Episode 3

November 13, 2017

Elias Wondimu

After being exiled from Ethiopia, his homeland, Elias Wondimu turned to producing books about his country’s history. Today, Wondimu is publisher of LMU’s Marymount Institute Press and Tsehai Publishers. He talks about his life in Ethiopia and in exile, as well as the work of documenting Ethiopia’s history.

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Episode 60 • March 4, 2026

Edel Rodriguez on Art and Politics

Artist and illustrator Edel Rodriguez, who began drawing as a child, came to America from Cuba in the 1980 Mariel boatlift. Today, his political illustrations appear on magazine covers around the world. He discusses art, censorship, and freedom of expression at the intersection of politics and visual media. 

Episode 59 • November 11, 2025

Dana Gioia on Poetry and His L.A. Roots

Poet Dana Gioia, former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, talks about his L.A. roots and his Catholicism, and he reads two poems from his latest collection, “Meet Me at the Lighthouse.”

Episode 58 • October 7, 2025

Fernando Saldivar, S.J. on the Church and Immigration

The Catholic Church’s stance on immigration and immigrants is putting the church at odds with the policies of the Trump administration. Fernando Saldivar, S.J., who works on human rights at the LMU Loyola Law School International Human Rights Center, talks about the church’s immigration position, human rights, and current U.S. immigration policies.