Mac & Kat head to West Virginia to confirm it is, in fact, “almost heaven.” Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood is a real stinker, The Hunter is charming but foul, and we remind you that it is good to get away for a little while. Movies & TV: Robin Hood (2010 MGM+) The Abyss X2 Books: The Hunter by Tana French Sam & Mena’s registry Ben’s short film: Somethin…

All boat rides can’t be the best, especially when you are all mad at each other and you forget to fill the tank! Inside Out 2 is fun and Shogun is probably not good for the soul… which you won’t really know until you’ve (once again) done some soul-searching about your media consumption. Movies & TV: Inside Out 2 Shogun (HULU) The Beach (Prime) Sam …

Our old friend Zina stops in for an afternoon, Max continues to slow down, The fam watches an 80’s classic, and Katherine waxes nostalgic for fathers. Movies & TV: Stand By Me (Prime) The Way Way Back Albert Brooks Defending My Life (Max) Sam & Mena’s registry Ben’s short film: Something’s Out There Other great stuff we like: Pacem in Terris Retrea…

Jude is back in the nest after an exiting camping adventure involving breakdowns, bears, and too much teenage boy stuff. We finally see Godzilla Minus One, Backdraft is better and worse than you remember and Katherine finds a passage about the Our Lady and female virtue. Movies & TV: Godzilla Minus One (Netflix) Backdraft (MGM+) Sam & Mena’s regist…

CST 718: Everything Annoys Mac and Katherine Mac and Katherine are on the road, they have uncomfortable conversations about prayer, and Furiosa is amazing but also really weird? Movies & TV: Furiosa Sugar - Apple TV French Girl Games: We’re Not Really Strangers: couple’s edition Sam & Mena’s registry Ben’s short film: Something’s Out There Other gr…

Audio issues, Max’s gross bump, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and more Tombstone talk than you can shake a six-shooter at. Movies & TV: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes The Idea of You Clarkson’s Farm Tombstone Sam & Mena’s registry Ben’s short film: Something’s Out There Other great stuff we like: Pacem in Terris Retreat Center Picnic Blanke…

Camping trips, seeing Jude, Mother’s Day, The Fall Guy is the best!, and we lament about not plugging into the community. Movies & TV: The Fall Guy The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare No Country for Old Men The Boys on the Boat Books: Jayber Crow by Wendyl Berry State Parks: Claytor Lake State Park Sam & Mena’s registry Ben’s short film: Somethin…

In the first episode of Sam and Mena's podcast, they introduce themselves and tell their love story so far. Stay tuned! More episodes of Engaged at 18

Car issues, raised bed gardening, and a never-ending tennis season consume our week. We consume Civil War and Fallout as we ponder the profundity of knowing who made the world. Movies & TV: Civil War (in theaters now) Fallout (Amazon Prime Video) Books: A History of the Island by Eustice Plough Sam & Mina’s registry Ben’s short film: Something’s Ou…

After almost three weeks, we regale you with wasabi accidents, low canine platelet counts, and an abundance of leaf-blowers. We’ve watched lots of stuff to various levels of enjoyment and Katherine reads a book about mothers that hits a hopeful (and emotional) note. Movies & TV: 3 Body Problem (Netflix) Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Musica (Hulu) Fal…

Jude is home! The table has left the building! Kat & Jennifer go camping, Supercell is very “B”, Manhunt isn’t as good as everyone says and Brideshead Revisited deserves attention. Movies & TV: Supercell Manhunt Anatomy of a Murder Books: Brideshead Revisited Ben’s short film: Something’s Out There Other great stuff we like: Sam’s Instagram Pacem i…

Jude turns 15 and gets a visit from Ben, Katherine has a tea with the book club ladies, American Fiction is super sharp but problematic, and A Severe Mercy deserves a reread every decade or so. Movies & TV: American Fiction Resident Alien Books: The Ferryman by Justin Cronin Ben’s short film: Something’s Out There Other great stuff we like: Sam’s I…

Katherine is getting a little better, we get an unexpected update on Jude, Dune Part 2 is worth the trip to the theater and we talk about the importance of thinking about the next step. Movies & TV: Dune Part 2 Mr. Holmes The Awful Truth Ben’s short film: Something’s Out There Other great stuff we like: Sam’s Instagram Pacem in Terris Retreat Cente…

