Shoot The Shiitake with Father Leo

Fr. Leo interviews TV Host, Author and Speaker Chris Stefanik about what it means to live as a "real catholic," especially in todays world!! This is a re-upload of episode 39 for you listening pleasure!

Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, a convert to Catholicism, is a member of the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. Before his conversion to Catholicism, he was a high school dropout who had been kicked out of a foreign country, institutionalized twice, and thrown in jail multiple times.  Please enjoy part one of this two part series about St. Joseph! *This audio presentation is supplemental to the Shoot The Shiitake Podcast format. This is also a re-upload of episode 86 incase you missed it!*

Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, a convert to Catholicism, is a member of the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. Before his conversion to Catholicism, he was a high school dropout who had been kicked out of a foreign country, institutionalized twice, and thrown in jail multiple times.  Please enjoy part one of this two part series about St. Joseph! *This audio presentation is supplemental to the Shoot The Shiitake Podcast format. This is also a re-upload of episode 86 incase you missed it!*

Sam Rocha joins Fr. Leo for a 2nd interview about Racism.  We explore a historical, spiritual and practical approach to dealing with this problem in our modern world. Twitter: @SamRochadotcom

This is Part 1 of 2 podcasts with Sam. Does Fr. Leo sow hate and division?  Well, Sam Rocha, his guest on today’s show, thinks so. But, at the end of the day, Fr. Leo and Sam show that disagreement doesn’t mean hate speech, especially when we don’t act hateful AND, listening is one I way I don’t sow hate and division, but building a bridge! Twitter: @SamRochadotcom

Mountain Butorac is an American Living in Rome With his family. He is the founder of the Catholic traveler. He leads thousands of people in pilgrimage to Italy, Europe, and the Holy Land. He is currently in lockdown during the coronavirus and he shares some of his insights about how Italy and particularly Rome has endured this unique experience in Rome's history. Follow Mountain on Twitter!@MountainButorac More ways to follow Mountain:https://linktr.ee/thecatholictraveler

Chef Steve Allbright, former employee - did I fire him or did he quit? makes another change from Buddhism to Catholicism. And, what kind of gifts do you give a guy like that? *This is a re-uploaded episode from 2019. Steven and I will be joining forces with the Plating Grace and Grub food truck and the Franciscan Center of Baltimore! 

Ex-Con, Drunk & Drug Addict, Buddhist & now Chef "confesses" and "teaches" priest about the power of invitation, inspiration and integration. Steven Allbright is now the Culinary Director at The Franciscan Center of Baltimore! https://fcbmore.org   *This episode was originally released in 2018! 

Fr. Leo meets John Minadakas and discusses Jimmy’s Famous Seafood, the immigrant story and the American Dream, what makes Jimmy’s Seafood Famous, and how his family restaurant is making a positive impact helping people in need due to the crazy covid lockdown of Baltimore’s restaurants.   Check out Jimmy’s Famous Seafood!https://jimmysfamousseafood.com Follow @JimmysSeafood on Twitter!

Fr. Leo Shoots the Shiitake with Fr. Simon Esshaki, a Chaldean Priest, along with his dad, a Deacon in the Chaldean Church. Learn their history, their customs and their love for food, faith and family … and fun! Follow Fr. Esshaki! @father_simon

My first Bishop ever to interview on Shoot the Shiitake, and catching him while he’s still very fresh as a first time Bishop, just having been recently ordained, Bishop William Byrne shares his thoughts and experiences as a Bishop, especially in a unique time in the life of the Church and World.  Author, Social Media Personality and now Bishop, he carries all of these responsibilities with joy!

Musician, Friend and supporter of the BLM movement, Rufus Jones and Fr. Leo discuss racism from a technical, social, and even spiritual point of view.  It gets deep, but it’s worth hearing the carry out order from Fr. Leo and his guest, Rufus.

Fr. Leo engages three friends who are priests, thought leaders and pastors for people, helping them with the struggles of the covid pandemic.  They offer great insights, encouragement and hope!  Listen, learn and live a fearless faith in Jesus, our Divine Physician!

