The Cordial Catholic

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by my new friend Joseph Dinesh from the incredible JD Catholic Engage YouTube channel to talk, first of all, about his amazing faith journey and then to dig into some of the anti-Catholic misunderstandings and misconceptions that Protestants have about Catholicism.

JD's journey is one of a passionate young man converted away from the nominal Catholicism he was raised in, into a vibrant Evangelical faith only to come storming back into the Catholic Church through some serious movements of the Holy Spirit in his life and a discovery of the truths of Catholicism he never really knew.

It's an amazing story!

We also dig into some of the biggest anti-Catholic misconceptions JD hears like issues about hell, how Catholics and Protestants understand salvation, purgatory, and much more.

To learn more about Joseph visit his YouTube channel.

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!

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. 

Support the show

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Soren and Ever Johnson. Soren, a convert to Catholicism, and his wife, raised in a large Catholic family, are pioneering authentic Catholic communities in parishes across the world. They join me to discuss the "Evangelical sacrament" of fellowship and the need to bring authentic community to Catholics.

We talk about the importance of doing life together, the reality of fellowship in Catholic parishes today, and practical steps to begin to make the home into a true Domestic Church and the incredible impact this kind of a shift can have on the family. Plus, the counter-cultural witness of authentic Catholic community and the deep need for creating compelling communities for non-believers and non-Catholic Christians to see.

An amazing conversation.

For more about the Trinity House initiative visit their website and YouTube channel.

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!

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. 

Support the show

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
Twitter: @cordialcatholic
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Facebook: The Cordial Catholic
TikTok: @cordialcatholic

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Scott Oakland, a former Baptist pastor, a Reformed and Lutheran elder and, finally, a grateful Catholic convert.

Scott shares the story of how his love for the Bible and his quest to find the Church founded by Christ drew him ever deeper in towards the ancient Catholic Church. From a Baptist pastor, questioning his beliefs about infant baptism, to a Reformed Calvinist, steeped in the theology around predestination, to a Lutheran elder, holding on to a deep belief in the sacraments but, ultimately, unable to deny to truth of the Catholic faith.

This episode is a fantastic one.

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!

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. 

Support the show

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
Twitter: @cordialcatholic
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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Dr. Douglas Beaumont, a former Evangelical seminarian professor and a convert to the Catholic faith, to unpack how trying to decipher the "Evangelical essentials" led to his conversion.

Dr. Beaumont, a student of the late Evangelical theologian Dr. Norman Geisler, studied deeply into the history of the Church, the Bible, and tried to identify the "essentials" that all Evangelical Christians held in common. Using the Bible as the sole infallible rule for faith, could Protestants come to a conclusion on what were the most important parts of the Gospel? Could Protestants agree on how we're saved? What baptism was for? When to baptize? What happened at the Lord's supper? And many more theological points.

It was on this journey, studying under one of the greatest minds in Evangelical Christianity, that Dr. Beaumont came to realize that finding the "Protestant Essentials," what united all Protestants together, was an impossible task.

To find more from Dr. Beaumount visit his website and check out his fantastic YouTube channel as well.

Dr. Beaumont also has a great video on the Evangelical Essentials as well as two articles:

• Can the Grammatical-Historical Method of Interpretation Determine Christian Orthodoxy?
• Is Christian Orthodoxy a Logical Deduction? Norman Geisler's Failed Attempts at Preserving Orthodoxy 

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!

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. 

Support the show

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by the legendary, pioneering Christian  musician John Michael Talbot to share his incredible journey into the Catholic faith.

John Michael is a natural born storyteller so you'll want to buckle up for this story; from encountering Christ in an Evangelical context as a country rock musician, to wrestling with denominationalism, questions about the Early Church, and a draw towards charismatic, mystical prayer traditions – the conversion journey here is incredible, and only half the conversation!

We also talk about the Eucharist, the draw of Christian unity, the problem with individualism in Christianity, and the proper posture for Catholics to be cordial, welcoming, and hold fast to the Catholic faith. Plus, we talk about the incredible faith community John Michael founded, and has lived in, The Little Portion Hermitage.

For more from John Michael Talbot visit his website where you can find links to his music, his books, and more information about his ministry. 

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. 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!

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. 

Support the show

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
Twitter: @cordialcatholic
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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by veteran Catholic apologist Tom Nash to talk about the biblical basis for the Catholic Church. How can we use the Bible to explain the origins of the Catholic Church?

We dig into apostolic succession, the centrality of the Mass, Jesus' desire for Christian unity in John 17 (and how to accomplish this), and some of the Church-dividing problems with the doctrine of Sola Scriptura. Plus much, much more.

Tom is a veteran apologist with a lot to say and this episode is absolutely packed to the rafters.

For more from Tom check out his book To Whom Shall We Go? from Emmaus Road Publishing and visit Catholic Answers to see his decades worth of content and contributions.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. 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!

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. 

Support the show

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by the legendary Brandon Eaves to talk about his journey from Evangelical Christianity through to the Catholic Church. Brandon, who you've heard about on this show before, has an incredible story to tell.

After the Catholic conversion of a close friend, Brandon began to ask questions about the Catholic Church – what would compel such an intelligent, Spirit-filled person to become Catholic, of all things. And was in Brandon's pursuit of those answers that he began to unwind his own misconceptions about Catholicism, ask pointed questions about his own beliefs, and eventually realize that in order to follow Christ completely, he needed to become Catholic.

It's an amazing story and Brandon is an incredibly humble story teller.

You can listen Brandon's new podcast Doxa everywhere podcasts are found.

For more from Brandon follow him on Twitter.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. 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!

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. 

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 two of the most fantastic guests of all time Caleb and Natali Perkins from Shema Culture to talk about their conversion journey, their incredible ministry, and how they see the Holy Spirit dismantling the barriers between Catholics and Protestants right before their eyes.

In this epic, 2-hour long conversation, Caleb and Natali unpack what it was that first drew them into Catholicism, what it was like quitting their jobs to pursue the calling of God to begin their ministry, and all of the incredible miracles (and there are an absolute ton!) that brought them deeper and deeper into their Christ-given calling to lead worship, and bring unity to the Body of Christ.

There is so much in this conversation to encourage and provoke, from their fearless pursuit of God, to the incredible Holy Spirit-led movement they're leading, to the drive to dialogue and wrestle alongside of their Protestant friends and families when the tough questions come up. Man alive, it's all in here!

For more from Caleb and Natali check out Shema Culture and all of the incredible work they're doing there.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. 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!

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. 

Support the show

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Dr. James Prothro to talk about the historical and biblical roots of the Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Where does the idea of the Sacraments come from? Where do we see the roots of repentance, reconciliation, and forgiveness in the Old Testament? What about penance? And how do these historical roots connect to how Catholics practice the Sacrament of Reconciliation – commonly called Confession – today.

Dr. Prothro gives a through treatment of this incredibly important sacrament linking it all the way back to the Garden of Eden and the beginning of mankind and explaining – all the way to today – why confessing our sins to a priest is one of the greatest gifts God gave his followers, and mankind.

For more from Dr. Prothro you can follow him on Twitter and his published material on Academia.

Check out his book The Bible and Reconciliation: Confession, Repentance, and Restoration from Baker Academic.

He also recommended The Sacrament of Reconciliation by Dr. Robert Fastiggi and the following Scriptures, for context: 2 Corinthians 5-6 and the Gospel of Luke (focusing on the Parable of the Prodigal Son).

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. 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!

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. 

Support the show

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
Twitter: @cordialcatholic
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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Gerard Figurelli, a former pastor, radio host, apologist, and a student under some of the very best Evangelical minds in North America, to tell his incredible story of his return – his reconciliation – with Rome.

Raised Catholic, Gerard received all of the sacraments but never really felt connected to Christ until a radical encounter in a Baptist church. From there, Gerard spent decades working in pastoral ministry and studying under some of the greatest Evangelical teachers including the late Dr. Norman Geisler at Southern Evangelical Seminary and Dr. Francis Beckwith at Baylor University.

Both Dr. Geisler – and SES itself – and Dr. Beckwith figure prominently in Figurelli's journey – Figurelli was working as a Teaching Assistant under Beckwith when Beckwith had his own return to the Catholicism of his upbringing.

In this episode we dig into what prompted Figurelli and his wife to begin re-examining their Evangelical faith, how learning about Christianity drew them both deeper towards Catholicism in particular, and the role of Scripture and the Early Church Fathers. It's a fantastic conversation!

For more from Gerard visit his YouTube channel.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. 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!

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. 

Support the show

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by one of my heroes, Early Church scholar Dr. Thomas Scheck to unpack his amazing story of growing up Catholic, leaving the faith for Evangelical Christian, and then coming storming back to the Church after 17 years away. It's a great journey!

Listen as Dr. Scheck explains why an encounter with two Baptist roommates in college fired him up for a relationship with Christ, his time as an Evangelical missionary with his wife in Germany, and his struggles and successes as an Evangelical pastor for almost ten years.

And, of course, what ultimately led Dr. Scheck, his wife, and many of his children back to the Catholic Church.

