Is it okay to be angry with God? In this episode of the Crooked Lines podcast, Father Sam French and Tom unpack the toxic trap of "Cartoon Christianity" that polished, "Ned Flanders" style of faith that pressures us to put on a happy face and anaesthetize our real pain. Together, they dive into the profound difference between healthy scriptural lament and the destructive paths of despair or hatred. Tom shares deeply personal stories from his own marriage moving from the raw pain of a three-year battle with infertility to finding a profound, redemptive joy in the midst of his wife’s aggressive cancer battle. If you've ever felt abandoned by God, struggled with formulaic prayers, or felt the pressure to hide your struggles under a stiff upper lip, this episode offers a refreshing, authentic look at what true Christian holiness looks like. Hint: It includes the cross.

🎙️ Crooked Lines Links:

▶️ YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@crookedlinespodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 Apple Podcasts ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/crooked-lines/id1891371998 ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Fr Sam French:

📸 Instagram:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠@frsamfrench⁠⁠⁠⁠

▶️ YouTube  ⁠⁠⁠⁠@frsamfrench⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tomasz (Donum Ministries):

Website  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.donumministries.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

📸 Instagram  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@donumministries⁠⁠⁠⁠

Parousia Media:

📸 Instagram  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@parousiamedia⁠⁠⁠⁠

▶️ YouTube  ⁠⁠⁠⁠@Parousiayouth

In this episode of Crooked Lines, Tom and Fr Sam dive deep into Angels and Demons: The Art of Spiritual Warfare. Are angels and demons actually real spirit creatures made by God? How do fallen angels impact our lives, and what is the true power behind our guardian angels? We address the growing controversies surrounding modern culture, including the claims against Monster energy drink symbols, the moral debates over Harry Potter, and the hidden spiritual realities behind practices like Yoga and Reiki. Father Sam shares eye-opening, real-life priestly experiences dealing with spiritual affliction, deliverance prayers, and encountering witchcraft. More importantly, we discuss why the devil's greatest trap isn't always the fantastical, but the ordinary daily battle with sin, pride, and comparison. Learn how to guard your soul using the ultimate spiritual weapons: Confession, the Eucharist, and the Rosary.

🎙️ Crooked Lines Links:

▶️ YouTube ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@crookedlinespodcast/⁠⁠⁠

🎧 Apple Podcasts ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/crooked-lines/id1891371998 ⁠⁠⁠

Fr Sam French:

📸 Instagram:  ⁠⁠⁠@frsamfrench⁠⁠⁠

▶️ YouTube  ⁠⁠⁠@frsamfrench⁠⁠⁠

Tomasz (Donum Ministries):

Website  ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.donumministries.com⁠⁠⁠

📸 Instagram  ⁠⁠⁠⁠@donumministries⁠⁠⁠

Parousia Media:

📸 Instagram  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@parousiamedia⁠⁠⁠

▶️ YouTube  ⁠⁠⁠@Parousiayouth

In this powerful episode of the Crooked Lines Podcast, Tom sits down with Kim Zember to discuss her radical journey from a life of intense worldly success, hidden lifestyles, and broken relationships to a transformative encounter with Jesus Christ.Kim openly shares her struggles with identity, same-sex attraction, and deep-seated trust issues rooted in her youth. Despite finding massive financial success in Southern California real estate by age 18, dating professional athletes, and even founding a nonprofit mission in Ethiopia, she lacked true internal peace. Hear how a profound breaking point on October 17, 2014, led her to throw her hands up, challenge God to show His goodness, and receive a divine heart surgery that changed her path forever.This conversation dives deep into why the opposite of homosexuality isn't heterosexuality, it’s wholeness and holiness. If you are currently wrestling with your own identity, feeling far from God, or struggling to find peace in the mess, Kim’s story is a beautiful reminder that God is a loving Father, not a cop waiting to pull you over.

