Coffee, Commerce & Catechesis | A Catholic Podcast

"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." - Matthew 10:16 In this episode of Coffee, Commerce and Catechesis, we are joined by our returning guest Angelo to discuss pursuing business education as a Christian. Through our conversation, we explore: - The historical connection between Christianity and universities - how the Church gave...

"Education cannot be neutral. It is either positive or negative. Either it enriches or it impoverishes... True education enables us to love life and opens us to the fullness of life." In this episode, we're joined by Kimberly Cichon, a mother of six and candidate for Calgary Catholic School District trustee, to explore the future of Catholic education. Our discussion delves into: - Her personal jo...

"There are about 2.4 billion Christians in the world, but maybe a fraction of those people acknowledge or realize what it really means to be a Christian." In this episode, we dive into an eye-opening discussion about what modern Christians actually believe, drawing from a 2024 Cardus/Angus Reid Institute study of Canadian Christians. Some key highlights from their conversation include: Surprising...

"If you ever go into a tough conversation and you don't feel that pull in your stomach, that tightness or shortness of breath, then I don't think you're actually entering it with a spirit of openness. Every conversation should include giving and receiving. Even if you're the boss, you should be able to receive in a conversation of any magnitude."Today we're joined by Jeff Schiefelbein, culture bui...

"I went from reading only business and political stuff to tearing through spiritual books. After my conversion experience, I had an all-consuming desire to be closer to God, to go into the desert for healing, to allow Him to work on me and transform me. It was like a very powerful magnet just pulling at me. I wanted to give myself completely to God because He had given Himself completely to me."To...

"Christmas is one of the most important days of the church year, second only to Easter itself. It is the culmination of the mystery of the incarnation - the feast of God becoming flesh. It is a uniquely Christian teaching that the divine chose to become one of us. Because of this belief, God is not only transcendent, but also wholly immanent - while remaining transcendent, meaning we must rise abo...

"Our interactions through technology are not nurturing - they're utilitarian. We're exchanging ideas, but we're not being nurtured by each other's persons. We are really experiencing electronic artifacts of one another. If this is the way we have most of our interactions, we are going to become more and more empty."Today we're joined by Deacon David Delaney, founder of the Mother of the Americas I...

"Rather than focusing on selecting specific genetic traits, parents should consider the broader ethical implications and potential societal impacts of their choices. We cannot let technology alone shape our future and define our humanity. Instead, we must reclaim our role as ethical stewards, guided by values that transcend mere utility and efficiency."Today we're joined by Stephen Umbrello, Manag...

"Left to run its own course in our lives, technology shapes our habits in ways that are often diametrically opposed to the habits we try to cultivate as Christians. Just as the Church gives us disciplines around food, drink, and sex to preserve our freedom towards these good gifts from God, freedom around technology requires perhaps even greater discipline today."Today we're joined by Colin Miller...

"Almost nothing gets out there that's not controversial when it comes to the media covering the Catholic faith. You know, I remember one author saying that hatred and bias towards Catholicism was the only legitimate one that was still around. And I tend to agree - anti-Catholicism is the last acceptable form of bigotry."Today we're joined by Mario Toneguzzi, a veteran journalist with over 40 years...

In this episode, we dive deep into Canada's pro-life movement with Cameron Cote and Thomas Cliplef from the Canadian Centre for Bioethical Reform (CCBR). From the Catholic Church's unchanging stance on the sanctity of life to modern-day advocacy, our guests share their personal journeys and practical insights into effective pro-life outreach. Key Discussion Points:The Catholic Church's historical...

The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement (VHEMT) is a group that advocates for the extinction of the human race by encouraging people to not have children. In today's episode, we chat with Dr. Richard Clements who wrote an article about this group for Word on Fire Ministries. We discuss why such a radical ideology is catching on and why people are adopting this mentality. Among the chief arguments...

