Christopher Closeup: Recent Episodes
Tony Rossi
"Christopher Closeup" highlights individuals doing their best to love God and neighbor, overcome the struggles they face in their lives, and reflect The Christophers' motto "It's better to light one candle than to curse the darkness."
Tracy Davidson, the 15-time Emmy Award-winning former news anchor at NBC 10 in Philadelphia, discusses why she believes God protected her during a chaotic childhood, how her Catholic faith guides her today, and the messages of resilience and hope that she is sharing in her public speaking engagements.
Sharon Eubank, the author of the Christopher Award-winning book "Doing Small Things with Great Love" draws on her decades of humanitarian work in the U.S. and around the world to share insights on how each of us can be a light to others in need.
Sister Ave Clark, the author of "Hold on to Love…with Graces Galore," discusses the Dominican Sisters who influenced her prior to entering the convent more than 60 years ago, the friends whose selfless acts of kindness reflect Christ's love, and the pet Yorkies who helped her deal with her own trauma.
A discussion about the life of Venerable Father Edward Flanagan, how and why he created Boys Town for orphaned and displaced children of all races, colors, and creeds, and his latest advancement on the road to sainthood. Guests are Boys Town historian Tom Lynch and executive producer of the documentary "Heart of a Servant: The Father Flanagan Story" Steve Wolf.
Legendary country music singer/songwriter Bill Anderson discusses his 60-year career, his work with modern country artists like Brad Paisley and Vince Gill, the life-changing advice he received from his grandfather before he died, and the strength he found in his Christian faith as he navigated life's ups and downs.
Author and Ignatian spiritual director Becky Eldredge discusses her book of meditations "Encounter Grace" and shares insights on how we can learn to pause, reconnect with God, and find peace amid the chaos of daily life.
This special episode honors legendary news anchor Ernie Anastos, who died recently, by revisiting a 2017 interview in which he discussed the ways his grandfather (a Greek Orthodox priest) influenced him, the positive attitude which shaped his interactions with his co-workers and audience, and the faith that helped him find light in times of darkness.
Best-selling author Dean Koontz discusses his novel "The Friend of the Family," how he managed to avoid a cynical worldview despite having an abusive father, and how his faith led him to believe that every life has purpose and meaning.
Writer and producer Brian Bird discusses season 13 of his Christopher Award-winning Hallmark Channel series "When Calls the Heart" and explores how the media we consume can either make us more cynical or move us toward a greater love of God and neighbor.
Deacon Don Grossnickle discusses the deepening of faith he experienced on two recent pilgrimages to the Camino and Poland—and gives an update on the microfinance project he created for mothers and babies in Uganda to get the medical care they desperately need.
Poet, musician, and teacher James Palmaro discusses his experience going blind as an adult due to retinitis pigmentosa, how he dealt with that difficult reality, and how his faith and creativity allowed him to move forward with hope.
Megan Alexander, the television host and Christopher Award-winning author, discusses her book "The True Gifts of Christmas" and explores the Christian meaning behind some of our most cherished traditions, the importance of quiet giving, and how to better incorporate God into the holiday season.
Meg Hunter-Kilmer, the author of "Eyes Fixed on Jesus, Volume 1: A Journey Through the Gospels," discusses the humility of Jesus, why the Beatitudes upended some people's beliefs about God, and the healing power of Jesus affirming everyone's dignity.
"Christopher Closeup" celebrates its 500th episode by revisiting some memorable moments from past interviews, including comedy legend Tim Conway, comedy legend Tim Conway, actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise, Hallmark actress and dementia caregiving advocate Nikki DeLoach, Christopher Award-winning author Kate Bowler, Grammy Award winner Harry Connick Jr., CBS News' John Dickerson, and actress/writer/producer Bonnie Hunt.
Lisa Hendey, the author of the devotional book "Jesus Every Day, Jesus Every Way" discusses the ways in which she revitalized her prayer life following her cancer treatment so that she could find God's presence in all parts of daily life, why making friends outside her own age group has benefited her spiritually, and the lesson in giving she learned when meeting with a poor family in South America.
Sister Ave Clark, the author of “Sewing – Sowing Good Deeds with Joy and Hope,” discusses how we can better bear witness to the message of the gospels in our lives, and how traumatized people can find healing.
