Purposely Catholic

In this episode of Purposely Catholic, Bobby Fredericksen and Khalil Hattar are joined by Dr. Peter Howard, founder of the Fulton Sheen Institute. They explore the life, legacy, and ongoing canonization of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, emphasizing his relevance in today's technological and cultural challenges. Dr. Peter Howard shares insights into Sheen's influence, the significance of his beat...

Hallow hit #1 in the App Store on Ash Wednesday — beating ChatGPT, Five Guys, and some of the biggest apps in the world. But for Taylor Buckley, Director of Partnerships at Hallow, the number wasn't the point. It was the one person who might open the app for the very first time and finally talk to God. In this episode, Bobby Fredericksen and Khalil Hattar sit down with Taylor for a behind-the-...

In this episode, Bobby and Khalil are joined by Dale Ahlquist. They go into the life and works of GK Chesterton, exploring his relevance in today's world, his prophetic insights, and his joyful approach to life. They discuss Chesterton's views on paradox, education, localism, and spirituality, as well as his legacy and the ongoing efforts towards his sainthood. The conversation highlights...

In this episode of Purposely Catholic, we sit down with Dr. Ray Guarendi to talk about raising children with clarity, conviction, and Catholic faith at the center. Drawing from his book Drama Free Discipline, we unpack how discipline is not about control or emotion — but formation. Chapter:00:00 Intro01:50 Dr. Ray joins the show03:00 What does drama free discipline look like?05:00 Wisdom of the ag...

On the Purposely Catholic Podcast, Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. joins us to talk about his new book Your Eucharistic Identity, why faith isn’t a feeling, and how the Eucharist shapes who we are. We also get into football, spiritual dryness, and what it means to live a grounded, sacramental life. Chapters:00:00 Intro01:03 Fr. Gregory Pine Joins the show02:20 Finding identity in our culture and incorporat...

In this episode of Purposely Catholic, we’re joined by filmmaker Yelena Popovic to talk about her new film Moses the Black—the powerful true story of a violent criminal turned saint. We explore why Moses the Black’s radical conversion still matters today, how film can serve evangelization, and what his life teaches Catholics about mercy, repentance, and the real possibility of sainthood for anyone...

In this episode of Purposely Catholic, we’re joined by Dr. Matthew McKenna to explore masculinity, spiritual fatherhood, and the deeper meaning behind the male priesthood. We discuss the crisis of modern sexuality, what authentic self-sacrificing love looks like in marriage and fatherhood, and how cultural distortions have led us away from God’s designThe conversation then turns to IVF—what it is,...

In this episode of Purposely Catholic, we’re joined by Dr. Carrie Gress, Catholic philosopher, mother and author, to examine how modern feminism has reshaped—and fractured—our understanding of womanhood, family, and society. Drawing from her books The End of Woman and The Anti-Mary Exposed, Dr. Gress explains how feminist ideology, once framed as liberation, ultimately detached freedom from truth...

What is the Byzantine Rite and how is it fully Catholic? In this episode of Purposely Catholic, Bobby and Khalil sit down with Fr. Andrew Summerson, a Byzantine Catholic priest from Whiting, Indiana, to explore the beauty, mystery, and tradition of the Byzantine Church. Fr. Andrew also shares his journey to the priesthood and what led him to serve Christ through the Eastern Catholic tradition. Thi...

In this episode of the Purposely Catholic Podcast, Bobby and Khalil break down the five essential practices every Catholic needs to prepare mind, body, and soul for the coming of Christ. Along the way, they have some fun sharing their favorite Christmas activities and movies, plus offer practical advice for men leading their families into a meaningful and Christ-centered Christmas. A simple, uplif...

In this episode, we sit down with Cameron Riecker for a direct, no-nonsense conversation about his faith journey and the crisis of masculinity in today’s culture. Men are being pushed down, softened, and sidelined — and it’s hurting our families, our parishes, and our world. Cameron breaks down why the Church needs strong, grounded, mission-driven men now more than ever. No excuses. No passive liv...

In this episode of Purposely Catholic, we sit down with Dr. Mike Pakaluk to discuss his powerful new book, The Shock of Holiness. Together, we explore what it truly means to be a man within the Catholic Church — to lead, to love, and to live with integrity and courage. Dr. Pakaluk shares insights on fatherhood, the call to holiness in everyday life, and how authentic masculinity reflects the heart...

In this episode of Purposely Catholic, Katie Gearns joins us to discuss how honoring our bodies through proper nutrition helps us live out our faith. We talk about caring for our earthly temples, her faith-based wellness company The Ember Collective, and her book Feast, Faith, and Flourish—a guide to nourishing both body and soul. Chapters:00:00 Intro01:57 Katie joins the show02:30 What got you in...

