In an episode exploring the vitality of youth and the wisdom that accompanies age, Martin opens the program with a stirring passage from Walt Whitman’s book “Leaves of Grass” giving listeners a grounding start that feels ageless and immediate. He then welcomes back to the mic his great granddaughters Luna, Sara & Jade for a little chat, some poetry and a lot of laughter.

The show continues with inspiring and humorous quotes from authors and the legendary Yogi Berra, before concluding with the poetry of Willa Cather and William Blake, particular works that celebrate the indominable spirit of youth while fondly reflecting on the joys of days gone by.

A complete list of the writers and poets from Ep 5 Daughters Great & Grand 

“Leaves of Grass” book excerpt Walt Whitman

Consider This Roald Dahl “Above all, watch with glittering eyes…”

“Together” Great Granddaughter Sara

“Me & You” Ramon Gerard Estevez AKA Martin Sheen

Consider This Yogi Berra “You can observe a lot by watching”

“Prairie Spring” Willa Cather

“Blessed Among Us: Mozart” Robert Ellsberg

“The Echoing Green” William Blake

“Where the Mind is Without Fear” Rabindranath Tagore

For more information about the writers and poets in this episode please visit us at: themartinsheenpodcast.com

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In this episode Martin offers a bittersweet and touching reflection on his first year at Holy Trinity School in 1946. He brings to life the people and places that left an indelible impression on him, recalling friendships formed and loss encountered. All at the tender age of 6-year-old, these experiences created lasting memories for him and form the core of this beautiful reverie.

This story is followed with the humor of Mark Twain, as well as the thought-provoking poetry of Walt Whitman and William Blake, creating both a teachable moment and an enjoyable one.

A complete list of the writers and poets from Episode 4 

The story “Looking Back Within” by Ramon Gerard Estevez AKA Martin Sheen is included here by granted copyright permission.

Consider This Mark Twain “Never put off till tomorrow…”

“The Noiseless Spider” Walt Whitman

“Blessed Among Us: Chief Seattle” Robert Ellsberg

“The Tyger” William Blake

“Where the Mind is Without Fear” Rabindranath Tagore

For more information about the writers and poets in this episode please visit us at: themartinsheenpodcast.com

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Being the seventh of 9 boys, Martin knows a thing or two about brothers as a lifelong lived experience. In this episode he reflects on the bonds that have shaped his life, beginning with a beautiful reading of Keats and culminating in an intimate conversation at the mic with his younger brother, Joe Estevez. Along the way, family stories are shared, long-held truths come to light and listeners are invited into a side of Martin’s world few have witnessed.

Framed by the timeless writing of Keats and Tennyson, this is a heartfelt celebration of sibling camaraderie, memory and the enduring ties of family. Enjoy.

A complete list of the writers and poets from Episode 3 Brothers

“To My Brothers” John Keats

Consider This A selection of “Ulysses” Alfred Lord Tennyson 

“Where the Mind is Without Fear” Rabindranath Tagore

For more information about the writers and poets in this episode please visit us at: themartinsheenpodcast.com

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In this episode, Martin shares a deeply moving account of his time on the London stage in Larry Kramer’s landmark play “The Normal Heart.” More than a personal artistic challenge, the experience placed him at the heart of a pivotal moment in history, as the AIDS epidemic was just unfolding.

From receiving the unexpected offer from Joe Papp to his time in England, Martin recounts the remarkable journey that culminated in a life-changing breakthrough during one unforgettable performance. Told with his signature warmth, humor and compassion, this poignant story offers an intimate glimpse into a transformative chapter of both his life and the cultural moment in which it unfolded.

The show concludes with the support of life-affirming quotes and a beautiful and haunting poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

A complete list of the writers and poets from Episode 2 Shadows & Light

The story “Notes on London’s Heart” by Ramon Gerard Estevez AKA Martin Sheen is included here by granted copyright permission.

Consider This Agatha Christie autobiography quote

“Hymn to the Night” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“Where the Mind is Without Fear” Rabindranath Tagore

For more information about the writers and poets in this episode please visit us at: themartinsheenpodcast.com

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In this follow-up to his previous story about working on the epic “Apocalypse Now” Martin transports listeners back to the jungles of the Philippines, where an exhilarating yet relentless filming schedule tested everyone involved. Accompanied by his family and buoyed by long awaited supplies shipped from the United States, he recalls how the film’s raw, unforgettable opening sequence was captured almost entirely by chance.

