Benedictine Thought & Action

In part one of a two-part conversation, John and Jason are joined by Dr. Sarah Jean Barton , a theologian and occupational therapist at Duke University, to discuss her book, "Becoming the Baptized Body: Disability and the Practice of Christian Community." The episode kicks off with fond memories of John and Sarah’s divinity school days and their shared experience walking the Camino de Santiago. Sa...

In this episode, John and Jason sit down with Dr. Larry Chapp, a retired theology professor and the current owner and manager of the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker Farm near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Larry shares his fascinating background—from growing up as a "nerdy" fireman's son and a "fire-breathing atheist" in Lincoln, Nebraska, to becoming a prominent theologian specializing in Hans Urs von B...

In part two of a two-part conversation, John and Jason are joined by Rob De La Noval , a theology professor at Boston College. The guys connected with Rob after reading three of his articles on teaching theology published in the University of Notre Dame's The Church Life Journal . The discussion centers around the art of teaching introductory theology to modern college students and the necessity o...

In part one of a two-part conversation, John and Jason are joined by Rob De La Noval , a theology professor at Boston College. The guys connected with Rob after reading three of his articles on teaching theology published in the University of Notre Dame's The Church Life Journal . The discussion centers around the art of teaching introductory theology to modern college students and the necessity o...

In this episode, "Just John" flies solo to interview his favorite professor from Duke Divinity School, Dr. Anathea Portier-Young . They discuss her groundbreaking book, "The Prophetic Body: Embodiment and Mediation in Biblical Prophetic Literature," which challenges the traditional "logocentric" view that prophets are merely mouthpieces for a divine message. Instead, Thea argues that prophecy is a...

In this episode, John and Jason are joined by Dr. William Portier , a renowned theologian, historian of American Catholicism, and the academic mentor who originally guided Jason into his doctoral program. As the author of "Tradition and Incarnation," a textbook used by nearly every Mount Marty student for the last several years, Dr. Portier helps the hosts unpack the complex relationship between f...

In this special "exit interview," John and Jason sit down with Marc Long, the President Emeritus of Mount Marty University, just days before his retirement. Reflecting on his ten-year tenure, Marc shares his unlikely journey from a traffic-enforcement police officer to a higher education leader, revealing how he navigated the public demands of university presidency. The conversation delves into th...

In this episode, hosts John and Jason dive into a book club discussion on "Aflame" by travel writer Pico Iyer . They explore why this book—written by a non-religious "pilgrim" who has visited a Benedictine monastery for forty years—is a valuable resource for anyone interested in silence, solitude, and the art of being a guest in another’s tradition. The conversation unpacks the book's central meta...

In this episode, hosts John and Jason explore Mount Marty University's fourth and final core value: Lifelong Learning . Far from being a simple endorsement of continuing education or accruing degrees, they reveal that this value is actually a translation of the obscure Benedictine vow conversatio morum —the commitment to the continual transformation of one's life. The hosts discuss the Benedictine...

In this episode, hosts John and Jason explore Mount Marty University's third core value: Hospitality . Moving far beyond simple politeness or "being nice," they dig into the radical Benedictine instruction to "treat every guest as Christ." They discuss the inherent difficulty of this command—noting that historically, welcoming Christ got people crucified—and share a striking story about how true i...

In this episode, hosts John and Jason dive into Mount Marty University's second core value: Community . The conversation begins with a deep dive into the etymology of the word, tracing it to the Latin munus , which fascinatingly means both "responsibility" or "role" and "gift." They use this dual meaning to explore the central tension of community life: balancing the needs of the group with the un...

Hosts John and Jason begin their series on Mount Marty University's four core values by tackling the first and most foundational: Awareness of God . They discuss how this value, derived from the 10 Benedictine Hallmarks, is far more than just a religious checkbox. The conversation centers on the Benedictine practice of Lectio (reading), expanding the concept of Lectio Divina (holy reading of scrip...

This conversation delves into the phrase 'thought and action,' exploring its origins, significance, and implications within the context of the Benedictine tradition and broader theological discourse. John and Jason reflect on their personal experiences in seminary, the intersection of philosophy and action, and the influence of certain thinkers on contemporary thought. They also discuss the role o...

In the very first episode of the Benedictine Thought & Action pod, John Badley and Jason Heron introduce themselves and recount their friendship, their education, and the winding road that brought them to live out their vocations as beginners at a rural Catholic Benedictine university in South Dakota.