Episodes

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Greg responds to listener Shandra's heartfelt question about the Catholic Church's historical involvement in injustices like the transatlantic slave trade and the subjugation of Ireland. Drawing from his own conversion journey as a former Protestant, he shares a thought experiment: What if the Church hadn't existed as a societal force? Exploring real historical "control groups" from Eastern Christianity and analogies like C.S. Lewis's grumpy Christian, Greg argues the Church...

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Building on Part 1's takedown of KJV-onlyism, Greg delves into the heart of Bible translation debates in this thought-provoking conclusion, examining three key issues: faithfulness to ancient manuscripts (spotlighted by the Johannine Comma), the doctrinal weight of unique words like "full of grace" in Luke 1:28, and dynamic equivalence with modern language and inclusive phrasing. These choices are often shaped by theological agendas, exposing the inherent weaknesses of sola ...

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] In this first installment of a two-part series, Greg responds to a fundamentalist chain letter claiming the King James Version (KJV) is the only true Bible, unpacking its bizarre mindset and deep anti-Catholic roots from the Reformation era. Greg refutes the claims with historical facts, manuscript evidence, and theological insights, showing why the KJV is a valuable but flawed translation. He then guides listeners through trusted Catholic Bible options like the NABRE, RSV-...

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Continuing their conversation Secret Compound, Greg and Ed tackle the deeply personal challenges of considering Catholicism when opposition comes from within the home, particularly from a spouse. Responding to a listener's email about navigating a Protestant spouse and a complex marriage situation, they explore the emotional and spiritual dilemmas of pursuing the Catholic faith in a divided household. Greg emphasizes the Catholic Church’s teaching that salvation is fullest w...

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Greg and Ed the Protestant return to the Secret Compound and dive into the real challenges faced by those considering Catholicism, especially when it means navigating opposition from friends, family, or fellow Protestants. They explore the emotional and social costs of pursuing the Catholic faith, drawing from listener emails about anti-Catholic sentiments and personal struggles. Greg shares his own experience of losing professional relationships upon converting, while Ed re...

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] In Part 2 of a two-part series, "Protestant Games," Greg dismantles the Protestant “Berean Gambit”—their claim that Acts 17:11 proves sola scriptura. Far from a mic-drop, this move backfires, showing the Bereans trusted Paul’s oral apostolic tradition—resurrection, Trinity, Gentile inclusion—checked for consistency with the Old Testament, aligning with Catholicism’s view of Scripture and Tradition as one. Check out episodes #133, #134, #220-246, and #299 at ConsideringCathol...

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] In Part 1 of a two-part series, Greg tackles Protestant apologist Gavin Ortlund’s 5 Reasons I Am Not Catholic , which shakes cradle Catholic Iris and others with evangelical critiques. Instead of playing the “rigged game” of proving Catholicism by Protestant rules (sola scriptura, sola fide, Bible-only faith), Greg flips the script, showing these premises are unbiblical, ahistorical, and rejected by most Christians across time. Tune in to Part 2 for a deep dive into Acts 17:...

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Why do American evangelicals passionately support modern Israel, especially in conflicts like Israel-Iran? In the final part of our Seeking Roots, Finding the Church series, Greg Smith shares why Americans, including evangelicals, admire Israel’s pioneer spirit and military prowess, akin to Davy Crockett at the Alamo. Buy notes that dispensationalist theology, tied to their chase for Jewish roots (Episode 1) and reliance on the Masoretic Text (Episode 2), also fuels their po...

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Why do evangelicals trust a Jewish canon finalized centuries after Christ over the Bible of the apostles? In part two of our Seeking Roots, Finding the Church series, Greg shares his journey from a Calvinist seminary where the Masoretic Text was taught as the “authentic” Old Testament to Catholicism, where he discovered the Septuagint’s role in the apostolic Church. Explore how evangelicals’ search for “Jewish roots” leads them to a post-Christian Rabbinic tradition and the ...

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Why do American evangelicals love Holy Land trips, seder dinners, and supporting the modern state of Israel? In this first of a three-part series, "Seeking Roots, Finding the Church," Greg explores how evangelicals, seeking a faith with gravitas, embrace a romanticized pre-Christian Jewish identity, imagining a simple, intimate faith free of “elaborate” Catholic or Orthodox traditions. He shares a story from St. Peter’s Basilica that reveals their crisis of imagination and e...

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Greg tackles Catholic and Protestant views on sex, asking: whose take is stranger? From marriage as a sacrament to celibacy as a gift and Mary’s perpetual virginity, he defends Catholic teachings as biblical and healthy against Protestant critiques on divorce, contraception, and more. Using the Cathar heresy as a cautionary tale, Greg shows how Catholicism balances sex’s sacred purpose. Perfect for curious non-Catholics, skeptical Protestants, and Catholics rediscovering the...

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Is Catholicism a house of cards, ready to collapse under one false teaching? In this episode, Greg responds to a listener—an evangelical exploring Catholicism—who fears he can’t be certain the Church is the truth. With fun analogies like burritos and bridges, Greg unpacks why Protestantism’s “modest” claim is a mirage and how Catholicism’s evidence makes it a rational choice. Inspired by G.K. Chesterton, this episode is for curious non-Catholics and Protestants ready to cros...

