Best Fr. Chad Arnold Podcasts (2025)

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Guest: Fr. Jason Borkenhagen 30:27

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3h ago30:27

30:27

Today we welcome in Fr. Jason Borkenhagen to share about his priestly life and his experience of studying in Rome and writing his doctoral thesis on St. Thomas Aquinas and the priesthood. Then, he recounts his vocation story and how a fwe simple invitations led him from wanting a family with 20 kids to the ordained priesthood.…

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Guest: Fr. Ken Schuckman 30:44

8h ago30:44

30:44

Fr. Ken Schuckman joins the studio to talk about what retirement is like as a priest and a recent pilgrimage to Medjugorje. Then he recounts the story of the Lord leading him in and out of high school seminary, through a broken engagement and ultimately to a mature and authentic call to priestly life.…

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Art of Conversation 34:14

5h ago34:14

34:14

We start off by throwing around ideas for the one question we'd ask Pope Leo if given the chance. Then we dive into a conversation on conversation: why small talk is important, methods for maintaining and directing conversation and, finally, our hot takes on cussing.

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Guest: Sr. Abigail Marie, MS 36:45

15d ago36:45

36:45

We are delighted to have two Marian Sisters join us to talk about their recent experience with the Feast for Fiat as well as sharing memories from different milestone moments in their religious life, including chopping off their hair and performing plays written about sisters in honor of their first vows. Then Sr. Abigail Marie shares her vocation …

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Guest: Fr. David Marstall 34:40

22d ago34:40

34:40

Today we sit down to talk with Fr. David Marstall about his (in)famous dog Osa, mountain climbing, priestly transitions, and how his call to the priesthood began with a deal made with God to get into the middle school band.

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Guest: Fr. Paul Sheller, O.S.B. 34:51

25d ago34:51

34:51

Fr. Paul Sheller, a monk of Conception Abbey, joins us to share some stories from seminary with Fr. Chad, including a garage sale phase and the rods in Fr. Paul's back from surgery for scoliosis. Finally, Fr. Paul shares his vocation story as well as a few opportunities for anyone to deepen their spiritual life through Benedictine spirituality.…

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Clergy Conference with Acts XXIX 32:42

1M ago32:42

32:42

We begin by discussing our practice of "Videamus", in which we watch and discuss films with seminarians in order to deepen their artistic and cultural experience. Then we discuss our experience and hot takes from the recent Clergy Conference and the presentations by Fr. John Riccardo and Acts XXIX.

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Guest: Fr. Michael Wegenka 48:34

2M ago48:34

48:34

Today we welcome into the studio our first Jesuit priest, Fr. Michael Wegenka, S.J. We discuss his recent experience serving in Kenya as well as his take on the current state of the Jesuit order. He also shares how a priest rapping during a homily led to a curiosity about the priesthood, and the personal accompaniment of a Jesuit priest at his high…

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Guest: Fr. J.D. Betzen 36:23

2M ago36:23

36:23

Today we are joined by Fr. J.D. Betzen to hear about his current assignment and the only Bible based parade in the country before hearing his vocation story. As a proud nerd, Fr. J.D. educates us on Science Olympiad and shares the joy of being called to the priesthood.

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Guest: Fr. Wayne Schmid 30:59

2M ago30:59

30:59

It was an honor to sit down with Fr. Wayne Schmid, a full bird Army Colonel and priest of Jesus Christ. He shares his incredible journey from being "raised on a barstool" in St. Louis to reading The Story of Chaplain Kapaun as a high schooler leading him to serving as a priest in the Diocese of Wichita and nearly 25 years as an Army chaplain.…

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Guest: Fr. Sam Brand 29:48

2M ago29:48

29:48

Fr. Sam Brand joins us in the studio to share his vocation story as well as the ordeal of getting his final seminary thesis complete and his important role on the seminary basketball team.

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History of Celibacy 35:03

2M ago35:03

35:03

Today we begin by discussing our sleeping habits and give our hottest takes on naps. Then we answer a listener's question regarding the historical development of the practice of priestly celibacy.

