Thinking Faith: The Catholic Podcast

Holly Taylor Coolman on Parenting - Part 2

In this part two of two episodes, Dr. Brett Salkeld vists with Dr. Holly Taylor Coolman on her most recent book "Parenting: The Complex and Beautiful Vocation of Raising Children." Discussing her theologically and biblically rich approach to rasing children in the modern world. Discover more in Dr. Coolman's book "Parenting: The Complex and Beautiful Vocation of Raising Children" available at Amazon or, even better, through your friendly local bookstore. https://www.amazon.ca/Parenting-...

Holly Taylor Coolman on Parenting - Part 1

In this part one of two episodes, Dr. Brett Salkeld vists with Dr. Holly Taylor Coolman on her most recent book "Parenting: The Complex and Beautiful Vocation of Raising Children." Discussing her theologically and biblically rich approach to rasing children in the modern world. Discover more in Dr. Coolman's book "Parenting: The Complex and Beautiful Vocation of Raising Children" available at Amazon or, even better, through your friendly local bookstore. https://www.amazon.ca/Parenting-C...

Dr. John Jalsevac On Classical Education - Part 3

In this three-part series, Dr. Brett Salkeld and Dr. John Jalsevac, headmaster of Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic School in Peterborough, Ontario discuss the growing popularity of Classical education and its distinct approach to student formation and education. Show Snippet: "There needs to be a space where they can read a difficult book and allow themselves to be shaped and formed by it. And that's Skolay. Activism is go out and do, Skolay is rest and be. Learn how to be in a deeper way....

Dr. John Jalsevac On Classical Education - Part 2

In this three-part series, Dr. Brett Salkeld and Dr. John Jalsevac, headmaster of Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic School in Peterborough, Ontario discuss the growing popularity of Classical education and its distinct approach to student formation and education. Show Snippet: "One of the things about the Socratic method that I think is so important is that when you're using it well, it indicates to the student that you think they're important, that you think their views matter and that you...

Dr. John Jalsevac On Classical Education - Part 1

In this three-part series, Dr. Brett Salkeld and Dr. John Jalsevac, headmaster of Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic School in Peterborough, Ontario, discuss the growing popularity of Classical education and its distinct approach to student formation and education. Show Snippet: "One of the characteristics that unites many classical schools is a focus on wonder in the face of all forms of knowledge. And so we need to be feeding that thirst in our schools...they're going to get the full run t...

Restoring a First Nations Perspective on Treaty and Natural Resource Rights - Part 2

In this part two of two episodes, Indigenous ally, Javed Sommers and Micheal Leblanc of Development and Peace Caritas Canada join the podcast to discuss treaty and natural resource rights through an Indigenous lens. Show Snippet: "Free prior and informed consent. It's all about free consent. So there's no bullying, there's no harassment, there's not even bribes. The communities get together and decide freely if they want a new project. "Prior" means before anything gets done. There's no co...

Restoring a First Nations Perspective on Treaty and Natural Resource Rights - Part 1

In this part one of two episodes, Indigenous ally, Javed Sommers and Micheal Leblanc of Development and Peace Caritas Canada join the podcast to discuss treaty and natural resource rights through an Indigenous lens. Show Snippet: "Canada, through the treaties, is trying to gain control in terms of how it understands humans owning land. This would not have even made sense to First Nations, just as First Nations understanding of land would have made sense to Canadian negotiators. First Natio...

Catechisis of the Good Shepherd with Cassandra Ursu and Angela Montano

This week on Thinking Faith, we hear from Cassandra Ursu and Angela Montano with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd catechetical ministry at Holy Rosary Cathedral. They discuss what CGS is and how its unique, Montesouri-based approach helps children discover and deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ. Show Snippet: "So my five year old just had a birthday and he was very excited and he got all these presents, but then it's done and over with. And there's often a crash at the end of that....

Books that Changed Brett's Life - Part 2

In this part two of two episodes, Deacon Eric sits down with Dr. Brett Salkeld to discuss three non-fiction, non-theological books that changed his life. This week; You Are Not Your Pain by by Vidyamala Burch and Danny Penman and a surpise book that changed Brett's life without him ever reading it! Show Snippet: "It's freedom. It's the same thing. Freedom again. It's the same idea as the last two books, right? I was not free in this relationship. My pain was leading to a kind of compulsive...

