In this episode, Zac and Larry discuss Larry's observations from the Synod on Synodality in Rome.

• 00:00 Introduction and Conference Reflections
• 05:07 Insights from the Synod on Synodality
• 10:00 Expectations vs. Reality of the Synod
• 15:00 The Role of Laypeople in the Church
• 20:04 Pope Francis and Progressive Catholicism
• 25:04 The Vatican's Approach to American Catholicism
• 29:56 Conclusion and Future Implications
• 32:04 The Eurocentric Nature of the Synod
• 34:51 African Church Perspectives and Concerns
• 37:50 The Disconnect Between the Synod and Global South
• 39:43 Pope Francis and the Challenge of Co-optation
• 42:30 The Nature of Dialogue at the Synod
• 52:22 Hope for the Future of the Church

In this episode, Zac discusses the recent election in the United States, focusing on the failures of the media and the Democratic Party, Trump's broad appeal, polling failures, and the state of conservatism.

Sound Bites

• "I think there's room for optimism."
• "The media's framing backfired spectacularly."
• "We need to have interesting conversations."
• "This is a failure of the Democratic Party."
• "Trump has broad appeal on the issues."
• "Polling failed to capture Trump support."
• "Conservatism is not dead, but in peril."
• "Our hope is never in political salvation."

Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Future Plans 01:24 Media's Role in the Election 11:45 Failures of the Democratic Party 21:28 Trump's Broad Appeal 28:27 Polling Failures and Silent Voters 36:01 Conservatism in Peril 41:12 Hope Beyond Politics

In this conversation, Zac and Andrew discuss Andrew's book (co-written with David Paul Baird and Rev. Michael Ward) entitled 'Popcorn with the Pope.' We delve into specific films on the list, such as 'Au Revoir Les Enfants' and 'Babette's Feast', discussing various themes and ideas from each. Relatedly, we also discuss concerns about the impact of AI on the arts--both from labor and creative perspectives.

Buy the book here: https://bookstore.wordonfire.org/products/popcorn-with-the-pope?gclid=Cj0KCQjwn9y1BhC2ARIsAG5IY-6mWrryeuTxWChVGh8EYliN2em43I0skHdYAQs7o0bh_a4XlMUeKLYaArEoEALw_wcB

00:00 Introduction and Background 05:26 The Vatican Film List and Popcorn with the Pope 17:10 Exploring 'Au Revoir Les Enfants' 24:08 Uncovering the Themes of 'Babette's Feast' 27:50 Babette's Feast and the Vatican Film List 36:09 The Impact of AI on the Entertainment Industry 39:19 The Need to Protect Human Creativity and Dignity 45:10 Protecting Workers' Rights and Copyrights 48:28 The Threat of Cultural and Economic Devastation by AI 50:49 Using the Differentiation from AI as an Evangelism Tool