The Simple Truth

From Executive Ambition to Eternal Mission: Finding My Calling at EWTN (Doug Keck) - 6/10/25

6/10/25 - Doug Keck, President and Chief Operating Officer of EWTN, shares his transformative journey from a secular television executive to a dedicated servant of the Catholic Church. Raised in New York, Doug was a lifelong Catholic who, like many, drifted into a more cultural understanding of faith during his youth. His pivotal moment came when he and his wife discovered Marriage Encounter, a program that reignited their commitment to Christ and deepened their spiritual lives. Before joining EWTN in 1996, Doug had a diverse career in media, including work with the Playboy Channel. Despite his past, he found acceptance and purpose at EWTN, where he has since played a crucial role in expanding the network's reach and impact. Doug's story is a testament to the power of God's grace to transform lives and redirect paths for a higher calling. Join us as Doug candidly shares his faith journey, the challenges he faced, and the profound impact of EWTN's mission on his life and the lives of countless others around the world.

The Memoirs of Blessed Ramon Llull: The First Missionary Martyr to the Muslims (Jason Gale) - 6/9/25

6/9/25 - Blessed Ramon Llull's ultimate act of final perseverance was not one single decision made by grace, but the culmination of a life spent adhering to the will of God. The Memoirs of Blessed Ramon Llull is a thrilling narrative, reading almost like an action novel. In this autobiographical work, he humbly details his triumphs as well as his own weaknesses and disappointments. Due to rivalries between Catholic leaders, Bl. Ramon's missionary zeal faced indifference from within the Church as well as resistance from without. Translated in English for the first time by Fr. Robert Nixon, OSB, this work gives a detailed outline of his request made to Pope Clement V and the College of Cardinals for the establishment of monastic academies to train future missionaries in foreign languages. Unfortunately, his request was denied. A visionary among his fellow clergymen, Bl. Ramon was alone in recognizing the importance of learning the vernacular of the unconverted nations. Despite this and various additional disappointments he experienced, Bl. Ramon never swayed from the work Christ called him to. Get the book at https://tanbooks.com/products/books/the-memoirs-of-blessed-ramon-llull-the-first-missionary-martyr-to-the-muslims/

Why These Men Are Marching in D.C. for the Unborn (Fr. Stephen Imbarrato) - 6/6/25

6/6/25 - On the eve of the next National Men's March to Abolish Abortion and Rally for Personhood in Washington, DC, Jim and Father Imbarrato reflect on the mission behind the event. We'll also hear from a few regular marchers who will share with us what the Men's March has meant to them and how they've been able to take lessons learned at past events back home with them to further the mission and continue the fight against child murder in our nation. Join the fight at https://themensmarch.com/

Mere Natural Law: Originalism and the Anchoring Truths of the Constitution (Hadley Arkes) - 6/5/25

6/5/25 - In Mere Natural Law: Originalism and the Anchoring Truths of the Constitution, legal philosopher Hadley Arkes argues that originalism alone is insufficient to counter judicial activism. He contends that the framers of the Constitution viewed "self-evident" truths of Natural Law as foundational, and that interpreting the Constitution without acknowledging these principles leads to incoherence in the legal system. Arkes emphasizes the importance of grounding constitutional interpretation in moral principles known to all, rather than relying solely on textual analysis or theoretical constructs. He critiques both liberal and conservative approaches that neglect the moral underpinnings of the Constitution, advocating for a return to the moral reasoning that guided the Founders. This work is a call to rediscover the Natural Law as essential to understanding and preserving the Constitution's integrity. Purchase the book at https://www.regnery.com/9781684513017/mere-natural-law/

The Story of Father Nelson Baker, Buffalo’s Saint in the Making (Joanne Wright) - 6/4/25

6/4/25 - We'll be recounting the inspiring life of Venerable Father Nelson Baker (1842–1936), a former businessman-turned-priest who became known as the "Padre of the Poor" in Buffalo, New York. Ordained in 1876, Father Baker transformed the struggling parish of St. Joseph's into a thriving "City of Charity" that included an orphanage, a home for unwed mothers, a hospital, a school for boys, and eventually the magnificent Our Lady of Victory National Shrine and Basilica, completed in 1925. A pioneer in Catholic charity and devotion to Our Lady of Victory, Father Baker served thousands in need during his lifetime, relying entirely on donations through what he called "The Association of Our Lady of Victory." His legacy lives on today, and his cause for sainthood continues, with Pope Benedict XVI declaring him Venerable in 2011. To learn more about Father Baker, please consider visiting the stunning Our Lady of Victory National Shrine and Basilica in Lackawanna, New York. More information at https://www.olvbasilica.org/

They Want to Silence Catholics... This Man Is Fighting Back (CJ Doyle) - 6/3/25

6/3/25 - C.J. Doyle, Executive Director of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts, shares his lifelong commitment to defending the Catholic Faith amid growing secular hostility. Raised in a devout Irish Catholic family, Doyle recounts how his early formation inspired a life of activism, from challenging anti-Catholic bias in politics and media to advocating for the sanctity of life, religious liberty, and traditional moral values. Drawing on decades of public engagement and cultural commentary, Doyle offers an unapologetic witness to Catholic truth in the face of cultural decline and moral compromise. Learn more about the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts at https://www.catholicactionleague.org/

Bioethical Considerations and the Story of Baby Chance (Fr. Stephen Imbarrato) - 5/30/25

5/30/25 - Have you heard the story of Adriana Smith, a 30-year-old pregnant nurse from Georgia who was declared brain-dead just 13 weeks into her pregnancy? Rather than letting her life quietly end, doctors at Emory University Hospital made the courageous decision to keep her on life support—not for her own survival, but to protect the tiny life growing inside her. Her unborn baby, now known as "Baby Chance," has a diagnosed brain condition, but still has a fighting chance thanks to Georgia's LIFE Act, which defends unborn children from the moment a heartbeat is detected. While some call it "torture," we see a tragic but powerful testament to the sanctity of life. Adriana's story is one about having the moral courage to say that every life matters, no matter how small or uncertain the future may seem; it's also one that is sure to stir debate and controversy regarding how law and bioethical considerations should intersect.

20th Century Mystic Diaries: Gabrielle Bossis and Her Conversations with Jesus (Joanne Wright) - 5/28/25

5/28/25 - We'll examine the life of Gabrielle Bossis (1874–1950), a French nurse, playwright, and Catholic mystic whose deeply personal spiritual writings have touched generations. Best known for her diary Lui et moi (He and I), Bossis began experiencing what she described as interior conversations with Jesus later in life, during her travels across France as a playwright and performer. Born into a devout Catholic family in Nantes, she served as a nurse during World War I, and only turned to writing and spiritual reflection more intensely in her 60s. In He and I, she recorded daily dialogues filled with tenderness, guidance, and divine love, texts that would eventually be hailed as a modern spiritual classic. Through excerpts from her writings and historical context, we'll attempt to trace the journey of a woman who lived quietly but carried within her a profound mystical relationship with Christ.

A Priest’s 486-Mile Pilgrimage: Faith, Wilderness, and the Colorado Trail (Fr. John Nepil) - 5/27/25

5/27/25 - We're joined by Fr. John Nepil, priest, theologian, and mountaineer, as he reflects on his new book To Heights and unto Depths: Letters from the Colorado Trail. Written during a 486-mile pilgrimage through the Colorado Rockies with fellow priests and Catholic young adults, the book offers a profound spiritual meditation on nature, suffering, and divine encounter. Fr. Nepil draws deeply from the Catholic intellectual tradition, especially the insights of Luigi Giussani, Dietrich von Hildebrand, and Hans Urs von Balthasar, to explore how the wilderness becomes a school of the Incarnation where God speaks through the silence of creation. Purchase the book at https://ignatius.com/to-heights-and-unto-depths-thudp/

Men, We Need You (Fr. Stephen Imbarrato) - 5/23/25

5/23/25 - Jim and Father Imbarrato lead a vital conversation on why men must rise to the occasion in the battle to end abortion. As co-founders of The Men's March, they challenge men across the nation to reclaim their role as defenders of life and champions for the unborn. We highlight the next major event in this growing movement, happening Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Washington, D.C. from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Featuring powerful voices like Bishop Joseph Strickland, this rally is a call to action for men to stand publicly and unapologetically for life. Join us as Jim and Father share their insights, experiences, and the urgent need for male leadership in the pro-life cause. This is more than just a movement — it's a mission to restore moral responsibility and protect the most vulnerable among us. Learn more at https://themensmarch.com/