Living the CALL

In this episode, Deacon sits down with Michael Lichens — former editor of Catholic Exchange and St. Austin Review, and a seasoned editor of nonfiction, memoirs, short stories, scripts, and more. Known for his passion for strange history and offbeat travels, Michael shares insights from his newest book and dives into a wide-ranging conversation full of fascinating, intriguing topics.__https://www.mlichens.com/Weird Catholic Handbookhttps://sophiainstitute.com/product/weird-catholic-handbook/?srsltid=AfmBOor3ltm3FPMdnZPXfXRRSl2T2dKsbWOR09mc_6XGUMzbTrAXxjiV

Being a creative, especially a Catholic creative, has never been more accessible. They feel alone. They are wondering where their community is. Emily Mentock is an award-winning digital strategist, creative director, and producer with a passion for evangelizing through Catholic media. She joins Deacon Charlie to discuss if creativity truly is a calling.https://www.digitalcontinent.org/abouthttps://www.avemariapress.com/products/praying-with-the-psalms-lent-2026

Catholic couples are stressed out. They feel alone. They are wondering where their community is. Soren Johnson, co-founder of Trinity House, joins Deacon Charlie to discuss how the icon of the trinity can be a model for the home.https://trinityhousecommunity.org/

The biggest mistake Catholic schools are making? Not being Catholic enough. Stephanie Saroki de Garcia, co-founder of Seton Education Partners, joins Deacon Charlie to discuss why Catholic schools must provide quality education and be unapologetically Catholic, why technology and lukewarm attitudes are undermining our children's ability to learn and grow in the faith, and what we can do to reclaim authentic faith-based education.LINKS:Seton Education PartnersRead more from Stephanie: Saving America's Urban Catholic Schools: A Guide for Donors

Father Robert Spitzer, S.J., Ph.D., joins Deacon Charlie Echeverry to explore the crossroads of science and sacred history. They dive into the mysteries of the Shroud of Turin, examine how the Church has long nurtured scientific inquiry, and discuss near-death experiences, AI, and miracles—revealing how a scientific approach can actually deepen our Catholic faith. Christ, Science, and Reason: What We Can Know about Jesus, Mary, and Miracles by Fr. Robert Spitzer. S.J., Ph.DMagisterium AI

Catholics and Latter-day Saints (Mormonism): Deacon discusses theological differences and surprising similarities with philosopher and professor, Dr. Francis Beckwith. He shares personal faith journey away from the Catholic church, and back. They discuss LDS beliefs, practices, and what Catholics can learn from their community. Whether you're curious about interfaith dialogue or comparative religion, this episode offers a unique and thought-provoking discussion.The book: A Catholic Engagement with Latter-day SaintsAlso at: https://amzn.to/4huz0EBFor more on Deacon Charlie: https://www.deaconcharlie.com/podcastFor more on MAX Studios: https://ustmaxstudios.com

Deacon makes a quick announcement regarding the show.

John Bishop is the founder and Executive Director at Forge which is teaching men how to be good fathers. He discusses with Deacon Charlie the importance of strong men in our families, in the church, and in the world.The website:https://myforge.org

After surviving a failed brain surgery, former sports writer Kevin Wells gained a new perspective on life. He shares how his wife's battle with addiction and the encouragement from dedicated priests have helped him overcome hardship and find renewed purpose.https://dontgiveupthefight.org (his website)The book - The Hermit: The Priest Who Saved a Soul, a Marriage, and a Familyhttps://amzn.to/3ZPzeye https://ignatius.com/the-hermit-hermp Other books:Priest and Beggar: The Heroic Life of Venerable Aloysius SchwartzThe Priests We Need to Save the ChurchBurst

Roxanne King is the co-author of “Catholic Heroes of Civil and Human Rights: 1800s to the Present” a book that explores the lives of those that were willing to stand up and do what's right - even if that put their reputation, or very lives at risk. The book:https://amzn.to/4eQJYlk https://ignatius.com/catholic-heroes-of-civil-and-human-rights-chchrp/

Alex Dee is an actor, writer, editor, and most recently, creator of an immersive audio drama for kids that draws them into the lives of the saints.Saints Alive podcast: https://www.saintsalivepodcast.com/

Former Diocesan Seminarian and Carthusian Monk, our guest today is Austin Habash who resides in Great Bend, Kansas.For more on Austin Habash: https://austinhabash.square.site https://www.thinkcatholic.org https://www.sentevangelization.org And his “Summa in a Year” podcast can be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/summa-in-a-year/id1763731852

Andy Lesnefsky has worked in ministry and now helps business owners minister to their employees. Hear more on this episode.

