The Cordial Catholic

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by the elder statesman of American Catholicism the one and only George Weigel. Author of countless award-winning books, a regular columnist and commentator, and an all-around completely reasonable and decent Catholic guy, George joins us the week with a kind of State of the Union, a medical exam, if you will, of the Catholic Church with an eye to helping those new to the faith and those looking at Catholicism from the outside understand what's happening in the Church today. We tackle ideas of the nature of the Church and disagreements in Catholicism, the outlook for the American Church with an American Pope at the helm, the idea of evangelization and what's missing from Catholic discipleship, and, in general, what new Catholics can expect when they convert – and they are converting in droves these days!George is a bit of a sage when it comes to understanding the Church and even though he calls me "Kevin" throughout he has a lot of good points to make and this ended up being an absolutely wonderful conversation.For more from George check out his website.Send your feedback to [email protected]. Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.Please consider financially supporting this show! For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.Thank you to those already supporting the show!Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.Beyond The BeaconJoin Bishop Kevin Sweeney for inspired interviews with Christians living out their faith!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showFind and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:Instagram: @cordialcatholicTwitter: @cordialcatholicYouTube: /thecordialcatholicFacebook: The Cordial CatholicTikTok: @cordialcatholic

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Barbara Heil a former Charismatic, Evangelical Ministry, Missionary, and Evangelist who heard the call of God – encountered Christ in a profound way – and became Catholic! This is an incredible story, buckle up!Barbara spent 30 years in what she called cutting-edge Evangelical ministry, always seeking to live on the margins of where God was calling her, her husband, and their thriving ministry, until she began to encounter Christ in the most unexpected places: through Catholic priest, the Mass, and in Catholic encounters!Barbara's story is one of those incredible journeys of someone who is seriously "sold out" for the Lord, encountering him in the least likely of places: the Catholic Church. For more from Barbara check out From His Heart Ministries and her book Journey Into His Heart: How the Holy Spirit Led Me Into the Catholic Church. You will not be disappointed!Send your feedback to [email protected]. Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.Please consider financially supporting this show! For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.Thank you to those already supporting the show!Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.Beyond The BeaconJoin Bishop Kevin Sweeney for inspired interviews with Christians living out their faith!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showFind and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:Instagram: @cordialcatholicTwitter: @cordialcatholicYouTube: /thecordialcatholicFacebook: The Cordial CatholicTikTok: @cordialcatholic

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by my friend Dr. Michael Barber, Professor of Sacred Scripture and Theology at the Augustine Institute, to unpack the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick from the Old Testament, the New Testament, and throughout Church History. This week is an awesome Bible study with a lens towards how we can understand this important sacrament – and all the sacraments – with an eye towards evangelization. How do we share the deep biblical and historical roots of the Sacrament of the Sick? What's is the point and purpose of this anointing? And why is this important, biblical practice, also deeply and uniquely Catholic? For more from Dr. Barber check out his website. You can find his book The Bible and Anointing of the Sick from Baker Academic.And make sure to follow Dr. Barber on his X account.Send your feedback to [email protected]. Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.Please consider financially supporting this show! For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.Thank you to those already supporting the show!Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.Beyond The BeaconJoin Bishop Kevin Sweeney for inspired interviews with Christians living out their faith!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showFind and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:Instagram: @cordialcatholicTwitter: @cordialcatholicYouTube: /thecordialcatholicFacebook: The Cordial CatholicTikTok: @cordialcatholic

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by my friend Adom Postma and his brother Jason, a former Anglican priest, to talk about the incredible conversion – a journey made by three brothers into Catholicism. Raised in the Reformed tradition, these brothers loved their faith deeply and regularly spared with one another, as iron sharpens iron, on all kinds of topics in Evangelical Christianity. But when one brother began to look into the Early Church Fathers in order to win a debate with a Jehovah's Witness, things begin to take an interesting turn. Listen and learn how slowly their conversation turned towards Catholicism. How Jason, a devout Anglican priest with a church and a ministry and a family to take care of, wrestled with the same questions he watched his brothers wrestle with – and come to startlingly similar conclusions. And how, ultimately, the only thing that made sense to do for all of the brothers was to become Catholic!This is a fantastic story that you won't want to miss. For more from Jason check out his Substack.Send your feedback to [email protected]. Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.Please consider financially supporting this show! For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.Thank you to those already supporting the show!Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.Beyond The BeaconJoin Bishop Kevin Sweeney for inspired interviews with Christians living out their faith!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showFind and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:Instagram: @cordialcatholicTwitter: @cordialcatholicYouTube: /thecordialcatholicFacebook: The Cordial CatholicTikTok: @cordialcatholic

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by the one and only Steve Kerekes to talk about the Brown Scapular. Steve, who's literally dedicated his life to the promotion of this Catholic devotion, joins us to unpack the origins of the scapular, dispel some of the common misunderstandings, and to share why he thinks that the Brown Scapular is the perfect companion to the rosary – the sword and the shield of our Catholic faith! Steve is such a dynamic guy and you're going to absolutely love the passion and enthusiasm he brings to this "crazy uncle" Catholic topic. For more from Steve visit his website.Send your feedback to [email protected]. Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.Please consider financially supporting this show! For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.Thank you to those already supporting the show!Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.Beyond The BeaconJoin Bishop Kevin Sweeney for inspired interviews with Christians living out their faith!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showFind and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:Instagram: @cordialcatholicTwitter: @cordialcatholicYouTube: /thecordialcatholicFacebook: The Cordial CatholicTikTok: @cordialcatholic

