The Magnificast

A weekly podcast about Christianity and leftist politics. The Magnificast is hosted by Dean Dettloff and Matt Bernico. Each week's episode focuses on a unique or under-realized aspect of territory between Christianity and politics that no one taught you about in sunday school.

Heavenly middle managers

This week we've got reddit questions, new events, and old events. Here are the things we talked about in this episode! https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/oct/05/archbishop-of-canterbury-sarah-mullally-changehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_Geddeshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gianfranco_SanguinettiIntro Music by Amaryah ArmstrongOutro music by theillogicalspoon https://theillalogicalspoon.bandcamp.com/track/hoods-up-the-low-down-technified-bluesSupport The Magnificast on Patreonhttp://patreon.com/themagnificastGet Magnificast Merchhttps://www.redbubble.com   

10-07
47:53

Plastic bones

Bad news folks, just like Jimmy Kimmel and Steven Colbert, the president has cancelled us, but not to worry, we're coming at you from the depths of the magnificent family life center with all of the reddit questions you can handle and some takes about current events. Intro Music by Amaryah ArmstrongOutro music by theillogicalspoon https://theillalogicalspoon.bandcamp.com/track/hoods-up-the-low-down-technified-bluesSupport The Magnificast on Patreonhttp://patreon.com/themagnificastGet Magnificast Merchhttps://www.redbubble.com   

09-23
01:05:28

Socialism and Communes

We were chatting last week about monasticism and the commons, this week, we're diving into a bit about communes and socialism guided by a recent issue of the Monthly Review.Read the articles from Chris Gilbert here: https://monthlyreview.org/articles/socialist-communes-and-anti-imperialism-the-marxist-approach/Intro Music by Amaryah ArmstrongOutro music by theillogicalspoon https://theillalogicalspoon.bandcamp.com/track/hoods-up-the-low-down-technified-bluesSupport The Magnificast on Patreonhttp://patreon.com/themagnificastGet Magnificast Merchhttps://www.redbubble.com  

09-17
54:13

Commons and monasticism

Capitalism: we hate it. It's taking over every section of life and commodifying the things we need to live. A lot of socialists talk about reviving and reclaiming the commons, and that sounds good to us, but what kind of institutions would we need to manage those commons? Don't worry, some economists have some ideas: monasticism. Read the article we're talking about in the show: https://revistes.ub.edu/index.php/HistoriaIndustrial/article/view/40930/40628Intro Music by Amaryah ArmstrongOutro music by theillogicalspoon https://theillalogicalspoon.bandcamp.com/track/hoods-up-the-low-down-technified-bluesSupport The Magnificast on Patreonhttp://patreon.com/themagnificastGet Magnificast Merchhttps://www.redbubble.com  

09-09
01:02:10

Slow Down or Die

This week on the podcast, we're talking about Timothée Parrique's new book Slow Down Or Die: the economics of degrowth. Specifically, we're talking about the third chapter on social reproduction and the ways capitalism commodifies everything dissolving social bonds and what churches look in the wake of that dissolution. Intro Music by Amaryah ArmstrongOutro music by theillogicalspoonhttps://theillalogicalspoon.bandcamp.com/track/hoods-up-the-low-down-technified-bluesSupport The Magnificast on Patreonhttp://patreon.com/themagnificastGet Magnificast Merchhttps://www.redbubble.com  

09-02
01:01:56

Magnificast Classic: The Socialist Jesuit One W/ David Inczauskis SJ

This week, we're bringing you back to 2021, to a conversation we had with David Inczauskis SJ.Have you heard about the cool new Liberation Theology podcast on the block? No? Well, let us tell you! This week, we're joined by David Inczauskis SJ, the host of The Liberation Theology Podcast. Give David a follow on twitter @LibTheoJesuit and check out his pod! Intro Music by Amaryah Armstrong Outro music by theillogicalspoon https://theillalogicalspoon.bandcamp.com/track/hoods-up-the-low-down-technified-blues*Support The Magnificast on Patreon* http://patreon.com/themagnificast *Get Magnificast Merch* https://www.redbubble.com

08-26
01:04:34

ChatBCP

We're wrapping up our book on degrowth and liberation theology this week, so we're just doing a fun one. This week on the pod, we're locking-in, answering some reddit questions, talking about current events, and complaining about AI. Here's the episcopal chatbot article we mentioned on the show: https://www.christiancentury.org/features/priesthood-all-chatbotsIntro Music by Amaryah ArmstrongOutro music by theillogicalspoonhttps://theillalogicalspoon.bandcamp.com/track/hoods-up-the-low-down-technified-bluesSupport The Magnificast on Patreonhttp://patreon.com/themagnificastGet Magnificast Merchhttps://www.redbubble.com  

