Born of Wonder

The Hillbilly Thomists are a band of friars of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans). After playing music together for several years, they released their debut album (The Hillbilly Thomists) in 2017, which reached #3 on the Billboard bluegrass chart and mostly consisted in bluegrass standards and Americana favorites.

Since then, the friars in the band have been doing what Dominican friars do: contemplating, studying, and preaching. Their most recent album, Marigold, released in July 2024.

Katie was joined on the podcast by band member, Fr. Justin Bolger O.P. Fr. Justin hails from a family of seven and grew up in Maryland. He studied business at the University of Baltimore and earned a Masters in Philosophical Studies from Mt. St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD. He was also a singer/songwriter and recording artist with his sister Margaret. He is now the Associate Chaplain of the University for the Catholic Community at Brown University.

Katie had such a great time talking to Fr. Justin. He is very gracious, funny, introspective, and clearly has a true love for the music he is playing. We hear about some of the background behind some favorite Thomist tunes and what it’s like for the brothers to all play together. We also discuss the many deep, compelling themes to be found in traditional music and how their band offers the culture a serious, but joyful, contemplation both of the Last Things and the True things. Thanks so much to Fr. Justin for coming on.

Go check out their music, and see them on tour if you can!

Visit: https://www.hillbillythomists.com/

Stream The Hillbilly Thomists on Spotify, iTunes, wherever you download your music.

Upcoming shows: https://www.hillbillythomists.com/tour

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Katie recently visited The Library of Congress for the first time. Her guide was a dear friend, Joanna Colclough - a reference librarian specializing in newspapers and current periodicals at the Library of Congress. Tune into this podcast to hear some highlights from our tour, how you can become a researcher at the Library, learn what the Library actually does (I had no idea), how do you solve a problem like Maria (you’ll hear what I mean), and most all, celebrate the history and preservation of knowledge and the written word. I think you’ll be wonderfully encouraged!

I want to thank Joanna for her incredible tour and I was so thrilled to see her truly in her element. The Library is lucky to have her! 

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Library of Congress Website: https://www.loc.gov/

How to Use the Reading Room (featuring Joanna pushing a cart! Hi!):

https://www.loc.gov/research-centers/newspaper-and-current-periodical/about-this-research-center/using-the-reading-room/

Close ups of the contents of Lincoln’s pockets:

https://www.loc.gov/resource/lprbscsm.scsm1049/?st=gallery

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“Analog” technology (things like clocks, dimmer switches, speakers, microphones, walkie-talkies, thermometers, etc.) are directly related to the function which they are performing. They are, in other words, simple. You talk into a microphone - you hear a sound. You look at a clock - it tells the time. You set an alarm - it rings. There’s not too much of a gap between experience and function. Digital technology, however, is incredibly complex. Smartphones, robotics, AI, cyber security systems, computers - all these things do not necessarily have direct relations between their uses and their functions. They are not analogous. Instead they are the result of a billion computations and numbers very few of us understand. 

In this podcast discussion we cover the practicalities of life as an analog family, what drives Katherine’s decisions around screen use and her family, how she’s raising ‘analog’ teens in digital world, and why parents need to get honest with themselves about their own screen use in order for there to be any real change for kids.

Although all this talk of screens and the immense cost it has on our lives and our kids can be heavy, ultimately this is an incredibly positive discussion. When we give up our obsession with our phones, we’re free - to have experiences, to adventure through life as a family. This is about liberation, discovery, and reclaiming our lives.

And special thanks to my daughter, Jojo, for her introduction to this podcast episode.

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Martinko makes regular appearances on TV, radio stations, and podcasts across Canada and the U.S., as well as in-person presentations around the country, to talk about curbing digital device use. She writes about digital minimalism, parenting, travel, food, and more in her popular and fast-growing email newsletter, The Analog Family. She has a new weekly column in the Globe and Mail, Canada’s premier newspaper.

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Come to Ireland with me in October 2024! 

What is the right thing to do? 

This is a question that we're all confronted with at some point. Big decisions, little decisions, all can be incredibly difficult to discern what to do. And making choices that give us flexibility, time, and opportunities for creativity can make all the difference when it comes to happiness and pursuing the dreams we're meant to live out (especially for parents!).

On the podcast today, Katie is joined by life consultant, occasional theology professor, and Substack writer Kerri Christopher to discuss expat life, mothering and creating, and discerning that 'still small voice.' It was a great conversation filled with practical tips and encouragement! 

