The deacons speak with Matt Kappadakunnel, author of the Paulist Press book "The Catholic Church and the Struggle for Racial Justice."

This episode of Deacons Pod features Sr. Mary Margaret Funk, OSB, a Benedictine nun of Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove, IN. Sr. Meg is author of "The Matters Series" and other books from Liturgical Press. She also is a leader in interreligious dialogue.

Meditation and contemplative prayer may help people take a break from the drama in their lives, and be a balm to polarization in our society. Those are just two of several takeaways from this special episode of Deacons Pod featuring Fr. Laurence Freeman, OSB, a Benedictine monk and director of the World Community for Christian Meditation.

Heidi Busse, editor of the devotional periodical Give Us This Day, has a lively conversation with the Paulist Deacon Affiliates about Benedictine values, addressing polarization, and ministry with Catholics on the threshold.

Helen Osman, a longtime leader in faith-based communications, joins us for a conversation about providing hope for the Catholics at the threshold of the Church door; trends in Church media; and more.

In this special episode, we compile responses from our several of our pod guests to our regular question: "What words of hope would you give to Catholics at the threshold of the Church door, both those who are thinking about returning to Church and those who are thinking about leaving?"

In this episode, the deacons have a wonderful conversation with Paulist Deacon Chris Lawton and Paulist Deacon Dan Macalinao. They are both Paulist seminarians and transitional deacons who are slated to be ordained priests on May 18, 2024.

The deacons speak with Heidi Schlumpf, senior correspondent at National Catholic Reporter, about trends in the Church, Catholic publishing, and more. This is a rebroadcast of an episode from October, 2022.

The deacons have a great conversation with Jesuit Fr. James Martin, editor-at-large of America magazine, about his new book "Come Forth: The Promise of Jesus's Greatest Miracle." In the book, Fr. Jim takes a deep dive into the Gospel account of Jesus' raising of Lazarus from the dead.

The deacons have a great conversation with Paulist Fr. Rich Andre, director of the Paulist Center in Boston, about his faith journey, his call to the priesthood, preaching styles, music, the intersection of faith and science, and ministry in Boston.

Deacon Dennis and Deacon Tom share thoughts and tips for navigating the sacred season of Lent.

The deacons speak with Sr. Simone Campbell, SSS, who served from 2004 to 2021 as executive director of the NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice and helped to organize the "Nuns on the Bus" lobbying tours around the country.

The deacons speak with Diana Macalintal, co-founder and co-director of TeamRCIA, a resource for parishes and ministers working with adults who are becoming Catholic. She also is an author and speaker on topics related to liturgy, music, prayer, and intercultural ministry.

The deacons are joined by Jesuit Fr. Thomas Reese to discuss his essay "15 Hidden Gems in the Synod on Synodality Report" that appeared November 9, 2023, in the National Catholic Reporter.

Media literacy education, digital literacy skills, artificial intelligence, and the power of movies are topics in this first Deacons Pod episode of 2024. The deacons' wonderful guest is Sr. Rose Pacatte, a Daughter of St. Paul, the founding director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies, and a film critic.

The deacons speak with Robert Ellsberg, publisher of Orbis Books, writer of the "Blessed Among Us" column in "Give Us This Day," and one-time managing editor of the Catholic Worker newspaper.

The deacons speak with Joan Rosenhauer, President of Jesuit Refugee Service USA, an organization which serves and advocates on behalf of refugees and forcibly displaced people.

How can the Church's evangelization efforts be more effective? Is World Youth Day having a lasting impact? Where can "threshold Catholics" or "seekers" find hope? These are some of the deacons' questions in this episode for Marilyn Santos, a veteran Catholic educator and youth minister.

Deacon Dennis and Deacon Patrick speak with Cherylann and Len Gengel of the Be Like Brit Foundation, which operates a home and academy for children in Haiti.

The deacons speak with Nancy Klein Maguire, author of "An Infinity of Little Hours: Five Young Men and Their Trial of Faith in the Western World's Most Austere Monastic Order" and "The Monk's Widow: A Memoir of a Resilient Love and an Intimate Death."

The deacons speak with U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas about her spiritual journey and the sense of peace she has found three years after her son Daniel, age 20, was shot and killed at their home in New Jersey.

The deacons speak with Paulist Fr. Charlie Donahue and Deacon Patrick Murphy-Racey, both law enforcement chaplains in Knoxville, TN.

The deacons speak with Deacon Bill Ditewig, a retired U.S. Navy Commander, linguist, professor, and author of several Paulist Press books about the diaconate.

The deacons speak with Gerard Straub, an author, former television producer, and Secular Franciscan who leads the Santa Chiara Children’s Center in Haiti.

The deacons speak with Deacon Kevin Martin, a permanent deacon of the Archdiocese of Boston, and author of "All is Well: Life Lessons from a Preacher's Father."