The Pillar Podcast

JD and Ed look ahead to the elections at the U.S. bishops’ fall meeting in Baltimore next week.Join JD and Ed next week for two live tapings of The Pillar Podcast!* Wednesday, November 12 at 8pm at Todd Connor’s in Baltimore (700 S Broadway)* Saturday, November 15 at 10 pm at Legends at the University of Notre Dame (100 Legends)This episode is sponsored by Decided Excellence Catholic Media, helping Catholic parishes start their own parish magazines for the purposes of communication and evangelization.To learn more about bringing a magazine to y...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.pillarcatholic.comJD and Ed talk costumes and more in this Halloween bonus episode. Are you a paying subscriber?* Visit pillarcatholic.com/listen on your phone* Check the top right corner of the webpage to ensure you are logged into your Substack account.* Tap ‘set up podcast’ next to The Pillar PodcastHaving issues? Email our producer Kate at kolivera@pillarcatholic.com

JD and Ed wrestle with a question about Pope Leo XIV. Then, JD asks Ed for some advice.This episode is sponsored by SEEK 2026.Go To The Heights at SEEK 2026— January 1-5 in Columbus, OH • Fort Worth, TX • Denver, CO— where prayer, fellowship, and inspiration meet.Learn more at seek.focus.org-Photo: Pope Leo XIV © Mazur/cbcew.org.uk. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pillarcatholic.com/subsc

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.pillarcatholic.comJD and Ed talk about the gambling and sports betting scandal roiling the NBA. Are you a paying subscriber?* Visit pillarcatholic.com/listen on your phone* Check the top right corner of the webpage to ensure you are logged into your Substack account.* Tap ‘set up podcast’ next to The Pillar PodcastHaving issues? Email our producer Kate at kolivera@pillarcathol…

JD and Ed take a deep dive inspired by Pope Leo XIV’s meeting this week with King Charles III.This episode is sponsored by Decided Excellence Catholic Media.Learn more about bringing a magazine to your parish by visiting decidedexcellence.com/parishOr, learn about publishing your own Catholic magazine by visiting decidedexcellence.com/join-our-team-Photo credit: King Charles III, then Prince of Wales, during an October 2019 visit to Rome for the canonization of John Henry Newman. © Mazur/cbcew.org.uk. <br...

JD recaps his time at SeaWorld. He and Ed talk about a couple more Leonine appointments this week— Cardinal Blase Cupich to the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City and Fr. Josef Grünwidl as the new archbishop of Vienna.They talk about the APSA audit memo that informed Pope Francis’ 2022 order transferring the Vatican’s asset management from APSA to the Vatican City bank. They speculate why Pope Leo clawed back that 2022 order last week.Then, JD plays a round of equine ‘Greater or Lesser.’This episode is sponsored by the Christendom College Graduate Sc...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.pillarcatholic.comEd visits an allergist.Then, he shares his frustrations with the latest lawsuit related to the Vatican financial scandal.Are you a paying subscriber?* Visit pillarcatholic.com/listen on your phone* Check the top right corner of the webpage to ensure you are logged into your Substack account.* Tap ‘set up podcast’ next to The Pillar PodcastHaving issues? Email…

JD and Ed answer a canon law question from a Pillar reader.The Diocese of Lincoln has said a vibrating relic is “not of supernatural origin.” JD and Ed talk about the relic and the acts of faith it inspired in the local community.Then, JD and Ed talk about the latest from Pope Leo XIV— including repealing one of Pope Francis’ financial regulations, publishing his first apostolic exhortation, and his comments about the definition of ‘pro-life’ in response to ‘Durbingate.’This episode is sponsored by Decided Excellence Catholic Media.Learn more about bring...

