The Cardinal Newman Society Podcast

The Cardinal Newman Society Podcast
  • 4.9 (10)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Promoting & Defending Faithful Catholic Education

  1. 12/31/2025

    Faith, Psychology, and the Human Person: A Catholic Response to the Mental Health Crisis

    Mental health challenges are rising rapidly among young people. How should Catholics respond? In Episode 48 of the Cardinal Newman Society Podcast, host Kevin Murphy continues his conversation with Fr. Charles Sikorsky, President of Divine Mercy University. Together, they explore how sound psychology, grounded in a faithful Catholic understanding of the human person, offers a hopeful and effective response to today’s mental health crisis. Fr. Sikorsky discusses the growing need for well-formed Catholic mental health professionals and the role of faithful education in restoring healing, dignity, and hope. Click here to watch on YouTube

    20 min

  2. 12/10/2025

    Ep. 46: A Father’s Sacrifice & the Power of Faithful Catholic Education with Chris VanderWoude

    Mental health challenges are rising rapidly among young people. How should Catholics respond? In this episode of the Cardinal Newman Society Podcast, host Kevin Murphy speaks with Fr. Charles Sikorsky, President of Divine Mercy University, about integrating sound psychology with a faithful Catholic understanding of the human person. Fr. Sikorsky explains the mission of Divine Mercy University, the growing need for Catholic mental health professionals, and how faithful education helps bring healing and hope to a culture in crisis. Click here to watch on YouTube

    42 min

  3. 11/14/2025

    Ep. 46: A Father’s Sacrifice & the Power of Faithful Catholic Education with Chris VanderWoude

    What is faithful Catholic education really worth? For airline pilot and father of seven Thomas VanderWoude, it meant moving his family so his sons could attend authentically Catholic schools. It also meant giving his life to save his youngest son with Down syndrome. In this moving episode of the Cardinal Newman Society Podcast, host Kevin Murphy talks with Chris about his family’s commitment to Catholic education, the generational impact of those choices,, and the emerging cause for sainthood for his father. Click here to watch on YouTube

    56 min

  4. 11/01/2025

    Ep. 44: Religious Freedom in the Courts: How ADF Protects Catholic Education with Greg Baylor

    Pope Leo XIV will proclaim St. John Henry Newman a "Doctor of the Church" during Mass today. Who is this great saint? Tune in to this special Cardinal Newman Society Podcast interview with Patrick Reilly, noted speaker and founder of The Newman Guide. Click here to watch on YouTube

    1h 7m

  5. 10/17/2025

    Ep. 44: Religious Freedom in the Courts: How ADF Protects Catholic Education with Greg Baylor

    We continue our conversation with Greg Baylor on defending religious freedom in Catholic education. As Senior Counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, he has spent decades standing at the intersection of law, faith, and education, protecting Catholic schools from government mandates and cultural pressures that threaten their mission. Listen to the cases ADF is bringing in front of the Supreme Court this term, and why this impacts the work of Catholic education. Click here to watch on YouTube

    33 min

  6. 10/06/2025

    Ep. 43: Defending Religious Freedom in Catholic Education with Greg Baylor

    Greg Baylor’s path to becoming one of the nation’s leading defenders of religious liberty was marked by conviction and purpose. As Senior Counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, he has spent decades protecting religious schools, families, and ministries from government overreach and cultural pressures that threaten their freedom to live faithfully. In this conversation, Baylor breaks down the most pressing legal challenges facing Catholic education today, from Title IX disputes to conscience protections. With clarity and conviction, he explains why vigilance in the courts is essential for safeguarding Catholic identity, and how educators and parents alike can stand firm in the face of growing opposition. This is a timely and practical look at the front lines of religious liberty — and why the fight for faithful education matters for the future of the Church. Click here to watch on YouTube

    33 min

  7. 06/27/2025

    Ep. 42: What Sports, Saints, and Smartphones Reveal About the Soul – Real Catholic Formation at Belmont Abbey

    In Part 2 of our interview with Dr. Bill Thierfelder, outgoing president of Belmont Abbey College, we dive into the deeper layers of Catholic education, sports, culture, and the soul. With stories from NFL training sessions to his own Olympic-level athletic career, Dr. Thierfelder unpacks what sport is really for and how it can form or deform the human person depending on its aim. From Saint John Henry Newman's vision of the university to Pope Pius XII’s theology of sport, this episode explores the radical claim that virtue, beauty, and discipline belong in both the classroom and the weight room. Dr. Thierfelder also warns of the spiritual cost of tech dependence and offers a moving reflection on what it means to be truly present, to God, to one another, and to the purpose He gives each life. Whether you are a parent, athlete, or educator, this is a must-listen episode on Catholic formation, real presence, and human flourishing in a distracted age. Click here to watch on YouTube

    40 min

  8. 06/19/2025

    Ep. 41: How Dr. Bill Thierfelder Revived Belmont Abbey Through Faith, Love, & Benedictine Tradition

    Dr. Bill Thierfelder’s path to Belmont Abbey was anything but predictable — from NCAA Division I athlete and Olympic-level sports psychologist to business executive and devoted father of ten children, his journey ultimately led him to a small Catholic college in crisis. But what followed was nothing short of providential. Rooted in the Benedictine tradition and inspired by the monks who built the college brick by brick over 150 years ago, Dr. Thierfelder helped transform Belmont Abbey into a faithful Catholic institution that now thrives spiritually and academically. With humility, conviction, and a deep love for Christ, he shares what it means to live “according to the Rule” — not just as a motto, but as a daily mission. In this conversation, he unpacks the true meaning of love, the spiritual battles of modern education, and the simple prayer that defines his life: “Thank you, Jesus.” This is a powerful testimony of renewal, leadership, and the beauty of Catholic tradition in action. Click here to watch on YouTube

    32 min
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