Should Catholics Go to the Beach?

Why does Chris hate “Sleepless in Seattle”? Can a Nancy Meyers interior atone for her characters’ abominable moral choices? Does Gen Z’s attitude’s towards boundaries make for bad movies with uninspiring heroes? And what difference does it make to our world that so many bad movies have wormed their way into our cultural imagination? We’re talking about all that and more, this week on “Visitation Sessions.”Show Notes:Steubenville International Film FestivalPittsburgh Ballet TheaterGiselle (Royal Ballet Theatre)The Sisyphean Task“Lost Cause” (Sons of the East) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

The quality of chocolate sold in America is going downhill rapidly. So is the quality of refrigerators. And shoes. And clothes. And coffeepots. And just about everything else you can buy. Why is this? Why does it matter? And why should Christians in particular care about the “encrappification” of everything? That’s what we’re talking about this week, on Visitation Sessions.Want to spend a week having conversations like this one (only with croissants, wine, and a lot more noise from little ones)? Then join Emily and Chris next summer, from June 17 to 25, as we explore the cities and shrines of saints in France. Solo travelers, couples, friends, and whole families with children of any age are welcome!Show Notes“The Chocolate Conspiracy” (Paywalled, sorry, but it’s really worth it).The Last Invention“AI Startup Founders Tout A Winning Formula” No Booze, No Sleep, No Fun”“The Catholic Britain We Lost: Reformation, Nature, and Modernity”The Mondragon Corporation This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

This week, we return with the second-half of our conversation with AIM Women’s Center and Mother of Mercy Maternity Home Director Rebekah Cohen Morris. We discuss how to support vulnerable women facing crisis pregnancies, and how you can support this beautiful work.Show notes:* AIM Women's Center in Steubenville, Ohio* Mother of Mercy Home This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

On this week’s episode, Emily is BACK from England. We discuss her time at the Symbolic World conference, Eastern & Orthodox spirituality, an upcoming human-speed pilgrimage, adventures from the Grand Canyon, the incontinence of Camo the kitten, and a fan-submitted question about the use of cannabis. If you haven’t yet subscribed to our YouTube channel, PLEASE do! (it’s free) Listen on Substack of course, or watch the episode HERENext week, we’ll announce the winners of the giveaway.Show notes:* The Symbolic World Summit * Galahad and the Grail by Malcom Guite* Select International Tours — Join the Chapmans on pilgrimage June 17-25, 2027* Courting the Wild Twin by Martin Shaw * The Steubenville International Film Festival —happening this November 6-7 in downtown Steubenville, Ohio. * Catechism of the Catholic Church (2290-2291) the Catechism’s teaching we reference on the podcast This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

This week, the Visitation Sessions crew sits down with Rebekah Cohen Morris, executive director of AIM Women’s Center, and convert to the Catholic faith. Like the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, her story begins in West Philadelphia. Her journey to Catholicism led her from a high-powered life as a Protestant lawyer in Atlanta, GA to the streets of Steubenville, OH where she is the Executive Director of the Aim Women’s Center. This episode is the first of a two part series. You can learn more about AIM Women’s Center HERE.And if you haven’t already, please do us a HUGE favor and subscribe to our YouTube Channel! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

Catholic Answers recently tackled a question about whether or not Catholics can, in good conscience, take their families to the beach. This week, on Visitation Sessions, we’re talking about what their answer was lacking, what really constitutes a near occasion of sin, and why going to the beach may be the best reality check there is for people who struggle with objectifying women’s bodies. Show Notes:“Should Catholics Take Their Families to the Beach” (Catholic Answers)“Scrupulosity Will Not Keep You Safe” by Claire SwinarskiA Return to Modesty by Wendy Shalit Don’t miss a moment of the show. Subscribe today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

We discuss Wendell Berry and his writings, particularly his novel Jayber Crow. We also have an update from Kate on the upcoming Steubenville International Film Festival.Show notes:* Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry* Steubenville International Film Festival This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

This week, the Visitation Sessions gang catches up on various lifestyle choices, including sending kids to a Waldorfy-Montessori-Harry Potteresque school, Casey’s hair tragedy at EWTN, and a special meet-n-greet with Emily in England. Also, if you haven’t yet seen us on Youtube, please subscribe HERE (it doesn’t cost you a dime). Thank you to all of our listeners and supporters, especially our full-subscribers; we have a very SPECIAL TREAT headed your way…Show notes:* The Art Spirit by Robert Henri* Chesterton Station —a show on EWTN* The Symbolic World Summit —happening Sept 24-26 in the UK* The Class —a film* The Bishops' Cable TV response to EWTN * Black Rednecks & White Liberals by Thomas Sowell* Appreciating the Appreciator by John Byron Kuhner* Select International Tours This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

This week, we’re dropping a BONUS episode for our full-subscribers. We’re super grateful to all of you for making the podcast and video studio possible. Next week, we’ll be back on video. On that note, if you haven’t yet subscribed to our Youtube Channel, check it out HERE.Show notes:* St. Michael’s Abbey* Sacred Wine: the Holy History and Heritage of Catholic Vintners by Emily Stimpson Chapman* Homeschool Connections This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

How exactly does Emily wrestle words onto a page? Will Chris be constructing a cottage for her in the backyard? And how did listening to Madonna in a hot dog shoppe inspire Casey to write a chorus for a song about a drowned sailor? What is happening with EWTN? Find out the answer to these questions and more, as we discuss how writing (or songwriting) makes us more human.Show notes:* Rick Rubin/ Bari Weiss interview on Apple Podcasts* The Creative Act by Rick Rubin * Chesterton Station —on EWTN* Chris Keenan (and lost letters of the Great Lakes)* Hurt by Johnny Cash and Nine Inch Nails This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe