The Simple Truth

What Amy Coney Barrett’s Book Reveals About Roe, Life & the Constitution (Fr. Stephen Imbarrato) - 9/19/25

9/19/25 - Jim and Father Imbarrato take a deep dive into Justice Amy Coney Barrett's new book, Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and Constitution. With sharp Catholic insight, they unpack what Barrett reveals - and what she leaves unsaid - about the sanctity of life, constitutional interpretation, and the future of the pro-life movement. Drawing on past public clips and speeches, we'll compare Barrett's earlier statements to her current writings, asking whether her messaging has shifted since joining the Supreme Court. Does her book provide real hope for ending abortion in America, or does it reflect the cautious language of judicial restraint?

Exposing Attacks on Life: Florida Heartbeat Law & Pro-Life Centers Under Fire (Pam Stenzel and Nathan Lloyd) - 9/18/25

9/18/25 - In the first half of today's show, pro-life leader Pam Stenzel shares urgent insights into the lack of enforcement of Florida's heartbeat law and the ongoing battle to end abortion in the state. Then, Nathan Lloyd, Staff Counsel at the Thomas More Society, joins us to highlight a critical case in Massachusetts, where pro-life pregnancy centers are facing aggressive lawfare aimed at silencing their free speech and lifesaving work. Together, they shed light on the growing threats against the pro-life movement and what Catholics must do to defend the unborn and protect those who serve mothers in need.

Wanda Boniszewska: The Astonishing Journey of a Servant of God and Mystical Victim Soul (Joanne Wright) - 9/17/25

9/17/25 - We unravel the extraordinary story of Servant of God Wanda Boniszewska (1907–2003), a Polish nun of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Angels, who offered her life as a mystical victim soul for the conversion of sinners and the sanctification of priests. Bearing the hidden wounds of Christ's Passion and enduring suffering under communist persecution, Wanda's life reveals the power of redemptive suffering united with Christ. In this video, we explore her hidden mystical experiences, her diary, her mission of intercession, and her cause for canonization, inviting the faithful to rediscover the beauty of holiness in silence, sacrifice, and total surrender to God's will.

From Heartbreak to Hope: The Grace Center Mission in Ethiopia (Marcie Erickson) - 9/16/25

9/16/25 - Marcie Erickson shares her powerful personal testimony and the story behind the founding of the Grace Center Foundation in Ethiopia. What began as a response to the suffering of abandoned children, imprisoned women, and struggling families has grown into a vibrant ministry dedicated to meeting the whole person: physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Marcie explains the foundation's mission to care for orphans, provide education, offer prison ministry, and bring the hope of Christ to those most in need. She also reflects on the challenges of mission work, the miracles she has witnessed, and how Catholics everywhere can join in supporting this life-changing mission. Learn more at https://www.gracecenterfoundation.org/

Faith and Film: 100 Movies Every Catholic Should Watch! (Samuel Morales) - 9/15/25

9/15/25 - We sit down with Samuel Morales, one of the creators behind The Official List of 100 Movies Every Catholic Should See, a two-year project that brings together films from across genres, eras, and cultures to highlight stories that resonate with the Catholic imagination. More than just a "religious movie list," the project explores how both explicitly faith-based films and secular classics can reveal truth, beauty, goodness, and the drama of human virtue and vice. We discuss how cinema, through its art, storytelling, and emotional power, can form the imagination, spark deeper reflection, and even aid in evangelization by helping Catholics become discerning viewers rather than passive consumers. From timeless masterpieces like Star Wars to modern blockbusters like The Dark Knight, the list challenges audiences to see film not just as entertainment but as a way of encountering moral and spiritual truths that speak directly to the human heart. Check out the list at https://100catholicmovies.substack.com/p/the-official-list-of-100-movies-every

Charlie Kirk Assassinated: The Grave Consequences of the American Culture of Death (Fr. Stephen Imbarrato) - 9/12/25

9/12/25 - When Charlie Kirk was tragically shot in Utah, America witnessed more than a political assassination: we saw the devastating fruits of a culture of death that has been eroding the dignity of human life for decades. The culture that normalizes the killing of the unborn through abortion, that justifies euthanasia, and that numbs us to daily violence is the same culture that made such an act possible. As Catholics, we are called to recognize the spiritual roots of this crisis: when society rejects God and the sanctity of life, no one is safe. In this video, we reflect on how political violence is connected to abortion and other assaults on human dignity, why the Church insists on the inviolable worth of every person from conception to natural death, and how we must respond with both truth and charity. The tragedy in Utah is a sobering reminder that the pro-life mission is not optional - it is more urgent now than ever before.

