Episodes

  • Bonus Sample: Liberation Theology or Magical Thinking?

    Bonus Sample: Liberation Theology or Magical Thinking?
    Jun 8 2026
    Matthew investigates whether Pope Leo XIV's appeals to Liberation Theology represent genuine solidarity with the poor or a sophisticated form of spiritual bypassing. Drawing on Ole Jakob Løland's analysis of Francis's papacy, Remski traces how Rome has metabolized Liberation Theology into compatibility with 135 years of Catholic Social Teaching by absorbing its pastoral language while suppressing its structural conclusions. This involves a close reading of Cardinal Ratzinger's 1984 rebuke of Gutierrez et al. Ratzinger’s framing of empathy as temptation prefigures the "toxic empathy" discourse of our present moment. Francis's eulogies for Oscar Romero and Gustavo Gutiérrez honored their sacrifice but erased their politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    5 mins
  • Brief: Collapse at the FDA

    Brief: Collapse at the FDA
    Jun 6 2026
    The FDA is bleeding out Covid contrarians. Marty Makary, Vinay Prasad, Tracy Beth Høeg—all gone. Jonathan Howard returns to discuss why so many RFK Jr's friends have reached the end of their bureaucratic road. Show Notes FDA Swaps Top Drug and Vaccine Regulators in Staff Overhaul F.D.A. Commissioner Marty Makary Resigns After Weeks of Pressure No One Should Care About or Trust Anything Dr. Marty Makary Says Ever Again My Sincere Message to Dr. Jay Bhattacharya: Welcome Aboard and Good Luck. We Are Rooting for Your Success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • 311: AI, Pope Leo, & The Antichrist

    311: AI, Pope Leo, & The Antichrist
    Jun 4 2026
    Leo the XIV wrote a big letter about a hyperobject. Many thoughts and debates are triggered. Today we’ll look at what the hell an encyclical is, the Vatican's decade-long conversation with Silicon Valley about coding morally-sound AI, and the broken and laundered echoes of Liberation Theology in Leo’s text. Show Notes Rerum Novarum, Leo XIII, May 15 1891 Catholic Church largest non-governmental landowner Magnifica Humanitas full text Paragraph 177: memory of past complicity in slavery Thiel’s Antichrist Framing Collides with Church Doctrine Why Silicon Valley is Turning to The Catholic Church Gustavo Gutiérrez, A Theology of Liberation (1971/1973) Medellín Conference 1968, CELAM documents Camilo Torres Restrepo, ELN Colombia Ratzinger CDF investigation of Gutiérrez, 1984 James Martin SJ, "A capitalist priest reads Magnifica Humanitas," America Magazine Word on Fire publishing Magnifica Humanitas in hardcopy Brief: US v. Liberation Theology (Part 1) — November 1, 2025 Bonus: US v. Liberation Theology (Part 2) — November 3, 2025 Conspirituality Episode on Leo XIV vs Trump (Leo's immigration remarks through Good Friday) — April 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 21 mins
  • Bonus Sample: Journalism In An Age of Fascism

    Bonus Sample: Journalism In An Age of Fascism
    Jun 1 2026
    Derek reports on the role of journalism after attending the News and Documentary Emmy Awards in New York City last week. Show Notes 2026 News & Documentary Emmy Awards | NEWS NIGHT (LIVE) You Might Have Already Fallen for MAHA’s Conspiracy Theories Student awarded CBS News scholarship explains why he called out network at event: ‘I had to do it’ Jorge Ramos, who's anchored the news for nearly 4 decades, is leaving Univision Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    7 mins
  • Brief: My Neighbourhood Data Center Conspiracy