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Guest: Fr. Andy Hammeke 36:29

3M ago36:29

36:29

Fr. Andy Hammeke, the vocations director for the diocese of Salina, joins us to reminisce about sports memories from seminary and then shares his vocation story and how the Lord led him from the mostly typical life of a college athlete to the priesthood.

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Guest: Fr. Scott Schilmoeller 33:14

3M ago33:14

33:14

Fr. Garett is once again joined by Fr. Paul Clark and Fr. Scott Schilmoeller to hear about karaoke nights and their favorite pranks from their time in seminary. Then Fr. Scott shares how the Lord led him to see the sense of adventure he had since childhood would be most fulfilled through a life of priesthood.…

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Guest: Fr. Paul Clark 32:54

3M ago32:54

32:54

Fr. Paul Clark from Jefferson City and Fr. Scott Schilmoeller from Omaha join Fr. Garett to discuss their adventures in New York during the vocation directors conference as well as Fr. Paul's choreography expertise getting put to good use for seminary musicals. Then, Fr. Paul shares the story of his vocation, including how encounters with the saint…

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Guest: Fr. Ryan Adorjan 32:10

3M ago32:10

32:10

Fr. Garett sits down with Fr. Ryan Adorjan from the Diocese of Joliet during some free time at a national convention for vocation directors to reminisce about their days in seminary before hearing how the Lord led Fr. Ryan from growing up with a "milk toast" experience of Catholicism to laying down his life as a priest.…

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Affective Maturity 29:05

4M ago29:05

29:05

Today we catch up on what everyone has been reading before diving into a discussion on what the Church refers to as "affective maturity" and its importance in the life of seminarians and priests.

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Totus Tuus with Mark and Mary Ellen Arnold 36:09

4M ago36:09

36:09

Today we are joined by Mark and Mary Ellen Arnold, the Coordinators for Totus Tuus in the diocese. In between shenanigans between Fr. Chad and Mark, we share memorable stories from our time with Totus Tuus, discuss how it promotes the diocesan culture of vocations, and learn about the term "heart sparkle."…

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Bishop Kemme on Grief as a Priest 32:26

4M ago32:26

32:26

We welcome back Bishop Carl Kemme to share the most unique and memorable places we have celebrated the Holy Mass. Then we transition into a more somber tone to discuss the unique aspects of grief and mourning as priests, and Bishop shares his experience of the recent loss of his own mother.

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Bishop Kemme on Vocational Culture 33:10

4M ago33:10

33:10

We are excited to welcome back our local shepherd, Bishop Carl Kemme. We chat about a few highlights from the summer for each of us before discussing a Vatican recognition for the diocese and our sense of what makes the culture of vocations unique in Wichita.

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Nazareth Style Living 29:54

5M ago29:54

29:54

In the closest thing you'll get to hear us giving interior design advice, we share our theories on what it takes to make a home (ie. just how many TVs does Fr. Drew need?) before speaking about the home at Nazareth as a model for seminary formation.

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Guest: Fr. Jerome Spexarth 31:47

5M ago31:47

31:47

Fr. Jerome Spexarth joins us today to talk about his varied experiences in priestly life before sharing with us how he got the confidence to enter seminary when he literally saw writing on the wall.

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Guest: Sr. Sophia Grace, TOR 31:59

5M ago31:59

31:59

Today we welcome in Sr. Sophia Grace to hear her explanation of possibly the longest religious community name ever. She then shares the story of how Jesus' persistent voice led her from life as a storm chaser through the inconsistencies of discernment to life as a religious sister.

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Guest: Fr. Matthew Cooke 34:49

5M ago34:49

34:49

Fr. Matthew Cooke joins the studio to share great memories from the first days of the House of Formation before sharing how the Lord led both he and his parents to embrace his call to the priesthood.

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Relationship, Identity, Mission 31:58

5M ago31:58

31:58

To start the priests discuss their picks for their ideal Drive-In Summer Movie Triple Feature. Let us know which one you'd watch. Then, we discuss a paradigm known as R-I-M that helps us to live out our vocations with the correct grounding in our life of prayer.

