What is the significance of the Jubilee Year in the Bible, and how does it relate to Jesus’s mission and the Catholic Church? In this episode, Dr. Michael Dauphinais is joined by Dr. John Bergsma, a Catholic theologian, author, and vice president of mission at the Saint Paul Center, to explore the biblical concept of the Jubilee Year. They discuss Bergsma’s book, Jesus and the Jubilee: The Biblical Roots of the Year of God’s Favor , which examines the Jubilee’s origins in Leviticus 25, its proph...
Jul 01, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 149
How can Catholics rediscover a sense of wonder in a world that feels disconnected from meaning? Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Kyle Washut, president of Wyoming Catholic College, to discuss the importance of recovering an enchanted view of the universe. They explore how the Catholic intellectual tradition, rooted in Scripture and the natural world, counters the modern "buffered self" that isolates individuals from God, others, and creation. Resources: Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria Un...
Jun 24, 2025•58 min•Ep. 143
How can faithful Catholics understand and navigate the modern crisis of identity? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Angela Franks, theologian, author, and professor at Saint John’s Seminary, to talk about issues relating to identity and the "empty self." During their conversation, they also discuss related themes such as the historical roots of identity struggles and how to guide children toward their God-given identity with faith and compassion. Resources: Annunciation Circle (Av...
Jun 17, 2025•55 min•Ep. 142
How can St. Thomas Aquinas help address the modern crisis of belief? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais is joined by Fr. Michael Sherwin, O.P.,, a Dominican theologian and professor of theology at the Angelicum in Rome, to explore how Aquinas’ teachings can respond to contemporary challenges in faith. They discuss the nature of belief in Jesus Christ, the developmental journey of faith, and how Aquinas integrates diverse intellectual traditions to affirm the truth of the Gospel. Fr. Sherwin also shar...
Jun 11, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 141
How does St. Thomas Aquinas shape a return to Catholic faith? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais talks with Dr. Francis Beckwith, author of Never Doubt Thomas: The Catholic Aquinas as Evangelical and Protestant, about his journey back to Catholicism. They discuss Aquinas’s influence, justification, and engaging evangelical perspectives. Resources: Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community) Ave Maria University website Dr. Francis Beckwith’s faculty page at Baylor University D...
Jun 03, 2025•57 min
How can Catholics engage with Jordan Peterson’s ideas while remaining rooted in the faith? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais talks with Dr. Christopher Kaczor, Catholic philosopher, author, and Professor of Philosophy at Loyola Marymount University, about his book Jordan Peterson, God, and Christianity: The Search for a Meaningful Life . They explore how Peterson’s moral reading of scripture has sparked renewed interest in the Bible, even among atheists, and reflect on the universal relevance of sto...
May 27, 2025•56 min
What does it mean to return to Catholicism and live out its truths in a political and cultural context? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Michael Knowles, host of The Daily Wire's The Michael Knowles Show and a prominent Catholic commentator, to explore his reversion to the Catholic faith after a decade of atheism. They discuss how reading the Gospels and engaging with intellectual arguments led Knowles to embrace Christ and the Church. They also cover the importance of the historicit...
May 20, 2025•50 min
How can Catholics build meaningful relationships in an era of increasing loneliness and isolation? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Ray Guarendi, a clinical psychologist, Catholic author, and speaker, to explore practical approaches to fostering love and friendship. They discuss strategies for being present to others, balancing acceptance and honesty in challenging discussions, and living out Christian values to strengthen connections. Dr. Guarendi also shares his personal journe...
May 13, 2025•59 min
What can we learn from the extraordinary friendship between Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais is joined by Patrick Novecosky, an award-winning author and speaker and the founder of NovaMedia, to discuss his upcoming book on two of the greatest modern-day saints. They discuss how both saints overcame profound personal suffering to become beacons of hope, transforming the 20th century through their faith in Jesus Christ and his witness to human dignity and divine m...
May 06, 2025•56 min
How does Jesus Christ transform the way we think about God? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Adam Van Wart, Associate Professor of Theology at Ave Maria University, to discuss how the Incarnation makes God concretely present in human history, overcoming the human tendency to idolatry. Dr. Van Wart also explains how suffering acquires new meaning through Christ’s Cross and Resurrection, and shares insights from his personal journey from evangelical Protestantism to Catholicism. Re...
