Godsplaining
Religion & Spirituality
About
Welcome to Godsplaining: a podcast featuring contemplative preachers and their contemporary age. Considering topics philosophical, theological, cultural, and beyond, Godsplaining presents ideas from the Church’s tradition and brings them to bear on our lives’ most urgent questions. Each week, join the Dominican friars as they muse on all things Catholic.
Episodes
- A Catholic Understanding of Atonement
"Jesus died for our sins." As Christians we know this to be true, but do we understand what this really means? There are many explanations that focus on punishment, debt, or substitution. But how does the Catholic Church understand Christ'…
- BONUS: A Catholic Response to Suffering
Recorded live during a Day of Recollection at St. Margaret Mary Church during a full weekend of events in the greater Boston area, the friars unpack one of the most difficult questions in the Christian life. Fr. Patrick, Fr. Gregory and Fr…
- Catholics, Pride Month, and the Truth About Identity
As the month of June approaches, Fr. Gregory and Fr. Patrick reflect on how Catholics can respond to "pride month" with both truth and charity. In this episode of Godsplaining, they discuss the Church’s teaching on human sexuality, the dif…
- The Catholic Church and AI: Pope Leo's First Encyclical Explained
The Catholic Church and AI: Pope Leo's First Encyclical Explained In this installment of Godsplaining Reacts, Fr. Patrick unpacks Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, an in-depth reflection on artificial intelligence, tech…
- How Christians Fail at “Speaking the Truth in Love”
How do you correct someone without becoming self-righteous? In this episode of Guestsplaining, Fr. Gregory welcomes Jordan Burke of the Avila Foundation and SpiritualDirection.com to discuss the challenge of fraternal correction. Together,…
- Does Christian Marriage Really Have Two Ends?
In this episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Patrick Briscoe explore the question of what marriage is for within Catholic teaching. They reference Scripture, philosophy, and the Church's tradition in their discussion.
- What Really Happens at Catholic Mass? Dr. Edward Sri Explains
In this episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Gregory Pine interviews Dr. Edward Sri about the deeper meaning of Catholic Mass. Dr. Sri explains the biblical significance of its prayers, gestures, and structure, drawing from Scripture and Church tr…
- Responding to Clerical Abuse
This episode of Godsplaining addresses the clerical sexual abuse crisis. Fr. Gregory and Fr. Patrick discuss the theology of the priesthood, emphasizing the unique responsibilities and expectations placed upon priests. They state that abus…
- Do Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God?
Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Patrick Briscoe discuss the theological question of whether Christians and Muslims worship the same God. They examine historical Church teachings, including those of St. Thomas Aquinas and the Second Vatican Counci…
- Inside the Mind of Pope Leo XIV with Papal Biographer Elise Allen
Elise Allen, a Vatican journalist, joins Fr. Patrick Briscoe on Godsplaining to discuss her new biography of Pope Leo XIV. The episode delves into the Pope's life, spirituality, and leadership, examining his background, approach to Church…
- BONUS: Humility, Slaves in the Old Testament, the Problem of Evil, & Learning to Laugh
Fr. Gregory and Fr. Bonaventure take us to Front Royal, Virginia, for this bonus episode of Godsplaining. The friars hosted a Day of Recollection at Christendom College in November of 2025, and take the crowd's questions on humility, fruit…
- Why Does Søren Kierkegaard Still Matter?
This episode of Godsplaining dives into the thought of Søren Kierkegaard—one of the most influential Christian philosophers of the modern era and often called the “father of existentialism.” Fr. Bonaventure and Fr. Joseph-Anthony explore h…
- BONUS: How the Most Blessed Trinity Teaches Us to Love
Fr. Gregory and Fr. Bonaventure take us to Front Royal, Virginia, for this bonus episode of Godsplaining. The friars hosted a Day of Recollection at Christendom College in November of 2025, discussing vantages of the Incarnation, knowing a…
- Does God Want Everyone to Be Catholic?
Fr. Gregory and Fr. Patrick answer a complex question today, "does God want everyone to be Catholic?" Why is this controversial to answer in Truth? What evidence is there for this claim? Is there Salvation outside of the Church? Answers to…
- Are You Seeing Reality Wrong? A Catholic Philosopher Explains
In this episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Bonaventure Chapman sits down with Professor Philip Rosemann to explore the deep connections between philosophy through the ages. Currently the Cottrill-Rolfes Chair of Catholic Studies at the Universit…
- BONUS: The Rosary, Discernment, Free Will, & Predestination
Fr. Joseph-Anthony, Fr. Gregory, and Fr. Patrick gathered at the Holy Family Cathedral in Tulsa, Oklahoma for a Day of Recollection to answer the crowd's questions on discernment, the Rosary, what it means to be a strong Christian, predest…
- What's the Difference Between Hope and Optimism?
