Journey with us to a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away to plumb the depths of the Star Wars mythos. Awaken Catholic veterans Jon Marc Grodi (Elevate Ordinary, The Men’s Show) and Rob Hohler (The Men’s Show) join Mike for some major nerd time. We discuss:

-Is the force kinda sorta maybe like the Holy Spirit?

-What to do after a powerful religious experience

-Religious people and Jedi who abuse their power

-The way of non-violence

-What is balance?

-Are force ghosts kinda sorta maybe like the intercession of the saints?

-Christian communion vs the diabolical unity of the Sith

-What’s wrong with the world?

-Our favorite characters

-Why the Hallow App should include Star Wars meditations

-who wins in the end: the Palpatines or the Skywalkers?

-And much more!

We venture “Into the Unknown” to unpack the hit Disney movies Frozen I & II. We are joined by the dynamic teaching duo of Kim & Jeremy Rheam. The are Disney nerds, love experts, and long time friends help us journey through some big questions:

What is true love and how do you become a love expert?

What to do when a voice inside is calling you?

Is freedom all it’s cracked up to be?

Why is a frozen heart so dangerous?

Who is the bad guy in these movies?

How to hear God speaking everyday?

Did Ana and Elsa have really bad parents?

How to handle life changes?

Does “For the First Time In Forever” hit a little too close to home in the middle of a pandemic?

And of course, do you want to build a snowman?

Can you become numb to intimacy? What is the power of prayer? What makes for good art? Is Bruce anti-American? Why does everyone from New Jersey want to get out? What does all this have to do with Nickelback and the Notorious BIG?

Singer-songwriter, podcaster, and Springsteen aficionado, Kevin Heider joins us to discuss all this and more, walking us through almost 50 years of the Boss’ music.

A child star turned international phenomenon drops a sexy new banger for 2020. On the surface, Justin Bieber’s “Holy” and Ariana Grande’s “Positions” share much in common. But go deeper and you find some big differences and some profound questions:

- What does “holy” feel like?

- Can you change for someone else without losing yourself?

- Is sex dirty or holy?

- Is the missionary position really part of church teaching?

- What’s harder: being married or being celibate?

Brian Greenfield (Hard As Nails Ministries, Steubenville Youth Conferences) and Mike break it down.

Join us as we geek out hard for one of Pop Punk's quintessential records, Paramore’s sophomore album RIOT! We discuss doubt, faith, fame, friendship, and what you get when you let your heart win. Our guest for this episode is Benjamin Jude, singer-songwriter and worship leader from St. Louis and friend of AWAKEN Catholic.

Twenty One Pilot's breakout album "Blurryface" is arguably the biggest rock album of the 2010's and also one of the most thematically Christian mainstream albums ever. JonMarc Grodi (of the Coming Home Network) and Mike take a deep dive into the album and explore all the musical and spiritual nooks and crannies. Stick around until the end to hear Mike's rendition of one of the best known songs off this album.

Ed Sheeran is the 2nd most streamed artist of the decade (behind Drake) and just wrapped up the highest grossing and biggest tour of all time. He's the real deal. Mike talks with evangelist Brian Rhude about why Ed Sheeran's one man show as well as his songwriting, is so compelling. We talk about death and mourning, love, vocation, Theology of the Body, soteriology, love, persecution, evangelization through beauty, and also make fun of each other a lot.

We go Crawling through the past twenty years of the world's biggest Rap/Rock group since their debut album, Hybrid Theory, changed the game. Nick & Mike discuss their very different upbringings as well as the devil, St. Ignatius and the Jesuits, our false and true selves, conversion, discernment, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Disturbed, Twenty One Pilots, and more! We also rap and sing a bit, and pray for the repose of the soul of Chester Bennington.

Put on your cardigans and join us for this deep dive into Folklore, Tay Tay's surprise album which dominated the charts at the end of the summer. It's been called "the perfect quarantine album" and Mike's fanboy level is 11. Our guest is Sr. Liz Sjoberg of the Daughters of Charity and host of the podcast "In the Company of Charity." It's a love story, just say yes.

[PARENTAL ADVISORY]
Everything you've wanted to know about cervical mucus. Mike Tenney tackles the hottest and most controversial song of the summer with guests Laura Beeson, an NFP teacher with the Couple to Couple League, along with Angelica De La Torre, pop artist, and Nick De La Torre, president of AWAKEN Catholic. In this inaugural episode of Pop Culture Catechism we talk about sex, NFP, double-standards, empowerment, feminism, Theology of the Body, sexual trauma, and more. Be advised: this episode has some explicit language and covers several mature topics. You've been warned.