In this episode of Catholic in America, Jason Adkins welcomes Capuchin Franciscan Fr. Bobby Barbato, rector of the National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi in San Francisco, for a fascinating journey through the life, conversion, and enduring witness of St. Francis.

Fr. Bobby takes us beyond the familiar images of Francis preaching to birds and loving creation to reveal a man radically transformed by his encounter with Jesus Christ.

They revisit some of the defining moments of Francis' life, including his failed pursuit of knighthood, his embrace of the leper, Christ's call at San Damiano to "repair my house," his embrace of poverty, his life with the Franciscan brothers, and the Canticle of Brother Sun.

Along the way, they explore what these stories can teach Catholics today about conversion, discipleship, money, power, technology, community, care for creation, and learning to see the world through the eyes of Christ.

Fr. Bobby also explains why Francis' famous love of creation was far more than sentimentality, what it really means to "live penance," why Francis could call death his sister, and how his radical humility offers an alternative to a culture obsessed with power, possessions, prestige, and influence.

As the Church marks the 800th anniversary of St. Francis' Transitus on October 3, 2026, this conversation invites us to rediscover not simply the Francis we think we know, but the disciple whose life continues to challenge Christians eight centuries later. 

Links:

• Shrine of St. Francis and the Porziuncula Indulgence: https://shrinesf.org/the-pardon-of-assisi/
• Vatican News article on the plenary indulgence in the Jubilee Year of St. Francis: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2026-01/year-saint-francis-indulgence-assisi.html
• Franciscan shrines in the USA: https://www.catholicshrines.org/post/8-shrines-and-pilgrimage-sites-in-the-usa-to-visit-during-the-franciscan-jubilee-year
• Fr. Bobby Barbato, OFM Cap. Bio: https://www.franciscanpilgrimages.com/pilgrimage-staff/vita-barbato/

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

More than we might think.

In this episode of Catholic in America, Jason Adkins welcomes Dr. Matthew Petrusek, Senior Director of the Word on Fire Institute and author of Evangelization and Ideology: How to Understand and Respond to the Political Culture.

Petrusek argues that politics can provide Catholics with an important opportunity for evangelization. Political debates inevitably raise deeper questions about morality, human dignity, justice, truth, and ultimately our understanding of reality itself. Rather than abandoning these conversations, Catholics should learn how to engage them with reason, courage, charity, and a well-formed understanding of Catholic social teaching. 

Jason and Matthew discuss why politics is much bigger than elections, how Catholics can distinguish arguing from fighting, why local political engagement matters, and how institutions themselves can become places of evangelization.

They also explore the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity, the dangers of ideology, the importance of natural law, and what Petrusek describes as a Catholic approach of "hopeful realism" toward political life.

Ultimately, evangelizing political culture is not about creating heaven on earth or imposing Catholicism through government. It is about helping create a society where it is easier for people to pursue what is good, true, and ultimately Christ Himself. 

Links: 

Matthew Petrusek Bio and Evangelization and Ideology
https://bookstore.wordonfire.org/pages/matthew-petrusek?srsltid=AfmBOopnBaDU5JlHrmxNRyXV6V8RNjdA6vOUGubhkz-TD8hfkY68bGP2

Word on Fire Institute
https://institute.wordonfire.org/

Pope St. John Paul II on Catholic Social Teaching and Evangelization
https://focusequip.org/catholic-social-teaching-and-the-new-evangelization/

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

Far from it.

In this special live episode of Catholic in America, recorded at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, Jason Adkins explores why the Church teaches that political engagement is not optional, but an essential expression of Christian charity. 

Drawing from Scripture, Catholic social teaching, and the wisdom of Popes Leo XIII, Francis, and Leo XIV, Jason argues that politics is far more than elections or partisan conflict. At its best, politics is the pursuit of the common good and one of the primary ways Catholics love their neighbor.

Throughout the lecture, he explains how Catholics can faithfully engage today's most difficult public debates, including bioethics, religious liberty, education, healthcare, assisted suicide, and the dignity of every human person.

Topics include:

• Why politics is "one of the highest forms of charity"
• The Catholic understanding of the common good
• Why the Church must be present in public life
• Catholic social teaching beyond partisan politics
• Building relationships with elected officials
• Why Catholics should engage bioethical issues
• The dignity of every human person from conception to natural death
• Forming consciences rather than winning arguments
• What Pope Leo XIV's early teaching means for Catholics today
• How ordinary Catholics can transform their communities

Whether you're active in public life or simply wondering how your faith should shape your civic responsibilities, this conversation offers a compelling vision for living the Gospel beyond the walls of the church.

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

In this episode of Catholic in America, Jason Adkins sits down with author, entrepreneur, and Catholic University scholar Luke Burgis to discuss his newest book, The One and the Ninety-Nine: How to Find Identity and Cultivate Individuality in an Age of Social Contagion. 

Together they explore one of the defining questions of modern life: How do we remain true to ourselves while living in community?

Drawing from Scripture, philosophy, psychology, the Rule of St. Benedict, René Girard, and Catholic social teaching, Burgis explains why today's culture often rewards conformity over conscience and why authentic communion requires strong, well-formed individuals.

Topics discussed include:

• Why social contagion shapes modern culture
• The difference between community and communion
• How technology and artificial intelligence influence identity
• Why friction and suffering help form virtue
• The importance of conscience in Catholic life
• The danger of groupthink, even inside the Church
• What the Parable of the Lost Sheep teaches about personal identity
• How families, education, and work help form the "solid self"

Whether you're navigating social media, raising a family, leading a business, or simply trying to live your faith with integrity, this conversation offers practical wisdom for becoming the person God created you to be.

