A Girl and her Dad

Why do Catholics confess their sins to a priest instead of just praying to God directly? Did Jesus actually set up confession, or did the Church add it later? Jackie asks the questions Protestants (and plenty of Catholics) really ask, and Dad walks through the biblical case: John 20:21-23, St. Paul's "ministry of reconciliation" in 2 Corinthians 5, and James 5:14-16. We also get into...

Should Catholics hold hands during the Our Father, and is the "orans" position (arms raised, palms out) something everyone at Mass is supposed to do? Jackie and her dad break down where hand-holding during the Lord's Prayer actually comes from (it's not from the Church, it's borrowed from Protestant practice after Vatican II), what the GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman M...

Do Catholics actually believe the bread and wine literally become the body and blood of Jesus, or is it just a symbol? In this episode of A Girl & Her Dad, we dive deep into Catholic theology, John Chapter 6, transubstantiation, and the ancient Greek behind Jesus's words to explain why the Eucharist is considered the actual, physical presence of Christ. Whether you're Catholic, Protest...

Why do some Catholics receive Communion on the tongue instead of in the hand, and is one way more reverent? My dad traces the surprising history of how Communion in the hand became normal in the U.S.: European bishops defying Vatican II-era policy, the indult Pope Paul VI granted them, and the contested U.S. bishops' vote under Cardinal Bernardin - including his use of proxy votes for absent b...

Was Planned Parenthood built on racism? In this episode of A Girl and Her Dad, we examine the history of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger’s involvement in the eugenics movement, the Negro Project, and the debate over abortion’s impact on Black America. We explore arguments involving abortion rates in Black communities, the location of Planned Parenthood facilities, structural racism, taxpayer f...

The Dearborn march, Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan Senate campaign, and the debate over what critics call the “Red-Green Alliance” are putting Michigan politics in the national spotlight. This episode looks at the Dearborn controversy, the 2026 Michigan Senate election, progressive politics, immigration, religion in public life, and the cultural debates reshaping political coalitions across the United...

Candace Owens' claims surrounding Charlie Kirk's assassination are no longer just playing out online—they're now being challenged in court. In this episode of A Girl and Her Dad, we break down Brian Harpole's defamation lawsuit against Candace Owens, examine the allegations, discuss what has happened since the lawsuit was filed, and explore what this case could mean for Owens'...

Pope Leo XIV says the traditional Just War Theory is outdated in his new encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas. But do artificial intelligence, autonomous weapons, drones, and modern warfare make this Catholic moral framework obsolete, or more important than ever? In this episode, a traditional Catholic with a master’s degree in theology explains Just War Theory and offers a respectful Catholic response...

As the Archdiocese of Detroit moves through a historic restructuring process, Catholics across Southeast Michigan are asking difficult questions about parish changes, priest shortages, declining Mass attendance, and the leadership directing Detroit’s Catholic future. In this episode of A Girl and Her Dad, Jackie and her father examine Archbishop Edward Weisenburger’s public record, past decisions,...

Why was a drag show held on public elementary school grounds? A family-friendly Pride event featuring drag performances was held on public school property, sparking backlash and raising serious questions about children, parental rights, school board oversight, and who approved the facility rental. Although the school district said it did not sponsor the event, an outside organization was permitted...

President Trump is turning his attention away from Democrats and toward members of his own party as the battle over the SAVE Act, election integrity, voter ID laws, and the future of the Republican Party intensifies. As Trump pressures Senate Republicans to support his agenda, divisions inside the GOP are becoming impossible to ignore. In this episode of A Girl and Her Dad, we discuss Trump’s grow...

Conservatives spent months warning that Zohran Mamdani would destroy New York City, but six months later the disaster they predicted hasn’t happened. We go through his record point by point, and along the way, I challenge my dad on whether the right is actually making a persuasive case against socialist ideas at all. Zohran Mamdani’s rise to power sparked one of the most intense political debates...

