What wisdom does the Roman Catholic Church hold for our modern world? Can it become more inclusive? Join us as we speak to Ruth Roth, a Roman Catholic Woman Priest, who was ordained by a Bishop of the Church as part of one such effort.
Raj Balkaran is a scholar, educator, consultant, and life coach. For information see rajbalkaran.com.
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Aug 22
Robyn Koslowitz, "Post-Traumatic Parenting: Break the Cycle and Become the Parent You Always Wanted to Be" (Broadleaf Books, 2025)
Every good parent wants to create relationships with their children that are filled with joy, connection, and healthy attachment. Yet well-meaning but traumatized parents--those who suffered as children or who are dealing with traumatic events as adults--tend to see the world fro ... Show More
42m 10s
Aug 14
James Kimmel, Jr., "The Science of Revenge: Understanding the World's Deadliest Addiction—and How to Overcome It" (Random House, 2025)
There is a hidden addiction plaguing humanity right now: revenge. Researchers have identified retaliation in response to real and imagined grievances as the root cause of most forms of human aggression and violence. From vicious tweets to road rage, murder-suicide, and armed insu ... Show More
52m 29s
Aug 5
“Truth is a Pathless Land”: Krishnamurti and Revolutionary Spirituality with Connie Jones
In this episode, “Truth is a Pathless Land,” we speak with Transformative Inquiry Program faculty member Connie Jones to explore the micropolitical stakes of revolutionary spirituality through Krishnamurti’s challenge to religious prescription, psychological conditioning, and ego ... Show More
1h 41m
May 2023
WOF 388: What Is the Laity’s Role in Evangelization?
Friends, in February 2023, at the Sharing the Church’s Story Conference in London, I reflected on the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and how these counsels can be lived out by the laity. Vatican II wanted great Catholic parents, great Catholic lawyers, ... Show More
43m 54s
Jan 2024
WOF 420: The Catholic Intellectual Tradition
Today, we’re excited to share with you Bishop Barron’s recent talk at Harvard University titled “The Catholic Intellectual Tradition,” sponsored by the Harvard Catholic Forum. Bishop Barron explores some foundational themes in the Catholic intellectual tradition, including God, t ... Show More
37m 27s
Jun 2023
WOF 389: Catholics and the Culture of Contempt
Friends, what fuels our modern “culture of contempt,” so prevalent online? And how can Catholics resist it? A helpful new book by John Allen, Jr., Catholics and Contempt, seeks to answer those questions, and on today’s “Word on Fire Show” I discuss the book with Brandon Vogt. A l ... Show More
29m 44s
Sep 2023
Preaching lessons from Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman
“I had the great privilege of never having a man formally teach me preaching,” boasts Manuel Williams about his training for the priesthood. One of his teachers was Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, F.S.P.A.; the other was Joan Delaplane, an Adrian Dominican sister and the first ... Show More
34m 44s
Nov 2023
WOF 414: What Makes a University Catholic?
Today, we’re excited to share with you a talk that Bishop Barron recently gave at the University of Notre Dame titled “What Makes a University Catholic?” The talk was cosponsored by the Notre Dame Student Government, the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture, the McGrath Instit ... Show More
49m 48s
Nov 2022
WOF 359: Religion, Politics, and Intolerance
Friends, what is the role of religion in civic life? Must we bracket religion from the political sphere? Those are pressing questions as we near the midterm elections. On today’s “Word on Fire Show,” Brandon Vogt and I discuss the relationship between politics and religion and th ... Show More
28m 8s
Apr 2024
Episode #97- April 10, 2024: Snake Oil: Manifestation and Mindfulness with Special Guest Fr. Christopher Brashears
#97: Snake Oil: Manifestation and Mindfulness Slippery Cultural Myths Masquerading as Truth Today, we are joined again by Father Christopher Brashears from the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Fr. Brashears is a parish priest, canon lawyer, and member of the Archdiocesan Tribunal. I ... Show More
34m 10s