Ye Gods! with Scott Carter

All Episodes (35)

From new to old

From new to old From old to new

1. 

   1. Rabbi Steve Leder: Yom Tov

   ENCORE EPISODE Author and Senior Rabbi of Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles, Steve Leder joins Scott to discuss his book For You When I Am Gone; Twelve Essential Questions to Tell a Life Story. Scott asks Rabbi Leder about his path to becoming a Rabbi, his personal struggles with mental health, and how he points people to the light when they are in the valley of shadows.Listener advisory: this episode touches on topics that may be sensitive to some including attempted suicide. We can all

   Sep 22,2023 38:56
2. 

   2. Yvonne Orji: Bamboozled by Jesus

   Today a conversation of biblical proportions with actress, comedian, author, and producer, Yvonne Orji. Her book, Bamboozled by Jesus: How God tricked me into the life of my dreams is now out in paperback. Scott is someone who's read a lot of celebrity memoirs, some written by friends. This book is different. Yvonne doesn't just recount the peaks and valleys in the upward trajectory of her career. She compares her challenges with the biblical stories and parables that inform her life choices.Can

   Sep 15,2023 41:50
3. 

   3. Robert Costa: Faith in the Truth

   ENCORE EPISODE: Journalist, co-author with Bob Woodward of “Peril”, and Chief Election & Campaign Correspondent for CBS News Robert Costa joins Scott to discuss his Catholic upbringing and how faith brings him a respite from dark times. He muses on his reluctance to talk about himself in his reporting and his dedication to facts and objectivity in every story. Scott and Robert also get into his reporting on the religious right and his understanding of the politics of the conservative Christians

   Sep 08,2023 36:41
4. 

   4. Supernatural

   On each episode of YE GODS, Scott Carter starts with the same question: If life is a mystery, whodunit?  No one knows what happens when we die, neither the devout believer nor the fervent atheist. This special episode presents excerpts from past interviews in which guests have described experiences of forces connecting them to unexplainable energy – some say the work of God, some say maybe something else. But each has an unshakable sense of connecting to a powerful...something. You'll hear from

   Sep 01,2023 27:39
5. 

   5. Susie Essman: Praying to the Humor God

   ENCORE - Actress and comic Susie Essman from HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm joins Scott to discuss praying to the humor gods, the connections between comedy and Judaism, why Larry David the creator of Curb Your Enthusiasm and co-creator of Seinfeld is a sort of Rabbi, plus remembrances of their mutual friend, the late comic genius Gilbert Gottfried.  Guest: Susie Essman has played the sassy Susie Greene for all eleven seasons of the critically-acclaimed HBO comedy series, Curb Your Enthusiasm. Her h

   Aug 27,2023 25:24
6. 

   6. Larry Wilmore: Cathnostic

   ENCORE with Comedian-writer-producer Larry Wilmore who has one of the most impressive resumes in TV from In Living Color, to The Bernie Mac Show, The Daily Show to Blackish and HBO’s Insecure. He now hosts the Larry Wilmore: Black on Air Podcast with The Ringer. He stops by to talk about his epiphany as a door-to-door salesman, his Catholic upbringing and his comedic love of The Marx Brothers and their 1930 classic vaudeville film Animal Crackers.In My Homily Opinion (IMHO): Do we all have a rea

   Aug 18,2023 33:38
7. 

   7. Sam Harris: Being Nothing, is Everything

   ENCORE EPISODE: Is there a there-there? A place within the mind separate from our thoughts? This week Scott talks to neuroscientist and founder of the Waking Up meditation app, Sam Harris. They discuss how meditation helps us to be happy in the most ordinary of moments and make the most of each moment, vs. the need to extract the greatest pleasure from our greatest moments. And that there are things to discover about the nature of the mind that are liberating, with the potential to reduce suffer

   Aug 11,2023 36:25
8. 

   8. Stephen Mitchell: Faith in Practice

   Author and poet Stephen Mitchell has spent a career pursuing life's meaning as taught by history's great spiritual practices. His is a hero's journey, which ends with the presenting of an elixir, a blessing to the world. His gift to the world are his works, which distill his long sought and gained wisdom.Guest: Stephen Mitchell was born in Brooklyn in 1943, educated at Amherst, the Sorbonne, and Yale, and de-educated through intensive Zen training. His many books include the bestselling Tao Te C

   Aug 04,2023 42:45
9. 

   9. Ana Marie Cox: There’s A New Day

   Today's encore conversation touches on topics that may be sensitive to some including attempted suicide. Life can be hard, but suicide is preventable and free and confidential support is available by dialing 988 or go to 988lifeline.orgGuest: Ana Marie Cox is a political columnist and culture critic whose writing has appeared in The New Republic, Sports Illustrated, the New York Times, and NBC.com. Through 2022, she wrote a “Sober Questioning” column at The Cut. She’s also a prolific podcast hos

   Jul 28,2023 33:30
10. 

