What Matters Most

By John W. Martens

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Category: Christianity

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Subscribers: 3
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Episodes: 94

Description

What Matters Most is focused on listening to people and what is on their minds, particularly dealing with the big questions of religion and spirituality. It emerges from the Centre for Christian Engagement, a Centre at St. Mark's College, the Catholic college at UBC, but our programming is intended for all interested parties, Catholic or not. In the What Matters Most podcast, we talk to people, some well-known, some not so well-known, some Catholic, some Christian, some not affiliated with any religion, some affiliated with other faiths (Muslims, Sikhs) to find out what matters to them. It is a podcast focused on spirituality and faith, but truly focused on listening to others, to learning from those connected to the Church and to those who are not. It is grounded in personal conversations that ask guests to talk about what has motivated their vocations or their work and what gives their lives meaning and purpose. The format can best be described as a conversation that allows us to get to know our guests.

Episode Date
Was the Synod a Success? A Conversation with Michael W. Higgins
Apr 30, 2026
Faith, Reason, and the Unconscious: Psychoanalysis and Catholicism: A Conversation with Dr. Adam Schneider
Apr 16, 2026
Easter Reflections
Apr 02, 2026
Incarnation: A Poem by and a Conversation with Rev. Dr. Rob James
Mar 26, 2026
The Language(s) of Christianity: A Conversation with Dr. Ekaputra Tupamahu
Mar 11, 2026
Be Transformed: A Conversation with Dr. Micah Kiel
Feb 25, 2026
"Soulwork:"Decolonizing and Indigenizing the Curriculum: A Conversation with Dr. Judith Scholes and Dr. Nick Olkovich
Feb 11, 2026
Confronting Colonial Theologies through Acts of the Apostles: A Conversation with Dr. Jordan J. Cruz Ryan
Jan 28, 2026
"Religion is Not Going Away:" Shinnyo-En and NRMs in Japan: A Conversation with Dr. Casey Collins
Jan 14, 2026
A Short History of MAGA Catholics: A Conversation with Dr. Matthew J. Cressler
Dec 31, 2025
Pop Culture Matters: Christmas Movies (Part Two) with Martin Strong
Dec 16, 2025
The Politics of Christian Nationalism: A Conversation with Dr. Ruth Braunstein
Dec 05, 2025
An Introduction to the Christian Nationalism Project at the CCE
Nov 30, 2025
Pop Culture Matters: The Great Speckled Bird and Gospel Music with Martin Strong
Nov 25, 2025
Who is a Martyr? A Conversation with Dr. Elizabeth A. Castelli
Nov 19, 2025
"We are the Church Together Now:" A Conversation with Dr. Sarah K. Johnson
Nov 05, 2025
Pop Culture Matters: Halloween, All Saints, All Souls, and Samhain
Oct 27, 2025
"The Way We Exercise Dominion is Through Justice:" A Conversation with Dr. Steven W. Tyra on Christian Nationalism
Oct 22, 2025
Ancient Christianities, or How the God of Israel Conquered the West: A Conversation with Dr. Paula Fredriksen
Oct 08, 2025
"Fostering the tradition of wisdom:" A Conversation with Dr. Paul Spilsbury
Sep 24, 2025
Boy Jesus: A Conversation with Dr. Joan Taylor
Sep 11, 2025
"We are here... Chinese Canadian Catholic Women are here": A Conversation with Dr. Fiona Li
Aug 28, 2025
The Promise and Praxis of Catholic Education: Hope for a Wounded and Divided World? Keynote Lecture of Rev. Dr. Stan Chu Ilo
