Respect Life Radio

This week on the Respect Life Radio Podcast, Deacon Geoff welcomes author, teacher and Catholic Exchange contributor Derek Rotty. A husband, father and educator from Jackson, Tennessee, Derek is the author of Prophet of Hope: Fulton Sheen Responds to the Modern World and writes extensively on Catholic history, faith and family life. Together they discuss his newest Catholic Exchange article, Fulton Sheen's Antidotes for Anxiety, ex...

Join host Emma Ramirez on this week's Respect Life Radio as she welcomes Gerard Graveline, Executive Director of the FIRE Foundation of Denver. Gerard shares how FIRE Foundation is championing the inclusion of students with disabilities in Catholic schools by providing educational resources, supporting teacher training, funding special education professionals and promoting a culture where every child is welcomed, supported and valu...

This week on Respect Life Radio, Deacon Geoff Bennett is joined by Joshua Arnold, a senior writer at The Washington Stand, to discuss his recent article, Christianity Is Normal. In a culture that increasingly treats Christian beliefs as strange or out of step, Arnold explores the reality that Christianity is not something new or abnormal but has been a foundational part of human history and culture for centuries. He encourages Chri...

This week on the Respect Life Radio Podcast, host Deacon Geoff welcomes John Melnikov, a theology teacher in Trumbull, Connecticut. Melnikov holds a B.A. in Religious Studies from Fairfield University and an M.A. in Christian Leadership from Liberty University. He is a regular contributor to Catholic Exchange and Crisis Magazine, where he writes on Catholic culture, morality and the challenges facing the Church today. The conversat...

For this week's Respect Life Radio podcast, host Deacon Geoff welcomes Fr. Joseph Gill, a priest of the Diocese of Bridgeport, pastor, high school chaplain and teacher. A graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville and Mount St. Mary's Seminary, Fr. Gill is also a frequent contributor to Crisis Magazine. The conversation centers on his recent article, "Demonic Deception of Kids' Sports," in which Fr. Gill explores how the inc...

Host Emma Ramirez welcomes Caitlin Burnett, BSN, RN, a registered nurse and Fertility Care Practitioner at Bella Health + Wellness, for an informative conversation on Natural Family Planning (NFP). Drawing from more than 20 years of nursing experience in pediatrics, labor and delivery, and postpartum care, Caitlin shares how teaching women to understand their fertility has become her passion. She is certified in the Creighton Model...

Join host Deacon Geoff as he welcomes weekly guest Andrew J. Peach, J.D., Ph.D., a former philosophy professor and current attorney. Andrew is the co-author of An Introduction to Catholic Ethics, a textbook used in Catholic high schools across the United States. His writing has appeared in numerous publications including First Things, The Thomist, Crisis Magazine, Touchstone Magazine and Catholic Exchange. He and his wife Kathryn h...

This week on Respect Life Radio, Deacon Geoff welcomes Michael J. Lichens, former editor of Catholic Exchange and a prolific Catholic writer whose work has appeared in both Catholic and mainstream publications. Holding an M.A. from the University of Chicago Divinity School, Michael has dedicated much of his career to researching, writing and editing works that uncover the richness of Catholic faith, history and literature. The conv...

This week on Respect Life Radio, host Deacon Geoff Bennett welcomes Linda Carl, author of the new book Yoga Unveiled: My Spiritual Journey from Darkness to Light. A lifelong spiritual seeker, Linda spent nearly two decades as a certified yoga instructor and was deeply immersed in Eastern spiritual practices before rediscovering the truth and beauty of the Catholic faith. Through her personal experiences, extensive research, and con...

This week on Respect Life Radio, host Deacon Geoff Bennett welcomes Garrett Johnson, writer, speaker, and founder of Brother Without Order. Garrett shares his powerful journey from leaving the Catholic faith and living a life centered on worldly pursuits to rediscovering Christ and embracing the teachings of the Church. Today, he is a member of the Courage apostolate and writes extensively on faith, identity, discipleship, and auth...

This week on Respect Life Radio, Jennifer and Emma welcome Bre Stemper, apostolate leader for Springs of Love at St. Thomas More Parish. Bre is a wife and mother of two boys whose experience with infertility opened her heart to the needs of children in foster care and adoption. She shares the profound ways the Lord worked in her family's journey and the invitation she and her husband received through Our Lady to care for some of he...

On this week’s episode of Respect Life Radio, Deacon Geoff Bennett welcomes Father Carter Griffin, rector of Saint John Paul II Seminary, to discuss his recent article for the National Catholic Register, “Forming Your Children for Chastity: A Letter to Parents.” Drawing from his years of priestly formation and pastoral experience, Father Griffin shares practical wisdom for parents seeking to raise children with a ...

On this episode of Respect Life Radio, Deacon Geoff sits down with Dr. Paul Kengor—a husband, father, professor, and bestselling author—to discuss his newest book, American Pontiff: Pope Leo XIV and His Plan to Heal the Church. Drawing from his deep expertise in both Catholic history and American politics, Dr. Kengor offers a compelling look at the life and leadership of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff.

On today’s episode, Deacon Geoff is joined by Marie Brousseau, a Canadian teacher and essayist, to discuss her most recent Catholic Exchange article “Why People Fall from Faith: The Fear of Accepting God.”

Together, they explore how the loss of faith is often less about intellectual doubt and more about a deeper fear of surrender. Marie shares that accepting God requires trust, humilit...

This week on Respect Life Radio, Emma and Jennifer welcome Kat Talalas, Assistant Director for Pro-Life Communications, and Chelsy Gomez, Program Associate for the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities at the USCCB. Kat and Chelsy share how their journeys into pro-life work were shaped by a deepening faith and a growing understanding of Church teaching—ultimately calling them to live out the Gospel of Life. Together, they reflec...

This week on Respect Life Radio, we welcome Dr. Jim Papandrea, an award-winning author, Professor of Church History and Historical Theology, and host of The Way of the Fathers podcast. A former Protestant deacon who entered into the Catholic Church, Dr. Papandrea brings a rich depth of theological insight shaped by his academic work and love for the early Church. Drawing from his recent article, How to Speak with God Through Script...

This week on Respect Life Radio, we welcome theologian and author Matthew J. Ramage, a professor at Benedictine College and co-director of the Center for Integral Ecology. Known for his work bridging faith, science and the theology of Pope Benedict XVI, Dr. Ramage brings thoughtful insight into what it means to be human in a rapidly changing world.

In his recent Incarnate Transcendence in an Age of Tran...

Today, Deacon Geoff is joined by Peter Giersch, a businessman and faithful Catholic author of several books, to discuss his latest work, Talking of Michelangelo (https://www.galileanonline.com/product/9798889116721).

Drawing from the life and work of Michelangelo, the conversation explores the intersection of art, faith, and the human soul. Peter reflects on how beauty, creativity, and the pursuit of ex...

This week on Respect Life Radio, we welcome Lauren Castillo, Chief Mission and Revenue Officer at Bella Health + Wellness. Lauren shares insights from her work advancing life-affirming healthcare and supporting organizations that serve women and families with dignity and compassion. With more than a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership—including her previous role with Students for Life of America—Lauren has help...