The goal of the Forte Catholic Podcast is to inspire, uplift, and share the Good News in a way that will help you take the next step in your faith, no matter where you are on your journey with God.
Forte Catholic Podcast Episode 127
The reveal of the 3rd annual Ministry Madness Bracket, discussion and misconceptions of Memento Mori & Paul George rejoins the show for a deep conversation on the beauty and difficulties of marriage.
Jon Blevins co-hosts this week as we talk updates, Memento Mori and are joined by Paul George to talk marriage.
The 3rd annual Ministry Madness Bracket is here! This is a voteable bracket on which Catholic ministry leaders would win in a legal boxing match all decided by you, the listener. Head to MinistryMadness.com for more info and to cast your votes now!
We loved our conversation with Paul George! One of my biggest issues with how I have seen most marriage prep work is that a picture is cast that everything is going to be beautiful and rosy. Yes, marriage is a beautiful sacrament and gift, but its also hard. Paul hits this right on the head in a very open and honest conversation between the three of us. Find more from Paul at DiscoverTheArtOfLiving.com.
In the final segment, Jon and Taylor discuss what Memento Mori means, our previous misconceptions of it and how it is helpful in the spiritual life, especially during Lent.
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Forte Catholic Podcast Episode 126
Fr. Anthony Sciarappa co-hosts as the guys checkin on how Lent is going so far(uhhhh....whoops) and talk about the ups and downs of the last week. Beth Davis of Blessed Is She joins the show to talk about women’s ministry and the importance of community.
Fr. Anthony Sciarappa co-hosts as the guys checkin on how Lent is going so far(uhhhh....whoops) and talk about the ups and downs of the last week. The highlight is really talking about shaving Taylor's beard down to a creeper stache. This all came up because a listener suggested that for Lent, Taylor start a fundraising fundraiser to shave his beard where all the proceeds go to charity. Click here to learn more and please consider donating today. All the proceeds go to three great Catholic causes.
We're also joined by THE lovely Beth Davis of Blessed Is She, this tremendous ministry for Catholic women...that the dudes didn't know much about because...well...the whole dude thing. Beth is tremendous and her joy contagious. She shares her journey and what Blessed Is She is all about. Find out more at blessedisshe.net.
Subscribe/Rate
Never miss out on the craziness of each episode by hitting the subscribe button RIGHT NOW! Help other people find the show and #MakeCatholicismFunAgain by taking a few moments to leave a review in your podcasting app. Thanks!
Patreon
Exclusive bonus content at Patreon.com/ForteCatholic. Hours of more show and a great way to help Taylor feed his three hungry children.
Deals
Catholic Balm Co.
Click here for 11% off your next order of anything you've ever need for your beard, lips or skin.
Sock Religious
Click here for 15% off your next order of the best socks around.
Stay Close to Christ
Click here for 10% off your next order of Tiny Saints, Saint Cards and much more.
Forte Catholic Podcast Episode 125
Our 2nd Annual “Limping Into Lent” where we go through audience suggestions of what Taylor should do for Lent and ultimately decide which one of the crazy suggestions to do. Allison Sullivan co-host and Canadian Patrick Sullivan is our guest to talk about Catholics watching what everyone else is watching on TV.
In our 2nd Annual "Limping Into Lent" episode, Taylor lets the audience decide what he's doing for Lent. Allison Sullivan co-hosts as we go through all of the silly, serious and downright awful listener suggestions for what Taylor should do this Lent and ultimately decide by the end of the show.
Our guest this week is another attempt to decide if Canada is a real place. Patrick Sullivan is a "Canadian" evangelist who has a project around Catholic review of tv shows. We talk the pros and cons of watching what everyone else is watching & how to find truth, beauty and goodness amidst the muck. Find more from Patrick at Evango.net.
Patreon
Exclusive bonus content at Patreon.com/ForteCatholic. Hours of more show and a great way to help Taylor feed his three hungry children.
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Forte Catholic Podcast Episode 124
In the wake of the 91st Academy Awards, Taylor wanted to give out his own awards. Shaun McAfee co-hosts as the guys give out their own awards for movies and…Scripture? Supreme G.K. Chesterton scholar Dale Ahlquist gives us an introduction into the “prince of paradox.”
In the wake of the 91st Academy Awards, Taylor wanted to give out his own awards. Shaun McAfee co-hosts and the guys talk movies & the Forte Five segment is back as Taylor counts down his favorite movies of the year. Then it gets really interesting as we make up new categories for Scripture to receive some of the awards.