Aug 08, 2025
Dilexit Mundum: A Christian Education and the Love of the World: Keynote Lecture of Samuel Rocha
Jul 24, 2025
Educating the Children of God, Infants to Elders: Keynote Lecture of Margaret MacDonald
Jul 09, 2025
Reading the Bible in the Kingdom of Love: A Conversation with Tom Bolin
Jun 25, 2025
The Jesuit Disruptor and His Successor Leo: A Conversation with Michael W. Higgins
Jun 11, 2025
Habemus Papam! Pope Leo XIV: A Conversation with the St. Mark's Theology Faculty
May 10, 2025
"The Christian is a man or woman of joy": A Conversation about the Legacy of Pope Francis with Steve Millies
Apr 28, 2025
"That finger of Jesus, pointing at Matthew. That's me": Reflecting on the Death of Pope Francis.
Apr 22, 2025
Pop Culture Matters: White Lotus Season Three with Martin Strong
Apr 18, 2025
Pop Culture Matters: The Name of Easter
Apr 09, 2025
The Habits Needed for Virtue: A Conversation with Dr. Tim Pawl
Mar 27, 2025
A Path to Becoming like God: A Conversation with Dr Paul Gavrilyuk
Mar 15, 2025
Telling Bible Stories for Children (and Adults!): A Conversation with Reverend Dr. Rob James
Feb 26, 2025
The History of Catholicism in Korea, Martyrdom, Persecution, and Resilience: A Conversation with Dr. Don Baker
Feb 12, 2025
Becoming a Catholic Peace Church: A Conversation with Gerald Schlabach
Jan 30, 2025
Reconsidering John Calvin: A Conversation with Ruben Rosario Rodriguez
Jan 16, 2025
The Absence of God and The Presence of Evil: A Conversation with Megan Fritts
Jan 01, 2025
Pop Culture Matters: Christmas Movies with Martin Strong
Dec 18, 2024
The Dark Transcendent: A Theology of Horror: A Conversation with Fr. Ryan Duns, S.J.
Dec 12, 2024
Pop Culture Matters: The Night of the Hunter with Dr. Christine Evans
Nov 30, 2024
Affable Agnostics and Unhostile Atheists: A Conversation with Dr. Ross Lockhart about Christianity in Vancouver
Nov 20, 2024
Jousting With John: A Conversation with Adele Reinhartz
Nov 06, 2024
The Uses of Idolatry, or Many Old Gods: A Conversation with Bill Cavanaugh
Oct 22, 2024
Catholicism on the Borderlands: A Conversation with Dr. Daisy Vargas
Oct 10, 2024
It Is Wonderful That You Exist: A Conversation with Dr. Jenny Martin
Sep 25, 2024
Straight Street: Pop Culture Matters
Sep 19, 2024
Reading Gender in Revelation: A Conversation with Dr. Lynn Huber
Sep 11, 2024
Educating Children in the Early Church: A Conversation with Dr. Margaret MacDonald
Aug 30, 2024
Laudato Si' in a Time of Global Disruption: Francis and Politics: Dr. Massimo Faggioli
Aug 14, 2024
The Reform of the Church is Not a Change but a Commitment: Dr. Emilce Cuda
Jul 31, 2024
Leaning into the Distant Goal of Vatican II: Pope Francis and Christian Unity: Dr. Cathy Clifford
Jul 15, 2024
Gender in the Rhetoric of Jesus: A Conversation with Sara Parks
Jun 26, 2024
The Liturgy and Life Study Bible: A Conversation with Fr. Nick Meisl and John W. Martens
Jun 11, 2024
The Prophet Jeremiah and African-American Maternity in the USA: A Conversation with Dr. Jaime L. Waters
May 29, 2024
What is Sikhism? A Conversation with UBC Sikh Chaplain Inderjeet Singh
May 15, 2024
What makes a person a Saint? A Conversation with Dr. Hans Harmakaputra
May 01, 2024
The Cry of the Poor and Healthcare: A Conversation with Dr. Alexandre Martins
Apr 19, 2024
Panpsychism, Pantheism, Panentheism and Classical Christian Doctrine: A Conversation with Dr. Joanna Leidenhag