    10. Michael Patrick King: Part 2 ”Lost in the Painting”

    In the concluding episode of a two-part interview with Emmy and Golden Globe winning television writer-producer Michael Patrick King, we learn where he is today with the Catholic church and how he’s learned that faith, like art, is really about transitioning people out of where they are to someplace they need to be. He tells a moving story about visiting the Vatican with a friend and witnessing her being overcome while gazing at Michelangelo’s Madonna della Pietà sculpture, a first hand illustra

    Jul 21,2023 25:55
11. 

    11. Michael Patrick King: Part 1 ”Untangle the Chain of Your Sadness”

    In part one of this two-part interview with Emmy and Golden Globe winning television writer Michael Patrick King, we learn how to be the holiest altar boy. The “Sex and The City” and “2 Broke Girls”  showrunner sits down with Scott to discuss how attending Catholic Church made him love performance and influenced his own spiritual play Thorn & Bloom, how standup made him realize he wasn't telling his truth, and the spiritual gift his mother left him in a letter after her passing. Come back next w

    Jul 14,2023 01:01:02
12. 

    12. Tim Gunn: Thou Shalt ’Make It Work’...Again

    ENCORE EPISODE Tim Gunn stars on the hit Amazon series, "Making The Cut," and served as co-host for 16 seasons of the revolutionary fashion competition series, "Project Runway," and he has written best sellers like Tim Gunn's Fashion Bible. But when people respond to his expertise and energy, they are reacting to – in an age of moral relativism – his affirmation of actual values: work hard, be decent. In this episode we learn more about Tim’s upbringing in the Episcopal church and how it shaped

    Jul 07,2023 42:48
13. 

    13. Ken Burns: We Hold These Truths

    Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better watch Ken Burns films. His body of work is a moving picture portrait gallery of who we've been as a nation and who we are. No contemporary artist has ever succeeded more by trusting so much in the American public's curiosity and attention span. To paraphrase Ken from his conversation with Scott, history changes but human nature doesn’t necessarily change. Ken references Ecclesiastes 1:9 from the Bible as one summation of that paradox

    Jun 30,2023 40:40
14. 

    14. Charlie Sykes: Let’s Be Frankl

    Political commentator and founder of The Bulwark, Charlie Sykes joins Scott to discuss judgment, the hereafter, and the state of American democracy. Charlie talks about converting to catholicism in his teens, the influence of his father on his life, and his hopes for his legacy. Charlie recommends The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius.In My Homily Opinion: Viktor Frankl was a Jewish-Austrian holocaust survivor and psychiatrist who wrote that we should decide what gives life meaning, then live life,

    Jun 23,2023 48:41
15. 

    15. Killer Mike: Radical Love

    This week Michael Render, aka Killer Mike: rapper, activist, and host of the PBS talk show Love & Respect with Killer Mike (Executive Produced by Scott Carter) as well as half of the rap duo Run The Jewels. He joins Scott to talk about the influence of his grandmother on his faith, how blackness informed his experience of church and why the teachings of Jesus Christ made him a radical in his time and today. Mike’s latest album “Michael” drops June 16th. Michael’s recommendation is the 1791 book

    Jun 16,2023 32:46
16. 

    16. Rainn Wilson: Soul Boom - Part Two

    In part two of our interview with actor and Soul Boom author Rainn Wilson, we discuss his new show Rainn Wilson and The Geography of Bliss, now streaming on Peacock. Rainn shares some of his favorite memories from filming around the world, which places he thinks find happiness best, and where he’d like to go in season two. Rainn also talks about how our culture’s aversion to death hurts our ability to appreciate life.Rainn recommends this inspiring quote from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin the Jesui

    Jun 09,2023 22:07
17. 

    17. Rainn Wilson: Soul Boom - Part One

    Known for his iconic roles on “The Office” and “Six Feet Under,” actor and author Rainn Wilson joins Scott to discuss his new book Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution. In part one of this two-part interview, Rainn explores his upbringing in the Baha’i faith, his frustration with modern spirituality, and why he believes we need spiritual community now more than ever. Join us next week to hear about Rainn’s new show “Rainn Wilson and The Geography of Bliss, now streaming on Peacock. Gues

    Jun 02,2023 48:52
18. 

    18. Erick Erickson: My Brother’s Keeper

    Scott Carter is joined by nationally syndicated conservative radio host Erick Erickson to set their political differences aside and talk about tests of faith, the usefulness of rituals in the passages and celebrations of life, plus the “welfare of your community” and service to its members.In My Homily Opinion (IMHO): For this Memorial Day weekend, Scott remembers those who serve in our military forces and veterans living or dead, including his father Captain John Henry Carter, who spent four an

    May 26,2023 27:48
19. 