    Brief: My Neighbourhood Data Center Conspiracy
    May 30 2026
    Matthew investigates the under-construction STACK data centre at 3650 Danforth Avenue in Scarborough, two miles from his home, tracing what he finds through concentric circles of capital, neglect, hype, and deception. When complete, the 56MW hyperscale facility will draw the power of 50K Ontario homes. But it was built without public consultation, environmental monitoring, or any info on who the tenants will be. Its financing and ownership details track back through a web of investment firms with connections to both the Ford (provincial) and Carney (federal) governments. Show Notes STACK Infrastructure — About National Observer — One data centre or one million homes? Mapping Ontario's proposed hyperscaler boom Dirty Data — Environmental Reporting Collective ASME — Data Centre Ambient Heat Study, May 2026 Environment Canada — Heat Warnings City of Toronto — R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant Ontario Environmental Registry — Bill 40 Toronto City Council — Motion MM39.47 Democracy Now! — Karen Hao Interview AI Resist List Data Center Watch Indigenous Insider — Kevin O'Leary and Wonder Valley Parksville Qualicum News — BC Greens oppose Nanaimo data centre AI is Capital - Jodi’s Substack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
  • 310: The Bait & Switch Complex

    310: The Bait & Switch Complex
    May 28 2026
    In the early 20th century, some retailers would advertise a product at an attractively low price to lure customers into the store, claim the item was out of stock or of poor quality then pressure customers to buy a more expensive alternative. The practice became known in the public vernacular as "bait and switch" in the 1920s. This week, we look at three modern bait and switches pertinent to our beat. First, Julian looks at “free speech patriot” Chud the Builder’s slimy social media tactics. Then Derek investigates RFK Jr’s SNAP benefits now you see them, now you don’t. Finally, Matthew looks at how Mark Carney is bait and switching the Canadian political body. Show Notes SNAP Restrictions Raise Prices for U.S. Retailers and Consumers, Rather Than Improving Diets State-Level SNAP Food Restrictions: Assessing Long-Term Profitability and Policy Risks for Grocery Retailers SNAP Enforcement Changes Risk Limiting Food Access for Vulnerable Communities USDA outlines retailer compliance for state SNAP waivers EBT, SNAP, and Food Retail Compliance: A Complete Explainer for Small Grocery and Convenience Store Owners FRAC Urges USDA to End Harmful SNAP Food Restriction Waivers Bank of England — Mark Carney biography UN — Carney Special Envoy appointment Council for Inclusive Capitalism — Carney Amnesty International Canada — Bill C-12 CBC News — Bill C-233 defeated Government of Canada — CERB eligibility CBC News — CRA COVID benefit clawbacks Parliamentary Budget Officer — federal housing spending CBC News — oil and gas emissions cap scrapped CBC News — F-35 contract review CBC News — Defence Security and Resilience Bank confirmed CBC News — Indigenous Services Canada budget cuts CCPA — Bill C-15 corporate exemption CBC News — Grassy Narrows, "I can outlast her" Guardian — Carney climate record Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Bonus Sample: Poetry As Resistance & Embodied Spirituality

    Bonus Sample: Poetry As Resistance & Embodied Spirituality
    May 25 2026
    Across continents and centuries outsider poets have made a bold stand for the life of the body, contemplative ecstasy, sexual liberation, and the sacredness of nature, often in the face of religious and political repression. From Rajasthan to New York, Ancient Persia to London, and Swansea in Wales to Balkh in Afghanistan, ecstatic poets have broken taboos around sex, death, gender, social caste, and religious dogma. In a follow-up to last week’s interview with Britt Hartley of No-Nonsense Spirituality, Julian reflects on how poetry has always lit up his inner world as a form of embodied spirituality that transcends religious frameworks or supernatural metaphysics. He shares favorite pieces that span 800 years and three continents from Mirabai, Walt Whitman, Mary Oliver, Kabir, David Whyte, Dylan Thomas, and Rumi, along with stories from their lives, and his own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    6 mins
  • Brief: Living with Prediabetes

    Brief: Living with Prediabetes
    May 23 2026
    In February, Derek and his wife, Callan, were surprised to discover she was diagnosed with prediabetes. They didn't know that Asian American adults are at a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes than others without the traditional risk factors. Callan joins to discuss how the diagnosis changed her life, her frustrations with the healthcare system, and how she's navigating her new reality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    25 mins