The Simpleton Podcast | Catholic Culture, Mission, and Politics with Clark Massey and Laura Hehman

Clark Massey and Laura Hehman
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Welcome to The Simpleton Podcast with Clark Massey and Laura Hehman! Clark is the founder of A Simple House of Sts. Francis and Alphonsus, a Catholic inner-city outreach ministry in Washington, DC and Kansas City, MO. Laura was one of the first missionaries to join the ministry, and is still involved today. The vision of The Simpleton Podcast is to discuss Catholic culture, mission, and politics through the lens of the Catholic laity. New episodes (almost) every Thursday! To learn more about A Simple House, visit https://www.asimplehouse.org/

  1. 09/20/2025

    The Catholic Aesthetic: Beauty & Imagination | The Simpleton Podcast with Clark Massey, Laura Hehman

    Call (913) 390-3672 and leave a message for the podcast (or email us at asimplehouse@gmail.com)! Clark and Laura discuss the Catholic "aesthetic" and if beauty will really save the world in this episode of The Simpleton Podcast. Chapters: 0:00 Episode preview 0:55 An ask / an aside on dad jokes 3:19 A Simple House update 6:08 The Catholic aesthetic, imagination, and beauty 18:25 Beauty as evangelization 40:50 Closing You can stream The Simpleton Podcast almost anywhere you find podcasts: Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2182l5YE8bUl8u0ChtX16B⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-simpleton-podcast-catholic-culture-mission/id1564808557⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6J5x7lptOXsnTAQRah4MhOOZwuttVNtb⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rumble: ⁠⁠⁠https://rumble.com/user/asimplehouseU⁠⁠⁠ Odysee: ⁠⁠⁠https://odysee.com/@asimplehouseU⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/asimplehouseU⁠⁠⁠ A Simple House is a Catholic ministry that serves project and Section 8 neighborhoods in southeast Washington, DC and Kansas City, MO. Missionaries strive to meet the material and spiritual needs of the poor while living a simple religious life. Each missionary attends daily Mass, says morning and evening prayer from the Catholic Church's Liturgy of the Hours, and makes time for personal prayer and scripture study. Visit ⁠⁠⁠https://www.asimplehouse.org/⁠⁠⁠ to learn more about A Simple House and The Simpleton Podcast. YouTube - A Simple House: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@asimplehouse.catholic⁠⁠⁠ YouTube - A Simple House U (home of The Simpleton Podcast): ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ASimpleHouse_U⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: @asimplehouse | ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/@asimplehouse⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: @asimplehouse.catholic | ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/asimplehouse.catholic⁠⁠⁠ Thank you to Ben Friedman from Totus Media for editing and producing The Simpleton Podcast. Totus Media is a media production company based out of Central Iowa. Search videographer Des Moines or marketing Des Moines to learn more, or visit ⁠⁠⁠https://www.totusmedia.co/⁠⁠⁠ #catholic #podcast #religion

    41 min

  2. 09/03/2025

    Pope Benedict: Modernism, Progress, Science and Christianity (I2C pt. 3) | The Simpleton Podcast

    Call (913) 390-3672 and leave a message for the podcast (or email us at asimplehouse@gmail.com)! Clark and Audrey continue their multi-episode series exploring "Introduction to Christianity" by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, known later as Pope Benedict XVI, in this episode of The Simpleton Podcast.  Chapters: 0:00 Intro & I2C Series recap (up to now) 3:13 The seen and unseen world, continual renewal 6:39 Tradition vs. progress, anti-history 18:58 Christianity’s relationship with history 23:51 Modern man’s questions 30:25 Postmodernism 32:34 A podcast episode recommendation 34:24 Final thoughts Watch "Bishop Barron Presents | Fr. Joseph Fessio - Being Formed by Ratzinger, De Lubac, and Balthasar": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXrN5iFiis8 You can stream The Simpleton Podcast almost anywhere you find podcasts: Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2182l5YE8bUl8u0ChtX16B⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-simpleton-podcast-catholic-culture-mission/id1564808557⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6J5x7lptOXsnTAQRah4MhOOZwuttVNtb⁠⁠⁠ Rumble: ⁠⁠https://rumble.com/user/asimplehouseU⁠⁠ Odysee: ⁠⁠https://odysee.com/@asimplehouseU⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠https://x.com/asimplehouseU⁠⁠ A Simple House is a Catholic ministry that serves project and Section 8 neighborhoods in southeast Washington, DC and Kansas City, MO. Missionaries strive to meet the material and spiritual needs of the poor while living a simple religious life. Each missionary attends daily Mass, says morning and evening prayer from the Catholic Church's Liturgy of the Hours, and makes time for personal prayer and scripture study. Visit ⁠⁠https://www.asimplehouse.org/⁠⁠ to learn more about A Simple House and The Simpleton Podcast. YouTube - A Simple House: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@asimplehouse.catholic⁠⁠ YouTube - A Simple House U (home of The Simpleton Podcast): ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ASimpleHouse_U⁠⁠ Facebook: @asimplehouse | ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/@asimplehouse⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: @asimplehouse.catholic | ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/asimplehouse.catholic⁠⁠ Thank you to Ben Friedman from Totus Media for editing and producing The Simpleton Podcast. Totus Media is a media production company based out of Central Iowa. Search videographer Des Moines or marketing Des Moines to learn more, or visit ⁠⁠https://www.totusmedia.co/⁠⁠ #catholic #podcast #religion

