Dr. Tom Neal talks with Victoria Winter about how using imagination during prayer can draw people into a more intimate relationship with God, creating inclusive communities for special needs children through monthly Masses and socials, how a dramatic childhood near-drowning became her first conscious experience of God's love, and her autistic daughter's unique faith experiences.

Dr. Tom Neal talks with Father David Kelly, a veteran Maryknoll priest, about his decades of missionary work in Latin America and his journey from Boston diocesan priest to missionary pastor, teacher, and spiritual mentor. Father Kelly reflects on learning from the faith of the poor amid suffering, the importance of humility, friendship, and staying close to God’s people.

Dr. Tom Neal talks with Peter Andrastek, a senior ministry consultant with Evangelical Catholic, about his article “The Catholic Church Lacks an Imagination for Lay Agency” and the broader vocation of the laity. Peter emphasizes the need for pastoral leaders to understand and support laypeople's secular vocations, and suggests reframing the "parish" less as the primary place of evangelization and more as a center of apostolic formation, since the main “turf” of evangelization is the secular world itself.

To learn more about Peter Andrastek, click HERE.

Dr. Tom Neal talks with theologian Dr. Petroc Willey about catechesis as a living “echo” of God’s good news rather than just classroom instruction. They discuss how parents are the primary catechists, forming their children through prayer, loving presence, beauty and order in the home, and rich storytelling that awakens imagination, and how praying with the Catechism helps catechists interiorize and share the faith more deeply.

Guest host Dr. Luke Arredondo talks with Fr. Stephen Koeth about his book, "Crabgrass Catholicism: How Suburbanization Transformed Faith and Politics in Postwar America", which which explores the profound impact of post-war suburbanization on American Catholicism. Fr. Koeth discusses how the move from urban ethnic parishes to suburban communities fundamentally transformed Catholic life, affecting everything from parish structure and education to political identity.

In this special episode, Michele Kenaga, the Director of Faith Formation for the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, fills in for Dr. Tom Neal and talks with Dr. Carmina Chapp about family catechesis and the concept of the "domestic church." They also discuss the importance of family faith formation and the challenges of implementing family catechesis in parishes, particularly in a secular culture that often pulls families away from faith.

Dr. Tom Neal welcomes Dr. Christopher Gawel back to the podcast to continue their discussion about understanding the religiosity of Gen Z. They discuss five key characteristics of this generation, including their view of science and faith, the importance of personal identity, the pursuit of happiness versus joy, the ethics of kindness, and their digital-native lifestyle. Dr. Gawel emphasizes the need for the Church to engage with young people by understanding their perspectives, providing opportunities for personal spiritual experiences (like adoration), and maintaining an authentic online presence.

Dr. Tom Neal talks with Dr. Jennifer E. Morel about her experiences as a mother of two children, John and Joy, with a focus on her daughter Joy's special needs. Dr. Morel shares her journey of navigating healthcare, family support, and personal growth, emphasizing how having a child with Down syndrome has transformed her teaching approach and understanding of vulnerability. Through personal stories, she highlights how her children have taught her about flexibility, compassion, and the beauty of accepting individual differences, while also challenging societal norms about perfection and independence.