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... Read more
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.... Read more
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... Read more
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... Read more
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... Read more
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,... Read more
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... Read more
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... Read more
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?... Read more
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... Read more