Links

The One and the Ninety-Nine
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250373038/theoneandtheninetynine/

Wall Street Journal Review
https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/the-one-and-the-ninety-nine-review-a-study-in-selves-688114da

Luke Burgis
https://lukeburgis.com/

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

In this episode of Catholic in America, Jason Adkins welcomes Dr. John Cuddeback, professor of philosophy at Christendom College, to discuss his new book, The Intentional Household: Living As If People Matter. 

Dr. Cuddeback argues that one of the greatest crises of modern life is not political or economic. It is the loss of the household as a true community of daily life.

Rather than simply sharing a roof, families are called to become places where friendship, meaningful work, hospitality, prayer, and genuine leisure shape every aspect of life.

Together, Jason and Dr. Cuddeback explore:

• Why the household is the foundation of civilization
• The difference between a house and a home
• Why technology should serve relationships, not replace them
• The forgotten importance of shared work and shared leisure
• Why friendship is the foundation of marriage and family
• The wisdom of Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Wendell Berry
• Raising children through culture, not merely instruction
• Caring for the elderly as an essential part of family life
• Practical ways to become more intentional at home

Whether you're single, married, raising children, or entering retirement, this conversation offers timeless wisdom for building a life where people truly matter.

Links: 

• John Cuddeback Bio: https://www.christendom.edu/academics/undergraduate-faculty/john-a-cuddeback/
• LifeCraft: https://life-craft.org/
• The Intentional Household: https://ignatius.com/intentional-household-the-inhp/

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

In this episode of Catholic in America, Jason Adkins speaks with Bishop Louis Tylka, promoter of Sheen’s cause for canonization and leader of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation, about the life, legacy, and enduring relevance of one of the greatest evangelists in American Catholic history. 

Known for his groundbreaking television program Life Is Worth Living, Archbishop Sheen brought the Gospel into millions of homes at a time when television was still a new medium. Yet behind his remarkable communication skills was something far deeper: a profound friendship with Jesus Christ rooted in a daily Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament. 

Topics discussed include:

• Fulton Sheen’s early life and vocation
• His rise as a radio and television pioneer
• Why Life Is Worth Living attracted over 30 million viewers weekly
• The role of philosophy and theology in shaping his thought
• His influence on Catholic apologetics and evangelization
• The central importance of the Holy Hour in his life
• Why Sheen remains relevant in the digital age
• The miracle attributed to his intercession and the path to beatification
• What modern Catholics can learn from his witness

Bishop Tylka offers a compelling portrait of a man whose success was never rooted in celebrity, but in prayer, holiness, and a deep desire to bring people into friendship with Christ. 

As Catholics navigate a rapidly changing media landscape, Sheen’s example offers a timeless lesson: effective evangelization begins not with technology, but with prayer.

Links:

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation

Bishop Louis Tylka Biography
Bishop Louis Tylka Bio

Life Is Worth Living: "Pain and Suffering"
Life Is Worth Living Sample Episode

William F. Buckley Interviews Archbishop Fulton Sheen
Buckley Interview with Fulton Sheen

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

In this electrifying episode of Catholic in America, Jason Adkins interviews philosopher, theologian, and author Daniel O’Connor, who argues that belief in extraterrestrials and superintelligent AI may be part of a growing cultural movement away from Christ — and toward idolatry and deception. Drawing on theology, Church history, science, and pop culture, O’Connor proposes that the so-called “First and Last Deception” mirrors the serpent’s lie in the Garden of Eden: that humans can become like gods through a non-human intelligence.

Whether you're a skeptic, a science-fiction fan, or someone curious about how Catholics should think about aliens and AI, this conversation offers a clear, thought-provoking, and spiritually grounded perspective.

Topics Covered:

• Why Daniel O’Connor believes aliens don’t exist — and never have
• How AI is being used as a spiritual gateway
• What Scripture and the Catechism say about non-human intelligences
• The manipulation of public fear through “disclosure” events
• The eerie connection between 1947, UFOs, and the Cold War
• C.S. Lewis, the Church Fathers, and popes on extraterrestrial life
• Why only man is made in the image of God
• The Church’s warnings against false messianism and pseudo-scientific prophets
• What Catholics can do to avoid being deceived

O’Connor’s book is not just about debunking aliens or AI hype. It’s about holding fast to the truth of Christ in an age of spiritual confusion and technological seduction.

Links:

Daniel O’Connor’s Bio
https://dsdoconnor.com/about-me/

Book: The First and Last Deception: Aliens, UFOs, AI, and the Return of Eden’s Demise
https://www.amazon.com/First-Last-Deception-Aliens-Return-ebook/dp/B0DJFWQ421

YouTube Channel: Daniel O’Connor Lectures
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwB70gZ4NGlbFgnoY9FMUwg/videos

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

In this deeply reflective episode of Catholic in America, Jason Adkins speaks with Fr. Simeon (Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis), a Trappist monk of St. Joseph’s Abbey and acclaimed spiritual writer, about the path of Christian discipleship in a distracted and restless age. 

Drawing from his book The Way of the Disciple, Father Simeon reflects on the Gospel encounters that reveal how Christ calls ordinary people into transformation, communion, and mission. From the Samaritan woman at the well to Peter’s fearful response to Christ, this conversation explores what happens when a person truly encounters Jesus.

