, a Jesuit brother, astronomer and the former director of the Vatican Observatory, to “The Spiritual Life” podcast. With a Ph.D. in planetary science, Br. Guy has spent his career studying meteorites and asteroids, exploring the origins of the solar system, authoring more than 250 scientific publications and making science accessible to the public. Br. Guy has written several books exploring faith and science issues, and his most recent book is,

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49:58

Adriana Trigiani on the spirituality of ‘showing up’

The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. ·

2025/10/07

Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes bestselling author and award-winning playwright, TV writer/producer, and filmmaker, Adriana Trigiani onto “The Spiritual Life” podcast. Adriana is a New York Times bestselling author of twenty-one books of fiction and nonfiction. Her latest novel is The View From Lake Como. This big-hearted conversation spans:Adriana’s Italian-Catholic family roots Her personal connection to the Eucharist and the Blessed Mother How she encounters the Holy Spirit in

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56:53

A Trappist monk on how to stop judging others

The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. ·

2025/09/30

Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes Fr. Isaac Slater, OCSO, a Trappist monk, poet, and author of “Do Not Judge Anyone: Desert Wisdom for a Polarized World” to “The Spiritual Life” podcast. This contemplative conversation includes: The positive effects silence can have on our prayer lives Why we judge other people and how to stop How to create an environment that is more conducive to prayer, without becoming a monk Link to Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode:

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64:12

Mirabai Starr on mysticism for everyone

The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. ·

2025/09/23

Host James Martin, S.J., explores the mystical dimensions of the spiritual life with Mirabai Starr, an award-winning author, contemporary translator of sacred literature, and world-renowned teacher of contemplative practice and inter-spiritual dialogue. They dive deep into: - Daily practices that foster mystical experiences, including insights drawn from Mirabai’s latest book “Ordinary Mysticism: Your Life As Sacred Ground.” - The role that death, loss and grief have played in shaping Mirabai’s

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52:58

Catholic comedian Jim Gaffigan sometimes feels like a...

The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. ·

2025/09/16

On “The Spiritual Life” podcast, James Martin, S.J., talks with comedian and actor Jim Gaffigan about telling jokes about the church and sometimes feeling like a fraud in the spiritual life.Together, they talk about: - Jim’s journey through agnosticism and back to the Catholic Church - Feeling like a fraud and nurturing a healthy spiritual life - What spiritual practices Jim turned to when his wife, Jeannie, was diagnosed with a pear-sized brain tumor. Link to Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice

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39:09

Cardinal Stephen Chow on being Christian in a Chinese...

The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. ·

2025/09/09

On “The Spiritual Life” podcast, Fr. James Martin, S.J., talks to fellow a Jesuit and synod delegate, Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., who is the bishop of Hong Kong and was one of the 133 voting cardinals who elected Pope Leo XIV. He is renowned for his diplomacy and work fostering dialogue between the Catholic Church and China through educational outreach and cultural bridge-building.Together, they talk about: - Christian spirituality and Chinese culture - The principle of inner freedom in Jesuit

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56:29

Fr. Ronald Rolheiser on priestly celibacy and the...

The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. ·

2025/08/26

“The Spiritual Life” host James Martin, S.J., talks with famed spiritual author and guide, Ron Rolheiser O.M.I., about:Different habits of prayer, including discursive and centering prayer Staying the course when your vocation feels boring or dry What we have misunderstood about chastity and celibacy Why praying relentlessly about your problems might not be spiritually wise and what to do differently in prayer Ron’s books mentioned in the episode: The Holy Longing: The

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50:12

Spiritual wisdom from the youngest woman at the...

The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. ·

2025/08/19

Host James Martin, S.J., talks with Julia Osęka, one of the youngest delegates at the Vatican Synod on Synodality which sought to increase participation in the Catholic Church. They reflect upon:How Julia’s childhood faith that ‘checked all the boxes’ matured into a relational faith between herself, God and other people Both the inspiration and challenges Julia felt as a young delegate at the Synod on Synodality in October of 2023 and 2024. Julia’s way of incorporating Ignatian

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66:24

Ross Douthat on miracles, suffering and how to talk...

The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. ·

2025/08/12

Host James Martin, S.J. welcomes New York Times Opinion columnist and host of the “Interesting Times” podcast Ross Douthat onto “The Spiritual Life” to talk about:- The eclectic variety of religious experience Ross encountered as a child through his parents’ exploration of charismatic and Pentecostal communities and his family’s eventual conversion to Roman Catholicism. - Ross’ five-year struggle with Lyme disease, detailed in his memoir The Deep Places, and where he found God amidst his

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49:05

Martin Scorsese on the priest who changed his...

