The Iona Institute podcast

Best-selling writer and Christian convert, Paul Kingsnorth, author of a recent book called 'God or the Machine?', delivered the keynote address at The Iona Institute’s latest youth conference that took place on Saturday, October 10, in Ely House, Dublin 2.

Is the internet helping to draw young people to the faith? This is the question Mahon McCann asks in his talk delivered at this year's ‪Iona Institute‬ conference, 'God or the Machine?'. He describes the effects of living under digital conditions and how digital life, despite its many pitfalls, creates expected opportunities for conversion. Mahon presents a regular podcast that examines the intersection between faith and philosophy. He is an Irish philosophy PhD researcher and lecturer. A Catholic convert from atheism, on his channel Mahon McCann‬ explores Christian solutions to the meaning crisis, philosophy beyond reductive materialism, meaning and manipulation in the machine age and bridging the gap between the secular world and Christianity.His Substack can be found at: www.mahonmccann.com The Iona Institute youth conference took place on Saturday, October 10, 2026, in Ely House, Dublin.

Dr Gerard Casey, former head of the Department of Philosophy at UCD addressed a meeting organised by The Iona Institute called ‘Christians in a post-human world: a sneak look at our near future’.

Dr Casey described how our world is changing even more rapidly than we realise. As Artificial Intelligence (AI) develops, there is growing talk of a ‘trans-human’ or even ‘post-human’ future, in which humans, merged with technology, will transcend their own physical and intellectual limits and even achieve a kind of immortality.

Some thinkers welcome this and look forward to a time when humans will be ‘post-human’. They believe humans have had a destructive impact on the planet overall and evolution has given us a nature that is too violent and competitive.

But what are Christians to make of all this? Should we embrace post-humanism or reject it as an attack on how we are created by God?

In his talk, Dr Casey discussed these vital questions. (The talk was delivered in the Central Catholic Library, Dublin, on June 27th, 2023).

The Iona Institute was very pleased to host an outstanding talk by Melanie McDonagh on her widely reviewed new book, ‘Converts: From Oscar Wilde to Muriel Spark, Why So Many Became Catholic in the 20th Century’.

In front of a packed room, Melanie explained the social and religious conditions that led hundreds of thousands of English people to convert to Catholicism in the last century. It is a learned and entertaining overview of a particular moment in history and the larger-than-life characters who inhabited it. We think you will enjoy it immensely.

What are the signs of a great openness to religion among members of Gen Z? Stephen Bullivant, Professor of Theology and Sociology of Religion at St Mary's University, Twickenham in London, looks at what the data have to say.

He gave his talk at 2025 Iona Institute youth conference on October 11 in Dublin. The theme of the conference was 'Does Gen Z have a future without religion?'

(During his talk, professor Bullivant reffered to figures to an handout. Here is the link to the handout: https://ionainstitute.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Iona-handout.pdf )

Is total secularisation inevitable? Professor Stephen Bullivant says it is not, and in fact, Gen Z is showing increased openness to religion.

He was speaking at a recent ionainstitute conference. You can watch his presentation here: https://youtu.be/DzusZCnbHXg

On Saturday October 11th, The Iona Institute held its third annual youth conference. This year, the theme was Does Gen Z Have a Future Without Religion?

In his address, Fr Conor McDonough OP, a popular Dominican friar who is also active on social media, looks at something unexpected: the quiet reawakening of faith among Gen Z (those born between the end of the 1990s and the early 2010s). Fr Conor explores the surprising signs of spiritual renewal among young people today, and the challenges that accompany them.

In this podcast, gives a summary of his address.

You can read the full text of his talk here.

Listen to the opening remarks from David Quinn at the annual Iona Institute youth conference.

In his opening address at the annual Iona Institute youth conference last Saturday, David Quinn spells out the demographic facts of life to Gen Z. He told a packed room that ‘Gen Z’ (roughly corresponding to those in their 20s) is likely to have the lowest marriage rates and birth rates ever recorded and that this makes them a hinge generation. But he also said that religious practice makes people more likely to marry and have children, meaning that the religious members of Gen Z will become vitally important as they buck the wider societal downward trends.

The theme of the conference was ‘Does Gen Z have a future without religion?’

Well-known religious affairs commentator, Michael Kelly, author of a recent book about Pope Leo XIV, discusses the new pontiff's life, his ministry and how he will respond to the challenges and opportunities facing the Catholic Church. He talks about the Conclave that elected him, and what may have prompted his election. Michael also explains why the new pope picked the name 'Leo XIV'.Michael is a Vatican expert who appears regularly on TV and radio to discuss religious affairs. He is a former editor of The Irish Catholic and is currently Public Affairs Director for Aid to the Church in Need Ireland. The talk took place in the Central Catholic Library in Dublin on July 30, 2025.

“Evangelium Vitae", Pope John Paul II’s encyclical letter on "the Culture of Life" and the "Culture of Death" was published 30 years ago and greatly galvanised the pro-life movement worldwide. Maria Steen discusses the enduring themes of the encyclical and how it is even more relevant today than it was 30 years ago. The talk was hosted by The Iona Institute and took place on May 3.