    36 min

  3. 08/06/2025

    Does VIRTUS Training Work? INTERVIEW w/ Melanie Takinen | The Simpleton Podcast, Clark Massey

    Call (913) 390-3672 and leave a message for the podcast (or email us at asimplehouse@gmail.com)! Clark sits down with Melanie Takinen, Associate Director of VIRTUS Programs, to learn more about the beginnings of the program, what it does for the Church, and what else the Church should be doing, in this episode of The Simpleton Podcast. Learn more about VIRTUS at https://virtusonline.org/virtus/ Chapters: 0:00 Intro & context1 2:58 Welcome, Melanie! 15:53 The beginnings of VIRTUS 21:20 VIRTUS’s implementation 29:41 Does VIRTUS work? 38:15 What else should the Church be doing? 45:13 What do people misunderstand about VIRTUS? 52:56 Final thoughts You can stream The Simpleton Podcast almost anywhere you find podcasts: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2182l5YE8bUl8u0ChtX16B Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-simpleton-podcast-catholic-culture-mission/id1564808557 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6J5x7lptOXsnTAQRah4MhOOZwuttVNtb⁠ Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/asimplehouseU Odysee: https://odysee.com/@asimplehouseU X: https://x.com/asimplehouseU A Simple House is a Catholic ministry that serves project and Section 8 neighborhoods in southeast Washington, DC and Kansas City, MO. Missionaries strive to meet the material and spiritual needs of the poor while living a simple religious life. Each missionary attends daily Mass, says morning and evening prayer from the Catholic Church's Liturgy of the Hours, and makes time for personal prayer and scripture study. Visit https://www.asimplehouse.org/ to learn more about A Simple House and The Simpleton Podcast. YouTube - A Simple House: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@asimplehouse.catholic YouTube - A Simple House U (home of The Simpleton Podcast): ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ASimpleHouse_U Facebook: @asimplehouse | ⁠https://www.facebook.com/@asimplehouse⁠ Instagram: @asimplehouse.catholic | ⁠https://www.instagram.com/asimplehouse.catholic Thank you to Totus Media for editing and producing The Simpleton Podcast. Totus Media is a media production company based out of Central Iowa. Search videographer Des Moines or marketing Des Moines to learn more, or visit https://www.totusmedia.co/ #catholic #podcast #religion

    54 min

  4. 07/24/2025

    Available Reality, St. Cyril & Trad. Liturgy | The Simpleton Podcast, Clark Massey & Laura Hehman

