Best Fr Roderick Vonhögen Podcasts (2025)

1
The Walk - The Hidden Cost of Seeming Fine 51:00

Play Pause

2d ago51:00

51:00

There are weeks when nothing dramatic happens—and yet, you feel exhausted before anything even begins. That was this past week for me. A slow drain of energy, not from doing too much, but from carrying too many things in my head. Conversations I’m dreading. Deadlines that feel like cliffs. Meetings that demand a kind of energy I don’t always have. …

1
The Walk - How Daily Walks Changed My Life 47:57

14d ago47:57

47:57

It’s been 100 days. One hundred days since the white smoke rose over the Vatican and Pope Leo stepped onto the balcony as the first American pope. And also—one hundred days since I started walking every single day and telling stories. At first, it was just a fun idea: write a tiny story inspired by that seagull chick we saw during the conclave live…

1
The Walk - When Life Switches to Red Alert 59:59

24d ago59:59

59:59

I was walking in the woods, trying to escape the heatwave—and the mental heatwave in my head. I’d just come out of a Sunday that flipped everything upside down. You know that feeling when life throws a sudden curveball, and your brain hits red alert before your heart even catches up? That was me, standing behind the altar, trying to mask the panic …

1
The Walk - Why My Parish Now Includes 55,000 Fantasy Fans 1:04:21

1M ago1:04:21

1:04:21

This weekend, I followed a bunch of gnomes into a rock concert. That sentence alone should explain why I love Castlefest. But honestly, what stood out most wasn’t the fantasy costumes or the festival energy—it was the quiet conversations behind the masks. Over two intense days, I filmed portraits, interviewed indie authors, and bumped into people I…

1
The Walk - Walking My Way Back to Peace 56:53

1M ago56:53

56:53

This week, I walked through the woods—and through a lot of thoughts. After last week’s intense physical challenge (four marathons' worth of walking!), my body hit the brakes. Fatigue rolled in like a heavy fog, and I had no choice but to slow down. At first, I was frustrated. Then I realized: maybe this was exactly what I needed. When I stopped pus…

1
The Walk - Time, Trust, and the Gift of Simple Goals 32:02

1M ago32:02

32:02

After a month of traveling—first to Ireland for a writing retreat, then to the Walk of the World—I’m finally back home, walking in the woods near where I live. And as I reflect on those weeks, one thing keeps returning to my mind: how deeply different life feels when you simplify. In Ireland, I had one goal: write. During the 4-day walk: just finis…

1
The Walk - What a 4-Day March Taught Me About Life 41:16

2M ago41:16

41:16

I just finished the Walk of the World in Nijmegen—40 kilometers a day, for four days straight—and I feel… surprisingly great. That wasn’t always the case. The last two times I joined this epic Dutch hiking event, it was painful. I nearly gave up. But this time? I trained. I climbed Irish hills in the rain. I pushed myself. And somehow, by day four,…

1
The Quill & Candle — Episode 4: The Walk That Wrote a Novel 19:50

2M ago19:50

19:50

This is the episode where it all comes full circle. Ten months ago, I came to Glendalough in Ireland and had an idea for a fantasy novel. Now, I’ve returned—after two weeks of hiking, dictating, and dreaming through the Irish wilderness—with a finished first draft. In this episode, I take you with me on my final writing walk through the Wicklow Mou…

1
Following My Nose (and Finding Peace in the Wicklow Hills) 48:47

2M ago48:47

48:47

This week’s episode of The Walk was recorded on a quiet trail in the Wicklow Mountains. It’s my last full day in Ireland, and I wanted to soak up every second of it. No plans, no pressure—just following my nose, as I often say. I ended up walking past pine forests being replaced with ancient native trees, climbing fences into meadows full of purple…

1
The Walk - Why Classic Retreats Don’t Work for Me (and What Does) 41:59

2M ago41:59

41:59

I always thought retreats had to happen in silence. In a monastery. With stillness, books, and maybe the sound of a distant bell. But this week, soaked to the bone on a rain-slicked mountain trail in Wicklow, I realized something: my real retreat begins when I move. When I walk through mist and sheep-speckled hills. When a deer appears out of nowhe…