I'm so grateful for a chance to have this conversation and Dr. Scheck is a wonderful storyteller.

For more from Dr. Scheck visit his page at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Studies.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. 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!

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. 

Support the show

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by one of the most remarkable guests I've ever had on the show, Daniel Dinneen, an Instagram evangelist, to talk about his amazing journey through addiction, loss, and a sinful lifestyle into his total dedication to Christ, His Church, and the work of his online ministry.

Once you begin this episode you aren't going to want to stop. Daniel's story is amazing and his honesty in telling it – his not holding anything back – will leave you speechless. To hear how God has worked and what Daniel has come through, what lessons he has learned, and what he hopes to share with others – it's amazing stuff.

We also talk about dispelling misconceptions about Catholics online, what obstacles Daniel has encountered most often in his work (spoiler alert: it's kind of demons), and where Daniel sees points of unity and hope and how God is working in the unique space that Daniel finds himself.

It's a truly remarkable conversation and I'm so glad to be able to bring it to a wider audience.

Please find and follow Daniel on Instagram.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. 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!

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. 

Support the show

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
Twitter: @cordialcatholic
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Facebook: The Cordial Catholic
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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Chris Kellam, a former pastor, an Evangelical seminarian, and a Catholic convert to share his absolutely amazing journey of conversion.

Chris' story is one of a serious Evangelical Christian – a pastor, working on his Master's degree at seminary – realizing that not every Christian agreed on some of the theology and belief he took for granted.

It began, for Chris, when he started working as a youth pastor at a church that practised infant baptism – something he'd never considered before – and began a deep biblical search into baptism, a search which led Chris to the Early Church Fathers, the practice of the very first Christians, and the beliefs of the Protestant Reformers – all to try and track down where Chris' own beliefs came from and why other Christians believed differently.

And that's just the beginning.

Questions about baptism led Chris to questions about what the "essential" beliefs were for Christians, why some of these beliefs were missing from the Early Church, and exactly what he ought to believe as a Christian after all.

Oh, and the conversion of a close friend and fellow seminarian to Catholicism comes out of left field, too!

It's such a remarkable story.

You can find and follow Chris on Twitter.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. 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!

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. 

Support the show

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
Twitter: @cordialcatholic
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Facebook: The Cordial Catholic
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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by the wonderful Dr. Mark Giszczak from the Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology to talk about suffering.

It's a perennial topic and, as I suggest in this episode, one of the top reasons that I hear about for people leaving the Catholic faith. Why does God allow so much suffering? What's the difference between human-caused suffering and natural disasters and sicknesses? How is suffering just? And, incredibly, how does the Catholic faith actually propose the best framework for understanding evil and suffering – something that atheists simply can't explain.

This and much more in this week's episode.

For more from Dr. Giszczak check out his book Suffering: What Every Catholic Should Know from the Augustine Institute and Ignatius Press.

And visit Dr. Giszczak's website, Catholic Bible Student.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. 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!

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. 

Support the show

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
Twitter: @cordialcatholic
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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Izabela Ciesinska to talk about her incredible faith journey and her wonderful new book.

Raised nominally Catholic, Izabela wandered into the New Age movement as a young adult and eventually into atheism, deciding that there can't possibly be a God until she was struck by incredible, natural beauty on a road trip with some friends. Suddenly confronted by inexplicable beauty Izabela began a winding journey to discover its source, journeying back through the New Age movement, through Prosperity Gospel preaching as a Protestant, and finally back to the life-giving sacraments found in the Catholic Church.

Izabela's story is fascinating and her perspective – as a filmmaker, author, and creator – is a profoundly interesting one.

In addition to her journey we talk about the role of media, how to reach and impact children with rich stories, the role of ego, darkness, and evil in the media we consume, and the power of prayer.

It's a great conversation.

For more from Izabela visit her website. And check out her wonderful new book from Ascension Kids, The Little Donkey and God's Big Plan.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. 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!

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. 

Support the show

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
Twitter: @cordialcatholic
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Facebook: The Cordial Catholic
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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by the incredible Louis Damani Jones. A revert to the Catholic faith with an incredible story to tell, an African American Catholic with a rich experience of Catholicism to talk about, and a social justice leader in the community, deeply rooted in Catholic social values and the work of some of the best and bright Catholic theologians.

You don't want to miss this episode.

Raised in an activist household Louis had to learn quickly what it meant to take action against oppressive structures from a Catholic point of view. After drifting away from his faith as a teen and young adult, Louis began to dig more deeply into Scripture, the Early Church Fathers, and Church history – and an amazing conversion journey unfolds there, too!

This is a spectacular episode about Catholic social teaching, justice, race, what it means to be an African American in today's North American Catholic Church, and what the Church, says Jones, is the absolute best vehicle for mounting social change and has the best vision of a just world too: with Christ as its centre.

For more from Louis check out the fantastic podcast we recommended Ark and Dove (on all podcasting platforms).

You can also follow Louis on Instagram and check out The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, recommended by Louis.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. 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!

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. 

Support the show

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

Instagram: @cordialcatholic
Twitter: @cordialcatholic
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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined once again by my good friend Catholic convert, author, and historian Rod Bennett to propose a really interesting thesis he's been chewing on these days: that the "unwritten tradition" often criticized by non-Catholic Christians was actually written down.

Maybe you've heard this claim before? That as Christians should rely on the Bible alone and that Catholics have heaped up all kinds of unwritten traditions – barnacles on the once-pure Ark of Christ – that just get in the way of good old fashion Bible Only Christianity. This is certainly the argument that Rod and I would've heard, and believed, as former Evangelical Christians.

But what happens when those so-called "unwritten traditions," those things that Catholics apparently "added" to the once-pure Christian Church, were actually there from the beginning and can be found in the writings of the earliest Christians, those that learned their faith from the apostles?

This week not the who's, Rod tackles that very idea: that the so-called "unwritten tradition" criticized by Christians who claim Catholics have added to the faith, actually existed from the very beginning. 

For more from Rod Bennett, check out his numerous previous appearances in the archives of the show including conversations about Catholic Witnesses to the Early Church (Episode 141) and Were the Early Christians Catholic? (Episode 089).

And check out These Twelve, Rod's latest book from Catholic Answers Press.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to [email protected].

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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 former White House speaker writer, New York Times #1 best-selling author, Bible scholar, historian, and Catholic convert Joshua Charles to talk about his simply incredible conversion story.

A lifelong Protestant, Joshua was steeped in Scripture from an early age, collecting study Bibles as soon as he could read and it was his love for Scripture that began to find him asking some uncomfortable questions about the Evangelical faith he was practising.

Questions about authority, biblical interpretation, what "binding and loosing" meant, how to understand Baptism, and many more questions like this.

When Joshua began digging into the Bible professionally, and was tasked with researching the Early Church, he began to find himself asking even more uncomfortable questions and finding a Christianity, at its roots, that looked very different from what he had experienced in his time as an Evangelical.

This incredible story told by a prolific writer and wonderful storyteller and it's utterly captivating. What truly happens when someone abandons themselves to searching for the Church Christ founded, at its very beginning? Well Joshua is here to tell you.

For more from Joshua follow him on Twitter or check out his website.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

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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 Catholic Answers apologist extraordinaire Joe Heschmeyer to talk about a topic that we get lots of questions about on this show: Calvinism.

What does the Catholic Church have to say about this Reformation-era idea? What's the Catholic view of it? What's the Catholic response to it? And how can a Catholic become equipped to speak about Calvinism from place of understanding as a Catholic.

Plus, with Joe as our guide, we drop back in time to the Early Church and look at how the first disciples of Christ understood Calvinism. Can we find its roots in the Early Church? Or is this truly a Reformation-era innovation? And, if so, how do we address that, too?

It's a fantastic conversation.

For more from Joe check out latest book The Eucharist Really Is Jesus  from Catholic Answers Press and visit his website Shameless Popery where you can find links to all the amazing things Joe is doing – including his podcast Shameless Popery, available everywhere podcasts can be found.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by the very cordial John Martignoni, an author, speaker, long-time radio host, and the founder and president of the Bible Christian Society to mine some of the questions that Protestantism – that I, as a Protestant Evangelical Christian – had the hardest time answering.

These are questions like that John calls the "pea under the mattress." Questions like what did Jesus mean in Matthew 18:15 when he explained how to resolve disputes (and how can it possibly be implemented in Evangelical Christianity)? What kind of unity was Christ praying for in John 17? And what did Jesus mean when he gave the apostles – and Peter in particular – the power to "bind and loose"?

These questions, and more, explored this week with John's trademark insight and straight-forward apologetic style. It's a great conversation!

For more from John check out the Bible Christian Society.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to [email protected].

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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.

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!

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 Catholic convert and author Shaun McAfee to talk about the wonderful, wild, and sometimes downright weird world of Catholic sacramentals.

What is a sacramental? Why does the Church think they may be helpful in our faith journeys? What do they do? What don't they do? What are some common misconceptions about sacramentals? And how to use them.

