On our Season One finale of “The Spiritual Life” podcast, Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes the incomparable researcher and storyteller, Brené Brown.

Brené is a research professor at the University of Houston, the author of six #1 New York Times bestsellers and the host of two award-winning podcasts. In 2024, she was named as the executive director of The Center for Daring Leadership at BetterUp. In this open and courageous conversation, they discuss:

How Brené became Catholic as a child and where she finds her spiritual home today

Brené’s own take on The Examen prayer and the twist she adds to the Our Father and Hail Mary.

How Brené  thinks about the connection between her research on fear, shame and vulnerability, and the person of Jesus we encounter in the gospels. 

Link to Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2025/10/28/brene-brown-james-martin-spiritual-life

We’re taking a couple months break, but will be back with Season 2 of “The Spiritual Life” in the New Year. In the meantime, be sure to check out America Media’s Advent podcast, Hark!: the stories behind our favorite Christmas carols, hosted and produced by Maggi Van Dorn. 

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at:  [email protected]

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