Blake Brouillette is Managing Director for Christ in the City, a missionary formation and homeless outreach program in Denver, Colorado.Find out more about Christ in the City: ChristInTheCity.org

Deacon Dominic is a renowned author, editor, retreat master, speaker, novelist and member of the Pontifical Commission on Women and the Diaconate.For more on Deacon Dominic including books he has written: https://www.diaconalministries.org/

Carlos is a hip-hop artist and public speaker. As a youth, he became involved in gangs, drugs, and the street life, writing and recording "Gangsta" rap, and selling over 100,000 albums while sharing the stage with artists such as Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony and Cypress Hill... Until he was led to a radical conversion.Find out more about Carlos and his ministry through these websites: C2Six - Carlos Zamora and FoundNation Catholic Hip-Hop (foundnationfamily.com)

Father Tom Gibbons is a Paulist priest and documentarian. Hear how he balances both in this episode.Learn more about the Paulist Fathers: https://paulist.org/ Learn more about the “Hollywood Priest” film: https://www.pbs.org/show/hollywood-priest-story-fr-bud-kieser/

Marie Miller is a folk/pop singer/songwriter and recording artist living in Nashville, TN.

David Henrie (Wizards of Waverly Place, Mall Cop, Reagan) is director of the upcoming film 'Monster Summer'. John Blanford (Free Guy and Bad Boys) is a producer.MONSTER SUMMERhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUEZK5m4H_E

Andy is President of Vagabond Missions building friendship with and serving teens in urban and inner-city communities. Patrick is Head of Development for Christ in the City which serves the homeless through authentic friendship. https://vagabondmissions.com/https://christinthecity.org/

Bill and Garry are co-founders of Coronation Media, a premium producer of values-aligned entertainment content.https://www.coronationmedia.com/

John Michael is a world renowned musician, composer, monk, author, husband and founder of the Brothers and Sisters of Charity, a monastic public association of the faithful.Find out more about John Michael Talbot, including his latest books and CDs, here: John Michael Talbot Little Portion Hermitage and Monastery

Rebekah Weigel is writer and producer of Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot (set for release on 7/4/2024), which presents the remarkable story of a small church community in Possum Trot, Texas, who banded together to adopt 77 children from their local foster care system. She is a foster/adoptive parent who is passionate about reversing the foster care crisis in America. Sounds of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot

Gloria Purvis is a speaker, media personality and advocate known for her strong voice on life issues and racial justice. She is the host of The Gloria Purvis Podcast.USCCB's Civilize It

This week on Living the Call, Deacon Charlie talks with Leah Jacobson: a wife, mother, and author, as well as the founder and CEO of The Guiding Star Project. The Guiding Star Project is a nationwide family of care centers that empower women with a whole-life approach to healthcare that honors their bodies and minds. Leah holds a Master's degree in Health and Wellness and is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She is also an international speaker and author of the books Wholistic Feminism: Healing the Identity Crisis Caused by the Women's Movement and The Happy Girl's Guide to Being Whole.In this episode, Deacon and Leah discuss Wholistic Feminism and how Leah's work challenges the norms of women's heath care and includes a growing movement of diverse women all calling for a culture that sees women's natural bodies as inherently good.Leah's website: www.leahajacobson.comThe Guiding Star Project: https://guidingstarproject.com/Leah's books:Wholistic Feminism: Healing the Identity Crisis Caused by the Women's Movementhttps://www.lumenpress.org/product/the-happy-girls-guide-to-being-whole/ The Happy Girl's Guide to Being Wholehttps://www.lumenpress.org/product/wholistic-feminism/

Deanne is co-founder of SOULCORE, a fitness practice which fully integrates body & soul in prayer while discovering the beauty of the rosary.SoulCore Website

Siobhan Fallon Hogan is an actress, writer and producer who has appeared in film, television and theatre productions ranging from seminal films like Forrest Gump to pop culture staples like Saturday Night Live.

Eric is a serial entrepreneur, technologist and founder of community-based apps Catholify and Vineyard. He lives in Birmingham, AL with his wife and children.Website: https://vineyard.to/; https://catholify.com/

Ray Bradley is founder of Meta Narrative a film + media venture aimed at renewing culture through storytelling grounded in the Western canon. He digs on theology, narrative anthropology, and the sociocultural implications of religious practice on human flourishing in the context of postmodernity and the emerging culture of self-invention.https://www.metanarrativemedia.com/

John Donahue is founder of Truth Charting a social media brand dedicated to conveying the great adventure and exhilaration of Catholicism.

