Iron Sharpens Iron

Welcome to Iron Sharpens Iron! In this episode, we explore the dynamic relationship between media and Catholicism. Discover how media influences our culture and learn about how the Church can take advantage of this powerful tool. Join us as we share success stories of Catholic media initiatives and discuss the Church's involvement in mainstream media. Plus, we provide valuable advice for smaller parishes venturing into social media for the first time. Tune in to Iron Sharpens Iron as we navigate the intersection of media and Catholicism, and learn how to engage with media mindfully as faithful Catholics.

In this episode of Iron Sharpens Iron, we delve into the life, writings, and teachings of one of the most influential figures in Christianity—St. Paul. Join us as we embark on a captivating journey through the life of this remarkable apostle, exploring his conversion, missionary journeys, letters, and enduring impact on the early Church.

Join us today as our guest host, Fr. Michael Donahue, a Dominican friar, and NDSU alumnus, leads us on a transformative exploration of the significance and devotion to the Sacred Heart. We delve into its origins, symbolism, theological significance, and practical ways to cultivate a personal relationship with the Sacred Heart. Discover the timeless relevance of this devotion in today's world and be inspired to deepen your devotion to the Sacred Heart, embracing its message of love and mercy.

Join Matthew and Nathan this week at the start of June, the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as they discuss human dignity and transgenderism in our culture.

In this thought-provoking episode, we delve into the transformative power of living in the Holy Spirit. Join us as we explore the significance of Pentecost, the birth of the Church, and the profound coming of the Holy Spirit. We embark on a journey of discovery, delving into the nature of the Holy Spirit and its transformative impact on our lives. Through personal stories and reflections, we gain insights into what it truly means to live in the Holy Spirit and the importance of cultivating a personal relationship with Him. As we explore the role of the Holy Spirit in the life and mission of the Church, we are inspired by His empowering presence and guidance. We conclude this enriching episode with heartfelt final thoughts, inviting you to embrace the ongoing significance of Pentecost and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in your own life. Join us as we sharpen our faith together in the refining fire of the Holy Spirit.

In this captivating episode, we engage in a conversation with Jacob, a former seminarian who recently discerned out of the seminary and returned to school, alongside seminarian William. We explore Jacob and William's inspiring stories, starting from their time at NDSU and their deep involvement with St. Paul's Newman Center, to the moment they made the decision to enter the seminary, and when Jacob discerned to step away from the seminary. Through their personal experiences, we gain a deeper understanding of the discernment process within the Catholic faith. We dive into the importance of discernment in the Christian life, the challenges and complexities it entails, and practical tips for navigating through the discernment journey. William and Jacob's unique perspectives add depth and richness to the conversation, offering valuable insights and inspiration for our own journeys of faith. Join us as we uncover the twists and turns of discernment, explore the dedication it takes, and embrace the transformative power of discerning God's call.

In this episode of Iron Sharpens Iron, hosts Matthew and Nathan, along with guest Ryan Hlucny, explore the topic of "Living an Adventurous Life: Finding God's Will in the Unknown". They share personal stories and discuss the importance of taking risks and trusting in God's plan.

In this episode of Iron Sharpens Iron, Matthe and Nathan are joined by the Sisters of Life, we explore the unique dignity and worth of women as daughters of God and the importance of discernment in discovering one's vocation. We discuss the various ways women can live out their vocation and how prayer and spiritual direction can help in the process. We also address the challenges women face in this secular world and how they can embrace their dignity in the midst of these challenges. Finally, we highlight the inspiring work of the Sisters of Life community.

Join hosts Matthew and Nathan as they dive into the world of storytelling and explore why movies with agendas tend to fall short compared to great art. From dissecting the elements of great storytelling to discussing the importance of detail, this podcast provides an in-depth look at the intersection of art and film. Through their analysis, Matthew and Nathan highlight how great movies and great art both try to capture the essence of the human imagination. With a focus on the importance of detail, the hosts explore why movies with agendas often miss the mark and how storytelling that focuses on the human person can transcend politics and offer a truly meaningful experience. Whether you're a movie buff or an art enthusiast, tune in to gain a deeper understanding of how great storytelling can inspire, challenge, and connect us to the world around us. To listen to our RPR Interviews on April 11 you can find those here --> https://yourcatholicradiostation.com/real-presence-live-podcasts

Join hosts Matthew and Nathan, along with special guest and FOCUS missionary, Michael Payne, as they explore the rich traditions of Holy Week and what they mean in the Catholic Church. From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, Holy Week is a time of deep spiritual reflection and renewal, marked by centuries-old customs and rituals that connect us to our faith and our community. Whether you're a lifelong Catholic or simply curious about the traditions of Holy Week, this episode offers a fascinating and informative exploration of one of the most important periods in the Catholic calendar. Tune in and join the conversation today!