Nina Willner, the author of “The Boys in the Light: An Extraordinary World War II Story of Survival, Faith, and Brotherhood” discusses her father’s escape from a Nazi concentration camp as a teen, the timeless bond he created with the American soldiers who saved him, and the deep Christian faith which served as the core of one of those soldier’s lives.
Leanne Friesen, the Christopher Award-winning author of “Grieving Room” reveals what we can say and do for the grieving to offer them genuine support, how a simple act of kindness before her sister’s death had a profound impact on her, and how the grieving can move toward “resurrection hope.”
Leanne Friesen, the author of the Christopher Award-winning book “Grieving Room: Making Space for All the Hard Things After Death and Loss” discusses her sister’s death from cancer, why she believes that people in grief want to hear their loved one’s name mentioned by others, and how she navigated her belief in a good and loving God in her darkest hours.
Filmmaker Morgan Atkinson discusses the reason that the writings of Thomas Merton inspired him to convert to Catholicism, why he made a documentary titled “In the Company of Change” about the Ursuline Sisters and his friend Sister Martha Buser, and why the teachings of the Ursuline’s founder, St. Angela Merici, are still relevant today.
Judy Henderson, the author of “When the Light Finds Us: From a Life Sentence to a Life Transformed,” discusses spending 36 years in prison for a murder she didn’t commit, how her faith guided her through that injustice, and how she began making a positive difference for battered and abused women behind bars.
Actor Steve Guttenberg (Diner, Three Men and a Baby, Cocoon) discusses his Christopher Award-winning memoir “Time to Thank: Caregiving for My Hero,” which he wrote about the care that he provided for his dad during the final years of his life—and the ways that his father shaped the man he became.
Award-winning author, speaker, and retreat leader Eric Clayton discusses his book “Finding Peace Here and Now” and explores how Ignatian spirituality can lead us to greater peace within ourselves so that we can then share that peace with others.
Sister Nancy Usselmann, FSP, a Daughter of St. Paul and author of “Media Fasting: Six Weeks to Recharge in Christ,” explores how a break from media can help us reconnect with God, our loved ones, and our greater purpose.
Clint Hurdle, the former baseball player and manager of the Pirates and Rockies, discusses the reasons that accepting God into his life helped him deal with his alcoholism and relationship problems, the blessing of having a daughter with special needs, and why he prays daily, “Lord, help me become a simple person in a complex world.”
Maria Morera Johnson, the author of “A Beautiful Second Act,” explores how a stroke at age 49 led her to look to the saints and other notable women for lessons on aging with grace, finding joy even in times of hardship, and discerning God’s will in the process.
Gary Jansen, the author of “The Healing Power of Praying the Rosary,” discusses how an encounter at the gym led him to new insights about the rosary, how meditative prayer can improve our physical and spiritual well-being, and why a good prayer life can help us make the kingdom of God more present to others.
“American Mother” co-author Diane Foley reveals how her Catholic faith helped her in the aftermath of her son’s murder by terrorists – and how she handled it when one of her son’s torturers and killers offered to meet with her.
Diane Foley, co-author of the book “American Mother” discusses the life and legacy of her son, journalist James Foley, who was taken hostage by terrorists in Syria and murdered in 2014. She explores the dangers faced by journalists in war zones, the quest for truth which motivated James’ work, and the faith in God that guided him through difficult times.
Sister Orianne Pietra René Dyck – the author of “Dive Deep: 40 Days with God at Sea” discusses how this book can help young people discern God’s presence in their lives, better understand Scripture, and grow spiritually.
Christopher Award-winning author Kathy Izard discusses her new book “Trust the Whisper,” which shares stories about individuals who listened for God’s still, small voice in their lives and wound up making a positive difference in the lives of the homeless, the mentally ill, and many more.
Singer-songwriter Sarah Hart discusses her new Advent and Christmas album “All the Earth Alive Rejoicing,” how performing at a prison enabled her to see Jesus in all the inmates, and what it felt like to be adopted by her stepfather as an adult.
Author and counselor Sister Ave Clark discusses her books “Joy is Blooming” and “Alleluia: A Grace to Hold Life’s Interruptions,” how beholding God in everything and everyone can lead us towards joy, the power of lightheartedness, and what Jesus on the cross can teach us about grace.
