Rephonic
Artwork for The Popecast: A History of the Papacy

The Popecast: A History of the Papacy

The Popecast
Pope Leo XIV
Pope Francis
Normans
Holy Roman Empire
Catholic Church
Crusades
Pope Clement IV
Papal History
The Scriptorium Project
Civitate
Byzantine Empire
First Crusade
Magnifica Humanitas
Artificial Intelligence
Papal Conclave
Conclave
Papal Artifacts
Vatican
Papal Veto
Conclave Of 1903

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 monthlyEpisodes123Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Popecast: A History of the Papacy

Latest Episodes

Enough with the AI audio versions of the pope's new encyclical. Those all seemed to rather largely miss the point, so here's a fully human read-through of Pope Leo XIV's brand new encyclical on artificial intelligence, human dignity, integral human d... more

Katie McGrady – an author, podcaster, radio host, and Vatican Analyst for CNN – joins the show once again, this time to unpack Pope Leo XIV's new encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas. We get into everything from The Masters to the pontiff quoting Gandalf.... more

Jonathan Liedl, Managing Editor of the National Catholic Register, joins the show to talk about his on-location documentary about how Pope Leo XIV's nearly two decades in Peru shaped his priesthood, and now his papacy.

WATCH THE DOCUMENTARY: https:... more

On his first anniversary, a reflection on Pope Leo XIV's election as Bishop of Rome. Where were you on that day? What do you remember?

--

Where to find The Popecast:

SUPPORT + NEWSLETTER: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://popes.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YOUTUBE: @there... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Katie McGrady
Catholic media host and CNN Vatican analyst; Vatican commentator and author
SiriusXM The Catholic Channel; Ave Maria Press; HALO
Episode: Unpacking Pope Leo XIV's New Encyclical | Katie McGrady
Jonathan Liedl
Managing Editor, National Catholic Register
National Catholic Register (EWTN family)
Episode: Pope Leo in Peru: If He Wasn't a Priest, He Would Have Been a Racecar Driver | Jonathan Liedl
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
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
Father Richard Kunst
A priest of the Diocese of Duluth, known for having the largest private collection of papal memorabilia.
Diocese of Duluth
Episode: Can You Ask the Pope to Sign a Baseball? (w/ Fr. Rich Kunst)
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

Host

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

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 228 ratings
  • Thanks for the Reading

    Thanks for the reading of the Pope’s encyclical! Was great to have it in podcast form and read by a real human. I’ll be back for the next one!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jay-D-D
    United States12 days ago
  • 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 States9 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

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
#174
Indonesia/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Unpacking Pope Leo XIV's New Encyclical | Katie McGrady
Q: What were Katie McGrady's initial impressions of Magnifica Humanitas when she read it?
She highlighted its emphasis on human dignity, clarity in digital culture, and the way it frames AI within a broader human-centered anthropology, noting the work's depth and its potential to shape how secular media covers the Vatican.
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.

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

Where can I find podcast stats for The Popecast: A History of the Papacy?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Popecast: A History of the Papacy. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Popecast: A History of the Papacy and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Popecast: A History of the Papacy get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Popecast: A History of the Papacy, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Popecast: A History of the Papacy?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Popecast: A History of the Papacy, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Popecast: A History of the Papacy have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Popecast: A History of the Papacy has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Popecast: A History of the Papacy?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Popecast: A History of the Papacy:

1. The Pillar Podcast
2. American Catholic History
3. Catholic Classics
4. The Road to Emmaus with Scott Hahn
5. The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture

How many episodes of The Popecast: A History of the Papacy are there?

The Popecast: A History of the Papacy launched 9 years ago and published 123 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 Popecast: A History of the Papacy?

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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Popecast: A History of the Papacy?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Popecast: A History of the Papacy from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Popecast: A History of the Papacy?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Popecast: A History of the Papacy. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

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

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

1. Katie McGrady
2. Jonathan Liedl
3. John Snider
4. Polly Snider
5. Dr. Matt Ponesse
6. Elise Ann Allen
7. Robert Prevost
8. Father Richard Kunst

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days