1
The Quill & Candle — Episode 3: A Writing Retreat in Ireland 19:02

2M ago19:02

19:02

I’m back in Glendalough, where the idea for my fantasy novel was born. A year ago, I was walking along the ancient pilgrim paths here, and my imagination just ran wild. What if the old stories about saints and miracles were all true? What if the forests hid elves, wild beasts, and unseen magic? That spark turned into the book I’m now finishing. Bei…

1
The Walk - Why I Returned to Glendalough 46:36

2M ago46:36

46:36

I’m writing this from a quiet mountain trail overlooking the Upper Lake of Glendalough. The same path Saint Kevin walked 1,500 years ago. And maybe, in some small way, I’m walking it too. I came to Ireland not for a vacation, but for something I’ve needed for a long time: space. A chance to step out of the noise of everyday life and into the stilln…

1
The Walk - Creating Without Performing 42:53

3M ago42:53

42:53

This week, I walked 40 kilometers in the heat, visited my favorite zoo, got a nasty blister, and accidentally outlined three new books. All while talking to myself. That’s the power of walking. It doesn’t just move your legs—it unclutters your mind. When I walk, I stop performing. I start creating. No timer. No to-do list. Just me, the trees, and a…

1
The Quill & Candle — Episode 2: Dragons, Protestors & Kittens 33:21

3M ago33:21

33:21

Welcome to another cozy, story-rich episode of The Quill & Candle, where fantasy, faith, and long walks collide in unexpected (and often hilarious) ways. In this episode, I recount a memorable visit to a fantasy festival held—of all places—in a decommissioned church… complete with protestors at the door and cosplayers on the catwalk. ✨ What’s insid…

1
The Walk - Yellow Alert: How I Catch Stress Before It Spirals 54:32

3M ago54:32

54:32

I used to be what the Dutch call a “stress chicken.” Always on edge, grinding my teeth over deadlines, trying to please everyone, and convinced that anything less than perfect was failure. In high school, I’d wait till the last minute to study—then push myself so hard that I’d physically hurt. I carried that mindset into seminary, parish life, and …

1
The Quill & Candle — Episode 1: A New Weekly Show! 42:41

3M ago42:41

42:41

Welcome to the very first episode of The Quill & Candle, a weekly show where I share what it’s like to write fantasy stories as a Catholic priest—and what I’m learning along the way. In this launch episode, I reflect on one month of daily storytelling and how a simple habit—walking in the woods and dictating ideas into my phone—has become a wellspr…

1
Story Secrets - The Pie Runner 4:47

3M ago4:47

4:47

Running has been a part of my life for years. I still remember the pure joy of crossing the finish line in my first half-marathon—and the wild mix of exhaustion and exhilaration when I completed a full one. But time marches on. Recovery takes longer, keeping my pace requires more effort. During a training run, an idea popped into my head. I recorde…

1
The Walk - Tell a Better Story (About Yourself) 49:22

3M ago49:22

49:22

For years, I kept telling myself the same story. That I never finished my doctorate. That I start too many things and finish too few. That I’m wasting time while others are moving ahead. And honestly, that story shaped how I saw everything. It drained my energy. Made me doubt every new idea before it even had a chance. But something changed. I star…

1
Story Secrets - The Girl Who Drew The World 43:33

3M ago43:33

43:33

What started as a simple idea—a girl who could draw anything into existence—quickly turned into one of the most emotional and layered fairy tales I’ve written so far. Honestly, I didn’t know where it was going when I began. I just hit record and told the story aloud, like I often do. No plan. No outline. Just a girl in a garden, a magical feather, …

1
Story Secrets - The Ratfather 34:50

3M ago34:50

34:50

🧀 I planned to write a cute squirrel story set in the Vatican Gardens. It turned into The Godfather. It was supposed to be a cozy little tale about nuts, teamwork, and helping your neighbor. But then… the rat showed up. He sauntered in, offered help, spoke in velvet tones, and called the squirrel “brother.” Before I knew it, I was knee-deep in a sq…