Gary Jansen, the author of “Saints, Angels, and Demons: An A-to-Z Guide to the Holy and the Damned,” discusses the seeds of his interest in the saints, why we need to remember the saints were “imperfect individuals,” how actor Bill Murray is linked to St. Catherine of Siena, and the enduring legacies of the two Francises: de Sales and of Assisi.
Inspired by her sister with intellectual disabilities, writer Delaney Coyne discusses the Catholic Church’s ministries for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities – and how more can be done to lovingly welcome this sometimes-overlooked community into the family of faith.
Actor and author Jonathan Jackson discusses his return to the ABC TV series “General Hospital,” in the role of Lucky Spencer (the character he originated at age 11 in 1993), what it was like having Tony Geary and Genie Francis as his TV parents, and what he learned about fame at an early age. He also further explores his book “the Harrowing of Hell” and why mercy is the path to heaven.
Actor, author, and singer Jonathan Jackson discusses the best ways that parents can pass on their religious faith to their children, the book he’s written titled “The Harrowing of Hell,” the love and mercy that God extends to us, how our free will fits into that equation, and why he remains completely in awe of Jesus’s radical acts of humility.
José M. Hernández, the subject of the Christopher Award-winning Amazon Prime film “A Million Miles Away," discusses the work ethic, family support, and religious faith that led him from being a migrant farmworker as a child to becoming a NASA astronaut who traveled to space as an adult.
Author Jean Duffy discusses her Christopher Award-winning book “Soccer Grannies,” which profiles the South African grandmothers, ranging in age from 40s to 80s, who created their own soccer league to benefit their physical, mental, and spiritual health.
Television legend and best-selling author Kathie Lee Gifford discusses her book “Herod and Mary,” in which she explores the historical evils committed by King Herod – and contrasts them with the humble and holy life of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Two-time Christopher Award-winning author Torrey Maldonado discusses his latest novel, "Hands,” which shares a semi-autobiographical story about a 12-year-old boy torn between using his hands to fight his abusive stepfather or using them to create art and fulfill his mother’s wishes for him to have a better life.
John J. York, the longtime “General Hospital” star who portrays Mac Scorpio, discusses his recent battle with two blood and bone marrow cancers, the stem cell transplant that helped him find healing, and the family, colleagues, and Catholic faith that supported him through the experience.
Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA, discusses her memoir “For Love of the Broken Body,” her fall off a cliff which resulted in major injuries, and how her experience of brokenness has increased her love for God and humanity.
Brian Bird, the Christopher Award-winning writer and producer of the Hallmark Channel series “When Calls the Heart,” discusses the show’s 11th season, how he integrates God and faith into his work, how TV can not only entertain, but also inspire us to be better people, and how he held on to his faith in a skeptical world.
Author Jeff Gottesfeld discusses his Christopher Award-winning children’s book “Food for Hope,” in which he profiles Catholic hero and role model John van Hengel, who created food banks for the hungry, inspired by his faith and the hardships of his life.
Christopher Award-winning author Gary Jansen discusses his latest book “Meditations at Midnight,” in which he creatively explores the many ways he has encountered God through the years – and in which he uses poetry to revisit Jesus’s passion and crucifixion.
Eric Clayton, the author of “Cannonball Moments” and “My Life with the Jedi” further discusses the connection between Ignatian spirituality and Star Wars, how we can all learn to be contemplatives in action, and how we can integrate the wounds we have endured to find wholeness and healing.
Eric Clayton, the author of “Cannonball Moments” and “My Life with the Jedi” discusses the influence St. Ignatius of Loyola has had on his life and faith, how we can respond to cannonball moments in our lives, and why Eric finds great value in the spirituality of "Star Wars."
Joy Marie Clarkson, the author of “You Are a Tree,” explores what exactly that title means, why it was inspired by Scripture, and how the words and images we use to describe ourselves can improve our lives and relationship with God.
Award-winning journalist Meg Kissinger discusses her memoir “While You Were Out,” which addresses the ways that mental illness and suicide affected her large Catholic family. Meg also talks about reducing the stigma around mental illness so people can work towards a more hopeful future.