Topics include:

• What it means to be a disciple
• Why Christianity is called “The Way”
• Transformation vs. mere imitation of Christ
• Communion, contemplation, and mission
• Lectio Divina and praying with Scripture
• The connection between the Word of God and the Eucharist
• Why silence and asceticism matter
• Hyper-communication and the spiritual crisis of modern life
• What monasticism can teach the modern world
• The importance of solitude and prayer in encountering God

Father Simeon also shares powerful reflections on becoming a monk later in life, learning silence after years as a university professor, and why many people today are starving for interior stillness in an age of constant distraction. 

This episode is a rich meditation on prayer, discipleship, Scripture, and the call to become more fully alive in Christ.

Links: 

Author Page at Ignatius Press
Ignatius Press Author Page – Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis

St. Joseph’s Abbey
St. Joseph’s Abbey

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

In this episode of Catholic in America, Jason Adkins speaks with Dr. Patrick Graff, Senior Fellow at the American Federation for Children, to unpack one of the most important education issues in America today.

From Catholic social teaching to real-world data, this conversation goes beyond political talking points and examines what school choice actually is, how it works, and whether it benefits students.

Dr. Graff explains how school choice policies empower parents as primary educators, align with the principle of subsidiarity, and create measurable improvements not only for students who use them, but also for public schools themselves.

Topics include:

• What school choice is and how it works
• The Catholic foundation for parental rights in education
• Why education is never value-neutral
• Do school choice programs hurt public schools
• The real data behind academic outcomes and graduation rates
• Why competition improves education systems
• The difference between funding students and funding systems
• The new federal Education Freedom Tax Credit and what it means
• Common objections from both the left and the right
• What Catholics can do to support educational freedom

One of the most striking findings discussed: Florida’s school choice program delivered measurable public school improvements at a fraction of the cost of traditional spending increases.

This episode challenges listeners to rethink education through both a moral and practical lens.

 Resources & Links

• Patrick Graff Bio https://www.federationforchildren.org/staff/patrick-graff/
• Education Next Article School Choice or School Spending?
  https://www.educationnext.org/school-choice-or-school-spending-floridas-15-year-experiment-points-to-the-answer/
• Full Study School Choice Competition vs. New Education Spending
  https://www.federationforchildren.org/florida-school-choice-cost-effectiveness-study/
• Follow Dr. Graff on X https://x.com/parthurgraff

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

In this episode of Catholic in America, Jason Adkins speaks with Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, author of His Reign Shall Have No End, to unpack one of the most misunderstood areas of the Catholic faith.

Often reduced to politics, misused ideologically, or ignored altogether, Catholic social teaching is actually something far more fundamental. It is about ordering every part of life, personal, familial, economic, and political, under the reign of Christ.

Kwasniewski challenges the idea that faith is merely private and argues that the Gospel must shape the entire social order. Drawing from Scripture, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Pope Leo XIII, he explains how Catholic teaching offers a coherent vision for rebuilding a fractured world.

Topics discussed include:

• What Catholic social teaching really is and what it is not
• Why modern society struggles with faith in the public square
• The battle between the “two cities” and what it means today
• The social kingship of Christ and its practical implications
• Why reducing religion to private devotion is a mistake
• How families, work, and culture can be ordered toward Christ
• The connection between liturgy and social renewal

This episode is both a challenge and an invitation to live the Catholic faith fully, not just in private, but in every aspect of life.

Links: 

• Peter Kwasniewski Bio https://www.peterkwasniewski.com/
• Book: His Reign Shall Have No End https://www.aroucapress.com/his-reign-shall-have-no-end
• Os Justi Press https://osjustipress.com/

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

In this special episode of Catholic in America, Jason Adkins sits down with Trita Parsi, one of Washington’s leading voices on foreign policy, to unpack a striking moment in global affairs: a public exchange between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV over war, diplomacy, and moral leadership.

But this conversation goes far beyond headlines.

Drawing on decades of geopolitical analysis, Parsi explains why the world feels increasingly unstable and what is really driving today’s conflicts, from Ukraine to Iran. More importantly, he highlights the deeper breakdown of international norms, the erosion of law-based order, and the growing risk of a fragmented, “multi-order” world.

At the center of it all is a critical question for Catholics:

What role should the Church play when global powers abandon moral limits?

Topics discussed include:

• The Trump–Pope exchange and what it reveals about global leadership
• The collapse of international norms and rules governing war
• Why the world is shifting from a unipolar to a multipolar reality
• The danger of a fragmented “multi-order” global system
• The role of the Vatican and Catholic teaching in promoting peace
• Why just war theory matters now more than ever
• How Catholics can recover their voice in foreign policy debates

This episode is a call to deeper reflection, renewed engagement, and a rediscovery of the Church’s role as a moral voice in a dangerous world.

Links:

• Trita Parsi bio: About | tritaparsi
• Quincy Institute:  Home - Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
• Trita Parsi Substack:  Trita Parsi | Substack
• Better Order Project: Toward a Better Security Order - Better Order Project

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

In this episode of Catholic in America, Jason Adkins speaks with Michael Toscano of the Institute for Family Studies about the growing impact of digital technology on family life.

From social media to smartphones, the modern technological landscape is reshaping how families communicate, form relationships, and raise children. Toscano shares insights from the Institute’s Family First Technology Initiative, offering a clear-eyed look at both the challenges and opportunities facing parents today.

The conversation also explores the broader regulatory landscape, examining how policymakers are beginning to respond to concerns about children’s mental health, online safety, and the influence of Big Tech.

Topics discussed include:

• How social media is shaping childhood and adolescence
• The impact of technology on family relationships
• Why parents feel increasingly overwhelmed
• The role of policy and regulation in protecting children
• Practical ways families can reclaim healthy habits

This episode offers both a sober assessment of the current reality and a hopeful path forward rooted in intentional living and the dignity of the human person.

