Remembrance (Picard)

The new Star Trek: Picard series is here and Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory are excited to talk about it. Is this real Star Trek? Is it worth your time? Is Patrick Stewart Captain Picard again? But the show raises even deeper questions, such as the nature of life and being.

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Blessed Miriam Teresa Demjanovich

Bl. Miriam was the first American to be beatified on US soil in 2014, but before that, as Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell us, she was a Ruthenian Catholic Sister of Charity known for her profound spiritual insight and writings, even as a novice, before she died at just 26 years old.

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Caligula: The Mad Emperor

In AD 41, the Roman emperor Caligula was killed by his own guards, ending the rule of an uncontrollable mad tyrant. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore the mystery of whether the stories of Caligula were true, what led to his death, and what mysterious connection he might have to the Bible and prophecy.

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Your Social Credit Score

Some tech companies are starting to decide whether you can do business with them based on your online activity, profession, political beliefs, and more. Dom Bettinelli, Thomas Sanjurjo, and Jack Baruzzini look into the implications of this trend and what, if anything, we can do.

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Act Like a Saint

The Christmas season ends for the Betts; Dom and kids spend a day in the bitter cold for a Klondike derby; Melanie keeps perfecting okonomiyaki; they watch Groundhog Day, 1917, and Raising Dion; and then discuss the “fake it til you make it” way of becoming a saint.

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Nikola Tesla’s Night of Terror

The Doctor encounters the mysterious inventor Nikola Tesla and has to save him from aliens. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the real history of Tesla and Edison and how much the episode pulled from actual events, plus the story’s connections to classic Who.

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Pacifism and Vocation in The Clone Wars

The Darksaber, Death Watch, pacifism, and vocation in the Mandalore episodes of Clone Wars are the topic this time as Fr. Andrew, Thomas, and Angela begin their deeper exploration of themes touched on by The Mandalorian and found in other Star Wars productions.

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Father Peter Whelan: The Angel of Andersonville

Fr. Peter Whelan was an elderly Irish priest in Georgia and South Carolina who brought Christ to the sick and imprisoned during the Civil War. Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell how brought Christ to both Confederate POWs in the North, and Union POWs at the most notorious prison camp in the South, Andersonville.

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Short Treks, Season 2

The 2nd season of Short Treks gave us the broadest range of stories yet, including two animated shorts, the origin story for Tribbles, and a revealing sneak peek at Picard. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha look at the good, the bad, and what they say Trekkies have to look forward to.

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Fires, Faith, and the Force

Happy New Year! Lindsay Sant and Gerry Trapnell discuss the Australian Catholic Church’s response to the country’s bushfire crisis; talk about a Stacey Trasancos interview on how faith and science work together; and then give their reviews of The Rise of Skywalker and the boardgame House of Danger.

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Alien Implants

People have reported being abducted by aliens for decades and in some cases have discovered inexplicable metal objects in their bodies after. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore what these objects are, where they come from, what their purpose is, and whether they provide proof of alien contact.

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Defense Against Spearfishing

How can you protect yourself against spearfishing attacks? Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Andrew Kinstetter, and Pat Scott discuss what it is and why you might be a target. Also the most interesting or just bizarre new technology at the Consumer Electronic Show.

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1917 – Coffee and Cinema

1917 takes place on April 6 of that year, which was both Good Friday and the day the United States entered World War I. The movie follows the impossible mission of two British soldiers sent to save their comrades from a trap. In both spoiler-free and then spoiled discussions, Fr. Chip Hines and Dom Bettinelli discuss the film’s amazing cinematography, it’s compelling story of honor, duty, and self-sacrifice, and what war movies like this have to do with a Christian call to peace.

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Orphan 55

The Doctor takes a cut-rate vacation at a spa on a toxic planet and then lectures the audience. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss why this episode falls flat, starting with the messy plot and unrealized characters and ending with heavy-handed preaching that breaks the fourth wall.

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Put the Parcel in the Box

While Dom is puzzled by why the delivery drivers won’t put the parcels in the delivery box, Melanie is on a cooking binge, making some amazing meals. Plus an awkward moment at Mass with the kids, our impression of the live-action Aladdin movie, and why Dirty Dancing was so culturally significant.

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Blessed Stanley Rother

Bl. Stanley Rother was an Oklahoma farm boy who became a priest and then missionary in Guatemala during the height of its civil war. Tom and Noëlle Crowe share his story of courageous service to his people and Jesus, including giving up his life and becoming the first US-born martyr for the Faith.

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Ex Post Facto (Voyager)

When Tom Paris is convicted of murdering a jealous husband, Tuvok is on the case. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the film noir inspiration for the story, where it works and where it doesn’t, and how the episode puts the answer in front of the viewer from the beginning.

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Religion, Magic, Psychic, Science

Since the beginning of history, people have offered many explanations for how the world works, including religion, magic, psychic phenomena, and science. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli sort out what these terms mean now and historically and how faith and reason approaches each.

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Coconut Soup for Epiphany

New Year, a birthday, Star Wars, Epiphany, and a Scouting event mean a busy week for the Betts as Dom and Melanie relate their Epiphany gift-giving tradition; talk about how a family outing to see Star Wars made Lucy’s birthday; and share an awesome homemade coconut chicken soup.

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The Mandalorian, Ch. 8: Redemption

The season finale of The Mandalorian finds Fr. Andrew, Andrew H., Thomas, Angela, and Mike talking about redemption for the characters, Din’s mysterious Mandalorian past; and the shocking final reveal that raises many questions and sets up season 2.

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