This episode is packed full of goodness; it's a great topic.

We talk about how to approach sacramentals as a new Catholic, the point and purpose and history behind some of the most common sacramentals like prayer gestures, holy water, and scapulars. Plus, we discuss the rosary, the Stations of the Cross, and much more.

To read Shaun's beautiful new book "Compendium of Sacramentals" find it on Tan Books or wherever fine books are sold.

Follow Shaun on his website and check out EpicPew for what Shaun describes as "fun, wholesome Catholic stuff for people to live their lives better."

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to [email protected].

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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.

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!

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 Talia Kruze, a wife, mother, mental health coach, and a convert to the Catholic faith to talk about her absolutely incredible journey of conversion to the Catholic faith.

The theme throughout Talia's journey is the effect of good Catholic witnesses. Beginning when her own sister converted to Catholicism after the witnesses of the good Catholics she met at university, Talia's story is full of other Catholics sharing the faith in rich and meaningful ways, leading Talia (and other members of her family!) to become Catholic.

Whether it was a Catholic university community, her experience discerning religious life, the diagnosis of a mental illness, or her incredible encounter and friendship with Father Mike Schmitz, Talia's story is one of the powerful impact of living out your Catholic faith in earnest – and how living that life can truly change the lives of others!

For more from Talia check out her website or follow her on Instagram.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to [email protected].

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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.

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!

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 my new friend Phillip Campbell, a Catholic convert from charismatic, evangelical Christianity, to talk about his truly remarkable faith journey.

Raised nominally Catholic Phillip never went to Mass or received any of the sacraments but found Jesus through the evangelization of some close friends and their incredible examples of faith. After spending time in a number of charismatic communities – and a number of impactful religious experiences – Phillip shares what finally drew him into the fullness of the Catholic faith and why the sum total of his experiences in Christianity serve as a kind of trajectory toward Catholicism.

He has a great perspective on it all, and some incredibly wild experiences along the way!

There's so much in this story.

For more from Phillip includes his books, talks, videos, and much more visit his website.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to [email protected].

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

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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.

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!

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 podcaster, writer, and speaker John Edwards to share what I think is the most incredible conversion story ever.

John breaks the record previously held by the wonderful Tsh Oxenreider as he speaks for a full hour unpacking his whirlwind conversion story: through a crippling drug addiction, successes and failures, ups and downs, and an incredible return to the Catholic Church through the grace of vulnerability and the sacraments John's story is absolutely breath-taking. I can promise you'll be on the edge of your seat throughout; and once you start, you won't be able to hit pause!

For more from John check out the Just A Guy in the Pew Podcast and his website for links to book him to speak and for more information about the resources he's creating through his ministry.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. 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!

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. 

Support the show

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Bishop Athanasius Schneider to talk about what new Catholics, non-Catholic Christians, and even Catholics who have been around the faith for a long time can, and should, make of the current state of affairs in the Catholic Church.

How to thrive and live faithfully, following Christ, when it seems sometimes like the Church is in crisis.

How, and why, anyone should even consider becoming Catholic when it seems, some days, like the Church is a mess of confusion.

We talk about the roots of the current tensions in the Church, what it means for Catholicism going forward, why certain voices seem to crowd out others, and what hope there is for the future.

Not a pessimistic or negative conversation, Bishop Athanasius Schneider brings joy, hope, and a deep and abiding love for Christ and His Church in this fantastic interview.

For more from Bishop Athanasius Schneider, check out his new compendium of Catholic teaching Credo, out from Sofia Institute Press.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to [email protected].

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

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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!

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 my friend Joe Goodwin. Joe was an evangelical seminarian, worship leader, and a Catholic convert. Since his conversion, Joe's gone on to work in campus ministry for a number of years and is currently the Executive Director of Canadian Priests for the Third Millennium, a group working to meet the needs of the next generation of priests.

This week on the show, Joe tells his incredible conversion story which, remarkably, intersects with my own at several different points. Joe's story is one of deep love of his faith, of Christ, and of studying the Church Fathers in an Evangelical seminary which ultimately led to his asking deeper questions and deciding to become Catholic.

Joe's an amazing guy and I hope you enjoy this conversation. It was absolutely thrilling to be able to bring it to you.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. 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.

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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.

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!

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. 

Support the show

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Dr. Matthew J. Thomas to talk about justification, salvation, and whether or not Evangelicals and Catholics can agree on how we're saved.

This is a wonderful topic and one of the bread-and-butter type conversations on this podcast: unpacking what both Catholics and Evangelicals believe about how we're saved and trying to come up with some agreement.

Dr. Thomas explains how the definition of words like "justification," "works," and "salvation" can often be misused and misunderstood across different groups and that being clear with our language, looking for similarities, and working through differences is how we can better understand what divided and shockingly still divides Protestant Christianity from Catholic and Orthodox believers.

For more from Dr. Matthew J. Thomas, visit  the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology.

You can read Dr. Thomas' article, "Justification," at the St. Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology.

Be sure to listen to Dr. Thomas' wife's incredible conversion story, too. A female Anglican priest-candidate, Leanne Thomas discerned a different path when she encountered the Catholic liturgy and the Early Church Fathers and ended up, along with her husband, becoming Catholic. Her episode is number 210.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. 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!

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. 

Support the show

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Catholic convert, author, speaker, and, of course, Catholic priest Father Ken Geraci, CPM to talk about the realm of spiritual warfare and the uniquely Catholic tools we have to combat sin, Satan, and the demonic.

Father Ken is a truly wonderful priest – with a great conversion story! – and is full of fascinating insights into the spiritual realm and how, as Catholic, we possess the unique tools to draw us closer to Christ and away from spiritual darkness, in all its forms!

For more from Father Ken visit his website and check out his book Spiritual Warfare and Divine Mercy.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. 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!

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. 

Support the show

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Dr. Samuel Klumpenhouwer, an expert in Medieval Catholicism, to talk about the day-to-day realities of what it was like for Catholics in the Middle Ages?

Did the Catholic Church really keep the Bible out of the hands of average Catholics? Was doctrine, dogma, and theology out of touch with Scripture and the history of the Church? Did Catholicism really go off the rails? Was the Reformation necessary?

We tackle these questions and much more this week on the show with a wonderful guest.

For more from Dr. Klumpenhouwer visit his website.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. 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!

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. 

Support the show

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by author, podcaster, and Catholic convert Tsh Oxenreider to talk, first of all, about how the liturgies like those surrounding Advent drew her and her family deeper into the traditions and practices of Catholicism. And then about how each of us can deepen our own walk towards Christmas through embracing the season of Advent and the liturgical calendar.

We talk about trying new Advent traditions (but also doing too much!), how to truly connect with the season through choosing the right Advent traditions to take on, how the Church calls us to embrace that time of waiting, and some of the more quirky celebrations we can take on during the Advent season.

For non-Catholic Christians looking at us Catholics through the keyhole, for new Catholics looking to build some Advent liturgies into their lives, and for those Catholics who want to embrace the season even more, this is a conversation for everyone!

And I really hope you enjoy!

For more from Tsh visit her website. Her fantastic Advent book Shadow and Light is available where most fine books are found.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to [email protected].

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

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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.

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!

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. 

Support the show

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by my friend Taylor Schroll from Forte Catholic, among other things, to talk about what's wrong (and what's right?) about the official process for converting to Catholicism.

The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (R.C.I.A.) is a long-standing, historical process of initiating non-Catholics into the beauty of the Catholic Church but it's not without its faults, its pitfalls, and its problems and this week Taylor and I talk about what to do when things go wrong, how to stick with it (or move on), and what can be done to make sure the whole thing makes more sense, and creates authentic Catholic disciples.

This is such a fun conversation filled with lots of laughter, some great spicy hot takes from Taylor, and our own personal experiences of struggling through teaching and learning in the RCIA program.

I know lots of listeners to this show have had struggles (or are having struggles) with this process and we're here to try and help!

For more from Taylor check our Forte Catholic website, the podcast (available everywhere) and, in particular, the Catholic Foundations Teaching series, which is fantastic.

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!

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. 

Support the show

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by my friend and fellow Catholic convert Brantley Rutz to share the story of his conversion.

Brantley is a wonderful guy. A "dyed-in-the-wool" Protestant who even named one of his children after a famous Baptist preacher – yes, he was that serious of a Protestant. It wasn't until Brantley and his wife began investigating what they believed about Infant Baptism – and looking into what the Early Church believed about the practice – that he had ever even thought about Catholicism!

This story is a fantastic one. Listen, and learn how Brantley, a deep thinker, a dedicated Evangelical Christian, and a Calvinist to boot, made the journey into Catholicism!

To connect with Brantley find and follow him on Facebook.

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!

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 Adam Blai, an expert on exorcism out of the Diocese of Pittsburg. Adam has witnessed hundreds of solemn exorcisms, written several fine books on the topic, and helps to train exorcists in his official capacity in his diocese and also all over the world.