🔗 Kim Zember's Links:

🌐 Website : www.boldlybeloved.com 📖 Kim's Book "Restless Heart: my struggle with life & sexuality" Australian purchasesInternational purchases

🎙️ Crooked Lines Links:

▶️ YouTube ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@crookedlinespodcast/⁠⁠

🎧 Apple Podcasts ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/crooked-lines/id1891371998 ⁠⁠

Fr Sam French:

📸 Instagram:  ⁠⁠@frsamfrench⁠⁠

▶️ YouTube  ⁠⁠@frsamfrench⁠⁠

Tomasz (Donum Ministries):

Website  ⁠⁠⁠www.donumministries.com⁠⁠

📸 Instagram  ⁠⁠⁠@donumministries⁠⁠

Parousia Media:

📸 Instagram  ⁠⁠⁠⁠@parousiamedia⁠⁠

▶️ YouTube  ⁠⁠@Parousiamedia

In this deeply personal conversation, Monica Doumit sits down with Fr Sam and Tom to discuss how she's faced some of the heaviest challenges facing the Catholic Church today as a woman of faith and a leader in public affairs for the Church in Sydney, Australia.

Monica is Chancellor and Director of Public Affairs and Engagement for the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney. A lawyer, bioethicist, lecturer, and columnist, she is a leading voice in Australia on issues of faith, public policy, religious freedom, and human dignity. Monica regularly contributes to media and public debate and has extensive experience in law, communications, and advocacy.

🎙️ Crooked Lines Links:

▶️ YouTube ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@crookedlinespodcast/⁠⁠

🎧 Apple Podcasts ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/crooked-lines/id1891371998 ⁠⁠

📸 Instagram: @crookedlinespodcast

Fr Sam French:

📸 Instagram:  ⁠⁠@frsamfrench⁠⁠

▶️ YouTube  ⁠⁠@frsamfrench⁠⁠

Tomasz (Donum Ministries):

Website  ⁠⁠⁠www.donumministries.com⁠⁠

📸 Instagram  ⁠⁠⁠@donumministries⁠⁠

Parousia Media:

📸 Instagram  ⁠⁠⁠⁠@parousiamedia⁠⁠

▶️ YouTube  ⁠⁠@Parousiamedia

Are we witnessing a genuine revival of faith, or are we just falling in love with an aesthetic? In this episode of Crooked Lines, Father Sam French and Tom dive headfirst into the growing Catholic culture wars. From the visible "rise of the trads" and internet subcultures to the fierce debates surrounding the Latin Mass versus the Novus Ordo, they break down the line between authentic faith and modern trends. Father Sam shares his own personal journey from growing up in a charismatic family to becoming deeply attracted to the traditional scene in his 20s—and the hard spiritual lessons he learned about pride along the way. Together, they look past the polarising social media algorithms to ask the ultimate question: Are your liturgical preferences drawing you closer to Jesus, or are they becoming a platform for spiritual superiority?

🎙️ Crooked Lines Links:

▶️ YouTube ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@crookedlinespodcast/⁠

🎧 Apple Podcasts ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/crooked-lines/id1891371998 ⁠

Fr Sam French:

📸 Instagram:  ⁠@frsamfrench⁠

▶️ YouTube  ⁠@frsamfrench⁠

Tomasz (Donum Ministries):

Website  ⁠⁠www.donumministries.com⁠

📸 Instagram  ⁠⁠@donumministries⁠

Parousia Media:

📸 Instagram  ⁠⁠⁠@parousiamedia⁠

▶️ YouTube  ⁠@Parousiamedia

Can authentic joy break through the social media algorithm? In this Crooked Culture episode, Tom and Fr Sam react to a surprising viral video from Australian influencer and social commentator Abbie Chatfield. Known for her left-leaning views and frequent disagreements with the Catholic Church, Abbie recently shared a remarkably raw and authentic reaction to the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist on TikTok, admitting that their radiating peace and joy made her "want to believe" more than anything ever has. Tom and Father Sam dive into what this means for modern evangelisation, the qualitative difference between worldly pleasure and true gospel joy, and how Pope Paul VI predicted this exact cultural struggle decades ago. Instead of treating public figures as "trophies" or "targets," how should Christians truly respond when grace begins to stir in the most unexpected places? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