    Call (913) 390-3672 and leave a message for the podcast (or email us at asimplehouse@gmail.com)!Clark and Laura talk how to discern what you can actually accomplish, St. Cyril of Jerusalem's guidance on the kiss of peace, AI's critiques of Catholicism, and more in this episode of The Simpleton Podcast. Chapters:0:00 Episode preview1:29 God’s plans & your “available reality”17:30 The best kiss of peace25:30 Receiving Communion on the eyes?28:39 Neo-traditionalism in the Church34:16 AI critiques Catholicism42:45 The deception50:38 Jailbreaking AI53:34 Clark’s bad sports take1:03:30 TSP’s “sponsors” (not really)You can stream The Simpleton Podcast almost anywhere you find podcasts:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2182l5YE8bUl8u0ChtX16BApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-simpleton-podcast-catholic-culture-mission/id1564808557YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6J5x7lptOXsnTAQRah4MhOOZwuttVNtb⁠Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/asimplehouseUOdysee: https://odysee.com/@asimplehouseUX: https://x.com/asimplehouseUA Simple House is a Catholic ministry that serves project and Section 8 neighborhoods in southeast Washington, DC and Kansas City, MO. Missionaries strive to meet the material and spiritual needs of the poor while living a simple religious life. Each missionary attends daily Mass, says morning and evening prayer from the Catholic Church's Liturgy of the Hours, and makes time for personal prayer and scripture study.Visit https://www.asimplehouse.org/ to learn more about A Simple House and The Simpleton Podcast.YouTube - A Simple House: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@asimplehouse.catholicYouTube - A Simple House U (home of The Simpleton Podcast): ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ASimpleHouse_UFacebook: @asimplehouse | ⁠https://www.facebook.com/@asimplehouse⁠Instagram: @asimplehouse.catholic | ⁠https://www.instagram.com/asimplehouse.catholicThank you to Totus Media for editing and producing The Simpleton Podcast. Totus Media is a media production company based out of Central Iowa. Search videographer Des Moines or marketing Des Moines to learn more, or visit https://www.totusmedia.co/#catholic #podcast #religion

    1h 8m

  5. 06/26/2025

    The Parables of Pope Benedict; Can Believers Have Any Doubts? (I2C pt. 2) | The Simpleton Podcast

    Call (913) 390-3672 and leave a message for the podcast (or email us at asimplehouse@gmail.com)! Clark and Audrey continue their multi-episode series exploring "Introduction to Christianity" by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, known later as Pope Benedict XVI, in this episode of The Simpleton Podcast.  Chapters: 0:00 Episode preview 1:17 Listener question: how to get friends to read Benedict? 5:44 Audrey’s mic story and Benedict’s books 10:06 Benedict’s 3 parables 35:00 “I believe” 40:53 Family mission experience in Belize Learn more about SOLT's Family Mission Experiences here: ⁠https://www.soltfme.org/⁠ You can stream The Simpleton Podcast almost anywhere you find podcasts: Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2182l5YE8bUl8u0ChtX16B⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-simpleton-podcast-catholic-culture-mission/id1564808557⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6J5x7lptOXsnTAQRah4MhOOZwuttVNtb⁠⁠ Rumble: ⁠https://rumble.com/user/asimplehouseU⁠ Odysee: ⁠https://odysee.com/@asimplehouseU⁠ X: ⁠https://x.com/asimplehouseU⁠ A Simple House is a Catholic ministry that serves project and Section 8 neighborhoods in southeast Washington, DC and Kansas City, MO. Missionaries strive to meet the material and spiritual needs of the poor while living a simple religious life. Each missionary attends daily Mass, says morning and evening prayer from the Catholic Church's Liturgy of the Hours, and makes time for personal prayer and scripture study. Visit ⁠https://www.asimplehouse.org/⁠ to learn more about A Simple House and The Simpleton Podcast. YouTube - A Simple House: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@asimplehouse.catholic⁠ YouTube - A Simple House U (home of The Simpleton Podcast): ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ASimpleHouse_U⁠ Facebook: @asimplehouse | ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/@asimplehouse⁠⁠ Instagram: @asimplehouse.catholic | ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/asimplehouse.catholic⁠ Thank you to Ben Friedman from Totus Media for editing and producing The Simpleton Podcast. Totus Media is a media production company based out of Central Iowa. Search videographer Des Moines or marketing Des Moines to learn more, or visit ⁠https://www.totusmedia.co/⁠ #catholic #podcast #religion

    54 min

  6. 06/20/2025

    Lord of the Dance, Orthodoxy vs. Conservatism | The Simpleton Podcast, Clark Massey & Laura Hehman