1
Story Secrets - Of Dragons and Bedsheets 23:14

3M ago23:14

23:14

This story came to me in the shower this morning. No pen. No notebook. Just me, soaked and wide-eyed, scrambling to dry off, throw on some clothes, and hit record on my phone before it vanished. Writers, you know the drill—your brain ignores deadlines but delivers entire plots the second you’re unreachable and half-soapy. Of Dragons and Bedsheets i…

1
Story Secrets - The Final Ascension 18:08

3M ago18:08

18:08

Ascension Day is one of those quiet feasts that slips by unnoticed for many—forty days after Easter, Christ returns to His Father, and we're left looking at the sky, wondering what comes next. That moment—of absence, silence, and waiting—has always fascinated me. It’s not the climax of the story. It’s the breath held between promise and fire. Today…

1
Story Secrets - The Better Quill 56:21

3M ago56:21

56:21

This story began on a rainy walk with an umbrella in one hand and my recorder in the other. It’s about a young monk named Ciarán, a humble chicken feather gifted by his mother, and a growing hunger for something better—more elegant, more powerful, more admired. His journey takes him far beyond the monastery, chasing birdsong and shimmering promises…

1
Story Secrets - The Rock and the Pebble 18:31

3M ago18:31

18:31

Did you know that during archaeological excavations beneath Saint Peter’s Basilica, researchers discovered not only human remains believed to be those of Saint Peter… but also the perfectly preserved skeleton of a tiny field mouse? That one detail set my imagination spinning. In today’s episode, I share the rough first version of a new story inspir…

1
The Walk - My Ministry Changed So Much! 47:11

3M ago47:11

47:11

Last week was a blur. Between TV interviews, an online course, rainy bike rides to Mass, and hosting a Star Wars convention, I found myself teetering between total exhaustion and surprising moments of grace. In this episode of The Walk, I share: What it was like to interview three radically different guests for TV in one day—especially one who clai…

1
Story Secrets - The Great Cheese Roll 39:31

3M ago39:31

39:31

🧀 The Great Cheese Roll is here! One wheel to roll them all — and in the laughter bind them Today is the Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling Race, where brave souls chase a 7lb wheel of cheese down one of the steepest hills in England. So of course… I had to write a fantasy version. Monks, mist, a lake of molten cheese, and a mysterious saboteur trying …

1
Story Secrets - The Lamb and the Catacombs 11:20

3M ago11:20

11:20

Today’s story is about a lamb. But not just any lamb. He kicked over jars. He chewed expensive sandals. He absolutely did not want to be a model. Until he met a quiet boy. A boy who carried him—not just for a statue, but through fear and darkness—until one day, in a moment no one expected, the lamb carried him. This story is inspired by an early Ch…

1
Story Secrets - The Dark Mage Strikes Back Part II 20:53

3M ago20:53

20:53

In this second and final part of my fantasy homage to The Empire Strikes Back, we return to the snowy peaks, haunted forests, and sacred ruins of a medieval Irish world where story itself is magic—and belief can shape reality. Our young squire Lucan journeys to Clonmacnoise to begin his training under a strange old hermit named Jonah, only to disco…

1
Story Secrets - The Dark Mage Strikes Back Part 1 18:55

3M ago18:55

18:55

When I was 12 years old, I sat in a dark cinema and watched The Empire Strikes Back for the first time. I never recovered—and I mean that in the best possible way. It became my all-time favorite film, and it’s shaped the way I think about stories ever since. To mark its 45th anniversary this week, I asked myself: What if that story—of hope, betraya…

1
Story Secrets - A Little Piece of Heaven 17:11

3M ago17:11

17:11

New Story: A Cup of Hope and a Slice of Heaven The cozy tavern where no brew will ever be the same, and neither will you. Somewhere along an old pilgrimage road in the Irish hills, there’s a crooked little cottage with a creaky door, a glowing hearth, and the scent of cinnamon and pine. Most travelers pass it by. But those who step inside find some…

