The Walkup

Kiernan Doyle joins The Walkup to share his journey from working the crew side of productions to starring on Netflix and filming opposite Jake Gyllenhaal.  A trained actor and seasoned set veteran, Kiernan reflects on life inside the industry—balancing spontaneity and structure, navigating union strikes, and the magic of collaborative creativity. Whether he's behind the scenes of SNL or stepp...

In this episode of The Walkup , Sean is joined by Atticus Firey, national leader of The Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Centers, and Rebecca Smith, a licensed social worker and strategic philanthropy expert.  Together, they offer a behind-the-scenes look at addiction recovery, spiritual renewal, and the systems that support second chances. With stories from the front lines—from confronting f...

Fr. Rick Riccioli returns to The Walkup with stories that move from the sacred to the hilarious.  He opens up about his experience with spiritual direction and adoration, and reflects on how churches can reimagine community. Along the way, we get tales of high school football dreams, quick rapport-building tips, and even advice on buying a house at 23. It’s a soulful, grounded conversation about c...

No host, no filter—just two friends and a mic. In this episode of The Walkup, Chelsey and Claire go off-script and get personal.  They talk about building new friendships in NYC, transforming their health, surviving polar plunges, and why growing up in big families gave them a soft spot for strangers. From marathon prep to elevator panic, this is a conversation about facing fears, sharing stories,...

In this episode of The Walkup , Chelsey Hogan and Claire Gagliano tackle everything from the crisis of communication to the psychology of modern marriage.  Together, they explore faith-informed counseling, college hookup culture, socioeconomic pairing, and how our 12-move average reflects something deeper about the American soul. A conversation about what we long for—and how we speak to it. Subscr...

Priest and missionary Fr. Louis Merosne returns to The Walkup alongside actor and comedian Iris Bahr for a dynamic conversation on truth, goodness, and the chaos of moral relativism.  From the Catechism to comedy, the two explore how the Christian tradition addresses power, purpose, and the question of who decides right from wrong. With surprising takes on the Vatican’s wealth, maternal instincts,...

Violinist and composer Ittai Shapira joins The Walkup to explore the deep interconnection between music, memory, and healing.  From his early studies in Israel to a critically acclaimed Carnegie Hall debut and a lifelong commitment to commissioning new works, Shapira shares the personal and collective narratives that have shaped his career. He discusses his collaborations with composers, performan...

Historian, author, and artist Bronwen McShea joins The Walkup for a sweeping conversation on women in the Church, mysticism, biography, and the hidden forces that shape historical memory.  A Yale and Harvard-trained scholar, McShea reflects on her research process, spiritual imagination, and what makes a good story stick. From Fatima to 17th-century France, saints to skeptics, this episode explore...

In this episode of The Walkup , guest host Will Bower sits down with Father Keith O’Hare, pastor of St. Louis Catholic Church in Alexandria, VA.  From the haunting beauty of Gregorian chant to the challenges and triumphs of building a thriving parish community, Fr. O’Hare reflects on his journey through music, mission, and ministry—from the streets of Queens to the Dominican Republic to suburban V...

From writing iconic episodes of Seinfeld, Cheers, and Will and Grace, to penning award speeches for Tina Fey and Will Ferrell, comedy legend Tom Leopold brings decades of showbiz stories to The Walkup .  In this episode, Tom sits down with Sean to talk about his unexpected journey into Catholicism, his hilarious (and sometimes chaotic) life in NYC, and what it means to take notes with God. Equal p...

What does it take to become a world-traveling jazz saxophonist with a sound that grooves as hard as it swings?  In this episode of The Walkup , Sean sits down with Nick Hempton – Australian-born, NYC-based jazz artist – to talk about life on and off the bandstand. From Sydney’s jam sessions to Harlem’s late nights, Nick opens up about learning jazz the hard way, his mission to connect with audienc...

In this episode of The Walkup , guest host Will Bower sits down with returning guest Father Louis Merosne, Haitian priest and founder of Mission of the Beloved, for a personal and powerful conversation on devotion to Mary, the Rosary, and the journey of faith.  Together they explore the beauty of Catholicism from both intellectual and intimate angles—wrestling with misconceptions, family expectati...

In this episode of The Walkup , Sean sits down with artist Dony MacManus and Stephen Auth, CIO of Federated Global Equities and author of The Missionary of Wall Street , to discuss the soul of Catholic art, the crisis of cultural imagination, and the connection between beauty and evangelization.  From Caravaggio’s chiaroscuro to the spiritual metaphysics of sculpture, Dony and Steve challenge the...

