Spe Salvi Institute Podcast

Rodney Howsare: On Leisure, Festivity, and Work

In this episode, Andrew and Bobby talk to theologian Rodney Howsare about leisure, festivity, and work. The conversation covers Josef Pieper’s Leisure: The Basis of Culture, Matthew B. Crawford’s The World Beyond Your Head: How to Flourish in an Age of Distraction, Neil Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business, and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World.

The Vatican Film List and the Cinematic Arts

In this episode, Andrew and Bobby discuss Andrew’s new book Popcorn with the Pope: A Guide to the Vatican Film List and why cinema needs to be upheld as an art. They talk about some of the great luminaries in film history, such as Andrei Tarkovsky, Ingmar Bergman, Krzysztof Kieślowski, Terrence Malick and more.

D.C. Schindler: Politics and Reality

Andrew and Bobby talk to philosopher D.C. Schindler about the nature of liberalism, its rejection of reality, technology and habits of attention, the importance of Hegel, the Catholic affirmation of reality, and his new book God and the City: An Essay in Political Metaphysics. 

Carl Olson: Will Catholics Be Left Behind: A Critique of the Rapture and Christian Eschatology

In this episode, Andrew and Bobby talk to Carl E. Olson, editor of Catholic World Report and Ignatius Insight and author of many books such as Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead? and Will Catholics Be "Left Behind”?, about the Rapture, Eschatology, Theosis, and the Eucharist. 

Konrad Milewski: America through European Eyes

In this episode, Konrad Milewski, author of Escape from the American Cage: How to Regain Life, Liberty, and Happiness and Gain Truth, Dignity, and Love, describes what he sees in America and how Americans can regain their lost independence by living in accordance with “The New Declaration”, which not only is focused on helping Americans regain their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness but also find truth, purpose, attain dignity, build meaningful relationships and find love.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s “Why I am now a Christian” | Spe Salvi Institute Podcast

In this episode, Andrew and Bobby discuss Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s recent UnHerd article “Why I now a Christian” and why she went from Islam and atheism to Christianity. They also discuss her claim that atheism cannot sustain a civilization. But can Christianity? All these themes and more are covered in this episode. Read Ali’s essay at UnHerd to see why it is so important: https://unherd.com/2023/11/why-i-am-now-a-christian/

F. Flagg Taylor IV: Totalitarianism and The Lives of Others (2006)

In this episode, Andrew and Bobby talk to Flagg Taylor about Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s 2006 film The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen) and anti-Communist dissidents in Czechoslovakia and Poland (e.g. Vaclav Benda and Czesław Miłosz).

Larry Chapp: Synod in the Shallows

Bobby and Andrew talk to theologian Dr. Larry Chapp about his experience at the Synod on Synodality and what gives him hope in the Church. Learn more about Dr. Chapp’s important work at Gaudium et Spes 22 (https://gaudiumetspes22.com/)

Michał Łuczewski: Where is Poland headed?

In this episode, Bobby and Andrew talk to special guest Prof. Michał Łuczewski (Warsaw University) about the situation in Poland, the legacy of John Paul II in Poland, the Polish intellectual milieu, and putting Christian hope into practice.

Does Art Need the Church?

Dostoevsky wrote, "Man can live without science, he can live without bread, but without beauty he could no longer live, because there would no longer be anything to do to the world." We agree. Do you?