Optimism says, “Things will work out.” Hope says, “God is at work—even when they don’t.” This week, Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Bonaventure Chapman dive into one of the most misunderstood virtues: hope. Is it just positivity? Wishful thinking…
- BONUS: Meeting Christ in Our Humanity
Fr. Gregory and Fr. Patrick gathered at the Holy Family Cathedral in Tulsa, Oklahoma for a Day of Recollection to discuss feeling discouraged in our relationship with Christ, meeting Him where we are in our humanity, what we're meant to do…
- You're Not "Spiritual But Not Religious," You're Catholic and Don't Know It Yet
You're "spiritual" but not religious? Is that a good thing to be? Could there be risks to that? What does that actually mean? On this week's episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Joseph-Anthony and Fr. Patrick sit down to discuss why data on those…
- An Examination of the Virtues w/ a Retired U.S. Army General
Fr. Gregory welcomes retired, highly accomplished United States Army General and CEO of the McChrystal Group, Stanley McChrystal, to analyze common virtues and discuss dignity, excellence, and finding your inner strength. The General's Boo…
- Palm Sunday | God's Perfect Dominion
Fr. Gregory and Fr. Joseph-Anthony reflect on the readings for Palm Sunday, focusing on the themes of training the tongue, obedience, God's dominion over us, and the giving of ourselves to the Lord. Find Fr. Gregory's "Training the Tongue"…
- How can Christians disagree and still love deeply?
Fr. Gregory and Fr. Bonaventure ponder the fundamental principles of debate, what it means to be a friend to the Truth, how to disagree well, what to do when a debate 'goes south', and give us debate advice, all on this episode of Godsplai…
- Fifth Sunday of Lent | Walking by Faith
How's your Lent going? The friars encourage us: lock in, get ready, and get ready for some grace. Fr. Bonaventure and Fr. Patrick sit down to discuss the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, reflecting on the themes of walking by faith,…
- What Red Flags should Catholics be looking out for in relationships?
Fr. Joseph-Anthony, the relationship counselor. Is religion a red flag? Do the friars recommend Catholics date non-Catholics? From acknowledging preferences in your significant other to sexuality, self control and more, Fr. Joseph-Anthony…
- Finding Christ in the Loneliness of Insomnia w/ Deacon Charlie Echeverry
Fr. Gregory welcomes Deacon Charlie Echeverry to this week's episode of Guestsplaining to discuss his hand in the EWTN series 'Seeking Beauty,' the isolation he felt in his experience with insomnia, his return to the Church, and surrenderi…
- Fourth Week of Lent | Awake from the Darkness
Fr. Joseph-Anthony and Fr. Patrick sit down to discuss the Sunday readings for the Third Sunday of Lent, focusing on themes of blindness, sight, light, and darkness. Finish out the Holy Week strong with Fr. Patrick's "Witness" https://www.…
- Unpacking Thomas Merton's Iconic Spiritual Autobiography
Fr. Bonaventure and Fr. Patrick sit down to discuss controversial American monk, theologian, and mystic Thomas Merton's book, "The Seven Storey Mountain." Is Merton seen as another Augustine? Why was he 'afraid' of the Catholic Church? Wha…
- Third Sunday of Lent | From Stone to Living Water
On this Lectio episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Joseph-Anthony and Fr. Bonaventure discuss the Sunday readings for the third week of Lent. From water flowing from the rock in the desert to Jesus offering “living water” to the Samaritan woman,…
- What Does the Catholic Church Really Say About IVF?
In vitro fertilization can bring forth life - so, why would the Catholic Church be against it? On this episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Gregory and Fr. Patrick describe to us the not-so-talked about process of IVF, what actually happens in thi…
- How Higher Word Reveals Heaven Through Art and Culture
Music, beauty, and evangelization. Fr. Patrick welcomes Jacob Beranek & Christa Dalmazio of Higher Word Orchestra to this episode of Godsplaining to discuss escaping into the opera, how singing brings things higher, and their orchestra mad…
- Second Sunday of Lent | Radical Dependence
Fr. Gregory and Fr. Bonaventure sit down to discuss the Lenten readings and themes for the second Sunday of Lent, focusing on the topics of Abraham's call, radical dependence on the Lord, and the Transfiguration of Christ. EWTN's Seeking B…
- Did St. Anselm prove God exists?
Fr. Bonaventure and Fr. Joseph-Anthony discuss the ontological vs. cosmological arguments for God, why He 'must' exist, why His necessity matters, and what St. Anselm, 11th century Archbishop, has to say on the matter. For the St. Dominic…
- Are today's Catholic priests liberal or conservative? w/ Stephen White
On this guest episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Patrick welcomes the Executive Director of the Catholic Project at the Catholic University of America, Stephen White, to discuss the rising rates of conservative priests, what that means for the C…
- First Sunday of Lent | Every Lent: A New Creation
Fr. Gregory and Fr. Patrick connect to traverse time and space on this Lenten Lectio episode of Godsplaining. The friars discuss the sin of our First Parents, how the Lord provides our daily bread, and Satan's temptation. Fr. Patrick's new…
- Millennials vs. Gen-Z: Who's Really Winning Life?
