722: Colbert & the Problem of Public Faith plus Karen Swallow Prior
The Holy Post
Phil Vischer
4.5 • 4.4K Ratings
🗓️ 27 May 2026
⏱️ 85 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Last week, Stephen Colbert ended his tenure as the host of The Late Show on CBS. Along with witty political commentary and comedy, Colbert was also open about his Catholicism at a time when many were growing skeptical of faith. Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn discuss Colbert, the criticism public Christians receive, and how to discern which examples of public faith to emulate. It's graduation season, and Karen Swallow Prior is back to discuss her new book, "You Have a Calling." She says our culture has narrowed our understanding of calling to paid work, but finding our calling is not a matter of following a formula. Also this week, new data on what the cutting of USAID is doing to the most vulnerable parts of the world, more reflections on Rededicate 250, and remora fish take brown-nosing to new depths.
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0:00 - Show Starts
1:25 - Theme Song
1:45 - Sponsor - AG1 - Heavily researched, thoroughly purity-tested, and filled with stuff you need. Get the AG1 $76 Welcome Pack for free when you order from https://www.drinkag1.com/HOLYPOST
3:06 - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to https://www.hiyahealth.com/HOLYPOST to receive 50% off your first order
4:12 - Sponsor - PolicyGenius - Secure your family's tomorrow so you have peace of mind today. Go to https://www.policygenius.com/HOLYPOST to find the right life insurance for you
6:44 - Sucker Fish and Manta Butts!
10:45 - Is the Nation Rededicated to God?
15:56 - Is Association Endorsement?
19:24 - USAID Cuts Consequences
34:26 - Sponsor - Brooklyn Bedding - Use code HOLYPOST for 30% off sitewide for a great night's sleep! Go to https://www.brooklynbedding.com/HOLYPOST
35:30 - Sponsor - Feeding America - Feeding America, led by neighbors! Give now to end hunger at https://www.feedingamerica.org
36:17 - Colbert's Public Christianity
53:07 - Interview
55:33 - What's a "Calling?"
1:06:50 - "Author" as Unpredictable Calling
1:12:44 - Children and Vocation
1:25:14 - End Credits
Links Mentioned in News Segment:
The National Catholic Reporter on Rededicate 250:
https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/religion-display-trumps-dc-rally-was-not-gospel-jesus-christ
Sucker Fish Hiding in Manta Ray Butts!
Effects of Defunding USAID:
https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(25)01186-9/fulltext
New York Times on the USAID cuts:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/09/opinion/foreign-aid-cuts.html
Other Resources:
You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good and Beautiful (The Perfect High School or College Graduation Gift for 2026) by Karen Swallow Prior: https://a.co/d/07W6Tn7P
Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/
Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus
Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost
Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop
The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Holy Post. Last week, Stephen Colbert ended his tenure as the host of The Late Show on CBS. |
| 0:06.8 | Along with witty political commentary and comedy, Colbert was also open about his Catholicism at a time when many were growing skeptical of faith. |
| 0:15.4 | Today, Phil Caitlin and I discuss Colbert, the criticism that public Christians receive, and how to discern which examples |
| 0:21.9 | of public faith to emulate. It's also a graduation season, and Karen Swallow Pryor is back to discuss |
| 0:27.7 | her new book, You Have a Calling. She says our culture has narrowed our understanding of calling |
| 0:32.9 | to just paid work, but finding our calling is never a matter of just following a formula. |
| 0:38.3 | Also this week, new data on what the cutting of USAID is doing to the most vulnerable parts |
| 0:43.4 | of the world, more reflections on Rededicate 250, and Ramora Fish take brown-nosing to new depths. |
| 0:50.3 | Here is episode 722. |
| 0:53.2 | Hey there, welcome to the Holy Post podcast. I'm Phil Visher. I'm here with the delightful Caitlin Chess. Hi, Caitlin. Hi, Phil. And the somewhat surly, Sky Jitani. Hi, Sky. Hi. Wow, I get to be delightful, and Sky is surly. I'm going to throw out adjectives from now on when I introduce you guys. |
| 1:12.1 | Okay. |
| 1:12.7 | They have to be different every time. |
| 1:14.4 | It's going to get crazy. |
| 1:15.8 | I'm excited. |
| 1:16.8 | I'm excited. |
| 1:17.4 | There's a lot of adjectives. |
| 1:18.6 | Be careful. |
| 1:19.0 | There are a lot of adjectives. |
| 1:21.6 | You are right about that. |
| 1:23.3 | And now are the theme song. |
| 1:26.3 | What's the news that you like the most? |
| 1:29.4 | Who's your favorite podcast host? |
... |
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