🎙️ Crooked Lines Links:

▶️ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@crookedlinespodcast/

🎧 Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/crooked-lines/id1891371998

Fr Sam French:

📸 Instagram:  @frsamfrench

▶️ YouTube  @frsamfrench

Tomasz (Donum Ministries):

Website  ⁠www.donumministries.com

📸 Instagram  ⁠@donumministries

Parousia Media:

📸 Instagram  ⁠⁠@parousiamedia

▶️ YouTube  @Parousiamedia

Welcome back to the Crooked Lines Podcast with Tom and Father Sam French! In part two of our deep dive into the "Manosphere," we shift our focus from the claims to the genuine solutions. What does it truly mean to be a man? Is masculinity just about the external grind—the gym, look maxing, and financial success —or is there a deeper, interior strength we are missing? To help us untangle these questions, we are joined once again by philosopher Professor Hayden Ramsay. Together, we explore a Catholic and philosophical response to modern masculinity, diving into the raw truth of Ephesians 5 , Christ’s example of vulnerability on the cross , and why breaking free from worldly stereotypes is the most masculine thing you can do. What We Cover In This Episode:

• The Ephesians 5 Challenge: Moving past the "dominating husband" stereotype and understanding the true weight of radical, self-sacrificing love.
• Interior vs. Exterior Strength: Why true character is measured by who you are when no one is looking, not by social media validation.
• Reclaiming Vulnerability: Debunking the myth that "real men don't cry" by looking at the visceral compassion and strength of Jesus.
• The Philosophy of Manhood: Professor Hayden Ramsay breaks down the metaphysical differences and beautiful complementarity between men and women.
• Blasting Stereotypes: From rugby to the opera—opening up a deeper, healthier understanding of what makes a man.

Connect With Us!

If this conversation helped you, please like, comment, and share this video with someone who might benefit. We love hearing your feedback, so let us know your thoughts in the comments below! @crookedlinespodcast @frsamfrench @donumministriesParousia Socials:facebook.com/parousiamediainstagram.com/parousiamediatiktok.com/parousiamedia#Manosphere #Masculinity #Faith #Philosophy #Catholic #CrookedLinesPodcast #Virtue #ChristianManhoodParousia is committed to proclaiming the fullness of truth! If you wish to help us in our mission with a donation please visit our website here https://www.parousiamedia.com/donate/ to learn ways that you can contribute.Join the Parousia mailing list at https://www.parousiamedia.com/mailing...

In this episode of the Crooked Lines Podcast, Tom and Father Sam dive deep into one of the most controversial topics in modern culture: the Manosphere. From the "Red Pill" and "Incels" to the obsession with Women, Money, and Power, many young men are looking for a metric to measure their worth in a world where faith is in decline. But is the Manosphere's version of masculinity a breakthrough, or just a dangerous distortion of what it means to be a man? Join Fr. Sam and Tom as they discuss: The "SMP" Trap: How the lust of the flesh, eyes, and pride of life are rebranded as modern success. Dignity vs. Utility: Why viewing women (or any human) as an "object" or a "FOO" (Female Humanoid Organism) is a failure of logic and morality. The Problem with Dominance: Father Sam and Tom challenge the idea that "might makes right," arguing that true masculinity is about protecting the vulnerable, not dominating them. The Catholic Response: How Christ on the Cross—sacrificing Himself for others—is the ultimate blueprint for masculinity, standing in direct opposition to the "self-serving" ego of the Manosphere. This is Part 1 of a two-part series on reclaiming true, virtuous masculinity in a post-Christian world.‪@crookedlinespodcast‬ ‪@frsamfrench‬ Parousia Socials:facebook.com/parousiamediainstagram.com/parousiamediatiktok.com/parousiamediaParousia is committed to proclaiming the fullness of truth! If you wish to help us in our mission with a donation please visit our website here https://www.parousiamedia.com/donate/ to learn ways that you can contribute.Join the Parousia mailing list at https://www.parousiamedia.com/mailing...

