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In this, the final episode of The Passing Currents Podcast, the boys revisit the poem by Karol Wojtyla that originally gave their podcast its name, and reflect on this project, what it was, and where we all must go from here.From Brian and Eric, to all of you who tuned in or came on the show over the last four years, we are unspeakably grateful. Thank you for allowing us to spend this time with you. It has shaped us in more ways than we can express.

A quick update on the status of the Passing Currents Podcast (and, while we’re on the mic again, some good ol’ recommendations).

After a long hiatus, the boys return...kind of. In light of recent events, and as a sort of warm-up for the impending return of the Passing Currents Podcast, we offer you this kinda-new episode. It is a talk on fear that Eric gave at Camp Summit a number of years ago. It was aired once before on the show (Episode 58, way back when), buuuuuuuut given the arguments the world is making these days for bein' afraid, we thought it was perhaps extra relevant, and worth reposting. We hope you enjoy, and we can't wait to get back to making new episodes for you all again soon.

Surprise! The boys come off of the hiatus for a surprise episode addressing concerns of how to continue to live and grow in faith amidst these times of uncertainty and isolation. Enjoy!Recommended Reads: The Noonday Devil: Acedia, The Unnamed Evil of Our Times, Dom Jean-Charles Nault; The Power of Silence, Robert Cardinal Sarah; From the Depths of Our Hearts, Robert Cardinal Sarah and Papa Benny; Strangers to the City, Michael Casey; The Lord, Romano Guardini; Jesus of Nazareth trilogy, Papa Benny; The Life of Christ, Fulton J. Sheen; To Know Christ Jesus, Frank Sheed; The Thrawn Trilogy, Timothy Zahn.Recommended Prayers: Litany of Trust; the freakin’ Rosary; special recognition of Sunday as a day of rest and prayer.

This week, we DON’T have a brand new interview. Instead, Brian and Eric discuss an interesting encounter that Brian had with an acquaintance of his who objected to the very premise of the podcast: that is, whether or not Eric and Brian have a right to ask what another person believes, and whether or not that person has a right to ask similar things of them. The boys also discuss a question that this individual offered about why (in his words) we have to “pay to pray.” And finally: stick around until the end of the episode for a very important podcast announcement! ENJOY!(and yes, the title makes sense when you listen to the episode)

This week, the boys tackle four issues brought up by Eric’s interview with Aaron:First, they address a question Aaron brought up during the interview: if no one had tied you about God, would you believe?Why does it matter that your life philosophy be true? That is, if it’s false but it makes you and others around you happy, why is that not enough?What is the relationship between eternal life and moral obedience in this life? (look out; we gon quote some VERITATIS SPLENDOR up in here)What’s the deal with death?Enjoy!Recommended Reads: Veritatis Splendor, Papa JP; Matthew 19.

This week, Eric sits down for an interview with his buddy Aaron, a professed atheist, and they talk about everyone’s favorite light-hearted topic: DEATH. Along with various related topics. ENJOY!

This week, Brian and Eric discuss Brian's interview with Mark. They specific address the ideological divide in Catholicism and what concrete steps we might take to begin to bridge that gap and promote actual, productive conversation. Recommended Reads: YOU SHOULD ACTUALLY READ VATICAN II DOCUMENTS

In this week's interview, Brian sits down with Rochester religion teacher Mark Neuring to try to answer the question: must we apply political terms to Catholic communities? In the end, Mark challenges listeners to do something positive for change. Enjoy!

This week, Brian and Eric tackle the two questions from last week’s interview with Ostrich, namely: did Christ intend for there to be multiple denominations of Christianity, and who is Christ coming back to save? The boys discuss modern Christianity’s approach to denominational differences, who Christ is coming to save (spoiler: it’s e’erbody), and what the Church (through specifically Lumen Gentium) has to say about who WILL be saved.Recommended Reads: Lumen Gentium (seriously, just read it); The Catechism of the Catholic Church; Catholic Christianity, Dr. Peter Kreeft.

WE’RE BACK. This week, in our first interview of 2020, Eric sits down with his old teammate, Ostrich. They discuss his faith journey, and Ostrich ends with a fantastic question: simply, for whom (according the Catholic Church) is Christ coming back? That is, who does the Catholic Church believe will be saved?

Welcome to Episode 100! This week, the boys take a step back and reflect on the last three years and tackle two questions: 1) what they expected to find in this podcast when they started it, and 2) what they ACTUALLY found in this podcast.To all of our listeners, interviewees, and supporters: thank you for coming along with us for the last few years. We are supremely grateful for your friendship and support. Pray for us, and know of our prayers for you.