No cap... drip... bet. Does Fr. Gregory know Gen-Z slang? How do the friars characterize millennials, and who is Gen-Z? Is religion back on the table for Gen-Z where it isn't so much for millennials? On this episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Gr…
- BONUS: Lent: A Journey of Discovery and Returning to the Lord w/ Jeff Cavins
Fr. Gregory welcomes author and Biblical scholar, Jeff Cavins, to this bonus episode of Godsplaining to discuss the Biblical roots of Lent, how even celebrities are 'slices of the Church', the internet becoming a 'new religion', and the si…
- Suffering and Need to Pray? Turn to the Psalms
How do we pray through tragedies? Which Psalms do the friars recommend during tough times? On this week's episode of Godsplaining, the Fr. Joseph-Anthony and Fr. Patrick reflect on several psalms that can hit us deep and explain how God us…
- BONUS: Level Up Your Lenten Prayer w/ Fr. Patrick Briscoe
Fr. Patrick joins Fr. Gregory on this bonus episode of Godsplaining to share news of his new book, Witness, a prayer guide and journal. Fr. Patrick writes in a way that walks you through the Lenten season hand in hand with characters invol…
- Hegel: Architect of the Modern Mind Revealed
Fr. Bonaventure and Fr. Gregory are back together to discuss modern philosophy and German philosopher, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. Who are makers of the modern mind? Who is Hegel? Is he an idealist? How does he relate to Plato, Aristotl…
- Are Women Just Small Men? w/ Sr. Carino Hodder, O.P.
Fr. Bonaventure welcomes fellow Dominican of St. Joseph, Sr. Carino Hodder, O.P. from across the pond to this episode of Guestsplaining to discuss Catholic feminism, what makes men and women different, the beauty of Motherhood, and the 'fe…
- Millennial Saint Unleashed: Meet St. Carlo Acutis
Fr. Bonaventure and Fr. Patrick take some time to discuss the life and legacy of newly canonized St. Carlo Acutis, Italian millennial who died of Leukemia at the age of 15. The friars detail St. Carlo's conversion to the Catholic faith, ho…
- BONUS: Speech Acts & Training the Tongue w/ Fr. Gregory Pine
Ever heard of Fr. Gregory Pine? The Dominican Friar joins Fr. Bonaventure on this bonus episode of Guestsplaining to tell us about his new book, "Training the Tongue and Growing Beyond Sins of Speech." Find his new book here: https://stpau…
- Shocking: The #1 Obstacle to Spreading the Gospel
Fr. Joseph-Anthony and Fr. Patrick contemplate a couple of big hurdles to spreading the Gospel. Who are some of the greatest evangelizers in history? What can we learn from them? What if I'm an introvert? The friars touch on these question…
- Behind the Scenes of "The Ritual" with Film Director David Midell
Do we have too many movies about exorcisms? What makes this story different and worth telling? Filmmaker David Midell joins Fr. Patrick on this episode of Guestsplaining to give us a look into the reality of filming a modern movie about an…
- Is Rerum Novarum the Answer to Today's Labor Crisis?
Fr. Gregory and Fr. Joseph-Anthony delve into the meaning behind Pope Leo XIII's Rerum Novarum on this episode of Godsplaining. Is there a middle ground between capitalism and socialism? What exactly does Pope Leo XIII address in this ency…
- SEEK26: Catholic Social Teaching, Free Speech, & AI
Fr. Joseph-Anthony and Fr. Gregory connect for SEEK26 to discuss Catholic Social Teaching, how Catholics should understand free speech, Fr. Gregory's thoughts on artificial intelligence, human dignity, the common good, and so much more. Fi…
- Why Catholics Love Big Ideas: The Catholic Intellectual Tradition
Fr. Bonaventure and Fr. Gregory delve into Catholic history on this episode of Godsplaining. The friars describe the Church drawing Truth from ancient times, the earliest Church Fathers, what Protestants get wrong, and what Fr. Gregory's r…
- The Rosary, St. Dominic & a Path to Purity w/ Gabriel Castillo
Lay Evangelist, Catholic influencer, and Rosary devotee, Gabriel Castillo, joins Promoter of the Holy Rosary, Fr. Joseph-Anthony Kress on this episode of Guestsplaining to discuss the power, evolution, and mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary…
- Why Do Catholics Worship Mary?
Mary. The Blessed Mother of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The New Eve. A Catholic's relationship with Mary sets us apart from other Christians. Do Catholics worship Mary? Are we misunderstood? Fr. Gregory and Fr. Joseph-Anthony do a deep dive an…
- Why Catholic and Not Just Christian?
Merry Christmas! On this episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Gregory and Fr. Bonaventure unite to discuss toads and cigars, then lay out the case for Catholicism. Is it enough to just be a Christian? Is being Catholic just, 'extra'? Are Catholics…