Against The Grain

Wests Tigers NRLW star Christian Pio joins Anthony to share her journey of faith, family, and footy. From Mount Druitt to the bright lights of Campbelltown Stadium, Christian opens up about her upbringing, her love for rugby league, and the way her faith continues to shape her on and off the field.

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Michael Jaksic joins Anthony to share his remarkable testimony and unique vocation story. He also speaks about his role as the Life, Marriage, and Family Officer, exploring the roles of men and women in family life, and promoting two exciting upcoming events in the Archdiocese of Sydney, for men.

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Anthony sits down with former work colleague Taine Fredericks, who shares his journey to the Catholic faith—one that took off following an MMA injury. Taine talks about exploring Islam, then attending a Pentecostal church, before ultimately finding his way to baptism in the Catholic Church.

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Chrystian Semann joins Anthony for the second time on the podcast to talk all things footy. They catch up on some of the biggest talking points from recent weeks — from standout performances and surprise results to selection dramas and positional shifts.

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Anthony is joined by his sister Jacinta and brother-in-law Maroun Jaajaa, the owners of the podcast sponsor MJ Podiatry, for a down-to-earth conversation about their journey to becoming practicing Catholics. They share their honest experiences within both the Roman Catholic and Maronite Catholic traditions, reflect on faith as a married couple and as parents, and offer insights into living out their faith in the everyday moments of family life.

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In this special live edition of the podcast, Anthony takes you inside Purpose Fest 2025. While the full experience included live audience interaction and the ever-popular "Pass the Ball Challenge," this episode brings you the heart of it all: one-on-one conversations with a mix of new voices and returning favourites.

Recorded across both the Day and Night sessions, Anthony sits down with familiar faces like Dr Robert Haddad, Fr Ben Saliba, Jacob Mansour, and His Grace Archbishop Anthony Fisher. He’s also joined by first-time guests including Alessio Sanzari, Brother Michael Iezzi from the Order of Clerics Regular of Somasca, and Catholic social media standout John French.

Together, they unpack the festival’s theme “From Hope to Heaven,” reflecting on what it means to live with hope—especially in light of the Jubilee Year of Hope—and how that hope can shape our journey toward Heaven from now.

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Simon Carrington from Fire Up Ministries sits down with Anthony to explore the beauty and joy of married love, while also acknowledging the real struggles that come with it. They also discuss how parents can raise their children with purity in a world where exposure to pornography is a constant threat. How do you protect your child without making them more curious? And what should you do if they’ve already been exposed?

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Michael Aboufram joins Anthony for a wide-ranging conversation on the Eucharist — the source and summit of the Christian life — and dives into other faith topics in today’s world.

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Rising musician Chris Keryakos joins Anthony to share his powerful journey back to the Catholic faith—and how it’s transformed his life and career. From chasing fame and fleeting pleasures to pursuing holiness and purpose, Chris opens up about the moments that changed everything and how his creative path now points to something far greater than success.

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For the first time this season, Fr Ben returns to Against the Grain as he sits down with Anthony to recap State of Origin Game 1 and the NRL season so far. They also go in depth about suffering through the lens of our faith, and how hope gives meaning to pain, helping us persevere with purpose—even in the toughest moments.

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