Books That Changed Brett's Life - Part 1

In this part one of two episodes, Deacon Eric sits down with Dr. Brett Salkeld to discuss three non-fiction, non-theological books that changed his life. This week; Good and Angry by David Powlison and Hold me Tight by Dr. Sue Johnson. Show Snippet: "The big feelers among us who express those things. People can't handle them and they need to know that, it's okay to be that kind of person. They still need to figure out how to manage themselves in different situations, but you're actually mo...

Catherine Pakaluk and Hannah's Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth - Part 2

In this part two of two episodes, Dr. Brett Salkeld visits with Catherine Pakaluk about shifting demographics, falling birthrates, and her new book "Hannah's Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth"  Show Snippet: "I certainly believe that when we're talking about things that are deeply part of the human condition and the types of things that adults ought to be spending their lives doing; having children pursuing meaningful work, trying to serve each other in the community. I ...

Catherine Pakaluk and Hannah's Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth - Part 1

In this part one of two episodes, Dr. Brett Salkeld visits with Catherine Pakaluk about shifting demographics, falling birthrates, and her new book "Hannah's Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth"  Show Snippet: "I saw that the president of France, Emmanuel Macron had given some remarks at a UN conference...he flamboyantly says, "Show me the woman who is perfectly well educated and still has seven or eight children"...I followed up with a tweet with just a photo of me in my ...

Communities of Care: Catholic Parishes and Mental Health Peer Support

This week on Thinking Faith Deacon Eric Gurash discusses the ways that spiritual peer support can help navigate mental health challenges and the role our parishes and Catholic social teaching can play in building caring, supportive communities. Show Snippet: "Our parish communities are uniquely positioned to walk with others, offering prayer-filled support that can rebuild self-esteem and confidence often undermined by experiences of mental illness through a focus on mutuality, self-determ...

Introducing Curriculum Permeation to Teachers - Part 2

In this part two of two episodes, Dr. Brett Salkeld continues his visit with high school theology teacher, Tommy Kostielney of South Bend, Indiana to discuss ways that Tommy has introduced the idea of curriculum permeation to fellow teachers.

Introducing Curriculum Permeation to Teachers - Part 1

In this part one of two episodes, Dr. Brett Salkeld visits with high school theology teacher, Tommy Kostielney of South Bend, Indiana to discuss ways that Tommy has introduced the idea of curriculum permeation to fellow teachers.

Boy's Club Q&A - Part 6

Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett continue to delve into the pile of questions sent to them from the Conquest Boys Club at St. Anne's parish in Regina, Saskatchewan. This week we discuss the cross, baseball bats, and creationism. Show Snippet: "The Church does not pronounce on these matters. The Church does not say, "You must think the world is 4 billion years old, or you must think it's 6, 000 years old." It doesn't. Now, some creationists think it should say that the earth is 6, 000 years old be...

Pope Francis The Nativity And The Incarnation With Archbishop Don Bolen

Archbishop Don Bolen joins the podcast for a special pre-Christmas episode of Thinking Faith. We'll discuss Pope Francis' new book on the Nativity, Bishop Don's nativity collection, and the impact of the Incarnation on our broken world. Show Snippet: "The incarnation is ultimately not a book and it's not a word spoken in writing, it's spoken in flesh. And so, incarnational faithfulness, in the first instance, is not a verbal witness, but a presence, a walking with, and that's probably what...

Boy's Club Q&A - Part 5

Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett continue to delve into the pile of questions sent to them from the Conquest Boys Club at St. Anne's parish in Regina, Saskatchewan. This week we discuss Jesus' mistakes in the woodshop and altar serving. Show Snippet: "Think of a carpenter shop. How do you learn to make some furniture with Dad in the shop without making mistakes? What do you do when you're teaching your kids about the family business? You hand them a chisel and a mallet and a saw, right?"

Your Best Self: Transhumanism with Joseph Vukov - Part 2

In this part two of two episodes, Dr. Brett Salkeld visits Dr. Joseph Vukov of Loyola University in Chicago to discuss the transhumanism movement and promise and the perils of utilizing science and technology to improve human life. "I think a great little pushback to the Luddite who would say, these new technologies are necessarily going to undermine human relationships, are necessarily going to undermine, our capacity to give praise to God appropriately. And I would say the Exsultet and t...

Your Best Self: Transhumanism with Joseph Vukov - Part 1

In this part one of two episodes, Dr. Brett Salkeld visits Dr. Joseph Vukov of Loyola University in Chicago to discuss the transhumanism movement and promise and the perils of utilizing science and technology to improve human life. "Roughly what transhumanism is is the idea that human existence as we experience it is Messy, it involves a lot of suffering, it is not all that it could be, and that what our goal should be is to transcend, hence the transhumanism, our own humanity. So how do w...

