Conversations from the Classroom with Dr David Kennedy

This episode begins our special series of episodes themed 'Global Perspectives within Catholic Education and Schooling'. I'm joined by Sarah Thomas (Head of School, Marymount International School, Paris) to discuss the specific charism or ethos of her school, Marymount International School, Paris, which was founded by Madame Marie Johanna Butler of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary and is part of the Global Network of RSHM Schools.

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In this episode, I am joined by Prof Gert Biesta (Professor of Education, The University of Melbourne, Australia). Prof Biesta is also Emeritus Professor of Public Education in the Centre for Public Education and Pedagogy at Maynooth University, Ireland & Adjunct Professor, Department of Pedagogy, Religion, and Social Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Norway. In 2025, he was recognised in the prestigious World’s Top 2% of Scholars in Education comprised by Stanford University and Elsevier.

In this episode, we explore the task and purpose of education, Prof Biesta's notion of learnification, his critique of what he refers to as a 'hermeneutical world-view', and his ongoing engagement with phenomenology.

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In this episode, Prof Nathanial Persily, (James B. McClatchy Professor of Law at Stanford Law School and the Co-Director of the Stanford Law AI Initiative, Stanford University) explores GenAI, its implications for democracy, the importance of understanding truth as a common good, the increased importance of engaging religious and philosophical voices in attempting to grapple GenAI, and cultivation of an "accountability ecology".

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In this episode, Prof John D. Caputo (Thomas J. Watson Professor of Religion Emeritus, Syracuse University & David R. Cook Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, Villanova University) discusses his radical theology, theopoetics, phenomenology, and the future of religion in the light of his most recent book 'A Radical God' (Columbia University Press, 2026) which represents, perhaps, one of the most sustained and systematic statements in his efforts to offer a radical re-description of what theology is doing when it speaks of God.

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Click Here for Purchase Information about his recent book - 'A Radical God: Theopoetics, Phenomenology, and the Future of Religion' (Columbia University Press, 2026 )

In this episode, Prof Robyn Horner, (Professor of Theology, School of Theology; Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry, Australian Catholic University) explores Catholic education, school identity, and the 'doing' of theology in plural contexts from an Australian perspective.

⁠Click Here⁠⁠ to View Professor Robyn Horner's Professional Profile

⁠Click Here⁠ for further information about Prof Horner's forthcoming book ‘Doing Theology in Plural Contexts' (Bloomsbury, 2026) by Robyn Horner and Teresa Brown

In this episode, Prof Massimo Faggiolli, prominent Church historian and Professor in Ecclesiology at Villanova University, Philadelphia (on sabbatical at the Loyola Institute, Trinity College Dublin) explores Catholic Higher Education, the University, and the important place, role, and contribution of theology to the common good in the wake of emergent American political theologies accentuated by the Trumpian politics and the dehumanising effects of neo-liberal technocratic educational paradigms, its “priesthood of the managerial class,” and the permeation of Generative Artificial Intelligence at all levels of the educational enterprise and society.

⁠Click Here⁠ to View Professor Massimo Faggiolli’s Professional Profile

Click Here for further information about the book discussed in this episode ‘Theology and Catholic Higher Education: Beyond Our Identity Crisis’ (Orbis, 2024) by Massimo Faggiolli.

In this episode, Prof Michelle Dillon (Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Professor of Sociology, University of New Hampshire) explores post-secular Catholicism in the United States and Ireland and the challenges poses for binary or fixed conceptions of identity construction.

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In this episode, Prof Fáinche Ryan (Professor of Theology, The Loyola Institute, Trinity College Dublin & Vice President, European Society for Catholic Theology) explores the tasks of theology in Europe today and the forthcoming bi-annual European Theology Congress that is taking place at the Loyola Institute, Trinity College Dublin between 20th-23rd August 2025.

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This episode is the first of two special feature episodes with Prof Áine Hyland (Emeritus Professor, University College Cork; former Vice President, University College Cork, and founding member the Dalkey School Project) discussing the development of the Irish education system [1960's onward], the establishment of the Dalkey School Project, the emergence of Educate Together, and the future of multi-denominational in the Irish Education System.

Link to A Brave New Vision for Education in Ireland by Prof Áine Hyland - Click Here

This episode is the final episode of our two special feature episodes with Prof Áine Hyland (Emeritus Professor, University College Cork; former Vice President, University College Cork, and founding member the Dalkey School Project) discussing the development of the Irish education system [1960's onward], the establishment of the Dalkey School Project, the emergence of Educate Together, and the future of multi-denominational in the Irish Education System.

Link to A Brave New Vision for Education in Ireland by Prof Áine Hyland - ⁠Click Here