The Christian Mysticism Podcast
A Yale history professor and his co-host guide listeners through the lives and theological context of Christian mystics, from the early Church to today.
This is a co-hosted deep dive into Christian mysticism, structured as a guided lecture. Each episode typically focuses on a single mystic, with host Alberto de la Cruz prompting Yale historian Dr. Carlos Eire to narrate their life story, historical context, and unique spiritual experiences. The show covers a wide range of figures, from well-known saints like St. John Bosco and St. Bridget of Sweden to more controversial subjects like Thomas Merton and Emanuel Swedenborg.
“The show's strength is its format: a recurring conversation between a curious host and a single, dedicated academic expert. Unlike interview shows, this dynamic allows for a consistent, deep, and narrative-driven exploration of each topic, guided by Dr. Eire's specific expertise from his Yale professorship.”
Who hosts this show
The Christian Mysticism Podcast features Dr. Carlos Eire, the T. Lawrason Riggs Professor of History and Religious Studies at Yale University, in a recurring conversation with host Alberto de la Cruz. Together, they explore the history of Christian mysticism by dedicating each episode to a specific figure or theme. Dr. Eire, an expert in early modern European religious history, provides deep historical context and narrative, while de la Cruz guides the discussion.
Credentials & credits
- T. Lawrason Riggs Professor of History and Religious Studies, Yale University
- Ph.D. in History, Yale University
- National Book Award in Nonfiction for "Waiting for Snow in Havana"
- Author of "Reformations: The Early Modern World"
- Author of "They Flew: A History of the Impossible"
- Past President, Society for Reformation Research
Other ventures
- Author: "Waiting for Snow in Havana" (memoir)
- Author: "Learning to Die in Miami" (memoir)
- Author: "The Life of Saint Teresa of Avila: A Biography"
- Author: "From Madrid to Purgatory"
- Author: "War Against the Idols"
What kind of podcast
When new episodes drop
- 01Maria Simma: The mystic who spoke with souls in purgatoryJun 18, 2026 · 50 min
- 02St. Peter of Alcantara: The extreme mysticMay 21, 2026 · 51 min
- 03St Bridget of Sweden: Mystic, noblewoman, and mother of eightApr 16, 2026 · 51 min
- 04St John Bosco: The dreaming mysticMar 19, 2026 · 51 min
- 05Thomas Merton: A controversial mysticFeb 19, 2026 · 55 min
- 06Anne Catherine Emmerich: A visionary mysticJan 20, 2026 · 53 min
- 07Essential Books on Christian MysticismDec 18, 2025 · 49 min
- 08Emanuel Swedenborg: A most unusual mysticNov 20, 2025 · 51 min
Notable episodes
- 01St. Peter of Alcantara: The extreme mystic
Details the shocking austerity and mystical gifts of a 16th-century Spanish saint who served as a key spiritual director for St. Teresa of Avila.
- 02Maria Simma: The mystic who spoke with souls in purgatory
Explores the life of a 20th-century laywoman whose alleged communications with souls in purgatory received a level of Church review, distinguishing it from spiritism.
- 03St. Bridget of Sweden: Mystic, noblewoman, and mother of eight
Presents the unusual profile of a medieval mystic who was a wife, mother, and founder of a religious order, and whose visions influenced popes.
- 04Thomas Merton: A controversial mystic
Tackles the complex legacy of a 20th-century Trappist monk who was both a bestselling author and a figure of controversy for his activism and interfaith interests.
What you'll be asked on this show
The podcast is a co-hosted discussion, not a guest interview show. Host Alberto de la Cruz poses broad, guiding questions to expert co-host Dr. Carlos Eire, who responds with detailed, lecture-style narratives. The format is often chronological and biographical, walking the listener through a mystic's life before analyzing their spiritual experiences and theological impact.
Signature segments
- · Biographical deep dives on individual mystics
- · Analysis of historical and theological context
- · Exploration of mystical phenomena (visions, ecstasies, etc.)
- · Discussions on specific concepts (purgatory, asceticism, etc.)
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
The show does not feature external guests; it is a conversation between its two permanent co-hosts, Alberto de la Cruz and Dr. Carlos Eire.
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The analyzed episodes do not contain any sponsors or advertisements.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- Who are the hosts of the podcast?
- The show is co-hosted by Alberto de la Cruz and Dr. Carlos Eire.
- Who is Dr. Carlos Eire?
- Dr. Carlos Eire is the T. Lawrason Riggs Professor of History and Religious Studies at Yale University and a National Book Award-winning author.
- What is the format of the show?
- It is a co-hosted discussion, not an interview show. Alberto de la Cruz asks questions to guide the conversation, and Dr. Carlos Eire provides expert explanations on a specific mystic or topic each episode.
- Does the podcast feature guests?
- No, the format is a consistent conversation between the two co-hosts.
- How often do new episodes come out?
- New episodes are typically published on the first and third Thursday of each month.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on platforms like YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Acast.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Dr. Carlos Eire | Yale Department of Historyhistory.yale.edu
- [02]Dr. Carlos Eire | Yale Dept. of Spanish and Portuguesespan-port.yale.edu
- [03]The Christian Mysticism Podcast | Acastshows.acast.com
- [04]Dr. Carlos Eire | National Book Foundationnationalbook.org
- [05]Dr. Carlos Eire | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schustersimonandschuster.com
- [06]The Christian Mysticism Podcast | YouTube Channelyoutube.com
- [07]They Flew: A History of the Impossible | Yale University Pressyalebooks.yale.edu
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