Author and speaker Sister Ave Clark explores ways that we can make the
Advent and Christmas seasons "a pilgrimage of light" by embracing stillness in a
variety of ways, and by looking for God's presence in challenging times. She also
offers thoughts on how the infirm and homebound can grow closer to God.
Beloved chef, author, and restaurateur Lidia Bastianich discusses her 25th anniversary as a cooking show host on PBS, the blessings that grandparents bring to a child’s life, immigrating to the United States with the help of Catholic Charities, how her mother taught her the virtue of helping those in need, and how she continues to live out her Catholic faith.
Deacon Ed Shoener, the co-founder of the Association of Catholic Mental Health
Ministers, reveals the heartbreak of his daughter Katie’s suicide (brought on by
bipolar disorder), the need to reduce the stigma and dispel myths around mental
illness in church circles, and the ways he hopes to bring Christ to those living with
mental health issues and their families.
Sister Caroline Tweedy, RSM, the Executive Director of St. John’s Bread and Life food pantry, discusses the ways in which the program helps thousands of food insecure people every week, her longtime passion for serving society’s poor and marginalized, and how working at a home for the developmentally disabled helped her see God’s presence in all people, regardless of their physical conditions or circumstances.
Stephanie Saldaña, the author of “What We Remember Will Be Saved,” shares the story of the Syriac Catholics who were forced to flee their Iraqi homeland after ISIS attacked, as well as the stories of other refugees from the wars in Iraq and Syria who managed to maintain their faith and kindness towards others in the most horrific circumstances.
Award-winning author Lisa Hendey discusses her new children’s book “I Am Earth’s Keeper,” as well as her recent battle with breast cancer and how her faith and parish community gave her the strength to get through some difficult days and months.
Christopher Award-winning author Marcy Cottrell Houle discusses her latest book “The Gift of Aging: Growing Older with Purpose, Planning, and Positivity” and shares the mental, emotional, and spiritual insights that can help people live fulfilling lives well into their 80s, 90s, and 100s.
CNN writer/producer John Blake discusses his memoir “More Than I Imagined: What a Black Man Discovered About the White Mother He Never Knew,” how his white relatives moved beyond racism after getting to know him, and how he himself grew beyond his own prejudices after realizing how much his mother had suffered due to her mental illness.
Emmy Award-winning journalist Luke Russert discusses his memoir “Look For Me There,” which was inspired by the unexpected death of his father, NBC News legend Tim Russert, in 2008. Luke reveals how traveling helped him process his grief, and how prayer and the communion of saints brought him a sense of peace to move forward with his life.
Christopher Award-winning filmmaker Martin Doblmeier discusses his documentary “Sabbath,” which explores the Judeo-Christian tradition of disconnecting from work for one day a week to instead connect with our deeper selves, our families and friends, and our God.
Ted Green further discusses his Christopher Award-winning documentary “The Best We’ve Got: The Carl Erskine Story,” the former Brooklyn Dodgers’ star’s decision to raise his son with Down syndrome at a time when children with special needs were often institutionalized – and how that decision continues to have positive effects for children with special needs today.
Filmmaker Ted Green discusses his Christopher Award-winning documentary “The Best We’ve Got: The Carl Erskine Story” about former Brooklyn Dodgers’ star Carl Erskine, a humble man of faith whose actions led to greater racial equality in baseball and wider inclusion of children with special needs in our society.
Elizabeth Humphreys, the founder of Mind What Matters shares the specifics of how she helps dementia caregivers through the organization, how just a little bit of support can bring light into the difficult lives of caregivers, and why she believes her mom left her a roadmap through grief in a writing of hers that she found just recently.
Elizabeth Humphreys, the founder of the nonprofit Mind What Matters, discusses her organization’s mission to assist people who are caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s or dementia, how her own caregiving experience with her mom shaped that mission, and how she overcame her anger at God because of her mom’s illness to find faith again.
Broadcast journalist Marie Coronel from ABC 10 News in San Diego discusses the incident that left her with a broken neck while she was out reporting a story, the ways that her family and Catholic faith gave her hope and strength during the rehabilitation as well as during her father's long illness, and where she finds joy today.
Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Sarah Hart discusses her devotional booklet about the lyrics of “Amazing Grace,” the places she sees grace in the world today, the reasons she feels drawn to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and St. Mary Magdalene, and why she is able to trust in God even in times of darkness.
