Is Mean Girls the best movie of the 00’s? It’s likely the most quoted. Screenwriter Emily Schmitt joins us to discuss the movie, the musical, and now the movie musical, Mean Girls. So fetch!

It’s the question Catholics love to argue about. Let’s get into it. Mary Did you Know?

Mike sits down with Audrey Assad who shares very freely about her journey away from the Catholic faith, her music, her healing and her heart. All of this and more as we also geek out about Celine Dion. Mike‘s wife also makes a few cameos to sing.

Mike sits down with Audrey Assad who shares very freely about her journey away from the Catholic faith, her music, her healing and her heart. All of this and more as we also geek out about Celine Dion. Mike‘s wife also makes a few cameos to sing.

A muslim & a catholic walk into a discussion on The Hunger Games, geopolitics, and human nature. This episode is unlike any I’ve done before. Dr. Shyam Sriram is an Indian-American, muslim convert, and a political science professor at a Jesuit Catholic college. He turned out to be the perfect person with whom to have an open-minded conversation about a controversial and difficult subject. I invite you to listen with an open heart and to pray and work for peace.

It’s been 2 years since Olivia Rodrigo trampled the music scene with her debut  “Sour,” and her new follow up “Guts” is even more in your face. Lillian Fallon, author of “A Theology of Style” joins us to talk about self image, modern dating, life in the fashion industry, and why O Rod’s music is just so so so good.

Mike and his friend Julia (Seven Mile Chats) went to the Eras tour and it reminded us of the mass. This episode is us being Taylor/pop music/Theology/Liturgy nerds turned up to 11.

Hi Barbie! It's the biggest movie of the year and it's weird and funny and loud and thought provoking. I was not expecting to like this movie as much as I did and I'm so glad I got to talk to the founder of Girl Talk, Julie Larkin. She has a wealth of experience working with young women and a grounded and wise perspective on what it's like to be a young woman today.

Is there any show more important for millennial women than Gilmore Girls? Rory, Lorelai, & Emily Gilmore have something to teach us if we are paying attention: What does it take to be a good mother? A good daughter? Does privilege ruin us? Is feminism all it’s cracked up to be? What should a woman look for in a man?  Allison Sullivan, creator of the “Sinner Saint Sister” podcast and SullivanFamilyTikTok (1.2 Million followers) joins us to dive into why this show has touched so many young women.

Army Chaplain Recruiter, Jumpmaster, and Catholic priest, Fr. Peter Pomposello joins us to discuss the art and moral dilemmas of Christipher Nolan's latest epic: Oppenheimer. I think this is one of our best episodes so far. Strap on your parachutes as we tackle:

- The morality of killing in war

- Weapons of mass destruction

- The cost of being a soldier

- Can the ends justify the means?

- Is there something more going on in the sex scenes?and much more!

Tight harmonies and soaring melodies tied with soul wrenching lyrics: Folk-Soul power couple Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano are making some of the best music around. Speaker Mari Pablo joins us to talk about why this married couple’s music cuts so deep and rises so high.

Leslie Knope, Ron Swanson, Tom Haverford, April Ludgate: characters so ridiculous that they can’t be real yet they feel like people we know and love. Actor/Writer/TikTok superstar Kiersten Lyons returns to the show to talk about why Parks & Rec might just be the most important TV comedy so far this century. We talk about:

- How not to be cringe

- Developing your own personality super powers

- Being threatened by your partner’s opposite sex friends

- How hard it is to be a young adult these days

- How to handle being crushed with grace and grit

- and much more

Was Thanos right? Is Cap really the good guy? Is Tony as self-serving as he seems? Are SHIELD the good guys? Nick De La Torre returns to the show to talk about the moral quandaries of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Two guys. Sparse Stage. Conversation about the world’s seminal grunge band. Singer-songer Mike Mangione joined us between events at the new AWAKEN Catholic theater to talk about Pearl Jam and why they mean so much to Gen Xers and elder millennials. We discuss:

- Chasing cool

- The cost of true communion

- Nakedness

- Throwing away my secular music?

- Why God tests us (it’s prob not why you think)

- What to do with a broken heart

- Providence

- And be warned, Mike T sings A LOT in this one.

This is def a PG-13 episode so don’t listen to this with young ears around.

Hook up Culture vs Purity Culture? Sex Positivity vs Chastity? Dr Andrew & Sarah Swafford join us to talk about the messages regarding sex that we receive through social media and what is more harmful than helpful. This is a long episode and we cover A LOT including:

• Do chastity talks even work?

• What does purity culture get wrong?

• Should the Church be more sex positive?

• Why do women have to be the guardians of purity, modesty, and virtue?

• What about consent? Contraception? Queer people?

• Why Christians SHOULD flirt?

Halo has been XBox’s flagship game for 20 years and it was one of the first games to make a FPS with a compelling story and realistic characters combined with a fantastical, expansive world. It revolutionized not just game play, but what we’ve come to expect from a great game. Our guest today is a man whose work you know: Ethan Nagy, AWAKEN Catholic’s video producer! We get pretty personal and controversial in this episode so be prepared to be challenged as we discuss:

- Could aliens, cyborgs, and AI have souls?

- Drag queens & Trump supporters

- War & soldiers

- The crimes of religion & the dangers of theocracy

- Is Mike gender-non-conforming?

- and much more!

Bad Bunny is bigger than Taylor Swift currently and it’s past time we talked about his music, his message, and his influence. Fernando Catragena joins the show to talk about:

- How to have hope amidst brokenness

- Do our failings define us?

- Can we really change?

- Are you blessed?

- Dealing with haters

- Why Puerto Rico is awesome

- And much more!

Miley’s hits, hijinx, and hairstyles have been ubiquitous for a decade and a half. Ali Hoffman of @‌theoodlesofdoodles joins us to go through Miley’s hits of past and present. We go deep on this episode and discuss:

- Vulnerability

- Independence vs codependency vs interdependence

- Fame!

- Singleness

- Asceticism and delight

- How to let god love me

- Leaving space for god

- Having to prove yourself

- Settling for “yay”

Two of the biggest rappers with a lot in common and a lot that’s not, the music of Machine Gun Kelly and NF drips with trauma and pain from contrasting perspectives. Hip Hop artist Connor Flanagan joins us to go through it.

- Following your dreams

- Can you dream big with a family?

- Quick fixes & lasting solutions

- Coping mechanisms

- The antidote to envy & comparison

- Collaboration & Competition

FOOTBALL IS LIFE! Luke Carey, football geek and cohost of the seminal Catholic podcast Catching Foxes, joins us to talk about the most uplifting show on television, Ted Lasso. We cover a lot including:

- Why the world needs Ted

- Healthy responses to suffering

- Father wounds

- Abandonment wounds

- How to deal with bullies

- The benefits and failings of positivity

- Ted vs Jesus

- Is there some Roy Kent in all of us?

- Lot's of football geekery

- Lot's of podcast geekery