Best Kapaun Podcasts (2024)

1
John Stansifer on the Life, Military Service and Sacrifice of Father Emil Kapaun 19:17

3d ago19:17

19:17

Father Dave welcomes author John Stansifer to the show to talk about Father Emil Kapaun, the most decorated chaplain in U.S. military history. John has written over 20 screenplays, specializing in biopics and historical true stories. He spent six years in the Kansas Army National Guard as a mortar gunner and served alongside Vietnam War veterans, w…

1
A Beacon of Light: CH (CPT) Emil J. Kapaun 9:20

26d ago9:20

9:20

Emil J. Kapaun served as a military Chaplain in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean War. As a Chaplain, it was his job to move from unit to unit, leading prayer and passing words of encouragement. During battle, Chaplains provided emergency care to the wounded, and gave last rites to dying soldiers. Since they aren’t issued as weapons …

1
Father James Martin Talks Comedians at the Vatican, Meeting With Pope Francis, and More 26:09

1d ago26:09

26:09

Friend of the show, Jesuit priest, author, and editor-at-large of America Media Father James Martin stopped by Father Dave’s radio studio to discuss his recent meeting with Pope Francis, what it was like being at the Vatican with a number of famous comedians, and more. On Friday June 14, Pope Francis met with a number of comedians from multiple cou…

1
A Century Old Myth: Sergeant Alvin York 17:33

4d ago17:33

17:33

Sgt York was awarded the Medal of Honor for single handedly killing two dozen enemies and capturing over 130 during World War I, but is that what really happened? In this episode we talk about what really happened that day in France, and how decades of lies and cover-ups supported a false narrative about York and his actions that day.…

1
Father Dave Answers Questions on Priesthood from ‘Maternity Leave Matt’ 17:12

10d ago17:12

17:12

While Busted Halo Show producer Krista LePard is out on maternity leave, our temporary producer, “Maternity Leave Matt” has some questions of faith for Father Dave: Matt asks, “When you became a priest, did you stop being Dave Dwyer and become [solely] Father Dave? Do your friends or family call you Father Dave or are you still Dave to some people?…

1
Rerun: Jacob Parrott 4:00

11d ago4:00

4:00

To celebrate 100 episodes of the Medal of Honor podcast we are revisiting the story of the first recipient, Jacob Parrott. Jacob Parrott received the first Medal of Honor ever awarded for his participation in the Great Locomotive Chase during the Civil War.By Evergreen Podcasts

1
Siblings of Jesus? Unforgivable Sin? Father Dave Answers Questions From the Gospel of Mark 8:47

15d ago8:47

8:47

At the start of a recent homily, Father Dave addresses two things from the Gospel of St. Mark that Catholics and non-Catholics alike often have questions about. In the Gospel of St. Mark and in a few other places, we hear about Jesus’ brothers and sisters. Father Dave explains that those who translated Gospel texts from the original languages wante…

1
‘Wildcat’ Producer on Flannery O’Connor’s Lasting Influence 14:33

17d ago14:33

14:33

Eric Groth, president of ODB Films and executive producer of “Wildcat” stops by the show to talk about the film about the late Catholic author Flannery O’Connor. ODB Films is an award-winning not-for-profit Catholic film company whose mission is to foster an encounter with Christ through artfully made, spiritually rich films. Their newest movie, “W…

1
Clearing the Trench: SSG Edward N. Kaneshiro 4:57

19d ago4:57

4:57

Staff Sergeant Edward N. Kaneshiro served in the Army in Vietnam. On December 1st, 1966, two American squads were ambushed by an overwhelming North Vietnamese force. Rushing to their aid, Kaneshiro ordered his men to take cover while he crawled up to a fortified enemy trench. While laying on his stomach, he threw a grenade into the trench, killing …

1
Unleashing Your Artistic Gift With Clare McCallan 15:50

23d ago15:50

15:50

Father Dave welcomes Clare McCallan, founder and creative director of St. Joseph’s Home for Artisans, TV and podcast host, and spoken word poet, to the show to discuss her new book, “Courage to Create: Unleashing Your Artistic Gifts for Truth, Beauty, and Goodness.” In her book, Clare and her artist friends ask the question, “How do you own your id…

