Best Catholic Church Architecture Podcasts (2025)

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Why there's no place like Oz 54:08

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1h ago54:08

54:08

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was an instant bestseller in 1900. Thirty-nine more official Oz books followed, as well as other derivative works like Broadway musicals, films, comic books, cartoons, sitcom parodies and more. IDEAS follows the proverbial yellow brick road to uncover how this seemingly simple story of friendship, self reliance and longin…

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Lessons from last century’s failed Mideast peace deal 54:08

8h ago54:08

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When Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat met in Washington to sign the first Oslo Accords in 1993, it was supposed to usher in a new era of peace and lay the groundwork for a more stable Middle East. Three decades later, the Accords are primarily remembered as a failure. Nahlah Ayed and gu…

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How the principles of St. Augustine guide the Catholic Church 54:08

3d ago54:08

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Pope Leo XIV has been deeply influenced by St. Augustine, and so, the fourth century titan of Western thought has re-entered the global conversation. IDEAS Producer Seán Foley reaches out to Canadian scholars who have read St. Augustine closely to determine what it is about how Augustine’s thought and character might shape the Catholic Church in th…

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Are we 'born obsolete'? How technology makes us feel ashamed 54:09

5d ago54:09

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Günther Anders predicted the exact technological crises we’re facing today… but 70 years ago. The uncanny relevance of Anders’ thoughts about technology — from the atomic bomb to artificial intelligence — and how it makes us feel what he called “Promethean Shame."

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What does it mean for a river to be ‘alive’? 58:21

6d ago58:21

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Renowned natural history writer Robert Macfarlane traveled to Ecuador, India and Quebec, pondering the question of whether rivers are living beings -- the premise behind much of the movement to legally recognize the rights of nature. He found that the answer to that question is more complicated and wondrous -- and more life-altering and world-chang…

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What Chinese Science Fiction Has to Tell Us 54:09

7d ago54:09

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With vengeful alien civilizations, virtual realities and hologram wives, Chinese science fiction is in its heyday — not just in China but around the globe. Renowned author Cixin Liu is at the forefront of the movement. His book, The Three-Body Problem is a Netflix's series. IDEAS explores what we can learn about China through it's science fiction.…

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# 1: What it took to end a 30-year conflict in Northern Ireland 54:08

7d ago54:08

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The process of making peace is often imperfect, and can shape the future in both positive and destructive ways. In a five-part series called Inventing Peace, Nahlah Ayed asks panelists to reflect on one pivotal 20th century effort to make peace, and its relevance for our own time. In this first episode, the “constructive ambiguity” of Northern Irel…

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The threat next door: How NATO’s newest members are preparing to defend against Russia (via The House) 47:14

8d ago47:14

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NATO’s secretary general has warned Russia could launch an attack on the alliance within the next five years. Talk to NATO’s two newest members, Finland and Sweden, and they’ll tell you preparation involves a lot more than just boosting military spending. As Canada seeks to strengthen ties with both countries, what can we learn from our newest NATO…

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How Brutalist architecture goes beyond aesthetics 54:07

11d ago54:07

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Brutalist architecture has been celebrated as monumental and derided as ‘concrete monstrosity.' But the people who depend on these buildings are often caught in between. IDEAS explores the implications of Brutalism’s 21st-century hipster aesthetic in a world of housing challenges, environmental crisis, and economic polarization. *This episode origi…

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Ministry of the Sacristan: Loving God’s house and serving the people of God 9:49

12d ago9:49

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Corinna Laughlin invites us to consider the ministry of Sacristan as more than knowing what sacred objects are needed for the liturgy and where to find them. She asks: ‘What does it take to be a good Sacristan?’ She discusses this important role and highlights some key aspects of training. Dr Corinna Laughlin is a Pastoral Assistant for Liturgy at …

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Libraries are fighting for their freedom — and our democracy 54:08

12d ago54:08

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In Canada and the U.S., public libraries have become a target in the culture wars. It’s an urgent conversation to have, no matter where one sits on the political spectrum. Libraries exist to give everyone access to a wide variety of content, even when books may offend others. Yet librarians are increasingly having to persuade skeptics that all idea…

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Why PEI cares more than any other province about voting 54:08