This week on Living the Call, Deacon Charlie sits down with returning guest Buchi Akpati for a conversation about beauty. Founder and CEO of Beauty Unbound, which helps women realize their God-given beauty, Buchi shares about her background going from a professional celebrity make-up artist to a Carmelite religious. She talks about her time in the monastery and how she now shares the fruits of what she learned in the cloister with the world through beauty. In this episode, Deacon Charlie and Buchi break open beauty. She is a Nigerian-American speaker and beauty advocate, giving talks about a woman's journey of discovering tools that enhance one's God-given beauty. They discuss the history of makeup, how beauty trends could be an extension of colonization, and the radical effects of a cosmetic procedure. Buchi shares about the Influence of St. Louis de Montfort on her beauty program and what Mary, Mother of God, may have done to accentuate her beauty. Finally Buchi challenges the audience to go mirror-free. Websites: https://www.youtube.com/@BeautyUnboundTVFREE Webinar: 3 Stages of Healing Your Beauty Image: https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fus06web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F1717116730836%2FWN_xufYLqH2RCyjTOgBCk8xeQ&e=AT0GOhE1wMCrGjP29BKtLSN9aZDCgYgjUYE7HDhbZuiyy3o583LtBUyjfsYIhl0sQMBka5aMMfG2vRaWyvpVf919ZEs3Bb8XyejZ0CXJkK5aEsqY-VOudBQ https://www.beautyunbound.tv

Ryan Bethea is a producer, writer, host and creator of the world-wide #1 hit podcast, The Exorcist Files.Websites: https://ryanbethea.com/ https://www.exorcistfiles.tv/

Roxie is an International Federation of Bodybuilding pro & fitness coach. She also creates content for three YouTube channels. She currently reside in Los Angeles, CA.Website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVzLHjmVvLE&t=1s

Tim is an Academy Award Nominated Director, Animator and speaker. He is co-founder of Sycamore Studios and lives with his wife and children in Los Angeles.

Leo Severino is producer of Angel Studios' newest film, Cabrini. His film credits include Sound of Freedom, Bella and Little Boy, he is also Executive Producer of Kevin James' latest Netflix comedy special, Irregardless. He lives in Los Angeles.https://www.angel.com/movies/cabrini

This week on a "Best Of" Living the Call, Deacon Charlie sits down with Jason Simon: husband, father of six and President of The Evangelical Catholic. After briefly working in engineering, Jason served as a parish Director of Religious Education and Youth Ministry. There, he saw the power of evangelization and his passion to see more lives impacted by the Holy Spirit. In this episode, Deacon talks with Jason about his work at The Evangelical Catholic. Under Jason's leadership, The Evangelical Catholic equips Catholics not only to be disciples, but vibrant witnesses and disciple-makers in the world: sent out to bear fruit for the Kingdom through the life-changing love of Jesus.

This week on a "Best Of" Living the Call, Deacon Charlie sits down with pro-life author and speaker Brett Attebery. After a powerful mid-life conversion to Christ that led him to seek healing for his role in the abortion of his own child, Brett left his career and devoted himself entirely to saving lives from abortion. Brett has an academic and professional background in economics and consumer product marketing.In this episode, Deacon talks with Brett about his cutting-edge approach to ending abortion, specifically by incorporating powerful business and marketing strategies into his work. He discusses the importance of investing heavily into healthcare efforts that will make abortion irrelevant to thriving, empowered, supported women.Brett's website: https://brettattebery.com/Brett's Book: Your Pro-Life Bottom LineHeroic media website: https://heroicmedia.org/ThriVe website: https://thrivestlouis.org/

This week on a "Best of" Living the Call, Deacon Charlie sits down with Deacon Dave Arms from the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Together with his father in law, he developed the “Rite of Passage weekend,” to commemorate each of his sons' 13th birthday, and their transition from boyhood to manhood. In this episode, Deacon Dave discusses the practical ways to implement ”the weekend,” and the transformative power it has on young mens' lives.Website and free guide to planning your own ROP: Milestonetomanhood.comBook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09VDRC5TH?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420

This week on a "Best of" Living the Call, Deacon Charlie sits down with Christine Lacayo, a multilingual content writer who helps mission-driven brands by using multicultural marketing. Her passion is working for a regenerative future, for our people and our planet.In this episode, Deacon talks with Christine about her education and background in environmental sustainability and how the journey of her life led her to return to the Catholic faith with zeal. They dive into the significant role Mary and St. Joseph played in her life and how she has come to integrate what she is passionate about with her life of faith.Website: christinemarielacayo.com/Article: 21 Latino/a and Hispanic Catholic Entrepreneurs You Should Know Aboutchristinemarielacayo.com/blog/21-latino-a-and-hispanic-catholic-entrepreneurs-you-should-know-about

Chris McMahon is president and CEO of two wealth management firms in Pittsburgh, PA. He has 30 years experience in financial planning services. Chris is devoted to handling money God's way and strives to help teach his clients those same ways as well as be good stewards in today's world.Websites: aquinaswealth.com mfawealth.comCatholics at the Shore conference: catholicsattheshore.comSisters of Life: sistersoflife.orgSisters of Mary at Chalco: worldvillages.org/mexico/chalco-girlstown-mexico