Theology Teachers and Curriculum Permeation - Part 2

In this part two of two, Dr. Brett Salkeld and Dr. Brett Fawcett discuss interdisciplinary collaboration and the role of theology teachers in curriculum permeation.

Theology Teachers and Curriculum Permeation - Part 1

In this part one of two, Dr. Brett Salkeld and Dr. Brett Fawcett discuss interdisciplinary collaboration and the role of theology teachers in curriculum permeation.

Mental Health in the Bible Learning From Leah, Hannah, Jeremiah, and Naomi

This week, Deacon Eric examines four more biblical figures as models for navigating mental health challenges. He discusses Leah, Hannah, Jeremiah, and Naomi and how their experiences can provide guidance and support for our own challenges today. Show Snippet: "Naomi’s story underscores the importance of social support and of opening ourselves to being a support for others.  In spite of her grieving, she recognizes God’s hand in sending the right people into her life at the right time and e...

Bonaventure, The Arts, and Catholic Education - Part 2

In this part two of two episodes, Dr. Brett Salkeld and returning guest, Brett Fawcett sit down to discuss the implications Bonavanture's examination of the arts and theology might have on Catholic education. Show Snippet: "The third day is the exterior light. And that's the light of mechanical art. The production of artifacts. So the liberal arts are the arts of a free man, as they call them. These are the servile arts which Bonaventure does not seem to look down on. I mean, he puts them ...

Bonaventure, The Arts, and Catholic Education - Part 1

In this part one of two episodes, Dr. Brett Salkeld and returning guest, Brett Fawcett sit down to discuss the implications Bonavanture's examination of the arts and theology might have on Catholic education. Show Snippet: "So the first day is, for him, he calls it the superior light. He points out, okay, you think about the days of creation, all the days would need light to work. So in one sense, when God creates light on the first day, the first day is therefore informing all the other d...

Trusting the Lord In Times of Trial with Lisa Canning

This week on Thinking Faith we are pleased to feature Lisa Canning,"The Possibility Mom," recent keynote speaker at our 2023 ArchRegina Congress and Bishop's Appeal kickoff. Lisa shares her personal journey of trusting God in challenging times, drawing from her own experiences to offer six key tools for remaining hopeful and trusting God when life gets tough. Tune in as Lisa Canning, a mom of 11, mindset coach, and President of the Guiding Star Project, guides us on a path towards abundant t...

Conquest Boys Club Q&A - Part 4

Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett continue to delve into the pile of questions sent to them from the Conquest Boys Club at St. Anne's parish in Regina, Saskatchewan. This week includes The Second Vatican Council and moral decline, and Hitler. Show Snippet: "So this is a great example because we often hear this story of decline; that everything was going great, Vatican II happens, and then things go into decline. Why does the Pope call a council? Because things aren't going great. The modern world ...

Conquest Boys Club Q&A - Part 3

Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett continue to delve into the pile of questions sent to them from the Conquest Boys Club at St. Anne's parish in Regina, Saskatchewan. This week includes Harry Potter, satanism, and The Lord of the Rings plus Feminism and women's rights. Show Snippet: "When the books began just at the turn of the 21st century; the rise of the internet, the rise of the smartphone, the rise of on-demand viewing. Access to media and technology is becoming ubiquitous. And it's within thi...

Truth and Reconiciliation with Fr. Cristino Bouvette

This week Dr. Brett welcomes Father Cristino Bouvette from the Diocese of Calgary for a conversation about truth and reconciliation, and the intersection of personal experiences with public expectations. Father Cristino shares his unique journey as an Indigenous Catholic priest and the complex blend of heritage that shapes his perspective. Join them as they explore the challenges and insights that come with navigating preconceived notions, the residential school legacy, and the power of buil...

The Call of Generosity with James Lipoth

As our 2023 Archbishop's Appeal "Abundant Trust: Embracing God’s Generosity" kicks off, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett sit down with Development Director, James Lipoth to discuss the Gospel call to generosity and how it becomes enfleshed in our daily lives inside and outside the Church. Show Snippet: "Second Corinthians chapter nine St. Paul says, "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly under compulsion for God loves a cheerful giver." And, I've bee...

