The Catholic Morning Show

Ana Munley — wife, mother, cradle Catholic, and host of the After Mass with Ana Munley podcast — joins the Catholic Morning Show to offer her unique perspective as a Catholic digital creator responding to Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas . Ana shares her journey with artificial intelligence: from early corporate exposure through Microsoft Co-Pilot, to subtle algorithmic influen...

Joining Deacon Mark Campbell from his monastery in Norcia, Italy, Fr. Basil Nixen is a Benedictine monk who has lived the monastic life for over twenty-two years. Raised in Yuma, Arizona, in a devoutly Catholic family — his own father is a permanent deacon — Fr. Nixen discerned his calling to religious life through seminary formation before discovering the Monastery of San Benedetto in Norcia, Ita...

This Monday on the Catholic Morning Show, Deacon Mark Campbell brings two compelling conversations that speak directly to where the Church meets culture in 2026. First, Fr. Basil Nixen — a Benedictine monk of the Monastery of San Benedetto in Norcia, Italy — joins the show to discuss his new book, The Last Communion of Saint Jerome , published by TAN Books. Fr. Nixen traces the historical and spir...

Kristen Theriault joins the program to unpack one of the most extraordinary Catholic memoirs in recent memory: Ruins and Light: In the Epicenter of Unrest by Father Gabriel Romanelli, the Claretian priest who serves the roughly one thousand Christians remaining in Gaza City at the Church of the Holy Family — the only Catholic church in Gaza. When war erupted on October 7, 2023, Father Romanelli wa...

Just ahead of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Jason Gale of TAN Books joins the show to discuss a remarkable new translation by Father Robert Nixon: The Life and Martyrdom of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, drawn from the writings of Saint Abdias of Babylon. Saint Abdias was a disciple of the apostles, one of the seventy-two sent out by Christ, and the first patriarch of the Persian church — m...

With Corpus Christi Sunday approaching, Father Chris Reising from All Saints Parish on the north side of Des Moines visits the studio to break open the upcoming Sunday readings. He traces the arc from the Old Testament manna in the desert — which fed the Israelites for forty years — to Christ's declaration that He is the living bread come down from heaven, and that whoever eats this bread will liv...

This June 5, 2026 edition of The Catholic Morning Show opens with an in-studio Corpus Christi gospel reflection from Father Chris Reising of All Saints Parish on the north side of Des Moines. With the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ approaching that Sunday, Father Reising walks listeners through the Sunday readings — from the manna in the desert to Christ's declaration "I am th...

Father Dan Kirby, pastor of Saint John the Apostle Parish in Norwalk, Iowa and Dean of the Norwalk Deanery in the Diocese of Des Moines, joins Deacon Mark Campbell for a wide-ranging and uplifting conversation about the Sacred Heart of Jesus and parish life. Sacred Heart of Jesus – Special June 2026: The U.S. Bishops have called for a national consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart...

Ed Van Buskirk — founder and president of If You Love Me , a Catholic apostolate dedicated to restoring God's truth and the timeless wisdom of the Ten Commandments — continues his weekly series on the Catholic Morning Show with a focus on the Sixth Commandment: You shall not commit adultery. Ed reflects on how deeply intertwined the Sixth Commandment is with last week's discussion of the Fifth — b...

Today's Catholic Morning Show brings two powerful conversations for Catholic listeners seeking to deepen their faith and understand the Church's timeless wisdom. In the first segment, Ed Van Buskirk — founder and president of the apostolate If You Love Me — continues his Ten Commandments series with a focus on the Sixth Commandment: You shall not commit adultery. Drawing on Saint John Paul II's Th...

Steve Ray, founder of CatholicConvert.com , joins the show to break down one of the most compelling and underutilized areas of Catholic apologetics — the Apostolic Fathers. Key highlights: Church Fathers vs. Apostolic Fathers: Church Fathers span roughly the 1st through 8th centuries. The Apostolic Fathers are a special subset — men who personally knew or lived alongside the apostles, giving their...

Patrick Novecosky, author of 100 Ways Saint Pope John Paul II Changed the World (published by Our Sunday Visitor) , sits down with Deacon Mark Campbell for a wide-ranging conversation on the saint's enduring impact. Highlights include: The Book: Written to commemorate John Paul II's 100th birthday in May 2020, the book began as a "Top 10" list and grew to 100 entries. Still selling strong six year...