In this episode we talk about the nuts and bolts of exorcism, the stages and signs, why God allows demons to possess, oppress, and infiltrate the lives of humans, and what sorts of things we need to pay attention to and be wary of as Catholic Christians a world increasingly interested in the paranormal.

Adam is a great and holy man with amazing insight into the paranormal and the world of spiritual warfare. I hope you enjoy this episode!

For more from Adam check out his books from Sofia Institute Press, especially his newest The History of Exorcism.

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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 Dr. Gilbert Lavoie, MD to talk about the incredible Shroud of Turin. Dr. Lavoie, a medical doctor who has undertaken a more than 40 year forensic study of the Shroud, shares his incredible insights on what is supposedly the burial cloth of Jesus, venerated by Christians for 2,000 years.

Dr. Lavoie digs deeply into the evidence – what we know and what we don't know – and explains why everything you've heard about why the Shroud is inauthentic is probably wrong. And the evidence for why we should believe in its authenticity. It's amazing.

Dr. Lavoie is an absolute expert on this subject and shares not only insights from science, history, and archeology, but from the biblical evidence as well. And preaches a mean homily on the resurrected Christ while he's at it! What an incredible episode.

To find Dr. Lavoie's book look for The Shroud of Jesus from Sophia Institute Press or on Amazon.

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by the remarkable Sister Mary Ann Fatula, O.P. to talk about non-Catholic Christians who were converted, and then became saints, through the witness of the Eucharist and the Real Presence of Christ at Mass.

These are some incredible stories of how real people encountered the theology of the Catholic Church – the belief that Jesus is really present at Mass – and decided to convert to Catholicism. We'll talk about the Eucharist in the Early Church Fathers, the witness of other Catholics and their reverence towards the Eucharist, and the power of the tenderness of the Eucharist in Adoration. And while these stories are like a lot of the conversion stories we feature on this podcast, these converts, like St. Elizabeth Seton and St. John Henry Newman, are now canonized saints! 

Check out Sister Mary Anne's book, The Wonders of the Mass and the Eucharist: Insights from the Saints, available now from Sophia Institute Press.

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by author, speaker, and star of the  Word on Fire show, Rachel Bulman. Rachel joins me to talk about Catholic relationships, marriage, and how to understand and approach these from the perspective of the rich teachings of the Catholic Church, as understood through the lens of a convert to Catholicism.

There's so much in this wonderful conversation. We talk about our perspectives of dating, coming from the Evangelical Christian world, to the beauty of the sacramental view of matrimony in Catholicism, how to live out that daily call to spousal love, how to understand the vocation to marriage, celibacy, the priesthood and religious life, and how to impart these values to our children. 

Such a wonderful conversation and I truly hope you take something valuable away from this rich discussion.

To find out more about Rachel you can visit her website. Check out her book, Becoming Wife, available everywhere books are sold. And check out Meet the Bulman's from Word on Fire.

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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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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Catholic Answers apologist extraordinaire Joe Heschmeyer to talk about Jesus and the Eucharist.

Together we unpack the history of the Eucharist from the Early Church to today, what we mean by "real presence" and how the very first Christians understood this, the Eucharist in light of the Old and New Covenants and much, much more. It's a banger of an episode, filled with all of the best Eucharistic apologetics like you'd expect from a guest as high calibre as my friend Joe Heschmeyer.

I hope you enjoy!

For more from Joe check out latest book The Eucharist Really Is Jesus  from Catholic Answers Press and visit his website Shameless Popery where you can find links to all the amazing things Joe is doing – including his podcast Shameless Popery, available everywhere podcasts can be found.

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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 Andrew and Sarah Swafford to talk about the idea of virtue and how to have meaningful Catholic relationships at all stages of life.

Dr. Andrew Swafford and his wife Sarah are the authors of Gift and Grit: How Herotic Virtue Can Change Your Life and Relationships our from Ascension Press. Sarah, the founder of Emotional Virtue Ministries is a sought after speaker on these kinds of topics and is joined by her husband Dr. Andrew Swafford, theology professor at Benedictine College, to discuss their perspectives, as a couple, on these topics. 

We tackle chastity, emotional virtue, dating, friendships, and much, much more from a Catholic perspective and through the lens of the work of St. John Paul II.

An amazing conversation for listeners at any stage of life!

For everything that Andrew and Sarah are up to follow them on their website.

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by my good friend Robert LeBlanc, co-host of the Pints and Pews Podcast, author,  speaker, Catholic educator, and lay leader in his parish community to chat through some of the most frequently asked questions that we hear about Catholicism.

I asked listeners, viewers, and some discerning non-Catholic friends to send in their burning questions about Catholicism and, combined with questions that Robert and I get all the time as two guys practising the faith, we endeavour to answer some frequently asked questions about the Catholic faith.

I hope you enjoy this episode!

For more from Robert check out the Pints and Pews podcast everywhere podcasts are found and check out his books from Justin Press.

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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 my friend theologian, biblical scholar, and former Protestant pastor Dr. John Bergsma to talk about the roots of Catholicism which stretch back not only into the Old Testament with the Levitical Priesthood but the very beginning of the Old Testament itself in Genesis and the Garden of Eden.

Dr. Bergsma unpacks his own conversion to Catholicism which involved not only looking at how the Early Church understood Christ, his mission, and the nature of the Church, but digging right back into the Old Covenant priesthood to understand the template that God was establishing with the Jewish people – a template He would use to fulfill that covenant in Christ with the establishment of the Catholic Church.

This is an episode for the history books. If you want to understand the paradigm through which so many Catholic converts come to understand Christianity, this is a conversation you aren't going to want to miss.

For more from Dr. Bergsma visit his website.

To purchase any of John's fine books visit the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology.

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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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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 special episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm happy to share a livestream I recorded with Keith from Grassroot Catholic and Keith Nester from Down to Earth Ministries. It was a chaotic mess but lots of fun and, I hope, worth listening to!

For more from Keith check out Grassroot Catholic on Instagram and YouTube. You can find out more about Keith Nester from his website or on YouTube.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to [email protected].

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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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Thank you to those already supporting the show!

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 once again by one of the Catholic Church's leading theologians (and one of my favourite guests) Dr. Lawrence Feingold to talk about the Eucharist.

In this conversation, Dr. Feingold explains why, according to St. John Paul II, the Eucharist is the greatest gift God gave the Church; an enduring presence, closer even than what was experienced by the Apostles – and why this is so important!

If you're an Evangelical wondering what Catholics are talking about with the Eucharist or a Catholic looking to grow in your love for the Sacrament, this episode is sure to fire you up!

For more from Dr. Feingold check out his book The Eucharist: Mystery of Presence, Sacrifice and Communion and visit the St. Paul Center's Emmaus Academy where you can see Dr. Feingold's newest course (amongst others) on the Eucharist.

You can find more of his work including hours and hours of lectures at The Association of Hebrew Catholics.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to [email protected].

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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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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by my friend historian, researcher, apologist, and author Gary Michuta to talk about his latest masterpiece The Gospel Truth and how the Catholic Church helps to prove the veracity of our accounts of Jesus in the Gospels.

Gary, in typical fashion, approaches the question of the veracity of the Gospels like a dog with a bone. His research is deep, his conclusions are astounding, and his thesis -- that the Catholic Church provides necessary and important credibility to the Gospel accounts of Jesus -- is pretty incredible. You've never heard anything like this!

How does the Catholic Church prove the veracity of the Bible? Listen and you'll find out.

For more from Gary visit his website and pick up a copy of The Gospel Truth: How We Know What Christ Taught from Emmaus Road Publishing today.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to [email protected].

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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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Thank you to those already supporting the show!

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 special episode of The Cordial Catholic, I join my good friend Suan Sonna on his YouTube channel Intellectual Catholicism to share some of my research on St. Jerome and the monepiscopate.

The monepiscopate, or the monarchical episcopate, is the idea from the Early Church that one bishop was put in charge of a church, a city, or a diocese and that this is how Christian churches were governed. This is in opposition, to what some, especially Protestants, would argue which is that these churches were ruled by a plurality or collective of priests of bishops -- a more organic, haphazard arrangement.

In this conversation, I share work that I've done tracing out the views of St. Jerome, an Early Church Father, and how he understood the origin, existence, and mandate of the monepiscopate. 

For more from Suan, check out Intellectual Catholicism on YouTube, Facebook, and as a podcast on Apple Podcasts.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to [email protected].

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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.

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!

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 my very good friend Austin Suggs, to share his perspectives on some of the best arguments for Catholicism.

Austin is an Evangelical and the host of the extremely popular Gospel Simplicity YouTube channel where he's spoken with and learned from some of the best and brightest minds in Evangelical Christianity, Catholicism, and Eastern Orthodoxy. Austin shares what he's learned (so far) and which arguments for Catholicism he finds most compelling.

Austin is a wonderful friend and I hope this is a truly enjoyable episode to listen to!

For more from Austin check out his YouTube channel Gospel Simplicity and search our archives on your favourite podcast app to find his previous appearances, including "Why I'm Not Catholic," which was Episode 136.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to [email protected].

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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.

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!

