Bob Johnston reads Justin Lee’s "The Death of Halloween" and explores Halloween’s origins in All Saints and All Souls, its links to Samhain, and how commercialization and social change drained the festival of its play, meaning, and communal purpose. The episode calls Christians to recover a spirit of reverent play and communal memory—reminding listeners why Hallowtide once united the living and the dead and how that sacramental imagination might be restored.

Deacon Al explains how faith requires both God’s grace and our cooperation, using vacation-planning analogies and the readings for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Exodus, 2 Timothy, Luke) to emphasize persistence. Hear practical encouragement to persevere in prayer, practice obedience, love your neighbor, and make daily choices that prepare you for a deeper relationship with Christ. Email your questions to Deacon AL:    goodnews@catholicspiritradio.org

Bob Johnston and Lynn explore scientific and spiritual perspectives on consciousness, from microtubule and quantum theories to organ-transplant cases, asking whether consciousness is produced by the brain or received from the universe and how this connects to Catholic faith. They discuss research findings, personal stories, and the implications for identity, the afterlife, and the presence of good and evil in a mysterious, intelligent universe.

Bob Johnston and his wife Lynn discuss recent mass shootings, including the attack at a Catholic parish school, and examine cultural factors the episode links to rising violence—abortion, sexualized youth programming, and debates over gender identity. The episode explores the idea of spiritual evil influencing society, calls listeners to rely on the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), prayer, and St. Michael’s intercession, and asks for support for Catholic Spirit Radio.  

Deacon Al Lundy reflects on faith and preparation this fall — from gardening as a spiritual metaphor to reminders about confession and Advent, plus a station Fall Appeal announcement. He answers a listener’s question about receiving Communion in the hand versus the mouth, explains the Church’s practice and canon law, and walks through the weekend readings that emphasize gratitude and God’s healing. Email your questions to Deacon AL:    goodnews@catholicspiritradio.org

Dr. David Anders shares his journey from evangelical Protestant scholar to Catholic convert and EWTN host, explaining how study, Scripture, and encounters with Catholic media led him to the Church. He reflects on the role of Catholic radio in evangelization, the need to support local stations, and how media reaches listeners who wouldn’t otherwise seek out the faith. Anders also discusses his work on Called to Communion, his book about marriage and faith, and his hope that listeners will grow in gratitude, charity, and daily cooperation with God’s grace.  

Bob Johnston (with his wife Lynn) returns to Being Catholic on Catholic Spirit Radio to examine modern secular utopias—how Marxism and wokeism fell short and how a new "geneticism" promises a technological utopia. Drawing on articles from First Things, the episode critiques IVF-based eugenics, embryo selection services like Orchid, and the social pressures that can turn private choice into public expectation. The show also explores emerging bioethical dangers such as "bodyoids" and the erosion of a clear definition of death, warning against treating human life as a disposable resource. Throughout, the hosts frame these concerns from a Catholic perspective, emphasizing human dignity, the reality of suffering, and the limits of human attempts to remake creation.

Deacon Al Lundy uses stories about family, vacations, and planning to explore different ways people live their faith. Drawing on the readings for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Habakkuk, 2 Timothy, Luke), he highlights patience, perseverance, and the courage the Holy Spirit gives believers. He challenges listeners to grow their "mustard-seed" faith, make room for prayer and worship in whatever way works for them, and serve with humility while trusting God’s timing and judgment. Email your questions to Deacon AL:    goodnews@catholicspiritradio.org

On this episode of Catholic Conversations, hosts Paul Garcia and Will Tatro speak with Kathy Fulton and several pilgrims who traveled to the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament and EWTN in Alabama. Guests describe the shrine's golden beauty, cloistered nuns, times of adoration and Mass, behind-the-scenes visits to EWTN, and personal stories of prayer, healing, and renewed faith. Listeners will hear reflections on Mother Angelica’s legacy, the power of pilgrimage to deepen Eucharistic devotion, and encouragement to consider making a pilgrimage of their own. https://www.olamshrine.com/

Paul Garcia and co-host Will Tetreault interview David John, founder of iCatholic Mobile, about a Catholic-focused phone service that donates profits to ministries, supports priests, and offers parental controls and a purity browser. The conversation covers smartphone addiction, protecting children online, the role of Catholic media in evangelization, and how families can set boundaries to keep faith central in a digital age. https://www.icatholicmobile.com/

