Thinking Faith Catholic Podcast

TF | S4 E05 | What does healthy decision-making look like in a Catholic marriage? Do husbands really have the final say, or is there a better way to understand authority, mutual respect, and partnership? In this episode of Thinking Faith, Dr. Brett Salkeld welcomes his wife, Flannery, exploring marriage, sexuality, and parenting in response to questionable advice circulating in online Catholic spaces. Drawing on 21 years of marriage, Brett and Flannery challenge simplistic views of marital authority and explore how honest communication, trust, shared responsibility, and openness to one another's needs build a healthy, Christ-centred marriage. 00:00 Introduction 00:31 Why Flannery Joined 02:33 Rejecting Male Tiebreaker 05:06 Resentment and Communication 11:22 How Decisions Really Work 15:36 Low Stakes Knife Debate 17:43 High Stakes Homeschool Choice 23:39 Shared Vision Big Decisions 27:14 Prayer and Desire 34:50 Laura Doyle and Next Steps 37:21 Moms and Dads Differ 39:14 No Shame in Roles 40:38 Empowered Wife Insights 46:16 Respect Versus Understanding 48:54 Whatever You Think 54:50 Headship Without Control 57:26 Giver and Asker Dynamic 01:04:55 Closing Reflections

TF | S4 E04| Is Halloween compatible with Catholic faith? Should Catholics participate in trick-or-treating, costumes, and spooky traditions, or should Christians avoid Halloween altogether? In this episode of Thinking Faith, Deacon Eric Gurash and guest host Brayden Kunz explore the Catholic roots of Halloween and its connection to All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. They discuss common concerns about Halloween, the difference between harmless fun and genuinely problematic occult practices, and why participating in neighbourhood traditions can be an opportunity for community, connection, and faith. Discover how Halloween can open the door to meaningful conversations about death, the communion of saints, prayer for the dead, and the Christian hope of resurrection. From traditional soul cakes and cemetery visits to saint costumes and Mexican sugar-skull traditions, Eric and Brayden share practical ways Catholic families can celebrate Halloween while keeping faith at the heart of the season. Whether you love Halloween or have questions about its place in Catholic life, this conversation offers a thoughtful, balanced approach to celebrating All Hallows’ Eve without fear or superstition. 06:07 Can Catholics Celebrate 07:13 Halloween Costume Memories 11:08 Is Dressing Up Wrong 13:24 Occult and Superstition 18:24 Halloween Origins and All Saints 20:57 Laughing at Death 22:10 Kids Learn Through Play 23:39 Sugar Skulls and Hope 25:34 Saint Costumes and Spooky Saints 27:29 Talking About Death 29:20 Soul Cakes Tradition 33:01 Funerals and Family Conversations 35:55 Practical Faithful Ideas 39:19 Home Traditions and Cemetery Prayer

TF | S4 E03 | Do Catholics, Protestants, and Muslims worship the same God? What can our favourite biblical figures teach us about faith? And what should Catholics make of dreams about loved ones who have died? In this episode of *Thinking Faith*, Deacon Eric Gurash and Dr. Brett Salkeld tackle three fascinating questions about Catholic belief and spirituality. Drawing on Catholic teaching and *Nostra Aetate*, they explore what the Church teaches about Christianity, Islam, and our shared understanding of God, while acknowledging important differences in belief. They also share their favourite biblical figures, including Luke and Judith, before exploring dreams of deceased loved ones, the communion of saints, prayer for the dead, and how Catholics can approach these experiences with faith and discernment. Three questions, surprising answers, and, as always, thoughtful conversations about what Catholics really believe. 00:00 Podcast Welcome 02:55 Student Questions Setup 03:25 Same God Question 06:42 Vatican II On Islam 09:53 Trinity Key Difference 14:58 God Revealed In Cultures 16:57 Favorite Bible Person 17:03 Judith And Esther 21:49 Luke The Narrator 24:05 Luke’s Outsider Lens 25:29 Roof Tiles Storytelling 27:57 Acts and Church Identity 29:05 Luke vs Hebrews Worlds 31:49 Dreams and Discernment 34:14 Pray for the Dead 38:39 Symbols and Psychology 42:43 Accept the Gift 45:33 Closing Thanks and Prayer