12d ago54:08

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PEI has the highest voter turnout of any other province in Canada. Voting is fundamental to this community. Residents see firsthand how their vote matters — several elections were decided by 25 votes or less. In this small province, people have a personal and intimate connection with politicians. MLAs know voters on an individual basis and they fee…

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Has the housing crisis shaken your trust in democracy? 54:08

13d ago54:08

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According to Nanaimo, B.C.'s last official count, there are 515 unhoused people in Nanaimo at any given time. By population, that is a higher homelessness rate than the city of Vancouver. Our series, IDEAS for a Better Canada (produced in partnership with the Samara Centre for Democracy), explores how homelessness affects the health of our democrac…

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Attacking our biggest fear — political polarization 54:07

14d ago54:07

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Canadians’ biggest fear for the country’s future is “growing political and ideological polarization,” according to a 2023 EKOS poll. As part of our series, IDEAS for a Better Canada (produced in partnership with the Samara Centre for Democracy), host Nahlah Ayed headed to the fast-growing city of Edmonton to talk about the creative ways local resid…

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#5: What makes a great conversation? 54:08

17d ago54:08

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You might think the subject makes a great conversation, but according to Massey lecturer Ian Williams, it's more than that. It's full of layers and you never really know where it’ll end up — how it will change you by the time it ends. Williams explores the art of good conversation in the final episode of his Massey Lectures. *The 2024 CBC Massey Le…

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# 4: What it means to truly listen 54:08

19d ago54:08

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We’re in an era where many people feel an ownership over certain words, and how a community expresses itself; the term ‘appropriation’ has come to create guardrails around what can be said, and by whom. In his fourth Massey Lecture, Ian Williams considers the role of speech and silence in reallocating power. *The 2024 CBC Massey Lectures originally…

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#3: How a dispute can lead to unity 54:08

20d ago54:08

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Difficult conversations are almost always about something under the surface, and hidden. In his third Massey Lecture, Ian Williams illustrates what we’re listening for isn’t always obvious. He explains how personal conversations aren't about finding answers — it's for communion. *The 2024 CBC Massey Lectures originally aired in November.…

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#2: What we can learn from our conversations with strangers 54:07

21d ago54:07

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In his second Massey Lecture, Ian Williams explores the power of conversation with strangers. He says humanity comes out when interacting with them. But how do we open ourselves up to connect with strangers while safeguarding our personal sovereignty? *The 2024 CBC Massey Lectures originally aired in November.…

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#1: Why we need to have a conversation about conversations 54:08

22d ago54:08

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Ever felt that no one is really listening? In the first of his 2024 CBC Massey Lectures, novelist and poet Ian Williams explores why we need to have a conversation about conversations. His five-part lecture series confronts the deterioration of civic and civil discourse and asks us to reconsider the act of conversing as the sincere, open exchange o…

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What a cultural genocide took from Indigenous people in Canada 54:08

25d ago54:08

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2018 Massey Lecturer Tanya Talaga reflects on the legacy of cultural genocide, and on how the stories of Indigenous peoples offer lessons for Canada today. *This episode first aired on March 6, 2024, as part of a series of conversations with — and about — former Massey Lecturers to mark the 60th anniversary of Massey College, a partner in the CBC M…

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Singing the Mass: Liturgical Music after Sacrosanctum Concilium (1963) — Areas of Growth and Challenge 17:53

26d ago17:53

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Paul Inwood reflects on areas of growth and challenge since the promulgation of Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Second Vatican Council’s teaching on the liturgy and poses some important underlying questions about the nature of music in the liturgy. Paul Inwood is an internationally-known Roman Catholic liturgist, composer, organist, choir director, aut…

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How inequality is undermining liberal democracy 54:08

26d ago54:08

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With the end of the Cold War, the struggle for peace, equality, and democracy wasn’t settled — it became more complex. As we mark the 60th anniversary of Massey College, IDEAS executive producer Greg Kelly interviews Jennifer Welsh about her 2016 CBC Massey Lectures, The Return of History — and how nine years on, the struggle continues. *This episo…

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Why the power of technology relies on an adaptive mindset 54:08

28d ago54:08

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Technology is much more than a tool. Physicist Ursula Franklin argued that it’s a system — one so powerful that it can shape our mindset, our society and our politics. Her observations were prescient when she delivered her Massey Lecture in 1989 and they are all the more relevant today. Ursula Franklin’s friend and collaborator Jane Freeman reflect…

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How to think for ourselves — is it even possible? 54:08

