Visitation Sessions (A Podcast)

Before Emily and Chris headed off to Illinois, we sat down to chat about the good, the bad, and the necessary of Thanksgiving. Kate shared stories, Casey cracked jokes, Emily wept, and Chris philosophized. So, pretty much your typical episode, only this time with a side of gravy. This episode of Visitation Sessions was brought to you with the help of Select International Tours, who is not only our favorite pilgrimage company because of their faith-filled tours, but also because of their work with Select to Give, a non-profit run by volunteers of Select International which provides material support to Christians living in the Holy Land. To learn more, visit selecttogive.org. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

Yes, Emily wrote another book. Yes, it’s getting obnoxious. And yes, we’re talking about it anyways. But, we’re also talking about aging and traveling and beer and Puritans and holiness and toxic teas and a whole lot more. It’s a great conversation, and we’re happy to have you join us for another episode of Visitation Sessions. This episode of Visitation Sessions is brought to you by Select International Tours, winner of an innovation award from the Faith Travel Association for their Food and Faith pilgrimages. If you are a foodie or a wine connoisseur, who is looking to make a pilgrimage, check out the pilgrimages offered by Select International Tours.Show Notes: Sacred Wine: The Holy Heritage and History of Catholic Vintners“Why Doesn’t Anyone Want to Make French Wine Anymore” by Josephine de La Bruyère“Why the Germans Are Falling Out of Love With Beer” (The Economist)Franciscan University Austrian Summer ExperienceShop the Chapman’s Online Bookstore This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

Today, is the Feast of the Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, an Italian religious sister who came to the United States to serve the Italian poor and ended up becoming one of the greatest forces for good in American history, founding dozens of orphanages, hospitals, and schools, during her 29 years in the States. It’s also National Adoption Month, and we could think of no way better of honoring Mother Cabrini and furthering the conversation about adoption, than bringing in our good friend Dr. Kimberly Henkel, to talk with us about the importance of changing the adoption conversation in the Catholic Church today. As the co-founder of two apostolates, Springs in the Desert and Springs of Love, which serve couples struggling with infertility and discerning/pursuing adoption, Kimberly is doing incredible work to serve families that are often forgotten about in the Church today. We loved talking with her and hope you find our conversation as helpful as we did. Show NotesKimberly’s StoryBuilding BelongingSprings in the DesertSprings of LoveSound of FreedomSound of HopeWant to support more sane Catholic conversation on the Internet? Then become a subscriber today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

This week, we’re chatting about the pop culture phenomenon du jour, K-Pop Demon Hunters, plus the toxic culture of pop princesses, boy band fever, and cotton candy theology. Show notes are few and far between, but here are the videos of the Ambiguous Dance Company that Chris used to show the kids when they were toddlers on the daily. Higher Power (official dance video)Higher Power/Extraterrestrial TransmissionIf you liked this conversation, don’t forget to share it with a friends. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

Today, we're talking about the Catholic origins of Halloween, how the holiday has been corrupted by Wiccans and consumerism alike, and how much darkness is good for all of us. Mentioned on today's show:"The Truth About Exorcists & Demons: A Conversation with Dave VanVickle""The Goodness and Glory of All Hallow's Eve" by Emily Stimpson Chapman This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

What makes a movie Catholic? What makes a movie great? And why, so often, are movies that call themselves Catholic, not great? Those are the questions on the table today, on Visitation Sessions.Also, a special thanks to this episode’s sponsor, Select International Tours. For 38 years, Select has been arranging group pilgrimages for Catholics to some of the holiest sites in Christendom and beyond. To learn more about the pilgrimages mentioned on today’s episode—a pilgrimage to Poland, next August, with Anthony D’Ambrosio and his parents, Marcellino and Susan D’Ambrosio, and a trip to Catholic France, next April, with Chicago radio legend Kevin Williams—visit SelectInternational.com Show NotesI ConfessOn the WaterfrontCabriniWildcatBaahubaliThe Passion of the ChristPaul, Apostle of ChristThereseHelp support sane Catholic conversation on the Internet by becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit visitationsessions.substack.comWe kept the conversation on Catholic movies going to ask the question: Is Nudity in films ever okay? Show NotesAmelieAkiruLives of OthersSchindler’s ListFather Thomas Loya on Porn Versus Art

Today, we’re talking all things Sacred Scripture, from how the Historical Critical Method of Scripture Scholarship destroyed Scripture study to how Catholic parents can raise kids who know their Bibles better than the Protestants down the street. Special thanks to our sponsors, Select International Tours, the only Catholic tour company that offers a comprehensive online pilgrim formation program. Just as Bible stories prepare your children for a deeper dive into their faith as they grow, Select’s pilgrim program, called Stella Peregrin (“the pilgrim star”), will help you better prepare spiritually and practically for your next pilgrimage. Learn more about this program and all the great pilgrimages Select offers at www.selectinternationaltours.com.Show Notes: The Story of All Stories: A Children’s Bible for Young CatholicsThe Ignatius Catholic Study Bible The Word on Fire BibleReturn to the Heart: The Biblical Spirituality of Saint Augustine’s Confessions by Shane OwensValerie Lueth This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