Our guest this week is acclaimed G.K. Chesterton mind, Dale Ahlquist. We get to know Chesterton, his conversion story and how he has helped others do the same. How is Chesterton the "prince of paradox" and the "apostle of common sense? Will he become a saint? Tune in to find out!
For more on Chesterton, check out Dale’s new book “Knight of the Holy Ghost.”
Patreon
Exclusive bonus content at Patreon.com/ForteCatholic. Keep the show going with hours of more audio & a great way to help Taylor feed his three hungry children.
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Forte Catholic Podcast Episode 123
Jeremy McLellan, the comedian currently winning the internet, is our guest this week to make us laugh and so we can find out how he makes such controversial issues hilarious. Allison Sullivan co-hosts as we talk about how we often forget in moments of weakness that God’s love really is unconditional and she falls apart when we answer dumb listener questions.
Allison Sullivan co-hosts and the comedian currently winning the internet, Jeremy McLellan joins as our guest this week! We talk comedy & faith and how he has intertwined those with race and religion. Jeremy has a special gift of making the controversial hilarious. Hear his comedy and story first hand right here! Links to all his social media here.
The rest of the show, Taylor and Allison discuss how we often forget that God's love really is unconditional(and Allison gets her preach on again!) We also answer really dumb questions from the audience and Allison absolutely loses it. Truly a special moment in show history lol.
Enjoy!
Patreon
Exclusive bonus content at Patreon.com/ForteCatholic. Hours of more show and a great way to help Taylor feed his three hungry children.
Deals
Catholic Balm Co. Click here for 11% off your next order
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BONUS CONTENT-Galentine's Day Convo with Katie Prejean McGrady
Katie Prejean McGrady joins the show for a bonus episode on the recent Galentine’s Day minor controversy. Do single women want their married/dating friends there? Also, Katie shares insight on dating and marriage for everyone: male, female, single or married. This spur of the moment convo is silly, fun and our guest is insightful. If that’s not Forte Catholic, I don’t know what is!
So this all started with a friend of mine who is in a serious relationship hosting a Galentine’s celebration for all of her friends…who are single. She is of the mind that it’s ladies getting together to celebrate female friendship. I think her hosting for all her single friends is the accidentally cruelest thing this sweet lady as ever done lol. So of course, we took the discussion to Twitter with a poll and the results have been coming in almost exactly 50/50 on whether single people want their married/dating friends at Galentine’s. This got Catholic Twitter’s lead on all things “Parks and Rec” involved and we fall on opposite sides of the discussion so we knew we had to record a convo around the Galentine’s phenomenon. So we scheduled it 30 minutes before recording and now it’s here for ya! I also ask Katie to share advice for all of us(male, female, single, married) around the week of Valentine’s/Galentine’s. It was silly, fun and the guest was informative and insightful. If that’s not Forte Catholic, I don’t know what is! Enjoy :)
P.S. Be sure to check out Katie’s work at KatiePrejean.com & her podcast “The Electric Waffle” on your favorite podcasting service.
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Forte Catholic Podcast Episode 122
Jon Blevins cohosts to give an update from inside Exodus90 & the guys talk about spiritual dry spells, how to deal with them and ultimately get out. Joel Stepanek rejoins the show to give some clarity on humility.
Jon Blevins co-hosts and gives an update from inside Exodus 90. Taylor's take on the matter has become quite public so we let someone who's in the middle of doing it report on how it's going. Tune in to find out!
Joel Stepanek first came on the show as guest co-host on episode 33 and now rejoins to share about humility. His new book "Chasing Humility" is coming out just in time for Lent! It revolves around the Litany of Humility, which Jon and Taylor are terrible at. Joel gives insight into how many of us misunderstand humility. It was a fun and eye-opening convo.
The finish off the show, Taylor and Jon discuss dry spells in the spiritual life, how to deal with them & how to get out. And Taylor shares a modern day parenting miracle ;)
Patreon
Exclusive bonus content at Patreon.com/ForteCatholic. Hours of more show and a great way to help Taylor feed his three hungry children.
Deals
Catholic Balm Co. Click here for 11% off your next order
Sock Religious Click here for 15% off your next order.
Forte Catholic Podcast Episode 121
Taylor and Fr. Anthony discuss the Super Bowl, ad orientum Mass and things Taylor should have known about the liturgy but didn’t. Our guest is David Bates: owner of great British accent, love of CS Lewis and fancy words that Taylor learns.