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by the Dr. Shane Owens from the Franciscan University of Steubenville to talk about St. Augustine. Often claimed by non-Catholic Christians to support a low view of the papacy, the symbolic nature of Communion, and the doctrine of Sola Scriptura I ask Dr. Owens exactly what *did* St. Augustine believe about these ideas and how we can successfully win debates and discussions when a Protestant tries to claim that Augustine supports these views.With clarity and charity Dr. Owens demonstrates why arguments by popular Protestant scholars like Dr. James White and Dr. Gavin Ortlund – that Augustine supports popular Protestant doctrines – are completely wrong. For more from Dr. Owens please check out his book Return to the Heart: The Biblical Spirituality of St. Augustine's Confessions:https://stpaulcenter.com/store/return-to-the-heart-the-biblical-spirituality-of-st-augustines-confessionsAnd follow the St. Paul Center at:https://stpaulcenter.comSend your feedback to [email protected]. Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.Please consider financially supporting this show! For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.Thank you to those already supporting the show!Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.Beyond The BeaconJoin Bishop Kevin Sweeney for inspired interviews with Christians living out their faith!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showFind and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:Instagram: @cordialcatholicTwitter: @cordialcatholicYouTube: /thecordialcatholicFacebook: The Cordial CatholicTikTok: @cordialcatholic

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by our Marriage Therapist's favourite Marriage Therapist: Dr. Ray Guarendi! We talk about one of the most difficult things to do as a Catholic convert: convert without destroying your marriage. Dr. Guardeni, a seasoned clinical psychologist and devout Catholic, shares his insights into how the convert without destroying your family, while respecting your spouse, and how to create stability and harmony in an otherwise tumultuous situation – one that Dr. Guarendi himself knows all about! For more from Dr. Guarendi check out his website at: https://www.drray.comSend your feedback to [email protected]. Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.Please consider financially supporting this show! For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.Thank you to those already supporting the show!Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.Beyond The BeaconJoin Bishop Kevin Sweeney for inspired interviews with Christians living out their faith!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showFind and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:Instagram: @cordialcatholicTwitter: @cordialcatholicYouTube: /thecordialcatholicFacebook: The Cordial CatholicTikTok: @cordialcatholic

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Taylor from GemmaintheRough (on Instagram and TikTok) to talk about her journey as a charismatic, non-denominational Christian leading worship at her church to a full-blown conversion to Catholicism. Taylor's story is amazing as she asks incredible questions about how and why her non-denominational church worshipped the way they did – and how the Early Church worshipped differently!How could they have weekly "altar calls" without an altar? How could they claim to "worship" God without offering any kind of sacrifice in the biblical pattern? This and so much more makes up Taylor's awesome conversion story. She is cordial, enthusiastic, and so articulate. You don't want to miss this episode.For more from Taylor find her on Instagram and TikTok.Send your feedback to [email protected]. Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.Please consider financially supporting this show! For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.Thank you to those already supporting the show!Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.Beyond The BeaconJoin Bishop Kevin Sweeney for inspired interviews with Christians living out their faith!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showFind and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:Instagram: @cordialcatholicTwitter: @cordialcatholicYouTube: /thecordialcatholicFacebook: The Cordial CatholicTikTok: @cordialcatholic

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by my friend Carla Lynch to unpack her outrageous journey from Charismatic, Evangelical Christianity into full communion with the Catholic Church. Carla's journey is one of a kind, beginning when her Evangelical Youth Group visited a well-known Catholic Church – the beauty, the stillness, and the devout worship of the Catholics she saw there coming up-ended her understanding of Catholicism and planted a seed that would slowly germinate and grow until she couldn't avoid it's presence any longer. From there, her story only gets even more wild. Carla's journey is amazing and I truly hope you enjoy it.Send your feedback to [email protected]. Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.Please consider financially supporting this show! For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.Thank you to those already supporting the show!Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.Beyond The BeaconJoin Bishop Kevin Sweeney for inspired interviews with Christians living out their faith!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showFind and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:Instagram: @cordialcatholicTwitter: @cordialcatholicYouTube: /thecordialcatholicFacebook: The Cordial CatholicTikTok: @cordialcatholic

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Levi Sikes, the musical genius behind Former Ruins, to talk about his journey into Catholicism. What drew Levi out of his Evangelical Christian tradition, what drew him into Catholicism, and what continues to draw him in, evermore. And, as a musician, how Levi strives to bridge this gap, to explain and wrestle with his own paradigm shift, and to speak into a place of the deep faith and longing felt by others on journeys similar to his.It's an amazing interview!For more from Levi check out the Former Ruins website, on Bandcamp, and everywhere streaming music is found! You won't be disappointed.Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.Please consider financially supporting this show! For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.Thank you to those already supporting the show!Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.Beyond The BeaconJoin Bishop Kevin Sweeney for inspired interviews with Christians living out their faith!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showFind and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:Instagram: @cordialcatholicTwitter: @cordialcatholicYouTube: /thecordialcatholicFacebook: The Cordial CatholicTikTok: @cordialcatholic