Catholic in America

Why are so many people lonely, anxious, and disconnected despite having more comforts and conveniences than ever before? In this episode of Catholic in America , Jason Adkins welcomes Dr. John Cuddeback , professor of philosophy at Christendom College, to discuss his new book, The Intentional Household: Living As If People Matter .  Dr. Cuddeback argues that one of the greatest crises of modern li...

More than forty years after his death, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen continues to inspire Catholics around the world. In this episode of Catholic in America , Jason Adkins speaks with Bishop Louis Tylka , promoter of Sheen’s cause for canonization and leader of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation , about the life, legacy, and enduring relevance of one of the greatest evangelists in American Cat...

Is our obsession with aliens and AI preparing us for a spiritual deception? In this electrifying episode of Catholic in America , Jason Adkins interviews philosopher, theologian, and author Daniel O’Connor , who argues that belief in extraterrestrials and superintelligent AI may be part of a growing cultural movement away from Christ — and toward idolatry and deception. Drawing on theology, Church...

What does it really mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? In this deeply reflective episode of Catholic in America , Jason Adkins speaks with Fr. Simeon (Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis) , a Trappist monk of St. Joseph’s Abbey and acclaimed spiritual writer, about the path of Christian discipleship in a distracted and restless age.  Drawing from his book The Way of the Disciple , Father Simeon reflects on...

What is school choice and why is it such a heated debate across the country? In this episode of Catholic in America , Jason Adkins speaks with Dr. Patrick Graff , Senior Fellow at the American Federation for Children, to unpack one of the most important education issues in America today. From Catholic social teaching to real-world data, this conversation goes beyond political talking points and ex...

What is Catholic social teaching and why does it matter right now? In this episode of Catholic in America , Jason Adkins speaks with Dr. Peter Kwasniewski , author of His Reign Shall Have No End , to unpack one of the most misunderstood areas of the Catholic faith. Often reduced to politics, misused ideologically, or ignored altogether, Catholic social teaching is actually something far more funda...

What happens when political power clashes with moral authority? In this special episode of Catholic in America , Jason Adkins sits down with Trita Parsi , one of Washington’s leading voices on foreign policy, to unpack a striking moment in global affairs: a public exchange between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV over war, diplomacy, and moral leadership. But this conversation goes far beyo...

What is technology doing to our families and our children? In this episode of Catholic in America , Jason Adkins speaks with Michael Toscano of the Institute for Family Studies about  the growing impact of digital technology on family life. From social media to smartphones, the modern technological landscape is reshaping how families communicate, form relationships, and raise children. Toscano sha...

How should Catholics engage politics in a time of deep polarization? In this episode of Catholic in America , Jason Adkins speaks with Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore about his pastoral letter, In Charity and Truth: Toward a Renewed Political Culture. Archbishop Lori reflects on the growing divisions within American society and the urgent need for Catholics to bring both charity and truth...

What does it mean to live your Catholic faith when the sirens are sounding, and the culture is shifting beneath your feet? In this episode of Catholic in America , Jason Adkins speaks with firefighter and author Benjamin O’Brien about his memoir, The Proving Grounds: A Catholic on Ladder 17 . Benjamin shares what it was like to serve as a first responder while navigating: Workplace harassment for...

When the Vatican returned 62 Indigenous artifacts to Canada, many saw it as a gesture of reconciliation. But was something deeper being communicated? In this wide-ranging and provocative episode of Catholic in America , Jason Adkins speaks with sociologist and First Nations member Dr. Ashley Frawley about cultural identity, trauma narratives, missionary history, and the universal claim of Catholic...

Is marijuana really harmless? Or are we being sold a lie by a billion-dollar industry? In this episode of Catholic in America , Jason Adkins sits down with Dr. Kevin Sabet , a former White House drug policy advisor and founder of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) , to expose the truth behind Big Cannabis and its growing influence on law, culture, and public health. Together, they discuss how the...

Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan was imprisoned for 13 years, nine of those in solitary confinement, by Vietnam’s communist regime. But from the darkness of a prison cell, he became one of the Church’s most radiant witnesses of hope, reconciliation, and Eucharistic faith. In this unforgettable episode of Catholic in America , host Jason Adkins speaks with Elisabeth Nguyen , the Cardinal’s...

