In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by the one and only Fr. Robert Spitzer, SJ, PhD in a conversation that aims to turn the conventional tropes about Faith vs. Science on its head and to talk about areas where faith fills in the gaps left by science.

The host of EWTN's Father Spitzer's Universe, the author of over 18 books and many scholarly articles, and the President of the Magis Center of Faith and Reason and the Napa Institute Fr. Spitzer, has the credentials coming out of his ears to tackle this kind of topic and he brings his enormous wealth of experience and insight to our humble little podcast this week. 

We tackle topics of the origins of the universe, the soul, beauty, Eucharistic miracles, out-of-body experiences, and many more areas where science simply fails to offer an explanation – but faith has had one all along! 

It's an amazing conversation; I hope you enjoy it deeply!

For more from Fr. Spitzer check out the links above in the shownotes and be sure to check out his latest book from Sophia Institute Press.

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For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

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Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patreon Co-Producers. Thank you to Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William. 

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Sophia Nikolai, a self-described anti-Catholic who is here to share her absolutely incredible conversion story with us. 

With an anti-Catholic, Evangelical background, Sophia considered herself firmly grounded in her Christian faith until an encounter with a quotation from the Early Church Fathers and some pretty miraculous interventions began her on a journey completely and utterly out of her comfort zone. 

Listen to Sophia's amazing journey which includes burning rosaries, ripping up prayer books, and trying to convince her Catholic husband (and his family) that they were all doomed – before, ultimately, becoming Catholic herself! It's an amazing story!

For more from Sophia, check out her brand new YouTube channel and please subscribe while you're there!

Send your feedback to [email protected].

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patreon Co-Producers. Thank you to Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William. 

Join Bishop Kevin Sweeney and Communications Director Jai Agnish of the Diocese of...

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Jill Simons, author, speaker, and the driving force behind Many Parts Ministries, which helps Catholics discern their spiritual gifting and charisms. We're going to talk, this week, about how we figure out where we fit in the Catholic Church – especially for those who have just become Catholic, will become Catholic shortly, or are thinking about becoming Catholic. 

We talk about how to discern what you're good at, how the lay person in the Catholic Church can and should get involved, and how the Body of Christ is truly enabled when Catholics figure out where they fit – and get involved there! 

It's a fantastic and, at times, fiery conversation! Jill loves this topic and is deeply passionate about it – and it shows! 

For more from Jill, including her fantastic resources on discerning your fits, please visit her website.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patreon Co-Producers. Thank you to Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William. 

Join Bishop Kevin Sweeney and Communications Director Jai Agnish of the Diocese of...

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined once again by my good friend and fellow convert Keith Nester to unpack a controversial claim! Keith spent over 20 years in Protestant ministry before converting to Catholicism and joins me to talk about the idea that so many converts – myself included – experience in their conversion to Catholicism: that they become better Christians!

Keith joins me to explain why his love for Scripture, his devotion to prayer, his experience of Christ, and his faith life has never ever been deeper than it is now, as a Catholic. We explore this idea in depth in this episode!

I'm hope you sincerely enjoy it!

For more from Keith please check out our extensive back catalogue – he's appeared many times – and find him online on his website and YouTube channel. Also, check out the Rosary Crew where Keith and his community pray the rosary every single day.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patreon Co-Producers. Thank you to Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William. 

Join Bishop Kevin Sweeney and Communications Director Jai Agnish of the Diocese of...

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In this very special episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by my two friends Catholic Answers apologist Joe Heschmeyer and Gospel Simplicity host Austin Suggs for an extraordinary conversation about what it takes to convert to Catholicism. This is the most cordial, thoughtful conversation you'll ever hear!

Austin, a Protestant Christian, has spent many years on his fantastic YouTube channel talking to the best and brightest in the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches so I'm joined by Joe Heschmeyer to ask Austin why does he remain a Protestant? And what would it take for him to consider converting to Catholicism? 

I'm so thrilled to bring together my friends to weigh the evidence, dig deeply, and tackle Austin's objections to Catholicism and what kind of evidence it would take for someone as thoughtful as Austin to become Catholic.

Send your feedback to [email protected]. 

For more from Joe check out his YouTube channel Shameless Popery which is also available in podcast form wherever you get your podcasts. Also, his fantastic books, which I cannot recommend more highly, are available from Catholic Answers.