28d ago54:08

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British novelist and Nobel Prize winner Doris Lessing warned us against groupthink when she delivered her CBC Massey Lectures in 1985. She argues the danger is not about belonging to a group or groups, but in not understanding the social laws that govern groups and govern us. Professor Miglena Todorova reflects on Lessing’s message and puts it into…

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A better world needs to be built on empathy: human rights scholar 54:08

29d ago54:08

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Payam Akhavan has witnessed appalling episodes of human cruelty and suffering. And that’s helped forge his commitment to pursuing justice for the victims of human rights abuses. The human rights lawyer and former UN prosecutor at The Hague argues that our salvation as a species will come ultimately through realizing that we're all one people and mu…

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Making space for moments of joy in dark times 54:08

1M ago54:08

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For award-winning poet and bestselling author Ross Gay, joy and delight aren’t frivolous or a privilege. He argues they’re absolutely essential to a meaningful life — especially in the face of grief, sadness and suffering. "I think of joy, which gets us to love, as being a practice of survival," writes Gay. *This episode originally aired on April 2…

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Why is it so hard to embrace leisure time? 54:08

1M ago54:08

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With a to-do list that requires 30 hours in a day to complete, leisure time often gets erased. IDEAS producer Naheed Mustafa explores a better time, when there was space for ourselves to pursue activities we value. What it comes down to is reconfiguring our relationship to the time we have and opening it up so we can pursue the good life. *Original…

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Why music — even sad music — is 'inherently joyful' 54:38

1M ago54:38

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Music is joy, declares Daniel Chua. The renowned musicologist says music and joy have an ancient correlation, from Confucius to Saint Augustine and Beethoven to The Blues. Of course, there is sad music, but Chua says, it's tragic because of joy. He explores music, joy and the good life. *This episode originally aired on May 19, 2025.…

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Why philosophy needs to ditch class, and go to a pub 54:08

1M ago54:08

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We tend to view philosophy as a formal endeavour. Not so, says Lewis Gordon. Yes, he's an academic but he argues that confining thinking to the academy has resulted in people forgetting that philosophy “has something important to say.” The thinker and musician sees pubs and kitchens as great places to spur thinking and philosophical conversation. A…

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How to flourish in a broken world 54:07

1M ago54:07

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The world is full of problems — our broken healthcare, out-of-reach housing, a democracy in shambles and a dying planet. Is it actually possible to fix this mess? IDEAS hears from people working to fix our most intractable problems at a time when it can feel easier to just give up. *This episode originally aired on Sept. 21, 2023.…

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A lesson in hope and why we need to slow down 54:08

1M ago54:08

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Educators are wired for hope, according to English professor Jessica Riddell. She believes in the importance of slowing down in urgent times and urges educators to teach hope, share it, and to imagine a better future. *This episode originally aired on Sept. 27, 2024.

2M ago54:08

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The People of God: Formed for the Liturgy and by the Liturgy 10:30

2M ago10:30

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Fr Michael Driscoll encourages all the baptised to reflect on their liturgical experiences and the meaning of the rites, so that they can participate more deeply in the celebration of the liturgy. Rev Michael S. Driscoll is a priest of the Helena Diocese. He taught sacramental theology and liturgy at the University of Notre Dame until his retiremen…

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Meet the original 'Father of Economics' — it's not Adam Smith 54:08

2M ago54:08

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Adam Smith may be known as 'The Father of Economics,' but 400 years before him, Muslim scholar Ibn Khaldun was putting forward economic theories that are now taken for granted. IDEAS explores Ibn Khaldun's famous book, Muqaddimah and the lessons it has for us on the philosophy of history, economics, biology, sociology, and political theory. *This e…

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How anxiety over today's democracy is political 54:06

2M ago54:06

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English philosopher Thomas Hobbes believed that life would be "nasty, brutish and short" without a strong government. IDEAS explores how a new take on Hobbes that includes his writing on the topic of anxiety offers a surprising perspective on the recent American election and democracy. *This episode originally aired on Jan. 13, 2025.…

2M ago54:08

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In an era of great polarization and cancel culture, our right to freedom of thought and expression is especially resonant. Written over 75 years ago, the UN's Declaration of Human Rights requires an update to reflect the times of today. In this fourth episode in our series on human rights, IDEAS explores the history and future of free expression. *…