    19. Julia Sweeney: Atheist in a Catholic Tribe

    Julia Sweeney is a multi-hyphenate performer known for her hilarious characters on SNL and her comedy specials God Said Ha, Letting Go of God, and most recently Older and Wider. This week on Ye Gods!, Julia joins Scott to discuss her devout atheism as well as her feelings on religion, God, the saints and more! Julia explains cultural Catholicism sans a belief in God and how community is central to who we are as human beings.In My Homily Opinion (IMHO): Inspired by Oscar Wilde’s love of the Catho

    May 19,2023 35:20
20. 

    20. Patricia Heaton: God is the Bigger Elvis

    Two-time Emmy winner, and two-time Ye Gods guest Patricia Heaton of Everybody Loves Raymond and The Middle shares laughs and tears with Scott in a sort of movie review and personal revelation sparked by the HBO Academy Award nominated documentary God is the Bigger Elvis, a film that tells the true story of a rising Hollywood starlet who traded fame, fortune and fiance for God, and became a nun.Watch the full movie God is the Bigger Elvis on HBO.Send your movie recommendations to YeGodsPodcast@gm

    May 12,2023 25:52
21. 

    21. Rabbi Steve Leder: A Shadow is Actually Proof of Light

    Author and Senior Rabbi of Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles, Steve Leder joins Scott to discuss his book For You When I Am Gone; Twelve Essential Questions to Tell a Life Story. Scott asks Rabbi Leder about his path to becoming a Rabbi, his personal struggles with mental health, and how he points people to the light when they are in the valley of shadows.Listener advisory: this episode touches on topics that may be sensitive to some including attempted suicide. We can all help prevent su

    May 05,2023 37:47
22. 

    22. Robert Costa: Work Hard. Trust in God. Have no Fear.

    Journalist, co-author with Bob Woodward of “Peril”, and Chief Election & Campaign Correspondent for CBS News, Robert Costa joins Scott to discuss his Catholic upbringing and how faith brings him a respite from dark times. He muses on his reluctance to talk about himself in his reporting and his dedication to facts and objectivity in every story. Scott and Robert also get into his reporting on former President Donald Trump, the religious right and his understanding of the politics of the conserva

    Apr 28,2023 35:47
23. 

    23. Larry Wilmore: Mentoring the Soul

    Comedian-writer-producer Larry Wilmore has one of the most impressive resumes in TV from In Living Color, to The Bernie Mac Show, The Daily Show to Blackish and HBO’s Insecure. He now hosts the Larry Wilmore: Black on Air Podcast with The Ringer. He stops by to talk about his epiphany as a door-to-door salesman, his Catholic upbringing and his comedic love of The Marx Brothers and their 1930 classic vaudeville film Animal Crackers.In My Homily Opinion (IMHO): Do we all have a reason why we are h

    Apr 21,2023 32:29
24. 

    24. Sam Harris: Consciousness and Spirituality without Religion

    Is there a there-there? A place within the mind separate from our thoughts? This week Scott talks to neuroscientist and founder of the Waking Up meditation app, Sam Harris. They discuss how meditation helps us to be happy in the most ordinary of moments and make the most of each moment, vs. the need to extract the greatest pleasure from our greatest moments. And that there are things to discover about the nature of the mind that are liberating, with the potential to reduce suffering of emotional

    Apr 14,2023 35:06
25. 

    25. Susie Essman: Yahrzeit for Gilbert Gottfried

    Actress and comic Susie Essman from HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm joins Scott to discuss praying to the humor gods, the connections between comedy and Judaism, why Larry David the creator of Curb Your Enthusiasm and co-creator of Seinfeld is a sort of Rabbi, plus remembrances of their mutual friend, the late comic genius Gilbert Gottfried.  In honor of Gilbert Gottfried, this episode is being released near the first anniversary of his passing. In the Jewish tradition, the first anniversary of a dea

    Apr 12,2023 27:35
26. 

    26. Ana Marie Cox: Easter Eggs of Love & Grace

    Today's conversation touches on topics that may be sensitive to some including attempted suicide. Life can be hard, but suicide is preventable and free and confidential support is available by dialing 988 or go to 988lifeline.orgGuest: Ana Marie Cox is a political columnist and culture critic whose writing has appeared in The New Republic, Sports Illustrated, the New York Times, and NBC.com. Through 2022, she wrote a “Sober Questioning” column at The Cut. She’s also a prolific podcast host inclu

    Apr 07,2023 31:47
27. 