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 my good friend, Catholic convert, historian, and author Rod Bennett to talk about how someone looking for a new church – especially our Evangelical friends – should go about it.

Rod, a fellow convert, has some incredible perspectives on this question and talks about church unity (and shares some incredible statistics), what the ancient church looked like (and agreed upon), and the perils of finding a "biblical" church when you're the one interpreting your own Bible. Plus, much, much more.

As always, Rod shares some brilliant takeaways that will make your head spin.

For more from Rod Bennett, check out his numerous previous appearances in the archives of the show including conversations about Catholic Witnesses to the Early Church (Episode 141) and Were the Early Christians Catholic? (Episode 089).

And check out These Twelve, Rod's latest book from Catholic Answers Press and his author page on Amazon for all of his amazing publications.

Also check out the Popcorn Cathedral on YouTube for some incredible content.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to [email protected].

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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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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,  I'm joined by Casey and Erin Phillips from the Bapticatholic Podcast to talk about their journeys out of their fervent Baptist roots into full communion with the Catholic Church.

Strongly evangelical from the beginning of their journeys, Casey and Erin explain exactly what drew them to Catholicism – and it's an amazing story!

From miraculous experiences of beauty to asking the tough questions to converting in spite of being in the incredible minority of Catholics in their area, this is a story of grace, of Christ calling His own back to Himself, and of exactly why a Baptist couple, on fire for their faith, would ever consider becoming something as crazy as Catholic.

For more from Casey and Erin check out their podcast The BaptiCatholic Show everywhere podcasts are found.  You can also visit their website and find them on YouTube where you should subscribe to their channel immediately.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

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

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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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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,  I'm joined by Leeanne Thomas to talk about her amazing and seemingly unlikely journey into the Catholic Church. Raised in a small Mennonite town in Northern Canada Leeanne journeyed through Charismatic Christianity, into a deep love for theology and the liturgy, and finally onto a pathway to ordination into the Anglican priesthood before deciding that she ultimately had to become Catholic.

Leeanne's journey is fascinating as she discovers her love for liturgical living while working on a degree at a charismatic Bible college, her calling to the priesthood, and her ultimate struggle with teaching authoritatively from a theological landscape, in Anglicanism, that seemed to accept all points of view.

Plus, her discovery of the Early Church, her realization of the importance of the Pope, and her conversations with her husband, Dr. Matthew Thomas, a guest of this show, all figure into her amazing story.

Be sure to check out the earlier appearances by her husband, and fellow convert, Dr. Matthew J. Thomas in our show archives.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

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

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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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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,  I'm joined by Renzo and Monica Ortega, podcasters, ministry leaders, authors and the couple behind the apostolate Two Become Family. We're breaking down exactly what the Catholic Church believes and teaches about marriage, family, and sexuality – and it's an amazing conversation.

We tackle Natural Family Planning, contraception, the Catholic vision of marriage (and the sanctification of spouses), and much, much more. And I couldn't ask for a better couple to have this conversation with than Renzo and Monica; they're honest, earnest, and humble and have some fantastic insights on these topics.

If you're newly married, newly Catholic, or discerning a conversion, listen and learn exactly what Catholics believe about marriage, family, and sexuality.

For more from Renzo and Monica visit their website. You can find Pre-Cana with the Pope everywhere podcasts are found, and follow them on Instagram too.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

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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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Thank you to those already supporting the show!

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, I'm joined by Olivia Spears, mother, educator, and curriculum creator behind the incredible Into the Deep catechetical series to talk about raising authentic Catholic kids.

This conversation, especially for new Catholic families just starting out, new converts, and those looking at the Catholic Church wondering where their family fits in, is filled with incredible insights, ideas, and advice from a seasoned Catholic parent. Olivia is a blast, so wise, and shares some incredible knowledge about how those just starting out in the Catholic faith can pass on the faith, their experience, and their joy.

This was a wonderful conversation that many of you have requested, and I hope it's widely enjoyed!

For more from Olivia check out Into the Deep.

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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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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, I'm joined by the wonderful Karen Edmisten, author, Mom, and surprised Catholic convert, Karen joins me this week to tell her amazing story from atheism into the Catholic Church.

Raised without any religion at all Karen was surprised when she began to ask questions about the meaning of life – to encounter people who caused her to ask these kinds of questions by the way they lived – and ended up becoming Christian. To her surprise, she wasn't done yet, and Karen eventually made her way into the Catholic Church.

Her husband, a practical atheist, was as surprised as anyone but he came along for the journey and, eventually, converted to Catholicism as well.

Through struggles, challenges, incredible miracles, and wonderful stories along the way, Karen tells the tale of her amazing journey from atheism into Catholicism and how it's fundamentally changed her life, her husband's life, and the live of their family.

You're going to love this episode!

For more from Karen visit her website.

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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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In this episode, I'm joined by author, educator, and Catholic convert Lorelei Savaryn to talk about her incredible journey out of Evangelical Christianity into the Catholic Church.

A passionate Evangelical, Lorelei and her husband began questioning the foundations of their faith when they encountered questions of "Once Saved, Always Saved," the example of the Early Church, and the beauty of the liturgy. These questions, and more, tugged at Lorelei's conscience and eventually moved her to declare that either Christ founded a Church which exists somewhere, or he didn't found a Church at all.

The rest is a great story, which Lorelei tells so well in this episode. I think you'll love it!

For more from Lorelei visit her author website. She also writes at ThisCatholicFamily.com and is a contributor at Catholic Mom.

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In this episode, I'm joined by Father Daniel-Maria Klimek, T.O.R. to talk about Mary. Father Klimek has a fantastic new book all about this subject and we dig in deeply. From topics like Mary's role as the New Ark of the Covenant, her power of the demonic realm, her prayers on our behalf, and exactly how and why we can – and should – grow more deeply in love with the Mother of Jesus, all in this fantastic episode.

If you're on the fence about Catholicism because of an "allergy" to idolatry, if Mary is the last objection standing in the way, or maybe even the first, this episode will help you answer some of the most challenging questions.

For more from Father Klimek find his book For the Love of Mary at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology and visit his YouTube channel.

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In this episode, I'm joined by Casey Chalk, a Catholic convert/revert and author of The Obscurity of Scripture, to talk about one of the great big problems with the bedrock of Protestantism and the interpretation of Scripture.

We're talking about the Protestant doctrine of the clarity of Scripture – the perspicuity of Scripture – or the idea that the Bible is so clear that any Christian can understand it for themselves. This idea, which Chalk argues is foundational to Protestant Christianity, is faulty at its core.

This is a fun episode; about as edgy and controversial as we get on this show but digging deeply into something that both Chalk, as a convert, and myself ran into in our search for how to understand the Bible. Chalk presents some compelling evidence that, we hope, will help Protestant's to evaluate their worldview, and take a second look at Catholicism.

For more from Chalk visit his website, and find his fantastic book The Obscurity of Scripture: Disputing Sola Scriptura and the Protestant Notion of Biblical Perspicuity from the St. Paul Center.

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In this episode, I'm joined by my good friend Keith Nester and his wife Estelle to talk about their Catholic journey.

Keith and Estelle met as Keith was beginning his work as a Protestant pastor; work that would take up 22 years of life his. Estelle, raised Catholic but not practising, was happy to follow Keith into Evangelical Christianity, to get married, raise kids, and live and serve as a pastor's wife.

So, what was it like when Keith began feeling the tug towards Catholicism?

Their journey is an amazing one and their honesty and love for one another and our Lord just shines through this conversation.

For all spouses going through a conversion journey, or thinking about one, this is absolutely the best thing to listen to and I hope it encourages you greatly!

For more from Keith please check out our extensive back catalogue – he's appeared may 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 (for over 1,000 days and counting). Not bad for a Protestant pastor.

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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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Thank you to those already supporting the show!

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 author, radio host, podcaster, and mother extraordinaire, the wonderful Katie Prejean McGrady, to talk about the ridiculous, terrible, and downright crappy ways Catholics can (and do) share the faith.

Katie is an incredible human being and puts herself out there, on the radio and social media, every single day. She's an evangelizer, authentic to the core, and not afraid to share what she's thinking; and this is a topic she's thought lots about. She shares some of her experiences, great stories, and awesome life lessons.

We talk about some of the awful interactions we've had online (and in person) and how to do BETTER when it comes to sharing our faith and being a Catholic, seeking after the Kingdom, on social media and in the pew.

For more from Katie check out her website – everything you need to know is there!

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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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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 The Miracle Hunter, Michael O'Neill, to share some of his fantastic insights and stories from years of gathering, cataloging, and investigating miracles around the world.

Miracles, for me as an Evangelical Christian, were one of those things that challenged my paradigm – especially when it came to miracles involving the Eucharist, apparitions of Mary, and the prayers of the saints, things we didn't believe in as non-Catholic Christians.

This week, we dig deeply into some of these incredibly fascinating stories and Michael explains how the Catholic Church investigates miracles, how it declares some authentic, and what that means for believers everywhere.

For more from Michael check out his website.

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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.

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!

