A Life in Progress: The Lessons Found in Ordinary Work

A Life in Progress: The Lessons Found in Ordinary Work

What can a busboy, dishwasher, caddy, factory worker, bank teller, corporate employee, and Jesuit priest teach us about becoming a better human being? In this episode, I sit down with Father James Martin, SJ, bestselling author, Jesuit priest, editor-at-large of America Magazine, and one of the most influential spiritual voices of our time. We discuss his recent memoir, Work in Progress: Confessions of a Busboy, Dishwasher, Caddy, Usher, Factory Worker, Bank Teller, Corporate Tool, and Priest, a deeply personal and often humorous reflection on the jobs, mistakes, lessons, and encounters that shaped his understanding of work, faith, and human dignity. Together, we explore the transformative power of ordinary experiences, the value of humility, and why kindness may be one of the most radical acts available to us in an increasingly divided world. Whether you’re religious, spiritual, curious, or simply trying to navigate life with a little more grace, this episode offers wisdom, laughter, and a hopeful reminder that we’re all still works in progress. Show Notes Work in Progress: Confessions of a busboy, dishwasher, caddy, usher, factory worker, bank teller, corporate tool, and priest – A Funny, Wise, and Inspiring Spiritual Memoir [https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/jamesmartin] Work in Progress - HarperOne Spotify Playlist [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1K92kxUACx7uHJNdkmGHoq] #FatherJamesMartin #WorkInProgress #Jesuit #Kindness #Compassion #Spirituality #FaithAndLife #PersonalGrowth #FiercelyHopeful #WhatsWhatWithHeatherHarris #Curiosity You can find the show notes for this episode and the full back catalog at www.whatswhatpod.com.   Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by this podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Inherited Stories: Memory, Family and Writing the Self

Rachel Manley has spent a lifetime turning memory into art. An acclaimed author, poet, and Governor General’s Award winner for Drumblair, Rachel joins me for a deeply reflective conversation about childhood, inheritance, family mythology, and the complicated act of writing a memoir. Together, we explore what it means to revisit the past through language, not only to remember, but to understand. Rachel speaks candidly about growing up within a remarkable and significant family at pivotal time in Jamaica’s history, the emotional terrain of memoir writing, and the tension between truth, privacy, storytelling, and identity. This episode is ultimately about the stories that shape us: the ones we inherit, the ones we resist, and the ones we finally choose to tell. A conversation about memory, art, family, and the quiet courage of looking backward in order to move forward. #RachelManley #Drumblair #Memoir #CanadianLiterature #GovernorGeneralsAward #WritingLife #Poetry #Storytelling #MemoirWriting #PodcastRecommendation #CanadianAuthors You can find the show notes for this episode and the full back catalog at www.whatswhatpod.com.   Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by this podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Price We Pay: The Harms Inflicted by Wealth Inequality

How much is too much? In this episode, I chat with Chuck Collins, author of Burned by Billionaires: How Concentrated Weatlh and Power are Ruining Our Lives to unpack one of the defining tensions of modern life: the growing concentration of wealth and power in fewer and fewer hands. The growth and protection of the monumental fortunes of the billionaire class has become a booming industry in many western countries today. This enormous wealth concentration has outsized and disastrous environmental and social impacts to the rest of society, and sometimes in ways that many of us would never recognize. In this episode, Chuck explores how wealth inequality quietly shapes nearly every aspect of of our lives, eroding affordability, access, and even freedom. This conversation goes beyond economics. We examine the myths of meritocracy, the emotional and cultural impacts of inequality, and the urgent question of what kind of future we are creating. Thoughtful, challenging, and ultimately hopeful, this episode asks whether a more balanced and humane society is still possible and what it might take to get there. #burnedbybillionaires #chuckcollins #wealthinequality #billionaire You can find the show notes for this episode and the full back catalog at www.whatswhatpod.com.   Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by this podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

What You Don't See: The Quiet Reality of Invisible Illness

What does it mean to live in a body that tells a different story than the one people see? In this episode, I sit down with Lindsay Ireland, author of Why Not Me?, to explore the complex and often misunderstood world of invisible illness. From the outside, everything can appear normal: careers, relationships, routines. But beneath the surface, millions of people are navigating chronic illness, pain, fatigue, and uncertainty that rarely gets acknowledged, and even more rarely believed. Lindsay shares her personal journey with honesty and clarity, unpacking the emotional toll of not being seen, the quiet negotiations of daily life, and the courage it takes to keep showing up in a world that often expects proof of suffering. We explore the tension between resilience and exhaustion, identity and limitation, and what it means to advocate for yourself when your experience doesn’t fit the narrative people expect. This is a conversation that challenges how we define health, strength, and what it really means to be “okay.” It is a powerful reminder that not all struggles are visible. #invisibleillness #chronicillness #whynotme #lindsayireland You can find the show notes for this episode and the full back catalog at www.whatswhatpod.com.   Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by this podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Swinging for the Stars in Uganda: Golf, Youth and Opportunity

What does it really take to step onto the first tee? Golf is often seen as a game of discipline and integrity, but it's also a game of privilege. In this episode of What’s What with Heather Harris, we look at golf not just as a sport but as a medium for growth and self-actualization. Isaac Sekulima, founder of Isaac Styles Golf in Uganda, is an inspiration. His work is opening doors for young athletes in communities where access to sport is anything but guaranteed. He shares his vision for the youth in his community and beyond, and exposes the challenges he faces while bringing his dream alive for the children of Uganda. Together, we explore the hidden inequities shaping who gets to participate, compete, and thrive in sport. Because while sport is often celebrated as the great equalizer, the reality tells a different story: one shaped by geography, infrastructure, funding, and opportunity. This conversation goes beyond the scoreboard. It’s about dignity, possibility, and what happens when we invest in human potential—everywhere. From the role of sport in youth development to the question of who gets left out, this episode challenges us to rethink what fairness in sport really means and what it could look like if access was part of the game. Because the future of sport isn’t just about excellence. It’s about who gets the chance to begin. #golf #youthgolf #equityinsport #sportforchange You can find the show notes for this episode and the full back catalog at www.whatswhatpod.com.   Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by this podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.