Former ABC News anchor Paula Faris discusses her advocacy for working mothers through the organization Carry Media and new book “You Don’t Have to Carry It All,” what businesses can do to create a more family-friendly environment that benefits working parents, and the conflict she felt as a Christian who was taught that mothers shouldn’t work outside the home.
Author and pastoral counselor Sister Ave Clark discusses the strength it takes to live a life of peace and compassion, why she believes that “compassion walks the road to Calvary,” how a long ago experience with an eight-year-old girl who had cancer still affects her today, and how we can each serve as angels in each other’s lives.
Leticia Ochoa Adams, the author of “Our Lady of Hot Messes: Getting Real with God in Dive Bars and Confessionals” reveals the traumas she has endured in her life (including being sexually abused as a child and losing a son to suicide), the mistakes she has made, and the ways that God has led her toward healing.
John J. York, the actor who has played Mac Scorpio on “General Hospital” for more than 30 years discusses the Catholic faith in which he was raised, why he drifted away from practicing it for many years, and how his daughter eventually led him to re-embrace his faith.
Nikki DeLoach, the star of the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Christmas movie "The Gift of Peace,” discusses the experience of losing her father to dementia, how that affected her celebration of the Christmas season, and what it’s like journeying through grief to find joy again.
Megan Alexander, the “Inside Edition” correspondent and Christopher Award-winning children’s book author discusses her UPtv series “Small Town Christmas,” in which she visits communities across America to highlight their unique traditions and stories of faith. Megan also talks about the ways she maintains the religious meaning of Christmas for herself and her family.
Dawn Eden Goldstein, the author of “Father Ed: The Story of Bill W’s Sponsor,” discusses her biography of Jesuit priest Father Ed Dowling, whose ministry to the suffering and marginalized, especially in the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous, left a lasting spiritual impact on many.
Amanda Ripley, the Christopher Award-winning author of “High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out” further explores ways in which people with profound differences in beliefs can still learn to respect each other, disagree in a civil manner, and build human connections. She also discusses “the exhausted majority,” who are tired of the anger and division so prevalent today.
Journalist and author Amanda Ripley discusses her Christopher Award-winning book “High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out,” which explores the anger and division that affects our relationships and society – and what we can do to move toward a more healthy, peaceful way of living.
Hayley Arceneaux, the author of “Wild Ride: A Memoir of I.V. Drips and Rocket Ships” discusses being diagnosed with bone cancer at age 10, the help and healing she found at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, her road to becoming a physician’s assistant at St. Jude’s, her recent trip to space as an astronaut on SpaceX’s Inspiration4 mission, the reason she takes part in medical mission trips, and how she views her life through the lens of her Christian faith.
Anitra Rowe Schulte, the Christopher Award-winning author of the children’s book “Dancing with Daddy,” shares her mission to make the world more inclusive for children with disabilities because of her experiences with her own daughter. Schulte also reveals the role that faith plays in her own and her daughter’s life.
Chief Joseph Pfeifer, the retired FDNY fire chief and Christopher Award-winning author of “Ordinary Heroes: A Memoir of 9/11,” recalls the courage and devastation he saw on September 11, 2001, along with his own journey, from pursuing the priesthood to becoming a firefighter to becoming a teacher of crisis leadership and disaster preparedness.
Amy Julia Becker, the author of “To Be Made Well: An Invitation to Wholeness, Healing, and Hope” explores Jesus’s healings in the gospels and what they can teach us about restoring our health in physical, emotional, and social ways. She also discusses how having a daughter with Down syndrome opened her up to a richer and more full experience of love and the power of inclusion.
Tony Cordero, the founder of “Sons and Daughters in Touch” reveals how the isolation he felt after his father was killed in the Vietnam War led him to start this organization which connects others who lost their dads during that conflict, allowing them to build bonds of unity, support, and friendship. He also discusses the ways his Catholic faith and a trip to Vietnam helped him move past the resentment he felt about losing his father.
Critical care doctor Wes Ely discusses his groundbreaking and life-saving work changing the way patients are cared for in the Intensive Care Unit – and he reveals the simple message he got from his mom that built the foundation of his Catholic faith.
