In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Catholic Answers author, apologist, and columnist John Clark to talk about the stigmata – the incredible, miraculous wounds of Christ as experienced by some of the most profound saints down through history. And, the incredible evangelical power that the stigmata – and stigmatists – have today!

We dig into the lives of great saints like Padre Pio, St. Francis of Assisi, and more and discuss not only the profound properties of their miracles and miraculous lives but their devotion to the Eucharist, to the Church, and what makes them an unshakable witness to the Catholic faith – in our dialogue with our non-Catholic Christian brothers and sisters.

Plus, we talk about John's own dad's fascinating conversion story – connected to the stigmatists!

For more from John check out his book God's Wounds from Catholic Answers Press and use the coupon code WOUNDED to receive 25% off!

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Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,

A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.

Through meaningful interviews and heartfelt conversations, Friar Time, hosted by Fr....

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Jannah Russell to share her remarkable Catholic conversion story.

Raised in the Jehovah's Witness tradition, Jannah explains how her and her husband became disillusioned with the group, eventually leaving, and rediscovering faith on their own.

Their journey, ever seeking the truth of Christ and His Church, led them into Evangelical Christianity where experiences around Communion, baptism, and the interpretation of Scripture set off some of the same alarm bells they'd heard as Jehovah's Witnesses – and that compelled them to begin their journey in the first place!

Those alarm bells drove them deeper into Scripture, into Church history and the Church Fathers, and from there, the slow realization that maybe, despite their deepest reservations, they needed to explore Catholicism.

This is a truly remarkable story and not only because Jannah managed to tell it while single-handedly taking care of 4 kids (because her husband had to work late!) but because it's a kind of microcosm of some of the same issues that comes up in Protestant Christianity writ large – playing out for two Christ-seeking believers leaving the grasp of a pretty intense Christian sect.

It's not a conversation you're going to want to miss!

Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page. All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

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Thank you to those already supporting the show!

Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on

A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.

Through meaningful interviews and heartfelt conversations, Friar Time, hosted by Fr....

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by the incredible Dr. Peter Kreeft, philosopher, theologian, and one of the most important modern converts to the Catholic faith to unpack his own conversion journey and discuss why it makes good logical, philosophical, biblical, and historical sense to become Catholic.

We talk about his journey from Calvinism to Catholicism, the centrality and logical sense of the Eucharist, the Reformation, and much, much more. Including, of course, his objections to Catholicism.

This is one of those "Bucket List" conversations for me as someone who encountered Dr. Kreeft early on in my conversion journey and read just about everything he ever wrote. What an amazing conversation.

For more from Dr. Kreeft check out his website. His new book, From Calvinist to Catholic, is simply wonderful too.

Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

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For more information visit the Patreon page. All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,

A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.

Through meaningful interviews and heartfelt conversations, Friar Time, hosted by Fr....

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by my two friends and former Evangelical seminarians (and, in Chris's case, a pastor) to discuss the importance of the Pope.

Why is the Pope so important?

In their trademark cordial and insightful style, Brandon and Chris help us to dig deeply into the biblical and historical roots of the papacy, the importance of the Pope as a tangible point of unity for Christianity, the reality of apostolic succession, and the witness of the Early Church – all in the service of understanding and explaining why the Pope is central to Christian unity and at the very heart of what Jesus intended His Church to look and operate like.

It's a conversation of fundamental importance and we couldn't have planned a better 300th episode!

To listen to Brandon and Chris's conversion stories dig into the archives; they're well worth the listen!

Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.

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For more information visit the Patreon page. All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,

A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.

Through meaningful interviews and heartfelt conversations, Friar Time, hosted by Fr....

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Father Donald Haggerty, priest at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York and the author of a number of fine books including The Hour of Testing: Spiritual Depth and Insight in a Time of Ecclesial Uncertainty.

We're talking about taking the temperature of society and responding to crises both in the world and within our very own Catholic Church. It's a great episode. We talk about the need for abandonment to God, the importance of prayer, and how to evangelize, understand, and live within a world (and a Church!) that is sometimes limping along from crisis to crisis.

Not a depressing, downtrodden take, but an uplifting and hopeful perspective – this week in my wonderful conversation with Father Haggerty.

For more from Father Donald Haggerty check out his fine books from Ignatius Press.

Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page. All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,

A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.

Through meaningful interviews and heartfelt conversations, Friar Time, hosted by Fr....

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by one of my all-time liturgical heroes Chris Carstens to talk all things liturgy – and the centrality of Christ at Mass.

What is the liturgy? What is it meant to do and how are we meant to do it? Why do we worship liturgically? And how can we do it better?

Plus, we talk about the future of the liturgy (and how the liturgy used to be) and Chris brings all kinds of hope and good thoughts with him on this visit by unpacking what he's seeing, on the ground, in the liturgical formation classes he teaches.

It's a wonderful episode all about how we worship God, why, and how we can do it better.

For more from Chris check out Adoremus Bulletin.

Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page. All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,

A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.

Through meaningful interviews and heartfelt conversations, Friar Time, hosted by Fr....

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

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In this special episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined, from Rome, by Fr. Haig Chahinian, a priest in the Armenian Catholic Church, and the CEO of Salt and Light Media, to talk about the importance of a pope, the papacy, and papal conclaves for the Eastern Catholic Churches.

While Fr. Haig was originally scheduled to talk about Eastern Catholicism our plans were completely up-ended by the passing of the Holy Father and the calling of the conclave – so, a very special episode is being dropped here, in your feeds, instead.

I hope you enjoy!

For more from Fr. Haig and to check out their coverage of the Papal Conclave head over to Salt and Light Media.

Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.

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Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page. All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,

A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.

Through meaningful interviews and heartfelt conversations, Friar Time, hosted by Fr....

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Support the show

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In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by my friend Brian Jacobson, a former Protestant pastor and a convert to the Catholic faith, to unpack his incredible story and the reasons why he absolutely fell in love with the Catholic faith.

From the initial realization – at an ecumenical Bible study – that him and his fellow Protestants couldn't agree on the "essentials" of the faith, Brian's journey into looking for the source and authority of Scriptural interpretation takes a number of wild twists and turns before arriving in the arms of the ancient Catholic faith.

It's an amazing story and Brian is not only a passionate storyteller but a good one, at that! You can tell he spent years preaching.

I truly hope you love this episode!

Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.

Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.

To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

Please consider financially supporting this show!

For more information visit the Patreon page. All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.

If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.

Thank you to those already supporting the show!

Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,

A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.

Through meaningful interviews and heartfelt conversations, Friar Time, hosted by Fr....

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

Find and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:

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