Apr 03, 2024
Theology of the peripheries, Theology of the People: A Conversation with Dr. Emilce Cuda
Mar 20, 2024
Green bioethics and Sustainable Healthcare: A Conversation with Father Myles Sheehan, SJ
Mar 08, 2024
Japanese Buddhism in Canada: A Conversation with Reverend Grant Ikuta
Feb 21, 2024
On Celibacy in the Church in Antiquity and Today: A Conversation with Father Nick Meisl
Feb 07, 2024
The Journey from Rock and Roll to the Lutheran Pulpit: A Conversation with Reverend Mark Kleiner
Jan 24, 2024
Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church: A Conversation with Rev. Dr. Mark Miller
Jan 10, 2024
Pope Francis's Laudato Deum: A Conversation with Cristina Vanin
Dec 27, 2023
Leonard Cohen and the Apostle Paul: A Conversation with Matthew R. Anderson
Dec 12, 2023
How is the Bible The Good Book? A Conversation with Jill Hicks-Keeton
Nov 29, 2023
Everyday Wisdom: Interreligious Studies in a Pluralistic World: A Conversation with Hans Gustafson
Nov 15, 2023
The Rise of Christian Nationalism in the 1930s and Today in the USA: A Conversation with Charles Gallagher, S.J.
Nov 01, 2023
How Children in the Gospels Can Shape Inclusive Ministry: A Conversation with Amy Lindeman Allen
Oct 18, 2023
Islam and Christianity in Ghana: A Conversation with Imam Abubakar Mohammed Marzuq
Oct 04, 2023
Pope Francis, Laudato Si', the Synod, and the Church Today: A Conversation with Massimo Faggioli
Sep 20, 2023
Incarnation, Soteriology, Exclusivity/Inclusivity, Pluralism, Particularism, and Universalism: A Conversation with Rev. Dr. Rob James
Sep 06, 2023
Encore: "Neither Categories nor Stereotypes, These are Real People": A Conversation with Father Jim Martin
Aug 29, 2023
"Interfaith is not about Conversion, it's about Completion": A Conversation with the Interfaith Amigos
Jun 21, 2023
A North American Catholic: A Conversation with Sam Rocha
Apr 28, 2023
Creator of the Earth and Northern Lights: A Conversation with Sister Damien Marie Savino
Apr 20, 2023
The Solid Right and Scattered Left of the Church: A Conversation with Nick Olkovich on the Pope Francis Conference
Apr 19, 2023
A Jewish Paul: A Conversation with Matthew Thiessen
Apr 05, 2023
The Bible and The Quran: A Conversation with David Penchansky
Mar 22, 2023
Ecumenism: The Communion of Diverse Churches: A Conversation with Catherine Clifford
Mar 08, 2023
Reupholstered Psalms: A Conversation with Greg Kennedy, Part 2
Feb 21, 2023
Political Polarities and the Church: A Conversation with Steven Millies
Feb 14, 2023
"We are homeless in many ways": A Conversation with Greg Kennedy, Part 1
Feb 07, 2023
The Realities and Truths of Human Trafficking in Canada: A Conversation with Sister Nancy Brown
Jan 10, 2023
Catholicism and Indigenous Spirituality: A Conversation with Donna Naughton
Dec 28, 2022
The World in An Acorn: A Conversation with Martin Strong
Dec 14, 2022
From Rock and Roll to Remembering Fr. Ed: A Conversation with Dawn Eden Goldstein
Nov 29, 2022
Reimagining Biblical Animals: A Conversation with Rabbi Laura Duhan-Kaplan, Part 2
Nov 15, 2022
Flooded in Divine Presence: A Conversation with Rabbi Laura Duhan-Kaplan, Part 1
Nov 03, 2022
Art Shines Light and Exposes Darkness in the Spiritual Life: A Conversation with Michael W. Higgins
Oct 18, 2022
"Neither Categories nor Stereotypes, These are Real People": A Conversation with Father Jim Martin
Oct 07, 2022