Links:

• Michael Toscano Bio (Institute for Family Studies) https://ifstudies.org/about-us/michael-toscano
• Family First Technology Initiative https://ifstudies.org/family-first-technology-initiative
• Congressional Research Overview on Social Media Regulation https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF12904

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

In this episode of Catholic in America, Jason Adkins speaks with Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore about his pastoral letter, In Charity and Truth: Toward a Renewed Political Culture.

Archbishop Lori reflects on the growing divisions within American society and the urgent need for Catholics to bring both charity and truth into public life. Rather than withdrawing from politics or allowing faith to become captive to partisan agendas, Catholics are called to witness to the Gospel while working for the common good.

The conversation explores how the Church’s social teaching offers a path forward amid ideological conflict and cultural fragmentation.

Topics discussed include:

• The dangers of political tribalism
• Why Catholics must avoid reducing the faith to partisan identity
• The role of conscience in political decision making
• How charity and truth must guide public discourse
• The responsibility of Catholics to defend human dignity and the common good

Archbishop Lori offers a hopeful and practical vision for renewing political culture through faithful discipleship, civil dialogue, and a deeper commitment to the Church’s moral and social teachings.

Links: 

• Pastoral Letter: "In Charity and Truth: Toward a Renewed Political Culture" https://www.archbalt.org/in-charity-truth-toward-a-renewed-political-culture/
• Archbishop William E. Lori – Biography
  https://www.archbalt.org/the-archbishop/biography-of-archbishop-william-e-lori/

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

In this episode of Catholic in America, Jason Adkins speaks with firefighter and author Benjamin O’Brien about his memoir, The Proving Grounds: A Catholic on Ladder 17.

Benjamin shares what it was like to serve as a first responder while navigating:

• Workplace harassment for his faith
• Pride activism within his department
• The moral and professional tension surrounding COVID mandates
• The mental and spiritual toll of trauma
• The strain first responder life places on marriage and family

This conversation goes far beyond firefighting. It is about what it means to stand firm in Christ in a secular workplace without becoming bitter, combative, or discouraged.

Benjamin reflects on humility, the example of St. Joseph, the little way of St. Thérèse, and the quiet heroism required to build Babylon’s good without bending to its gods.

For anyone trying to live faithfully in today’s workplace, this episode offers encouragement, clarity, and hope.

Links:

Book:
The Proving Grounds: A Catholic on Ladder 17
https://ignatius.com/the-proving-grounds-pgp/

Author Interview at Catholic World Report:
Fighting Fires and Growing in Faith
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2025/06/15/fighting-fires-and-growing-in-faith-an-interview-with-benjamin-obrien/

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

In this wide-ranging and provocative episode of Catholic in America, Jason Adkins speaks with sociologist and First Nations member Dr. Ashley Frawley about cultural identity, trauma narratives, missionary history, and the universal claim of Catholicism.

Drawing on her Compact Magazine essay, “Are We Not Catholics Too?”, Dr. Frawley challenges the assumption that Indigenous Catholics are victims of Western imposition rather than full participants in the Church’s universal story. She argues that modern therapeutic and multicultural frameworks risk denying Indigenous agency, common humanity, and even the Church’s civilizational mission.

The conversation explores reconciliation, residential schools, the trauma paradigm, and the tension between cultural particularity and Catholic universality. It also raises a deeper theological question: Is Christianity truly a gift for all peoples, or merely one tradition among many?

Topics covered:

• The Vatican’s repatriation of Indigenous artifacts and its meaning
• Trauma narratives and the loss of agency
• The legacy and complexity of residential schools
• Truth and reconciliation commissions and their limits
• Multiculturalism versus universality
• Christianity, Enlightenment, and human dignity
• Evangelization, inculturation, and the Great Commission
• The danger of treating Catholicism as a Western possession

Dr. Frawley offers a powerful reminder that Catholic means universal, and that the Church’s mission is not cultural erasure but cultural elevation and integration into a shared human inheritance.

Links: 

Compact Magazine Article: “Are We Not Catholics Too?”
https://www.compactmag.com/article/are-we-not-catholics-too/

Ashley Frawley Bio (Compact Magazine)
https://www.compactmag.com/contributor/ashley-frawley/

Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops – Vatican Artifacts Return to Canada
https://www.cccb.ca/media-release/vatican-artifacts-return-to-canada/

Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development – Church’s Commitment to Indigenous Peoples in Canada
https://www.humandevelopment.va/en/news/2026/churchs-commitment-to-indigenous-peoples-in-canada.html

National Catholic Reporter – Vatican Returns Indigenous Artifacts
https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican-returns-dozens-indigenous-artifacts-hundreds-remain-says-canadian-indigenous-leader

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

In this episode of Catholic in America, Jason Adkins sits down with Dr. Kevin Sabet, a former White House drug policy advisor and founder of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), to expose the truth behind Big Cannabis and its growing influence on law, culture, and public health. Together, they discuss how the marijuana industry uses tactics borrowed from Big Tobacco to promote addiction, downplay harm, and target vulnerable communities.

Dr. Sabet, a Catholic and one of the most respected drug policy experts in the country, explains what’s really happening in states like Minnesota and how Catholics can respond with both compassion and clarity.

Topics Covered:

• The myth of “harmless weed” and today’s high-potency THC products
• How legalization fuels addiction, mental illness, and youth harm
• The racial and social justice failures of marijuana commercialization
• How the marijuana industry manipulates science and messaging
• What the Church teaches about sobriety, freedom, and the dignity of the person
• Why legalization is not the same as decriminalization
• The Minnesota bishops’ bold 2024 statement on marijuana, Living in the Real
• How Catholics can advocate for human-centered, public-health-first drug policy

Dr. Sabet urges Catholics to wake up to the real costs of normalization and to take a courageous stand in favor of truth, healing, and human dignity.

