Friends, Romans, Iowans

Alex & Maddie sit down again with Adam Storey, Diocesan Director of Marriage & Family Life, to discuss what exactly annulments are, some myths about them, and some tips for preparing for marriage beforehand.

Alex & Maddie got to chat about the subject of Sony Picture's upcoming film "Father Stu" with two people who have come to know the man himself very well: Father Bart Tolleson, from the Diocese of Helena and a close friend of Father Stu's, and Mark Wahlberg, who portrayed him in the film.

Alex and Maddie chat with Msgr Larry Beeson, a priest of the Diocese who was able to attend the first three sessions of Vatican II. Msgr Beeson reflects on his life as a priest, his experiences at the Council, and his thoughts on its implementation over the last 60 years.

Buckle your seatbelts for everyone's favorite hot topic: Vatican II! OK actually this episode is pretty tame, as Fr PJ shows us the ins and outs behind all the Vatican II questions (or at least some of them).

Alex and Maddie chat with Dr Kevin Kilcawley, a psychologist serving the Des Moines metro, about how his faith affects his work, the interplay between embracing and accepting suffering, working with teens and those suffering from various addictions, and more!

Alex and Maddie sit down with Katie Patrizio to talk all things Eucharist: from the Garden of Eden, through the Binding of Isaac, the Last Supper, the Resurrection--seriously, all things Eucharist. Enjoy!

Alex and Maddie chat with Bishop Joensen on the role and teachings of the Church at the end of our lives.

Continuing season 3's run of spooky season episodes, we've got one with Fr. PJ McManus on one of Netflix's new shows: Midnight Mass.

Alex and Maddie chat with Fr. Dave Fleming about all things supernatural in the midst of spooky season.

Season 3 is finally underway! Dr. Bud Marr joins for a conversation with Alex and Maddie about Tradition, conscience, and St John Henry Newman.

Mark Schmidt, Coordinator of Racial Justice Programming for the Diocese of Des Moines, joins Justin and Maddie to discuss what racial justice is, why it's needed, and how it is an integral part of Catholic Social Teaching as a whole.

Deacon Mark Campbell talks to Maddie and Justin just a few months after the sudden death of his father about the process of giving our suffering to Christ.

Fr. Dave Fleming, Pastor of St. Pius X parish in Urbandale, talks with Maddie and Justin about all the aspects of Deliverance Ministry and his view on Spiritual Warfare in the world today.

Maddie talks with Katie Weidner and Amanda Sabo, nurses at InnerVisions Health Care, about their work at a Unplanned Pregnancy and STD testing clinic on the latest episode of Friends, Romans, Iowans.

Fr. PJ McManus takes Alex and Maddie through all the biblical events from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday and shows how those events are reflected in our Mass and tradition today. This is a great way to prepare your hearts and minds for the upcoming Holy Week.

Fr. Trevor Chicoine, Diocesan Director of Worship, joins Alex and Maddie for a timely Lenten conversation about the Sacrament of Confession.

Fr. Ryan Andrew, chaplain of Dowling Catholic High School and associate pastor of St. Pius X parish, joins Alex and Maddie to discuss all the twists and turns that led to him being ordained a priest.

Jessica Hernandez, Coordinator of Hispanic Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Des Moines, joins Alex and Maddie for a chat about diversity and unity in the Church, and the way Mary draws all of us together to her Son.

Joe Tallman, middle school Theology teacher at St. Pius X Catholic School in Urbandale, joins Alex and Maddie to chat about teaching middle schoolers theology in general, but Theology of the Body in particular, in a way that opens up the value of ToB for everyone.

Fr. Dan Kirby joins Alex and Maddie for a chat about how to prepare for, and prayerfully lean into, the Lenten season.

Executive Director of Iowans for Life Maggie DeWitte sits down with Alex and Maddie for a deep dive into the legal side of the problem of abortion. Find out more about Iowans for Life at their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/IowansForLife) and follow them on Twitter (https://twitter.com/ChildnotChoice)

David Carey grew up in the Diocese of Des Moines and now leads expeditions for COR Expeditions, an outreach of Wyoming Catholic College.

Fr. PJ McManus joins the show (second time in one season!) to talk all things Christmas: Christmas movies, Christmas culture, Christmas itself, you name it.

Alex & Maddie sit down with Fr. Ross Parker, Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Des Moines, for an in-depth conversation on all things discernment.

Fr. James Downey, back from Rome due to COVID, sits down for a long chat with Alex & Maddie about his studies in moral theology.

The political sphere has become a profoundly uncomfortable one for many people, and Catholics are certainly among them. How do we navigate this arena which is fraught with decisions and stances we can't uphold but are pressured to embrace? Tom Chapman, Executive Director of the Iowa Catholic Conference, joins Alex and Maddie for a timely discussion of how to be comfortable being Catholic in the world of politics.

Alex and Maddie sit with Bishop William Joensen and Adam Storey for a behind-the-scenes conversation on the questions and decisions faced over the last 7 months during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Katie Patrizio (the smartest person Maddie knows) joins Alex & Maddie for a fascinating discussion of her time in the Holy Land, connecting it to various episodes of the Gospels, as well as connections to the Hebrew Scriptures. Check out Katie's podcast at https://sundaydive.com/.

Fr. Kyle Digmann of St. Thomas Aquinas in Ames, Iowa, joins Alex and Maddie to discuss his vocation story, the reasons we fast, the challenges and triumphs of college ministry, and the importance of good liturgy.

Fr. PJ McManus, pastor of Christ the King parish in Des Moines and FRIpod's designated culture critic, joins Alex & Maddie to dive into Zac Efron's Netflix series "Down to Earth", in particular the primary and vital role played by water, not only in our faith, but for humanity as a whole

Adam Storey, Vice-Chancellor and Director of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Des Moines, chats with Alex and Maddie about all things discernment, referencing the wisdom of GK Chesterton and Pope Francis to help us find a deeper trust in the Lord's call to freedom and commitment.

Bishop Joensen joins Alex & Maddie on the first full episode of Friends, Romans, Iowans. As his first anniversary as Bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines approaches on 9/27, he reflects on receiving the call to become our Bishop, the decision to close public Masses in March, his thoughts on the current state of civil unrest, and our reasons for hope moving forward.

A quick preview of the show: an introduction to your hosts, the scope of the show, and how YOU can shape future episodes