The Engaged Parish Podcast

Recorded live at the 2026 Catholic Media Conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Mike Josephs (eCatholic Director of Marketing) and Brandon Duncan (eCatholic Evangelist) sit down to introduce eCatholic's newest book, The Ministry of the Inbox: The Art of Mastering Parish Email and SMS Communications — the second volume in the Engage series. In this episode, they cover the temptation every parish...

What if a film could lead someone back to the sacraments after thirty or forty years away? That's exactly what's happening across Europe — and now, Sacred Heart: His Reign Has No End is coming to U.S. theaters. In this episode of The Engage Parish Podcast , we're joined by Hubert de Torcy, Chairman of Saje Distribution, to talk about this powerful new film, the spiritual story behind i...

What happens when a Silicon Valley engineer, Harvard lecturer, and Catholic priest walks into a business school? He builds one of the most unique programs in Catholic higher education — the Catholic Management Program at The Catholic University of America. In this episode, we sit down with Father Robert Gahl, Ph. D. , to explore how the CMP is forming priests, parish administrators, and diocesan l...

What happens when a Catholic parish is nearly closed — and a 17th-century martyr intervenes? In this special on-location episode of The Engage Parish Podcast , brought to you by eCatholic, we sit down with Father Chris Korcz , pastor of the Shrine of St. Andrew Bobola in Dudley, Massachusetts — the only shrine dedicated to this remarkable saint in the entire United States. Father Chris shares the...

In this episode, host Mike sits down with Brian Shields, a devoted husband and father of nine, and the founder of Lumen Entertainment and the Lumen Institute. Brian opens up about his early success as a young actor in Hollywood, including booking a role on the HBO series "From Earth to the Moon". Despite his outward success, Brian felt unfulfilled until a life-changing encounter with the...

Is modern dating broken? Daniel Hussem, co-founder of SacredSpark, believes the current system treats people like products in a "romantic vending machine". Join us as we discuss how he and his wife, Emily Wilson, are using technology to bring humanity, formation, and community back to Catholic dating. In this episode, we dive into the app's unique "Matchmaker" feature that...

In this episode of The Engaged Parish Podcast, we sit down with Pierre Ferragu , co-producer of Bernadette the Musical—a critically acclaimed stage production that has captivated audiences across Europe and is now launching its North American tour. Pierre shares the unexpected story of how a former Wall Street analyst found himself producing a musical about Saint Bernadette, why the show focuses o...

Join guest host Katie Clark as we unveil the winners of the Best Catholic Websites of 2025, showcasing how digital hospitality can transform your ministry. In this episode, we explore the stunning videography of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, the user-friendly design of the Diocese of Helena, and the immersive experience of St. Charles Catholic Pilgrimages. Tune in to discover how these organiz...

In this episode of The Engaged Parish Podcast , we sit down with Christian and Darcie Nielsen , founders of Catholic Go , a new platform designed to help Catholics explore the rich spiritual heritage of the United States. Catholic Go’s mission is simple but powerful: “To inspire an adventure of faith and build community on the journey.” Their growing national map includes shrines, retreat centers,...

As Advent draws near, we’re joined by folk/pop singer-songwriter Marie Miller, whose heartfelt lyrics and faith-filled storytelling have encouraged thousands to rediscover the beauty of Christ. In this episode, Marie shares the inspiration behind her brand-new Advent musical presentation, Prepare the Way of Love, and reflects on how sacred art can open hearts to encounter Jesus in a profound way....

In this episode of The Engaged Parish Podcast , we sit down with Cassidy Mann , Catholic creator, storyteller, and co-founder of PriestPro —a groundbreaking platform helping priests and ministries transform homilies into short-form evangelizing content. Cassidy shares: How one priest’s social media strategy transformed his parish Why video is essential to evangelization today How AI can amplify th...

In this episode of The Engaged Parish Podcast , Marian Father Chris Alar joins host Mike Josephs to discuss Triumph Over Evil: Battle of the Exorcists , a new Vatican-approved documentary delving into the Church’s ministry of exorcism and the reality of spiritual warfare. Father Chris shares what every Catholic should know about the devil, demonic influence, and the power of the sacraments and Our...

