The Catholic Traveler Podcast: Recent Episodes

The Catholic Traveler

Travel stories and a little theology from Mountain Butorac and Joannie Watson. We discuss pilgrimage sites like Italy, Rome, the Vatican, and the Holy Land. Along the way we explore the land of the Bible, the history of the Catholic Church, and the lives of the Saints. A new podcast every Thursday.

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On the fourth day of Lent we visit the basilica of Sant'Agostino.

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Day two of the new Rome Edition of the podcast, where I record on location. If you want more info about the station churches, I have articles and videos for them all on my website. Here's the link to today's church: https://thecatholictraveler.com/lenten-station-churches-of-rome/san-giorgio-al-velabro/

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Welcome back to The Catholic Traveler Podcast. I am recording a new take on the Lenten Station Churches, by recording the episode on location. We'll see how it goes!

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Today we are joined by Lori and David.

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We are live from Assisi speaking with a few of our travelers...

Honey-Jo Kelly, John Nienaber, and Kathleen Garmany

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Our very first The Catholic Traveler Podcast Pilgrimage begins today.

Joannie and Mountain got together this morning at a cafe to discuss pilgrimage prep.

We plan to post daily updates from the pilgrimage with guests along the way.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram too:

https://www.instagram.com/joan.m.watson/

https://www.instagram.com/thecatholictraveler/

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Joannie's YouTube Channel... Joan's Take on The Chosen

To see behind the scenes pics and videos from the visit, check out my Instagram Stories.

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Relics and locations associated with today's feast.

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Today we talk about our favorites in Rome. Churches, coffee, bones, bells, views, and more!

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Recorded while traveling, so please excuse the extra background noise. 

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From Ein Karem to Bethany Beyond the Jordan to Machaerus to Rome.

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Recording on the road today, so there were a few small audio issues. But you'll want to hear how things are going as we travel around Italy. And then you need to sign up for our podcast pilgrimage in September. Only a few spots left for that one.

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We are bringing a small group to Rome and Assisi on our first The Catholic Traveler Podcast Pilgrimage to Italy.

Here are the details: 
https://thecatholictraveler.com/catholic-pilgrimages/2021-09-07/

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Saints, beautiful churches, a Eucharistic Miracle, and some amazing food.

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Some links for Joannie's new adventure:

https://joanmwatson.substack.com

www.patreon.com/joanmwatson

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On May 6, 1527, 147 Swiss Guard lost their lives defending the Pope during the Sack of Rome. To commemorate that day, the new Swiss Guard are sworn in on May 6th each year. Today we talk about the Swiss Guard.

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Today we discuss some of the history behind relics, what they are, and why they are important. We talk about some of our favorites and realize we both prefer second class.

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Today we drink our way through an evening in Rome while mentioning a pope and a few cardinals along the way.

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With some talk of tourism returning soon(ish), Joannie and Mountain talk about what that might look like. And as we approached the anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI's election, we have a few stories.

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Back on our weekly schedule, we decide to take a break from Roman churches and take you somewhere completely different. Today we go to what many who travel with us call "a best day ever." Today we go deep into the Jordanian Desert to visit Petra, see some camels, and sleep in a tent.

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Today we talk about Little Easter in Italy, Joannie's Lenten Station Church Bracket – which you compete in on her socials: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/joan.m.watson/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/Joannie_Watson), and we talk about some things we learned on this virtual Lenten pilgrimage.

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Today we explain why this church is called Holy Cross IN Jerusalem. We also discuss the relics of the Passion, how they survived 2000 years, and how they ended up here in Rome.

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Today's church has a relic from the Last Supper. We also talk about the Altars of Repose.

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Today we go inside the church and talk about golden ceilings, popes, saints, relics, artists, and icons.

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This church is dedicated to the protomartyr of the west. A woman the lions refused to kill. Today we visit Santa Prisca on the Aventine Hill.

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A sister church, thousands of martyrs, a powerful relic, and Coldplay.

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Today we go into the church, visit some popes and relics, and talk about some other random Lenten things.

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A church built where Saint John the Evangelist was boiled in oil.

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One of Rome's most unique churches with some of Rome's most gruesome art.

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Santa Claus In Prison? 

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A priest who was starved to death. Saint Joseph. And some Cardinal stories.

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A church for those who love Church history.

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A favorite church.

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Another church dedicated to Saint Lawrence.

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Today's church is located near the Colosseum, was home to several popes, and is dedicated to four Roman martyrs.

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Today we discuss why your priest wore rose colored vestments today. We also discuss the history of this church and why it is where it is. 

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The first American church in Rome. The first with pews. The first with electric lighting.

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Twin doctors who refused to die. And a church located in the heart of Ancient Rome.

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An old church with a lot of history.

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One of the very first churches in Rome. Peter lived here and started his ministry in Rome here.

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A church nearly every visitor to Rome sees, but doesn't visit. Today we talk about Saint Mark, a really old church, and the vial of darkness.

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One fo the first 25 churches in Rome, built to honor a priest and an exorcist you may have heard mentioned in the Eucharistic Prayer.

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Uploaded the wrong file this morning. This is the correct version. Sorry about that!

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We continue our daily show through Lent. Today we are in the heart of one of Rome's most popular neighborhoods, Trastevere.

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Our daily Lenten pilgrimage through Rome continues today with a visit to the tomb of a favorite saint.

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This church is connected to another church we recently visited.

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An early Roman martyr, Saint Jerome's church, and perpetual adoration.