Links:

• Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM): https://learnaboutsam.org/
• Kevin Sabet Bio and Books: https://kevinsabet.com/
• Minnesota Bishops’ Statement: Living in the Real (March 2024): https://www.mncatholic.org/livinginthereal
• SAM marijuana impact report detailing the harms of marijuana: SAM-impact-report-2026-2027.pdf

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

In this unforgettable episode of Catholic in America, host Jason Adkins speaks with Elisabeth Nguyen, the Cardinal’s youngest sister and co-author of a new biography, Cardinal Van Thuan: A Man of Hope and Joy (Ignatius Press). Elisabeth shares powerful family stories and spiritual insights into how her brother carried the cross with Christ, forgave his persecutors, and brought Jesus to others even behind bars.

Topics Covered:

• The political and spiritual context of Cardinal Van Thuan’s arrest
• How he said Mass with smuggled wine and hosts
• The “1,001 Messages of Hope” that inspired the Vietnamese underground Church
• How he forgave those who betrayed his family
• His influence on the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
• Why his story is especially relevant to today’s divided world
• The role of his family, especially his mother, in forming a faithful priest
• How Eucharistic devotion and Vietnamese spirituality shaped his witness

This episode is both a family testimony and a challenge to all Catholics to live the Gospel with deeper trust, boldness, and joy, even in the face of suffering.

📚 Resources Mentioned

Book: Cardinal Van Thuan: A Man of Hope and Joy
https://ignatius.com/cardinal-nguyen-van-thuan-cfntp/

Vatican Website on Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan
https://www.cardinalvanthuan.va/en.html

Salt + Light TV Documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO_N7LQXjBY

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

In this sobering episode of Catholic in America, host Jason Adkins sits down with William D. Hartung, Senior Research Fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and author of The Trillion Dollar War Machine, to explore how runaway military spending fuels global conflict, enables arms dealers, and undermines domestic priorities like healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

They discuss the real power of the military-industrial complex, how the Pentagon partners with Hollywood and universities to shape culture and technology, and why both Democrats and Republicans fail to question the massive US defense budget. Hartung offers insight into how a bloated defense system endangers peace and why Catholics and other people of faith need to reclaim the moral conversation around war and peace.

Topics Covered:

• What the military-industrial complex really looks like today
• How military contractors drive foreign policy and conflict
• The role of Hollywood, Silicon Valley, and universities in supporting war
• Why US defense spending exceeds that of the next 10 countries combined
• How the media helps normalize militarism
• What nuclear weapons modernization actually costs
• The hidden cost to veterans and active-duty military families
• What a moral, effective military strategy would really look like
• Why Catholics must lead a renewed movement for peace

Links:

• William D. Hartung Bio:  https://quincyinst.org/author/william-d-hartung/
• Book: The Trillion Dollar War Machine (Bold Type Books): https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/william-d-hartung/the-trillion-dollar-war-machine/9781645030638/

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

In this electrifying episode of Catholic in America, Jason Adkins interviews philosopher, theologian, and author Daniel O’Connor, who argues that belief in extraterrestrials and superintelligent AI may be part of a growing cultural movement away from Christ — and toward idolatry and deception. Drawing on theology, Church history, science, and pop culture, O’Connor proposes that the so-called “First and Last Deception” mirrors the serpent’s lie in the Garden of Eden: that humans can become like gods through a non-human intelligence.

Whether you're a skeptic, a science-fiction fan, or someone curious about how Catholics should think about aliens and AI, this conversation offers a clear, thought-provoking, and spiritually grounded perspective.

Topics Covered:

• Why Daniel O’Connor believes aliens don’t exist — and never have
• How AI is being used as a spiritual gateway
• What Scripture and the Catechism say about non-human intelligences
• The manipulation of public fear through “disclosure” events
• The eerie connection between 1947, UFOs, and the Cold War
• C.S. Lewis, the Church Fathers, and popes on extraterrestrial life
• Why only man is made in the image of God
• The Church’s warnings against false messianism and pseudo-scientific prophets
• What Catholics can do to avoid being deceived

O’Connor’s book is not just about debunking aliens or AI hype. It’s about holding fast to the truth of Christ in an age of spiritual confusion and technological seduction.

Links:

Daniel O’Connor’s Bio
https://dsdoconnor.com/about-me/

Book: The First and Last Deception: Aliens, UFOs, AI, and the Return of Eden’s Demise
https://www.amazon.com/First-Last-Deception-Aliens-Return-ebook/dp/B0DJFWQ421

YouTube Channel: Daniel O’Connor Lectures
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwB70gZ4NGlbFgnoY9FMUwg/videos

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

In this episode of Catholic in America, host Jason Adkins sits down with Michael Thomas, Executive Director of the Catholic Land Movement, to explore the growing desire among Catholics to reconnect with creation, live in community, and build lives rooted in place, prayer, and productive property.

Drawing from Scripture, Church teaching, and his own journey from suburban life to homesteading in rural New York, Michael shares how the Catholic Land Movement is helping families rediscover the joy and sanctity of working the land, whether that means raising sheep, growing food, or simply planting a window garden with purpose.