Apr 29, 2025•57 min
How can Catholics integrate personal development practices with authentic faith? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais speaks with Matt Ingold, co-founder of Metanoia Catholic, about “baptizing” secular life coaching with Catholic theology. They discuss John Paul II’s Theology of the Body as a foundation for understanding human growth, the non-competitive relationship between grace and effort, and practical approaches to discovering your unique vocation while growing in holiness. Resources: Annunciation...
Apr 22, 2025•58 min
Why is philosophy essential for understanding Catholic theology? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais interviews Dr. Steven Long, well-known theologian and Professor of Theology at Ave Maria University, about the relationship between philosophy and theology in the Catholic tradition. They discuss how the abandonment of realist philosophy has undermined theological truth, the importance of natural law for human flourishing, and Dr. Long’s experience championing Thomistic thought when it was largely dism...
Apr 15, 2025•1 hr 5 min
How can ancient wisdom help us find consolation and freedom in our distracted modern world? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Thomas Ward, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Baylor University, to discuss his book, After Stoicism: The Last Words of the Last Roman Philosopher . The work examines St. Severinus Boethius’ Consolation of Philosophy , which offers a Christian alternative to Stoicism that acknowledges suffering while maintaining hope in Divine Providence. The conversati...
Apr 08, 2025•59 min
How did Thomas Aquinas read and interpret the Bible? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Jason Paone, editor of Word on Fire Academic , to discuss two new books exploring Aquinas’ commentaries on the New and Old Testaments. They examine Aquinas’ deeply Christocentric approach to Scripture, his understanding of the Bible through God’s plan of creation and restoration, and the theological richness of his biblical works. Resources: Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Givi...
Apr 01, 2025•58 min
How can Christians come to recognize the mystery of the Trinity as intelligible? In this conversation, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Dr. Gerald Boersma, Professor of Theology and Director of the Theology M.A. Program at Ave Maria University, to explore Augustine’s De Trinitate. They discuss how it defends orthodox Trinitarian doctrine, presents the Trinity as a journey toward the vision of God, and shows how the Incarnation of Christ enables humans to ascend to divine knowledge. Througho...
Mar 25, 2025•55 min
How can we heal the split between who we present ourselves to be and who we really are? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais talks with Dr. Daniel Davy, Professor of History and Dean of Faculty at Ave Maria University, about Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and its relevance to modern life. They explore how this Victorian tale illuminates our modern-day struggles with addiction, social media, and loneliness while proposing Catholic education as a healing pa...
Mar 18, 2025•1 hr
How can Catholics better understand the historical and biblical foundations of their faith? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais interviews Catholic convert Steve Ray about his journey to Catholicism. They discuss his book Crossing the Tiber and explore his insights from leading pilgrimages, illuminating connections between biblical sites, and Catholic tradition. Resources: Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community) Ave Maria University website Steve Ray's personal website, whi...
Mar 11, 2025•1 hr
How can Catholics integrate their faith with modern business practices, particularly in marketing? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais interviews Neil Watson, adjunct professor of business and Director of Marketing at Ave Maria University, about the intersection of Catholic social teaching and business ethics. Watson explores how the Church's teachings on human dignity, work, and the common good can inform ethical marketing practices. Throughout their discussion, they emphasize that economic activity—...
Mar 04, 2025•59 min
How can C.S. Lewis’ Perelandra help us rethink the Genesis story and its relevance to the modern world? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais and Joseph Pearce, frequent guest and Visiting Professor of Literature at Ave Maria University, explore the next book in C.S. Lewis’ space trilogy, Perelandra - a retelling of Genesis that illuminates free will, sin, and grace. They discuss Lewis’ use of myth to reawaken humanity’s understanding of creation, temptation, and divine providence, highlighting the them...
Feb 25, 2025•50 min
How do welive chastely in a world consumed by distractions, desires, and secular notions of fulfillment? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais and Bishop Erik Varden of Trondheim explore chastity as a path to personal integration and spiritual renewal. Drawing from Bishop Varden’s book Chastity: Reconciliation of the Senses , they discuss cultural misconceptions, the healing power of mercy, and how vulnerability and grace transform the human heart. A thoughtful conversation on living Christian virtue in...