Ooooo boy! This one was wild! Taylor got very little sleep and loses it on the air! Fr. Anthony joins and tries to help with the meltdown, but even his priest powers can't resist the tide. We talk Super Bowl, ad orientem Mass, and simple things that should have occurred to Taylor about the liturgy years ago but didn't until this week.
Our guest this week is David Bates: British Catholic, fancy word user, owner of glasses which make him seem believable, & former self-proclaimed unemployed hobo. Tune in for his accent, stay for his eloquent words on why C.S. Lewis is the man! Check out his podcast and videos at Restless Pilgrim.
Patreon
Exclusive bonus content at Patreon.com/ForteCatholic. Hours of more show and a great way to help Taylor feed his three hungry children.
Deals
Catholic Balm Co. Click here for 11% off your next order
Sock Religious Click here for 15% off your next order.
Forte Catholic Podcast Episode 120
Shaun McAfee cohosts as the guys talk about how there is sooo much more to our relationship with God than we often think. They also discuss the joys of Fatherhood with the help of Pokemon, Ariana Grande & the founder of Stay Close to Christ.
Shaun McAfee cohosts as we discuss how there is sooo much more in store for us than we often think in our relationship with God. We also talk about the joys of fatherhood, including conversations about Pokemon, Ariana Grande and what this all has to do with our faith.
The guys are joined this week by the founder of "Stay Close to Christ." We talk about how he was inspired to start a company to help people live their faith, and how it all started in his classroom. We also discuss tips for new dads(from two semi-decent Catholic parents). Use the code "forte" on your next Stay Close to Christ order for 20% off.
If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe so you don't miss another episode AND give the show a rating. It really helps others find the show so that they too can #MakeCatholicismFunAgain.
Forte Catholic Podcast Episode 119
Fr. Anthony co-hosts quite possibly the funniest episode to date. Taylor shares follow up to his public take on #Exodus90, how the audience tricked Taylor into being a better person and Fr. Anthony argues that we should blow up the moon.
Just might be the funniest show yet! Fr. Anthony Sciarappa co-hosts as we talk follow up to the #Exodus90 convo on Ep 117 & how the audience trapped Taylor into becoming a better person.
In the second segment, Taylor is joined by youth ministry guru Chris Wesley. They shoot the breeze(literally?), talk about riding other people's coattails, youth ministry stories and how to get out of the ruts we find ourselves in. Check out everything he's doing at Marathon Youth Ministry.
And the final segment may be the most ridiculous thing we've ever done. Fr. Anthony wants to blow up the moon!?!?! Taylor shares some spiritual insights in the moon and tries to back Padre into a corner. Was he successful? Tune in and find out!
BONUS: If you want another 17 minutes of Fr. Anthony & Taylor arguing about the moon(and it only got more and more insane as we dove deeper), head on over to Patreon.com/ForteCatholic for exclusive content just like this!
Forte Catholic Podcast Episode 118
Taylor forgot to pray for you, Allison Sullivan teaches him how to pray better, Mary Bielski talks authenticity and Rocco needs some healing.
Allison Sullivan co-hosts as we talk about intercessory prayer...and how bad Taylor is at it. Allison essentially preaches up a storm and looks at him with scorn so he will be better.
In the second segment, we're joined by Mary Bielski. She travels the nation to speak and has run into Taylor a few times. She leads the convo on authenticity. (If you like this convo, there is a 30min bonus podcast that flows straight from this conversation on Patreon)
In the final segment, everyone's favorite character on the show, Rocco, joins us to talk about his Eagles losing and the importance of finding healing in order to move forward in the spiritual life.
We're doing a giveaway for subscribing to and rating the show! Click here to find out how you can win!
Forte Catholic Podcast Episode 117
Bearded Blevins is back by popular demand and joins Taylor to discuss #Seek2019 & New Year’s Resolutions. We’re also joined by the founder of Swole Catholic to talk about the link between faith and working out.
We had to give the people what they want, so Bearded Blevins rejoins the show! We talk about the recent #Seek2019 conference Taylor attended, how Catholics are awesome and super weird, how we go about New Year's Resolutions and more!
This week's guest is the founder of Swole Catholic. It's perfect for this time of year as we all focus on improving spiritually, professionally and physically. Hear all the great things they're doing to help people meet their goals and find wholeness.
Patreon exclusive outtakes from the guys can be found here. Get behind the scenes content and support the show you love (or kinda enjoy…sometimes).
