Robo-Baseball

This week’s episode swings from dodgeball chaos at Franciscan University to international hockey heartbreak as Team USA falls to Canada. Father Dave and Deacon Bob also unpack the Yankees’ shocking decision to allow facial hair—and ponder whether robot umpires and AI-controlled baseball are the future of America’s pastime. Oh, and Juan Soto buys a teammate a $92,000 SUV for a jersey number. All-star moves, indeed. 

In entertainment news, the hosts react to Amazon’s takeover of the James Bond franchise, reminisce about their favorite 007s (yes, George Lazenby gets a mention), and reflect on the trend of turning beloved characters into corporate IP machines. Spoiler: they’re not thrilled. 

The heart of the episode is a deep, compassionate look at in vitro fertilization following President Trump’s executive order expanding IVF access. Father Dave and Deacon Bob thoughtfully explain the Church’s teaching on human dignity, the moral challenges of embryo preservation, and the pain of infertility—all while offering hope, prayer, and clarity for couples carrying this difficult cross. 

 

Highlighted Sections 

(00:00) Dodgeball, Hockey, and the Return of Beards  Father Dave reports from Franciscan’s wild dodgeball tournament, while Deacon Bob relives Team USA’s loss to Canada—with Canadian friends in the room. Plus, big news: the Yankees are finally allowing beards, and Catholic Beard Balm gets a shout-out. 

(06:21) Robots at Bat: Baseball’s High-Tech Future  From AI strike zones to robot pitchers, the hosts debate the future of America’s pastime—and whether baseball is losing its human touch. Spoiler: Bob wants an all-robot league. 

(07:37) All-Star Salaries and Jersey Numbers  Juan Soto drops $92,000 on a teammate’s car to snag jersey #22. The hosts share stories of sportsmanship, ego, and what happens when your number has a price tag. 

(11:39) Bond, Amazon Bond  With Amazon now owning James Bond, the hosts question the future of the franchise. They rank their favorite Bonds, lament over-franchising, and long for storytelling that isn’t driven by corporate profit. 

(17:42) IVF, Life, and the Church’s Teaching  In response to Trump’s IVF executive order, Fr. Dave and Deacon Bob offer a compassionate, clear look at Catholic teaching on fertility, frozen embryos, and the dignity of human life. 

(29:33) Lent, Loopholes, and Signs of Hope  Ash Wednesday is coming! The hosts clarify fasting rules (yes, there’s an age loophole), pray for Pope Francis, and highlight hopeful moves toward child protection in the digital world. 

 

Resources Mentioned 

• Catholic Beard Balm – Beard care with a sacred scent (yes, it smells like chrism!) 

• USCCB Statement on IVF – Church teaching on the moral concerns of in vitro fertilization 

• James Bond films 

• Decision Points by George W. Bush – Memoir reflecting on presidential decisions, including policies around embryonic research 

 

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