Great Books for Good Men: Reflections on Literature and Manhood (Joseph Pearce) - 9/11/25

9/11/25 - Catholic author Joseph Pearce discusses his new book Great Books for Good Men: Reflections on Literature and Manhood, originally commissioned by Exodus 90. Pearce reflects on how the treasures of classic literature, from Homer and Dante to Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, can shape Catholic men into virtuous, courageous, and holy human beings. He explains what inspired the book, how works such as The Odyssey, The Divine Comedy, Beowulf, and Hamlet remain relevant today, and why literature is a powerful guide for forming virtues like humility, courage, chastity, and wisdom. In a culture that often misunderstands masculinity, swinging between toxic extremes and weakness, Pearce shows how the great authors offer an alternative vision of authentic manhood rooted in the Catholic tradition. Great Books for Good Men is more than a literary reflection; it is a roadmap for men striving for virtue, holiness, and authentic self-giving. Get the book: https://ignatius.com/great-books-for-good-men-gbgmp/

Yvonne-Aimée of Jesus: Miracles, Visions, and Courage in World War II (Joanne Wright) - 9/10/25

9/10/25 - Yvonne-Aimée of Jesus (1901–1951) was a French mystic, visionary, and Augustinian nun whose hidden holiness shook the 20th century. From a young age she experienced mystical visions of Christ and the Virgin Mary, later becoming known for miraculous healings and the powerful prayer she received from Jesus: "O Jesus, King of Love, I put my trust in Thy merciful goodness." During World War II, she fearlessly hid members of the French Resistance and Jewish refugees from the Gestapo inside her convent, narrowly escaping arrest and torture. After the war, she became Mother Superior of the Augustinian monastery in Malestroit, where her life of heroic charity, extraordinary mystical gifts, and devotion to the Sacred Heart and Divine Mercy inspired countless souls. In this episode, we explore her visions, miracles, prophecies, and her witness of courage in Nazi-occupied France. Yvonne-Aimée of Jesus stands as a radiant example of Eucharistic devotion, Marian consecration, and trust in God's mercy amidst suffering.

From Questions to Conversion: Why I Chose the Catholic Church (Rob Marco) - 9/9/25

9/9/25 - As a teenager, Rob Marco was restless and searching. Drawn at times to Buddhism, philosophy, and the hardcore music scene, he longed for answers to life's biggest questions: Why am I here? What is truth? Where can real peace be found? Yet every pursuit seemed to leave him empty. Then, through a few surprising moments, Rob realized that God was not distant, but present and personal. Those encounters began to stir something deeper, setting him on a path he never expected: toward Christ and the Catholic Church. Rob shares how God worked through restlessness, doubt, and even moments of fear to awaken faith in his heart, as what started as a search for meaning became a discovery of the One who is Truth itself.

A Spiritual Portrait of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Sr. Betty Ann McNeil) - 9/8/25

9/8/25 - Sister Betty Ann McNeil, D.C., Vincentian Scholar-in-Residence at DePaul University and leading expert on the Setonian tradition, joins us to discuss her work as editor of the new Ignatius Press edition of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton: A Spiritual Portrait. This classic text, originally compiled by Sulpician Father Joseph Dirvin, gathers Mother Seton's own writings, letters, and reflections, offering a window into her deep love for Scripture, the Eucharist, and God's providence. In this interview, Sister Betty Ann explores how Saint Elizabeth's experiences as a widowed mother, convert, and founder of the Sisters of Charity shed light on concrete challenges like raising children in the faith, facing loss with hope, and building Catholic education in America. Get the book: https://ignatius.com/saint-elizabeth-ann-seton-ses2p/