The Barrons travel to Scranton to visit Jude, Kat is sick, and SAM GETS ENGAGED! We talk about True Grit, Miss Potter, and an abundance of English regency-era entertainment. For Catholic Stuff we talk about True Grit and Merchant of Venice as a double feature on looking at Justice and Mercy. Movies & TV: True Grit Emma (movie with Gweneth Paltrow) …

Mac suffers the grind and the tickle (not a euphemism), Sam is back in town, Argyl is not worth your time, but Self-Reliance and The Guard are, and we wax nostalgic over how great (and peppered with faith) the show ER was. Movies & TV: Argyl Self-Reliance The Guard ER Ben’s short film: Something’s Out There Other great stuff we like: Sam’s Instagra…

Kat takes Jude back to Scranton. We live the empty-nester’s life with the food subscription service to prove it. We show Jude what everyone compares his school to (Dead Poets Society), and we lament how modern society frowns upon early marriage…also we complain a lot about Monarch. Movies & TV: Dead Poets Society Monarch Season 1 Role Play Regardin…

Sam becomes a working man, Mac & Kat take off to the mountains, Maggie Moore(s) is pretty dark, and we catch up on lots of emails from you, good people of CSTonia. Movies & TV: Maggie Moore(s) The Italian Job (2003) Ben’s short film: Something’s Out There Other great stuff we like: Sam’s Instagram Pacem in Terris retreat center Picnic Blanket Resto…

Our week is bookended by parties, Die Hard+Towering Inferno = Skyscraper and Kat has thoughts…lots of thoughts… on Barbie. Movies & TV: Skyscraper Godzilla (2014) Barbie Macbeth Twelfth Night Ben’s short film: Something’s Out There Other great stuff we like: Sam’s Instagram Pacem in Terris retreat center Picnic Blanket Restoration of Christian Cult…

Barron Christmas recap, Last Night in Soho is disappointing, Shakespeare in Love is more problematic that we remember, but just as entertaining as ever, and we look back over the past year and hope (with a little help from St. Teresa) for the new one. Movies & TV: Last Night in Soho Shakespeare in Love Airplane Klaus Gremlins RosaryArmy.com/donate …

We get Jude home, despite his best efforts, Tristan & Cheyenne’s party was a delight, Fred Claus was not, Leaving the World Behind gets top marks for style and tension, but not for a satisfying resolution, and Regina Doman reminds us how to incrementally take our advents to a more traditional level. Movies & TV: Fred Claus Love Actually Leaving the…

Kat is disappointed with a rug purchase but is super-proud of our clean blinds, Mac revisits Die Hard 35 years after his first viewing, Four Christmases is pretty good, Kat recommends two older movies and we try to untangle a knot of issues revolving around feminism in the modern world. Movies & TV: Die Hard Four Christmases The Bachelor and the Bo…

Kat is going to a chiropractor, we are treated to breakfast with some great listeners, Ben is almost all moved out, Lady Ballers is a throw-back silly comedy, and Katherine ties her reading and watching together for a knot of insanity. Also, Rosary Army needs your support. Movies & TV: Lady Ballers The Women Love Has Won RosaryArmy.com/donate Ben’s…

The Barrons head to Swainsboro for a huge Thanksgiving. Jude is back in PA, Sam is driving a little red truck, Ben is moving out, and Mac is sporting new rims! Kat liked Penny Serenade, Philadelphia Story is a mixed bag, and Escape from New York is such an 80s time capsule. No mail, but we go on and on about a eucharistic procession and preparing f…

Kat takes the camper to pick up Jude from St. Greg’s, Ben signs a lease, Mac installs dust collection in the shop, Monarch is disappointing, and Robin Hood is lots of fun. Finally, we talk about the connection between formality and proper worship. Movies & TV: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Books: The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle Ben’…

Kat keeps busy with work and executor duties and still finds time for camper-backing questions. Dreamin’ Wild is disappointing, and we talk about despair versus hope with current events in our church. Movies & TV: Dreamin’ Wild Penny Serenade Runaway Bride Blog mentioned: Article by Kevin Wells: https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/bishop-strickland-…