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, for our 200th episode, I'm joined by Catholic Answers Senior Apologist Jimmy Akin to share some of the reasons why the Protestant doctrine of Sola Scriptura is problematic – and what a reasonable alternative, in the Catholic Church, may be!

For me, as an Evangelical struggling with divisions over the interpretation of Scripture within my own faith communities,  the very bedrock of my faith – the Bible as the sole, infallible rule of faith – became a real point of concern. Could this really be what Christ envisioned for his Church? Jimmy shares some of his concerns, answers some of mine, and explains why even the most innovative and modern formulations of Sola Scriptura, from the top Evangelical apologists, fail some pretty basic tests.

For more about Jimmy visit his website. Also see Catholic Answers. And, check Jimmy Akin's book The Bible is a Catholic Book.

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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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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 my friend – the guy who got me into podcasting in the first place! – Matt Pana to talk about the Kingdom of God.

Matt was raised Catholic in a Filipino-American household but drifted into Evangelical Christianity as a young adult. He came enthusiastically back into the practice of Catholicism after being exposed to Catholic apologists like Patrick Madrid and Scott Hahn and, today, joins me to share a bit about that journey and how the Catholic Church understands, and embodies, what Jesus describes as the "Kingdom of God."

 For more from Matt, check out on social media @mattpana and check out Deep Cuts on the Array of Hope Network, a wonderful show he hosts on pop culture and Catholicism.

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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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Thank you to those already supporting the show!

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, in one of the most enjoyable episodes to date, I'm joined by Daniel and Steven from The Catholic Brothers to talk about their journey out of and back into the Catholic faith.

Raised in a devout Catholic home, Daniel and Steven unpack exactly what drew them out of the Catholic faith and into Evangelical Christianity, then Anglicanism, and finally back into full communion with the Catholic Church. 

It's an amazing story that touches on some of the beautiful experiences of Evangelical Christianity, the need for an authority structure in Anglicanism, and, eventually, the authentic witness of the Early Church Fathers for the truth of Catholic Christianity.

This episode is just jam-packed and Daniel and Steven are fantastic storytellers with an excellent story to tell.

For more from The Catholic Brothers check out their podcast (available everywhere) and their YouTube channel. The work is top-notch.

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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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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 Catholic convert Mike Sharp to tell the incredible conversion journey him and his wife experienced – culminating in their decision to join the Catholic Church!

Mike's journey touches on so many interesting points like the insufficiency of Sola Scriptura, the Early Church and apostolic succession, the liturgy, the Eucharist, confession, authority, and so much more. You name it, Mike wrestled with it, and his thoughtful, deeply spiritual engagement with all of these topics makes this one of the best conversion stories out there. Mike absolutely nails it and by the grace of God has come through this amazing experience with a great story to tell.

I think you're going to love it.

For more from Mike visit his website and check out his podcast, Sharpened Iron, everywhere you find podcasts.

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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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Thank you to those already supporting the show!

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 once again by the incredible Mike Aquilina, church historian extraordinaire, to talk about the African roots of the Catholic Church.

Mike unpacks some of the interesting – and surprising – roots of things we take for granted in Catholic Christianity: the liturgy, the Latin language, some of our most important developments of doctrine and dogma and, of course, some of the most important thinkers in Early Christianity.

Mike has a great take on Church history, great insights, and great stories to well. I hope you enjoy it!

For more from Mike check out his latest book Africa and the Early Church: The Almost-Forgotten Roots of Catholic Christianity.

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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!

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. 

Support the show

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Lauren Bacon. Lauren is an "expected Catholic convert" and the wife of John Bacon, a former Anglican priest, and a previous guest on this show. John's own story featuring exorcisms, a friendship with Dr. David Anders, miracles, and the Early Church – and, this week, we hear it from his spouse's perspective!

Lauren joins us to tell her own unique conversion story and walks us through what it was like to meet someone destined for ministry, ordained an Anglican priest, only to have God take their relationship with Himself and with one another in a completely different direction. It's a story about faithfulness, trusting God, and thirsting after the Truth!

With lots of twists, turns, and miracles along the way. It's a great conversation.

To listen to her husband John Bacon's episode look for Episode 167: An Anglican Priest Encounters Catholicism (w/ John Bacon) on your favourite podcasting app.

For more from Lauren check out her Instagram page.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

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

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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.

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!

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. 

Support the show

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Shannon Wimp Schmidt, Parish Vitality Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Chicago, to talk about the Catholic parish. What exactly should we expect from a Catholic parish?  How does it compare to an Evangelical church? How can we get more involved? What if nothing is happening in our parish – is it OK to go somewhere else?

These questions, and many more, are answered this week as Shannon joins me for an honest, sometimes spicy, chat about what's going on at the grassroots level in the Catholic Church.

You don't want to miss this!

For more from Shannon, check out her podcast Plaid Skirts & Basic Black everywhere podcasts are found and. her fantastic book Fat Luther, Slim Pickin's: A Black Catholic Celebration of Faith, Tradition, and Diversity. 

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. 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!

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. 

Support the show

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In this episode, I'm joined  by David Patterson from Yes Catholic to talk about his own incredible journey out of, and then back into, the Catholic faith – thanks to some amazing miracles, plenty of grace, and some incredible moments of divine providence!

Then we dig into what it means to say "Yes" to Christ and His Church, the beauty of being Catholic, the Eucharist, confession, and so many incredible stories of grace that David has encountered in his life and the stories he's heard.

It's an awesome episode!

For more from David visit his website and follow Yes Catholic 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.

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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.

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!

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. 

Support the show

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In this episode, I'm joined  Heidi Witte, aka Miss Heidi, from Children's Liturgy of the Word, to talk about just about everything to do with raising our kids Catholic.

For this listener-requested topic, we tackle bringing kids to Mass, passing on the faith, creating a domestic church within our homes, celebrating the liturgical calendar and feast days, praying as a family, and a whole bunch of other incredible insights, ideas, and tools for not only making the Mass meaningful but for helping us to raise our kids Catholic.

Heidi is an educator, a mom, a speaker, and an bonafide expert on making the Catholic faith intelligible and meaningful for children. She has a lot to share.

For more from Heidi check out her Linktree. And, for a huge list of resources Heidi has generously compiled for our listeners click here.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

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

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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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Thank you to those already supporting the show!

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. 

Support the show

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In this episode, I'm joined by the Marlene Watkins, founder of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospitality North American Volunteers, to talk about Lourdes: the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to a poor French peasant girl, the miracles that followed, and, incredibly, the mind-blowing miracles that science and medicine cannot prove which are still happening today!

This episode is truly one of my favourites. Marlene shares her experience with leading over 200 pilgrimages, bringing thousands of pilgrims to this incredible holy site, and some of the amazing miracles experienced there.

On my own personal journey into Catholicism, miracles surrounding the Virgin Mary left me confused. After all, if Mary was just a simple girl, just a means for Jesus to be born on Earth, then how could she possibly "perform miracles"? It never made sense to me as an Evangelical. Stories like these, of incredible miracles as a result of the prayers of Mary, shook my faith!

If that's you, on the journey, maybe they'll shake yours too!

For more from Marlene Watkins check out her book Everyday Miracles of Lourdes and visit Lourdes Volunteers to find out more about how you can get involved.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

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In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Matthew Breuninger, clinical psychologist and associate professor of Psychology at Franciscan University of Steubenville to talk about finding freedom from our wounds in Christ and the Catholic Church. We talk about the healing power of the sacraments, how to begin letting go of what we put in the way of true healing and freedom and, practically, how we can get out of the way and let God do His thing.

This was such a fun and joyful conversation and I really hope you enjoy it!

For more from Dr. Breuninger check out Finding Freedom in Christ: Healing Life's Hurts from the St. Paul Center and Emmaus Road Publishing.

Also, check out Dr. Breuninger on Twitter, his YouTube channel, and if you're interested you can join him on pilgrimage too.

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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, I'm joined by Dr. Justus Hunter, a Methodist seminary professor, church historian, and theologian to unpack his family's remarkable story of Catholic conversion. From an "all in for Jesus" faith background, Justus and his wife, both devout and deeply connected Christians, began to find themselves attracted to the Catholic faith and, following an incredible journey eventually became Catholic.

Justus spins a fantastic tale this week full of ups and downs, miracles, incredible insights, and a healthy dose of Holy Spirit connections to explain what drew his wife, himself, and their family out of a faith tradition they loved into Catholicism – a decision which could've easily cost Justus his job, their livelihood, and their faith support network.

It's a great conversation!

To find and follow Justus Hunter check out his faculty page at United Theological Seminary and his Twitter account.

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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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In this episode, I'm joined by my good friend Keith Nester to talk about some of the pitfalls new Catholic converts may experience on their journey. Keith is a former Protestant pastor (with 20+ years in ministry), a Catholic convert himself, the author of some fantastic books, and the host of a popular YouTube channel – and he knows a thing or two about this topic!