Today's show features two compelling conversations rooted in Catholic history and evangelization. First, Patrick Novacosky — author of 100 Ways Saint Pope John Paul II Changed the World (Our Sunday Visitor) — joins Deacon Mark to reflect on the saint's transformative pontificate. The book, written to commemorate John Paul II's 100th birthday in 2020, is still selling strong six years later. Topics...

What Is the Permanent Diaconate? Many Catholics see deacons at Mass but don't fully understand the vocation. Deacon Mark Burdt helps clarify: permanent deacons are ordained ministers (married men are eligible) who undergo significant formation, then continue to be formed throughout their ministry. Unlike a one-time ordination and move on, diaconate requires ongoing education, spiritual growth, and...

The Problem with Platitudes How many times have you heard—or said—"Don't worry, it'll be okay" to someone in pain? Deacon Randy Kiel explains why such statements disconnect rather than connect, and how disconnection actually increases stress. Real help looks different. Understanding the Stress Progression Deacon Kiel breaks down a critical framework many miss: Stress: The initial reaction to exter...

The Catholic Morning Show, airing weekdays at 7 AM Central on Iowa Catholic Radio, delivers faithful Catholic conversation and formation. Today's show features two vital topics for the Catholic community: Segment 1 – Stress Management & Spiritual Counseling (Deacon Randy Kiel) Deacon Randy Kiel, President of Kardia Counseling and regular Thursday contributor from Christ the King Parish (south Des...

Can Saint Thomas Aquinas be made understandable for children? Author Adele Gulick says yes. In this conversation with Deacon Mark Campbell, Adele discusses her newest release, Summa Theologiae for Babies: Prima Secunda , the second installment in her series introducing young children to the theological brilliance of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Adele shares: Why she wanted to introduce theology to childr...

The Catholic Morning Show with Deacon Mark Campbell, Alexia Baker, and Ayden Pugh begins the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus with a rich morning of faith and conversation. Author Adele Gulick joins the show to discuss her new book Summa Theologiae for Babies: Prima Secunda , a beautifully approachable adaptation of Saint Thomas Aquinas’ theological masterpiece designed for children an...

In Part 2 of this farewell conversation, Brian Sweeney reflects on his years serving Iowa Catholic Radio and the growth of the apostolate over the last decade. Brian shares: How he first joined Iowa Catholic Radio Bringing order to the organization’s finances The importance of integrity and stewardship The growth of Catholic radio across Iowa Stories of lives changed through the station Why missio...

In Part 1 of this special conversation, Brian Sweeney reflects on the personal disciplines that reshaped his spiritual life during his years serving Iowa Catholic Radio. Brian discusses: How a health scare changed his lifestyle Building daily prayer habits Using a treadmill desk during prayer time Praying the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet daily The impact of the Surrender Novena Learning to trus...

Fr. Chris Reising from All Saints Parish in Des Moines joins Deacon Mark Campbell for a beautiful reflection on Trinity Sunday. Father Chris explains how the Trinity reveals God as a loving communion of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and uses the image of church skylights to help listeners understand the mystery of one God in three divine persons. The conversation also explores: Why the Trinity is c...

On this Friday episode of the Catholic Morning Show, Deacon Mark Campbell, Alexia Baker, and Ayden Pugh welcome Fr. Chris Reising for a moving reflection on the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity and the mystery of God as an eternal community of love. Later in the show, Iowa Catholic Radio Director of Finance Brian Sweeney reflects on his 13 years serving the mission of Catholic radio, his journey towa...

Ed Van Buskirk from If You Love Me joins the Catholic Morning Show to explore the Fifth Commandment: “Thou Shall Not Kill.” The conversation examines how modern culture often overlooks the dignity of human life and how Catholics are called to uphold life from conception to natural death. Ed discusses Satan’s strategy of division and deception, Christ’s call to abundant life, and practical ways Cat...

Dr. Dora Jung joins the Catholic Morning Show after being named the new Director of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Sioux City. Originally from Mexico, Dr. Jung shares her background in education, her journey into Catholic leadership, and the role faith has played throughout her career. She discusses the strengths of Catholic education, the importance of forming students spiritually and academ...

Deacon Randy Kiel from Christ the King Parish in Des Moines joins the Catholic Morning Show to break open the readings for Holy Trinity Sunday. Drawing from Exodus 34 and Saint Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians, Deacon Randy reflects on God’s mercy, humanity’s “stiff-necked” tendencies, and the Lord’s continual invitation to return to Him. Listeners are encouraged to seek reconciliation, wor...