Jesuitical

Welcome to Jesuitical, a podcast for young Catholics hosted by two young, lay editors at America—Zac Davis and Ashley McKinless. Each episode features a guest who offers a unique perspective on faith, culture or current events. We also bring you some of the top (and maybe more obscure) Catholic news of the week. And we'll ask: Where do we find God in all this?

Episodes

U.S. culture has a contempt problem

March 12, 2026 • 66 mins

This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac speak with Timothy Shriver, chairman of Special Olympics and founder of the nonprofit UNITE, which incubated the Dignity Index, a language evaluation tool that aims to bring greater dignity to our public discourse. 0:00 Welcome back Zac Davis! 2:35 A new papal nuncio to the U.S.A. 6:27 Cardinals respond to Iran war 9:04 Synod report on women released 10:27 Tim Shriver's holy family 1...

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Just or unjust? Catholics respond to the Iran war

March 6, 2026 • 75 mins

This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley sits down with America’s chief correspondent, Kevin Clarke, to discuss the widening conflict with Iran and whether the U.S. intervention in the conflict can be justified under just war theory. Then, we re-share one of our favorite interviews from last year: a conversation with Jamie Baxter, the founder & C.E.O. of Exodus 90. The program, which helps men to strengthen their faith through prayer, as...

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Father James Martin on the summer jobs that shaped him

February 27, 2026 • 46 mins

This week on a special, interview-only episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian talk with James Martin, S.J., editor at large for America, about his new memoir Work in Progress: Confessions of a busboy, dishwasher, caddy, usher, factory worker, bank teller, corporate tool, and priest. Ashley, Sebastian and Father Jim discuss: The differences in writing an autobiography vs. a book on prayer Balancing amb...

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When your son becomes a priest—and you’re not so sure about the Catholic Church

February 20, 2026 • 70 mins

This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian sit down with Kristen Gilger, author of My Son, The Priest: A Mother’s Crisis of Faith and her son, Patrick Gilger, S.J., to discuss their interwoven journeys of faith. 0:00 Critiquing our ashes 3:00 Pope Leo's first Ash Wednesday 4:35 Vatican won't join "Board of Peace" 5:50 St. Peter's has a new snack bar! 8:10 Kristin's shock when Paddy joined the Jesuits 16:58 The...

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The Black Masking Indians of Mardi Gras

February 13, 2026 • 53 mins

This week on a pre-Mardi Gras episode “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian speak with Dr. Ansel Augustine. Ansel is the assistant director for African American affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the author of Praying with Our Feet: Encountering God in the Margins. They discuss the harrowing and sacred culture of the Black Masking Indians of Mardi Gras. 0:00 Mardi Gras! 4:00 New York City has a new bi...

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Minneapolis Catholic Bishop on ICE, immigration and human dignity

February 9, 2026 • 37 mins

Bishop Kevin Kenney was born in Minneapolis and has ministered to Latino communities there for years. Now an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, he speaks to America about the realities facing Latino Catholics on the ground and what the Catholic Church is doing to support them. 0:00 ICE outside churches and schools 4:45 How the Catholic Church is responding 10:00 Targeting criminals only? 11:45 Prea...

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Prayer in sports: healthy spirituality or superstition?

February 6, 2026 • 57 mins

This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian sit down with Patrick Kelly, S.J. Father Pat holds the Heider Chair at Creighton University and is an expert in the theology of Sports. Then, in a special faith sharing segment, the hosts speak with Patrick Hyde, O.P., a Dominican priest and the pastor of St. Paul Catholic Center at Indiana University, about recent Heisman Trophy winner, Fernando Mendoza. Fernando, the qua...

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David French on Christianity and the MAGA movement

January 30, 2026 • 56 mins

This week on a special episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Sam Sawyer, S.J., president and editor in chief of America, have a conversation with David French, political commentator and opinion columnist at The New York Times, about the complex relationship between Christianity and politics during the Trump administration. Ashley, Father Sawyer and David discuss: - David’s journey as a never-Trump evangelical Christian - The futu...

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Euthanasia isn't (and shouldn’t be) a partisan issue

January 23, 2026 • 71 mins

This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian speak to Charles Camosy. Charlie teaches moral theology and bioethics at the Catholic University of America and is the author of 10 books, including Living and Dying Well: A Catholic Plan for Resisting Physician-Assisted Killing. Ashley, Sebastian and Charlie discuss: - How opposition to euthanasia transcends typical partisan camps - The disability advocates on the front...

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Pope Leo and Pope Francis: the similarities—and differences

January 16, 2026 • 56 mins

This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian speak with Vatican expert Thomas Reese, S.J., a Jesuit priest who is a senior analyst at Religion News Service and former editor in chief of America magazine. Ashley, Sebastian and Father Reese discuss: - The big takeaways from Pope Leo’s first consistory - 101 on the recent history of the College of Cardinals - Whether Leo is continuing on the synodal path set by Pop...

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Spiritual advice you don't want to miss for 2026!

January 9, 2026 • 58 mins

This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian sit down with Eric Sundrup, S.J., a Jesuit priest who is the vice president for mission and ministry and university chaplain at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Father Eric has also worked on “Jesuitical” since its inception (in 2017!) in a variety of roles; today, he continues to provide faith formation for the team. Ashley, Sebastian and Father Eric discuss: - Wh...

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Saint baby names and the best pilgrimage sites: Your questions for Jesuitical, answered.

