Media Matters: Algorithms, AI Slop, and Influencers

In this installment of Deacons Pod, we rebroadcast an episode from June 2026 featuring an interview with Sr. Susan Francois, CSJP. Sr. Susan shares details about the witness and ministry taking place outside Delaney Hall, a facility used for immigrant detention in Newark, NJ.Delaney Hall is managed by the GEO Group under contract for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Deacon Mike Hayes, one of the Paulist Deacon Affiliates, asks Sr. Susan about conditions for the detainees inside the facility; the ministry of hospitality with family members outside the facility; the diverse coalition of people present outside the facility; and the Gospel challenge posed by this moment in U.S. history. Sr. Susan is a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. You may follow her short videos from outside Delaney Hall on TikTok and YouTube.Religion News Service recently produced a report and a video about her ministry. During her conversation with Deacon Mike, Sr. Susan also describes how she returned to the practice of her Catholic faith through Landings (a one-time Paulist reconciliation ministry) at St. Philip Neri Church in Portland, OR, and the ministry of Paulist Fr. Dick Chilson (1943 - 2026). She also recalls how Paulist Fr. Steve Bossi encouraged her to consider a vocation as a religious sister.

Questionable trends in the media are the focus of this episode of Deacons Pod. Deacon Mike Hayes (one of the Paulist Deacon Affiliates) and Paul Snatchko (the Paulist Fathers' Communications Director) chat about recent instances of media manipulation, odd social media algorithms, AI slop, and the role of Catholic influencers. During their conversation, Deacon Mike and Paul speak about a recent YouTube video called "We Investigate the REAL Reason Gen Z Is Going Back to Church."

In this episode of Deacons Pod, Deacon Mike Hayes and Deacon Patrick Murphy-Racey, both of whom are Paulist Deacon Affiliates, have a conversation about some recent issues in the news. They begin by discussing the failed execution on September 30, 2026, of convicted murderer Christa Pike in Tennessee. "If we ever wanted a case to show that capital punishment is stupid, let's just start here," says Deacon Mike. "There is a difference between justice and revenge. And revenge never solves anything."

"You never know how God is going to work – and the way he is going to use you," says Deacon Greg Kandra. "Every moment of your life is formation." An award-winning journalist, author, blogger, and speaker, Deacon Greg is our special guest on this episode of Deacons Pod. He speaks with Deacon Mike Hayes and Deacon Mike Berstene (both of whom are Paulist Deacon Affiliates) about his new book "Peace Be with All of You: The Mission and Message of Pope Leo XIV" from Word Among Us Press. Deacon Greg also reflects on his career as a writer at CBS News; his discernment to become a deacon; ministry at his new parish in Central Florida; and the state of media today. He also shares about his recent experience as a cancer survivor, noting that September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

The recent death of legendary musical artist and humanitarian Dolly Parton, as well as this week's 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, inspired this episode of Deacons Pod about the experience of collective grief. "It's just a different kind of grief that sort of spills over into the lives of us all," says Deacon Mike Hayes, who co-hosts the episode with Deacon Mike Berstene. Both deacons are Paulist Deacon Affiliates.

Earlier this summer, the Paulist Deacon Affiliates' group chat came alive with a discussion of a thought-provoking essay in Commonweal magazine called "From Summit to Source: On a Eucharistic Dialogue With the World" by Kathryn Muensterman. In her essay, Muensterman, a PhD student in systematic theology at the University of Notre Dame, considers the statement "the Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life" and asks what it means for the work of Christian discipleship. Deacon Mark Asselin and Deacon Drew Dickson continue the conversation with Muensterman in this episode of Deacons Pod.

How should Christians respond when Scripture verses are used as tools (and as weapons) in political debates? That question is raised in this episode of Deacons Pod featuring Thomas Bolin, author of the Liturgical Press book "An Inspired Word in Season: Reading the Bible Responsibly in a Polarized World," which received a first-place honor in the Catholic Media Association's 2026 Book Awards in the "Religion in the Public Square" category. Dr. Bolin joins Deacon Mark Asselin and Deacon Patrick Ouellette (both of whom are Paulist Deacon Affiliates) for this timely conversation.

Jen Sawyer, Editor-in-Chief of the Paulist Fathers' media ministry Busted Halo, is the guest on this episode of Deacons Pod. She shares details about "Voices From the Back Pew," Busted Halo's new series that features "honest stories of curiosity, struggle, or tension with the Church." "A great story is an honest one. It's when someone isn't afraid to be authentic and share about their lives – the good, the bad, and the ugly," says Jen. "When I work with writers, I always tell them to think narrow and deep instead of wide and shallow." In her conversation with Deacon Mike Hayes and Deacon Mike Berstene (both of whom are Paulist Deacon Affiliates), Jen also details her career path from the secular media in New York City to a Catholic media ministry. In addition to her work with Busted Halo, you can find Jen at Substack.

Paul McMahon, the President and Publisher of Paulist Press, is our guest on this special episode of Deacons Pod. Deacon Mike Hayes and Deacon Drew Dickson (both of whom are Paulist Deacon Affiliates) ask Paul about his unique career path from his native Australia to service as the first lay President and Publisher in the 160-year history of the Catholic publishing company. During their conversation, Paul speaks about several Paulist Press books, including: The Paulist Biblical Commentary "Coming to Our Senses: Embodying the Soul" by Gunilla Norris "101 Questions & Answers on Deacons: Revised Second Edition" by Deacon Bill Ditewig "A Human Portrait of Jesus" by Fr. Vincenzo Anselmo, SJ "The Legacies of Sr. Madeleva Wolff, CSC" by Jessica Coblentz and Susan Mancino Deacon Mike also asks Paul what he learned from his predecessors at Paulist Press: Paulist Fr. Kevin Lynch (1925 - 2022), Paulist Fr. Larry Boadt (1942 - 2010), and Paulist Fr. Mark-David Janus, who now serves as Publisher Emeritus.

In this episode of Deacons Pod, we take note of the United States' 250th anniversary this July 4, and the ways it is being marked by the Paulists. Deacon Mike Hayes, one of the Paulist Deacon Affiliates, also shares memories his father, who immigrated from Ireland to Yonkers, NY.