We wrap up the annual GLS State Park camping trip where we got to show off our new teardrop. We watch the classic Aliens with the boys, make a case for The Conjuring as the perfect horror movie, and discuss catholic themes in Bram Stoker’s proto-vampire classic, Dracula. Movies & TV: Aliens The Conjuring Books: Dracula Other great stuff we like: Sa…

Kat & Sam go visit Jude, Mac is knee deep in paper-writing, Spooky Buddies gets a little theological, and we talk through our anxieties about Jude at boarding school. Movies & TV: Spooky Buddies Hocus Pocus Terminator Salvation Books: True Grit Other great stuff we like: Sam’s Instagram Pacem in Terris retreat center Picnic Blanket Restoration of C…

Alliteration rules the day with a Walter Willits Wedding, Mac and Kat try to get back in the swing of regular life and pick up pickleball. The only movie we watch new to us is an 80s “classic” and we talk through Mac’s big mistake and the good that can come from it. Movies & TV: Midnight Run Hobbs and Shaw Passengers Limitless Snatch Other great st…

As Katherine's father passes away, we contemplate his life.

Jude starts classes, Mac visits mom, Kat visits Dad, Sam visits Indiana, the Barrons struggle to find something to watch, and we talk about viewing the gospel through the eyes of a medieval… and the traditional Act of Contrition. Movies & TV: The Greatest Beer Run Ever Greyhound Afterparty Season 2 Podcast mentioned: The Symbolic World episode on r…

Updates on Jude & Mr. Wilder, Mac’s terrible grad class, two giant shark movies, and the connection between Kat’s book addiction and the transfiguration. Movies & TV: Meg 2: The Trench Black Demon Nacho Libre Other great stuff we like: Sam’s Instagram Pacem in Terris retreat center Picnic Blanket Restoration of Christian Culture from Our Lady of Cl…

All about sending our youngest boy off to boarding school…the days before, the construction crew outside our hotel, two irish pubs, rotund passengers, and tearful phone calls. Movies & TV: Books: Other great stuff we like: Sam’s Instagram Pacem in Terris retreat center Picnic Blanket Restoration of Christian Culture from Our Lady of Clear Creek Abb…

Update on Katherine’s dad, Jude’s trip to the ER, Mac’s mom visits and Mac gets contacts! The Mask of Zorro is a balm to our post-modern fatigued souls, The Eyre Affair is total crack for book nerds with a sense of humor and we break down chapters 1 & 2 of Lewis’s The Great Divorce. Movies & TV: The Mask of Zorro (YouTube) Lost (Hulu) Books: The Ey…

Kat’s Dad finally gets moved to rehab, School starts back for Mac, Ben survives RAGBRIA, Kat watches a manly movie marathon with her dad while Mac catches up on Hijack and The Bear. Also, John Senior is rolling in his grave over a parish belltower in the Atlanta area. Movies & TV: The Bear season 2 HiJack Fury Open Range Plane Our next book study w…

Kat’s Dad suffers a stroke, Juan runs us all over Ga for his last few days, tornado-like weather makes trouble for Forsyth County. The Bear season 2 is true to the first season, Judith’s Marriage makes us wonder about the truth of some fiction, The Road still holds up after several readings, and Ice Pirates remains one of the wonkiest relics of the…

Mac chaperones a Steubenville Atlanta weekend, the Barrons head to Swainsboro, and Juan learns to shoot squirrels. The new Mission Impossible isn’t as good as the last one, but it’s still pretty great. Liar Liar is still funny, and John Senior has some strong ideas about Our Lady. Movies & TV: Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One Liar Liar S…

Braves Games, laser-cut jigs, and a Sawstop resurrection. The Sound of Freedom is the most important movie you’ll see, Extraction is super cool, and Black Mirror actually looks on the bright side every now and then. Movies & TV: Sound of Freedom Extraction (Netflix) Indy 5 Back Mirror Sister Wilhelmina’s Biography, God’s Will Catholic Family Summer…

More lightning fallout, Zina the super-fan stops by, we are housing a Spaniard, Asteroid City is pretty weird, and we encourage a listener to be open to life. Movies & TV: Asteroid City Jury Duty (Hulu) Ted Lasso Season 3 (AppleTV+) Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel (Max) Sister Wilhelmina’s Biography, God’s Will Catholic Family Summer C…

