Starting a Catholic College from Scratch: The Mission of Rosary College with President Michael Shick
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Welcome to The Cardinal Newman Society Podcast with Kevin Murphy.
This podcast acquaints listeners with the beauty of a faithful Catholic education—what it is and what it is not; you’ll discover how to determine if a school or college is faithfully Catholic. Our content courageously confronts the “educational emergency” declared by Pope Benedict XVI by featuring the brightest minds from Newman Guide institutions and how they are renewing faithful Catholic education worldwide. These are the superheroes at work in the trenches daily fighting for the souls of our youth amidst today’s relativistic culture.
Visit cardinalnewmansociety.org to learn more.
Faith, Reason, and the Mission of Catholic Higher Education with Dr. Sinda Vanderpool
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Faith, Psychology, and the Human Person: A Catholic Response to the Mental Health Crisis
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Ep. 47: Faith, Psychology, and Healing the Human Person with Fr. Charles Sikorsky
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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.
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Ep. 46: A Father’s Sacrifice & the Power of Faithful Catholic Education with Chris VanderWoude
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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.
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Ep. 45: Declaring St. John Henry Newman a Doctor of the Church: a special interview with Patrick Reilly
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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.
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Ep. 44: Religious Freedom in the Courts: How ADF Protects Catholic Education with Greg Baylor
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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.
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Ep. 43: Defending Religious Freedom in Catholic Education with Greg Baylor
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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.
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Ep. 42: What Sports, Saints, and Smartphones Reveal About the Soul – Catholic Formation at Belmont Abbey
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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.
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Ep. 41: How Dr. Bill Thierfelder Revived Belmont Abbey Through Faith, Love, & Benedictine Tradition
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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.
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