Become Fire Podcast

In Part II of our 100th Episode Special, Bishop Emeritus Thomas J. Olmsted shares about his short time as a Parish Pastor, his subsequent calling from Pope John Paul II to be ordained a Bishop, and his time serving as the Ordinary to the wonderful people of the Diocese of Phoenix. Well done, good and faithful servant!

We've arrived at our 100th episode! What better way to commemorate this milestone than to welcome one of our greatest mentors and Apostolic sponsors of our community, Bishop Emeritus, Thomas J. Olmsted. In Part I, His Excellency shares the story of his humble origins in rural Kansas, all the way through his time working in the Vatican Secretariat of State under Pope John Paul II.

The 100th Episode of the #BecomeFire Podcast drops the week of January 22nd! Our biggest guest to date will be joining us, and you DEFINITELY won't want to miss this one. Want to find out who? Listen to this "bonus" episode.

Happy 2023! In the last seven episodes, we've taken a deep dive into gender issues and the Church. Today, we broach possibly the most important topic in the series: What is the pastoral response to someone with gender dysphoria? The answer may surprise you. Our Identity series concludes in this important episode of the #BecomeFire Podcast.

The Christian story of creation is vastly different from that of any other faith. Man was not wrought from some violent celestial conflict, but rather, by Love, in love, for love. We’re continuing our Identity series, breaking open the Theology of man and woman in this episode of the #BecomeFire Podcast.

Are we human beings having a spiritual experience, or spiritual beings having a human experience? Metaphysics is a philosophy that deals with what is beyond the natural. So, is our biological sex connected with our eternal soul? Find out in this episode of the #BecomeFire Podcast as we continue our Identity series.

The question of Gender Dysphoria has become a preeminent concern in our society, especially among young women. The Church has a lot to say about how this that might surprise you. We explore how to engage the transgender community with love and logic in this episode of the #BecomeFire Podcast. (This episode may not be suitable for children)

Humans are complex and nuanced beings. When we contemplate our creation, we sometimes forget that our brains are part of the image and likeness God fashioned us in. Explore the psychology of sex and gender in this episode of the #BecomeFire Podcast. (This episode may not be suitable for children)

God’s fingerprints can be found all over our physical world. Maybe most especially in human creation. God, the Great Designer, is the architect of our souls AND our bodies. Find out why biology matters in this episode of the #BecomeFire Podcast. (This episode may not be suitable for children)

As we continue our series based on the book "Sexual Identity" (DeSilva Finley), we explore the definitions of man and woman through the lens of sexual expression and what it means to bring the full gift of self to another. (Disclaimer: this episode of the #BecomeFire Podcast may not be suitable for children)

Identity. What does it mean to be a man or a woman? A certain consensus within our society wants to give us these definitions, but we know our true selves are found only in God. Our newest #BecomeFire Podcast series breaks open the book "Sexual Identity," edited by John DeSilva Finley.

"O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!” - Psalm 96:1. Gila River Tribal Council Member Anthony Villarreal joins the #BecomeFire Podcast this week to share the history of the Catholic musical traditions of his People, and to sing a few of these beautiful songs for us live in the studio.

If you've visited St. John's parish office in Gila River District 6, chances are Lisa Shelde's smiling face is the first one you encountered. A woman of deep faith, she has experienced great miracles in her life. Our Native Faith series continues in this inspiring Episode of the #BecomeFire Podcast.

In this latest installment of our #BecomeFire Native Faith series, our own Community Servant, Fr. Antony, moves to the other side of the microphone. A member of the Osage Nation, Father recounts the passionately Catholic heritage of his ancestors, their harrowing and heroic place in American history, and what life was like spending the summers of his youth on the Rez.

Prayer is the cornerstone of a life well-lived. Tohono O’odham Elder Joseph Enos joins us in this episode of the #BecomeFire Podcast to share how his prayer life, the Eucharist, and his devotion to the saints helped him overcome great obstacles so that he can carry the light of Christ to the world.

When tragedy struck and the future of the Church in Komatke was uncertain, God called forth strong women from the community to stand as prayer warriors, and the Holy Rosary was the tie that held them together. Elder Monica Domingo rejoins us this week on the #BecomeFire Podcast to conclude her powerful story.

The Native Peoples of Arizona have a rich tradition of faith going back centuries. In our new #BecomeFire Podcast series, we will explore the history of Catholicism on the Reservation. In Part 1, Tribal Elder Monica Domingo takes us back to the Pima Nation of the mid-20th century.

Our 8-week anthology on Divine healing is our most listened-to series to date! Each of our guests brought powerful testimonies of great struggles and even greater victories. In this week's #BecomeFire Podcast, Fr. Peter Teresa helps make sense of it all; how to receive your healing, but maybe more importantly, how to keep it.

Adam Estavillo is a living embodiment of Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." - a future he never would have experienced if he kept saying yes to sin and no to God's mercy. Do you want spiritual healing in your life? Start by saying YES to God! Our #BecomeFire Podcast healing anthology series conc...

Adam Estavillo had it all: a loving family, smarts, and athletic talent. He nearly threw it away through a life of recklessness and sin, until God found him one day in front of the Holy Eucharist. This week in the #BecomeFire Podcast, we tackle Spiritual Healing (Part 1).

Have you been labeled? Do you believe no one can love you? There is hope! Sheila Terry’s amazing story continues this week on the #BecomeFire Podcast as she shares how God delivered her from the terrible lies she believed about herself to a life of true freedom in His love.

After a life of abuse, addiction, and despair, God broke through to Sheila Terry at the time she least expected: a funeral. In part 1 of the #BecomeFire Podcast on Psychological Healing, Sheila takes us on a heart-wrenching journey with a most beautiful ending.

The good news is, as we learned in last week’s episode, God can give you freedom in your emotions! But, once you’ve received that gift, where do you go with it? Aryn Sylvester joins us again to talk about how her miraculous emotional healing has changed the course of her life.

Our emotions are dictate not only how we view ourselves and others but also how we experience God. This week's episode of the #BecomeFire podcast is a story not for the faint of heart. Aryn Sylvester joins Fr. Antony to share her testimony of how the Holy Spirit delivered her from a life of grief to freedom in grace.

Jesus wants to heal you physically. Paul and Beth Zuccarelli join us again this week to share more of their story. Receiving a miraculous healing is only the beginning. The rest of the story is what you do with your life thereafter. Join us for this week’s #BecomeFire Podcast.