December 19, 2025 • 55 mins

Who’s the best TV priest? Should you name your kid after a saint? And what pilgrimage sites are on our bucket list? These are just a few of the questions Zac, Ashley and “Jesuitical” producer Sebastian Gomes tackle in our end-of-year mailbag episode! Thanks to all the listeners who sent in questions for the hosts—we love hearing what’s on your minds. So don’t hesitate to reach out to jesuitical@americamedia.org or on our Facebook ...

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Evangelist or Catholic influencer? Spreading the Gospel in the digital age.

December 12, 2025 • 58 mins

This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac speak to Noah Banasiewicz, S.J. Noah is a Jesuit scholastic and lecturer in the School of Communication at Loyola University Chicago. Ashley, Zac and Noah talk about: - The opportunities and pitfalls of evangelizing on social media - The fine line between evangelist and Catholic influencer - How media theory can help us understand the evolution of evangelization In Signs of the Times, ...

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Pope Leo’s historic first trip; and, is this the most chilling Christmas carol?

December 5, 2025 • 87 mins

This week, Ashley and Zac debrief Pope Leo XIV's first international trip to Turkey and Lebanon, where he preached a strong message of peace and Christian unity, and shared insights from the conclave that elected him. Then, they speak to their colleague and America's senior audio producer, Maggi Van Dorn, about the new season of her podcast, "Hark! The Stories Behind Our Favorite Christmas Carols." They reflect on Maggi's reportin...

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Pope Leo in Lebanon and Catholics in the Middle East

November 21, 2025 • 66 mins

This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac chat with Daniel Corrou, S.J. Father Corrou is a Jesuit priest from the USA East Province who is currently the regional director of Jesuit Refugee Service Middle East & North Africa. Father Corrou lives and works in Lebanon, where Pope Leo XIV will visit from November 30 to December 2, 2025. Ashley, Zac and Father Corrou talk about: - The significance of Pope Leo choosing Lebanon for one ...

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These Catholic Sisters are on a mission to serve spiritual abuse survivors

November 14, 2025 • 53 mins

This week on an interview-only episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac speak with Sister Theresa Aletheia and Sister Danielle Victoria, founding members of the Sisters of the Little Way, a private association of the faithful intending to become a religious institute, who live a mission of listening and solidarity with people who have been hurt by the church. Ashley, Zac and the sisters talk about: - The ins and outs of starting a...

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Meet John Henry Newman, the church's newest doctor

November 7, 2025 • 74 mins

This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac chat with Chris Cimorelli. Chris is the director of the National Institute for Newman Studies and the editor of the Newman Studies Journal, and an expert on St. John Henry Cardinal Newman, the newest doctor of the church. Ashley, Zac and Chris talk about: - Newman’s journey from Anglicanism to the Church of Rome - Newman’s many (and lasting) contributions to Catholic thought - Why Catho...

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Dragons, plagues and Christ's return: The Book of Revelation, explained

October 31, 2025 • 74 mins

This week on a special Halloween episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac speak with Micah Kiel, a professor of New Testament at Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary in Collegeville, Minn., where he teaches a class called “Apocalypse-mania.” Micah is also the author of Apocalyptic Ecology: The Book of Revelation, the Earth, and the Future. Ashley, Zac and Micah discuss: - How Catholics should read the Book of Revelation ...

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Catholics vs. ICE’s immigration crackdown

October 24, 2025 • 64 mins

This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac talk to Brendan Curran, O.P., a Dominican priest who leads interfaith partnerships at the Resurrection Project and serves on the International Dominican Commission for Justice and Peace. Links for further reading: The International Dominican Commission for Justice and Peace website The Resurrection Project website Chicago Catholics confront ICE, fear and protests to prote...

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When the church fails: How to balance being critical and Catholic

October 17, 2025 • 51 mins

This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac sit down with Colleen Dulle, America’s Vatican correspondent and host of the “Inside the Vatican” podcast, to speak about her new book, Struck Down, Not Destroyed: Keeping the Faith as a Vatican Reporter. Ashley, Zac and Colleen discuss: - The spirituality of a Vatican reporter covering church scandals - Colleen’s experience attending—and leaving—the Latin Mass - Being present at Mass ...

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Jesuitical

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}U.S. culture has a contempt problem

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Just or unjust? Catholics respond to the Iran war

Father James Martin on the summer jobs that shaped him

When your son becomes a priest—and you’re not so sure about the Catholic Church

The Black Masking Indians of Mardi Gras

Minneapolis Catholic Bishop on ICE, immigration and human dignity

Prayer in sports: healthy spirituality or superstition?

David French on Christianity and the MAGA movement

Euthanasia isn't (and shouldn’t be) a partisan issue

Pope Leo and Pope Francis: the similarities—and differences

Spiritual advice you don't want to miss for 2026!

Saint baby names and the best pilgrimage sites: Your questions for Jesuitical, answered.

Evangelist or Catholic influencer? Spreading the Gospel in the digital age.

Pope Leo’s historic first trip; and, is this the most chilling Christmas carol?

Pope Leo in Lebanon and Catholics in the Middle East

These Catholic Sisters are on a mission to serve spiritual abuse survivors

Meet John Henry Newman, the church's newest doctor

Dragons, plagues and Christ's return: The Book of Revelation, explained

Catholics vs. ICE’s immigration crackdown

When the church fails: How to balance being critical and Catholic

Popular Podcasts

U.S. culture has a contempt problem

Just or unjust? Catholics respond to the Iran war