Kate and Casey are up in Wisconsin this week, making a documentary about a Catholic doctor who rides on horseback to serve the Amish (I think that’s how it goes), but before they left we chatted about all God’s creatures, great and small. Not the books. Not the tv shows. The actual animals: pigs, cows, chickens, dogs, cats. Does a love of animals make you happier and holier? Or can it sometimes make you crazier? Show Notes:The Business of Being BornBrother Sun, Sister MoonThe Wolf of GubioSaintly Creatures: 14 Tales of Animals and Their Holy Companions by Alexi SargeantLeisure: The Basis of Culture by Joseph Pieper Support sane(ish) Catholic conversation on the Internet by becoming a subscriber today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

Are any of us professional poets? No. Are any of us poetry professors? No. Are any of us poetry publishers? One more time, no. But who cares. Poetry is part of our human patrimony. It’s the language of love, the language of war, the language of fear, despair, and human longing. Writing poems is what humans do—all humans, in every age—and this week, in perhaps our most favorite conversation ever, we’re talking about why that matters … and why poetry isn’t something to be scared of or left to the “experts” but rather something that can make us more deeply human in an increasingly less human age. Show Notes:“Can Poetry Matter,” Dana GioiaMike AquilinaJane GreerBeatrice InstituteThe Always Broken Plates of Mountains by Rose McClarney (Poem: “Gather”)“Dichoso el corazón enamorado” by Saint Teresa of AvilaCity Nave by Betsy Brown ( Poem: “To a Ripe June Strawberry”)“All the World” by Liz Garton ScanlonEmily’s Children’s Books Mary, Mother of All The Supper of the Lamb Lord, Have Mercy Joseph, Keeper of the King (forthcoming Spring 2026)Support Catholic conversations that matter and become a supporter today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

This week, we’re talking about one of the most glorious teachings of Catholicism: the saints! We also explore the Church’s teachings on relics, how grace transforms the material world, and how a relationship with the saints is meant to strengthen your relationship with Christ, not be a substitute for it. Show Notes:Saints:* Saint Gabriel Possenti* Saint Jude* Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity* Saint Helena* Saint Padre Pio* Saint Brigid of Ireland* Saint Therese of Lisieux* Saint Edith Stein* Saint Hildegard of Bingen* Saint John Paul II* Saint Philip Neri* Saint John Henry Newman* Saint Bernadette SoubirousBooks:* Essays on Woman by Edith Stein* Parochial & Plain Sermons by John Henry Newman* Theology of the Body by John Paul II* Saint Hildegard of Bingen: Discovering the Doctors by Emily Stimpson Chapman* Story of a Soul by Therese MartinRosary Bracelets: Humble Mission BeadsThin Places“Making Christianity Weird Again” by Tracy RowlandTherese (1986 French movie)Help keep sane(ish) Catholic conversation on the Internet. Become a subscriber today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit visitationsessions.substack.comIn this month’s bonus episode for full subscribers, we reflect on the events of last week, including the tragic death of Charlie Kirk, the initial responses in the culture, and how Christians should respond to chaos and hatred in the world. Note: This conversation was recorded prior to the arrest of Tyler Robinson.Show Notes:The Last Battle: On Hatred, …

What are some practical ways men (and women) can overcome the habit of using pornography? Why is doing penance for pornography use so helpful? How can grace, over time heal our hearts and minds? And why is it so important for single people to take action now, before they are married, to begin that healing process. That’s what we are having a conversation about this week, on Visitation Sessions.Show Notes:Spiritual Passages: The Psychology of Spiritual Development By Father Benedict GroeschelThe Family ManThree Colors Trilogy: BlueThe Porn Myth: Exposing the Reality Behind the Fantasy of Pornography by Matt FraddCovenant EyesSaint Mark Ji Tianxiang“The Porn Habit: How Porn Effects Marriage” (a podcast) with Sheila GregoireHelp support the show and receive free bonus content monthly. Become a full subscriber today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

The Stapletons convinced the Chapmans to go to their first ever Renaissance Fair in Pittsburgh and the good, the bad, the beautiful, and the ugly of it all sparked quite the conversation about community and Catholicism. Also, Emily has a new cookbook out. It’s called Around the Catholic Table, and if you like good food, Catholicism, and community, you should buy it. Show Notes:The Surprisingly Radical Roots of the Renaissance FairSaint ConradBlessed Solanus CaseyBrideshead RevisistedSaint Andre BessetteThe Catholic Table (Not a cookbook)Around the Catholic Table (the cookbook) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

