Joan of Arc talked to heavenly voices, helped crown a king and saved France, all before she turned 21. Actually, she didn't turn 21 because she was burned at the stake for being a heretic before she could. That was 600 years ago but Joan continues to inspire the religious and non-religious to this day.

 

Segment One: My Obsession with Joan of Arc

Joan's canonization in 1920 added to her popularity. Dany Chiasson grew up on the Magdalen Islands listening to her grandmother's stories about Sainte Jeanne D'Arc.  When Dany grew up she decided to retrace the first 11 days of Joan's journey to save France. Dany believes this was when the real Joan shone and truly answered her calling. She talks about her documentary Ma Jeanne D'Arc.

Segment Two: Joan of Art

Joan isn't just a religious icon. She has inspired countless non-believers to make movies, pictures, statues, documentaries, plays and other works of art. Kimberly Cutter decided to search for the meaning of Joan of Arc in a novel. She discusses The Maid, and why she makes Joan a young woman who swears and even thinks about sex.

Segment Three: From heretic to saint

Kevin speaks to Michael Higgins, author of many books, including Stalking the Holy: In Pursuit of Saint-Making. Michael is also is the vice-president of Mission and Catholic Identity at Sacred Heart University and he splits his time between Connecticut and Toronto. Michael discusses what we actually know about Joan and why it took the church hundreds of years to recognize her as a saint. Maybe it had something to do with them ordering her burned at the stake?

Throughout the show you will also hear modern day teenage girls discussing Joan and the idea of rebellion today.

*One of the best things about working with our guest host Kevin Sylvester is that he often hands us a copy of his questions when the interview is over, and we see that he has drawn something beautiful for us. Here is his second take on Joan of Arc.