Always Hope

What is the goal of the education system? And how should a Catholic education differ from others? If you are an educator, school administrator, or have kids in school, I promise that you need to pay attention to this episode.

Joining me on the show is Dr. Brett Salkeld, archdiocesan theologian for the Archdiocese of Regina in Canada, and author of the book, “Educating for Eternity: A Teacher’s Companion for Making Every Class Catholic.” In today’s show we discuss how the goals of education should aim higher that just forming productive citizens of society, the importance of knowing how your values influence your teaching, how to appropriately integrate Catholicism into the various teaching disciplines, and the need to avoid indoctrination and political fearmongering.

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Websites mentioned in the show: 
“Educating for Eternity” book

I welcome back my good friend Jason Angelette to talk about how we watch, think, and talk about movies. Jason opens the show by beautifully catching us up on how his family is doing as we approach the 3rd anniversary of his wife’s passing. We, then, jump into a conversation about the importance of feeding your soul with good content, the gift of a great story, how to spot messages and agendas in films, why parents should talk to their kids after watching movies, setting limits, and how to safeguard your imagination.

We share our thoughts about several different films throughout the episode. Buckle up.

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Websites mentioned in the show:

Faith and Marriage Website

I welcome back Fr Brice Higginbotham, priest of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, and author of the book, “Remaining with Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of John.”

In today’s episode, we discuss the keys to discipleship, the role scripture plays in evangelization, how to recapture the Christian message in our society, the transformational power of remaining with Christ, and why the Apostle John is the model of discipleship. We end our discussion by talking about the need to be sent on mission and how God trusts us.

If you find this episode helpful, please share it with one person who you think would benefit from it. Also, please consider leaving a rating or writing a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Websites mentioned in the show:
Remaining with Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of John  

Happiness. What makes it possible for some to possess it without much effort and why is it that others can never attain it?

Joining me on the show is Dr. Charles Nemeth, Professor and Director of Criminal Justice, Law, and Ethics at Franciscan University of Steubenville and author of the book, Finding Happiness in a Complex World.

In today’s episode, we discuss how faith impacts happiness, what St. Thomas Aquinas and Aristotle have to say about it, the trappings of celebrity and temporal pleasures, the importance of living life from a full understanding of the human worth and dignity, why relativism and deconstructionism lead to despair, virtue’s role in happiness, and what positive psychology teaches us.

If you find this episode helpful, please share it with one person who you think would benefit from it. Also, please consider leaving a rating or writing a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Websites mentioned in the show:

Finding Happiness in a Complex World

How do we define masculinity in an evolving world? What does a healthy and mature man look like? What are qualities men should be pursuing and which ones undermine his masculinity? 

Joining me on the show to have this important conversation is Fr. Jim Rafferty, Director of Spiritual Formation for the Institute for Priestly Formation. Fr. Rafferty offers much wisdom in this episode based on his many years of forming seminarians and priests. 

In today’s episode, we discuss the challenges of making choices amidst conflicting desires and priorities, emphatically stating that masculinity is best defined in relationship and not as a lone wolf, looking to Jesus as the model of manhood par excellence, embracing weakness as part of life, and learning to see and respond to the popular caricatures of manhood.

If you find this episode helpful, please share it with one person who you think would benefit from it. Also, please consider leaving a rating or writing a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Websites mentioned in the show:
Institute for Priestly Formation
Episode 8: How to Discern a Lifelong Vocation with Fr. Jim Rafferty

Ready for an honest, heartfelt, and hope-filled conversation about the experiences of being a single woman? How would I know anything about that? Joining me on the show today is Maria Spears Mumaugh and Meghan Elfelt, creators of The Intentional Single.

This episode is full of great dating advice for women: how to not just waiting around for Mr. Right to show up, how to hold the desire for marriage with the realities of your circumstances, how cultural messages of perfectionism impact dating, ways women can show appreciation, the importance of friendships, and how to drop the hanky well.

While this conversation is geared towards women, it will greatly help the gents to better understand what single women are looking for.

If you find this episode helpful, please share it with one person who you think would benefit from it. Also, please consider leaving a rating or writing a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or sharing it on your social media.

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Websites mentioned in the show:
Intentional Single website

From Swiping to Sexting: The Enduring Gender Divide in American Dating and Relationships

Joining me on the show is Debbie Capen, Executive Director of MiraVia, to talk about the effective ways of spreading the prolife message through local service.

In today’s episode, Debbie describes the services of MiraVia, which include a community outreach center and a residency home for pregnant college women. We also talk about how to best serve women facing an unplanned pregnancy, what the prolife movement needs to do to change the narrative on abortion, and how the overturning of Roe v Wade impacts her work. Debbie also beautifully shares her story of having an abortion during college and what the process was like for her when she decided to share that publicly.

If you find this episode helpful, please share it with one person who you think would benefit from it. Also, please consider leaving a rating or writing a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or sharing it on your social media.

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Websites mentioned in the show:

MiraVia

Can Psychology and Catholicism play nicely together? Absolutely they can and an early attempt to explain how is found in the book, “Psychology and The Cross,” written in 1959 by Fr. G. Emmett Carter.

Since Fr. Carter passed away in 2003, I have Kristen Van Uden, from Sophia Institute Press, joining me on the show to talk about his insights.

In today’s episode, we discuss why, as a parish priest, he was interested in this topic, ways psychology and Catholic Faith work together, the ways they don’t, the limitations of materialism, how to understand personal development in a Christian context, the importance of community, the psychological need for values, and how to navigate fear in life.

If you find this episode helpful, please share it with one person who you think would benefit from it. Also, please consider leaving a rating or writing a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or sharing it on your social media.

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Websites mentioned in the show:

“Psychology and The Cross” Book

How should Catholics respond to transgenderism? Is there a way forward that honors the person struggling while not disregarding the reality of human sexuality? I think so.

Joining me on the show to have this conversation is Jason Evert, popular Catholic speaker, and author of the book, “Male, Female, Other? A Catholic Guide to Understanding Gender.”

In today’s episode, we discuss the sensitivity surrounding transgenderism, how this became a major issue of our time, the philosophical underpinnings of modern gender theory, guidance for parents, solutions to the problem, and pastoral responses to individuals who are struggling with gender dysphoria.

If you find this episode helpful, please share it with one person who you think would benefit from it. Also, please consider leaving a rating or writing a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or sharing it on your social media.

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Websites mentioned in the show:
Chastity.com

Joining me on the show today is Dr. Kevin Vost, author of the book “You Are That Temple: A Catholic Guide to Health and Holiness.” In today’s show, we discuss why healthy eating is part of a healthy spiritual life, finding the line between being good stewards of our body and succumbing to a idolization of the body, how to pay attention to our body’s responses to foods, and cover some basic practices of where to begin.

If you find this episode helpful, please share it with one person who you think would benefit from it. Also, please consider leaving a rating or writing a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or sharing it on your social media.

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Websites mentioned in the show:
“You Are That Temple” Book Link 
drvost.com