Shine Bright Like the Firmament

In this episode, Madeline chats with David Paiz, an aerospace engineer and her cousin-in-law. During their conversation, they discuss his childhood in Guatemala and California, his undergrad at Embry-Riddle in aerospace engineering, his agnostic phase, his and his wife Kelly’s journey back to Catholicism, the different engineering jobs he’s had, the difference between different engineering jobs, h...

In this episode, Madeline chats with Nicole Koontz, an exercise science lecturer and the director of the Adult Physical Fitness Program at Ball State University. During the course of their conversation, they discuss growing up in Ohio, grad school at BSU, the multitude of factors that inspired her to do exercise science, coaching tack and cross country, her usual work, the benefits of exercise, th...

In this episode, Madeline chats with Fr. Dennis Klein, OP, a Dominican friar of the Western Province and a professor of theology at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkley, California. During the course of their conversation, they discuss the influence of the great Dominicans saints, his time at the Naval Academy, his time as a nuclear engineer on submarines with the Navy, his r...

In this episode, Madeline chats with Rich Striebich, a research engineer at the University of Dayton Research Institute. During the course of their conversation, they discuss his Catholic schooling, ROTC, the chemical engineering during his undergrad at Notre Dame, his four years in the Air Force developing jet fuel, his work for the University of Dayton Research Institute, what inspired him to jo...

In this episode, Madeline chats (again) with Domenica Hartman, a materials engineer turned patent attorney. During the course of their conversation, they discuss what it’s like to be a mom and lawyer, paying your dues, starting her own firm with her husband, encouraging vocations, exposing kids to the world in age appropriate manner, liturgical living, the problems with hook up culture, how she an...

🎉 🎉 🎉 It's been one year since the start of this podcast! 🎉 🎉 🎉 In this special anniversary episode, Madeline chats with Deacon Steven Caraher, a longtime friend, OG SBLTF supporter, and (at the time of release) transitional deacon for the Diocese of Gary to celebrate the podcast's anniversary and Steven's recent ordination. During the course of their conversation, they discus...

In this episode, Madeline chats with Bob Zavala, an astronomer working for the United States Naval Observatory. During the course of their conversation, they discuss growing up in Illinois, the influence of the Adler on his love of astronomy, an encounter with JP2, the Maria Stein Relic Shrine, his Polish heritage, his time at University of Arizona as an undergrad, light pollution effects and how...

In this episode, Madeline chats with Chris Baglow, a theologian and professor at the University of Notre Dame and the Director of the Science and Faith Initiative at the McGrath Institute for Church Life. During the course of their conversation, they discussed how Hurricane Katrina helped get him into science and faith scholarship, his doctoral dissertation on St. Thomas Aquinas at Duquesne Univer...

In this episode, Madeline chats with Kacyn Tucker-Ramer, a behavior analyst and Ball State instructor in applied behavior analysis. During the course of their conversation, they discussed her being a Mocal, snow days and sledding, their mutual IU connection, applied behavior analysis (ABA),  how she ended up in psychology, not having to have your whole life figured out, retreats, her North Carolin...

In this episode, Madeline chats with Mike Corcoran, a contract scientist for Goddard Spaceflight Center. During the course of their conversation, they discuss him growing up in NYC, studying physics at Cornell, grad school at University of Pennsylvania, working for Goddard Space Flight Center, his inspiration for becoming an astronomer, cosmology and dark energy, his career studying massive binari...

In this episode, Madeline chats with Sr. Damien Marie Savino, FSE, a Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist and the Dean of Science and Sustainability at Aquinas College. During the course of their conversation, they discuss growing up in Connecticut, her love of the outdoors, her undergrad at McGill University, the importance of listening to your heart, the intersection of people and place, her maste...

 In this episode, Madeline chats with Linu Uthuppan, a pharmacist and family friend. During the course of their conversation, they discuss growing up Catholic in India, arranged marriages, St. Thomas Christians, immigration to the US, why she went into pharmacy, the importance of work-life balance, taking care of parents, the diversity of cultures in India, language learning, experiencing cultural...