In this episode of Purposely Catholic, we sit down with coach, author, and speaker Kramer Soderberg to talk about his powerful book Fill Your Cup for Christ. Kramer shares how his journey through basketball and coaching led him to discover that true victory isn’t found in success or status, but in surrendering everything to Jesus. We dive into what it means to “fill your cup” daily through prayer,...

In this episode, we dive into Pope Leo’s new encyclical DiLexi Te — a powerful call to rediscover the divine law written on our hearts. We’ll unpack the key themes of the document, exploring what it means for the modern Catholic to live out truth, justice, and charity in a world that often resists all three. Listen in and learn how to make the words of De Lexi Te more than a teaching — but a missi...

In this episode of Purposely Catholic, Khalil sits down with Kevin Matthews, former Chicago radio legend turned author and storyteller, to dive into his powerful journey of faith. After an unexpected encounter with a broken statue of the Blessed Mother, Kevin’s life took a turn he never saw coming. His story, told in his book Broken Mary: A Journey of Hope and the brand new documentary Broken Mary...

In this episode of Purposely Catholic, Bobby and Khalil sit down with Drago Dimitrov, CEO and founder of the Catholic spiritual growth app Holy Habits. Drago shares his story of his conversion to Catholicism and the journey that led him to create a tool designed to help others grow in faith. They unpack the vision behind Holy Habits, how it can guide you in building daily rhythms of prayer and vir...

In this episode of Purposely Catholic, Bobby and Khalil dive into the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk and what this moment means for us as Catholics. How do we, as followers of Jesus, respond when evil tries to silence voices of faith and truth? We’ll explore the call to courage, the revival of faith we’re witnessing in these times, and why the Church cannot afford to remain quiet. Chapters...

Catholics are opening their Bibles more than ever, and it’s changing lives. In this episode, we welcome Mark Brumley, President of Ignatius Press, to talk about the brand-new Ignatius Catholic Study Bible. Mark also shares his own powerful conversion story and why Scripture study is no longer just “for Protestants.” Dive into this conversation and discover how God’s Word is drawing Catholics deepe...

TJ Bogan, founder of Follow My Camino, joins us to share the meaning and history of the Camino pilgrimage, the spiritual fruits that pilgrims often experience along the way, and the practical ways you can sign up and take this life-changing journey yourself. Chapters:00:00 Intro02:00 What is Follow My Camino?04:45 How did the Camino start?08:00 What are the benefits of doing the Camino?12:45 A lif...

This episode of Purposely Catholic features Dr. Peter Kreeft, a Catholic philosopher and professor at Boston College. The discussion explores the wisdom of the Church, the true key to joy in life, and Dr. Kreeft’s journey from Calvinism to Catholicism. His insights blend philosophy, faith, and personal experience in a way that’s both thought-provoking and deeply encouraging. Chapters:00:00 Intro01...

In this episode, Chase Crouse of Hypuro Fit joins us as we delve into the profound journey of self-mastery, exploring how temperance can harmonize our spiritual and physical realms. Discover practical insights and timeless wisdom that guide us towards a balanced life, where inner peace and physical well-being coexist.✴️ 👉 Hypuro Fit: https://www.hypurofit.org✴️ 👉 Chase Crouse: https://www.instag...

Culture says masculinity is toxic—but the Church says the world needs strong, faithful men now more than ever. In this episode of Purposely Catholic, Bobby and Khalil welcome Devin Schadt, co-founder of the Fathers of St. Joseph, to unpack what authentic Catholic manhood looks like and why it’s vital for families, parishes, and the world. Chapters:00:00 Intro02:30 Who is Devin Schadt?11:26 What we...

In this episode of Purposely Catholic, Khalil and Bobby sit down with Jacob Ciccarelli, co-founder of Truthly AI, to explore how artificial intelligence can be used in harmony with the timeless truths of the Catholic faith. While tools like ChatGPT offer impressive capabilities, they often miss the depth, nuance, and eternal perspective of the Church’s wisdom. They discuss why the Catholic lens ma...

In this powerful episode of Purposefully Catholic, we welcome special guest Anthony D’Ambrosio, the filmmaker behind the upcoming feature film Triumph of the Heart — a cinematic portrayal of the life, sacrifice, and unwavering faith of St. Maximilian Kolbe. Anthony shares the inspiration behind the film, the creative journey of bringing this modern saint’s story to life, and why movies like Triump...