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Guest: Fr. Todd Shepherd 31:03

6M ago31:03

31:03

Today we take over Fr. Todd Shepherd's office so that you'd have the chance to hear about his least favorite liturgical hymn, his white tux at senior prom, and finally his vocation story. Enjoy.

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Guest: Fr. Chris Rumback 30:55

6M ago30:55

30:55

Fr. Chris Rumback joins us today to share how God led him to his vocation through surprising ways, from moments of playing Guns N' Roses with his buddies to being grounded for months by his parents.

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Guest: Fr. Joe Tatro 36:06

6M ago36:06

36:06

Today we sit down with Fr. Joe Tatro to discuss his pickleball skills and his training as a mental health professional and how that impacts his ministry as a priest. Finally he shares his vocation story, which might hold the record for shortest amount of time between his decision to enter to arrival at the seminary.…

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Sr. Bernadette Rose, LSP 35:11

6M ago35:11

35:11

Sr. Bernadette Rose of the Little Sisters of the Poor joins us today to share about St. Jeanne Jugan and the founding of her community, the time she met Pope Francis, and the story of her own personal call to give her life as a bride of Christ dedicated to the care and service of the elderly poor.

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Forming Kings 31:47

7M ago31:47

31:47

We go a bit unconventional today and begin with a fierce debate as we draft our favorite kings ever. We conclude by discussing ways we seek to form future priests into "kings" who can be strong leaders who establish culture and unite groups under the mission of Christ and their parish.

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Guest: Fr. Andrew Walsh 31:33

7M ago31:33

31:33

Fr. Andrew Walsh joins the podcast to defend himself against accusations of grumpiness and to explain his love for both St. Alphonsus Liguori and disc golf before sharing his vocation story.

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Guest: Fr. Michael Kerschen 36:14

7M ago36:14

36:14

Today Fr. Michael Kerschen joins us to discuss the joys of non-monetary gambling, Fr. Garett's poor medical recommendations, and devastating seminary basketball losses that never go away. We eventually get to his vocation story in which the Lord used a difficult break up to lead him to seminary and ultimately an invitation to freely choose to unite…

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Guest: Fr. Luke Downing 29:56

8M ago29:56

29:56

Today we've got Fr. Luke Downing in the studio to talk with us about learning to fly planes, his love for both golf and French cooking before sharing his vocational journey through seminary, in and out of the monastery, and now as a priest of Jesus Christ.

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The Papal Conclave 32:20

8M ago32:20

32:20

A special episode today as we join the universal Church in prayer for the Papal Conclave. We seek to shed a little light on the process of electing a new pope and how we can all strike the balance of enjoying the moment with understanding informed by faith, zeal for souls and free of anxiety.

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Being Poor with the Poor 31:42

8M ago31:42

31:42

Today we began by chatting about what we were up to this past spring break before getting into our observations about a ministry called Christ in the City, which helped to illuminate why it is so important for every Christian disciple, seminarian and priest to have experiences serving and loving the poor.…

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Guest: Fr. Kyle Dugan 29:16

8M ago29:16

29:16

Today we are joined by Fr. Kyle Dugan. Listen in to enjoy mostly true stories of memories from high school with Fr. Drew and Fr. Garett, a fierce debate over golf push carts, and the story of one of the quickest discernments into seminary we've heard from any priest.

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Guest: Fr. Hien Nguyen 30:53

8M ago30:53

30:53

Join us for a wild ride with the one and only Fr. Hien Nguyen as he shares about how he escaped Vietnam as a child, made his way through seminary despite little formal education or English training, and now lives a life full of joy as a priest.

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Guest: Fr. James Schibi 30:56

9M ago30:56

30:56

Fr. James Schibi joins us today to talk about growing up in a large family and founding a Fourth of July baseball classic, his love for nicknames, and his experience as a substitute teacher. He then shares how the Lord called this good ol' boy to be His good ol' priest.