08-19
01:03:17

The Theology of Relinquishment

Last week, we talked about dependency theory and trash. This week on the pod, we're talking about how some theologians from the Global North responded to liberation theology and dependency theory at its height in the 1970's and 80's. You'll also hear two grandpas talking about a long gone Christian band called The Psalters.  Listen to the Psalters: https://psalters.bandcamp.com/album/the-divine-liturgy-of-the-wretched-exilesIntro Music by Amaryah ArmstrongOutro music by theillogicalspoonhttps://theillalogicalspoon.bandcamp.com/track/hoods-up-the-low-down-technified-bluesSupport The Magnificast on Patreonhttp://patreon.com/themagnificastGet Magnificast Merchhttps://www.redbubble.com  

08-11
58:41

Magnificast Classic: Joe Wallace, the Greatest Canadian Communist Christian Poet in the Soviet Union

Ernesto Cardenal is great, right? He is, but have you ever wondered who the Greatest Canadian Communist Christian Poet in the Soviet Union was? Well, it was Joe Wallace. Intro Music by Amaryah Armstrong Outro music by theillogicalspoon https://theillalogicalspoon.bandcamp.com/track/hoods-up-the-low-down-technified-blues*Support The Magnificast on Patreon* http://patreon.com/themagnificast *Get Magnificast Merch* https://www.redbubble.com/people/themagnificast/og-shop?asc=u

08-06
54:03

Riding spaceship earth

This week on the pod, we're talking trash! This week we get into dependency theory, Leonardo Boff, and coffeeHere's the study we mentioned about sustainable coffee brewing: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352550921001160Intro Music by Amaryah ArmstrongOutro music by theillogicalspoonhttps://theillalogicalspoon.bandcamp.com/track/hoods-up-the-low-down-technified-bluesSupport The Magnificast on Patreonhttp://patreon.com/themagnificastGet Magnificast Merchhttps://www.redbubble.com  

07-30
47:47

The Liberation from Trash

Lately, we've been talking about the resonance between regrowth and liberation theology when it comes to talking about consumption patterns in the Global North. This week, we're taking a look at the result of all that consumption: trash. Trash plays an essential economic role in capitalism in the way it creates growth. Want to know how? Then listen to this episode!Intro Music by Amaryah ArmstrongOutro music by theillogicalspoonhttps://theillalogicalspoon.bandcamp.com/track/hoods-up-the-low-down-technified-bluesSupport The Magnificast on Patreonhttp://patreon.com/themagnificastGet Magnificast Merchhttps://www.redbubble.com  

07-22
57:28

This could be you (bones)

Folks, this week, we're locked in answering reddit questions, talking about cranky liberation theologian, Clodovis Boff, and ICE raids. Find the article from Mel Buer that we talked about here: https://www.welcometohellworld.com/a-life-was-snuffed-out-in-the-pursuit-of-a-quota/Intro Music by Amaryah ArmstrongOutro music by theillogicalspoonhttps://theillalogicalspoon.bandcamp.com/track/hoods-up-the-low-down-technified-bluesSupport The Magnificast on Patreonhttp://patreon.com/themagnificastGet Magnificast Merchhttps://www.redbubble.com  

07-15
51:53

Degrowth bishops

This week on the pod we're talking about the new statement from the Bishops of the Global South for COP30. In their statement they reject false solutions like technocracy and green capitalism and argue that the way forward is degrowth! Read the statement here: https://www.cidse.org/2025/07/01/churches-of-the-global-south-call-for-climate-justice-resisting-false-solutions-and-standing-for-hope/Intro Music by Amaryah ArmstrongOutro music by theillogicalspoonhttps://theillalogicalspoon.bandcamp.com/track/hoods-up-the-low-down-technified-bluesSupport The Magnificast on Patreonhttp://patreon.com/themagnificastGet Magnificast Merchhttps://www.redbubble.com  

07-08
59:54

AI is demonic

This week, we're talking about a new article that Matt has in Sojourners Called Is AI Demonic? Throughout the ep, Matt and Dean talk about Rod Dreher, ChatGPT induced psychosis, the history of the telegraph, and how our only hope is organizing our workplaces. Read Matt's Sojourners article here: https://sojo.net/articles/opinion/ai-demonicIntro Music by Amaryah ArmstrongOutro music by theillogicalspoonhttps://theillalogicalspoon.bandcamp.com/track/hoods-up-the-low-down-technified-blues*Support The Magnificast on Patreon*http://patreon.com/themagnificast*Get Magnificast Merch*https://www.redbubble.com 

07-01
55:45

Oops all war

This week on the pod, we're talking about the militarization of society, speed, politics, and death. In case you couldn't guess based on that constellation of topics, this episode features one of our favs, Paul Virilio. Throughout the episode, we're primarily referencing Paul Virilio's book Pure War. But we also reference Virilio's The Administration of Death. Intro Music by Amaryah ArmstrongOutro music by theillogicalspoonhttps://theillalogicalspoon.bandcamp.com/track/hoods-up-the-low-down-technified-blues*Support The Magnificast on Patreon*http://patreon.com/themagnificast*Get Magnificast Merch*https://www.redbubble.com 