Boys Club Q&A - Part 2

Earlier this spring the local Conquest Boy's Club sent the podcast a literal basket full of questions. Join Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett as they dig in and answer whichever questions they happen to pull. Show Snippet: "Something like culpability is something that we never know from the outside in an individual case, but we do know from the church's way of thinking about this that the church doesn't stand in judgment on those kinds of things and instead offers God's mercy to anyone who's like,...

Boys Club Q&A - Part 1

Earlier this spring the local Conquest Boy's Club sent the podcast a literal basket full of questions. Join Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett as they dig in and answer whichever questions they happen to pull. Show Snippet: "It strikes me that the questions that we would ask or ought to ask from a Catholic perspective would be some of those core foundations of Catholic moral teaching like, 'How is this affecting the dignity of the human person? How much participation does this system or that system...

A Demonology of the Internet with Dr. Thomas P. Harmon - Part 2

A Demonology of the Internet with Dr. Thomas P. Harmon - Part 2 In this part two of two Dr. Thomas Harmon, professor and Scanlan Foundation Chair in Theology at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas examines the powerful concepts of the Incarnation and bodily sacraments as potential remedies against the subtle manipulations of digital media. Together we'll dive into how embracing our earthbound bodies and material realities can serve as a counterbalance to the discarnate influences...

A Demonology of the Internet with Dr. Thomas P. Harmon - Part 1

A Demonology of the Internet with Dr. Thomas P. Harmon - Part 1 In this part one of two, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett visit with Dr. Thomas Harmon, professor and Scanlan Foundation Chair in Theology at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas to discuss his recent article for The American Mind "Spirits of the Cloud: A deomonology of the Internet." They'll examine the intricate web of influence woven by both human vices and technological algorithms and explore the intersections between ag...

The Archdiocese Of Regina Lay Formation Program

This week Deacon Eric gathers with three graduates of the Archdiocese of Regina's Lay Formation program to discuss what drew them to take part, what the experience has been like, and how things have changed in their relationship with Jesus Christ, His Church, and their relationships in the world. To register for Fall classes, contact Deacon Eric at [email protected]. Show snippet: "I had been fairly active in the parish; I'd been teaching Sacramental prep, and working with kids fo...

Grassroots Ecumenism With Karen Petersen Finch - Part 2

In this part 2 of 2 Dr. Brett visits with Karen Peterson Finch about her latest book "Grassroots Ecumenism: The Way of Local Christian Reunion" as they examine the promise and the challenges in addressing Christian unity at the local level. Show Snippet: "Be reasonable. So we've said your mind naturally experiences. Now do it attentively. Your mind naturally has insight. Do it intelligently. In other words, be open to new possibilities or to a real understanding of what's happening now. Th...

Grassroots Ecumenism With Karen Petersen Finch - Part 1

In this part 1 of 2 Dr. Brett visits with Karen Peterson Finch about her latest book "Grassroots Ecumenism: The Way of Local Christian Reunion" as they examine the promise and the challenges in addressing Christian unity at the local level. Show Snippet: "Could it be that the doctrine of your church and your neighbor's church can actually give new fuel to what you are trying to do and can refresh things for you? And it'll bring it to life again, and you can have fun again, encountering the...

The Reed Of God Summer Retreat - Part 4 Our Lady's Seeking

Join Deacon Eric for this special summer retreat with Mary through the lens of the Caryll Houselander spiritual classic, "The Reed of God." Journey with Mary as a spiritual companion and guide through the nativity, ministry, death, and resurrection of her Son Jesus Christ and discover new avenues to faith, discipleship, and mission. Show Snippet: "Just as we cannot depend on feelings to know that Christ is in ourselves, we cannot depend on appearances to know that he is in others...That wh...

The Reed Of God Summer Retreat - Part 3 The Lost Child

Join Deacon Eric for this special summer retreat with Mary through the lens of the Caryll Houselander spiritual classic, "The Reed of God." Journey with Mary as a spiritual companion and guide through the nativity, ministry, death, and resurrection of her Son Jesus Christ and discover new avenues to faith, discipleship, and mission. Show Snippet:"Here, then, is the answer for why seeking the Lost Child is such a universal human experience, so much so that Mary herself was drawn into experi...

The Reed Of God Summer Retreat - Part 2 Fugue

Join Deacon Eric for this special summer retreat with Mary through the lens of the Caryll Houselander spiritual classic, "The Reed of God." Journey with Mary as a spiritual companion and guide through the nativity, ministry, death, and resurrection of her Son Jesus Christ and discover new avenues to faith, discipleship, and mission. Show Snippet:"God had taken His little reed into His hands and the breath of His love sang through it, and this utterance would go on for all generations. In g...

