The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J.

• Brené Brown on Jesus and vulnerable spirituality

  On our Season One finale of “The Spiritual Life” podcast, Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes the incomparable researcher and storyteller, Brené Brown. Brené is a research professor at the University of Houston, the author of six #1 New York Times bestsellers and the host of two award-winning podcasts. In 2024, she was named as the executive director of The Center for Daring Leadership at BetterUp. In this open and courageous conversation, they discuss: How Brené became Catholic as a child and where she finds her spiritual home today Brené’s own take on The Examen prayer and the twist she adds to the Our Father and Hail Mary. How Brené  thinks about the connection between her research on fear, shame and vulnerability, and the person of Jesus we encounter in the gospels.  Link to Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2025/10/28/brene-brown-james-martin-spiritual-life We’re taking a couple months break, but will be back with Season 2 of “The Spiritual Life” in the New Year. In the meantime, be sure to check out America Media’s Advent podcast, Hark!: the stories behind our favorite Christmas carols, hosted and produced by Maggi Van Dorn.  Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at:  [email protected] Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Why you need a spiritual director

  We’ve heard your questions about spiritual direction and have an episode that should answer (almost) all of them! To help us demystify the art of spiritual direction, host James Martin, S.J. speaks with Jesuit sociologist and trained spiritual director, Patrick Gilger, S.J., about: What spiritual direction is and what it is not What you can expect from a wise spiritual director How spiritual direction helped both Jim and Paddy deepen their relationship with God and dislodge barriers to prayer Where to find a good spiritual director  Read: "How do you find a good spiritual director?" by Fr. Martin here: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2025/10/21/how-do-find-spiritual-director-catholic Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at:  [email protected] Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Br. Guy Consolmagno on praying as a scientist

  Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes Br. Guy Consolmagno, a Jesuit brother, astronomer and the former director of the Vatican Observatory, to “The Spiritual Life” podcast.  With a Ph.D. in planetary science, Br. Guy has spent his career studying meteorites and asteroids, exploring the origins of the solar system, authoring more than 250 scientific publications and making science accessible to the public. Br. Guy has written several books exploring faith and science issues, and his most recent book is, “A Jesuit's Guide to the Stars: Exploring Wonder, Beauty, and Science.” This fascinating conversation covers: The challenge of loneliness no matter your vocation The notion of the “evil spirit” in Ignatian spirituality and analogies in science The Big Bang and why we shouldn’t base our theology off current scientific understandings How being a scientist influences Br. Guy’s prayer life and where he sees God most clearly Five lessons learned as director of the Vatican Observatory: https://www.americamagazine.org/faithinfocus/2025/09/11/vatican-observatory-guy-consolmagno Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at:  [email protected] Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Adriana Trigiani on the spirituality of ‘showing up’

  Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes bestselling author and award-winning playwright, TV writer/producer, and filmmaker, Adriana Trigiani onto “The Spiritual Life” podcast. Adriana is a New York Times bestselling author of twenty-one books of fiction and nonfiction. Her latest novel is The View From Lake Como. This big-hearted conversation spans: Adriana’s Italian-Catholic family roots Her personal connection to the Eucharist and the Blessed Mother How she encounters the Holy Spirit in her creative writing and prayer Link to Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode: "There’s more than one way to appreciate the Eucharist" Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at:  [email protected] Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• A Trappist monk on how to stop judging others

  Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes Fr. Isaac Slater, OCSO, a Trappist monk, poet, and author of “Do Not Judge Anyone: Desert Wisdom for a Polarized World”  to “The Spiritual Life” podcast.  This contemplative conversation includes: The positive effects silence can have on our prayer lives Why we judge other people and how to stop How to create an environment that is more conducive to prayer, without becoming a monk Link to Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2025/09/30/james-martin-isaac-slater-spiritual-life-judgement Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at:  [email protected] Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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