Writer Emily Maguire on losing her own faith, but finding awe and inspiration in a controversial myth about a female pontiff who some people believe sat disguised on the papal throne for two years in the ninth century.
Writer Emily Maguire grew up in a very Christian home, where life revolved around the Church and prayer.
By the time she was in her late ... Show More
Today
How a boy named Yuri saved me from the trauma of a bomb blast
Debra Richardson joined the police at age 18 in the 1980s, working undercover as a prostitute and surviving the Russell Street bombing. Years later, she met her foster son, Yuri, who had also survived disaster.Deb and her family met Yuri after they agreed to care for one of the m ... Show More
52 m
Yesterday
Encore: Nikki Gemmell's vivid life of love, grief and reinvention
From Wollongong to London, via Alice Springs, this is writer Nikki Gemmell on her deeply romantic life, and how she defied expectations to become a famous author.Nikki grew up the daughter of a coalminer father who thought writers were a burden on society, while her mum taught Ni ... Show More
53 m
Jan 28
How I went from young delinquent to running a university
Professor George Williams was uninterested in school, instead spending his time melting down lead to sell to a nearby scrap yard. Then a special primary school teacher gave him permanent detention, which changed his life.Growing up in Sydney, he was the rebellious child of a sing ... Show More
53m 1s
Jan 2023
Faithful Frontiers: A Turkish Scholar Describes How She Became a Catholic Apologist
Derya Little has been a Muslim, an atheist, and a Protestant; today she is a Catholic writer and apologist. She tells the story of her conversion, talks about faith, family, Islam, history, the role of women in our Church. Since she and I are both fans of Star Trek and some other ... Show More
1h 13m
Dec 2024
The Catholic women bringing veiling back to Mass
On this week’s episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac are joined by Madeleine Kearns, an associate editor at The Free Press, and the author of a recently reported article, “The Young Catholic Women Bringing Back Veils.” Maddy shares how the veil boom evokes a “lost type of Catho ... Show More
52m 39s
Jul 2025
The Truth Behind (some) Catholic Virgin Saints
What do a beheaded music lover, a teenage runaway, a dragon-slayer, and a girl who just wanted to stay single have in common? They all became virgin saints — whether they asked for it or not.In this episode, we unravel the lives (and afterlives) of St. Agnes of Rome, St. Cecilia, ... Show More
53m 24s
Jan 2025
Cults and Catholicism: The Story of Sodalitium Christianae Vitae
The Catholic Church is, by any measure, one of the largest religious forces on the planet. Throughout its long, at-times troubled history, it has weathered numerous scandals: accusations of abuse, crime, and cover-ups. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt, and Noel explore the story o ... Show More
1h 2m