    Call (913) 390-3672 and leave a message for the podcast (or email us at asimplehouse@gmail.com)! Clark and Laura talk "Lord of the Dance", why orthodoxy is better than conservatism, and the truth behind economic stats of unemployment and living cost in this episode of The Simpleton Podcast. Links: Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity (https://www.lisep.org) Chapters: 0:00 Episode preview 1:38 Laura’s wonderful religion teacher 7:03  The man who lived Catholic social doctrine in politics 12:43 Lord of the Dance and its redemption 19:28 Conservatism vs. Orthodoxy 27:35 How the Catechism gave the church stable ground 37:35 What is economically true?; Ludwig Institute 1:01:50 Final thoughts You can stream The Simpleton Podcast almost anywhere you find podcasts: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2182l5YE8bUl8u0ChtX16B Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-simpleton-podcast-catholic-culture-mission/id1564808557 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6J5x7lptOXsnTAQRah4MhOOZwuttVNtb⁠ Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/asimplehouseU Odysee: https://odysee.com/@asimplehouseU X: https://x.com/asimplehouseU A Simple House is a Catholic ministry that serves project and Section 8 neighborhoods in southeast Washington, DC and Kansas City, MO. Missionaries strive to meet the material and spiritual needs of the poor while living a simple religious life. Each missionary attends daily Mass, says morning and evening prayer from the Catholic Church's Liturgy of the Hours, and makes time for personal prayer and scripture study. Visit https://www.asimplehouse.org/ to learn more about A Simple House and The Simpleton Podcast. YouTube - A Simple House: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@asimplehouse.catholic YouTube - A Simple House U (home of The Simpleton Podcast): ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ASimpleHouse_U Facebook: @asimplehouse | ⁠https://www.facebook.com/@asimplehouse⁠ Instagram: @asimplehouse.catholic | ⁠https://www.instagram.com/asimplehouse.catholic Thank you to Kelly Franzen & Ben Friedman from Totus Media for editing and producing The Simpleton Podcast. Totus Media is a media production company based out of Central Iowa. Search videographer Des Moines or marketing Des Moines to learn more, or visit https://www.totusmedia.co/ #catholic #podcast #religion

    1h 3m

  7. 06/12/2025

    Family, Business, & Ministry: Soren Johnson, Trinity House Community Interview | Simpleton Podcast

    Call (913) 390-3672 and leave a message for the podcast (or email us at asimplehouse@gmail.com)! Laura sits down with Soren Johnson, Founder & Co-Director of Trinity House Community, in this episode of The Simpleton Podcast. Links: Subscribe here (https://trinityhousecommunity.org/elist/) to receive Soren & Ever Johnson's weekly Heaven in Your Home Letter (e-letter) with inspiration and strategies for your marriage and family. Download your own copy of the "Heaven in Your Home Flowchart" (PDF here: https://trinityhousecommunity.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Flowchart-2025.pdf) and start building your Trinity House today! Learn more about starting a Trinity House Community Group (English or Spanish) at your parish here (https://trinityhousecommunity.org/subscription/) This "date night plus family night" approach to strengthening families and community is now active in 14 states. Buy your own copy of Soren and Ever's Heaven in Your Home Letters & Guide: Inspiration & Tools for Building a Trinity House (https://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Your-Home-Letters-Guide/dp/B0CR6TT2HT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1LHS1IUOF3BVO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0z5m3Tnj2HsKc3_NHtrS5HhleXh0iMLuewMEfC0zIdlqSgdHlVdsO4d7HcYpWUkf4s0w5GoNc1eqaC5AZRQ0O4e4XQB_KCJMWt9ip8nW6gbJ6KAnqLTCQYeTY9lay7OoxohEY9lJsD3o-eRJAXG2IDd40pmp50HljZssy2L45YnuuWw09GQKoNlQbxPBinVrfqC7LjThCaq-e0sXAsTpUO2Rob1B4P8fSHhLFSamz7s.t9aXAQDx1FIuxr_8B2-MPInFMKmK45_TrZt8RdWAc3w&dib_tag=se&keywords=heaven+in+your+home&qid=1744312499&sprefix=heaven+in+your%2Caps%2C83&sr=8-1) Learn more about Trinity House Community and Trinity House Cafe at https://trinityhousecommunity.org and http://www.trinityhousecafe.com. Chapters: 0:00 Intro to Soren and Trinity House 3:55 What is Trinity House? 17:00 Trinity House parish gatherings 24:13 Where discussion topics came from 26:50 Trinity House Cafe 37:58 Managing a family and business at the same time 47:20 Public school for the kids 51:35 how to stay close to God 54:40 Final thoughts You can stream The Simpleton Podcast almost anywhere you find podcasts: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2182l5YE8bUl8u0ChtX16BApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-simpleton-podcast-catholic-culture-mission/id1564808557 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6J5x7lptOXsnTAQRah4MhOOZwuttVNtb ⁠Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/asimplehouseU Odysee: https://odysee.com/@asimplehouseU X: https://x.com/asimplehouseU A Simple House is a Catholic ministry that serves project and Section 8 neighborhoods in southeast Washington, DC and Kansas City, MO. Missionaries strive to meet the material and spiritual needs of the poor while living a simple religious life. Each missionary attends daily Mass, says morning and evening prayer from the Catholic Church's Liturgy of the Hours, and makes time for personal prayer and scripture study. Visit https://www.asimplehouse.org/ to learn more about A Simple House and The Simpleton Podcast. YouTube - A Simple House: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@asimplehouse.catholic YouTube - A Simple House U (home of The Simpleton Podcast): ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ASimpleHouse_U Facebook: @asimplehouse | ⁠https://www.facebook.com/@asimplehouse ⁠Instagram: @asimplehouse.catholic | ⁠https://www.instagram.com/asimplehouse.catholic Thank you to Kelly Franzen & Ben Friedman from Totus Media for editing and producing The Simpleton Podcast. Totus Media is a media production company based out of Central Iowa. Search videographer Des Moines or marketing Des Moines to learn more, or visit https://www.totusmedia.co/ #catholic #podcast #religion

