Bree Solstad, or, as she refers to herself on X, “Miss B Converted,” describes herself as a former porn actress and producer whose life was transformed dramatically after a trip to Europe. While overseas, Bree was unexpectantly wooed away from the porn industry by a woman of whom Bree had little knowledge before the encounter.

How did Bree, who grew up in a Christian home, find herself on a wayward path in the first place, and who was the mysterious woman who convinced her of a better life; one not devoid of a moral compass and haunted by past sins, but into a future that has been redeemed by grace? She’ll discuss this and more in today’s interview.

More:

• Bree’s custom Rosaries on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/market/bree_solstad_rosary
• Catholic News Agency piece on Bree’s conversion at the Easter Vigil 2024: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/257362/former-porn-actress-bree-solstad-embraces-catholic-faith-after-trip-to-italy-that-changed-her-life
• EDIFY’s interview with Bree: https://youtu.be/wZWWeVHCu7w?si=JQOq7cjUpClkKKGa
• Jason Evert’s interview with Bree: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKxjxHFYgG0
• Interview with Dr. Brant Pitre on his book, “Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary”: https://youtu.be/jmii0zRKP5A?si=ShXs1Hda8fAIPb5M

In this episode, Dr. Stacy Trasancos will discuss the difference between science and what some have dubbed “scientism,” and why it even matters.

Dr. Trasancos brings with her discussions advanced degrees in chemistry, dogmatic theology, and systematic philosophy, as well as her work as an educator, speaker, author and mother committed to the intellectual tradition of the Catholic Church.

Dr. Trasancos hasn’t always been Catholic. She grew up evangelical, and eventually left her faith for a time, fully dedicating her energies to the pursuit of science. But when that pursuit left her empty, Dr. Trasancos eventually found her way back into a life of grace.

Now, she’s able to bring both her intellectual curiosity and training and her experiences with a vibrant faith life into discussions, merging these disciplines in a way that is rarely found in one place in our times.

SHOW NOTES: 

• Particles of Faith book: https://a.co/d/8G3lts5

• Dr. Trasancos’ website:  https://stacytrasancos.com/

• God & Elements (Dr. Trasancos’ Substack): https://stacytrasancos.substack.com/

• Roxane’s “Faith Conversations” article on Dr. Transancos’ Fargo visit: https://roxanesalonen.com/2022/03/27/faith-conversations-chemist-calls-science-the-study-of-gods-handiwork/

Max and Micah Fischer, a Christian couple in their mid-20s, are a contrasting witness to these times in which studies show young people falling away from the Christian faith at lightning speed. Even as pews that previously were occupied by younger families are emptying, more young couples are also forgoing having children, not to mention marriage.

Despite this marked shift in society, however, not all young people have determined God to be dead. Some, like the Fischers, have discovered a life-giving raft in the midst of a tumultuous cultural storm. But it hasn’t always been easy.

In this episode, Max and Micah converse about everything from abortion to the culture’s current obsession with the devil. As they discuss some of the pitfalls of their generation, and the freedoms they’ve discovered through cultivating a life steeped in Christian truths, they offer hopeful insight on whether this ship can be turned around before hitting the iceberg ahead. 

SHOW NOTES: 

• Northview website: https://www.northview.life/

• Cameron Bolton news stories: 

• https://www.inforum.com/changing-lives-one-rock-at-a-time-family-honors-cameron-boltons-life-with-rock-campaign

• https://www.inforum.com/newsmd/video-family-friends-remember-cameron-bolton-during-flag-raising-ceremony-at-fargos-sanford-hospital

• https://www.thedickinsonpress.com/news/crash-that-killed-22-year-old-fargo-man-prompts-criminal-charge

Katie Bruckbauer grew up in a large, faith-filled family on a farm outside of Casselton, North Dakota. As a child, she loved to dance, and later, sought ways to bring her athletic and musical abilities together. She studied modern dance and creative movement, eventually working for a studio, and then owning it with two others in the Fargo-Moorhead area under the name 8th Street Studio of Dance.

In all, she contributed her talents to that work for three decades. Katie has recently rediscovered how vital dancing is to her physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing, along with realizing how writing poetry can be a healing avenue to many of life’s challenges.

Show notes: 

• Katie’s stage performance of her “Two Birds” poem, November 2023 in Fargo, North Dakota: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6r4lYGjs9Q&t=240s
• Katie’s Word Dances website: https://www.worddances.com/
• Katie’s book, “Time to Soar: Word Dances and Bird Songs for Every Season”

Bette Grande considers herself a “recovering politician.” That tells you a bit about her approach to politics.

And yet she’s been involved in helping form policy for decades. For an even longer period, she’s been immersed in trying to follow the Lord. Can these two, politics and religion, coincide, or are they more like water and oil?

Bette has been outspoken in her thoughts about such topics as a regular contributor to The Forum, including in the realm of social issues through promoting a Culture of Life. In this episode, we’ll hear some of the reasons for her dedication to some of the topics that affect us all and ignite universal passion. 