Top Ten Podcasts of 2018!
The countdown of the Top 10 most popular podcast episodes of the year!
2018 was an amazing year for the Forte Catholic show!
The podcast continues to improve and listeners are responding!
In 2018, Forte Catholic was nominated for Podcast of the Year by the Fisher’s Net Awards! We also saw the number of downloads increase over last year by OVER 3.5X!!!! Thank you guys so much for all of the support.
We also added a rotating group of co-hosts that people are loving in Fr. Anthony Sciarappa, Fr. Jared Cooke, Shaun McAfee, Allison Sullivan & Jonathan “Bearded” Blevins. This new setup for the show has been a blast for everyone!
I would like to thank everyone who helped with the show this year through management,
the producers, co-hosts and guests. Truly, from the bottom of my heart…thank you!
I look forward to an exciting 2019!
Top 10 Episodes
Here are the most downloaded episodes of the show ranked 10 through 1.
Click the photos to listen.
If you're having trouble viewing the rankings and descriptions on mobile (i.e. from twitter) view in your browser on original mode.
Thank you again to everyone who listens to the show!
Start 2019 off by checking out any of these top episodes you missed, share the show
with your friends & subscribe to/give the show a rating in your podcasting service.
Let’s continue to #MakeCatholicismFunAgain together!
Forte Catholic Podcast Episode 116
We look back at the highlights of 2018, talk about the importance of remembering, talk to Brandon “Be The Symbol” Morel about what the universality of Catholicism practically means AND reveal the Top Ten most downloaded podcast episodes in 2018. Tune in!
To kick off 2019, we did something a bit different with this episode. Shaun McAfee co-hosts and we looked back at the highlights from 2018 to both reminisce and also catch up our newest listeners.
In the second segment, Brandon “Be The Symbol” Morel rejoins the show to discuss what the universality of the Church really means practically for him in inner city New York. He’s the man behind most of the music you hear on Forte Catholic. Be sure to check out his art!
And finally, we give the people what they’ve been waiting for. We reveal the Top Ten Most Popular podcast episodes of 2018. Tune in to see which shows came out on top!
I am so grateful that the podcast grew so much this year, especially in the last few months! Thank y’all so much for your support this year and for sharing the show with your friends. I truly appreciate it.
Forte Catholic Podcast Episode 115
Keeping Christmas going, pranks on Fr. Anthony, AND professional comedian Aaron Weber joins the show. Keep that Christmas spirit going by listening to this holiday extravaganza!
Merry Christmas from the Forte Catholic crew!
We start the show off with a prank on Fr. Anthony! We continue by discussing how to keep Christmas going with a new understanding of peace and what the baby King means to us today.
This episode, we are joined by comedian Aaron Weber! Taylor got to see him perform live on his tour with John Crist, thought he was hilarious and invited him on the show. Now that it's not just Taylor & his friends making jokes, this is one you don't want to miss!
In the final segment, we are joined by local youth minister Daniel Loch as he shares a heartwarming story about how his church did something extremely special for a young family. The story is inspirational and challenges all of us on what it means to be church.
Bonus content for this episode includes Fr. Anthony taking over the mic while Taylor leaves the studio(quite possibly the funniest outtake we’ve ever had) & another track with between segment content from all the guys involved in this week’s recording. Check out the Forte Catholic Patreon community today!
Forte Catholic Podcast Episode 114
In the final Advent show of 2018, Allison Sullivan co-hosts as we talk waiting, suffering, giving back and of course…the fact that we’re all dumb dumb DUMB sheep.
Allison Sullivan co-hosts our final Advent 2018 show! We discuss final Advent ideas & recap the latest live recording event of her podcast Sinner Saint Sister on the topic of Christian Unity.
In the second segment, Sandi Pino joins us to talk about a great opportunity we all have to give back and spread joy this season. To make being charitable and holy easy, click here! Taylor also thinks he finally has the parable of the lost sheep figured out.(maybe?)
In the final segment, Taylor shares a song he used to despise and now loves and how it defines his(and probably your) struggle with suffering.
For bonus content from this episode, check out our Patreon community.
From all of us here at Forte Catholic, we hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas!
Forte Catholic Podcast Episode 113
Taylor is back from NCCYM with stories & insights. Fr. Jared returns to co-host. We have a friendly homily battle and discuss finding a home in a broken Church w/help from the lyrics of “Who You Say I Am.” Leila Miller is our guest this week as we discuss controversial topics like sex outside of marriage & modesty from her latest book "Made This Way: How To Prepare Kids To Face Today’s Tough Moral Issues."