For centuries, some of the world's greatest philosophers, scientists, and skeptics have challenged the existence of God with powerful arguments that continue to spark debate today. From the problem of evil and suffering to questions about science, morality, miracles, and the origins of the universe, we examine the strongest arguments against God's existence and explore whether they can be...

Spencer Pratt's entry into the Los Angeles mayoral race is about much more than a former reality TV star running for office. It reflects growing frustration among voters who believe California's political establishment has failed to address some of the state's biggest challenges, including homelessness, crime, affordability, public safety, and quality of life. In this episode of A Girl...

A deep dive into how congressional district maps are drawn and why gerrymandering has become one of the most powerful tools shaping American elections . This episode breaks down how Republicans could use redistricting advantages to influence the outcome of the midterms , what it means for democracy, and why both parties continue to fight over control of the map. How does gerrymandering really work...

Artificial intelligence is changing the world faster than ever before. But as AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and other advanced systems become part of everyday life, are we slowly losing the very qualities that make us human? In this episode of A Girl and Her Dad, we explore the philosophical and theological consequences of artificial intelligence, including critical thinking, creativity, dependen...

Is there really “no salvation outside the Catholic Church”? In this episode of A Girl and Her Dad, we break down one of the most controversial and misunderstood teachings in Christianity and explain what the Catholic Church actually teaches about salvation, heaven, non-Catholics, and the meaning behind this doctrine. We discuss the origins of the phrase “Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus,” common miscon...

Is political violence becoming normal in America ? After what’s being called a third assassination attempt on President Donald Trump , it raises a deeper question: why are these events happening more frequently, and why do they feel less shocking each time? In this episode of A Girl and Her Dad , we break down the rise of political violence, media narratives, and cultural shifts that may be contri...

Why does it feel like everyone suddenly hates their job ? In this episode of A Girl and Her Dad , we break down why frustration with corporate America is at an all-time high . From burnout and job dissatisfaction to quiet quitting and mass resignations , something has clearly changed and people are starting to wake up to it. We talk about how corporate culture has shifted over the past few decades...

Trump’s media allies are turning on him and it’s raising serious questions about the future of his base. In this episode, we break down how influential voices like Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, and Candace Owens have shifted their tone and what it reveals about internal fractures within conservative media. But it doesn’t stop there. As criticism grows, Donald Trump escalates the situation by going...

Is democracy truly the "gold standard" for a free society, or are we living through the " tyranny of democracy " that the Founding Fathers warned us about? In this episode of  A Girl and her Dad , we dive deep into the growing cultural and political divide. My Dad breaks down the fundamental differences between a Monarchy, a Republic, and a Democracy, and why the distinction ma...

Do dogs go to heaven or do they cease to exist? In this episode, Jackie (the Gen Z daughter) and her dad explore one of the most emotional and debated questions in religion and philosophy : what happens to animals after death? While many people believe their pets will be waiting for them in heaven, others argue that animals do not have souls in the same way humans do , raising deeper questions abo...

What is Islam , and why has it become one of the most debated and controversial topics in Western culture today? In this episode, we break down the fundamentals of Islam , its rapid growth in the West, and the growing debate over whether it is compatible with Western values, democracy, and a separation of church and state. Many people today feel like something bigger is happening, but don’t fully...

Trump’s Iran War is dividing MAGA — and Gen Z Trump voters are saying they’re not buying it. In this episode of A Girl and Her Dad , we talk through the growing split inside the conservative movement over the Iran War, the “imminent threat” debate , and whether this aligns with the America First agenda. Instead of repeating headlines, we focus on what people are actually confused about right now:...

What caused the divide between traditional Catholics and progressive Catholics? In this episode we break down Vatican II, the Latin Mass, and the growing debate inside the Catholic Church over tradition vs modern culture. Many Catholics today are talking about a growing divide within the Church. Some believe the Church has drifted too far from its traditions after Vatican II , while others argue t...