In this episode, Madeline chats with Domenica Hartman, a materials engineer turned patent attorney. During the course of their conversation, they discuss her undergrad in materials engineering at Purdue, her first job out of college working on the SR71 Blackbird, what prompted her to become a patent attorney, the rare air of being a patent attorney and the required qualifications, law school at Mi...

In this episode, Madeline chats with Alex Wallace, a licensed professional counselor. During the course of their conversation, they discuss his conversion from a none to Catholic, his connections to St. Francis, his undergrad in psychology at Butler, his graduate work at Ball State in sports and exercise psychology and counseling, his work at Ruah Woods, caring for people in a way consistent with...

In this episode, Madeline chats with Deacon Jim Caristi, a retired computer science professor from Valparaiso University and one of the deacons from her home parish. During the course of their conversation, they discuss his early interest in math and languages, his various avenues of research, the hand in hand nature of math and computer science, how he got entrenched in computer science, helping...

In this special solo episode, Madeline celebrates turning 25 by talking briefly about 25 Catholic scientists that she thinks people should know about. From well-known to the less known, from canonized saints to the Catholic laymen, from priest to married, they span a variety of science disciplines and vocations. Here's the list of the 25 in order of being mentioned: St. Albert the Great Fr. G...

In this episode, Madeline chats with Argentinian Jesuit astronomer Fr. José Funes, SJ. During their conversation, they discuss the inspiration of NASA astronauts landing on the Moon, studying astronomy in his undergrad, his PhD work in Padua, his time as director of the Vatican Observatory, the phenomenal skies of Argentina, how he ended up as a Jesuit, an encounter with the man who would become P...

In this episode, Madeline chats with her friend and soon-to-be optometrist Emily Eherenman. During their conversation, they discuss her dad's conversion sparking her faith, being an undergrad neuroscience major at IU, her research at the CORL research lab, discernment, her experience visiting Our Lady of Lourdes and its effect on her relationship with Mama Mary, how she got into optometry, he...

In this episode, Madeline chats with Tony Cancio, a professor of physics at Ball State University. Through many laughs and stories, they discuss him growing up in DC, his education at Columbia University and University of Illinois, how his love of math and physical chemistry led him to physics, the culture of the Ivy League schools, his research in density functional theory, church architecture, t...

In this special Thanksgiving bonus episode, Madeline chats with her friend Sophia Hoffert who is an artist, writer, and Ball State creative writing grad student who also happens to be the creative mind behind all of this podcast's artwork! During their chat, they discuss her St. Edmund Campion screenplay, how she got into creative pursuits, storytelling and God as a storyteller, her dream job...

In this episode, Madeline Shepley chats with Fr. Paul Gabor, SJ, a Jesuit exoplanet astronomer working for the Vatican Observatory. During this conversation, they chat about what it was like to grow up in communist Czechoslovakia, the importance of knowing history, what inspired him to become a priest and become a Jesuit, his journey from merely intellectual to personal faith, his typical day to d...

In this episode, Madeline chats with Fr. Chris Corbally, SJ, an English Jesuit priest and astronomer who works for the Vatican Observatory. During their conversation, they discuss the science mandate of the Vatican Observatory, the difference between astronomy and astrology, how the Jesuits combined his two callings, the long formation process for Jesuits, spectroscopy, variable stars, how he join...

In this episode, Madeline chats with Cathie Dull, a long time family friend, parishioner of Madeline's home parish, and a huge inspiration for Madeline as a teenager. During their conversation, they discuss her conversion as a child, the sameness of Mass around the world, no coincidences in Catholicism, her forays into journalism, the Campus Outreach Opportunities League, her love of service,...

In this episode, Madeline chats with pediatrician and family friend Dee Dee Brogan. During their conversation, they discuss her family, her close bond with her grandmother, her extensive Catholic education and the importance of a quality education, her inspiration  for becoming a pediatrician, working out, the rosary and Marian apparitions, the need for joy, her current spiritual goals, and so muc...

In this episode, Madeline chats with her dad Joe Shepley, a sales manager for a chemical company. During their conversation, they talk about him growing up all over the place, trying to be a renaissance man, the family love of reading, his conversion, his career transition from rocket scientist to water doctor, the influence and inspiration of his father-in-law and grandfather, gratitude, a very i...