In this interview I'm joined by Dr. Brandon Smith to discuss his book, Taught by God: Ancient Hermeneutics for the Modern Church. We talk about how Christians have read Scripture over the course of history, what we can learn from the way the Fathers, the Reformers, and others read Scripture. We also talk about what this looks like in a Protestant context.

Smith earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Dallas Baptist University, an M.A. in Theological and Biblical Studies from Criswell College, and a Ph.D. in Theology from Ridley College (Melbourne). He is the author of numerous books, book contributions, and journal articles. His books include The Trinity in the Book of Revelation (IVP Academic, 2022), The Biblical Trinity (Lexham, 2023), and Taught by God (B&H Academic, 2024).

Read the Book: https://amzn.to/4qcvdQ6
Check out his channel:  @churchgrammar

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In this interview I'm joined by Craig Truglia to discuss his book, The Rise and Fall of the Papacy, in which he goes through the evidence for and against the papacy century by century throughout the first millennium of the church. Over the course of the conversation, we discuss the nature and extent of the Bishop of Rome's role in the early church, whether there was a bishop in Rome during the first century, and much more.

Read the Book: https://amzn.to/4pXQJYw
Craig's Channel:  @OrthodoxChristianTheology

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In this interview I'm joined by Dr. Richard DeClue, Professor of Theology at the Word on Fire Institute, to discuss Catholic ecclesiology. Specifically, we dive into the idea of eucharistic ecclesiology which looks at ecclesiology through the lens of the eucharist. Along the way, we discuss what implications this has for ecumenism, and how this illuminates why Orthodox churches are considered churches while Protestant churches are "ecclesial communions" according to Catholic teaching.

Dr. DeClue's Articles on these Topics: https://archive.stpaulcenter.com/05-nv-12-1-declue/
https://www.ect.org/en/article/eucharistic-ecclesiology?previousUri=%2Farticles%3F%23alphabetized

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In this interview I'm joined by Fr. Ronald Rolheiser to discuss how our Christian spirituality changes with age, and what we need most in our final years of life. 

Ronald Rolheiser, O.M.I., is President-Emeritus of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio Texas, where he remains a full-time faculty member and Professor of Spirituality. In 1982, he began writing a column “In Exile” which is carried in Catholic newspapers worldwide. He is the author of many award-winning books including The Holy Longing and Sacred Fire, and his newest book Insane for the Light is now available.

Read his new book: https://amzn.to/4rwo9iA
Learn more about Fr. Ron: https://ronrolheiser.com

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In this episode, I'm joined in-person by Casey Chalk, author of The Obscurity of Scripture, to discuss the topic of perspicuity. Along the way, we examine what the doctrine means, how much it covers, and whether the Catholic paradigm works better. 

Get the book: stpaulcenter.com/obscurityofscripture

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In this interview, I'm joined by Dr. Barnabas Aspray, Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at St. Mary's Seminary, to discuss his recent book, On the Significance of Religion for Immigration Policy. Over the course of the topic, we touch on Christian Nationalism, Catholic Social Teaching, and why Christians today disagree on the topic of immigration. 

Read Dr. Aspray's Book for Free: https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/106156
Dr. Aspray's Article on Jesus as a Refugee: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/moth.12883
Dr. Aspray's Podcast: https://faithatthefrontiers.com/
Article on the book: https://www.regent-college.edu/resources/2025/november/on-the-significance-of-religion-for-immigration-policy.php

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In this interview I'm joined by Dr. Myles Werntz to discuss the nature of the church with special attention given to some of the significant developments in ecclesiology that occurred during the 20th century. We touch on Vatican 2, the World Council of Churches, the rise of Pentecostalism, and much more. Furthermore, we pay special attention to methodology, noticing how our methodological starting point in ecclesiology often shapes our conclusions. 

Contesting the Body of Christ: Ecclesiology's Revolutionary Century: https://amzn.to/3LLfQPs
From Isolation to Community: A Renewed Vision for Christian Life Together: https://amzn.to/3JlLToD
Dr. Werntz's Substack: https://substack.com/@myleswerntz

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In this interview, I'm joined by Colleen Dulle, Vatican Correspondent for America Magazine, to discuss how reporting on Catholic Scandals affected her faith. Over the course of the interview, we discuss the finances behind canonization, the treatment of nuns at the Vatican, and, of course, the sex abuse crisis. 

Colleen's Book: Struck Down, Not Destroyed: https://amzn.to/4nzAb7O
Inside the Vatican Podcast Episode on Canonization: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/deep-dive-how-saints-are-made-in-the-catholic-church/id1439165420?i=1000599945747

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Guest Bio: 
Colleen Dulle is a multimedia correspondent covering and analyzing Catholic and Vatican news at America Media, where she hosts and produces the weekly podcast Inside the Vatican. She served as an ABC News Correspondent during the 2025 conclave and has commentated on Vatican news for MSNBC, the BBC, and CBC among others. Colleen’s work has earned regional and national accolades from the Catholic Press Association, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Louisiana/Mississippi Associated Press Media Editors. She was three times named the Catholic Media Association Multimedia Journalist of the Year.

00:00 Life of a Vatican Correspondent 
03:45 Staying Catholic 
19:03 Divisions in the Church
25:25 The Economics of Canonization
34:04 Treatment of Nuns
46:20 Sex Abuse Crisis

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In this interview, I'm joined by Andrew Likoudis, editor of the new volume, Faith in Crisis, which deals with the ongoing questions of submission to the pope and the magisterium in the Catholic Church. We discuss when (if at all), a Catholic can disagree with the pope, and how that can be done. Along the way, we dive into questions about the death penalty, freedom of conscience, Vatican 2, and what happens with a heretical pope.

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Likoudis Legacy Foundation: https://likoudislegacy.com/

Faith in Crisis: https://amzn.to/3KY25Ng

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The Great Western Schism is one of the most fascinating and dramatic stories in the history of the church. And yet, many people have never heard of it. This is a story of saints against saints, councils against popes, and rival popes vying for power. For skeptics, it's proof the emperor has no clothes. For committed Catholics, it's a reminder that the church has been through far worse in its past than in its present. For everyone, it's a story worth knowing. 

Videos like these are some of the most difficult for me to make. If you'd like to see more, consider supporting the channel using the links below: 
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00:00 Setting the Stage
00:53 Avignon Papacy
02:23 Returning to Rome
04:12 The Fateful Conclave
08:00 The Schism Begins
13:00 France Loses Patience
13:42 The Council of Pisa
14:32 Three Popes
15:47 Council of Constance
21:30 Benedict's Power Fades
24:03 The Clementine Line Sputters Out
24:53 What Now?

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