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JD is joined by Father James Martin to talk about his work with Catholics who identify as gay, his new memoir, and more. Then, Fr. Martin plays a round of bridges ‘Yes or No?’ This conversation was recorded July 8, 2026. This episode of The Pillar Podcast is brought to you by The Pillar’s paying subscribers. If that’s you, thank you! If you’d like to subscribe, visit pillarcatholic.com/subscribe. Show notes: Work in Progress: Confessions of a busboy, dishwasher, caddy, usher, factory worker, bank teller, corporate tool, and priest by Father James Martin 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.com Many choices are being made. 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 Podcast Having issues? Email our producer Kate at [email protected]

Ed’s choice of news this week! He and JD talk about a curial snub and Pope Leo XIV’s meeting to mark the 10th anniversary of Amoris laetitia. Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Credit: Claude Truong-Ngoc/wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 This episode is brought to you by Annunicate – helping ministries, publishers, and creators launch their own fully branded app, without the pitfalls of Big Tech. You don’t need a developer team or a six-figure budget. Learn more at annunciate.io/pillar 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.com They got the hats, at least! 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 Podcast Having issues? Email our producer Kate at [email protected]

JD and Ed talk about the final report issued by the Vatican’s synod on synodality’s commission charged with suggesting changes to the Code of Canon Law, and why they think Pope Leo XIV needs to respond. Then, they look ahead to Leo’s planned meeting on Amoris laetitia with the heads of international bishops’ conferences. This episode of the Pillar Podcast is brought to you by the Catholic Education Fund, an initiative of Aequitas Education in partnership with ACE Scholarships. To learn more, visit catholiceducationfund.org 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

JD Flynn is joined by Bishop William Wack, CSC, of Pensacola–Tallahassee to talk about his experience serving in prison ministry and common catalysts for conversion for the incarcerated. Then, Bishop Wack weighs JD and Ed’s idea for a personal ordinariate for prison ministry. This episode is brought to you by Anchor Consulting, helping parish and diocesan leaders move from managing decline to making disciples. Book a call with Jim today at EverydayEvangelization.org 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

JD and Ed are St. Louis this week for the beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. A very special thank you to our guest producer Kyle Heimann. This episode of the Pillar Podcast is brought to you by the Catholic Education Fund, an initiative of Aequitas Education in partnership with ACE Scholarships. To learn more, visit catholiceducationfund.org 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.com What would you do? 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 Podcast Having issues? Email our producer Kate at [email protected]

JD and Ed speculate what could be on the horizon for the Diocese of Steubenville. This episode of the Pillar Podcast is brought to you by the Pillar’s exclusive breviary partner, Ascension Press, publisher of the new translation of the Liturgy of the Hours. With exceptional readability and top-of-the-line materials, this is a breviary that will faithfully serve the Church’s daily prayer for generations. Pre-order today at AscensionPress.com/ThePillar 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

Ed is joined by Aaron Dominguez, Ph.D., a particle physicist and former provost at The Catholic University of America. Aaron talks about his time at the CERN laboratory and fields Ed’s questions about the relationship between faith and science, dark matter, and extraterrestrial life. This conversation was recorded before Dominguez left his role as provost in August 2026. This episode is brought to you by Anchor Consulting, helping parish and diocesan leaders move from managing decline to making disciples. Book a call today by visiting EverydayEvangelization.org. 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

Summer’s over in Rome! Ed is joined by Pillar Rome correspondent Edgar Beltrán to talk about the papal appointments that may be in the pipeline. This episode is brought to you by the University of Mary and its accredited online MBA, a Newman Guide–recommended program that forms business leaders of character. Learn more at pillar.umary.edu. 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.com Ed recaps the FBI memo about “radical traditionalist Catholics.” 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 Podcast Having issues? Email our producer Kate at [email protected]

JD and Ed get sucked into some Little League chat. Then, Pope Leo XIV is widely expected to name some new cardinals in the coming weeks. JD and Ed debate Pope Leo’s most likely and least likely picks. Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel. Credit: Vatican Media. This episode is brought to you by the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, which leads the nation in the number of graduate programs recommended by The Newman Guide. Learn more at pillar.umary.edu 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

Luke is joined by Dr. Sebastian Ostritsch to talk about the development of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, its formal condemnation in 2024 by the German bishops’ conference, and expectations ahead of elections in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. German bishops pictured during their Sept. 23-26, 2024, plenary meeting in Fulda. © Deutsche Bischofskonferenz/Marko Orlovic. This episode is brought to you by the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, which leads the nation in the number of graduate programs recommended by The Newman Guide. Pillar paid subscribers are eligible for up to $10,000 in scholarships toward select programs. Learn more at pillar.umary.edu. 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.com Ed is so happy! 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 Podcast Having issues? Email our producer Kate at [email protected]