Can we trust the news? What about Catholic news sources? Should Catholics be following the news at all? And if so, how do we do so without losing our faith or becoming cynical? That’s what we’re chatting about this week with Chris Altieri, longtime resident of Rome and a career journalist who has spent the last few years covering scandals in the Church and doing so as a faithful Catholic. We want...

AI is a technological development that has unprecedented implications not only for the future of work but for every aspect of our lives. Our guest this week, Matthew Harvey Sanders, has an impressive AI resume and is using AI for the good of the Church. He has a bold prediction: 50% of people will be “gainfully unemployed” potentially on just a decade as a result of AI. That’s a scary thought if w...

Thanks to the news, we seem to always know about conflicts and wars happening halfway across the world. Currently, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Israel-Palestine conflict have captured our attention. But have you ever given thought to all the conflict that exists in the world that we don't even hear of? The wars that get no media coverage? The ongoing conflict in Cameroon is one such story....

Newly married but living as celibates? How? Why? In this episode, Travis and Rigel explore the Catholic Church's teachings on marriage and sexuality, emphasizing the indissolubility of the marital union and its ordering toward new life. Travis’s wife joins them to discuss their experiences coming to the Catholic faith and how it shaped their understanding of marriage. They discuss the importance o...

If it is God’s will for his life, any devout Catholic man will recognize fatherhood as the greatest gift God has to give. He wills our ultimate good and even though we are undeserving, he rewards us. Jeff Schiefelbein might just be the definition of intentional fatherhood. Designing his life to put God first, wife second, kids third and everything else after. Jeff has a unique ability to recognize...

To a generation of people in an age of migration and relocation, social media is a gift. It offers opportunities to connect with people no matter how far away you may be. Rigel and Travis have both benefitted since the launch of this podcast by connecting with fellow Catholics on social media. But let’s be honest… it’s not all sunshine and roses with social media. There is a dark side. A very dark...

Being Christians means being in the world but not of it. It means standing amidst the culture and being critical of it. To discuss the topic of engaging with the secular world and those who are hostile to Christianity (and engaging with those within the Church who disagree with us too!), we invited an expert, Dr. Larry Chapp. Dr. Chapp shares his thoughts on having thoughtful debates in emotionall...

After listening to this episode you’ll find yourself in one of two situations. Either, you’re in need of further education and you’ll know exactly where you want to go, OR you’ll wish you needed further education. Travis and Rigel certainly feel the latter after chatting about the Catholic Institute of Technology with Dr. Jeff Kleck, Dean of Academics. Catholic Tech is a new American university si...

We’ve all heard of non-traditional career paths. Doctor to author, plumber to lawyer, engineer to stay at home parent. But when’s the last time you heard of a priest to startup founder story? We’re lucky today to be joined by Nathan Pinto, serial entrepreneur, once-upon-a-time almost a Jesuit priest, and just an awesome dude. He shares his story of discerning the priesthood and realizing his true...

One of the devil’s greatest weapons is the breakdown of the family unit. If that’s true, it certainly feels like he is in his workshop honing the edges of his sword by destroying marriages. Put simply, the Catholic Church does not permit divorce. Just because the government hands you a piece of paper does not mean that you and your spouse aren’t one in the eyes of God. “What God has brought togeth...

God made man in His own image. And he made them man and woman. The church has always taught that the sexes are distinct in their nature and in their roles in the family but equal in the eyes of God. Today, we are joined by Nathan Crankfield to discuss the role of men as providers for their family. The absence of fathers has a marked effect on kids and the family as a whole. Nathan knows this bette...

Want to listen to 3 friends who don’t have kids yet (but whose wives are all pregnant at the same time) share their worries and wisdom on raising children? This episode is for you! It isn’t every day that three good friends are all expecting their first child roughly at the same time. This week is just a candid discussion with Angelo Nwigwe about all the things that we are thinking about when it c...

Finance and investing are convoluted enough. Most people don’t know how to invest, are too scared to invest or don’t know what to invest in. If you have gotten to the stage where you have started investing, your primary concern is probably getting a good return on your investment. But as Catholics, we know that money is not the primary concern. As Catholics, we have to think about where our money...