06-24
01:07:05

Magnificast classic: Abolition & Marxism

Folks, we're once again kind of busy this week and couldn't record an episode. However, given the ongoing protests and police violence in LA, I thought it might be fun to give you this classic ep from 2020 about police abolition and Marxism. Please do not hold us too accountable for anything we said in 2020...unless it's good, then we're accountable.This week on The Magnificast, Matt & Dean talk about Alex Vitale's book The End of Police and talk about why Christians on the left should care about police abolition. They also discuss Jamal Rich's take on abolition and communism. You can find the article here: https://www.cpusa.org/article/prison-and-police-abolition-reimagining-public-safety-and-liberation/Intro Music by Amaryah Armstrong Outro music by theillogicalspoon https://theillalogicalspoon.bandcamp.com/track/hoods-up-the-low-down-technified-blues*Support The Magnificast on Patreon* http://patreon.com/themagnificast *Get Magnificast Merch* https://www.redbubble.com/people/themagnificast/ 

06-12
01:02:38

Christian tools for conviviality

We talk a lot on this show about all of the bad stuff that Christianity contributes to the world. But this week, we're talking about the historical Christian tools and ideas that have contributed something good to the world. Specifically, we're linking together some of overarching themes we find in left-wing expressions of Christianity that have something to contribute to degrowth socialism. We've got Basil the great, St. Francis, Gerard Winstanley, and Thomas Müntzer. You're not going to want to miss this!Intro Music by Amaryah ArmstrongOutro music by theillogicalspoonhttps://theillalogicalspoon.bandcamp.com/track/hoods-up-the-low-down-technified-blues*Support The Magnificast on Patreon*http://patreon.com/themagnificast*Get Magnificast Merch*https://www.redbubble.com 

06-03
57:42

Pope news: Pope Leo Edition

Folks, we've got a new Pope. Pope Leo is here and we're going to tell you about him. In this episode, we cover the midwest pope meme, Rod Dreher's take, the Pope and his past on survivors of sexual abuse, and his emerging takes on AI. Here are the articles we talked about in this episode. https://religionnews.com/2025/05/21/theres-an-american-pope-and-hes-just-like-us-at-least-we-really-really-want-him-to-be/https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2025/05/23/cardinal-czerny-pope-leo-250770https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/speeches/2025/may/documents/20250517-centesimus-annus-pro-pontifice.htmlhttps://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-peru-sodalicio-6fcdbb103f78aaeccc58e7b22f81e868https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/guest-voices/faith-and-deepfakes-pope-leo-xiv-age-aiIntro Music by Amaryah ArmstrongOutro music by theillogicalspoonhttps://theillalogicalspoon.bandcamp.com/track/hoods-up-the-low-down-technified-blues*Support The Magnificast on Patreon*http://patreon.com/themagnificast*Get Magnificast Merch*https://www.redbubble.com 

05-27
01:02:44

Magnificast classic: The Imperial Mode of Living

We're recouping from all the travel we've done in the last week, so enjoy a classic ep. A lot of moral questions revolve around doing or not doing something, but what if the biggest moral problems were actually about the very way we live our lives? Driving, smartphones, food production, etc. are all far more political than most people realize. In this episode, we talk through the book The Imperial Mode of Living by Ulrich Brand and Markus Wissen. Get the book here if you want: https://www.versobooks.com/books/3691-the-imperial-mode-of-livingIntro Music by Amaryah Armstrong Outro music by theillogicalspoonhttps://theillalogicalspoon.bandcamp.com/track/hoods-up-the-low-down-technified-blues*Get Magnificast Merch* https://www.redbubble.com

05-20
01:06:59

Conclave 2

Folks, the conclave kicks off tomorrow and we can barely contain ourselves. This week, we're doing a round up of everything you need to know before we get conclaving.Here are the articles we referenced https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/conclave-roundup-conclave-begin-less-48-hourshttps://cruxnow.com/vatican/2025/05/young-people-tell-cardinals-they-want-a-role-in-the-future-churchhttps://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-americas/2025/05/liberation-theology-old-timers-mourn-francis-and-reflect-on-next-popehttps://www.ncronline.org/vatican/disgraced-cardinal-becciu-agrees-obey-francis-wishes-and-leave-conclavehttps://archive.is/OXF2iIntro Music by Amaryah ArmstrongOutro music by theillogicalspoonhttps://theillalogicalspoon.bandcamp.com/track/hoods-up-the-low-down-technified-blues*Support The Magnificast on Patreon*http://patreon.com/themagnificast*Get Magnificast Merch*https://www.redbubble.com 

05-06
01:00:17

Rory O' Connor

the historical summary had me pulling my hair out, so many mistakes! Next time please get a guest for the summary, preferably republican!

06-10 Reply

iced

please fix your mic omg

01-01 Reply

Will Shogren

I'm sorry, Friendly Fire Collective was a cluster of personality disorders if their Facebook account is any indication. Truly weird Stalinist characters posting nonsensical image macros.

01-29 Reply

Will Shogren

"We've all seen the Bible Project videos" fucking lol.

03-25 Reply

Will Shogren

Don Feliciano rules

12-21 Reply

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