The deacons speak with Diana Macalintal, co-founder and co-director of TeamRCIA, a resource for parishes and ministers working with adults who are becoming Catholic. She also is an author and speaker on topics related to liturgy, music, prayer, and intercultural ministry.

The deacons are joined by Jesuit Fr. Thomas Reese to discuss his essay "15 Hidden Gems in the Synod on Synodality Report" that appeared November 9, 2023, in the National Catholic Reporter.

Media literacy education, digital literacy skills, artificial intelligence, and the power of movies are topics in this first Deacons Pod episode of 2024. The deacons' wonderful guest is Sr. Rose Pacatte, a Daughter of St. Paul, the founding director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies, and a film critic.

The deacons speak with Robert Ellsberg, publisher of Orbis Books, writer of the "Blessed Among Us" column in "Give Us This Day," and one-time managing editor of the Catholic Worker newspaper.

The deacons speak with Joan Rosenhauer, President of Jesuit Refugee Service USA, an organization which serves and advocates on behalf of refugees and forcibly displaced people.

How can the Church's evangelization efforts be more effective? Is World Youth Day having a lasting impact? Where can "threshold Catholics" or "seekers" find hope? These are some of the deacons' questions in this episode for Marilyn Santos, a veteran Catholic educator and youth minister.

Deacon Dennis and Deacon Patrick speak with Cherylann and Len Gengel of the Be Like Brit Foundation, which operates a home and academy for children in Haiti.

The deacons speak with Nancy Klein Maguire, author of "An Infinity of Little Hours: Five Young Men and Their Trial of Faith in the Western World's Most Austere Monastic Order" and "The Monk's Widow: A Memoir of a Resilient Love and an Intimate Death."

The deacons speak with U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas about her spiritual journey and the sense of peace she has found three years after her son Daniel, age 20, was shot and killed at their home in New Jersey.

The deacons speak with Paulist Fr. Charlie Donahue and Deacon Patrick Murphy-Racey, both law enforcement chaplains in Knoxville, TN.

The deacons speak with Deacon Bill Ditewig, a retired U.S. Navy Commander, linguist, professor, and author of several Paulist Press books about the diaconate.

The deacons speak with Gerard Straub, an author, former television producer, and Secular Franciscan who leads the Santa Chiara Children’s Center in Haiti.

The deacons speak with Deacon Kevin Martin, a permanent deacon of the Archdiocese of Boston, and author of "All is Well: Life Lessons from a Preacher's Father."

The deacons speak with Dr. Carmen Acevedo Butcher, translator of a "revolutionary" new translation of the spiritual classic "The Practice of the Presence of God" by French Carmelite Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection (c. 1614 - 1691).

The deacons speak with Dr. Kevin Ahern, a theological ethicist and public theologian. He is an associate professor of religious studies at Manhattan College in Bronx, NY.

The deacons speak with Stephanie Clary, editor of "Earthbeat," the faith and climate project of the National Catholic Reporter.

The deacons speak with Bob Carini, a one-time supervisor of counselors in a Connecticut prison. They speak about the Twelve-Step program, addiction, and more. Deacon Dennis and Deacon Tom met Bob when they served as prison ministers.

The deacons speak with Paulist Fr. Joe Ciccone, a veteran pastor and campus minister, about listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit when life takes us out of our comfort zones.

The deacons speak with Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda, author of "The Shepherd Who Didn't Run: Fr. Stanley Rother, Martyr from Oklahoma."

Why do Catholics leave the Church? What is the best way to accompany Catholics thinking about leaving? How should Catholics be present to those who leave because of the sexual abuse crisis? The deacons consider these questions in this installment of Deacons Pod. Deacon Drew, Deacon Tom and Deacon Dennis are joined by Deacon Mark Asselin, another Paulist Deacon Affiliate, for this challenging conversation.

The Deacons talk about what they read and do on a regular basis to deepen their spirituality, and offer practical advice for listeners about how to deepen their own spiritual lives.

The deacons have a great conversation with Kate Williams, Vice President of Sacred Music at GIA Publications, Inc., and a Music Minister at Old St. Mary's Church in Chicago.

The deacons speak with Dr. Jessica Coblentz, author of "Dust in the Blood: A Theology of Life with Depression." She argues for (and contributes to) an expansion of Christian ideas about what depression is, how God relates to it, and how Christians should understand and respond to depression in turn.

The deacons speak with Mike Hayes, director of young adult ministry in the Diocese of Cleveland, OH, about discernment, what's working today in young adult ministry, and more.

The deacons speak Paulist Fr. Frank Desiderio about letting go of grudges, extending mercy, and how exploring mysticism might help Catholics who are struggling with the Church.