1
Sacred Conversations: Dr. Christopher Reed Shares Tips for More Meaningful Communication 16:50

25d ago16:50

16:50

Do you remember the last conversation you had that challenged your way of thinking or inspired you to act? A conversation that changed your mind, your heart, or maybe even your life? To help us have more meaningful conversations more often, Father Dave welcomes Dr. Christopher Reed to the show. Dr. Reed has a Ph.D.. in human communication and belie…

1
How Many Times Do We Bless Ourselves During Mass? 11:12

1M ago11:12

11:12

Anna-Lissa from Texas calls in to ask Father Dave a question of faith: “There are two specific times in the Mass that we bless ourselves, and that is at the beginning of Mass and then at the end. And so I have heard that those are the only two times we’re to bless ourselves; that we're not to bless ourselves any other time during the Mass. Is that …

1
Feed Drop: An Insurgent’s Nightmare - MSG Earl Plumlee 53:58

1M ago53:58

53:58

Today we are sharing an interview from our other show, Warriors In Their Own Words, which features Medal of Honor Recipient Earl Plumlee. Plumlee's story is almost unbelievable, and it's even more incredible hearing him tell it. We'll be back with another new episode of the Medal of Honor Podcast next week, but in the meantime, enjoy.…

1
On Intinction: What Are the Rules Around Dipping the Consecrated Host into the Precious Blood? 11:21

1M ago11:21

11:21

On Intinction: What Are the Rules Around Dipping the Consecrated Host into the Precious Blood? A listener named Alan asks Father Dave if he did something wrong at Mass the other day when he ‘dunked’ the host into the wine. He says, “I don't know why I can't do it. . . I thought when I was getting communion in the 70s and 80s they had these things (…

1
A Conversation on Choosing Confirmation Names With Meg Hunter-Kilmer 21:42

1M ago21:42

21:42

It’s confirmation season, and perhaps you or someone you know are struggling with coming up with a confirmation saint name! So, we asked friend of the show, Catholic speaker and author Meg Hunter- Kilmer to help us out. Meg was an itinerant missionary for 12 years, currently works in campus ministry at the University of Notre Dame and has written s…

1
Rerun: The Unbelievable Story - MSG Earl Plumlee 7:17

1M ago7:17

7:17

Next week we'll be sharing an interview with MOH recipient Earl Plumlee, which was recorded for our other show, Warriors In Their Own Words. In preparation, today we're re-airing our Medal of Honor episode about Plumlee. His story is one of the most incredible we've heard, so it's really worth taking a listen. MSG Plumlee’s Medal of Honor story is …

1
Fatherly Advice: Keeping the Faith Through a Loved One's Illness 13:04

1M ago13:04

13:04

A listener named Mark asks Father Dave, “How do you keep your faith when a parent’s health gets worse and looks to be permanent?”

1
A One-Man Advance: Pvt. Dale Merlin Hansen 3:41

2M ago3:41

3:41

Private Dale Merlin Hansen served in the Marine Corps during World War II. On May 7th, 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa, Hansen took matters into his own hands and crawled into an exposed, advanced position. He fired his rocket launcher, destroying an important Japanese pillbox before his weapon was broken by enemy fire. Finding a nearby rifle, h…

1
Feed Drop: History Shorts - Conversations: Col. Jack H. Jacobs 16:20

2M ago16:20

16:20

Today we want to introduce you to a new podcast from Evergreen Podcasts called History Shorts. Award-winning historian, author, and history professor Peter Zablocki shares his research into the little-known and hidden-in-plain-sight historical curiosities you probably never heard of. All in the little time you probably do not have. Our guest today …

1
Co-Creator of ‘Blue’s Clues’ and ‘Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood’ Offers Life Lessons for All Ages 20:30