Dr. Wes Ely, the Christopher Award-winning author of “Every Deep-Drawn Breath: A Critical Care Doctor on Healing, Recovery, and Transforming Medicine in the ICU” discusses the ways in which his Catholic faith has guided his vocation as a physician – and about his mission to return humanity to doctoring.
1) Noreen Madden McInnes, Part 2 – the author of “Keep At It, Riley!” in which she chronicles the experience of caring for her elderly parents, explores the new perspective on faith she gained from her mother during her senior years, as well as the dignity and graces that her father displayed during his dying days.
2) Deacon Greg Kandra – the popular blogger and author discusses his book “Befriending St. Joseph,” the reasons why St. Joseph remains a timely and relevant role model for our modern world, and how we can find faith, hope, and courage in the Seven Sorrows Devotion.
Noreen Madden McInnes, the author of “Keep At It, Riley! Accompanying My Father Through Death Into Life” discusses caring for her father during his senior years and how her family’s faith and the sacraments gave them all strength and hope during some dark days.
Joy Marie Clarkson, the author of “Aggressively Happy: A Realist’s Guide to Believing in the Goodness of Life,” shares her insights on finding beauty in the world, even in dark times—and how relying on God can strengthen and guide us through those dark times.
1) Linsey Davis – the ABC News anchor, correspondent, and Christopher Award-winning author reveals how her son's request to see his grandmother in heaven inspired her new children's book. She also discusses her own daily spiritual practices that keep her grounded in faith.
2) Tribute to Father John Catoir – a tribute to the former Director of The Christophers who passed away recently at age 90. Includes audio clips that focus on his devotion to being a “messenger of joy.” Host: Tony Rossi.
Susan Hood and Greg Dawson, the co-authors of the middle grade book “Alias Anna: A True Story of Outwitting the Nazis” share the history of Greg’s Jewish grandmother, Zhanna, who survived the Holocaust in Ukraine due to her musical talents and the help of some Christian families.
Grammy Award-winning singer Mandisa discusses her memoir “Out of the Dark,” why she wants to destigmatize talk about mental health and race in the Christian community, and how she finds God’s joy, even in challenging times.
Sister Larraine Lauter, the co-founder of the charity Water With Blessings, recalls her mission trip to Honduras in which the death of a child from drinking dirty water inspired her successful efforts to provide mothers in impoverished countries with water filters that save lives. She also reveals how the people she serves have acted as reflections of Christ in her life.
Author, speaker, and radio host Katie Prejean McGrady discusses how to make Lent a life-changing experience for teens, and the ways in which she held onto her faith in God while having to evacuate her home while nine months pregnant due to a hurricane.
Don Tate, the Christopher Award-winning author and illustrator of “Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton” discusses the stories of hope and faith he shares in his children’s books, the role of faith in his own life, and the positive difference he is making for both African American authors and readers.
Author David Davis discusses his Christopher Award-winning book “Wheels of Courage: How Paralyzed Veterans from World War II Invented Wheelchair Sports, Fought for Disability Rights, and Inspired a Nation.” He also touches on the role that Pope John XXIII played in making the Paralympics a success.
1) Deanna Witkowski– the musician and author of “Mary Lou Williams: Music for the Soul” discusses the jazz legend’s road to musical success and her conversion to the Catholic faith.
2) Kelly Starling Lyons and Torrey Maldonado, Part 2 – the Christopher Award-winning authors discuss the ways they approach prayer and struggle in their lives.
Christopher Award-winning authors Kelly Starling Lyons and Torrey Maldonado discuss the power of faith and literature in their lives – and the ways they use their writing to bring light into the lives of young people, especially African American young people looking for characters they can relate to.
Patricia Heaton, the Emmy Award-winning actress (“Everybody Loves Raymond,” “The Middle”) and author of “Your Second Act” discusses surrendering to God’s will and redirecting your life after unexpected challenges occur, how sacrificial living can redeem suffering, why she gave up alcohol, and what traveling the world on behalf of the anti-poverty organization World Vision has taught her about life and faith.
Becky Eldredge, author of “The Inner Chapel: Embracing the Promises of God,” shares her insights on how we can discern God’s will in our lives, why receiving God’s love can be a challenge for some people, and what spiritual lessons she learned from watching her grandmother make Crawfish Étouffée.