JD and Ed answer some questions about marriage from listeners.This episode is sponsored by The Catholic Family Emergency Binder from Wallet Win.This binder is designed to give Catholic families peace of mind, ensuring you and your loved ones are prepared for the unexpected—whether that’s an illness, injury, or even death.Use code PILLAR for 20% off at walletwin.com/binder This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pillarcatholic.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.pillarcatholic.comEd shares a story from his Sunday.Are you a paying subscriber?* Visit pillarcatholic.com/listen on your phone* Check the top right corner of the webpage to ensure you are logged into your Substack account.* Tap ‘set up podcast’ next to The Pillar PodcastHaving issues? Email our producer at kolivera@pillarcatholic.com

JD is not boycotting homework. Then, Pope Leo makes some appointments. JD and Ed talk about what the appointments may tell us about Pope Leo and his engagement with the Church in the United States.This episode is sponsored by Decided Excellence Catholic Media, helping Catholic parishes start their own parish magazines for the purposes of communication and evangelization.Learn more about bringing a magazine to your parish by visiting decidedexcellence.com/parish/Or, to learn more about becoming a publisher of your own Catholic magazine, visit decidedexcellence.com/join-our-team/ ...

JD and Ed talk about recently published excerpts of Pope Leo XIV’s first interviews— including his reflections on the papacy, Vatican finances, and the clerical sexual abuse crisis.This episode is sponsored by FaithInvestors.com. Let the experienced investment advisors at FaithInvestors.com help you align your finances and your faith without sacrificing returns.Pillar listeners get a free, personalized consultation for a faith-guided financial plan, and a free portfolio review of your current investments.To learn more, visit FaithInvestors.com This is a public episode. If you...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.pillarcatholic.comJD has a story for Ed.Are you a paying subscriber?* Visit pillarcatholic.com/listen on your phone* Check the top right corner of the webpage to ensure you are logged into your Substack account.* Tap ‘set up podcast’ next to The Pillar PodcastHaving issues? Email our producer at kolivera@pillarcatholic.com

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.pillarcatholic.comThis is the west.Are you a paying subscriber?* Visit pillarcatholic.com/listen on your phone* Check the top right corner of the webpage to ensure you are logged into your Substack account.* Tap ‘set up podcast’ next to The Pillar PodcastHaving issues? Email our producer at kolivera@pillarcatholic.com

This is a free bonus episode of The Pillar Podcast. Subscribe to The Pillar today to access every bonus episode of The Pillar Podcast. What does it mean to be a Christian in America right now?Are you a paying subscriber?* Visit pillarcatholic.com/listen on your phone* Check the top right corner of the webpage to ensure you are logged into your Substack account.* Tap ‘set up podcast’ next to The Pillar PodcastHaving issues? Email our producer at kolivera@pillarcatholic.com ...

Ed talks about reactions to Pope Leo XIV’s suppression of two dioceses and creation of a new diocese in mainland China. Then, the Traditional Latin Mass will be celebrated next month on the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica. JD and Ed talk about what the move could signify for future application of Traditionis custodes. Ed plays a round of video game “Good, better, best."This episode is sponsored by Decided Excellence Catholic Media, helping Catholics and Catholic parishes start their own magazines to communicate and evangelize.Publish your own Catholic magazi...

Ed is joined this week by Pillar columnist Stephen White to look ahead to this weekend’s canonizations of Bls. Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis. They also talk about examples of integrated masculinity and the impact of wonder. This episode is sponsored by Pillar listener Heath."Lesly, happy anniversary (and birthday), from Heath." This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pillarcatholic.com/subscribe

This episode may not be suitable for children.JD and Ed react to the news out of Minneapolis this week, reflect on the lasting effects on the community, and ask what comes next?Then— by popular demand— JD and Ed assess the upcoming nuptials of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.This episode is sponsored by Lovecrypt.net, an experimental electronic music label— consecrated to the Sacred Heart— with over 100 albums in its catalog.Visit Lovecrypt.net and use the code PILLAR to get 90% off any purchase.-Photo: C...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.pillarcatholic.comJD and Ed share the rest of their draft picks for the dicasteries for Integral Human Development; Christian Unity; and the Doctrine of the Faith. They also share their picks for Secretary of State, Sostituto, and nuncio to the United States.Are you a paying subscriber?* Visit pillarcatholic.com/listen on your phone* Check the top right corner of the webpage…

JD and Ed speculate how the first American pope might mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.Then, they share their picks for vacancies (or soon-to-be vacancies) in the Dicasteries for Bishops; Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments; Causes of Saints; and the Laity, the Family and Life.This episode is sponsored by The Lamp, the only magazine for Catholics seeking intelligent, witty, and clear-eyed commentary on the world.Right now it’s 40% off for Pillar listeners! Use the code PILLAR40 at thelampmagazine.comLike The Pillar, Th...