1
Story Secrets - The Prelate, the Poodle and the Pizza 35:04

3M ago35:04

35:04

In today's episode, I share the original version of a children's story I made up about a poodle and a chihuahua in Rome. The poodle's owner is a tradition-loving cardinal, whereas the chihuahua is the dog of a chef who one day decides to start experimenting with unconventional pizza toppings. The dogs go on an adventure in the streets of Rome that …

1
Story Secrets - Nothing's Supposed To Live Forever 13:17

4M ago13:17

13:17

There’s a moment in The Ballad of Phil and Phyllis—a TikTok song about an immortal groundhog and his mortal love—when the music quiets, and Phil sings of watching everything fade while he stays the same. The fame, the crowds, the shadow he casts… none of it matters when the one you love is slipping away. That moment hit me hard. I didn’t expect to …

1
The Walk - The One Thing That Unites Everything I Do 1:12:31

4M ago1:12:31

1:12:31

It’s taken me years to admit this, but I think I finally know what I need to focus on in my life. I’ve always juggled many roles—priest, content creator, coach, podcaster, commentator, media guy, you name it. And for the longest time, I thought I had to do them all equally well. But no matter how hard I worked or how much I produced, I kept feeling…

1
Story Secrets - The Boy Who Cried Dragon 1:00:27

4M ago1:00:27

1:00:27

He Feared the Worst. The Worst Listened. What if your imagination had power? Not metaphorical power—the real kind. The kind that calls lightning when you expect rain. That conjures monsters when you picture danger. That makes the world tremble at the sound of your worst-case scenarios. That’s the idea behind today’s short story: The Boy Who Cried D…

1
Story Secrets - The Mouse Who Wanted to Be a Saint 37:30

4M ago37:30

37:30

What does it take to become a saint? That’s the question at the heart of today’s story—and one very small mouse is determined to find out. Born behind a cabinet in the sacristy of Saint Peter’s Basilica, Topolino has a dream that’s bigger than crumbs or cheese: he wants to stand among the saints. In this whimsical (and slightly dangerous) tale set …

1
Story Secrets - Saint Brendan's First Voyage 14:00

4M ago14:00

14:00

This week, on May 16, we celebrated the feast of Saint Brendan the Navigator, the Irish monk whose sea voyages became the stuff of both Christian devotion and mythic imagination. He’s often remembered for his legendary journey across the Atlantic—possibly even reaching the shores of North America centuries before Columbus. But saints don’t start ou…

1
Story Secrets - The Hollow Game 16:32

4M ago16:32

16:32

Why I came up with this story. I worry about what we’re handing our children. Not just phones and tablets, but the digital realms they open: worlds that begin by adding to life, but slowly start to replace it. Curated, addictive, relentless. Social media promises fun, connection, identity. And at first, that’s exactly what it delivers. But too ofte…

1
Story Secrets - Bello and the Colossus 17:53

4M ago17:53

17:53

Remember Pico, the fluffy seagull chick who crash-landed on the roof of the Sistine Chapel during the Conclave? This story takes us back in time—way back—to ancient Rome, during the reign of Emperor Nero. Meet Bello, one of Pico’s bold forefathers, who found himself circling over the Domus Aurea and a very peculiar construction project… Turns out, …

1
Story Secrets - The Druid and the Fogmaker 13:27

4M ago13:27

13:27

Two rival druids. One village. A battle between enchantment and healing. This week’s story takes us deep into a misty glen in early medieval Ireland, where a kind old druid brews gentle potions to help the sick and sorrowful. But when a charming newcomer arrives with a fiery red brew that promises visions and bliss—at a terrible cost—the village be…

1
The Walk - Am I Really Seen? 1:10:44

4M ago1:10:44

1:10:44

This was a tough one to share. A few weeks ago, I asked ChatGPT to give me an honest, unfiltered analysis of my life—based on everything it “knew” about me from past podcast transcripts and conversations. What came back hit me harder than I expected. Not because it was cruel. But because it was true. It uncovered something I rarely admit out loud: …