Links: 

Catholic Land Movement Website
https://catholiclandmovement.info

Book: The American Catholic Land Movement: Past, Present, and Future
https://tanbooks.com/products/books/the-american-catholic-land-movement-past-present-and-future/

Book: Flee to the Fields (The Catholic Land Movement in England)
https://loretopubs.org/flee-to-the-fields.html

YouTube Video: Intro to the Catholic Land Movement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0vMhJp3DO8

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

Guest Bio
Dr. Pia de Solenni is a moral theologian (Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome) and Senior Vice President of Corporate Engagement at IWP Capital. Former Chancellor and theological advisor to the Bishop of Orange, her writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and many other outlets.

Resources Mentioned

• IWP Capital screening and engagement: https://www.iwpcapital.com/screening
• USCCB Socially Responsible Investment Guidelines (2021): https://www.usccb.org/resources/Socially%20Responsible%20Investment%20Guidelines%202021%20(003).pdf
• Dr. Pia de Solenni’s full bio: https://moraltheologian.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/About-Dr.-Pia-de-Solenni.png

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

Together they explore how post–World War II suburban growth reshaped Catholic parish life, architecture, education, and community — decades before Vatican II. From the explosion of new parishes on Long Island to the rise of commuter culture, Fr. Koeth shows that suburbia changed not only where Catholics lived, but how they believed.

The conversation also looks ahead:
 How can today’s Church learn from the past as it faces shrinking parishes in the Midwest and explosive growth in the South and West?
 And what does “mission” look like when Catholic life is no longer centered around the neighborhood parish?

• Fr. Stephen Koeth, C.S.C. – University of Notre Dame Faculty Page: https://history.nd.edu/people/stephen-koeth-csc/
  
  
• Book: Crabgrass Catholicism (University of Notre Dame Press): https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268206178/crabgrass-catholicism/
  
  
• Notre Dame Church Properties Initiative: https://realestate.nd.edu/church-properties-initiative/
  
  

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

They dive deep into the ethical and spiritual consequences of how human embryos are commodified, graded, stored, and often destroyed in silence, even by those with pro-life convictions. Laura shares the staggering statistics, the science behind embryo creation, her powerful personal journey, and the often-overlooked grief and guilt faced by families with embryos in storage.

Key Topics:

• IVF and the silent destruction of human life
• Why more embryos are discarded than aborted annually
• How clinics dehumanize embryonic persons
• Real stories from donor-conceived children and IVF families
• The eugenics of embryo grading and gender selection
• What the Church teaches about assisted reproduction
• Sacred Heart Guardians’ mission of burial and dignity

Laura calls us to reflect on what it truly means to respect life from the very beginning, and how even the smallest among us deserve recognition, reverence, and rest.

Links:

• Sacred Heart Guardians Website
  https://sacredheartguardians.org/
  
  
• CNA Article – More Embryos Destroyed by IVF Than Abortion Each Year
  https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/257066/more-human-embryos-destroyed-through-ivf-than-abortion-every-year
  
  
• Catechism of the Catholic Church on Assisted Reproduction
  https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/573/#zoom=z

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

In this powerful conversation, Jason Adkins sits down with Anthony Granado, Associate General Secretary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), for a rare behind-the-scenes look at how the bishops’ policy priorities are shaped, debated, and brought to Capitol Hill.

They discuss the origins and mission of the USCCB, the role of Catholic lay leaders in influencing public policy, and how the Church uses prudence and subsidiarity to decide when and how to engage. Anthony also shares how AI, religious liberty, and faithful citizenship are shaping the bishops’ future efforts.

This is an inspiring episode for anyone who wants to understand how Catholic social teaching intersects with politics — and how the Church remains a prophetic voice in a polarized culture.

LINKS

• Anthony Granado Bio (USCCB)
• USCCB History
• Explore Policy Areas

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

Drawing on insights from his new book Living and Dying Well, Dr. Camosy critiques our “Burger King medicine” culture, which treats doctors like service workers and turns autonomy into a weapon. He explains how real compassion requires more than a lethal prescription—it demands presence, love, and structures that affirm human dignity, especially for the elderly, disabled, and vulnerable.

From palliative care to policy pitfalls, from hospice centers to personal family planning, this is a conversation every Catholic—and every concerned citizen—needs to hear.

Links: 

Read Dr. Camosy Bio:  https://www.charlescamosy.com/

Book link:  https://www.orderosv.com/product/living-and-dying-well-a-catholic-plan-for-resisting-physician-assisted-killing?ga_ref_list_id=taxonomy_3_term_94ga_ref_list_name=Taxonomy%20Term:%20Books

OSV article about book: https://www.osvnews.com/new-release-offers-compelling-arguments-against-physician-assisted-suicide/

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

Drawing from his acclaimed book For I Have Sinned: The Sacrament of Confession in American Catholicism (Harvard University Press), Professor O’Toole offers a vivid and fascinating portrait of how confession once shaped American Catholic life, not only spiritually, but culturally, psychologically, and communally, and why its disappearance in recent decades matters more than we realize.

With historical anecdotes, deep cultural insights, and reflections on theology, psychology, and modernity, this episode tackles big questions:

• Why did Catholics stop going to confession?
• How did the Church’s view of sin and repentance evolve?
• And can this powerful sacrament be renewed for today?

Whether you go to confession regularly, haven’t been in years, or simply wonder what happened to this sacred practice, this episode offers both answers and hope.