|TF| S4 EP 2 | How can you know that you’re saved? And if you’ve received the Holy Spirit, should you be certain of your salvation? This week on Thinking Faith, Deacon Eric Gurash and Dr. Brett Salkeld respond to a Miller High School student’s question about assurance of salvation and the Catholic understanding of hope. Along the way, they explore baptism, the Holy Spirit, Ignatian discernment, purgatory, and why Catholics and Protestants can approach the question of being “saved” so differently. When it comes to salvation, where should our confidence ultimately rest? 02:14 Salvation Question Setup 02:57 Mailbag From Students 04:54 Assurance vs Hope 05:47 Protestant Roots of Assurance 08:58 Quicksand of Self-Doubt 10:47 Sacraments and Agency 13:39 Catholic Answer 14:59 Hope and Salvation Anxiety 15:40 Theological Virtue of Hope 16:14 Feelings and the Holy Spirit 17:24 Ignatius and Discernment Anchors 19:55 Hoping Hell Is Empty 21:06 Purgatory as Restorative Hope 25:44 My Hope Is in Jesus 26:43 Closing

| TF | S4 E01 | What if the Book of Revelation isn’t really about predicting the end of the world, but about learning to see what’s happening right now? This week on Thinking Faith, Deacon Eric Gurash and Dr. Brett Salkeld take up a student question about one of Scripture’s strangest and most misunderstood books. Together, they explore Revelation as an “unveiling” that helps Christians living through fear, persecution, and uncertainty see the deeper reality of what God is doing. From the seven letters to the churches to the proclamation of the Word to the wedding feast of the Lamb, this first episode of a new season asks whether the Book of Revelation offers a secret code for calculating the end times or a vision of worship that reshapes how Christians understand the world. 01:47 Podcast Intro and Student Questions 04:03 Why Revelation Feels Weird 06:43 Apocalypse and Unveiling 09:45 Prophecy Not Fortune Telling 12:06 Persecution and Coded Language 17:21 Beasts, Barcodes, and Misreads 19:18 666 Solomon and Apostasy 21:31 Heavenly Liturgy in Revelation 23:02 Parousia Wedding Feast Eucharist 25:55 Revelation’s Big Questions 26:37 Two-Part Structure 28:09 Mass in Revelation 30:03 Seven Letters Repentance 31:07 Exodus Plagues Pattern 32:18 Eden to New Jerusalem 34:29 The Woman, the Dragon, and the Church 37:13 Throne Room and Prayer 39:55 Parousia at Mass 40:51 End Times Readiness 42:25 Midnight Mass Illustration 44:54 Against Code-Breaking Fear 47:21 Freedom Beyond Power 50:25 Worship Forms Imagination 52:36 Go to Mass

| S03 E22 | On the cusp of the 10th anniversary of MAiD in Canada, and as our country prepares to expand Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) to cases where mental illness is the sole underlying condition, important questions remain about safeguards, mental health care, physician conscience rights, and the protection of vulnerable people. In this final episode of Season 3, Deacon Eric Gurash and Dr. Brett Salkeld welcome Larry Worthen of the Christian Medical and Dental Association of Canada for a conversation about the future of MAID, the challenges facing patients and physicians, and the Christian call to accompany those who suffer with dignity, compassion, and hope. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:02 Tour Stories 02:40 MAID Expansion Explained 05:26 Legal Origins and Slippery Slope 09:03 Burden and Human Dignity 11:00 From Burden to Infanticide 15:08 Conscience Rights and Doctor Duties 17:24 MAID as "Treatment" 18:30 Real Cases and Warnings 20:09 Safeguards Always Fail 22:09 Normalize Suicide Agenda 23:34 Doctor Shopping Loopholes 24:51 Keanu Case Explained 26:57 Care Wait Times Crisis 28:24 Palliative Care Underserved 30:13 Suicide Line After Expansion 33:54 Church Response 39:11 Dying Well 42:40 Final Blessing Farewell

TF S03 E21 | As we head into Laudato Si' Week (May 17-24) Dr. Brett Salkeld speaks with Comboni Missionary priest, Fr. Dario Bossi, about the Church’s vision of integral ecology, the human and environmental impacts of mining in the Amazon, and the work of Justiça nos Trilhos (Justice Along the Rails) supporting communities affected by industrial development. Together they explore faith, solidarity, Catholic social teaching, and the connection between the cry of the poor and the cry of the Earth. 00:00 Welcome to Thinking Faith 00:46 Meet Father Dario 02:25 Missionary Journey 04:38 Why the Amazon Matters 06:27 Integral Ecology Explained 10:07 Mining and Its Impacts 13:11 Economy Versus Ecology 22:25 Community Alternatives 26:48 Churches and Mining Network 28:04 Option for the Poor 32:50 Justice on the Rails 35:38 How to Learn More 37:35 Catholic Solidarity 38:19 Closing