2M ago20:30

20:30

Learning lasts beyond our days in school, and Father Dave welcomes Angela Santomero, creator of seven award-winning children’s educational shows, including “Blue’s Clues” and “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.” They discuss her new book for adults is called “Life Clues: Unlocking the Lessons to an Exceptional Life.”…

1
1,000 Man Ambush: SP5 Dwight W. Birdwell 5:49

2M ago5:49

5:49

On January 31st, 1968, Specialist 5 Dwight W. Birdwell and his troop were ordered to respond to an NVA attack on Tan Son Nhut Air Base. When the arrived on scene, they were ambushed by over 1,000 soldiers from either side of the road. Birdwell’s troop immediately took heavy casualties, including Birdwell’s tank commander. Under heavy fire, Birdwell…

1
Can an Adult With Intellectual Disabilities Receive the Eucharist? 13:11

2M ago13:11

13:11

A listener named Darby asks Father Dave if those with mental or intellectual disabilities are permitted to receive the Eucharist. She says, “I was told it's up to the priest to make that decision…I have also been told that [those with low cognitive ability could be denied] because of their non-understanding of the concept and importance.”…

1
Why Does The Eucharistic Prayer Say ‘Disciples’ Instead of ‘Apostles’ at the Last Supper? 13:48

2M ago13:48

13:48

A listener named Jim asks Father Dave about the Last Supper and the Eucharistic Prayer. Jim says, “In the Eucharistic prayer it says, ‘He took bread and gave thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples.’ Why doesn’t it say apostles? I always envisioned the last supper the way Leonardo da Vinci painted it. Were there more disciples there than the …

1
A Ticking Time Bomb: AC1 John Lee Levitow 5:47

2M ago5:47

5:47

Airman First Class Jone Lee Levitow served in Vietnam as a loadmaster. On February 24th, 1969, Levitow’s AC-47, a fixed wing gunship, was hit by an enemy mortar round. The explosion tore a hole in the plane, slashed the fuselage, temporarily blinded the pilots, and threw everyone in the cargo hold to the ground, causing numerous injuries. It also k…

1
Exploring Silence in Personal Prayer and the Mass With Fr. Boniface Hicks 23:15

2M ago23:15

23:15

As the world loudly clamors for our attention, Father Dave welcomes Father Boniface Hicks, OSB to discuss the role of silence in our faith. Father Boniface’s new book is called, “The Hidden Power of Silence in the Mass: A Guide for Encountering Christ in the Liturgy.”

1
Navigating Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Loss With Abigail Jorgenson 27:56

2M ago27:56

27:56

Editorial note: The following podcast contains a discussion of pregnancy/infant loss. We cling to our faith in times of joy and sorrow, and Father Dave welcomes Dr. Abigail Jorgenson to discuss her new book “A Catholic Guide to Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Loss: Compassionate Answers to Difficult Questions.” Abigail is an assistant professor…

1
Hostage Rescue in Iraq: SGM Thomas P. Payne 6:15

2M ago6:15

6:15

Sergeant Major Thomas P. Payne served in Iraq as an Army Ranger. On October 22nd, 2015, Payne’s special operations unit was paired with Kurdish allies in order to complete a hostage rescue mission from an ISIS compound. Payne continuously wethered enemy fire, brownout conditions, and smoke from a burning building on the brink of collapse in order t…

1
If a Wedding Engagement Ends, What Do You Do With a Blessed Ring? 9:53

2M ago9:53

9:53

A listener named Christina asks Father Dave about a difficult situation regarding a blessed item. She asks, “What do you do with an engagement ring that's been blessed when the engagement ends?” Christina continues that her former fiance ended their relationship and will no longer speak to her. She says, “We had a priest bless us and the ring when …

1
The Story of Father Emil Kapaun - Korean War Hero 13:29

2M ago13:29

13:29

Father Kapaun is only one of five Army chaplains to have received the Medal of Honor and is a candidate for sainthood

