The Family Room

For Dr. Bill Thierfelder, the warmth, affection, and love of his family of 12 bears fruit for God’s Kingdom here and now. We learn about the founding of the only Catholic college between Virginia and Florida, Belmont Abbey College (near Charlotte, North Carolina), and Dr. Thierfelder recounts how the Holy Spirit called him to become President of the college. He also reveals his personal love for t...

Vince Frese, author, creator of the Recovering from Divorce Program Vince Frese, co-author of Divorced. Catholic. Now What? and creator of DivorcedCatholic.com, shares about his journey to truth and healing amid his recovery from a divorce. Vince describes a key moment when, once he learned how he needed to give himself totally (not just a piece) to God and surrender, the doors were thrown open an...

Co-hosts Mari, John, and Craig and Production Manager Dave Savage In this 100th episode of The Family Room, co-hosts Mari, John, and Craig field questions from The Quest’s Production Manager, Dave Savage, to reminisce about how the show started and where it has been plus look ahead with excitement to shows in the new year.

John Paul Von Arx, musician, Coordinator of Worship at Franciscan University John Paul Von Arx is passionate about raising awareness of people with Down Syndrome and showing the beauty of their lives. John Paul’s music video for his original song “He’s Different” is about his youngest brother, Sam, who has Down Syndrome, and tells the story of how Sam is different than he is in all the best ways –...

Dr. Ray Guarendi, father of ten, clinical psychologist, author, TV/radio show host With wit and wisdom, Dr. Ray Guarendi shares from his book, Standing Strong: Good Discipline Makes Great Teens , which gives parents the tools they need not only to navigate the teen years but also to enjoy them. Dr. Ray offers practical approaches such as simple house rules that lead to success, consequences to cur...

Dr. Allen Hunt, author and Senior Advisor at Dynamic Catholic Dr. Allen Hunt shares ideas from The Fourth Quarter of Your Life: Embracing What Matters Most , which he co-authored with Matthew Kelly, Founder of Dynamic Catholic. This practical guide contains ideas that many will wish they had been exposed to earlier in life, even those who are not yet in their fourth quarter. Hunt shares the import...

John Martignoni, author and TV and radio host Popular apologist John Martignoni discusses his book, A Blue Collar Answer to Protestantism , which uses common sense, simple logic, and the Bible for his plain yet provocative analysis of individual Protestant doctrines and dogmas. Using concise, candid, power-packed arguments from Scripture, history, and rational thinking, Martignoni’s treasure trove...

Fr. Timothy M. Gallagher, author, speaker, spiritual director, and retreat leader Fr. Timothy M. Gallagher has been referred to as “America’s preeminent writer on Ignatian spiritual direction and discernment.” Fr. Gallagher shares wisdom from his book, Discernment of Spirits in Marriage: Ignatian Wisdom for Husbands and Wives , to help couples apply St. Ignatius of Loyola’s Rules for Discernment t...

Stephen Auth, missionary, author, and business executive Stephen Auth describes with humor and humility how, in the midst of a long career on Wall Street, he has a conversion experience in 2002 that leads to an incredible missionary journey, one that involves taking on what he describes as “mission impossible” projects. Following where he feels God is calling him, Stephen starts a New York City st...

Sr. Mary Josefa from The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, and Elizabeth Pham, mother and author Join us for a lively discussion with two guests sharing God’s joy and hope through fun and beautiful children’s books. Sr. Mary Josefa of the Eucharist, a cloistered nun, gives a glimpse into the joy-filled lives of religious sisters, brought alive for children with heartwarming illustrations an...

Phil Nagel, CEO and Founder of firstPro and parishioner of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Atlanta Phil Nagel shares his compelling story of hope and redemption due to God’s love and faithfulness. Phil and his wife founded firstPRO, a full service, independent staffing and recruitment firm.

John Bursch, VP, Appellate Advocacy for Alliance Defending Freedom John Bursch shares points from his timely and incisive book, Loving God’s Children: The Church and Gender Ideology . John helps explain what the Catholic Church teaches about the human person and why modern culture’s embrace of “gender ideology” is not only wrong but terribly dangerous for parents and families, female athletes, med...