Its an episode all about our pilgrimage to the resting place of Sr. Wilhelmina Lancaster. Along the way we talk about tear-drop campers, Missouri bugs, and possible miracles. Movies & TV: The Force Awakens 2012 Sister Wilhelmina’s Biography, God’s Will Catholic Family Summer Camp at Heart Ridge - use discount code “smalltown” Other great stuff we l…

The house gets hit by lightning, travel plans are coming together, Mac’s summer ramen recipe, Transformers is a let down, and what the two of us think/expect going into our Sister Wilhelmina pilgrimage. Movies & TV: Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (in theaters) The Secrets of Hillsong (Hulu) Catholic Family Summer Camp at Heart Ridge - use discoun…

Sam’s party finally happens, Jude goes to soccer camp, Mac starts grad classes, Invasion is sooo boring, Nefarious is just about the best Christian movie we can hope for and The Devil Conspiracy is entertaining and very problematic. Movies & TV: Nefarious (VOD) The Devil Conspiracy (HULU) Invasion (AppleTV+) Catholic Family Summer Camp at Heart Rid…

Mac & Kat get too dressed up for a south GA memorial, Ben has a bicycle misadventure, Fast X is exactly what you expect, Ghosted is less than you expect, and we talk about how man needs resistance to truly be happy. Movies & TV: Fast X Ghosted (Apple TV+) Catholic Family Summer Camp at Heart Ridge - use discount code “smalltown” Podcast mentioned: …

A major season of Katherine’s life is over, party prepping, a tragedy strikes Mac’s family, John Crist has come a long way, Captain America gets better with age and we discuss when to stand up to bullies. Movies & TV: John Crist: Would Like to Release a Statement (YouTube) Captain America The First Avenger (Disney+) Barry Season 1 (Max) Catholic Fa…

Our AC is busted, the school year winds busily down, Guardians 3 is disturbingly grotesque, and John Senior extrapolates all of western civilization from the Rule of St. Benedict. Movies & TV: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Air (Prime) Legion (HBO Max) Other great stuff we like: Pacem in Terris retreat center Picnic Blanket Restoration of Christian…

Mac is a year older, the Barrons go to a professional Rugby match, comparing two takes on time loop movies, and we can’t really figure out if a lack of virtue is necessarily sinful. Movies & TV: The Flight Attendant (HBO Max) Devil’s Hour (Prime) The Map of Tiny Perfect Things (prime) Palm Springs (Hulu) Books: De-coding Mary Magdalene Other great …

We have a nine year old in the house over the weekend, Rudy still holds up, Katherine loves the Mass of Brother Michel, and Mary Magdalene may be more than you think. Movies & TV: Rudy The Flight Attendant (HBO Max) Books: The Mass of Brother Michel Other great stuff we like: Pacem in Terris retreat center Picnic Blanket Restoration of Christian Cu…

Max has to get emergency surgery, we visit a St. George festival at Fatima Farm, Of Gods and Men is a slow contemplation on vocation, and we wrestle with whether Chapter four of The Restoration of Christian Culture is misnamed or not. Movies & TV: Of Gods and Men (Blu-ray) Other great stuff we like: Pacem in Terris retreat center Picnic Blanket Res…

Vigil Mass was a dee-light, Mac & Greg mentor a couple…at a brewery, Pretty Baby is pretty shocking, and Kat & Jennifer go off on a peace-seeking adventure. Movies & TV: Pretty Baby (Hulu) Catch Me if You Can (VOD) Other great stuff we like: Pacem in Terris retreat center Picnic Blanket Restoration of Christian Culture from Our Lady of Clear Creek …

Mac & the boys use spring Break to go see Mac’s mom, we go all over the place the Triduum, Mac reluctantly likes Unbearable Weight while Kat recommends The Bachelors and we compare and contrast a few masses we’ve attended lately. Movies & TV: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (Prime) The Bachelors (Prime) Sense and Sensibility (Cable) Other g…

Jude revels in the family pulling together for a craft project, D&D HonorAmong Thieves defies Mac’s (very low) expectations, the ghosts of homeowners past try to give Mac advice and enigmatic writer Paul Kingsnorth tries to give us all advice on what the world needs. Movies & TV: Dungeons & Dragons Honor Among Thieves 1923 (Paramount+) Wimbledon (S…