We talk about bad liturgy, bringing kids to Mass, a loss of programs, events, and a sense of community we once had in our Evangelicals churches, sermons and homilies, music in the Mass – and much, much more. This episode is all about being guide for those looking into the Church – a kind of peek into what you may encounter – what we encountered – that wasn't always exactly what we expected.

It's an honest, earnest conversation about how, sometimes, our expectations weren't exactly met – and how maybe those expectations weren't the best anyway. Plus much more.

For more from Keith please check out our extensive back catalogue – he's appeared may 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 (for over 1,000 days and counting). Not bad for a Protestant pastor.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

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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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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, I'm joined by one of my favourite people to talk to Erick Ybarra. Erick is a former Reformed Baptist who became Anglican in his search for an authoritative, apostolic Church but didn't stop there. After carefully examining Catholic vs. Orthodox claims Erick eventually became Catholic – although continued his long and exhaustive search of Scriptures and Church History to be able to fully defend his decision. Erick's search, and his extensive research into the papacy, is recorded in his new book The Papacy: Revisiting the Debate Between Catholics and Orthodox.

Erick joins us this week to unpack the history of the papacy from Scripture and throughout Church history; tackling subjects like development of the papacy, papal infallibility, objections to Catholic claims, and more.

To read more from Erick check out his popular blog and check out some of his other amazing books, too.

Erick shared his conversion story on this podcast on Episode 144: Where is the True Church?

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In this episode, I'm joined by the show's most requested guest Keith from Grassroot Catholic. Keith has a popular Instagram and YouTube channel where he unpacks beautiful, sometimes forgotten practices from the Catholic faith, encourages reverence, and shares awesome insights as someone trying to earnestly live the Catholic life and pursuit Christ.

Keith is an awesome guy – of course he is, he's a Keith – and this is a wonderful conversation about how we can be more reverent as Catholic even when those around us don't seem to get it. We tackle the Mass, the Eucharist, Adoration, Confession, guitars, bad worship songs from the 90's, and that time I heard about a water gun fight during a Baptism.

It's all in here, and it's all awesome.

For more from Keith check him out on YouTube and Instagram.

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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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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, I'm joined by Patrick Callahan, Director of the Newman Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. We talk about the Catholic experience on college campuses and dig into some of this wisdom Patrick's gleaned over years of working with Catholics on campus.

We chat about how Catholics often come to college (inoculated against learning more about the Catholic faith), how to meet them and engage them, how relationships trump programs, and how introducing Catholics to a mindset of wonder, curiosity, and the great books can help to draw them into a deeper, more meaningful Catholic faith in those crucial college years.

It's an incredible conversation.

For more from Patrick and the Newman Institute check out their website.

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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.

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!

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. 

Support the show

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In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Michael Foley, renown author, professor of theology, and one of the best storytellers out there to explain some of the incredibly weird and terribly wonderful Christian roots of our favourite Christmas traditions.

Dr. Foley unpacks the dating of Christmas, the roots of Santa Claus, the incredibly weird world of "Mutant Christmas Saints," and much, much more as we sit down for a glass of egg nog and stir up some Christmas cheer.

Listen, enjoy, and impress your family around the Christmas table with the most incredibly strange facts about the origin of the Christmas traditions we know and love. I guarantee you you'll learn something new – and have a ton of fun listening!

To find more from Dr. Foley check out his website. And find his latest book "Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe" from Regency Press and everywhere books are found.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

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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!

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, I'm joined by author, speaker, and all-around awesome guy Mike Pacer to talk about Advent. What is Advent? How can we best approach Advent? What are some Advent traditions, liturgies, and activities to try for single people and for families?

Mike draws on the beautiful history of his Catholic upbringing to share some incredible insights into Advent specifically for new Catholics and non-Catholics looking to understand this ancient Christian tradition.

For more from Mike check out Cedar House, an online Catholic marketplace where you can find his book and much, much more.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

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

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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.

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!

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, I'm joined by Dr. Randall B. Smith, theologian, professor, and a Catholic convert himself, to talk about the wonderfully uplifting subject of death, dying, and the afterlife.

Actually, we have a great time.

Randall has some incredible insights in these areas and draws on history, experience, and the wisdom of the Church to help shape our understanding of how to think about, talk about, and evangelize around these difficult and strange subjects. It's a great conversation about an uncomfortable topic!

For more from Randall check out his website. You can also find Randall's writing over at The Catholic Thing.

Look for his book, From Here to Eternity, from Emmaus Road Publishing and available everywhere.

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!

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. 

Support the show

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Eddie Trask, host of the Catholic Re.Con. YouTube channel, to discuss his incredibly intense and interesting journey back to the Catholic Church as a "revert" to the faith.

Eddie's story is a wild one with many ups and downs and a journey which led him, a baptized Catholic, into non-denominational Protestant Christianity where he and his wife – a former Seventh Day Adventist – found a spiritual home. But mixed messages from the pulpit, confusion around biblical interpretation, and Eddie's research into Early Christianity slowly began to poke holes in Eddie's Christian worldview.

When he began exploring the Catholicism of his childhood in earnest he discovered much that he never even knew. It's a fascinating story. Not to mention Eddie's incredible experience of confession after leading a double-life – it's intense! 

For more from Eddie, visit his website. Also check out his YouTube channel Catholic Re.Con. for some seriously great content.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

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

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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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Thank you to those already supporting the show!

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 one of our favourite guests of all time, Dr. Douglas Beaumont, to talk about Evangelical Christian conversions to Catholicism. Doug is a convert himself and a former student, then instructor, at Southern Evangelical Seminary where he worked, as a graduate student, under the late Evangelical theologian Dr. Norman Geisler.

Dr. Beaumont tells the story of his own conversion – borne out of looking into the Bible's origins and authority – and the how, why's, and when's of other Evangelical Christians and their conversions to Catholicism.

Doug was the very first guest on the podcast nearly four years ago and he's always a welcome visitor – his insights in this episode, as always, are incredible.

To find more from Dr. Beaumount visit his website and check out his fantastic YouTube channel as well.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

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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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Thank you to those already supporting the show!

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. 

Support the show

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Morgan K. Blair, an evangelical, episcopal convert to the Catholic faith. Morgan tells her story of what happened when an author she respected and followed and then a good friend of hers became Catholic and how it catapulted her into her own journey.

Morgan explains how she met Catholics online who walked with her, how she left behind progressive Christians views for the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, and the incredible graces, blessings, and life-changing events which have followed.

To follow Morgan, find her on Twitter.

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

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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!

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. 

Support the show

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by speaker, author, and accomplished Catholic Answers apologist Karlo Broussard to talk about anticipating and responding to Protestant objections to Catholic ideas. It's all about knowing the Catholic faith and how to respond under pressure – and it's a great conversation.

Karlo is a great guy and a perfect fit for the goal of this show which is to cordially explain the Catholic faith. Karlo has made a career out of building up the best arguments against the Catholic faith and, in charity, showing why they're completely wrong!

For more from Karlo check out Catholic Answers and his website. His book, Meeting the Protestant Response is available everywhere.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

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

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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.

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!

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. 

Support the show

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by author, filmmaker, and Catholic convert Don Johnson to talk about his experience with Sola Scriptura – "Bible alone" Christianity – and how, he finds, it's not only utterly broken but utterly breaking the larger Christian church, the witness of Christianity, and the ability of Christians to stand up for Christian beliefs with a united front.

Drawing on examples from slavery, the sexual revolution, and more, Don lays out a concrete case for the destructive nature of the principle of Sola Scriptura – and a pathway forward.

For more from Don check out his website where you can stream his films and buy his books.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

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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.

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!

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. 

Support the show

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by YouTube sensation Mike Wilson from The Popish Plot to tell the incredible story of how an encounter with a well-meaning Evangelical Christian – and his pastor – led Mike to look deeper into his own Catholic faith, to double down on the ancient creeds, and to become serious about following the practice of his Catholic faith.

It's an amazing story which begins with a question about salvation and baptism but doesn't end there. You're going to love our conversation!

For more from Mike you can follow him on Twitter and find The Popish Plot on podcast and on their YouTube channel which you absolutely must check out.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

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

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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!

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. 

Support the show

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Dr. Abigail Favale, one of the foremost Catholic thinkers on the topics of gender and sexuality, to give us the straight goods on what the Catholic Church believes about gender.

We've tried our best to strip away ideology, prejudice, and commentary and dig into what we mean by gender, how it's understood by others, and what the Catholic Church presents for us to believe, and follow, as practising Catholic Christians. It's one heck of a conversation and I'm grateful to Abigail for coming (back!) on the show to have it.

For more from Dr. Favale check out her fantastic book The Genesis of Gender and her conversion story Into the Deep.

You can also find her writing for Notre Dame's Church Life Journal.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

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

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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!

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. 

Support the show

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Jack Morgan from the What Is Truth podcast, a non-denominational, evangelical convert to the Catholic faith who shares his journey – and his absolutely contagious excitement about being Catholic!

We talk about the Old Testament studies, the Early Church, questioning authority, Mary, the Magisterium, and how an incredibly devout, reasonable, Bible-loving, Christ-centred Christian would ever think about becoming Catholic. Jack's story is a great one – and one for the record books.