The Reed Of God Summer Retreat with Deacon Eric Gurash - Part 1 Advent

Join Deacon Eric for this special summer retreat with Mary through the lens of the Caryll Houselander spiritual classic, "The Reed of God." Journey with Mary as a spiritual companion and guide through the nativity, ministry, death, and resurrection of her Son Jesus Christ and discover new avenues to faith, discipleship, and mission. Show Snippet: "Sometimes it may seem to us that there is no purpose in our lives, that going day after day for years to this office or that school or factory i...

Evangelization Doesn't Have to be Hard

This week Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett discuss an evangelization event at Holy Rosary Cathedral for the Regina Cathedral Village Arts Festival whose overwhelming success not only revealed the deep hunger in the human soul for something more but also showed that evangelization doesn't have to be hard. Show Snippet: "So when we were preparing for this event, we were trying to imagine what kind of, I mean, logistically how many candles do you get for something like this? We thought 300 candles w...

Fr Aaron Wessman - The Church's Mission In a Polarized World - Part 2

In this part 2 of 2 episodes, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett are joined by Glenmary Home Missioners vice president Fr. Aaron Wessman, author of the book "The Church's Mission in a Polarized World." We'll discuss the modern struggle with polarization within the Church and wider society and look at how best to respond from a Catholic perspective. Show Snippet: "The son of God is sent and crosses over and he unites himself more intimately now with the world, right through the incarnation and it is...

Fr. Aaron Wessman - The Church's Mission in a Polarized World - Part 1

Talking To Your Kids About Sex - Part 2

Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett get together this week to discuss one of life-s trickiest topics; talking to our kids about sex. When do you start? How do you broach the subject? What do you say? It could be an example to follow, or a cautionary tale but its sure to be interesting! Show Snippet: "If you talk about how cigarette companies are trying to get you hooked early and exploit you and make money off of you. Kids are like, "Hell no."  And so something similar with porn too; te performers a...

Talking to Your Kids About Sex - Part 1

Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett get together this week to discuss one of life's trickiest topics; talking to our kids about sex. When do you start? How do you broach the subject? What do you say? It could be an example to follow or a cautionary tale, but it's sure to be interesting! Show Snippet: So one of the things that we do in our family, and this especially because we have a range of ages and we're having conversations where there's people who are five are in the room, and people who are in...

Dan Shervan And Brett Salkeld On Original Sin - Part 2

This week Dr. Bret Salkeld sits down with author and poet Dan Sherven in this part two of two, to discuss the differences between Roman and Orthodox Catholic approaches to the problem of sin. Show Snippet: "Kane kills Abel and goes on to found cities just like Romulus. But the difference isn't that you have two brothers killing each other, which happens by the way, in mythology all over the world. But the Bible's unique in actually siding with the victim. And this shows up throughout the O...

Dan Shervan and Brett Salkeld on Original Sin - Part 1

This week Dr. Bret Salkeld sits down with author and poet Dan Sherven in this part one of two, to discuss the differences between Roman and Orthodox Catholic approaches to the problem of sin. Show Snippet: "You can actually be like, "You know, Western Christians can learn from Eastern Christians that,  this way of talking is a good counterbalance to this other way of talking that has these potential misunderstandings associated and vice versa." Right? And so people who are really good at t...

Mental health in the Bible: David, Elijah, Job, and Paul

Mental Health in the Bible: David, Elijah, Job, and Paul This week, Deacon Eric breaks open sacred scripture seeking biblical models for navigating mental health challenges. He discusses David, Elijah, Job, and Paul and how their experiences can provide guidance and support for our own challenges today. Show Snippet: "How often depression, especially in the face of feeling as though we have done all the “right” things, leaves us to self-isolation and that desire to “sleep it all away.”  G...

St. Paul Street Evangelization with Mark Hornbacher and Adam Janke - Part 2

Dr. Brett Salkeld is joined this week by Mark Hornbacher and Adam Jenke of St. Paul Street Evangelization ministries. In this part 2 of 2, they continue discussing their unique ministry work and sharing stories of their experiences in street evangelization. Show Snippet: "It's that universal call to holiness through the Second Vatican Council that rightly pointed out where we can't give what we don't have. And so if we are growing in holiness, and what do we mean by that, being set apart, ...