Former NFL defensive lineman and Grey Cup Champion John Chick has taken his passion for strength and discipline off the field and into the mission of faith. In this episode, John shares the story behind ActF8: The Iron Saint Method —a Catholic fitness and accountability ministry helping men reclaim their God-given strength, purpose, and identity in Christ. In this episode, we talk about his journe...

In this episode of The Engaged Parish Podcast , we talk with Cande de Leon , Chief Mission Engagement Officer for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (Phoenix, AZ). Cande shares the incredible scope of St. Vincent de Paul’s mission: serving thousands of meals a day, offering housing, medical and dental care, and preventing homelessness for families in crisis. But even more, he highlights how their...

In this episode of The Engaged Parish Podcast , we sit down with Will Hickl —husband, father, worship leader, producer, and founder of Novum Records , Novum Collective , and the brand-new Fio app —to explore the intersection of faith, creativity, and technology. Will shares his journey from a life-changing moment in Eucharistic adoration to launching a record label, mentoring Catholic artists, and...

In this episode of The Engaged Parish Podcast , we sit down with award-winning filmmaker Sean McNamara at the Catholic Media Conference. Known for films like Soul Surfer , The Miracle Season , and Reagan , Sean shares: How a childhood vacation sparked his love of filmmaking The role of Catholic faith in his life and career Why storytelling is one of the Church’s most powerful evangelization tools...

In this episode of The Engaged Parish Podcast , we sit down with Patrick Yanke , author of The Personal Rosary . Patrick shares how the Rosary is more than beads and prayers—it’s an invitation to live the mysteries of Christ in our daily lives. From his unique reflections on the Luminous Mysteries to discovering the virtues hidden within each decade, Patrick shows us how the Rosary can become a tr...

What sparked the idea for the Engage Virtual Summit? In this special episode, host Mike Josephs sits down with producer Brandon Duncan to discuss the origin, mission, and vision behind eCatholic’s first-ever summit designed for Catholic communicators and leaders. 🎯 Learn about the theme Made for Mission 🎤 Get a sneak peek at the powerhouse speaker lineup🎁 Discover perks of both the Live and All...

In this special on-the-road episode of The Engaged Parish Podcast , we sit down with Joe Miller , Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communications at FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), live from the Catholic Media Conference in Phoenix, AZ. Joe shares how FOCUS is expanding beyond the college campus to equip parishes across the country with tools for missionary discipleship...

In this special episode recorded live from the Catholic Media Conference in Phoenix, we sit down with Inés San Martín, vice president of marketing and communications for the Pontifical Mission Societies. A former Vatican journalist and co-editor of Crux , Inés now helps lead global efforts to support mission territories across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Oceania. She shares the incredible imp...

In this episode of The Engaged Parish Podcast , we’re joined by Rob DeFrancesco , Executive Director of the Catholic Media Association. Rob shares his journey from local diocesan communicator to national leader in Catholic journalism and digital media—and why Catholic storytelling must always be rooted in mission. In this episode, we explore: The power of Catholic media to evangelize How parishes...

In this episode of the Engage Parish Podcast , we sit down with Mark Matthews , a visual effects and AI expert with over a decade of experience at DreamWorks Animation. Mark shares his journey from the Canadian prairies to Hollywood, where he worked on blockbuster films like Kung Fu Panda , Shrek Forever After , and Madagascar II . Beyond his impressive career in animation, Mark is also the founde...

In this special episode of The Engaged Parish Podcast , we sit down with Jason Jaynes, CEO of eCatholic, for a powerful conversation on leadership, faith, and the future of Catholic technology. Jason shares his journey from growing up in small-town Texas to working in high-tech startups—then following a providential path that led him to serve the Church through his role at eCatholic. You’ll hear a...

In this episode of The Engaged Parish Podcast , we sit down with Tim Glemkowski , Executive Director of Amazing Parish and former Director of the National Eucharistic Congress. We dive deep into what it takes to renew parish culture in a post-Christian world. Tim shares behind-the-scenes stories from the 2024 Eucharistic Congress, the impact of the Eucharistic Revival, and how Amazing Parish equip...

What if your fitness routine could be more than just a workout—what if it was a path to holiness? In this episode of The Engaged Parish Podcast , we sit down with Chase Crouse , founder of HypuroFit , the first-ever Catholic personal training and nutrition coaching company. Chase shares his powerful conversion story and how he discovered that self-mastery in health is essential for self-gift. We e...