1
Beauty in Brokenness: How a Severe Injury Played a Role in Sister Julia Walsh’s Vocation 18:21

2M ago18:21

18:21

There are many inspiring vocation stories, and Father Dave welcomes Sister Julia Walsh to discuss her unlikely path to becoming a nun as detailed in her new book, “For Love of the Broken Body: A Spiritual Memoir.” She is a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration and hosts the “Messy Jesus Business” podcast and blog.…

1
The Invasion of Iraq: SFC Paul Ray Smith 4:17

2M ago4:17

4:17

Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith was among the first group of Americans to invade Iraq in 2003, serving as a combat engineer. On April 4th, 2003, American forces were attempting to seize Saddam Hussein International Airport. SFC Smith was leading two platoons of about three dozen men with the goal of setting up a holding area for prisoners of wa…

1
Fatherly Advice: Can You Select a Godparent Who Is Divorced? 15:59

3M ago15:59

15:59

A listener named Laurie asks Father Dave a question of faith about baptism. She asks, “Can an individual who is a faithfully practicing Catholic be a godparent if they have recently become divorced due to their spouse cheating on them? This individual has not been in any other relationships and currently remains single since the divorce.” Laurie no…

1
Creative Ways To Celebrate 50 Days of Easter With Mari Pablo 22:59

3M ago22:59

22:59

Easter is more than just one day, and Father Dave welcomes back Catholic speaker Mari Pablo to share how she is celebrating all 50 days of Easter.

1
Running Over the Enemy: S/Sgt. Herbert H. Burr 3:59

3M ago3:59

3:59

Staff Sergeant Herbert H. Burr served in World War II as a tank gunner. His tank was approaching a town in Germany when they were hit by a bazooka, killing two crewmembers and seriously injuring the platoon sergeant. The surviving crew was forced to evacuate the vehicle, but Burr, delayed by his exit hatch that couldn’t open, feared being targeted …

1
Saints for the School Year: Holy Men and Women to Accompany Teachers With Amy Cattapan 16:58

3M ago16:58

16:58

Many students and teachers are on spring break this time of year, and Father Dave welcomes middle school teacher and author Amy Cattapan to discuss her new book, “A Saint Squad for Teachers: 45 Heavenly Friends to Carry You through the School Year.”

1
A Pilot’s Final Moments: Capt. Steven Logan Bennett 4:50

3M ago4:50

4:50

Captain Steven Logan Bennett was flying an OV-10 Bronco near Quang Tri, Vietnam in 1972 when he received an urgent call for help. A friendly South Vietnamese ground unit had overextended, and were about to be engaged by nearly 300 enemies. Bennett called for air support, but none was available. He then called for artillery, but it turned out that i…

1
Rerun: SFC Webster Anderson 3:44

3M ago3:44

3:44

Today, in honor of Vietnam War Veteran’s Day, we are re-airing our episode featuring SFC Webster Anderson. Sergeant First Class Webster Anderson served in the Army in Vietnam. He lost two legs and an arm defending his position near Tam Ky, but his resilience and bravery encouraged his men, led to victory, and earned him the Medal of Honor.…

1
Why Did the Latest Roman Missal Translation Change the Eucharistic Prayer From ‘All’ to ‘Many’? 14:19

3M ago14:19

14:19

The latest English translation of the Roman Missal was introduced in 2011, and one listener asks Father Dave about one particular change to the prayers at Mass. Derek takes issue with the latest translation and says, “What I dislike the most is the change of the words during the Consecration. In the old version, Jesus tells us ‘this is the blood of…

1
Music for Holy Week With Catholic Composer and Singer-Songwriter Francesca LaRosa 26:29

3M ago26:29

26:29

Father Dave welcomes back Catholic composer and singer-songwriter Francesca LaRosa to help prepare our hearts for Holy Week with a live music performance.

