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Artwork for The Popecast: A History of the Papacy

The Popecast: A History of the Papacy

The Popecast
Pope Francis
Pope Leo XIV
Normans
Holy Roman Empire
Catholic Church
Crusades
Pope Clement IV
The Scriptorium Project
Civitate
Byzantine Empire
First Crusade
Papal Conclave
Papal Artifacts
Vatican
Papal Veto
Conclave Of 1903
Pope St. Leo the Great
Christian Antiquity
Pope St. Leo III
Charlemagne

The unvarnished, non-boring history of the popes of the Roman Catholic Church – told in a way to remind us that the world and the Church’s problems today have happened plenty of times before. Become a Paid Subscriber: anchor.fm/thepopecast/subscribe

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes119Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for The Popecast: A History of the Papacy

Latest Episodes

Joining the show this week are John and Polly Snider, a Lutheran pastor and wife from Minnesota, who have been friends with Bob Prevost – now known to us as Pope Leo XIV – for over 40 years. Don't miss this episode that's chock full of stories and re... more

Returning once again to the show is Fr. Richard Kunst, curator of the largest private collection of papal artifacts anywhere in the world outside of Rome. We talk all about his huge exhibit at the Mall of America, a signed baseball from Pope Francis ... more

It’s safe to say that here in the 21st Century, we’re used to our popes having somewhat predictable backstories: entered the seminary at a young age, slowly rose through the ranks from priest to bishop to cardinal and so on. But centuries ago that wa... more

Dr. Matt Ponesse – or @medievalistmatt as he's known by so many – is a medieval history professor by day and a world-class memelord over on Instagram by…earlier in the day, as you'll learn in this episode. His calling card is using the marginalia fro... more

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Recent Guests

John Snider
ELCA Lutheran pastor, retired after 40 years in ministry
St. Paul, Minnesota (Lutheran pastor)
Episode: Lifelong Friends of the First American Pope | John & Polly Snider
Polly Snider
Retired law librarian, former attorney
St. Paul, Minnesota
Episode: Lifelong Friends of the First American Pope | John & Polly Snider
Father Richard Kunst
Priest and collector of papal artifacts
The Popecast guest and curator of Vatican Unveiled exhibition
Episode: Rare Treasures of the Papal Household | Fr. Richard Kunst
Dr. Matt Ponesse
Medieval history professor at Ohio Dominican University and meme creator.
Ohio Dominican University
Episode: History Lessons with a Medievalist Memelord | Dr. Matt Ponesse
Elise Ann Allen
Senior correspondent for Crux in Rome
Crux
Episode: Interviewing the Pope | Elise Ann Allen
Robert Prevost
Prior to his election, he was little known which adds a mystique to his role as Pope.
Episode: Interviewing the Pope | Elise Ann Allen
Michael Lentz
Expert on the Normans and creator of Memory Medieval
Memory Medieval
Episode: When the Normans Defeated the Pope at Civitate | w/ Memory Medieval
Anthony Johnson
Senior Video Producer for EWTN's Vatican Bureau
EWTN
Episode: A Front Row Seat to the Papal Funeral and Conclave (feat. Anthony Johnson of EWTN)
Dr. D.P. Curtin
Founder and editor of The Scriptorium Project, focusing on preserving and translating ancient Christian texts.
The Scriptorium Project
Episode: Bringing Ancient Texts Back to Life (w/ Dr. D.P. Curtin, Founder of the Scriptorium Project)

Host

Matthew Sewell
Host of The Popecast: A History of the Papacy

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 224 ratings
  • Meh

    I know lots of my fellow Catholics need education, but this is like listening to someone describe a waiting room, or the hum of a refrigerator.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    ICUStat
    United States7 months ago
  • Out of touch

    Not sure how I ended up here and just listed to one episode but was quite taken back when the host argues moral standards have slipped since HV in the 60s. This shows he is only focused on sex and not general living conditions for populations as a whole. A very, very narrow view of morality indeed. Since the 60s, countless people have been lifted out of poverty, we have expanded human rights for women and children, we have changed voting laws etc. civil rights for minority populations have also ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    MMK805
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great show

    Popecast is such a great show that has taught me so much about the history of our Popes. Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LuLu2336
    United Statesa year ago
  • Love this new find

    This is so informative and enjoyable to listen to. Two of my great loves- my faith and history- included in one podcast. Great listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Runner82781
    United Statesa year ago
  • So so good!

    This is such a great podcast! Informative, fun and perfect length! As a life long Catholic, great way to get a tidbit of our history! Thank you!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Butterly76
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners desire greater chronological structure and depth in early episodes.
Strong production quality and thoughtful, non-sensational takes on papal history.
Guests and topics are consistently informative and accessible to a broad audience.
A few critics feel some episodes skim the surface of complex periods.
Positive feedback often highlights the human side of historical figures and artifacts.
Listeners appreciate concise, well-researched history with engaging storytelling.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#246
Ireland/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Interviewing the Pope | Elise Ann Allen
Q: What are some that have still stuck out with you or stuck with you based on how he answered?
Pope Leo XIV's understanding of his role and his job is not about solving world issues but encouraging faith and human dignity.
Interviewing the Pope | Elise Ann Allen
Q: What was it like just, again, on a human level, interviewing the pope?
The conversation was very natural and comfortable, evolving from an interview into a genuine discussion.
When the Normans Defeated the Pope at Civitate | w/ Memory Medieval
Q: What are some implications of the Battle of Civitate?
The victory broke papal reliance on the Holy Roman Empire and influenced future papal elections and the crusading movement.
When the Normans Defeated the Pope at Civitate | w/ Memory Medieval
Q: How did you get into medieval history?
I've always been into medieval history since I was young, resonating with knights and stories of chivalry.
Charlemagne's Pope (St. Leo III)
Q: What are the lessons we can learn from Lacrimobili Statu, a document written by Pope St. Pius X?
The document reflects on how human nature has constant struggles with money, pleasure, and power, which are similar across all ages.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Popecast: A History of the Papacy

What is The Popecast: A History of the Papacy about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show curriculum focuses on the history of papacy with bite-sized, often bite-sized history lessons that mix scholarly insight with accessible storytelling. Episodes frequently feature historians, clergymen, journalists, and collectors who bring deep context to individual popes, major events, and artifacts, while weaving in personal anecdotes and cross-disciplinary perspectives. A standout trait is its willingness to blend rigorous historical detail with informal, human-interest moments, making complex church history engaging for both devout listeners and history buffs. The format tends to be concise episodes that illuminate both well-known and obscure episodes from papal history, often touching on artifacts, political power, and the pe... more

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1. The Catholic Talk Show
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The Popecast: A History of the Papacy launched 8 years ago and published 119 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Popecast: A History of the Papacy?

Recent guests on The Popecast: A History of the Papacy include:

1. John Snider
2. Polly Snider
3. Father Richard Kunst
4. Dr. Matt Ponesse
5. Elise Ann Allen
6. Robert Prevost
7. Michael Lentz
8. Anthony Johnson

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