Spiritual director and author Becky Eldredge discusses the family crisis that inspired her book “The Inner Chapel: Embracing the Promises of God” and offers suggestions on ways that we can find the sacred space inside ourselves that allows us to connect with God during both good and turbulent times.
Broadcaster Paula Faris discusses how she reacted to ABC News not renewing her contract, creating her own Faith and Calling podcast, and founding the company Carry Media, which aims to celebrate and advocate for working moms.
Author Jeanne Bishop discusses her Christopher Award-winning book “Grace From the Rubble,” which details the unexpected friendship that developed between Bud Welch, the father of Julie Welch who was one of the people killed in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing – and Bill McVeigh, the father of Timothy McVeigh, who perpetrated the domestic terror attack.
Attorney and author Jeanne Bishop discusses her memoir “Change of Heart,” in which she details the story of how she came to extend forgiveness to the man who murdered her sister, her brother-in-law and their unborn child – and what the convicted killer’s response to that act of mercy was.
“Inside Edition” correspondent Megan Alexander discusses how she maintains and shares her Christian faith and stays true to her beliefs in a secular industry. She also talks about the two books she has now authored: “Faith in the Spotlight” and a Christopher Award-winning children’s book entitled “One More Hug.”
ABC News correspondent and anchor Linsey Davis discusses her Christopher Award-winning children’s book “The World is Awake,” the ways she teaches her son to appreciate life’s everyday blessings, and how she stays grounded in her Christian faith while working as a journalist. Host: Tony Rossi.
Jim Wahlberg - the brother of Mark and Donnie Wahlberg and the author of “The Big Hustle” - further discusses his recovery from addiction, how God’s love helped him forgive his father’s shortcomings, and how he responded when he learned that his own son was an addict.
Jim Wahlberg, the filmmaker and author of “The Big Hustle: A Boston Street Kid’s Story of Addiction and Redemption,” discusses the reasons he started drinking alcohol at age eight, and how encounters with a wise priest and Mother Teresa while he was in prison served as a conduit of God’s grace in his life.
Acclaimed actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise discusses his memoir “Grateful American,” his dedication to helping disabled veterans and first responders, his conversion to the Catholic faith, and the gratitude that motivates his life and charity work.
Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winning singer and actress Kristin Chenoweth discusses her new album “Happiness is…Christmas,” the joys and losses that inspired her choice of songs on the album, how she keeps Christ a part of the season, and why she teaches young people pursuing careers in the entertainment industry that learning from your failures is just as important as embracing your successes. Host: Tony Rossi.
1) Dolly Parton – the country music legend discusses Christmas growing up in the Smoky Mountains, why she feels her Christian faith is deeply embedded in her spirit, and why she considers God her "co-writer" on all her songs and her "co-pilot" in life.
2) Scott Hamilton, Part 2 – the award-winning figure skater and TV commentator shares the story of him and his wife adopting two children from Haiti. Host: Tony Rossi.
Scott Hamilton, the Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater, discusses his podcast “Live Your Days,” how he went from an adopted child with low self-esteem to a confident athlete, how he came to be a Christian believer as an adult, and how his faith helped him through battles with cancer and three brain tumors.
New York Times best-selling author Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt discusses her book “The Gift of Forgiveness: Inspiring Stories From Those Who Have Overcome the Unforgivable,” touching on the role that religious faith plays in the forgiveness process.
Christopher Award-winning author Mark Shriver discusses his new children’s book, which encourages kids to look for hidden heroes in their lives and communities, the ways his Catholic faith influenced the book, and how he and Jennifer Garner have been working together to fight poverty and improve education for children in the United States. Host: Tony Rossi
Josh Swickard, the actor who plays Detective Harrison Chase on “General Hospital,” discusses how he learned the lesson that joy is a choice, how his Christian faith was shaped by his grandfather throughout his life, but most recently through Bible studies they did together over FaceTime, what it was like working with his wife Lauren on their hit Netflix movie "A California Christmas," and how he follows God's call to love, not judge, others.Host: Tony Rossi
Christopher Award winner Frank Siller, the CEO and Chairman of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, discusses his firefighter brother who was killed in the World Trade Center’s collapse on 9/11, and the ways in which the Foundation is keeping his memory alive by helping disabled veterans, first responders, and Gold Star families. Frank also reveals how the faith and selflessness he saw modeled by his parents, who were Third Order Franciscans, continues to serve as a foundation for his life.
Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Jedi-in-training Ahsoka Tano in the animated “Star Wars” series “The Clone Wars” and “Rebels,” discusses her faith, what it’s like portraying a character who is a role model to many, her dedication to removing the stigma from mental health challenges, and why she is so committed to promoting kindness after being cyberbullied several years ago.
Military historian and best-selling author Adam Makos discusses his latest book “Spearhead: An American Tank Gunner, His Enemy, and a Collision of Lives During World War II,” in which he shares one of the war’s last great untold stories of courage, sacrifice, guilt, and unexpected friendship. Host: Tony Rossi.
Author and pastor Chris Edmonds discusses the biography he wrote about his father Roddie Edmonds’ acts of heroism during World War II, the way in which he saved the lives of Jewish American soldiers in a Nazi POW camp, and how his Christian faith was a motivating and unifying force in his life.
Grammy Award-winning singer, musician, and composer Harry Connick Jr. discusses his album “Alone With My Faith,” why he decided to make a spiritual album, why he considers his father to be his “spiritual hero,” and the positive effect that some kind and caring priests have had on his life.
Laura Sobiech, the author whose memoir about her son Zach inspired the Christopher Award-winning movie “Clouds,” discusses Zach’s battle with osteosarcoma, the way in which his faith sustained him as he faced his final days, how he channeled God's grace to others during his suffering, and the ways in which his hit song “Clouds” changed lives.
The former ABC News correspondent and author of “Called Out: Why I Traded Two Dream Jobs for a Life of True Calling” discusses the emotional and spiritual impact of her father’s recent death and the reason she had the words “Be Still” tattooed on her wrist.
Former ABC News anchor Paula Faris discusses her memoir “Called Out: Why I Traded Two Dream Jobs for a Life of True Calling,” how she came to see that she was treating her career as a false idol, the ways that all of us can learn to distinguish our vocational calling from our faith calling, and how she approached season three of her “Journeys of Faith” podcast, which focuses on the intersection of politics and religion. Host: Tony Rossi.
Emmy Award-winning broadcaster Paula Faris discusses her “Journeys of Faith” podcast in which she interviews newsmakers about their spiritual beliefs. She also talks about her personal faith and the way in which a “season of hell” in her life led her to step back from some of her professional responsibilities to focus more on her family. Host: Tony Rossi.
Actress, writer, director, and producer Bonnie Hunt recalls her award-winning film “Return to Me,” her friendship with actor Carroll O’Connor who starred in that movie, and the selflessness she learned from her mom Alice, which continues to inspire her.
Bonnie Hunt - the writer, director, producer, and actress known for films including “Cheaper by the Dozen,” “Jumanji,” and “Return to Me” - discusses her life growing up in a large Catholic family in Chicago, why she pursued a career as a nurse, the devastation she felt after her father’s sudden death at age 50, and why she interpreted an unexpected encounter with a patient she was caring for as a sign from her father in heaven.
Hallmark Channel actress Nikki DeLoach discusses her dedication to the Alzheimer’s Association in light of her father’s diagnosis with dementia, her son’s battle with multiple heart defects, and how her faith is guiding her through difficult times. Host: Tony Rossi.
Maurice Benard, the actor who plays Sonny Corinthos on "General Hospital" and who authored the Christopher Award-winning memoir “Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off ‘General Hospital’” further discusses his mental health struggles and his efforts to bring hope and healing to others enduring similar struggles. Host: Tony Rossi
“General Hospital” star Maurice Benard discusses his longtime mental health advocacy grounded in his own diagnosis with bipolar disorder earlier in life, his recent battle with suicidal inclinations due to anxiety and depression, and how he was saved through a combination of God, family, therapy, and medication. Host: Tony Rossi
Christopher Award-winning author Kate Bowler discusses her latest memoir “No Cure for Being Human,” her search for realistic hope and peace while facing down cancer, how we can all learn to live with the hardships and strife that life sometimes brings our way, and how she dealt with being bitten by a venomous copperhead snake. Host: Tony Rossi.