Show notes: 

• Bette Grande’s columns in The Forum newspaper: https://www.inforum.com/bette-grande
• Wikipedia page on Bette: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bette_Grande
• Book title mentioned by Bette: “A Nefarious Plot” by Steve Deace: https://www.amazon.com/Nefarious-Plot-Steve-Deace/dp/1682611523

First of all, what is Fort Peck? It is a reservation in northeast Montana, the home of several federally recognized bands of Native American peoples: Assiniboine, Lakota and Dakota. It is also the place where I grew up, in the city of Poplar, where my parents, who’d been living and working in Wyoming, landed as teachers looking for jobs near their home state of North Dakota in the early 1970s.

Rich Peterson, a fellow journalist, was the oldest of the Peterson kids who attended my home parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, just off Highway 2. His perspective on faith encompasses both the world of Christianity and the spirituality of the Native people. It’s a perspective of mystery, story and a deep connection to family. Join us for this fascinating glimpse of the melding of two spiritual worldviews that might just not be so different after all.  

More:

Some of Rich Peterson’s Great Falls Tribune articles:

• https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/2014/02/23/treasured-tradition/5710063/
• https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2017/05/03/film-crew-poplar-shoot-scenes-video-game/101241072/
• https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2015/06/13/brad-pitt-foundation-homes-arrive-reservation/71163894/

RezKast radio station: https://www.rezkastradio.com/

History of Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, 1800-2000: https://a.co/d/44HB9zI

One explanation of heyoka: https://www.historynet.com/lakota-heyokas-lightning-rods-got-backward/

A few related pieces of Roxane’s:

• Sheila Greybull’s obituary (written by Roxane after their time together in July 2023 at her home in Great Falls, at Sheila’s request: https://claytonstevensonmemorialchapel.com/obituaries/sheila-greybull-age-55-of-poplar-mt/)
• Roxane’s article on visiting Sheila before her death (originally published in The Forum newspaper): https://roxanesalonen.com/2023/09/24/living-faith-heaven-brought-sheila-greybull-back-to-me/

In Matthew 8, we enter a scene in which a scribe promises Jesus that he will follow him wherever he goes. Jesus replies: “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” 

In her past work as a school counselor, Jenessa Fillipi confronted the reality of Jesus having no place to rest his head when she learned that some of her students did not have a bed to sleep on or a table on which to eat. This realization awoke Jenessa to the reality of the everyday challenges of families around her; yes, even in her cozy city in the Midwest. Did Jesus, our God incarnate, lack for a resting place during his time on earth? What about his children on earth? How are we called to respond?  For Jenessa, it meant founding Down Home, a ministry dedicated to providing a place for the vulnerable to rest their heads at night. 

Along with being the founder and executive director of Down Home, this wife and mother of four recently was bestowed the title of 2024 Mother of the Year. But before all those roles, she claims daughter of the King to be her highest calling. 

Show notes: 

• https://www.down-home.org/
• https://www.americanmothers.org/
• https://www.inforum.com/opinion/columns/faith-led-fillipi-to-mother-of-the-year-down-home-ministry

We’ve just celebrated our nation’s birthday, but did everyone attend the party? In other words, is patriotism dead—or at least on life support? The country seems divided on its allegiances, and merely broaching the topic of patriotism opens a can of wiggly worms related to identity, unity and freedom. Mark Jorritsma of the North Dakota Family Alliance, an organization that embraces faith, family and the freedom to honor God, helps us wrangle a few of those often-unwieldy worms today.

More information on the NDFA can be found on their website: https://www.ndfamilyalliance.org/

You’ve heard of Original Sin, but what is Original Innocence?

In this episode of “Matters of Soul Importance,” we take a look at this concept articulated by Pope John Paul II in his “Theology of the Body” teachings. Erin McCole Cupp, a trauma recovery coach, will lead us into this fascinating topic, helping us better understand our often-flawed relationship with food, and how we can return to the original design for eating, freeing us to enter more deeply into human relationships; the kinds that will have an eternal impact.  

More:

• Erin’s website: https://www.erinmccolecupp.com/
• Theology of the Body Cliff Notes: https://catholicpreaching.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Summary-of-the-Theology-of-the-Body-TOB-Waldstein.pdf

Nancy Charles was moments away from ending her life when a question engulfed her: What if God and eternal life were real—and the pain she sought to escape would only be prolonged by her plan? This thought stopped her in her tracks, sending her on a desperate quest to find the answer.

Just days later, Nancy entered a church, where she was engulfed again, this time with the presence and merciful love of Jesus. Hear how this recovering addict and former agnostic and LGBTQ+ adherent discovered a greater love than she could have imagined.

More from this episode:

• Nancy Charles’ “From the Rainbow to Christ” interview on the 'Avoiding Babylon' podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNhWOlOjXCw

• “A Brief History of the Rosary: Ever Ancient, Ever New”: https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/rosary/history-of-the-rosary.html