Andrew Laubacher, Executive Director of Humanality, speaker, and musician Humanality is a non-profit corporation that exists to help people live more meaningful lives through a limited use of technology. Andrew Laubacher shares about the ambitious road ahead of the organization whose goal is to help people find a right relationship with technology: one that serves and points to engagement with the...

Mary Beth Bracy, consecrated virgin, writer, and speaker In celebration of the feast day of St. Thérèse of Lisieux (October 1), Mary Beth Bracy shares commentary on two beloved books about this great saint and Doctor of the Church. From I Would Like to Travel the World by Guy Gaucher, bishop emeritus of Bayeux and Lisieux, Mary Beth relates fascinating modern-day healings obtained through St. Thér...

Betsy Orr, board president of Heritage Betsy Orr shares about the vision of Heritage, located in Taliaferro County, Georgia, and how her own faith journey led her to this ministry of creating a sacred place to seek, find, and renew faith. Heritage is rebuilding a community of faith and restoring the first Catholic settlement in Georgia into an entire Catholic district, which includes: Locust Grove...

Co-hosts Craig, John, and Mari The Holy Spirit leads the conversation as Craig, John, and Mari share what’s currently on their hearts.

Teresa Mull, author, editor, conservative journalist Teresa Mull talks about her book, Woke-Proof Your Life , and shares easy and practical ways that the silenced majority, who feel overmatched, can stand up for themselves and restore America’s values and culture. Teresa gives concrete advice to traditional-minded Americans who are looking to regain their peace of mind, health, and happiness and r...

Dr. Ian Murphy, writer and speaker Ian Murphy’s book The Road to Self -Awareness: A Therapy Book for Christians provides a comprehensive approach to true healing, not cheap gimmicks masquerading as inner peace. Unsatisfied with the typical “self-help” books that limit their scope to mere problem-solving, symptom management, or pain alleviation, Ian set out to demonstrate through his own broken que...

Bear Woznick, author, adventurer, Benedictine Oblate, husband, father, man of God Bear Woznick shares points from his book, 12 Rules for Manliness – Where Have All the Cowboys Gone? , to unveil what is deep in every man’s heart: a call to live the heroic way. Bear explains how the cowboys of old were, in many ways, the models of manliness. They were perceptive, decisive, and lived by a personal cr...

Teresa Tomeo, talk show host, author, and journalist Teresa Tomeo shares laughs and lessons from her book Everything’s Coming Up Rosie: 10 Things My Feisty Italian-American Mom Taught Me About Living A Godly Life . Through unforgettable “Rosieisms” from Teresa’s mother, a “street-smart theologian” from Jersey City, you’ll come to appreciate the value of your sufferings, big or small, and how they...

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, Thomistic theologian, liturgical scholar, and choral composer Dr. Peter Kwasniewski shares concepts from his book, Treasuring the Goods of Marriage in a Throwaway Society , including the nobility of marriage, the “pulsating heart of marriage” and why it is critical to marriage and family, ways parents can teach their children about authentic sexuality, and how to combat what...

Anthony DeStefano, author, television host, and activist Anthony DeStefano believes that as more and more people today struggle with depression and loneliness, self-help programs need to be less about “self-help” and more about “God’s help.” God, after all, is the Author of life; He knows what will make us happy — and what won’t. Anthony shares about breaking out of self-delusion and taking small,...

John Edwards, host of Just a Guy in the Pew podcast John Edwards has known firsthand many of the struggles men go through. He struggled with addiction, went to jail, and almost lost his marriage. As John says: “It wasn’t until I felt the presence of Jesus as I walked out of a jail cell that I realized how much I wanted to change and how I could only do that with His help.” When John came back to J...

Dr. Ian Murphy, writer and speaker Dr. Ian Murphy experienced a stirring journey into Christianity out of agnosticism. His subsequent ministry to reach other skeptics with the Gospel unexpectedly rocketed to public attention when his valedictorian speech about Jesus made headlines nationwide, inspiring a Congressional Law from the desk of Senator Arlen Specter. This momentum landed Ian into the po...

Peter Herbeck, Executive Vice President and Director of Missions for Renewal Ministries Peter Herbeck, co-author with his wife, Debbie, of the book Lessons From the School of Love: Cultivating a Christ-Centered Marriage , shares key lessons that he and his wife of 37 years have learned to build up their marriage and family to become more Christ-centered. Peter addresses topics including how to giv...