The Saint Emmelia Podcast

On today’s episode, we discuss AI and how it originated, how it works, and what it all means. Matushka Melissa Naasko is joined by her husband, Father Benjamin Naasko, who discusses the philosophical aspect not only as an Orthodox priest but also as an instructor of philosophy, and Ronald Stempien, a computer science PhD student who is able to explain how AI functions in clear and concise language that is easy to understand. Referenced links can be found below. (Links must be copy-pasted into browser.)

Italian Song intended to sound like English but it’s intentionally gibberish:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisencolinensinainciusol

Pareidolia, the tendency of people to find faces and meaning in random patterns and images:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareidolia

Eliza Emulator:

https://web.njit.edu/~ronkowit/eliza.html

Man poisons himself by following ChatGPT medical advice:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna225055

Environmental cost of ChatGPT:

https://cee.illinois.edu/news/AIs-Challenging-Waters

Google AI chatbot suggests teen could harm parents over restricted screen time:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd605e48q1vo.amp

In today's episode, our Head Intern Londyn narrates her essay "Listening Well," which previously appeared on our blog. Londyn reflects on the importance of being a good listener, and offers suggestions for how to listen well.

With this episode, we conclude our series, With Humility & Gentleness: Exploring Vocation. Christopher Chiakulas, founder of Orthodox Christian College Counseling and the author of Paving the Road to College Through an Orthodox Christian Perspective, offers insights on different considerations for discerning whether college is the right path. Paving the Road to College…is Saint Emmelia Publishing’s first published book.

Welcome to a special series, With Humility & Gentleness: Exploring Vocation, where we will be exploring topics related to the decisions that young adults face as they transition out of high school. In this episode, Marcy interviews financial advisor and entrepreneur Razvan Mirica, who discusses the pros and cons of college, the tough financial considerations, and steps parents can take to save for college.

Welcome to a special series, With Humility & Gentleness: Exploring Vocation, where we will be exploring topics related to the decisions that young adults face as they transition out of high school. Marcy interviews Denise Yurchak, a certified senior HR specialist who is now getting her master’s degree in Counseling and Pastoral Care from Antiochian House of Studies. Denise shares how personality–and personality classification or typing–can be used in the process of discerning vocation.

Welcome to a special series, With Humility & Gentleness: Exploring Vocation, where we will be exploring topics related to the decisions that young adults face as they transition out of high school. In today’s episode, Brett Schaller and Brennan Nokelby, two admissions counselors from Hillsdale College, talk with Mindi about the importance of relationships–at any college–and offer practical advice for the application process.

Welcome to a special series, With Humility & Gentleness: Exploring Vocation, where we will be exploring topics related to the decisions that young adults face as they transition out of high school. We’re excited to be joined by Noah Hyatt, an alumni of Saint Emmelia Ministries. Noah shares his experiences transitioning to college, and how he came to be a PhD student.

Welcome to our new series in the Saint Emmelia podcast: With Humility & Gentleness: Exploring Vocation, where we will be exploring topics related to the decisions that young adults face as they transition out of high school. Today, Holden Spain from Hellenic College Holy Cross shares how the college experience can shape young people long after they graduate.

We’re excited to introduce a new series in the Saint Emmelia podcast: With Humility & Gentleness: Exploring Vocation, where we will be exploring topics related to the decisions that young adults face as they transition out of high school. In this episode, Mindi Popovich-Schneider, Marcy Fox, and Mat. Melissa Naasko discuss the challenges and great blessings of working while raising children–and how young women can navigate the pressures and expectations of both the secular and religious worlds.

We are so excited and honored to have Autumn Krause join us on the podcast! Autumn is a Kirkus-star winning Young Adult author, homeschool alumna, and Orthodox homeschool mom. Her books, A Dress for the Wicked and Before the Devil Knows You're Here, were published by mainstream companies, with the latter garnering many accolades. Her third book will be published September 2nd, 2025. Autumn shares how she confronts the hardships of life in her books and recounts how homeschooling impacts her work as an author.

Books mentioned:

A Dress for the Wicked by Autumn Krause

Before the Devil Knows You're Here by Autumn Krause

Grave Flowers by Autumn Krause

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Brothers Karamazov by Fyodr Dostoevsky

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott