Divine Intervention

iHeartPodcasts
  • 4.9 (143)
  • HISTORY
  • WEEKLY SERIES
Divine Intervention

Divine Intervention is the untold story of a ragtag band of radical nuns in combat boots, wild-haired priests and their madcap friends who swiftly became accomplished cat-burglars in a hellbent effort to sabotage the Vietnam war. Many went to jail, some betrayed their friends, others fell in love. Across 10 episodes, host Brendan Patrick Hughes uncovers their audacious illegal acts – scaling walls, picking locks, destroying draft cards, harboring a draft fugitive in a church sanctuary, and trading blows with J. Edgar Hoover. 

Season 1

  1. EPISODE 1

    Chapter 1: An Explosive Cauldron

    It's 1971 and Paul Couming is a member of the underground Catholic resistance to the Vietnam war. Two years ago, he sent his draft card back to the government, refusing to take part in the bloodshed. Now, as he faces trial, a harebrained scheme emerges to give him political sanctuary in a downtown Boston Catholic Church, the first of its kind in 400 years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    39 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    Chapter 2: The Drunken Banjo Player

    Father Patrick is the wild-haired radical priest who plans to harbor Paul Couming, but how did he get this way? A very unusual pope, attending seminary during the tumult of the 1960’s, and being a born party animal may have something to do with it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1 hr

  3. EPISODE 3

    Chapter 3: The Nun in Combat Boots

    Anne Walsh is the combat booted nun who masterminds the Paul Couming sanctuary. Like Father Patrick, she started out as a good Catholic conformist. But when her convent's father confessor begins breaking the law to sabotage the draft, a whole new life of crime opens up for her. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    54 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    Chapter 4: The East Coast Conspiracy to Save Lives

    Anne Walsh commits her first illegal act in the Bronx, stealing draft files and claiming responsibility. Patrick is stationed after ordination at the Paulist Center in downtown Boston, and immediately sets about turning it upside down. An ambitious raid in Philadelphia draws in a young Cookie Ridolfi. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    49 min

  5. EPISODE 5

    Chapter 5: The Red Double Doors on Park Street

    Anne and Paul face terrifying legal consequences. Father Patrick quickly ascends to a daunting new role and suddenly meets Marianne Woodward, a divorcée with two kids living on welfare in Dorchester. She has just escaped a difficult first marriage in Texas, and neither of them are prepared for what they feel when they meet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    58 min

  6. EPISODE 6

    Chapter 6: The Sanctuary of Paul Couming

    Things start to go wrong for the movement as informers penetrate their ranks. The political sanctuary of Paul Couming turns into a wild three-day arts festival. The Paulist Center environment becomes very tense for Patrick, and he and Marianne get in way over their heads. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    54 min

  7. EPISODE 7

    Chapter 7: The Fight of the Century

    J. Edgar Hoover declares war on the Catholic Left. Paul, Marianne and Sarah pull another heist. The Catholic Left strikes a major blow to Hoover, but then Hoover unleashes the full might of the DOJ onto the Catholic Resistance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    52 min

  8. EPISODE 8

    Chapter 8: What Do We Eat? Eagle Meat.

    One last giant heist is planned in Camden, New Jersey to prove that Hoover will never crush dissent. It's the biggest, boldest plan any raiders have yet dreamed up. It'll require guts, equipment, know-how, and 28 raiders. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    45 min

  9. EPISODE 9

    Chapter 9: The Last Two Words

    On the penultimate episode of Divine Intervention, a trial to end all trials goes on for three months. Finally, despite their legal peril, the resistance is able to put the Vietnam War itself on the stand. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1 hr

  10. EPISODE 10

    Chapter 10: The Winds, The Tides and Gravity

    Patrick and Marianne arrive at the only possible solution. Anne and her father confessor do too. Cookie, Sarah, Paul, Anne, Patrick and Marianne find meaning after the war. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 18m
  11. Introducing: Divine Intervention

    SEASON 1 TRAILER

    Introducing: Divine Intervention

    Divine intervention is a 10-part audio documentary about radical nuns in combat boots and wild-haired priests on a hellbent mission to sabotage a war. Tune in weekly starting March 11. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    2 min

Trailer

4.9
out of 5
143 Ratings

About

Divine Intervention is the untold story of a ragtag band of radical nuns in combat boots, wild-haired priests and their madcap friends who swiftly became accomplished cat-burglars in a hellbent effort to sabotage the Vietnam war. Many went to jail, some betrayed their friends, others fell in love. Across 10 episodes, host Brendan Patrick Hughes uncovers their audacious illegal acts – scaling walls, picking locks, destroying draft cards, harboring a draft fugitive in a church sanctuary, and trading blows with J. Edgar Hoover. 

Information

  • Channel
    iHeartPodcasts
  • Creator
    iHeartPodcasts
  • Episodes
    11
  • Seasons
    1
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    2025 iHeartMedia, Inc. © Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from iHeartMedia
  • Show Website
    Divine Intervention
  • Provider
    iHeartMedia + Entertainment, Inc

More From iHeartPodcasts

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada
OSZAR »