Join Bobby Mixa in conversation with renowned Catholic author and Vatican analyst George Weigel as they explore Krakow's profound influence on Pope John Paul II. From the city's dramatic transformation after communism to the role of Catholic faith in Polish history and identity, Weigel shares insights from his acclaimed biography Witness to Hope and City of Saints. Discover how one city shaped a pope—and changed the world.
Follow Mr. Weigel's latest at www.georgeweigel.com
11 Sept 2026
Looking back at 9/11 and Pope Benedict XVI's Regensburg Address
In this episode, Bobby Mixa and Andrew Petiprin look back at 9/11 after 25 years and try to understand this horrific event by also looking at Pope Benedict XVI's controversial Regensburg Address, delivered exactly five years after the terrorist attacks. Pope Benedict got into trouble for quotiing a 14th Century Byzantine Emperor's words about Islam, but his talk was much more than that: it was primarily about the grandeur of reason when brought into play with divine revelation.
This university address was a call to the university to reclaim its task of opening reason up to the whole of reality in the light of revelation. The address was, in reality, addressed to the West.
Bobby and Andrew explore the profundity of this address, seeing it as summative of Benedict's thought and incredibly relevant for today.
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29 Aug 2026
Liberalism and the Odyssey with Patrick J. Deneen
In this episode, we're joined by Patrick J. Deneen, professor of political science at Notre Dame and author of Why Liberalism Failed and the new book American Odyssey: What an Ancient Story Reveals About Our Divided Souls.
We explore how the ancient Greek epic speaks to our current moment—examining the tension between the desire to explore and discover versus the longing for home and rootedness. Deneen discusses post-liberalism, the decline of shared culture, how Christopher Nolan's recent film reflects this cultural moment, and unexpected connections to American classics like It's a Wonderful Life and Huckleberry Finn.
Topics Discussed:
The thesis of Why Liberalism Failed revisited
What "post-liberal" really means
The Odyssey as a mirror for the American soul
Elite detachment from the consequences of their ideology
How American literature grapples with homecoming
Learn more: spesalviinstitute.com
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Who has been a guest on Spe Salvi Institute Podcast
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Joseph C Atkinson
Michael Hanby
Philip Bess
Charlie Camosy
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