Matthew and Nathan invite the Newman Centers Development team on to discuss the importance of generosity and when/how to start giving!

If you're anything like me, maybe you had a poor view of retreats. I had always looked at them as boring vacations when I was younger. As I started to grow and actually apply myself to experience the retreat I have learned that it is so much more than just a time away from the world but a way in which we can grow deeper in our relationship with Christ in a profound way. Check it out!

Tune in today as Matthew and Nathan discuss the spiritual and corporal works of mercy!

This special episode today is where Jericho Limke's bible study comes into the studio and shares their experience going through Wild at Heart. If you want to see insight into what goes on inside of a bible study, listen to this episode to see how these leaders prepare as well as attend a full bible study.

Join us in this episode as we answer, why we go to confession. Why go to a priest instead of a spouse or close friend? How do you prepare for confession? What happens in a confessional? What are the steps? Whether you've been going to confession monthly your whole life, or it's been 20+ years since you've been to the sacrament, we are sure you'll get something out of this. If you did enjoy please share it with a friend who may have questions about the sacrament. If you have any questions about this topic or anything else, please feel free to reach out to our hosts, matthew@bisoncatholic.org or nathan@bisoncatholic.org!

Matthew and Nathan break down what it means to be a leader. Are we all called to be leaders? Some influential people we might see as leaders, what a bad leader might look like and how bad leaders come up. Join in for this fun conversations. The book referenced is TRUE LEADERSHIP (2ND EDITION) - https://bit.ly/3jEBiby

Here is a late post from over Christmas break where Matthew got to sit down with Bismarck seminarian and St. Paul's Newman Center Alumni, Jacob Schepp.

Join Matthew and Nathan in the discussion about our SEEK experiences! Joined by our newest Peer Minister, Noah Hitchcock!

Join us at the SEEK23 FOCUS Conference! Matthew and Nathan touch base with you really quickly on the truly awesome experience of SEEK. You will also hear from 5 students who will share the experience they are having so far at SEEK and how it is inspiring them to go and share their experience to help others grow in Love with Jesus Christ! *Please forgive us for the poor audio. New travel mixer and poor internet :) We hope you enjoy it despite our audio issues.

While Nathan is out on vacation, Matthew sits down with visiting seminarian William Gerads and asks some questions about his first semester in the seminary!

Join us today as we chat with some students about Christmas!

Join us today as we dive into the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. Especially in this Joyful time, it is a great time to sit down and reflect on this time of Jesus's life!

What is Catholic about the imagination? How can we use it for good, and how is it used for bad? Join us on this episode to hear the answers to these questions and more. Joined by Msgr. Schlesselmann we dive into a conversation on the imagination. If you're a fan of Tolkein this episode may spike your interest. If not, that's fine, we talk about other things too!

How often do you think about your death? Today's topic we discuss what will happen when you die more specifically the last 4 things, Death, Judgement, Hell, and Heaven. The study of Eschatology.

Joining Matt and Nathan behind the mic today are two awesome students who have both served (or still serve) as peer ministers at St. Paul's Newman Center, Amanda Jarrett, and Cassidy Nelson! Today we're going to be talking about Thanksgiving. Why is it hard to be thankful, why be thankful, and how to be better at being thankful. Join us today for this fun episode on thanksgiving!

Most of those listening either weren't alive to experience a post-Roe world or they don't remember what it was like post-Roe. That goes for all those included in this podcast as well. We are so thankful to see an overruling of Roe V. Wade and while a major victory, it is just the start of the greater battle we will be facing. Now more than ever we need to stand up for life and act on being pro-life and pro-love. What does this look like? Join Matt and Nathan, as well as, FOCUS missionary, Megan St. Aubin, and president of NDSU's Students for Life, Chloe Kramer, on this podcast to talk about evangelizing post Roe.

