We unpack the parts of Catholicism we still love and live by: the dignity of every person, preferential option for the poor, workers’ rights, solidarity, and care for creation. We get honest about where politics eclipsed the Gospel, why those same values led us out, and how community, ritual, silence, and values-based living still shape our daily lives—queer-affirming, neighbor-minded, and deeply human.
00:00 Small Group: Rose and Thorn
02:02 Positive Influences from Catholic Upbringing
04:12 The Value of Human Dignity
07:02 Reflections on Relationships and Complementarity
11:01 Building Community and Self-Sacrifice
13:07 Catholic Social Teaching: Core Values
19:04 Solidarity and Care for God's Creation
25:12 Community, Rituals, and Traditions
27:39 Navigating Spirituality Beyond Catholicism
36:37 The Importance of Silence and No Phone Time
43:24 Values-Based Living and Personal Growth
Franciscan University has launched a $10 million “Homeland Mission” in Washington DC — partnering with groups like the Heritage Foundation and the Museum of the Bible. In this episode, Evelyn and Veronica unpack how the project connects to a broader movement of Christian nationalism, the donors behind it, and what it signals about the growing Catholic presence in U.S. politics. From prayer breakfasts to policy influence, this conversation explores faith, money, and power in America’s capital.
00:00 Small Group: Rose and Thorn
03:22 Franciscan University's Homeland Mission Details
07:36 Donor Contributions and Impact
10:21 Event Highlights and Alumni Involvement
14:14 Philanthropy and Broader Contributions
17:28 Residential Facilities for Students in DC
19:57 Project 2025 and Trump's Influence
21:15 Catholicism and Conservative Politics
25:41 Immigration and Long-term Political Strategies
30:36 Concerns About Right-Wing Catholic Politics
Join us as we unpack Life Teen’s State of Catholic Youth in America (2024) — breaking down “the five cries of youth,” the XLT/adoration model, summer camps, Steubenville ties, and the report’s framing of anxiety, gender dysphoria, politics, and phones. This episode is for devout parents, deconstructors, and anyone curious about how Catholic youth culture really works.
Read along with us as we discuss LifeTeen's "2024 Report on The State of Catholic Youth in America."
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Veronica walks us through Chiles v. Salazar—the Supreme Court challenge to Colorado’s conversion-therapy ban. We unpack what the law actually prohibits (licensed claims to change orientation or gender identity), what it explicitly allows (client-led support and identity exploration), why “professional conduct” is regulate-able, and how amicus briefs—from Catholic orgs to ex-Exodus leaders — frame the stakes for LGBTQ+ youth, families, and faith communities.
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Happy feast day to both of our confirmation Saints! Today we dive into the life of St. Francis & the legacy he left behind
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Join us for our thoughts on Chapters 1 & 2 of the YOUCAT
Thank you so much for being here! Follow us @leavelaughlovepod on Instagram and TikTok and join our Patreon community to stay up to date!
"The Great Controversy" by Ellen White showed up on Veronica's doorstep... and we have thoughts
Join us as we talk through the chaos of the week & all the tangents it brought us on
As Carlos Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati join the ranks of Catholic Saints, we discuss what all goes into the making of one
Join us as we reflect on the life & legacy of Dr. James Dobson
Shiny Happy People season one had a huge impact on our deconstruction... but season two feels even more relevant. Join us as we deep dive on the parallels to the Catholic conference world
Leave Laugh Love turned one! Join us as we reflect on all the things we learned in our first year of building this podcast
In this episode, we’re diving into Hallow— the Catholic meditation and prayer app. We talk about its features, the celebs involved, some of the controversy around monetizing prayer, and how it unexpectedly led us down a rabbit hole of QAnon, Catholic influencers, and Jim Caviezel.
Bill from the Morally Offensive podcast joins us to share his story of exiting the Church and the bizarre masculinity standards that pushed him over the edge
In this episode, we trace the rise of Fr. Mike Schmitz — from campus minister to internet sensation. Have a little crazy red string moment with us while we talk media strategy, charismatic conference culture, and how everything somehow comes back to teleology & vibes.
In this episode, we tackle the weird world of Catholic sex rules straight from church documents and encyclicals. From NFP to PIV, we break down the doctrine's wildest regulations
What do we mean when we talk about culty/fundie/high-control Catholicism? Join us as we break down the BITE model of authoritarian control & the mind games that can make certain Catholic communities more than a little bit culty
Kevin Nontradicath joins us to talk about growing up FSSP, young earth creationism, teleology, eucharistic miracles, and how researching the faith led him out of it.
Thank you so much for being here! Follow us @leavelaughlovepod on Instagram and TikTok and join our Patreon community to stay up to date!
A gay ex-Catholic and an ex-gay Christian walk into a bar...
Join me as I chat with Garrett about faith, queerness, and all the messy stuff in between. We dive into our complicated feelings about the church, how psychology and spirituality mix, why talking about queerness and mental health is so hard, and maintaining mutual respect across deeply different beliefs
Charlotte was once the pro-life movement's poster child-- a young survivor of sexual assault who wanted to carry her baby to term. As a child, her story was exploited by the movement to further the push for extreme anti-abortion policy. As she grew and evolved, her opinions on policy became more complex, and eventually led her to quietly step back from the movement. When she found herself considering abortion as an adult, former friends from the movement filed a fraudulent affidavit in an attempt to prevent her from attending her appointment.
Charlotte's story is one I wish she didn't have to tell, but a deeply important one nonetheless. She speaks to the exploitation of minors and vulnerable communities within the pro-life movement, and the extreme lengths they will go to if you attempt to leave.