Tom Williams is the CEO of Came to Believe Recovery, a global movement reviving the original spiritual roots of the 12 Steps.  In this episode of The Walkup , Tom shares his path from addiction and Army service to becoming a fitness coach, MBA graduate, and leader in recovery ministry. With over 100 retreats under his belt, Tom talks candidly about grace, trauma, ego, and the misunderstood heart o...

In this stirring return to The Walkup , Father Louis Merosne shares stories from the frontlines of spiritual and social renewal in Haiti.  From surviving natural disasters and rebuilding faith communities, to his encounters with Mother Teresa and moments of profound humility, Fr. Louis speaks candidly about the soul of his nation and the mission that drives him. This conversation explores the inte...

In this episode of The Walkup , actress-producer Kate Maberly and artist Dony MacManus explore the deep roots of creativity—from childhood imagination to classical training, and from faith to futurism.  They discuss the dark underbelly of the film industry, the seductive illusion of social media, and whether AI represents progress or regress. It’s a conversation about beauty, inspiration, and choo...

Irish sculptor and educator Dony MacManus returns to The Walkup for a sweeping conversation on artistic calling, faith, and embodiment.  He shares how overcoming dyslexia and finding purpose through art transformed his life, and offers reflections on teaching, cultural renewal, and the theological power of the human body. From Pontormo to the crisis of contemporary art, this episode explores how b...

What does art remember that politics forgets? In this episode of The Walkup , host Sean O’Hare is joined by Richard Brookhiser, historian and senior editor at National Review, and Dony MacManus, sculptor, painter, and founder of the Sacred Art School in Florence.  Together, they explore the symbolic force of historic paintings, the shifting meaning of revolutions, and whether the artist or the sta...

Father Don Bosco Darsi joins The Walkup from Vijayawada, India, where he leads Talitha Cumi Unnati—a grassroots organization fighting human trafficking and empowering vulnerable girls through education and dignity-based outreach.  In this episode, we explore the intersection of Indian Christianity, economic mobility, subsidiarity, and joy—how one priest’s work in rural villages and orphanages beco...

Can an atheist and a priest find common ground? In this episode of The Walkup , playwright and author Jonathan Leaf joins returning guest Fr. Rick Riccioli, pastor at Most Holy Trinity–St. Mary Church in Brooklyn.  Together they explore the boundaries between faith and secularism, the surprising depth of spiritual questions in art, and why Christianity still matters in a post-Christian age. From P...

What happens when theater becomes a form of prayer? In this episode of The Walkup , actor Christopher Domig (Sea Dog Theater) and Jesuit priest Fr. George Drance (Magis Theatre Company) explore the deep interplay between spirituality and the performing arts.  From the legacy of La MaMa to experiences on major sets like The Blacklist and Tuesdays with Morrie, they reflect on how creativity, faith,...

In this episode of The Walkup , Sean O’Hare is joined by Grant Wheeler, Director at The Phoenix—a sober living community using movement and connection to help people rebuild after addiction.  Grant shares his raw and redemptive story of heroin addiction, getting sober, and finding unexpected strength through CrossFit. From panic attacks and family pressure to building sober spaces that are actuall...

In this episode of The Walkup , Sean O’Hare sits down with Kimberly Thompson, a development leader and anti-trafficking advocate with decades of experience at A21, the Human Trafficking Institute, and beyond.  Together, they unpack the dark intersection of technology and human exploitation—from fake job scams to the way digital platforms fuel trafficking at scale. But this isn’t just about the pro...

In this episode of The Walkup, Sean O’Hare is joined by Colm Flynn, Vatican correspondent for EWTN, and Colin Nykaza, Director of Outreach at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.  Together, they explore the Church’s response to suffering, the power of courageous service, and the enduring relevance of vocations in a fast-moving world. From Colm’s global reporting on the Pope and human rights,...

In this episode of The Walkup , Sean O’Hare brings together an unexpected trio: award-winning actress and writer Iris Bahr, Brooklyn-based priest Fr. Rick Riccioli, and Hollywood veteran Rob Long (Cheers, George and Leo).  Together, they explore the shifting role of the church, the emotional weight of service, and how institutions of faith can either heal or harm. Rob shares stories from behind th...