I think you'll love it!

For more from Jack, check out the What is Truth podcast, available everywhere and take a lot at the incredible apostolate Jack works with Seton Teaching Fellows.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

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

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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!

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. 

Support the show

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by my good friend Keith Nester, a former Protestant pastor, to unpack the rosary. What exactly do we do when we're praying the rosary? How do we pray it more fruitfully and more authentically? How can we avoid the trap of "vain repetition" that Protestants often accuse Catholics of. And more.

Keith explains how the rosary is a Bible study, a sermon series, and a recounting of the life of Christ that we can enter into again and again, each time discovering new fruits from God.

Keith Nester is a former Protestant pastor – he spent over 20 years in ministry before converting to Catholicism. Keith is the host of the Catholic Feedback podcast and has an incredibly popular YouTube channel (that I'm sure you've already heard of).

You can find the Rosary Crew on YouTube, too.

To check out Keith's book, Unpacking the Mysteries of the Rosary visit his website.

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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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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 Levi Sikes, the musical genius behind Former Ruins, to talk about his journey into Catholicism. What drew Levi out of his Evangelical Christian tradition, what drew him into Catholicism, and what continues to draw him in, evermore. And, as a musician, how Levi strives to bridge this gap, to explain and wrestle with his own paradigm shift, and to speak into a place of the deep faith and longing felt by others on journeys similar to his.

It's an amazing interview!

For more from Levi check out the Formers Ruins website, on Bandcamp, and everywhere streaming music is found! You won't be disappointed.

Send your feedback to [email protected].

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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.

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!

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 Sister Orianne Pietra René from the Daughters of St. Paul to talk about the story of her deep conversion to Catholicism – out of a very interesting mixed-religious household – and the call to her vocation as a religious sister, living out her life in the service of Christ and the Church.

It's a fascinating look at how God calls someone to deeper and deeper conversion – like St. Paul, of course – and how to listen for and answer that call. And some really fascinating stories along the way.

So grateful to be able to talk with Sr. Orianne and I hope you enjoy this episode!

For more from the Daughters of St. Paul check out their website and find one of their bookstores around the world.

You an also follow Sr. Orianne on Instagram where she's always sharing incredible content.

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!

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 my good friend Robert LeBlanc, co-host of the Pints and Pews Podcast, author, and speaker – and a guy who was born in the same hometown as me! Our conversation this week revolves around that idea: what it's like to be grow up Catholic (for Robert) and Evangelical (for me) in the same small-ish town.

Robert shares some incredible stories of his own upbringing from how he inherited and experience the faith of his parents, his peers, and the Catholic Church of his time. I share some of my own thoughts and impressions of the Catholics I knew and experienced and my perspective on Catholicism as an Evangelical – a convert to the faith at age 15.

I had this idea for a conversation like this ever since Robert invited me on his podcast and we realized that we both grew up in the same small-ish town. I had no idea how the conversation would go but, as it turns out, it was amazing. I hope you enjoy it.

For more from Robert check out the Pints and Pews podcast everywhere podcasts are found and check out his books from Justin 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!

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. 

Support the show

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by the one and only Melissa Presser to talk about her amazing journey into Catholicism.

Raised culturally Jewish, Melissa had an incredible encounter with God which led her to become a devout practitioner of her Jewish faith. Through trauma and abuse Melissa continued to practice and deepen her faith eventually being led by the Holy Spirit into Protestant Christianity and, through some incredible encounters (including St. Edith Stein!), finally home into the Catholic Church.

Melissa's journey is great and she's a wonderful storyteller.

To find out more about Melissa and her work check out her website and make sure to read her work over on Missio Dei as well.

Melissa also asked to include these additional thoughts in our show notes.

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!

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. 

Support the show

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

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In this REPLAY episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by the incredible Father Mauro Gagliardi, STD, Catholic theologian, to talk about Mary.

Fr. Gagliardi is the author of an enormous 1,000 page book on Catholic Dogmatic Theology and, within the context of this massive work, we're talking about his chapter on Mary. It's an absolutely fascinating discussion.

We talk about Mary's role in salvation history, the importance of her "yes" to God, her role as Mother of God, and the various Marian dogmas like the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption.

It's a great talk to help underscore exactly why Catholics make such a big deal about Mary – and her role in the Catholic Church today, which is always pointing back to Christ.

For more from Fr. Gagliardi, check out his incredible book Truth is a Synthesis: Catholic Dogmatic Theology from Emmaus Academic.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to [email protected].

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for my reflections on each 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!

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. 

Support the show

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In this special episode of the show, I tell the story of the one question – asked by a pastor I was working for – that began my journey into Catholicism.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to [email protected].

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for my reflections on each 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!

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. 

Support the show

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

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In this REPLAY episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Catholic convert Kenny Burchard. Kenny spent 33 years as an Charismatic, Evangelical Christian, more than twenty of those in full-time ministry, including planting and pastoring churches, before becoming Catholic in dramatic fashion!

In this fantastic discussion we unpack the call Kenny heard to become Catholic, what drew him in, and what questions he had about the Bible, authority, and the nature of the Church even before he decided to attend his first Catholic Mass.

This is a great conversation not only for those considering Catholicism but for those, like Kenny and his family, who honestly and earnestly are seeking after the leading of God's spirit – and are willing to follow no matter what it means, or where He leads.

For more from Kenny Burchard visit his website. Also be sure to check him out at ThinkTheology.org and you can watch a short video of his conversion story on YouTube.

For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to [email protected].

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for my reflections on each 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!

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. 

Support the show

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

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In this special episode of The Cordial Catholic, I share a bit about our journey relying on God, trusting Him to go before us, and the miracles that followed as we bought a house.

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!

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. 

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 creative artist, musician, television host Benjamin Wolaver to talk about his journey into the Catholic faith – and the journey of his entire family band!

Wolaver, who plays Benjamin Cello on the incredible television program The Wonderful World of Benjamin Cello, converted to the Catholic faith alongside his parents and siblings – all members of the incredible Annie Moses Band!

What happens when an entire family band converts to Catholicism? It's an incredible story told by a wonderful story teller.

To see Benjamin's television work visit The Wonderful World of Benjamin Cello.

Check out the Annie Moses Band for music, touring schedule, and more at their 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!

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. 

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 former Anglican priest and Catholic convert John Bacon to talk about his conversion story – and it's an incredible one!

Ordained a priest in the Anglican Church in North America, John tells his story of encountering Catholicism through the Liturgy, the Early Church Fathers, Mary's role in exorcisms (which he encountered as a police chaplain!), and even a relationship which he struck up with another famous convert Dr. David Anders at a Jewish gym where John worked during seminary.

John's story is all about what it means to give up so much to follow Christ where he leads, bumps and all along the way, but living for the journey. I'm telling you... this journey is amazing!

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!

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. 

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 once again by world renown Early Church expert and author (and one of my favourite guests) Mike Aquilina. On this episode, Mike joins us to talk about how the Early Church read, understood, and used the Scriptures.

What does it mean that the primary place of Scripture was in the Liturgy? What's more important Scripture or Tradition? Could all Christians afford Bibles? Could all Christians read? What do we know about which books were accepted and which weren't and the formation of the Canon of Scripture.

These questions, and many more, as Mike takes us way back into the early days of Christianity to help us understand how they did (and we should!) read our Bibles and understand it's place in the context of our faith.

For more from Mike check out his book How the Fathers Read the Bible: Scripture, Liturgy, and the Early Church.

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!

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. 

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 the incredible, world-renown theologian Dr. Margaret Turek to provide the Catholic case for the atonement.

And, boy, is it ever incredible!

Dr. Turek lays out in beautiful depth and poetry, the whole of salvation history. Why Jesus had to come, die, and rise from the dead. Why Jesus had to die the way He did. What was the Father's role in "abandoning" Christ on the cross? And what do Catholics believe about it all.

This episode is, simply put, the very best case for how the Catholic Church understands atonement as you'll ever find – I'm sure of it! If you have questions about what Catholics believe about the crucifixion, Easter, the Passion of Christ, Good Friday, satisfaction, justification, sanctification, or grace ... this is the episode for you!

For more from Dr. Margaret Turek check out her book from Ignatius Press, Atonement: Soundings in Biblical, Trinitarian, and Spiritual Theology.

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!

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. 

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 Catholic Answers apologist extraordinaire Joe Heschmeyer to discuss the structure of the Early Church.

Was the Early Church made up of loosely affiliated groups of believers, or did the Early Church inherit a clear hierarchical structure from the apostles? The question is one of the most important ones to answer, considering it'll help to determine WHICH church Christ founded – out of many different denominations.

In this episode, Joe takes us into the earliest evidence to show exactly how we know what kind of Church Christ founded, where it is today, and why it's important to find. Plus, we talk about common objections to some of Joe's findings and where they go wrong.

For more from Joe check out his book The Early Church Was Catholic from Catholic Answers Press and visit his website Shameless Popery where he promises to, someday, be launching a podcast.

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!