Meeting a Chef who serves great food but also serves people in need, Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish shows us how to be a great chef and even a better man, husband, father and social philanthropist offering help to the Hospitality Industry during the Covid Pandemic Closures.  Stay inspired and and well fed with Chef Gruel! Check out Slapfish here:https://www.slapfishrestaurant.com/

A trained chef and in the industry for over 25 years, he shares his passion, his struggles and why he created the Chef without Restaurants organization, to combat the stereotypes and prejudices that modern chefs have to experience. It’s an encouraging conversation about food that somehow turns spiritual!

King Randall, a young chef, community shifter and influencer, and founder of X for Boys - a program to help young men learn life skills and formation opportunities to better themselves, their communities and their future! A real mover and shaker! https://thexforboys.org/ Follow King on social Media! @NewEmergingKing

Jeremy Tate is the founder of Classic Learning Initiative, restoring the foundation of Western Education, hoping to not just raise up smart kids, but integrated and virtuous students.  Let’s admit, we have some pretty uneducated, entitled and brainwashed kids coming out of schools these days.  Jeremy is on a mission to make sure education does what it’s supposed to do: make students perpetual learners!  So, enjoy and keep education classic and classy! Connect with Jeremy on Social Media! @JeremyTate41 jtate@cltexam.com

Former Elections Official becomes a religious sister, and discusses voting and devotion, possible fraud and potential faith, and intimately how we can survive the election madness  Follow Sr. Susan Francois! https://twitter.com/susanfrancois

Speaker, Author, and Happiness Consultant Paul George joins Fr. Leo in exploring happiness. They also both go down memory lane and reflect on how breakdancing got Paul and Fr. Leo working together to be evangelists on main stages around the country.

Fr. Scott Nolan denies Holy Communion to a parishioner because of a public lifestyle choices.  It’s challenging to be a pastor. It takes courage to preach, practice and apply the Catholic Church’s teachings in pastoral settings.  How would you approach this pastoral situation?  

Could God call a surfer, rebel and wild child to the priesthood to spread devotion to Mary and the Divine Mercy?  He does and he did with Fr. Donald Calloway.  Listen to how God uses Filipina women, Mary and a postcard to lead him on a pilgrimage of faith that changed his life and so many other’s lives - leading them to God. 

Fr. Arul Edward Joseph from India serves as a priest in the United Arab Emirates, where they serve an international Catholic Community that will make Catholics in the USA a little more reflective about their faith.  He helps in the largest Catholic Parish in the world, and helps to enlargen the hearts of the faithful who have a unique challenge and cross to carry out their Catholic Mission in a Muslim world. 

Jonathan Lutz is a normal college student, but not THAT normal, in that he is taking his Catholic Faith seriously, even if he wasn’t raised as a Catholic. How did he become Catholic and why does he remain a Catholic despite it being boring and all the scandals?  God bless his faith!

Traumatized as a child, debilitating OCD throughout his life, alcohol and drug addicted, suicidal, and then one meeting with a caring counselor he experiences the first step to a cure!  Now he’s a witness to faith! More on Jack: https://www.jackabingham.com/ Follow Jack Here: https://www.instagram.com/jackbinghamauthor

Musician and speaker, Sarah Hart, shares her story about coming back to faith, and how coffee and donuts helped!   Learn more about Sarah here! https://www.sarahhart.com/ https://www.facebook.com/sarahhartmusicofficial/ https://www.instagram.com/sarahhartmusic

Speaker, Author, Musician and Host of Happy Catholic Homestead shares how to deal with the messiness of life!

An American priest becomes a the Archbishop of Lithuania and shares a unique connection to a country that is recovering from socialism and communism.

Listen the how communism attempted to destroy the faith of the Lithuanians and hear how teenagers are protecting the faith and living the dream.

Fr. Roger Landry and I continue to discusses ways to make freedom practical and livable in our lives!

Fr. Roger Landry shares the theology and dogma of freedom and a working model of true freedom! This is Part 1, make sure to tune into Part 2 next week!

Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, a convert to Catholicism, is a member of the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. Before his conversion to Catholicism, he was a high school dropout who had been kicked out of a foreign country, institutionalized twice, and thrown in jail multiple times.  Please enjoy part two of this two part series about St. Joseph! *This is audio presentation is supplemental to the Shoot The Shiitake Podcast format.*

Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, a convert to Catholicism, is a member of the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. Before his conversion to Catholicism, he was a high school dropout who had been kicked out of a foreign country, institutionalized twice, and thrown in jail multiple times.  Please enjoy part one of this two part series about St. Joseph! *This is audio presentation is supplemental to the Shoot The Shiitake Podcast format.*

Zuby, International student Nigerian descent living in England has words of wisdom regarding the debate about race. 