1
The Only Female Recipient: Dr. Mary E. Walker 5:44

3M ago5:44

5:44

Dr. Mary E. Walker spent her whole life defying gender roles. She saved up money to go to college to become a Doctor, refused to wear women’s clothing her whole life, and served as an “Assistant Surgeon” (but still technically a civilian) during the war. She was captured and held as a prisoner of war for four months, and at the end of the war, she …

1
Why Does God Allow Suffering? Examining Faith and Hardship with Dr. Mark Giszczak 20:41

3M ago20:41

20:41

Lent is a fitting time to reflect on life’s struggles, and Father Dave welcomes Dr. Mark Giszczak to discuss his new book “Suffering: What Every Catholic Should Know.” Dr. Giszczak is a professor of Sacred Scripture at the Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology.

1
Ambushed in Afghanistan: SSG Robert J. Miller 7:08

3M ago7:08

7:08

Staff Sergeant Robert J. Miller served in Afghanistan as a Weapons Sergeant. In January of 2008, Miller was part of a Special Forces combat reconnaissance unit tasked with confirming enemy activity in the Gowardesh Valley. The unit had a successful initial engagement, in which Miller relayed information that became crucial to a lethal allied air st…

1
Inside the Vatican: Former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Mary Ann Glendon Reflects on Her Time With Three Popes 22:37

4M ago22:37

22:37

Father Dave welcomes former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Mary Ann Glendon to discuss her new book, “In the Courts of Three Popes: An American Lawyer and Diplomat in the Last Absolute Monarchy of the West.”

1
Defending Till the End: PFC Anthony T. Kaho’ohanohano 3:44

4M ago3:44

3:44

Anthony T. Kaho’ohanohano was a native Hawaiian who served in the Army in the Korean War before Hawaii was even a state. When an overwhelming enemy force attacked their defensive position, Kaho’ohanohano ordered his men to fall back, but he stayed behind. Kaho’ohanohano laid down deadly coverfire to protect his men as they retreated, firing a machi…

1
Bringing Mother Cabrini’s Story to the Big Screen With Screenwriter Rod Barr 18:36

4M ago18:36

18:36

Friday, March 8 is International Women’s Day, as well as the release date of a new movie all about the Italian-American saint, Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini. The film “Cabrini” portrays the immigrant’s mission to secure housing and healthcare for New York City’s most vulnerable and stars Cristiana Dell'Anna, David Morse, and John Lithgow. Father Da…

1
Are the ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ Always Considered Mortal Sins? 20:07

4M ago20:07

20:07

A listener named Barbara asks Father Dave for clarification regarding the “seven deadly sins.” She says, “I have a question about the seven deadly sins and how they relate to mortal versus venial sins. I usually consider pridefulness, for example, a venial sin, in that I confess it but don't abstain from receiving Communion for this sin – otherwise…

1
A Selfless Hero: SGT John Phillip Baca 3:59

4M ago3:59

3:59

Sergeant John Phillip Baca served in the Army in a recoilless rifle team. His company was near Quan Loi, Vietnam and settled in for the night when an explosion went off in the distance. They recognized it as one of the tripwires they had set to alert them of enemies in their position. Baca and his platoon responded to the disturbance, and quickly c…

1
How Star Wars and Spirituality Meet With Eric Clayton 18:32

4M ago18:32

18:32

Father Dave welcomes back speaker and author Eric Clayton to discuss his new book “My Life with the Jedi: The Spirituality of Star Wars.”

1
Strengthening Your Body and Faith With the Founders of SoulCore 15:46

4M ago15:46

15:46

Some people focus on physical fitness during Lent, and Father Dave welcomes back Colleen Scariano and Deanne Miller, the founders of SoulCore, to discuss integrating soul and body in our Catholic faith. Soulcore began in 2012 as a Catholic fitness apostolate that combines the prayers of the Rosary with core strengthening, stretching, and other func…

1
The Battle of Ia Drang Valley: Col. Walter Marm Jr. 4:21

4M ago4:21

4:21

Colonel Walter Joseph Marm Jr. served in the Army during Vietnam. On the 14th of November, 1965, Marm and his company were tasked with rescuing a platoon that had been surrounded by the NVA. After their first push was unsuccessful, Marm led his platoon through heavy machine gun and light arms fire. Marm killed four enemies that approached their pos…

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