Join us for a special episode of Iron Sharpens Iron where we have two awesome friars from the Community of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, Fr. Emmanuel Mansford, and Br. Mariano Ravazzano. This episode was not supposed to be out for another couple of weeks, but with their recent visit, we decided to bump it up to this week! We hope you enjoy it!

Today we are joined by Sr. Mary Therese of the Nashville Dominican Sisters to talk about our devotion to Mary. Join us to learn more about the Nashville Dominicans, St. Dominic, and the rosary!

This week we talk about pro-life issues we've seen on the college campus. We also bring up the reason why this is the most important time for you to stand up for life and human dignity.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines modesty as “Purity REQUIRES MODESTY, an integral part of temperance. Modesty protects the intimate center of the person. It means refusing to unveil what should remain hidden. It is ordered to chastity to whose sensitivity it bears witness. It guides how one looks at others and behaves toward them in conformity with the dignity of persons and their solidarity” Joined by Mikayla Wolfe, let's talk about Modesty on a college campus and in the young adult world.

What is a person? What distinguishes a human person from the rest of creation? Join us today as we kick off our 3 part series discussing human dignity.

The Mass is such an amazing and beautiful prayer that God has gifted humanity with. With the beauty and tradition that you see in the Mass, it may leave you wondering at the end, sitting in your pew thinking, “where did this come from?” “What is going on, really?” Well, today we try and tackle the huge subject of The Mass.

Check out this episode of Iron Sharpens Iron where we finally have a couple of FOCUS missionaries on the show to talk about our call to evangelize! Check it out.

Matt and Nathan today discuss Authentic Friendship. Joining them in the studio today are two Peer Ministers from St. Paul's Newman Center, Zeb, and Blake. Are you being an authentic friend? Are your friends authentic? Have a listen and gather your thoughts and pray about the people you spend the most time with.

Today Matt and Nathan discuss the topic of Saints! What is it, how does one become a Saint, and they share some stories of their favorite saints!

At the beginning of each year Msgr. Gregory Schlesselmann usually gives a talk to the students about planning their life. Why you should do it and how to do it. If you would like to listen to that specific talk you can find it here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnkQIIIkyUA&t=604s Today Matt and Nathan sat down with Msgr and asked him some questions that you might have about planning your life. Have a listen! Today marks the first day of our every-week release schedule. The students are back on campus and we are in full swing at the Newman Center but that won't stop us from releasing episodes about how you can Sharpen your faith! Next week Matt and Nathan discuss Saints!

Today Matt and Nathan go into a conversation about culture, what is it and why it is important. We are joined by Msgr. Gregory Schlesselmann. So often we hear the word culture. We talk about good culture and bad, your culture and my culture, but have we ever sat down and thought about what culture is? And can it be changed? Let's discuss.

Join Matt and Nathan, joined once again by William Gerads, as we go into the topic of prayer. Prayer is an amazing gift we have where we can enter into conversation with Jesus, and the Church offers many different ways in which you can do this. Tune in if you are struggling with your prayer life and want to learn a little bit more about ways you can find peace when experiencing that struggle, and why the silence you are hearing from God might not be such a terrible thing.

Join in this week's episode as Matt and Nathan are joined by Fr. Cheney to discuss the value of the Family. In this episode, we discuss the roles of the mother and father as well as how your role in the family can drastically impact the lives of your children or even those in your parish.

Join in on this episode as Matt and Nathan, joined by guest host, William Gerads, as they talk about the importance of parish life, and why it is important to find a parish while in college and after college! The guys go into some detail about finding a parish that fits you and that ultimately helps bring you closer to Jesus!

Join in listening to Matt and Nate go in-depth about their thought on Proverbs 27:17, why young Adults should focus on not only being the iron to sharpen another but also why it is important to find others to help sharpen you. Matt and Nate also introduce themselves, and the ideas and future for this podcast! Thanks for listening!

“Iron Sharpens Iron”. A podcast that will go into the conversations that will help you sharpen your faith. St. Paul's Newman Center in Fargo believes that who you surround yourself with matters and at the heart of that belief is proverbs 27:7, “Iron Sharpens Iron, so one person sharpens another.” Join Matt and Nate as they go into conversations about the topics that will help you understand the Catholic Faith more!