Zuby, an independent artist and unique entrepreneur breaks into the rap scene, but in his own curse-word-free way!

From Bully to Bistro, “gangster” to gourmet, and former prisoner to plating grace!   This is a fun and inspiring conversation with Chef Malik Anderson who Fr. Leo is privileged to work with on some culinary activities.  It goes to show that humility, hardwork and faith can go a long way - even when the odds seem stacked against you!  Enjoy this podcast and please share with others!

You won’t want to miss this amazing interview with Dr. Gregory Bottaro. Together, he and Father Leo share strategies, including Mindfulness for Catholics),  to help us get through challenging times. 

This week's podcast is about how a good natured millennial is dealing with the coronavirus and quarantine. 

Fr. Patrick Hyde is a Dominican priest, administrator and director of campus ministry in Indianapolis, and has been selected to anoint people who are prepared to die due to Covid-19.  Join me in this unique deep discussion.

Elizabeth Lev, an Art Historian, professor, tour guide, and a leading influencer in the topic of Faith and Art. She resides in Rome and gives us an in-depth look at what has been happening in light of the Corona Virus in Italy, particularly in Rome, right around the corner from St. Peter’s Square, where Pope Francis offered a most sacred ritual and blessing that roots back to another plague.   Listen and enjoy this deep dish discussion with an American-Italian living in one of the Coronavirus epicenters. 

JD Flynn is the editor-in-chief of Catholic News Agency and a canon lawyer. He worked in the church as an archdiocesan chancellor, a canonical and policy advisor to several bishops, a communications director, an adjunct seminary professor, and in various other capacities. He has served as a consultant to the USCCB, and served on the boards of Catholic non-profits and ministries. He has published in the Washington Post, the NY Post, First Things, National Review, and elsewhere. Flynn has a licentiate in canon law from Catholic University of America, and a masters in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Here’s the 2nd Half of the Show where I try to “learn something” from Fr. Martin: how to build bridges. Why? Because every human is made in God’s image and likeness, and even if we vehemently disagree, we can learn from one another if we are willing to listen to each other. In this episode, you’ll also notice that while I could have gone into my interview with “guns a blazing,” that is not my intention nor my pastoral style. I hope this very challenging conversation can give you all an opportunity to ask more questions, not just simply dismiss people, but find the common ground. Enjoy the Episode!

This is Part 1 of my interview with Jesuit Fr. James Martin, who has found himself in the middle of a controversy and his thoughts on the LGBTQ community. For the past few years has been writing and speaking about how the Church can better minister to LGBTQ Catholics. Hope you enjoy Part 1 of this deep dish discussion! 

Today, I interview.... MYSELF! Give a listen to the introduction to the NEW SEASON of deep dish conversations between a priest, hungry to save souls, and his special guests and discussion of special topics! Be sure to tell your family and friends about this new season of shows and encourage them to sign up at their favorite podcast platforms!  

It's not something we like to talk about but it's real. How can we help people with mental illness when we're not doctors! Fr. Leo Shoots the Shiitake with someone who lives with it. It's a touching and hopeful message.

Fr. Leo talks with pilgrims, answering questions and even finding out what an Athiest thinks of the experience of faithful foodies in Jerusalem, Jordan, Galilee and beyond!

What do Harikrishna and Catholics have in Common? Find out on this special episode where Fr. Leo takes a road trip in Mexico and learns how to be a better Catholic from a Harikrishna, Luis Gonzales

Joe Condit of Catholic Speakers Organization talks about why he prefers the "Old Mass" known as the Extraordinary Form or the Tridentine Liturgy - and whether women should be in the sanctuary during prayers? Interesting stuff!

Matt Birk discusses Football, ProLife, God, Faith, Family and a dabble into politics. Why didn't he go to the White House under President Obama, and how is proving Football Players are hardly dumb!

Lino Rulli gets real about Catholic Media and how to discern if you're called to get involved in media in the first place

Pot smoker, surfer, now healer leading people in worship and even possible faith healing an atheist woman at an airport, just by praying over her?

Siegfried Group of Accountants, Leadership Lessons, Characteristics of success, the devil in the details, and bringing the "sexy" back to Accounting?!?