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The Commonweal Podcast

Commonweal Magazine
Catholicism
Catholic Church
Christianity
Social Justice
Catholic Social Teaching
Donald Trump
Trump Administration
Religion
Fordham University
Christian Nationalism
Parenthood
Childbearing
Bible
White Christian Nationalism
Climate Change
Politics
Detroit
Black Christian Nationalism
Evangelicalism
Detroit, United States

Conversations at the intersection of politics, religion, and culture: Commonweal Magazine editor Dominic Preziosi hosts The Commonweal Podcast, a regular compendium of in-depth interviews, discussions, and profiles presented by Commonweal’s editors and contributors.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes198Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ChristianityNewsReligion & Spirituality

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Latest Episodes

Debates over artificial intelligence tend to vacillate between the poles of blustery optimism and spiraling despair, with AI boosters making stratospheric claims for the technology just as critics vociferously denounce its capacity for disruption.

B... more

Vaccines have encountered resistance ever since they were invented in the late eighteenth century.

But vaccine skepticism has never been as vocal—or as widespread—as it has become in the United States in recent years.

Much of that has to do with th... more

Even as Donald Trump’s approval ratings continue to plummet across the country, voters in the deep-red state of Wyoming, where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by more than six to one, remain solidly in support of the president.

So it took... more

Following the 1989 parish closures, the infrastructure that had supported Black Catholic leadership in Detroit was largely dismantled. Surviving parishes tried to rebuild community, while parishes that were merged struggled to forge new identities. M... more

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Recent Guests

Kiera Ganga Kieffer
Professor of religious studies at Fairfield University
Fairfield University
Episode: Ep. 165 - Is Anti-Vaxx Really Anti-Science?
Steven Biegler
Bishop of Cheyenne, Wyoming
Diocese of Cheyenne
Episode: Ep. 164 - How to Exit ‘Enemy Mode’ on Immigration
Norah Duncan IV
Renowned composer and educator
Detroit Catholic community
Episode: The City and the Cross—Episode 3: Dots on a Map
Father Norm Thomas
DCPA co-founder and Sacred Heart pastor
Detroit Catholic Pastoral Alliance
Episode: The City and the Cross—Episode 3: Dots on a Map
Judith McNeeley
Businesswoman and Black Catholic Detroiter
Independent (community advocate)
Episode: The City and the Cross—Episode 3: Dots on a Map
John McKenzie
Priest who left the Roman Catholic Church in 2025; now with Antiochian Orthodox Church
Orthodox Church; Detroit Catholic community
Episode: The City and the Cross—Episode 3: Dots on a Map
Steve Wasko
Secular Franciscan; anti-racism advocate
Sacred Conversations on Race Plus Action
Episode: The City and the Cross—Episode 3: Dots on a Map
Dr. Shawn Copeland
Historian of Black Catholicism
Independent scholar
Episode: The City and the Cross—Episode 3: Dots on a Map
Marjorie Gabriel-Burrow
Director of Lead Me, Guide Me hymnal; Black Catholic ministry leader
The Black Catholic Community
Episode: The City and the Cross—Episode 3: Dots on a Map

Hosts

Dominic Preziosi
Host of The Commonweal Podcast; affiliated with Commonweal Magazine
Aaron Robertson
Host of The City and the Cross segment; series host
Griffin Oleynick
Associate Editor hosting segment; host of the interview

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 155 ratings
  • Informative and Insightful

    I find the various guests and topics discussed informative and insightful, which keeps me listening.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    littlegale
    United States5 months ago
  • Great start . . .

    . . . to new year and this series, addressed toward our bewilderment. Look forward to the next.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Linkin Steff
    United States7 months ago
  • Relevant and Helpful!

    The various topics and guests keeps me engaged and continuing to listen. The sound quality is also excellent which helps those of us with listening challenges. Thank you to all participate in the production of each episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    littlegale
    United States2 years ago
  • A wonderful podcast

    The guests and interviews on this show are consistently top notch. The podcast brings a Catholic perspective to current events and to cultural commentary, but never devolves into being preachy or simplistic. If you love the print magazine, as I do, the podcast is a perfect complement … and if you like the podcast, but haven’t read the magazine yet, I encourage you to check out their century of excellent Catholic journalism and commentary.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Things Not Seen Radio
    United States2 years ago
  • Relevant and Helpful!

    Various topics and a variety of host and guests keeps me engaged and continuing to listen. The sound quality is also excellent which helps those of us with listening challenges. Thank you to all participate in the production of each episode!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    littlegale
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

High sound quality and thoughtful, non-preachy interviews are repeatedly noted.
Listeners praise the mix of guests and topics across faith, politics, and culture.
Guests are described as top-notch and the conversations are insightful and grounding for Catholic perspectives.
Shows are considered intelligent, informative, and well-reported with strong editorial voice.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep. 165 - Is Anti-Vaxx Really Anti-Science?
Q: Can you explain how the Gardasil vaccine shifted public perception and why it provoked particular concerns among religious groups?
Gardasil was marketed as a cancer-prevention vaccine and targeted to pre-teen girls, which intersected with conservative concerns about sexuality and purity. This framing, combined with the vaccine's association with a sexually transmitted infection, led religious communities to question state messaging and parental rights, making it a flashpoint in debates about sex education and vaccination requirements.
Ep. 163 - ‘A Coherent Picture of Reality’
Q: What sparked your shift from atheism back toward faith?
A combination of personal experiences, including mortality and meaningful relationships, which led to a re-evaluation of how belief fits with life as a whole, not just abstract arguments.
Ep. 164 - How to Exit ‘Enemy Mode’ on Immigration
Q: Do you think there's any hope for immigration reform from today's Congress?
I have hope for immigration reform, but it's a long game and not likely to happen quickly; bipartisan efforts are possible with continued effort, though the current tone is not conducive to quick results.
Ep. 161 - Catholicism and Community Organizing
Q: Nicholas, how does participation in organizing develop one's politicalness, and is political organizing essential for democracy?
Participation helps individuals see themselves as political beings, capable of contributing to the common good, and cultivating the skills and agency needed to sustain democratic life.
Ep. 161 - Catholicism and Community Organizing
Q: Michael, could you tell us about the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership and who it serves?
CSPL was founded to merge public life engagement with spiritual development, building leadership at the grassroots level and nurturing parish and local organizations, while grounding organizing in Catholic spiritual formation.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Commonweal Podcast

What is The Commonweal Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show features in-depth conversations at the crossroads of faith, politics, and culture, often anchoring discussions in Catholic thought, social justice, and intellectual history. Episodes mix religious leadership, scholarly analysis, and cultural critique, with long-form interviews and documentary-style storytelling that illuminate how faith communities respond to contemporary issues such as immigration, urban parish life, and public policy. A standout trait is the thoughtful, non-preachy framing that blends journalism, theology, and arts into accessible, idea-driven discourse, making nuanced topics inviting for listeners who want both context and practical takeaways.

What sets it apart is a consistent focus on underexplored communities... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Commonweal Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Commonweal Podcast:

1. Jesuitical
2. Inside The Vatican
3. The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J.
4. AMDG: A Jesuit Podcast
5. The New Yorker Radio Hour

How many episodes of The Commonweal Podcast are there?

The Commonweal Podcast launched 8 years ago and published 198 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Commonweal Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on The Commonweal Podcast?

Recent guests on The Commonweal Podcast include:

1. Kiera Ganga Kieffer
2. Steven Biegler
3. Norah Duncan IV
4. Father Norm Thomas
5. Judith McNeeley
6. John McKenzie
7. Steve Wasko
8. Dr. Shawn Copeland

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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