The “American Catholic History” Podcast
Did you know that President George Washington may have converted to Catholicism upon his deathbed in 1779? Neither did we at FAITH Magazine until we stumbled recently upon the “American Catholic History” podcast.
Did you know that President George Washington may have converted to Catholicism upon his deathbed in 1779? Neither did we at FAITH Magazine until we stumbled recently upon the “American Catholic History” podcast.
Hosted by husband-and-wife team Tom Crowe and Noëlle Hiester Crowe, the “American Catholic History” podcast highlights how the Catholic Church and many of her faithful have helped to shape American culture, politics, food, education, and more, from the 16th century to the present day.
The Ohio-based Crowes launched the podcast in 2019. Together they strike a measured, informed, and yet light-hearted and listenable tone to matters historical. The podcast’s back catalogue already contains over 180 episodes for your edification and enjoyment.
Profiles of the more obvious figures of North American Catholic history are to be found there, including St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, America's first native-born saint, and Charles Carrol, the only Catholic signatory of the Declaration of Independence.
But among the many installments you’ll also find less-obvious stories such as crooner Perry Como's faith-grounded career, the Catholicism of Flintstone creator Joseph Barbera, and pop artist Andy Warhol's Byzantine Catholic roots.
Sacred places feature, including the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche in St. Augustine, Florida, the site where the first Mass on North American soil was celebrated on Sept. 8, 1565.
As for the cultural impact of Catholicism upon this nation, you will be able to discover the Catholic history of Monterey Jack cheese from California missions, and the Lenten origins of McDonald's Filet-o-Fish.
Each episode typically runs about 20-25 minutes. The “American Catholic History” podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and the official website at americancatholichistory.org.