Welcome back to the Crooked Lines Podcast!

In our very first "Crooked Guest" episode, hosts Tom and Father Sam are joined by a man whose work has impacted millions and deeply shaped their own spiritual journeys: Christopher West, President of the Theology of the Body Institute.

Christopher opens up about the "crooked" start to his own ministry, moving from the "starvation diet" of legalistic religion and the "fast food" of secular culture to the "luscious banquet" found in St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. In this raw and vulnerable conversation, we dive into:

• The "IV Drip" of Digital Culture: How to handle the saturation of pornography and short-form dopamine loops in the age of AI and smartphones. 
• Christopher’s Personal "Crucifixion": A powerful story about a failed book deal and how his wife, Wendy, helped him remove his masks to find true healing. 
• What is Prayer, Really?: Why prayer isn't about being a "goody two-shoes," but about standing naked and authentic before God. 
• The Meaning of the Body: Why our bodies are theological, not just biological, and how they point us toward the infinite ecstasy of the Trinity. 

Whether you feel "too far gone" or are simply hungry for a faith that resonates with your deepest desires, this episode is a reminder that God draws straight with even the most crooked lines.

Connect with Christopher West & The TOB Institute: Theology Of The Body Institute: https://tobinstitute.org 

Ask Christopher West Podcast & Word Made Flesh Podcast: https://tobinstitute.org/podcasts/#as...

Join the Conversation: What stood out to you in this interview? Was there a point that challenged or uplifted you? Drop a comment below—we’d love to hear from you! Keep it real and keep the faith.

Follow Crooked Lines on Instagram: @crookedlinespodcast Subscribe to Crooked Lines Youtube: ‪@crookedlinespodcast‬ Subscribe to Fr Sam French on youtube: ‪@frsamfrench‬ Follow Fr Sam French on all platforms: @frsamfrench

Find out about Tomasz’s speaking ministry and high school reflection days: www.donumministries.com

Follow Donum Ministries at @donumministries

Parousia Socials:

facebook.com/parousiamedia instagram.com/parousiamedia tiktok.com/parousiamedia Parousia is committed to proclaiming the fullness of truth! If you wish to help us in our mission with a donation please visit our website here https://www.parousiamedia.com/donate/ to learn ways that you can contribute. Join the Parousia mailing list at https://www.parousiamedia.com/mailing...

In this episode of the Crooked Lines Podcast, Father Sam French and Tom dive into one of the most ubiquitous and controversial topics of our time: Artificial Intelligence.

From the historical cycle of "technological panic" to the deeply personal ways AI is encroaching on our humanity, we explore whether this tech is a blessing for efficiency or a threat to the soul.

Note: This episode briefly touches on the topic of suicide at the 12:50 mark. If you wish to avoid this, please skip ahead.

Support links:

 https://www.lifeline.org.au 

https://hope1032.com.au/helpful-couns...

CONNECT

Follow Crooked Lines on Instagram: @crookedlinespodcast Subscribe to Crooked Lines Youtube: ⁠‪@crookedlinespodcast‬⁠

Subscribe to Fr Sam French on youtube: ⁠‪@frsamfrench‬⁠ 

Follow Fr Sam French on all platforms: @frsamfrench

Find out about Tomasz’s speaking ministry and high school reflection days: ⁠www.donumministries.com ⁠

Follow Donum Ministries at @donumministries

Parousia Socials: facebook.com/parousiamedia instagram.com/parousiamedia tiktok.com/parousiamedia

Parousia is committed to proclaiming the fullness of truth! If you wish to help us in our mission with a donation please visit our website here ⁠https://www.parousiamedia.com/donate/⁠ to learn ways that you can contribute.

Join the Parousia mailing list at ⁠https://www.parousiamedia.com/mailing...