Book: For I Have Sinned: The Sacrament of Confession in American Catholicism by James M. O'Toole – Harvard University Press

OSV News – Visit www.osvnews.com
 for Catholic news and commentary

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

Links

• Exodus 90: https://exodus90.com/
• Dr. R. Jared Staudt’s Bio & Writings: https://buildingcatholicculture.com/about/
• The Desert Fathers: https://www.desertfathers.com/
• OSV News: https://www.osvnews.com

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

In this powerful episode of Catholic in America, theologian Dr. William Cavanaugh joins host Jason Adkins to discuss his latest book, The Uses of Idolatry. They explore how the things we worship today—nation, market, technology, and even sports—mirror the dynamics of religion. Drawing on Scripture, St. Augustine, and Catholic sacramental theology, Cavanaugh argues that our age isn't post-religious, but deeply idolatrous.

Key topics include:

• Why secularism is a myth
• Nationalism and consumerism as modern idolatries
• How idolatry hides in plain sight
• The Eucharist as the true antidote
• Recovering a sacramental imagination
• What it means to live a life of faithful resistance

Dr. Cavanaugh challenges us to begin with self-critique: we all worship—and we all worship badly. But through the Eucharist and a deeper prayer life, we can reorient ourselves toward the true God and find joy and freedom in His presence.

Resources Mentioned

• Book by Dr. William Cavanaugh – The Uses of Idolatry
  https://academic.oup.com/book/48596 
• America Magazine Review – "Tearing Down Idols: William Cavanaugh’s Theology"
   https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2024/05/13/william-cavanaugh-uses-idolatry-246196 
• Catholic World Report – "The Idolatry and Religion of Our Present Age"
  https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2024/06/01/the-idolatry-and-religion-of-our-present-age 
• Faculty Bio – Dr. William Cavanaugh, DePaul University
  https://las.depaul.edu/academics/catholic-studies/faculty/Pages/william-cavanaugh.aspx 

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

Together, they explore why Catholic Americans need to know their own history, how stories of holiness in our own backyard can inspire devotion, and what JP II's Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in America (1999) meant by calling us to know our “own saints.”

We’ll hear stories of:

• Sister Blandina and her Wild West missions
• The Catholic roots of bourbon distillers in Kentucky
• A possible deathbed conversion of George Washington (!)
• The hidden legacy of American Catholic builders, missionaries, and martyrs

You’ll come away with a renewed sense of hope, history, and what it means to build institutions and holiness right here in America.

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

Together, Jason and Fr. Larrey unpack:

• Whether AI can ever be truly “intelligent” or self-aware
• The dangers of AI “reasoning,” blackmailing users, or rewriting its own code
• The singularity and why it may be closer than we think
• How neural implants may change what it means to be human
• The real-world impact on jobs, social structures, and global security
• The Church’s moral and unifying role in guiding the future of AI

This is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

Links:

• Fr. Larrey’s Bio & Publications
• Vatican Document: Antiqua et Nova (2025)
• Open Letter Calling for AI Moratorium
• Eliezer Yudkowsky Op-Ed in Time

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

From the cosmic to the concrete, Fr. Slattery unveils how every Catholic is called to be part of a theo-drama that transforms culture, politics, economics, and ecology. This episode is a sweeping vision of hope, enchantment, and mission.

Fr. William Slattery was ordained in 1991 by Pope John Paul II. Originally from Ireland, he serves in the Diocese of Columbus, Ohio, and teaches at Franciscan University in Steubenville. He holds a doctorate in philosophy, a licentiate in theology, and is the author of Heroism and Genius and the newly released Enchanted by Eternity: Recapturing the Wonder of the Catholic Worldview.

 Resources Mentioned

• Fr. Slattery’s Bio – Society of Ignatians
• Enchanted by Eternity – OSV Catholic Bookstore
• Review from The Catholic Times

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

They explore:

• Why the 1990s were a turning point for religious disaffiliation
• How the digital age and consumer capitalism changed how we think about truth, authority, and God
• Why catechesis alone won’t fix the Church’s challenges
• What it means to re-enchant the world, and why Catholicism might be uniquely suited for this moment

Dr. Smith doesn’t just diagnose the problem, he names the cultural tides reshaping our imagination, and offers hope for how the Church can meet people in a postmodern world that’s hungry for meaning.

Featuring discussion on the “millennial zeitgeist,” moralistic therapeutic deism, digital disruption, and the rebirth of paganism. This is an essential listen for anyone who cares about the future of the Church.

Links & Resources:

• Dr. Christian Smith – University of Notre Dame
• Why Religion Went Obsolete (Oxford University Press)
• Summary Article – Church Life Journal

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

“If St. Francis of Assisi could meet the Sultan during the Crusades, then surely today’s leaders can sit down and talk.” – Jeffrey Sachs

• Official Bio of Dr. Jeffrey Sachs
  https://www.jeffsachs.org/
• Jeffrey Sachs on the Russia–Ukraine War
  “There Is No Military Way Out” – Interview with Inside the Vatican
  https://insidethevatican.com/magazine/pontifical-academy-of-sciences-member-dr-jeffrey-sachs-there-is-no-military-way-out/
• Sachs on the Economy of Francesco
  Reflections on Pope Francis’s Call for a New Economy
  https://www.jeffsachs.org/newspaper-articles/8dy5eryflswh9z7hz5dwzrd5h9aekm

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

While faith institutions are often praised for spiritual and charitable contributions, this new research shines light on a lesser-known dimension: the Church’s staggering $5.4 billion annual impact on Minnesota's economy.

Through parishes, schools, hospitals, charitable organizations, and capital projects, the Catholic Church supports thousands of jobs, reduces public costs, and strengthens communities statewide.

The conversation explores:

• Why measuring the Church’s economic footprint matters for public policy
• How volunteerism, education, and magnet effects (like weddings and pilgrimages) ripple through the local economy
• The role of civil society in American life and why the Church’s presence remains vital
• Why policymakers should protect the Church’s freedom to serve, especially in an increasingly secular culture

Tune in for this eye-opening discussion that makes a compelling case for the Church’s visible — and often invisible — role in building the common good.