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Miraculous chains. Michelangelo’s best work. The Maccabees. And a lobster. Enjoy today’s Lent video!

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A new podcast every day of Lent.  Join us in Rome as we focus on the Lenten Station Church of the day.

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A new podcast every day of Lent.  Join us in Rome as we focus on the Lenten Station Church of the day.

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A new podcast every day of Lent.  Join us in Rome as we focus on the Lenten Station Church of the day.

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A new podcast every day of Lent.  Join us in Rome as we focus on the Lenten Station Church of the day.

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A new podcast every day of Lent.  Join us in Rome as we focus on the Lenten Station Church of the day.

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This week we focus on one church, Santa Maria sopra Minerva.

Be sure to visit the the page for this show to see the pics we reference:
https://thecatholictraveler.com/episode-15/

Comments and ratings in iTunes are a huge help. Thank you so much! 🧡

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This week we talk about food. Some favorite restaurants and dishes in Rome.

Be sure to visit the the page for this show to see the pics we reference:
https://thecatholictraveler.com/episode-14/

Comments and ratings in iTunes are a huge help. Thank you so much! 🧡

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Today we discuss Papal Events. Papal Audiences and Papal Masses and the fun experiences we've had.

Be sure to visit the the page for this show to see the pics we reference:
https://thecatholictraveler.com/episode-13/

Comments and ratings in iTunes are a huge help. Thank you so much! 🧡

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Today we discuss the Pantheon. What it is. What it was. Exciting things that happened there. Exciting things that used to happen there. It's connection with All Saints Day, and so much more!

Be sure to visit the the page for this show to see the pics we reference:
https://thecatholictraveler.com/episode-12/

Comments and ratings in iTunes are a huge help. Thank you so much! 🧡

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Today we are in Trastevere. We talk about Santa Maria, Santa Cecilia, a blessed, a Bernini, and more.

Visit https://thecatholictraveler.com/episode-11/  for pics from this episode.

Subscribing via iTunes and a leaving five star rating really helps our new podcast. Thank you so much! 🧡

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This week we discuss the apostles in Rome. Did you know three apostles are buried in Saint Peter's Basilica? That trivia and more in the latest episode.

Subscribing via iTunes and a leaving five star rating really helps our new podcast. Thank you so much! 🧡

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This week we talk about Bethlehem.

Subscribing via iTunes and a leaving five star rating really helps our new podcast. Thank you so much! 🧡

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This week we talk about our experiencing opening the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel, with a pilgrimage group. We arrived before sunrise and accompanied the guys who hold the keys to the Museums. Along the way, we opened the doors to the galleries, turned on the lights, and saw things that are usually closed to the public. This episode was recorded in Trastevere with all the ambiance of church bells, cafe noises, and pedestrians. Enjoy!

Subscribing via iTunes and a leaving five star rating really helps our new podcast. Thank you so much! 🧡

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This week we talk about the history of the crèche. We describe some of our favorites around Rome and some of our favorite advent traditions. Enjoy!

Subscribing via iTunes and a leaving five star rating really helps our new podcast. Thank you so much! 🧡

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This week we tell you why Saint Peter's Basilica is where it is. We share some details on the piazza. We talk about the Scavi Tour and the discovery of Saint Peter's bones. And you get to hear lots and lots of bells. Enjoy!

Watch Joannie's 3 Minute Theology on "Why Rome?"

Subscribing via iTunes and a leaving five star rating really helps our new podcast. Thank you so much! 🧡

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This week we take you on a walk through our favorite Roman neighborhood. A neighborhood where Peter was crucified, archangels appeared over mausoleums, churches were moved, pyramids were leveled, and babies were dropped. This is the Borgo.

Rating this in iTunes will be a huge help for this brand new podcast. Thanks so much!!! 🧡

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This week Joannie and Mountain take you to a favorite church, Saint Paul Outside the Walls. This was recorded live in the church. Enjoy the music! Also, rating this in iTunes will be a huge help for this brand new podcast. Thanks so much!!! 🧡

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This week Joannie and Mountain talk about the basilica of Saint Mary Major, Santa Prassede, Santa Pudenziana, and Sant'Alfonso.

This is part of our spontaneous podcast series where we decided to just start recording a podcast without any planning. There's no fancy intro, no sound effects or music, and only the iPhone mic was used. Don’t expect professional quality, but I think it will evolve into something great. Plus, you'll get to hear how it progresses over time. 

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This week Joannie and Mountain talk about the Scala Santa.


After several years of discussing and planning a podcast, we (Mountain Butorac and Joannie Watson) very spontaneously decided to recorded the first podcast episodes on an iPhone in the breakfast room of Hotel Umbra in Assisi while leading a pilgrimage for the Diocese of Nashville.

There were people all around us, people coming in and out of the room, and at one point the hotel owner was repairing something with a hammer.

There's no fancy intro, no sound effects or music, and only the iPhone mic was used. Don’t expect professional quality, but I think it will evolve into something great. Plus, you'll get to hear how it progresses over time. 

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After several years of discussing and planning a podcast, we (Mountain Butorac and Joannie Watson) very spontaneously decided to recorded the first episode on an iPhone in the breakfast room of Hotel Umbra in Assisi while leading a pilgrimage for the Diocese of Nashville.

There were people all around us, people coming in and out of the room, and at one point the hotel owner was repairing something with a hammer.

There's no fancy intro, no sound effects or music, and only the iPhone mic was used. Don’t expect professional quality, but I think it will evolve into something great. Plus, you'll get to hear how it progresses over time.