Deacon Al opens the show with reflections on online misinformation and the importance of sincere questions about faith, then examines the readings for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time. He walks through Amos and 1 Timothy and focuses on Luke's parable of the rich man and Lazarus, urging listeners to truly listen to God, care for the poor, and practice faithful stewardship of their resources. The episode encourages mercy for those who suffer, hope for the needy, and a challenge to respond to God's call with love and action. Email your questions to Deacon AL:    goodnews@catholicspiritradio.org

Deacon Al Lundy shares personal good news—his son’s first new home, yard renovations, and close encounters with migrating hummingbirds—then turns to the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time readings. He explains Amos’s warning against greed, Paul’s call to pray for all in authority, and unpacks Luke’s challenging parable of the dishonest steward with three helpful interpretations about prudence, true (authentic) wealth, and faithful stewardship. Email your questions to Deacon AL:    goodnews@catholicspiritradio.org

Host Deacon Al Lundy reflects on a difficult day marked by the 9/11 anniversary and the recent death of Charlie Kirk, offering prayer, forgiveness, and a call to civil discourse amid rising violence and ignorance. The episode also celebrates new Catholic Spirit Radio expansions, encourages sacramental marriage, and explores Scripture readings for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, emphasizing Christ's love and the need for repentance and hope. Email your questions to Deacon AL:    goodnews@catholicspiritradio.org

Bob Johnston and his wife Lynn discuss recent tragedies, the spiritual battle facing the world, and the need to ‘re-crown’ Christ the King. They read and reflect on an article arguing that rejecting Christ’s social reign has led to societal decline, urging a traditional Catholic renaissance, renewed catechesis, and a return to faithful practices like the St. Michael prayer.

Host Paul Garcia talks with Marie, a spiritual director with advanced degrees, about a faith-based approach to overcoming worry and anxiety. They explore prayer, praise, surrender, the Divine Mercy chaplet, and practical steps listeners can use to find peace.The episode connects scripture and spiritual practices with modern insights (including neuroscience), shares personal testimonies, and explains how trust in God and sacramental life can restore calm and hope.

Deacon Al Lundy reflects on the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, connecting Labor Day and the dignity of work with the recent canonizations of St. Carlo Acutis and St. Pietro Frassati. He explains what canonized sainthood means, reviews the readings from Wisdom, Paul’s letter to Philemon (and Onesimus), and Luke’s call to carry the cross, emphasizing humility and putting God first. The episode encourages prayer, devotion to the Eucharist, and a commitment to growth in virtue as the path to becoming saints in daily life. Email your questions to Deacon AL:    goodnews@catholicspiritradio.org

Bob Johnston interviews Kent Lasnowski about San Damiano College for the Trades in Springfield, Illinois, a new Catholic men’s college rooted in Franciscan and Norbertine tradition that seeks to “rebuild the church” by integrating faithful formation and classical learning with hands‑on training in the seven construction trades. The episode outlines the college’s current one‑year non‑degree formation program with trade exposure, plans for an associate degree, its strong Catholic identity and religious partnerships, and how the school prepares students for meaningful, durable work and apprenticeship opportunities. https://www.sandamianotrades.org/

Deacon Al Lundy shares a warm, personal reflection mixing everyday stories — broken church air conditioning, a new robotic lawnmower named Mo — with a clear explanation of the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time readings. He explores Isaiah’s call to gather nations, the Hebrews’ teaching about God’s discipline, and Jesus’ challenge to enter through the narrow gate, urging perseverance, prayer, and consideration of RCIA/OCIA for those interested in joining the Catholic Church. Email your questions to Deacon AL:    goodnews@catholicspiritradio.org

In this episode of Being Catholic with Bob Johnston, Bob and his wife Lynn discuss the newly opened San Damiano College for the Trades in Springfield, Illinois. They explore how the college combines hands-on vocational training with liberal arts, theology, and the Church’s tradition to form independent, debt-free workers and revive a holistic model of education. The conversation also touches on broader concerns about modern education, dependence on the state, and the need to evolve learning for the AI era by emphasizing moral, practical, and integrative thinking. https://www.sandamianotrades.org/

Bob Johnston and his wife Lynn discuss an Epoch Times opinion piece about the surge of investment in AI, its massive energy demands, and how current machines fall short of the human brain’s complexity, consciousness, and intentionality. They warn against idolizing technology, highlight risks to children’s learning and curiosity from overreliance on AI, and urge using AI as a tool to amplify — not replace — human thinking. The episode ties these concerns to Catholic teaching, prayer, and the station’s mission, encouraging listeners to reflect on faith, responsibility, and the proper place of technology in our lives.