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

Stephen Colbert joins host Jim Martin, S.J., on “The Spiritual Life”! Colbert is well-known for his satirical comedy on The Colbert Report and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.  The conversation dives into: - The personal tragedy that marked Colbert’s boyhood- losing his father and two brothers in a plane crash – and how his mother’s faith helped shape his spiritual perspective. - The atheism that plagued his college years and what brought Colbert back to his Catholic faith. - The interplay between Colbert’s Catholicism and his comedy Read Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode, or visit this link: https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2025/07/08/stephen-colbert-james-martin-spiritual-life-251084 Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at:  thespirituallife@americamedia.org Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe

“The Spiritual Life” host James Martin, S.J., talks to Mary Karr, author of New York Times best-selling memoirs The Liars' Club, Cherry, and Lit, as well as the Art of Memoir, and five poetry collections, most recently Tropic of Squalor.  Mary Karr shares: How her son and a humble parish priest impacted her conversion to the Catholic faith Her experience doing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and coming to know both the depths of her own sinfulness and the abiding love of God Her encounters of extraordinary grace at Mass, on the subway, and in ordinary life. Read Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode Link to Fr. Jim’s book, “The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life”  Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at:  thespirituallife@americamedia.org Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe

Pete Buttigieg –  the 19th U.S. Secretary of Transportation and the 32nd mayor of South Bend, Indiana – joins host James Martin, S.J. on “The Spiritual Life” podcast to talk about his faith journey, including: A high school Old Testament teacher who shaped Pete’s understanding of a faith that does justice  Pete’s appreciation of the liturgy and subsequent conversion to the Episcopal church  Coming out as gay and coming out as Christian in political life How becoming a father has deepened Pete’s lived-experience of the triune God. Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at:  thespirituallife@americamedia.org Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe

Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes the multi-award winning actress, Whoopi Goldberg, onto “The Spiritual Life” podcast. This wide-ranging conversation includes: Whoopi’s Catholic childhood and how her faith has evolved The influence of Pope John XXIII on her life What Whoopi shared with Pope Francis about Black Catholics Watch a video recording of this conversation on ⁠America Media's YouTube channel.⁠ Read Fr. Jim's article on this interview with Whoopi Goldberg Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at:  thespirituallife@americamedia.org Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe

On the first episode of “The Spiritual Life,” Fr. James Martin, S.J., talks to Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe, O.P., former Master General of the Dominican Order and a retreat leader for the Synod on Synodality. Together, they talk about:  Dominican spirituality and prayer Friendship with God and dialogue in the church Cardinal Timothy’s spiritual insights from aging and recovering from illness Watch a video recording of this conversation on America Media's YouTube channel. Read Fr. Jim's article on this conversation with Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe. Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe’s recent books: Listening Together: Meditations on Synodality  Surprised by Hope: Further Meditations on Synodality Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at:  thespirituallife@americamedia.org Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe

What is prayer and how can we pray?  How do I know if God is responding to my prayers?  What does it mean to live a spiritual life? “The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J.,” focuses on how people experience God in their prayer and their daily lives. The show combines practical wisdom with deep reflections from spiritual masters and well-known seekers, all tracing the mystery of God’s activity in their own lives.