Taylor has returned from the National Catholic Conference of Youth Ministry with stories & insights, including a Mass Text segment(without the intro...whoops). We decide which homily is better between Taylor's, a 6'8" Bishop's & co-host Fr. Jared's.
In the second segment, we are joined by Leila Miller, co-author of "Made This Way: How To Prepare Kids To Face Today’s Tough Moral Issues." In this book, she and Trent Horn team up to cover how to guide our children to Heaven in today's culture, especially how to answer tough questions about sex outside of marriage, modesty, homosexuality and more.
To close out the show, Taylor and Fr. Jared discuss finding a home in a broken Church through the lyrics of Hillsong's latest hit "Who You Say I Am."
Bonus content for this episode can be found in our Patreon community at Patreon.com/fortecatholic.
Forte Catholic Podcast Episode 111
Don’t use half your brain, “hug people and bring a rope”, drink a lot the Catholic way this holiday season, free speech booths are stupid and more on this week’s show! Fr. Anthony co-hosts and Michael Foley joins as our guest.
Fr. Anthony Sciarappa co-hosts as we start the show talking about not only using half your brain but instead using all God(and yo mama) gave you! Padre's quote at the end of the segment is worth more than gold lol.
In the second segment, we're joined by Michael Foley to discuss the connection between preparing for Christmas and drinking a lot.....in a Catholic way! It's perfect! Get his book on the subject to make your holidays great here!
And in the final segment, Taylor rants about his "free speech booth" encounter and the guys discuss encouragement and end the show by being nice to each other. Twas' quite odd.
We've been nominated as Podcast of the Year by the Fisher's Net Awards! Head over to ForteCatholic.com/vote to cast your ballot for the show today!
Forte Catholic Podcast Episode 110
Shaun McAfee co-hosts as we talk about Taylor’s recent trip to the National Youth Workers Convention, why Satan fell, experiencing beautiful Church’s….and we roast each other a lot too…so there’s that. We’re also joined by internationally acclaimed author and speaker CHRIS STEFANICK! We discuss his new book about letting God rewrite how we see ourselves.
Taylor returns from a trip to St. Louis for the National Youth Workers Convention with content for daeaaaays & a HUGE guest in Chris Stefanick!
Chris, the internationally acclaimed author and speaker, shares about his new book "I Am ___; Rewrite Your Name, Reroute Your Life." This book is all about seeing yourself as God sees you, infusing our inner monologues with Scripture & understanding how our words and identity are extremely powerful in how we interact with the Lord and others.
Shaun McAfee co-hosts and guest producer Thaddeus Romansky provide witty banter and insightful feedback(they're much smarter than Taylor) throughout the first and third segments. We talk pride, humility, the reason Satan fell and what it means for our mission in life. We also chat about Taylor's visit to the BEAUTIFUL Cathedral in St. Louis, his experience there & how it compared/contrasted with the worship experience at the conference. It got into some pretty insane back and forth where all three seem to just roast each other for half a segment. It was a beautiful experience and we hope you enjoying it as much as we did!
Forte Catholic Podcast Episode 109
Fr. Anthony co-hosts as we talk keeping things simple, humility and why truths stand the test of time. We’re also rejoined by the coolest monk you’ve ever heard of, Fr. Augustine Wetta, to discuss his new fantasy novel about Odysseus traveling through Dante’s Inferno.
Fr. Anthony Sciarappa co-hosts(WHAT!?!?!) as we talk about what Taylor learned about keeping things simple from the high school students he was on retreat with this weekend. (The students may or may not have been a little comically confused)
In the second segment, we are joined by a listener favorite Fr. Augustine Wetta. He rejoins the show(from his high school classroom with actual students in it) to talk about his new novel "The Eighth Arrow" which explores what it would be like if Odysseus from the Odyssey was in Dante's Inferno. The book is a thoroughly entertaining jailbreak story, full of allusions to great works of old and the lessons contained. A segment with the monk who breaks all monk stereotypes is always entertaining.
In the final segment, Taylor and Fr. Anthony bring back the "Mass Text" segment to revisit this past Sunday's readings, see how Father's homily went, discuss being bad at humility & why truths survive the test of time.
Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed it, please subscribe, leave a review, & share with someone you think will also enjoy it. For exclusive bonus content, check out our Patreon community at Patreon.com/ForteCatholic.