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Come to Ireland with me in October 2024! 

On this interview Katie chats with her husband Chris who decided to take the plunge and switch back to a flip phone. We talk about how it's going, what he loves about it, and the genuine inconveniences he has to put up with (and why it's still worth it). We have a far reaching conversation on smartphones, memory, technology generally, the role of physicality, time, friendship, community, and independent thought. 

Come to Ireland with me in October 2024! 

The cosmic battle for Good and Evil - the power of the individual - The Triumph of Love - the malleability of time - Our place in the Cosmos - Doubt - Hope - Art - These are the many topics of American author Madeleine L'Engle, most famously the author of A Wrinkle in Time. What does L'Engle teach us about faith and art and life?

Learn why she defended Meg Murry/O'Keefe against women disappointed she chose motherhood/marriage over a career. Learn why it's important to doubt (and believe) like a child. Why do questions matter more than answers? And what about those astronauts who really did enter another pocket of Time?  Where did she get the idea for Mrs Which, Mrs Who, and Mrs Whatsit? What can her struggle to get published teach us about creativity?

All this and more on today's episode - THE FIRST episode of a new season, Season 8!!! 

"This is the irrational season

When love blooms bright and wild.

Had Mary been filled with reason

There’d have been no room for the child."

Come to Ireland with me in October 2024! 

Whether it's a season of the year or a season of life, living joyfully requires us to accept the season we are in - and even to embrace it! Maybe in summer you need to cook 'no heat' recipes, drink sangria, listen to Spanish guitar, and take siestas. Stop fighting it! The same goes for seasons with a sleepless baby (or giving birth!) or a season of self denial or seasons that are more naturally easy for us. Accept + Embrace. An encouraging and fun episode including poetry, great music, and tips for those of us who suffer from reverse SAD (seasonal affective disorder) in muggy summertime. 

****Join me and Christy for a Zoom Wednesday July 10th!!****

Join Zoom Meeting

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Today on the podcast we are joined by Grace E. Kelley, mother, farmer, and poet. She is the author of a debut poetry collection, As the Sparrow Flies. On this episode, Grace and Katie discuss farming, Shakespeare, healing, art, not being embarrassed by our teenage poetry, and why some things may just never be okay this side of Heaven. This is a hopeful, empowering discussion on how art can help us 'name the ache' and seek healing and wholeness in our lives. 

*There is discussion of sexual abuse and birth trauma in this episode.

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Grace E. Kelley is a follower of Jesus, a wife, and mother of five small children, including a set of twins. She writes poetry and stories—both fictional and non-fictional. She is also a farmer, a foodie, an unrepentant mug addict, and a deep believer that incredible beauty can come from the compost heap. As the Sparrow Flies, is her debut poetry publication. 

You can buy her first book of poetry here, or on Amazon, or wherever you buy books. 

A 'check in' hello episode from Katie - with some life things she's really enjoying - including discovering a smartphone middle ground that allows you to disconnect (without giving up all the smartphone conveniences - it's not airplane mode!). Discussions on embracing eccentricities, the things that bring you joy (and how that brings joy to others), and how to get a 'new house' feeling without the new house. Beautiful music (straight from the vinyl!) to close us out! Happy Spring!

Recommendation: Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68, also known as the Pastoral Symphony

Stay tuned for upcoming episode with Grace E. Kelley! 

Find her on substack: https://substack.com/@graceekelley 

Get her book! 

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Les Miserables is one of those profound stories that somehow encompasses the full depth of human experience. We have birth, death, falling in love, disappointment, justice, despair, young revolutionary zeal, forgiveness, and heavenly hope.

From Valjean’s first encounter with the Bishop - who forgives him, undeservedly so - to Valjean’s own forgiveness of Javert (and Javert’s inability to accept his mercy) - this a story of love offered, received, and sometimes (tragically) rejected. It is a story that promises the often miserable human condition always has the hope of redemption, if not in this life, “somewhere beyond the barricade.”

Today on the podcast I am joined by The Lord of the Rings and Catholicism, was published in December 2023 with En Route Books and Media. You can also find her writing on Substack (Love of Literature), where she shares essays on finding goodness, truth, and beauty in literature and art.

Her two essays on Les Miserables:

“The Economy of Love”

“He is not Here. He Has Risen.”

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The Lord of the Rings and Catholicism 

Recommendation: Irish Wonders by D.R. McAnally, Jr.