This week, the boys discuss a recent study regarding our culture’s inability to endure silence. They go over what this study says about modern man, what it says about our Church today, and what we can do to improve our “untutored minds.” Enjoy the episode, as well as the irony of us recording audio noise instructing you to eliminate noise.THE STUDY: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/345/6192/75.full (Note: a log-in is required, but subscription is free)Recommended Reads: The Power of Silence, Robert Cardinal Sarah; Time for God, Jacques Philippe.

Two episode ago, our interviewee, Andy Cass, asked, the question: what’s the big deal with Mary? This week, with an eye toward Christmas, we devote an entire episode to that very question, doing a deep dive into all matters Mary.Recommended Reads: Hail, Holy Queen, Scott Hahn; Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary, Brant Pitre; World’s First Love, Ven. Archbishop Fulton Sheen; Walking with Mary, Dr. Edward Sri; Catholicism and Fundamentalism, Karl Keating; Handbook of Christian Apologetics, Peter Kreeft & Ronald K. Tacelli; Mary: The Church at the Source, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Papa Benny) & Hans Urs von Balthasar; There is No Rose: The Mariology of the Catholic Church; Fr. Aidan Nichols; Redemptoris Mater, Pope John Paul II; Introduction to Mary: The Heart of Marian Doctrine and Devotion, Mark Miraville; Catholic & Christian, Alan Schreck; The Teachings of the Church Fathers, John R. Willis.

This week, Brian and Eric address last week’s interview with Andy Cass, pastor of The Echo Church. They discuss a variety of topics—such as tact in evangelization, what it means to take pride in one’s Catholicism, the efficacy of sacraments, and the definition of love—all driving to the boys’ answer to Andy’s most important question: can we be friends? (Spoiler: the boys’ answer is “yes, qualified”)NOTE: Andy asked a second question in his interview about what the big deal is with Mary. We touch briefly on it in this response, but have no fear: given the sheer magnitude (and importance) of that question, we are planning a full episode response to just that. Stay tuned.

A couple months ago, many Rochester residents received postcards in their mailboxes inviting them to attend worship at the brand-new Echo Church. The tagline on the postcard read, “We care about you more than stale religion.” This elicited a variety of strong reactions from our Rochester listeners, some of whom were interested in what was meant by “stale religion,” while others felt accused of being a part of a supposedly stale religion. In response to this, we reached out to Echo Church to see if they’d like to be interviewed, and they graciously agreed to meet with us.This week’s episode, then, is Brian’s interview with Andy Cass, pastor at Echo Church. He and Brian discuss the “stale religion” postcards and their intention, as well as Andy’s own spirituality and vision for Echo Church. Finally, Andy asks a great question that hearkens back to the final interview of Season Two: can we be friends?

This week, Brian and Eric discuss the interview with Will Reilly. They tackle the idea of rules vs. relationship in religion, the notion of “legislating morality,” and Brian tells a hilariously horrifying story about Crossfit kidney failure. Enjoy it all (yes, even the kidney failure story)!

This week, Eric sits down for an interview with his old buddy from his SPO undergrad days, Will Reily. They discuss Will’s spiritual movement since undergrad and what it’s like to be a Christian on the East Coast. Finally, Will asks a question about legislating morality.

This week on the Passing Currents Podcast, you get the boys’ response to last week’s interview with Dave, which they recorded (perhaps unwisely) while driving back from a live show. In this episode, you’ll get to enjoy the following:Explanations of why the boys believe in God!The loud directional instructions of Brian’s GPS!Fervent thank-yous to all the good people in Virginia, MN!The sounds of the boys narrowly avoiding hitting a deer!Explanations of why the Eucharist is “such a big deal” to Catholics!Eric burns his tongue!Explanations of why Jesus ain’t gonna show up and say, “Guys, guys, I was just speaking metaphorically!” (with regards to John 6)!The sounds of the boys watching a man in a truck run a red light!Discussion of whether or not Christianity stifles the honest pursuit of truth!AND MORE!Recommended Reads: The Hidden Manna, Fr. James T. O’Connor; The Case for Christ, Lee Strobel; The Mass of the Early Christians, Mike Aquilina; God is Near Us, Papa Benny; Theology and Sanity, Frank Sheed.

This week, Brian sits down with Dave, a friend with whom he disagrees often and respects immensely (remember, those two are not mutually exclusive qualities!). Dave walks us through his rejection of his fundamentalist Christian upbringing and his journey to atheism, as well as his views on Christianity’s effect on exploration and truth. Finally, he asks two fantastic questions regarding 1) why we believe God exists at all, and 2) what the heck is the big deal with the Eucharist? Enjoy!