    56 min

  8. 06/08/2025

    "Introduction to Christianity": Pope Benedict XVI's Magnum Opus (I2C pt. 1) | The Simpleton Podcast

    Call (913) 390-3672 and leave a message for the podcast (or email us at asimplehouse@gmail.com)! Clark and Audrey begin their multi-episode series exploring "Introduction to Christianity" by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, known later as Pope Benedict XVI, in this episode of The Simpleton Podcast. Chapters: 0:00 Welcome, Audrey! 1:07 Why this series? Why an “Introduction” to Christianity? 11:45 The old preface The new preface 32:49 Liberation Theology, “Baptizing” Marxism, and the true effect of religion 38:21 Benedict building bridges 45:44 Closing thoughts You can stream The Simpleton Podcast almost anywhere you find podcasts: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2182l5YE8bUl8u0ChtX16BApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-simpleton-podcast-catholic-culture-mission/id1564808557 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6J5x7lptOXsnTAQRah4MhOOZwuttVNtb ⁠Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/asimplehouseU Odysee: https://odysee.com/@asimplehouseU X: https://x.com/asimplehouseU A Simple House is a Catholic ministry that serves project and Section 8 neighborhoods in southeast Washington, DC and Kansas City, MO. Missionaries strive to meet the material and spiritual needs of the poor while living a simple religious life. Each missionary attends daily Mass, says morning and evening prayer from the Catholic Church's Liturgy of the Hours, and makes time for personal prayer and scripture study. Visit https://www.asimplehouse.org/ to learn more about A Simple House and The Simpleton Podcast. YouTube - A Simple House: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@asimplehouse.catholic YouTube - A Simple House U (home of The Simpleton Podcast): ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ASimpleHouse_U Facebook: @asimplehouse | ⁠https://www.facebook.com/@asimplehouse⁠ Instagram: @asimplehouse.catholic | ⁠https://www.instagram.com/asimplehouse.catholic Thank you to Kelly Franzen & Ben Friedman from Totus Media for editing and producing The Simpleton Podcast. Totus Media is a media production company based out of Central Iowa. Search videographer Des Moines or marketing Des Moines to learn more, or visit https://www.totusmedia.co/ #catholic #podcast #religion

    46 min
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About

Welcome to The Simpleton Podcast with Clark Massey and Laura Hehman! Clark is the founder of A Simple House of Sts. Francis and Alphonsus, a Catholic inner-city outreach ministry in Washington, DC and Kansas City, MO. Laura was one of the first missionaries to join the ministry, and is still involved today. The vision of The Simpleton Podcast is to discuss Catholic culture, mission, and politics through the lens of the Catholic laity. New episodes (almost) every Thursday! To learn more about A Simple House, visit https://www.asimplehouse.org/

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