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Why does the Mass feel so formal, and how can you love it? In this episode, Greg responds to Darcy, a 25-year-old evangelical exploring Catholicism, who’s struggling with the Mass’s structure—repetition, kneeling, and call-and-response. He unpacks why our culture overvalues spontaneity, how the Mass’s form protects truth, and why the early Church wasn’t as “casual” as we think. With practical tips and answers to common questions, Greg helps listeners embrace the liturgy’s be...

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] In the final episode of the series on heaven, Greg and Cory explore the eschaton—the ultimate end of God’s plan, where Christ returns to renew creation as the New Heaven and New Earth. They unpack the biblical parallelism between Genesis 1-2 and Revelation 21-22, where God restores communion between Himself, humanity, and creation, fulfilling our deepest longings for belonging. Drawing from Scripture, the Catechism, and saints like Irenaeus and Teresa of Avila, they emphasiz...

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Greg and Cory delve into the radical Christian teaching of the physical resurrection of the body, a cornerstone of Catholic eschatology that sets Christianity apart from other worldviews. They explore how the resurrection restores humanity to God’s original design in Genesis, uniting body and soul as seen in Christ’s own resurrection. Contrasting this with prevalent cultural and religious ideas—like Gnosticism or modern transhumanism—that prioritize escaping the physical, th...

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Greg and Ed unpack a recent experience at a casual evangelical worship service, contrasting its informal, emotion-driven approach with the objective beauty of the Catholic Mass. They describe a service filled with pop culture references, minimal Scripture, and a vague "remembrance" with Wonder Bread and grape juice, lacking the structure and transcendence of Catholic liturgy. Drawing on C.S. Lewis’s The Weight of Glory , they argue that true worship holds intrinsic value, li...

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] In this lively episode, Greg and Ed the Protestant tackle a listener’s critique that the show is too harsh on Protestants, sparking a candid discussion over tacos. They reflect on their tone, owning occasional snark while defending the need to draw distinctions between Catholic and Protestant beliefs, as truth claims—like sacraments or authority—demand clarity. Drawing from C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity, they explore why you can’t linger in the “hallway” of generic Christia...

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Greg and Cory explore the three destinations awaiting every soul after the particular judgment: heaven, hell, and purgatory. They unpack Catholic teaching on these eternal and temporal states, using Dante’s Divine Comedy and Scripture to illustrate heaven as perfect communion with God, hell as eternal separation, and purgatory as a remedial journey to holiness. Addressing misconceptions, they clarify that purgatory is not a “second chance” but a purifying path for those dest...

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] In this continuation of the series about Heaven, Greg and Cory dive into the Catholic teaching on judgment, exploring the two moments every soul faces: the particular judgment at death and the final judgment at the end of time. They unpack how God’s justice and mercy intertwine, dispel common misconceptions, and discuss why our choices—rooted in faith, hope, and love—matter profoundly. Drawing from Scripture, the Catechism, and vivid imagery like Michelangelo’s Last Judgment...

Ever wonder why medieval manuscripts show knights fighting giant snails or rabbits wielding swords? Or why Gothic cathedrals are covered in grinning gargoyles and quirky carvings? In this episode, Greg dives into a wild X thread that sparked a reflection on the medieval Catholic worldview—a universe alive with God’s purpose, where every doodle and stone figure meant something eternal. He contrasts their enchanted perspective with our selfie-obsessed culture, asking what our social media “margina...

Greg Smith and Cory Lakatos dive into the profound question of what happens when we die. In this second episode of the Heaven series, they explore the separation of soul and body, the particular judgment, and the three intermediate destinations—heaven, purgatory, or hell. They debunk pop-culture myths like reincarnation and clarify why death feels so unnatural. Rooted in the Catechism and enriched by insights from C.S. Lewis, this episode offers orthodox answers for curious non-Catholics and Cat...

Join Greg Smith and Cory Lakatos as they kick off a deep dive into Catholic teaching on Heaven. In this first episode, they lay the foundation by defining key terms like "soul," "heaven," "purgatory," "beatific vision," and more, ensuring you’re ready for the journey ahead. Expect clear, orthodox insights drawn from the Catechism, with a conversational style that’s engaging for curious non-Catholics and cradle Catholics alike. Tune in to clear up pop-culture misconceptions and get a solid start ...

Greg Smith reflects on the joyful inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, unpacking its rituals, from the emotional moment Leo received the Fisherman’s Ring to the inclusive rite of obedience. He answers why the ceremony is grand yet humble, why it’s called the Mass for the Petrine Ministry, and how Leo’s Chicago-to-Peru journey shapes his universal call. Greg reveals the Catholic Church as the Roman Empire transformed, where Peter’s bones and Michelangelo’s dome proclaim Chr...

What’s “Reformed” theology today? Greg Smith, a former Reformed pastor, unravels the tweed-coated posturing of a brand that claims intellectual edge but feels like evangelicalism with elbow patches. From preaching TULIP to questioning its cracks, he exposes a vague identity coasting on buzzwords. Catholicism’s 2,000-year depth—think Aquinas, cathedrals, Chesterton—makes Reformed flexing look silly. Join Greg’s journey from Calvinism to Rome, and ask: Is Reformed just a brand for smarter but gene...