The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J.
Episodes
Robert George on how to disagree and remain spiritually grounded
02 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The American legal scholar and public intellectual, Professor Robert George, joins host James Martin, S.J., on “The Spiritual Life” podcast to tal...
Yunuen Trujillo’s ministry to migrants and L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics
26 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As a lay minister to L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics, a faith-based community organizer, and an immigration attorney, Yunuen Trujillo wears many hats. And as...
Actor Martin Sheen on the heroes that shaped his spirituality and activism
19 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
From country club caddy to the Catholic Worker to “The West Wing”, Martin Sheen has been on a long and fascinating spiritual journey. The Emmy Awa...
Liza Colón-Zayas of "The Bear" speaks honestly about her struggles with faith
12 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve watched “The Bear” you’ve seen the incredible talent of the Emmy award-winning supporting actress, Liza Colón-Zayas, who plays Tina...
Cardinal “Ambo” David on blending biblical scholarship with Ignatian contemplation
05 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J., Fr. Martin speaks with Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David, Bishop of Kalookan, Philippi...
How Andrew Sullivan experienced God amidst fear and agony
28 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
James Martin, S.J., speaks with Andrew Sullivan, the renowned political commentator and Catholic writer, about faith, identity and spiritual transform...
Cardinal Blase Cupich on how the Mass can change your life
21 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago, joins James Martin, S.J., on “The Spiritual Life” podcast to talk about his vocation story, th...
Pádraig Ó Tuama on poetry, conflict resolution, and the stations of the cross
14 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The poet and theologian, Pádraig Ó Tuama, joins James Martin, S.J., on “The Spiritual Life” podcast to talk about how poetry and the Taizé comm...
Our human desire for God, with the Augustine scholar James K.A. Smith
07 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
James Martin, S.J., is joined by James K.A. Smith on the “The Spiritual Life” podcast. Jamie is a leading scholar of St. Augustine, and a professo...
Anarchist Catholicism: The Spiritual Wisdom of Dorothy Day
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Editor-in-chief of Orbis Books, Robert Ellsberg cut his teeth as an editor of The Catholic Worker newspaper when he was just 20 years old. There he ...
Kate Bowler on how to accompany those who are suffering
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
American culture often tries to emphasize “learning lessons” in the middle of suffering. For example, “Everything happens for a reason.” But K...
Jesuit musician Cristóbal Fones on praying with the Pope
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Cristóbal Fones, SJ, is many things- a talented musician, a Jesuit and the international director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network. He joins ...
Gregory Maguire’s spiritual journey–From a Catholic orphanage to ‘Wicked’-fame
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Long before he wrote “Wicked” Gregory Maguire has been weaving careful attention into his artistic pursuits and his prayer. He joins host James Ma...
Writer Kathleen Norris on her disabled sister’s inspiring life
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
New York Times bestselling writer, Kathleen Norris, joins host James Martin, S.J., on “The Spiritual Life” podcast to share her experience with Be...
A Black, gay Catholic priest on living authentically
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Fr. Bryan Massingale is a Black, openly gay priest, but not, in his own words, “a hybrid car,” that can be segmented into identity categories. Ins...
Praying with the Bible during Lent
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How can Scripture help deepen our prayer lives this Lent? The New Testament scholar Ben Witherington III joins host James Martin, S.J., to share his o...
"Help, Thanks, Wow": Three prayers that changed Anne Lamott
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes New York Times best-selling author and Christian convert, Anne Lamott, onto “The Spiritual Life” podcast. 0:00 ...
Richard Rohr on God, brokenness and healing
03 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes the Franciscan spiritual master and author, Richard Rohr O.F.M., onto “The Spiritual Life” podcast. They dig dee...
The Catholic sister ministering to migrants at our border
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Sister Norma Pimentel, M.J., the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, joins “The Spiritual Life” podcast to talk wit...
Cardinal Nemet’s practical advice for recovering from burnout
20 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Sometime in his midlife, after becoming a priest and then a bishop, Cardinal Ladislav Nemet experienced a difficult period of burn-out. It took a comm...
The spiritual journey behind Sr. Helen Prejean’s fight to end the death penalty
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes famed anti-death penalty advocate, Sister Helen Prejean, onto “The Spiritual Life” podcast. Their conversation s...
How to do a spiritual reset for 2026
01 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On our debut episode of 2026 and the second season of “The Spiritual Life,” host James Martin, S.J., welcomes Trappist monk, poet and photographer...
Introducing: 'Hark! The Stories Behind Our Favorite Christmas Carols'
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Fr. Jim introduces this special episode on "The Coventry Carol" which is part of a new season of the podcast, "Hark! The Stories Behind Our Favorite C...
Brené Brown on Jesus and the mystery of God
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On our Season One finale of “The Spiritual Life” podcast, Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes the incomparable researcher and storyteller, Brené Br...
Why you need a spiritual director
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 sp...
Br. Guy Consolmagno on praying as a scientist
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes Br. Guy Consolmagno, a Jesuit brother, astronomer and the former director of the Vatican Observatory, to “The Spir...
Adriana Trigiani on the spirituality of "showing up"
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes bestselling author and award-winning playwright, TV writer/producer, and filmmaker, Adriana Trigiani onto “The Spi...
A Trappist monk on how to stop judging others
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 W...
Mirabai Starr on how everyone can be a mystic
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Host James Martin, S.J., explores the mystical dimensions of the spiritual life with Mirabai Starr, an award-winning author, contemporary translator o...
Catholic comedian Jim Gaffigan sometimes feels like a fraud
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On “The Spiritual Life” podcast, James Martin, S.J., talks with comedian and actor Jim Gaffigan about telling jokes about the church and sometimes...
Cardinal Stephen Chow on being Christian in a Chinese culture
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 bish...
Fr. Ronald Rolheiser on priestly celibacy and the spirituality of sticking with it
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“The Spiritual Life” host James Martin, S.J., talks with famed spiritual author and guide, Ron Rolheiser O.M.I., about: Different habits of p...
Spiritual wisdom from the youngest woman at the Vatican Synod, Julia Osęka
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Host James Martin, S.J., talks with Julia Osęka, one of the youngest delegates at the Vatican Synod on Synodality which sought to increase participat...
Ross Douthat on miracles, suffering and how to talk to atheists about religion
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Host James Martin, S.J. welcomes New York Times Opinion columnist and host of the “Interesting Times” podcast Ross Douthat onto “The Spiritual L...
Martin Scorsese on the priest who changed his life—and his films
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Academy-Award winning filmmaker, Martin Scorsese, joins James Martin, S.J. to talk about: Scorsese’s Catholic childhood against the backdrop of...
How spiritual writer Sr. Joyce Rupp finds joy and freedom in getting older
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 fa...
A Caribbean archbishop on spiritual darkness, gang mediation and nurturing an "adult faith"
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, discusses his journey of faith, from his Catholic upbringing in the Caribbean t...
Anthea Butler on intellectual Catholicism, evangelicalism and why the ‘prosperity gospel’ persists
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“Spiritualizing” something usually makes it less concrete, less “real.” Not for Anthea Butler, the Geraldine R. Segal Professor of American So...
Stephen Colbert on meeting the pope, being Catholic and the spirituality of humor
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Mary Karr: ‘a black belt sinner’ loved by God
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“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, ...
Pete Buttigieg on Christianity, public life, and the spirituality of fatherhood
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 S...
Whoopi Goldberg's message for the pope
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes the multi-award winning actress, Whoopi Goldberg, onto “The Spiritual Life” podcast. This wide-ranging conversat...
Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe on friendship, silence, and struggling with prayer
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 Domi...
Coming Soon...
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...