Katie McCarthy is the Director of Marketing for “Protect Our Kids,” a coalition united in the belief that today's public school's threaten our children's welfare through promotion of comprehensive sexuality education, critical race theory, social and emotional learning and gender theory. Katie is devoted to raising awareness about the dangers in public education while helping parents and the church find alternative solutions.Website and toolkits for parents and teachers as well as videos and brochures: protectourkidsnow.orgSay What?! podcast: protectourkidsnow.org/say-what-podcast

Jeffrey Bruno is an award winning photographer, writer and creative director who focuses on issues and stories related to the Catholic Church in the spirit of evangelization through imagery and digital communication. Website: www.jeffreybruno.com (instagram, substack, aleteia, mudrack, twitter, linked in - all linked here!)Fr. Mike Schmitz homily from St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York before Eucharistic Procession: youtube.com/watch?v=BbaZOch57_Y&t=1678s

Adam Anders is a musicmaker and film producer who has sold more than 100 million albums. His work has earned him two Golden Globe Awards, four Grammy Award nominations and two People's Choice Awards. He was the Executive Music Producer for Glee, and his new movie, Journey to Bethlehem, will be in theaters beginning November 10. New Movie: journeytobethlehemmovie.comTwitter: twitter.com/AdamAnders

Andreas Widmer is an entrepreneur, professor, consultant, business coach, speaker, and author, with 30 years experience in international business strategy, economic development, and entrepreneurship.Website: andreas-widmer.comThe Catholic University of America: https://business.catholic.edu/faculty-and-research/faculty-profiles/widmer-andreas/index.htmlThe Gospel of Work 8 video series: www.cioccacenter.comLinkedin: linkedin.com/in/andreaswidmerFacebook: facebook.com/AndreasWidmerAuthorInstagram: instagram.com/andreaswidmer

Eric Patterson, Ph.D. is President of the Religious Freedom Institute and past dean of the Robertson School of Government at Regent University and a Research Fellow at Georgetown University's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs. Patterson's interest in the intersection of religion, ethics, and foreign policy is informed by two stints at the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. He has significant government service, including over twenty years as an officer and commander in the Air National Guard and serving as a White House Fellow. Ray Bradley, is a father of four, Boston Red Sox fan, and lifelong waterman who has surfed almost every major break across the Hawaiian Islands, his areas of inquiry lie at the intersection of theology, narrative anthropology, and the sociocultural implications of religious practice on individual and collective flourishing in the context of postmodernity, mimetic theory and the emerging culture of self-invention.Website: religiousfreedominstitute.orgBook: A Basic Guide to the Just War Tradition, Christian Foundations and Practices

Louis Damani Jones is a “Fellow” at the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement located at Washington University in St. Louis. Louis produced “The Ark and Dove” podcast, which investigated the complex dynamics of race and religion in America through the lens of the Black Catholic Church.In this episode, Deacon Charlie and Louis discuss the Black Catholic experience as it relates to both the unity and diversity within the Church. They also touch on ways to live an integrated life of faith, how to break down barriers in evangelization…and share their thoughts on how the Second Vatican Council and Pope Francis have engaged with the modern world.Ark and the Dove: https://www.balthasarmedia.com/ark-doveLiving the Call Podcast: https://www.call-usa.org/podcastSpoke Street Media: Spokestreet.com

Luke Carey is the Chief Development Office at Spoke Street Media and the Co-Host of the podcast Catching Foxes. The podcast oscillates between a conversation with the hosts and interviews of other, “fancier” people. “Sometimes things get explicit either by being too honest or by being too stupid.”Catching Foxes can be found on any podcast platformWebsite: CatchingFoxes.fmSupport through Patrion: Patrion.com/cfSpoke Street Media: Spokestreet.com

Patrick Coffin is the creator and host of The Patrick Coffin Show at patrickcoffin.media. The former host of Catholic Answers Live is also the author of Sex Au Naturel, Stay Cool When the Argument Heats Up, and Once Saved Not Always Saved.https://www.patrickcoffin.mediaPatricks Books

Jason Brown is CEO of Called Higher Studios and Producer of Camp Hideout, a new film starring Christopher Guest (Back to the Future), Corbin Bleu (High School Musical) and Amanda Leighton (This is Us). Camphideoutmovie.com Calledhigherstudios.com

Buchi Akpati is a former cloistered Carmelite nun, writer, speaker, photographer, digital media producer, singer, sacred artist, kickboxer and polyglot.Buchi's writings can be found on Church pop, Catholic News Agency, National Catholic Register.Buchi Akpati on Instagram: O'MariaMedia https://www.instagram.com/omariamedia/

6 of 6: Alex McKenna of the Arch Diocese of Irbil Iraq sits down with Deacon Charlie.https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-w-mckenna/https://adiabene.org