Find and follow Austin on his incredible YouTube channel Gospel Simplicity.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp.

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patreon Co-Producers. Thank you to Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William. 

Join Bishop Kevin Sweeney and Communications Director Jai Agnish of the Diocese of...

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Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by author Dustin Shane, a convert to Catholicism from the Jehovah's Witnesses, to talk about his harrowing and incredible faith journey. 

From his experience growing up in a devout Jehovah's Witness family to his wandering years and his ultimate decision to leave the faith (and face being shunned by his family!) there's a whole lot to unpack in this journey that I'm sure you'll love. Above all, Dustin gives us a unique perspective we don't often get to hear and offers some amazing insights into the faith he left and the faith – Catholicism – that he decided to come into.

It's an amazing conversation! 

For more from Dustin visit his website.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp.

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patreon Co-Producers. Thank you to Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William. 

Join Bishop Kevin Sweeney and Communications Director Jai Agnish of the Diocese of...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Alex Dee from the Saints Alive podcast to talk about the incredible witness of the saints, the importance of passing on these amazing stories to our children, evangelization, and the amazing Lenten initiative that Saints Alive is about to embark on. 

Alex is an awesome, on-fire guy, and his insights into the stories of the saints, his own experiences in evangelization, and his heart for storytelling shines through in this episode. I hope you sincerely enjoy it. 

Check out Saints Alive and their Lenten initiative for kids on the Hallow app. Use the link to get a 30-day free trial and sign up for the waitlist here.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp.

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patreon Co-Producers. Thank you to Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William. 

Join Bishop Kevin Sweeney and Communications Director Jai Agnish of the Diocese of...

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In this very special episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Kenny Burchard and Sam Nunnally, two former Evangelical, Charismatic pastors who converted to Catholicism to tell their stories, talk about their biggest misconceptions about Catholicism, and cordially explain how they set things straight. 

In this episode we'll talk about the misconceptions that Kenny and Sam held about Catholicism (and where they came from!), some of the struggles they faced as Evangelical pastors trying to apply their understanding of the Bible (and the question of authority), how they found ultimate fulfilment of their faith in the sacraments and practice of the Catholic Church and so much more. 

This is a phenomenal episode and I couldn't ask for two better guys to unpack this all with. 

For more from Kenny check out his YouTube channel Bible Highlights and, as always, his work with the Coming Home Network International.

To see what Sam is up to follow him on Instagram.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp.

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patreon Co-Producers. Thank you to Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William. 

Join Bishop Kevin Sweeney and Communications Director Jai Agnish of the Diocese of...

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Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Dr. Cheryl Hughes to talk about one of the most prolific "convert makers" in American Catholic history: Archbishop Fulton Sheen. 

Dr. Hughes, a biographer of Fulton Sheen, joins me to talk about what made his evangelism so effective, what we can learn from him today, and how God used Abp. Sheen who was in the right place at the right time. 

We talk about the role of Catholic apologetics when speaking to our non-Catholic Christian brothers and sisters, the importance of catechesis without compromise, and even hear Dr. Hughes own conversion story! 

It's a great conversation. 

To read more about Archbishop Fulton Sheen check out Dr. Hughes's book, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: Convert Maker out from Ignatius Press.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp.

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patreon Co-Producers. Thank you to Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William. 

Join Bishop Kevin Sweeney and Communications Director Jai Agnish of the Diocese of...

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Avery Reukauf, a Catholic convert with one of the most incredible conversion stories you'll ever hear!

From the untimely death of her mother following a radical decision to be baptized to her decision to join the military and her deployment to Iraq to her whirlwind marriage and the birth of her children to miracle upon miracle as Avery and her husband move from denomination to denomination in fervent pursuit of Christ – you'll be on the absolute edge of your seat listening to this faith journey which even includes an insane twist ending: that Avery was Catholic almost all along! 

Friends, I can't encourage you enough to listen to and share this episode because there's so much in here that I can't even describe. 

In the end, it's the story of how through the graces of baptism, God pursues those that He wants for His own – and, ultimately, that's all of us! 

Wow. What a story. 

For more from Avery please follow her on Instagram and check out The Churchy Podcast with Avery Reukauf wherever you find podcasts.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp.

This show is brought to you in a special way by our Patreon Co-Producers. Thank you to Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William. 

Join Bishop Kevin Sweeney and Communications Director Jai Agnish of the Diocese of...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

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