1
Story Secrets - Bob's Roman Holiday 45:43

4M ago45:43

45:43

In times of transition, it's often the smallest voices that carry the clearest songs. I created this short story in the days following the election of Pope Leo XIV, inspired by the quiet courage and gentle presence of Cardinal Prevost as he begins his new chapter in Rome. It’s not a biography, of course—it’s a parable. A red bird, far from home, na…

1
Story Secrets - The Sisters of the Forbidden Fruit 48:39

4M ago48:39

48:39

What happens when faith becomes a hunger strike? In today’s story, we follow the journey of a young nun who enters a monastery dreaming of a different life—one rooted in silence, simplicity, and God. But as she rises through the ranks and purifies her community from modern distractions, things begin to unravel. What starts with salad ends with sacr…

1
Story Secrets - The Hunter and the Angel 26:15

4M ago26:15

26:15

What would you do if you stumbled on a sign warning you not to pass? Not a flimsy warning—but one carved in stone, written in Latin, perched above a crumbling gate that leads deep into a dark and ancient forest. Would you obey? Or would you laugh, shrug, and step through anyway? In this episode, I tell the story of a hunter who follows his prey int…

1
Story Secrets - The Magician’s Cat 13:19

4M ago13:19

13:19

In today’s story, a quiet monastery hides a restless hunter—and a secret dream of claws, courage, and transformation. “The Magician’s Cat” follows a feisty orange tabby named Magnus who’s not content with the peaceful life of his old monk companion. He doesn't want milk and naps—he wants the thrill of the hunt, the pride of a warrior, the roar of a…

1
Story Secrets - The Lion, the Bridge and the Wardrobe 17:32

4M ago17:32

17:32

What happens when the Room of Tears hides more than just vestments—and opens into a world of snow, silence, and saints? In this magical and deeply symbolic short story, “The Lion, the Bridge, and the Wardrobe,” I reimagine the first moments of Pope Leo XIV after his election. Inspired by C.S. Lewis, the papal name "Leo," and a mysterious door in th…

1
Story Secrets - A Tale Of Soot And Spirit 8:34

4M ago8:34

8:34

What if the black and white smoke signals from the Sistine Chapel weren’t just symbols… but sentient? In this short story, I reimagine the smoke of the papal conclave as two ancient beings—mystical smoke-spirits locked in a sacred duel inside the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. Inspired by the spiritual weight of the moment, and a dash of Lost-style…

1
Story Secrets - The Chick on the Chimney 7:17

4M ago7:17

7:17

While the world watched for smoke above the Sistine Chapel, I was home with a fever and a head full of stories. In this episode, I share how illness kept me grounded—but not my imagination. Inspired by the live Vatican stream and a particularly clumsy seagull chick on the roof, I wrote a whimsical short story: "The Chick on the Chimney – A Short St…

1
Story Secrets - Walking With Dragons 33:24

4M ago33:24

33:24

Ever wonder what happens when you follow a calling you barely understand, armed with nothing but faith, ink, and a slightly trembling hand? In this episode, I tell a story I made up on the spot—no script, no notes, just imagination and a whisper of a world I’m slowly discovering. It’s called “Walking With Dragons,” and it follows a young novice sto…

1
Story Secrets - After The White Smoke 19:16

4M ago19:16

19:16

The conclave begins tomorrow. In just a few days, a name will echo from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. The white smoke will rise. The world will hold its breath. And we’ll meet a new pope. But what if—just for a moment—you let your imagination run a little further? What if the name announced wasn’t one you expected? What if the figure that st…

1
Story Secrets - The Power of Daily Storytelling: A New Experiment 17:44

4M ago17:44

17:44

I've always believed in the transformative power of stories. Whether it's through Star Wars, the dozens of novels I read each year, or the countless podcasts and TV programs I’ve made, stories shape who I am. But recently, something changed. Writing my own fantasy novel—set in a mythical version of early medieval Ireland—showed me how much I still …