Does America spend too much on its military? And is that spending actually making us less safe? In this sobering episode of Catholic in America , host Jason Adkins sits down with William D. Hartung , Senior Research Fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and author of The Trillion Dollar War Machine , to explore how runaway military spending fuels global conflict, enables arms d...

Is our obsession with aliens and AI preparing us for a spiritual deception? In this electrifying episode of Catholic in America , Jason Adkins interviews philosopher, theologian, and author Daniel O’Connor , who argues that belief in extraterrestrials and superintelligent AI may be part of a growing cultural movement away from Christ — and toward idolatry and deception. Drawing on theology, Church...

Is returning to the land just a romantic pipe dream, or a prophetic response to our disordered world? In this episode of Catholic in America , host Jason Adkins sits down with Michael Thomas , Executive Director of the Catholic Land Movement , to explore the growing desire among Catholics to reconnect with creation, live in community, and build lives rooted in place, prayer, and productive propert...

In an age when many Fortune 500 companies openly push agendas hostile to Christian values, most Catholics feel powerless: boycotts are exhausting, and “just selling the stock” often feels impossible. Dr. Pia de Solenni explains why neither total withdrawal nor angry activism is the answer. Instead, she reveals a third way: faithful shareholder engagement that uses the very ownership Catholics alre...

In this episode of Catholic in America , Jason Adkins sits down with Fr. Stephen Koeth, C.S.C. , historian and professor at the University of Notre Dame , to unpack his groundbreaking new book, Crabgrass Catholicism: How Suburbanization Transformed the American Church . Together they explore how post–World War II suburban growth reshaped Catholic parish life, architecture, education, and community...

In this gripping Catholic in America episode, host Jason Adkins speaks with Laura Elm , founder of Sacred Heart Guardians and Shelter , a nonprofit that offers Christian burial for embryonic human beings discarded through IVF and assisted reproduction. They dive deep into the ethical and spiritual consequences of how human embryos are commodified, graded, stored, and often destroyed in silence, ev...

What does the USCCB actually do — and why does it matter to everyday Catholics? In this powerful conversation, Jason Adkins sits down with Anthony Granado , Associate General Secretary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), for a rare behind-the-scenes look at how the bishops’ policy priorities are shaped, debated, and brought to Capitol Hill. They discuss the origins and mis...

What does it mean to die well —and how is the cultural push for "medical aid in dying" actually undermining real dignity and healthcare? In this compelling episode, Dr. Charles Camosy joins Jason Adkins to unpack the philosophical, medical, legal, and spiritual dangers behind physician-assisted suicide —or what he accurately calls physician-assisted killing . Drawing on insights from his...

n this compelling episode of Catholic in America , host Jason Adkins is joined by Professor James O’Toole , historian and professor at Boston College, to explore the rise, and stunning decline, of one of Catholicism’s most defining and intimate practices: the sacrament of confession . Drawing from his acclaimed book For I Have Sinned: The Sacrament of Confession in American Catholicism (Harvard Un...

In this episode of Catholic in America , Jason Adkins sits down with theologian, author, and Exodus 90 Director of Content Dr. R. Jared Staudt for a timely conversation about the renewal of Catholic manhood. Dr. Staudt unpacks the origins of Exodus 90, a 90-day spiritual boot camp rooted in prayer, asceticism, and fraternity, and how it has transformed the lives of over 200,000 men worldwide. Toge...

Is modern life really secular—or are we just worshipping new gods? In this powerful episode of Catholic in America , theologian Dr. William Cavanaugh joins host Jason Adkins to discuss his latest book, The Uses of Idolatry . They explore how the things we worship today—nation, market, technology, and even sports—mirror the dynamics of religion. Drawing on Scripture, St. Augustine, and Catholic sac...

In this episode of Catholic in America , Jason Adkins sits down with husband-and-wife duo Tom and Noelle Crowe , the creators and hosts of American Catholic History . Their podcast shines a spotlight on the overlooked people, places, and events that shaped the Catholic Church in the United States, from saints and missionaries to bourbon makers and baseball legends. Together, they explore why Catho...