TF | S03 E20 | In this episode of Thinking Faith, Deacon Eric Gurash and Dr. Brett Salkeld respond to a question from Grade 9–10 students at Miller High School: Do miracles still happen—and why can’t science prove them? Exploring Scripture, theology, and real-world examples, they unpack the relationship between miracles, faith, and scientific evidence. The conversation highlights why miracles in the Bible—and today—are not “proofs” that force belief, but signs that invite a personal response and deeper relationship with God. They also examine how the Church evaluates miracles, the limits of science in explaining the supernatural, and why openness—rather than certainty—shapes how we interpret extraordinary events. This episode offers a thoughtful and accessible look at how faith and reason work together, and why miracles ultimately point beyond themselves to hope, conversion, and God’s presence in the world. 00:00 Miracles Question 00:52 Why We Love Q and A 01:55 Framing Modern Skepticism 03:27 New Testament Not Naive 05:08 Miracles Need Interpretation 07:39 Miracles Don't Force Faith 09:20 Science Limits and Saints 12:09 Canonization Beyond Evidence 13:53 Shroud of Turin Cautions 16:49 Historical Case for Resurrection 19:01 Historical Evidence Limits 20:32 Hume and Miracle Bias 21:23 Modern Miracles and Lourdes 23:05 Why Miracles Leave Scars 24:42 Signs That Build Hope 29:44 Choosing Good Over Despair 32:04 Prayer and Shared Responsibility 35:44 Atheists' Prayer for a Sign 37:13 Incremental Faith and Unbelief 38:51 Wrap Up and Blessing

TF | S03 E19 | In this episode of Thinking Faith, Deacon Eric Gurash and Dr. Brett Salkeld respond to a powerful question from Grade 9–10 students at Miller High School: If God is always helping us, why is there so much suffering in the world? Drawing on Christian theology, Scripture, and real-life experience, they explore the problem of evil, distinguishing between natural suffering and moral evil, and examining how faith understands both. The conversation highlights how God does not cause suffering—but works through it, bringing grace, growth, and hope even in the most difficult moments. Through insights from the Psalms, the Cross, and everyday life, this episode offers a deeply honest and hopeful look at suffering—encouraging listeners to seek the full truth of their lives, practice gratitude, and trust that evil does not have the final word. 01:14 Student Questions 02:23 Why God Allows Pain 03:19 Natural vs Moral Evil 05:24 Death and Sin 10:07 Grace Changes Perspective 12:41 Holy Indifference Ignatius 14:47 Evil Feels Like Winning 17:57 Hope Through Suffering 18:59 God Doesn't Waste Pain 20:18 Remembering Past Grace 20:56 When You Would Trade It 23:04 Trust Beyond Answers 24:17 Christ in Gethsemane 25:08 Despair After the Cross 27:11 John the Baptist Doubts 29:30 Guilt Over Graces 30:15 Why Me to Why Not 32:10 Evil Defeats Itself 33:08 Problem of the Good 35:30 Gratitude in Hard Times 40:24 Truth Not Denial 42:04 Wrap Up and Thanks

TF S03 | E18| In this episode of Thinking Faith, Deacon Eric Gurash and Dr. Brett Salkeld respond to a thoughtful question from Grade 9–10 students at Miller High School: How can I know when God is talking to me? Drawing on the spiritual wisdom of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the conversation explores Christian discernment through self-awareness, honesty, and paying attention to the movements of the heart over time. They explain the difference between spiritual consolation and desolation, clarifying that these are not simply good or bad feelings, but experiences related to freedom, clarity, hope, and closeness to God. The episode offers practical guidance on creating space to hear God’s voice through silence, prayer, spiritual reading, Mass, confession, adoration, and the daily Examen, while cautioning against making major decisions during times of desolation. Listeners are encouraged to trust that God’s voice often sounds like truth spoken within, to remain grounded in Church teaching, and to grow patiently in freedom and faith as God continues to shape their spiritual lives. 00:19 Podcast Welcome 03:22 Question God Speaking 03:46 Ignatius Discernment Basics 05:05 Silence and Self Awareness 05:58 Ignatius Story and Boredom 08:21 Consolation vs Dopamine Crash 10:40 Examen and Honest Reflection 12:02 True Voice vs False Voice 15:59 Church and Moral Guardrails 18:31 Crime and Punishment Example 20:52 Everyday Choices and Consolation 21:45 Fruits Of The Spirit 22:32 Consolation Versus Desolation 23:53 Do Not Decide Desolate 24:35 Dad Story And Space 27:58 Lies Reduce Your Options 29:03 Temporary States And Clarity 31:44 Many Good Choices 33:42 Discernment In Sacraments 36:13 Garden Conditions For Growth 38:05 God Changes Our Minds 38:44 Closing Thanks And Blessing