The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. ·

2025/08/05

Academy-Award winning filmmaker, Martin Scorsese, joins James Martin, S.J. to talk about: Scorsese’s Catholic childhood against the backdrop of the mean, mafia-run streets of the Lower East Side, NYC, and the priest who guided him through it. How spiritual themes naturally emerged in his acclaimed films. Scorsese’s experience doing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and how they affected his personal relationship to Jesus. Link to Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this

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55:46

How spiritual writer Sr. Joyce Rupp finds joy and...

The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. ·

2025/07/29

The long-beloved spiritual writer Sr. Joyce Rupp, O.S.M. joins Fr. James Martin, S.J. to "The Spiritual Life” podcast. They talk about: - How to face the challenges of aging without harboring anger and bitterness - The opportunities for interior freedom and delight that come with age - How grief and loss changed the way Joyce prays Some of our favorite books from Sr. Joyce Rupp’s: Vessels of Love: Poems and Prayers for the Later Years of Life Praying Our Goodbyes: A Spiritual Companion

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53:19

A Caribbean archbishop on spiritual darkness, gang...

The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. ·

2025/07/22

Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, discusses his journey of faith, from his Catholic upbringing in the Caribbean to his experiences with the charismatic renewal and his challenging call to the priesthood. Together with Father James Martin he discusses: - How to answer a call from God - Paying attention and staying committed during periods of intense spiritual darkness - How working in gang mediation and serving the poor shaped his spiritual life Read Father

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49:56

Anthea Butler on intellectual Catholicism,...

The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. ·

2025/07/15

“Spiritualizing” something usually makes it less concrete, less “real.” Not for Anthea Butler, the Geraldine R. Segal Professor of American Social Thought at the University of Pennsylvania. In this episode of “The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J.,” Anthea shares her journey from Catholicism to Pentecostalism and back to Catholicism, crediting the Catholic Church’s rich intellectual tradition and dedication to working with the poor and marginalized.They discuss: - Anthea’s Black Catholic

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72:53

Stephen Colbert on meeting the pope, being Catholic...

The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. ·

2025/07/08

Stephen Colbert joins host Jim Martin, S.J., on “The Spiritual Life”! Colbert is well-known for his satirical comedy on The Colbert Report and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The conversation dives into: - The personal tragedy that marked Colbert’s boyhood- losing his father and two brothers in a plane crash – and how his mother’s faith helped shape his spiritual perspective. - The atheism that plagued his college years and what brought Colbert back to his Catholic faith. - The interplay

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63:00

Mary Karr: ‘a black belt sinner’ loved by God

The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. ·

2025/07/01

“The Spiritual Life” host James Martin, S.J., talks to Mary Karr, author of New York Times best-selling memoirs The Liars' Club, Cherry, and Lit, as well as the Art of Memoir, and five poetry collections, most recently Tropic of Squalor. Mary Karr shares: How her son and a humble parish priest impacted her conversion to the Catholic faith Her experience doing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and coming to know both the depths of her own sinfulness and the abiding love of God

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50:45

Pete Buttigieg on Christianity, public life, and the...

The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. ·

2025/06/24

Pete Buttigieg – the 19th U.S. Secretary of Transportation and the 32nd mayor of South Bend, Indiana – joins host James Martin, S.J. on “The Spiritual Life” podcast to talk about his faith journey, including:A high school Old Testament teacher who shaped Pete’s understanding of a faith that does justice Pete’s appreciation of the liturgy and subsequent conversion to the Episcopal church Coming out as gay and coming out as Christian in political life How becoming a father

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43:26

Whoopi Goldberg

The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. ·

2025/06/17

Host Jim Martin, S.J., welcomes the multi-award winning actress, Whoopi Goldberg, onto “The Spiritual Life” podcast. This wide-ranging conversation includes:Whoopi’s Catholic childhood and how her faith has evolved The influence of Pope John XXIII on her life What Whoopi shared with Pope Francis about Black Catholics Watch a video recording of this conversation on ⁠America Media's YouTube channel.⁠ Read Fr. Jim's article on this interview with Whoopi Goldberg Do you have a

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57:02

Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe, O.P.

The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. ·

2025/06/17

On the first episode of “The Spiritual Life,” Fr. James Martin, S.J., talks to Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe, O.P., former Master General of the Dominican Order and a retreat leader for the Synod on Synodality. Together, they talk about: Dominican spirituality and prayer Friendship with God and dialogue in the church Cardinal Timothy’s spiritual insights from aging and recovering from illness Watch a video recording of this conversation on America Media's YouTube channel. Read

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