    27. Tim Gunn: Thou Shalt ‘Make it Work’

    Tim Gunn stars on the hit Amazon series, "Making The Cut," and served as co-host for 16 seasons of the revolutionary fashion competition series, "Project Runway," and he has written best sellers like Tim Gunn's Fashion Bible. But when people respond to his expertise and energy, they are reacting to – in an age of moral relativism – his affirmation of actual values: work hard, be decent. In this episode we learn more about Tim’s upbringing in the Episcopal church and how it shaped his ability to

    Apr 05,2023 42:06
28. 

    28. Ken Burns: What Has Been Will Be Again

    Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better watch Ken Burns films. His body of work is a moving picture portrait gallery of who we've been as a nation and who we are. No contemporary artist has ever succeeded more by trusting so much in the American public's curiosity and attention span. To paraphrase Ken from his conversation with Scott, history changes but human nature doesn’t necessarily change. Ken references Ecclesiastes 1:9 from the Bible as one summation of that paradox

    Mar 29,2023 39:25
29. 

    29. Patricia Heaton: Redeemed Catholic

    Two-time Emmy winner Patricia Heaton of Everybody Loves Raymond and The Middle shares laughs with Scott while reflecting on newfound clarity in their lives, discussing sobriety, Jesus on the beach eating fish with his disciples among other observations of faith, and Father Barry’s (Karl Malden) inspirational monologue and the enduring poetic fable of the 1954 Academy Award Best Picture On the Waterfront with Marlon Brando and Eva Marie Saint.In My Homily Opinion (IMHO): Scott supposes that when

    Mar 22,2023 36:19
30. 

    30. Hari Kondabolu: Hinduism & The Temple of Indian Cinema

    Comedian, podcaster and documentarian Hari Kondabolu joins to discuss growing up as a second generation Indian-American and melding the cultural diversity of his hometown Queens, NY with the beautiful Hindu traditions taught to him by his mother while also absorbing through films and the iconic Amar Chitra Katha comic books. Hari and Scott discuss Indian films including the Oscar nominated RRR, and Hari leaves us with a recommendation to experience a classic film that elicits tears at the same s

    Mar 15,2023 41:08
31. 

    31. Jonathan Alter and Ken Burns on Jimmy Carter: Faith Without Works is Dead

    Scott is joined by journalist and historian Jonathan Alter, the author of His Very Best, Jimmy Carter a Life, which is the result of numerous interviews with the most religious of U.S. Presidents and the gold standard for ex-Presidents. (31:54) Afterwards, Scott gets a few thoughts on Jimmy Carter from documentary filmmaker and historian Ken Burns, who will be a guest on an upcoming episode of Ye Gods! Ken’s films have been honored with dozens of major awards, including sixteen Emmy Awards, two

    Mar 10,2023 36:14
32. 

    32. Anna Deavere Smith: Spiritual Maturity in Knowing What You’ve Done

    Playwright-actress Anna Deavere Smith stops by on occasion of the 30th Anniversary of her groundbreaking play Twilight: Los Angeles 1992 on stage at The Mark Taper Forum beginning March 8 through April 9, 2023.In My Homily Opinion (IMHO): The Academy Awards are Sunday, March 12th and Steven Spielberg is once again nominated, this time for The Fabelmans, which got Scott thinking of another Oscar-winning Spielberg film, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. In that 1977 landmark film, Richard Dreyfu

    Mar 08,2023 28:20
33. 

    33. Jacke Wilson: Thoughts & Prayers & Purple Rain

    Author Jacke Wilson joins Scott to discuss love and hate cast into the universe…and affirmations of the soul in Prince’s Purple Rain!  They also swap stories of life changing events that nudge you over from skepticism to qualified or even unqualified belief in something that cannot in this realm exactly be explained.Guest: Jacke Wilson is the host of The History of LIterature podcast where he journeys through the ancients and classics from Aristotle, the Bible and Confucius, to Charles Dickens,

    Mar 01,2023 42:50
34. 

    34. Paul F. Tompkins: Ash Wednesday (Fasting Optional)

    On Ash Wednesday, writer-comedian Paul F. Tompkins joins to discuss his Catholic upbringing and faith, praying for the Pope, the Golden Rule, the Reckoning and the meaning of living a life full of joy and sorrow…even in Hollywood.Guest: Paul F. Tompkins is best known for voicing characters on The Simpsons, Netflix’s Bo Jack Horseman, for creating HBO’s Mr. Show with Bob Odenkirk and David Cross, hosting VH1’s Best Week Ever and myriad podcasts including Stay F. Homekins with Janine Haddad, Three

    Feb 22,2023 36:21
35. 

    35. Introducing YE GODS with Scott Carter

    Is there a God, Holy Spirit or Force with us? Each Wednesday award winning Hollywood TV producer and playwright Scott Carter holds an open-minded discussion of personal faith and morals with a diverse roster of interfaith and non-faith celebrity guests. If life is a mystery, whodunit?

    Feb 14,2023 01:43