Martin then shares the story of Marlon Brando’s much anticipated arrival on the set, reflecting on the extraordinary experience working alongside this legendary actor. Their time together became not only the highlight of the production but the most rewarding of Martin’s career.

This is followed by a brief selection of thought provoking quotes and heroic poetry from the frontlines of battle by Tennyson.

A complete list of the writers and poets from Episode 1 Worth Fighting For

The story “Apocalypse, You’re In For It Now Part II” by Ramon Gerard Estevez AKA Martin Sheen is included here by granted copyright permission.

Consider This Benjamin Franklin “No good war or bad peace”

“The Charge of the Light Brigade” Alfred Lord Tennyson

“Where the Mind is Without Fear” Rabindranath Tagore

For more information about the writers and poets in this episode please visit us at: themartinsheenpodcast.com

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Please join me each Sunday for a beautifully crafted 20-minute journey of personal exploration. I am proud to say “The Martin Sheen Podcast” is now in its 4th season!

For more information please visit themartinsheenpodcast.com

For more information about the writers and poets in this episode please visit us at: themartinsheenpodcast.com

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In this special episode Martin steps back from storytelling and poetry and joins his production team at the mic instead to have an informal chat and answer the burning question, “Whose idea was this podcast?”

Listeners are invited to a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the origins of Martin’s podcast, how it evolved and where it’s all going. 

A complete list of writers & poets the special episode “Whose Idea Was This Podcast?”

“The Age Demanded” Ernest Hemingway

For more information about the writers and poets in this episode please visit us at: themartinsheenpodcast.com

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This episode is full of literary works, speeches and poems by American authors and American public figures. A letter to America, if you will, the country we love, the one we criticize and the one we know can always be better, the one we are dreaming of.

Join Martin as he wishes a happy 250th birthday to America through the recitation of “America the Beautiful” and other beloved poetry. The episode concludes with a passionate and moving rendition of President Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address.

A complete list of the writers and poets from Episode 10 The American Dream

“America the Beautiful” Katherine Lee Bates

Consider This Alexander Hamilton like founding father, like son

“A Shadow” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“The Song of the Stone Wall” Helen Keller

Consider This Inauguration speeches, the short and long of it

The poem “I Am Waiting” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti from Coney Island of the Mind, copyright 1955 is included in this podcast with permission of New Directions Publishing Corporation

“Where the Mind is Without Fear” Rabindranath Tagore

For more information about the writers and poets in this episode please visit us at: themartinsheenpodcast.com

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Martin recounts how after many years of searching an inner voice led him to a true turning point in his spiritual life and his return to the Catholic church. With the help of an old friend while in Paris on location for the filming of “Enigma” Martin follows his heart and discovers a revitalized and more compassionate church under the reforms of Vatican II, where he experiences peace and the joy that comes from uniting the will of the spirit with the work of the flesh.

This moving story of followed by literary works that resonate with the awakening that accompanies the search for happiness and a life more fully realized.

A complete list of the writers and poets from Episode 8 Go In Peace 

The story “Transition” by Ramon Gerard Estevez AKA Martin Sheen is included here by granted copyright permission.

Consider This The Buddha “If you want to fly…”

“Blessed Among Us: Dostoevsky” by Robert Ellsberg is included here by granted copyright permission. And we thank the author for this opportunity to share his work.

“Where the Mind is Without Fear” Rabindranath Tagore

For more information about the writers and poets in this episode please visit us at: themartinsheenpodcast.com

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While in India in 1981, immersed in the sweeping production of the iconic film Gandhi, Martin finds himself profoundly altered by what unfolds both before the camera and behind it. Amid the grandeur of the production and under the guidance of acclaimed director Richard Attenborough, he witnesses not only the making of a heroic and deeply human story but also the stark realities of poverty, inequality, and suffering surrounding him in the streets of India.

In this episode, Martin reflects on how this journey became far more than a cinematic experience. By the close of filming, something within him had stirred awake - a quiet but insistent voice he could no longer silence. What began as an artistic endeavor gradually transformed into a deeply personal reckoning, setting him upon an inward search for peace and healing.

A complete list of the writers and poets from Episode 7 Awakening

The story “In Gandhi’s Kindly Light” by Ramon Gerard Estevez AKA Martin Sheen is included here by granted copyright permission.

“Face to Face” Rabindranath Tagore

“Where the Mind is Without Fear” Rabindranath Tagore

For more information about the writers and poets in this episode please visit us at: themartinsheenpodcast.com

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