Today, we’re talking about California, the Chapman’s adventures there, the reason Kate is sharing her story as a birth mother in her documentary The Inner Sea, and why the conversation around adoption and abortion in pro-life circles needs to deepen. Show Notes:The Inner SeaSprings of LoveBuilding Belonging: Six Steps for Fostering and Adopting in Faith (An Adoption Education Curriculum)The Chapman’s Adoption Story (produced by Springs of Love)Leah Outten (birth mom support from a Protestant perspective)Cradled in Grace (ethical adoption consultants)Abiding Love Adoptions (birth mom centered adoption agency)M Train: A Memoir by Patti SmithShow your support for sane Catholic conversation on the Internet by becoming a subscriber today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

Earlier this month, The Church Life Journal ran an article by Michael Rota and Stephen Bullivant sharing some rather grim data on Catholic parents’ ability to raise Catholic children who stay Catholic as adults. In short, even with a little help from Catholic immigrants, the Church in America is essentially losing 9 out of 10 Catholics, once they become adults. “Rather grim” was a bit of an understatement, I suppose. Regardless, since all four of us have seemingly defied the odds by growing up Catholic and remaining Catholic, we thought we’d parse that data through the lens of our own (wildly) different experiences in (wildly) different Catholic homes. What did our parents do that helped? What didn’t they do that might have helped more? And how much of it has nothing to do with our parents and much more to do with temperament, community, and grace?That’s what we’re talking about today, on Visitation Sessions, which thanks to all of you wonderful listeners has now well surpassed 200,000 downloads! That is crazy. And amazing. Thanks so much for spending an hour of your week with us! And, don’t forget, if you want even more content, the very best way to get it is to become a full subscriber to the podcast today. Not only do our full subscribers help keep the podcast coming, but they also have access to subscriber only content and regular behind-the-paywall Q&A’s. Show Notes:Religious Transmission: A Solution to the Church’s Biggest Problem by Michael Rota and Stephen BullivantThe Village Nobody Wants, Cartoons Hate HerThe Inner Sea Film This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

Marc Barnes is one of the coolest, smartest, most impressive guys we know. As one of the founders of both New Polity and the Harmonium Project, a professor at St. Joseph the Worker College, and the owner of a local farm to shelves grocery store, The Grocery Box, he has been putting Catholic Social Teaching into action in the streets of Steubenville for over a decade now. So, we thought we would pick his brain about where Catholics often go wrong in their pursuit of the goals of Catholic social teaching and why simply loving the place where you live and serving it well is one of the best things you can do to bring about a more just society. Show Notes:Rerum Novarum by Pope Leo XIIIThe Church Against the State by Andrew Willard JonesBeing Consumed: Economics and Christian Culture by William CavanaughThe 401K Story (New Polity Podcast)Do you think the Internet needs more sane(ish) Catholic Conversation? Then subscibe to Visitation Sessions today and help us keep the chats coming. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

Last week, the Vatican welcomed thousands of Internet evangelists to Rome for the Jubilee for Digital Missionaries and Influencers. Why would they do this? Why does it matter? What are the dangers of Catholics entangling themselves in Influencer Culture? And what does Emily really think about the word “Influencer”? We’re tackling all that and more this week, on Visitation Sessions. (Also, after we recorded this episode, Emily got word that a problem at the printers will be delaying the release of Around the Catholic Table by a few weeks. The new launch date is now set for Tuesday, September 3. It’s still coming soon, though, so apologies for the wrong info in the show. It was right at the time we recorded!)Show Notes:Jesus and the Jubilee: The Jewish Roots of the Year of the Year of God’s Favor by John BergsmaAddress of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, to Influencers and Digital MissionariesAround the Catholic Table: 100+ Simple Recipes for Family and Friends by Emily Stimpson ChapmanThe Story of All Stories: A Story Bible for Young Catholics by Emily Stimpson ChapmanSupport sane Catholic conversation on the Internet and unlock exclusive content by becoming a full subscriber to Visitation Sessions today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit visitationsessions.substack.comThe Chapmans are back in Illinois this week, so Emily can spend some time with her mom, whose Alzheimer’s continues to worsen. There wasn’t time before they left to record a new episode, but after we recorded our last episode, we did manage to record a quick bonus episode for our full subscribers. We’re sharing that here today. The topic: Anxiety.A read…

Emily and Chris are still recovering from the Worst Mass With Kids Ever, so we thought this week we would swap a few horror stories about parenting little kids during the Mass, discuss why we think it’s important for them to be in church even when they’re misbehaving, and go over a few possible survival strategies for getting through the seasons of littles and Liturgy.A big thank you to Beata Home for sponsoring this episode of Visitation Sessions. Be sure to check out Beata Home’s beautifully curated collection of fine art prints on their website and Instagram page, and make sure to use the code Emily15 to save 15 percent on your order. Show NotesGuidelines from the Church on Bringing Young Children to Mass (Catholic Answers)“Learning How to See Again,” by Joseph PieperBeauty for Truth’s Sake: On the Re-enchantment of Education by Stratford CaldecottBeauty in the Word: Rethinking the Foundations of Education by Stratford CaldecottDon’t miss a single sane(ish) Catholic conversation by becoming a full subscriber today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit visitationsessions.substack.com/subscribe