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Lectio John 21 31:58

9M ago31:58

31:58

We begin by recapping this year's seminary basketball tournament and deciding whether or not Fr. Garett is the right coach for the future of the St. Joseph Joey's basketball program. Then we share our reflections on a powerful passage from the Gospel of John recounting the Risen Lord's appearance to the disciples on the shore of the sea.…

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Guest: Fr. Dan Spexarth 35:06

9M ago35:06

35:06

It is an honor and a joy to sit down with Fr. Dan Spexarth to hear about how he got his name, what Fr. Chad was like as a 5 year old, and how he led a newly founded parish from no money, no building, and nights in his car to a faith filled community of over 1700 families. Finally he shares with us all how the Lord led him from being the son of a pi…

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Guests: Sisters of Life 34:27

9M ago34:27

34:27

Today we are joined by two Sisters of Life: Sr. Maria Laetitia, S.V. and Sr. Lumen Gloriae, S.V. to talk about how the founding of their congregation flowed from a retreat at Dachau and a Help Wanted ad. Then they each share the story of how Jesus led them to their religious vocation as His bride and the call to give their life to protect and enhan…

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Guest: Fr. Rick Kotrba 32:00

9M ago32:00

32:00

Today we are joined by Fr. Rick Kotrba to hear about his adventures in amateur mechanic work, including building a backyard ice rink and his marriage of two broken down trucks into one mostly functional vehicle. Then he recounts the story of how his vocation evolved and the wisdom he received to quit trying to discern on his own.…

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Guest: Mike Wescott 40:49

10M ago40:49

40:49

We are excited to welcome in Mike Wescott, the Director of Development and Planned Giving for the Diocese of Wichita. First we discuss Mike's role and experience of fundraising in a Stewardship diocese before playing a game of Seminarian Price is Right. Finally, Mike shares the story of his vocation to marriage, his experience in ministry and the g…

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Guest: Fr. Gabriel Greer 28:33

10M ago28:33

28:33

We are joined by the journeyman priest, Fr. Gabriel Greer, to discuss priest ski trips as well as the infamous seminarian "Fats vs. Skinnies" basketball game. Then Fr. Greer shares how his mother's faith, good priestly witnesses, and the invitation to learn how to pray led him to his priestly vocation.…

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Spiritual Direction 32:18

10M ago32:18

32:18

Today we begin by creating a safe space in which to process the Chief's recent Super Bowl loss and to share how we watched the Big Game. Then we discuss all things spiritual direction: what is it, who needs it, and what are the benefits and misconceptions around it.

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Guest: Fr. Floyd McKinney 29:10

10M ago29:10

29:10

Today we are happy to welcome in one of the retired priests of the diocese, Fr. Floyd McKinney, to talk about his wide variety of pastoral experiences and how he got the nickname "Fr. Lazy." Finally he tells the tale of the Lord leading him from life as a poor farm kid to a priest of Jesus Christ.

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Liturgy 32:03

11M ago32:03

32:03

We've got a birthday! Fr. Drew's birthday is coming up, so we discuss how we like to celebrate those festive occasions and the difficult question of what gift to get a priest. Then we discuss how to appropriately view and discuss the liturgy as priests and seminarians so as to maintain its primacy in our lives without causing division or a lack of …

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Guest: Fr. Andrew Meng 34:26

11M ago34:26

34:26

Today Fr. Andrew Meng joins us to clarify any confusion regarding his ethnicity and rub in his high school football state championship to Fr. Drew. Then, he shares the story of God leading him from the despair of new atheism to the joy of the priesthood.

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Guest: Fr. Ed Pelrine 34:01

11M ago34:01

34:01

Today Fr. Ed Pelrine from the Archdiocese of Chicago joins us to share about life in Chicago, Bishop Barron asking him to serve in the seminary, and his vocation story, including how his grandma knew on the day of his baptism that he'd be a priest.

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Guest: Fr. Jim Weldon 31:11

11M ago31:11

31:11

Fr. Jim Weldon joins the studio today to share his vocation story, why he and his brother, Fr. Eric, are so different, and how he sees himself as making the priesthood more accessible for young men: If he can do it, anybody can.