Feb 18, 2025•56 min
How do humility and obedience shape our relationship with authority, community, and God? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais and Pater Edmund Waldstein, a Cistercian monk and theologian, explore the role of humility and obedience in our relationship with authority, the church, and the common good. They discuss the balance between individual dignity and community, the necessity of authority, and how Catholic tradition offers a framework for navigating a flawed world while pursuing holiness. Resources: ...
Feb 11, 2025•57 min
How can Catholics navigate grief and trauma while holding onto hope and faith? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais and Dr. Julia Sadusky, a licensed psychologist and Ave Maria University alumna,explore the complexities of grief, ambiguous losses, and trauma. They discuss the healing power of connection, routine, and faith, offering practical advice and reflecting on how Christian hope and the promise of eternal life provide strength in suffering. Resources: Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Mo...
Feb 04, 2025•1 hr 2 min
How can today’s youth rediscover faith amidst a culture of secularism and distraction? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Ambrose Bean, Ave Maria University alumnus, BA and MA in Theology, teacher, and author of Catholic Revival: A Rallying Cry to the Rising Generation in the Church. They discuss the personal nature of faith, the joy of knowing Jesus Christ, and how Catholics can renew the Church by inspiring the next generation to embrace their mission. Ambrose shares practical insigh...
Jan 28, 2025•58 min
How can Catholics navigate modern theological challenges while staying true to the Church's tradition? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais speaks with Fr. Joseph Fessio, founder of Ignatius Press, about the enduring relevance of Catholic theology in addressing modern challenges. They discuss the influence of theologians like Ratzinger, von Balthasar, and de Lubac, the role of liturgy, and the importance of recovering tradition in a secular age. Fr. Fessio also highlights Ignatius Press’s efforts to fo...
Jan 21, 2025•48 min
How can we recover a vision of the cosmos as a place filled with divine wonder and purpose? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais welcomes Joseph Pearce, Visiting Professor of Literature at Ave Maria University, to explore C.S. Lewis’s Out of the Silent Planet . Together, they discuss his vision of a cosmos filled with divine wonder and order. They examine Lewis’s critique of scientism, the harmony of creation, and the role of imagination in understanding humanity’s place within God’s design. Resources:...
Jan 14, 2025•55 min
How does understanding the overarching story of Scripture deepen our faith? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais speaks with Jeff Cavins, creator of the Great Adventure Bible Study and co-host of the incredibly popular Bible in a Year podcast with Fr. Michael Schmitz, about understanding the Bible’s overarching narrative. They discuss how the Bible Timeline helps Catholics grasp salvation history, the role of the Psalms in prayer, and how Scripture deepens faith and unites us with Christ. Perfect for a...
Jan 07, 2025•1 hr
What can St. Augustine teach us about grace, memory, and our search for identity in a restless world? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais sits down with Fr. Kevin Grove, a Holy Cross priest and theology professor at Notre Dame, to discuss Augustine’s timeless insights. They explore themes from Confessions , including grace, the whole Christ, and recovering our identity in God, offering practical and spiritual takeaways for navigating today’s challenges. Resources: Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria Univer...
Dec 31, 2024•57 min
How can Catholics uncover the profound meaning and purpose found in family life and childbearing? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais speaks with Dr. Catherine Ruth Pakaluk about her book Hannah’s Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth. They discuss the meaning and purpose found in family life, the challenges of modern parenting, and the profound stories of mothers who embrace their faith and calling amidst societal pressures. Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Comm...
Dec 24, 2024•54 min
How should Catholics respond to the false promises of transhumanism? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais and Dr. Steven Jensen, professor of philosophy at the University of St. Thomas, examine transhumanism as a modern form of eugenics. They discuss the distinction between healing and enhancement, the dangers of rejecting human nature as a gift, and how Christ provides the ultimate answer to humanity’s deepest needs. Resources: Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community) Ave Ma...
Dec 17, 2024•54 min
How can Catholics approach the study of Psychology through the lens of faith and the dignity of the human person? Today, Dr. Michael Dauphinais is joined again by Dr. Julia Sadusky, Catholic author, speaker, licensed psychologist, and alumna of Ave Maria University, to discuss the relationship between the Catholic faith and the field of Psychology amid today’s ”mental health epidemic.” In this episode, they investigate the Catholic vision of the human person as spirit, soul, and body from the pe...
Dec 10, 2024•55 min