Resources & Links:

• “Fruits of the Vine” Report
• Minnesota Catholic Conference
• Learn more about OSV News

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

Dr. Morse, a trained economist and former professor at Yale and George Mason, dives deep into how elite ideologies—disguised as progress—have systematically dismantled family life through no-fault divorce, contraception, and gender ideology. From propaganda in U.S. foreign aid to the ideology embedded in public schools, Dr. Morse explains why the Sexual Revolution is not grassroots—but an elite-driven, top-down campaign of cultural colonization.

Together, Jason and Dr. Morse discuss:

• Why the Church has been right all along about sexuality and marriage
• The myth of “neutral” sexual education and its real agenda
• How population control and foreign policy shaped feminism and gender ideology
• Why stories from survivors of the Sexual Revolution are changing the conversation
• What it means to raise a family in a world ruled by “The Sexual State”

Dr. Morse doesn’t hold back—and neither should we. If you’re concerned about the future of children, family, and faith, this conversation is a must-listen.

LINKS:

• Dr. Morse Bio: https://ruthinstitute.org/about/dr-morse/
• The Ruth Institute: https://ruthinstitute.org/
• Ruth Institute YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RuthInstitute
• Get the Book – The Sexual State: https://thesexualstate.com/

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

Topics Covered:

• Why Dorothy Day barely mentioned elections
• The growth of big government and the loss of local political life
• The meaning of “living beyond politics”
• Subsidiarity and the Catholic Church’s vision of local action
• Building community with the poor as political witness
• The intersection of Eucharistic devotion and the works of mercy
• Catholic Worker examples: St. Joseph the Worker Job Service, Christ in the City
• Pope Francis and politics as a form of charity
• How to create parish-level social reconstruction

Guest Bio:
Michael Baxter, Ph.D. is the Director of Catholic Studies at Regis University and a Visiting Associate Professor at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at Notre Dame. He is a founding member of the Peter Claver Catholic Worker House and former director of the Catholic Peace Fellowship. His work focuses on political theology, the Catholic Worker Movement, and the canonization of Dorothy Day.

Resources Mentioned & Various Links:

• Michael Baxter bio – McGrath Institute
• “Living Beyond Politics: A Post-Election Reflection on Dorothy Day” – Houston Catholic Worker
• The Catholic Worker Movement – Paulist Press Resource

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

Show Links: 

• Stop Predatory Gambling:  https://www.stoppredatorygambling.org/
• Study of 700,000 online gamblers: https://www.stoppredatorygambling.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2024-Online-Gambling-Policy-Effects-on-Tax-Revenue-and-Irresponsible-Gambling.pdf
• Background on the legal landscape of sports betting: https://newrepublic.com/article/189263/online-sports-betting-alito-losses
• Making the case for why legalizing sports betting is a mistake:  https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/legalizing-sports-gambling-was-a-huge-mistake/ar-AA1r2DLq
•  Impact of sports betting on young men: https://www.newsweek.com/2023/04/07/sports-betting-boom-linked-rising-gambling-addiction-anxiety-suicide-1789055.html

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

Tim Carney bio:  https://www.timothypcarney.org/

Family Unfriendly book link:  https://www.harpercollins.com/products/family-unfriendly-timothy-p-carney?variant=41076298219554

Conversation with Tim Carney on the Our Sunday Visitor magazine podcast "Like a Mother with Katie McGrady": https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051666/episodes/16044705

Washington Examiner author page: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/author/timothy-p-carney/

Q&A with Tim Carney: https://eppc.org/publication/what-makes-america-family-unfriendly-a-qa-with-tim-carney/

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

Links:

• Wilcox bio and link to National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia: https://nationalmarriageproject.org/people/brad-wilcox
• Institute for Family Studies: https://ifstudies.org/ 
• Book link: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/get-married-brad-wilcox?variant=41546330636322
• Article from Time about the book, Get Married: https://time.com/6696116/marriage-happiness-brad-wilcox-interview/
• Minnesota Catholic Conference: https://www.mncatholic.org/
• Minnesota Catholic Conference Families First Project:  https://www.familiesfirstproject.com/

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

Bio: https://business.catholic.edu/faculty-and-research/faculty-profiles/pakaluk-catherine/index.html

Personal page: https://pakaluk.com/Book link: https://www.regnery.com/9781684514571/hannahs-children/

More good interviews about the book Hannah’s Children: https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2024/04/94760/

 https://catholicreview.org/hannahs-children-author-catherine-pakaluk-on-population-decline-and-the-link-between-large-families-and-faith/

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

• Biography 
• UMich address
•  What is Medicine For?
• Debate on physician-assisted suicide video: "Physician Assisted Suicide/MAiD, Dignity, Autonomy," Profs. Margaret Battin and Kristin Collier (youtube.com)

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

Bio: https://eppc.org/author/aaron_kheriaty/

Columns: https://brownstone.org/author/aaron-kheriaty/

Substack: https://substack.com/@aaronkheriaty

Missouri v. Biden case in which he was a plaintiff https://eppc.org/publication/the-censorship-empire-strikes-back-after-missouri-v-biden-free-speech-victory/

Story on his battle with UC Irvine: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-01-02/uc-irvine-fires-physician-who-refused-to-get-vaccinated-claiming-natural-immunity

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here. 

Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements. 

Catholic in America is an OSVNews.com podcast partnership. Support Catholic in America by becoming a patron of the show here.