Episodes

  • Co-Redemptrix & Obedience
    Nov 14 2025

    The Church says Catholics should stop using the term Co-Redemptrix — but why? In this bold episode, I break down what actually changed, what didn’t, and why the deeper crisis isn’t Mariology but obedience. A raw, insightful look at pride, confusion, and the desert the Church is walking through today.

    • (00:00) - Welcome
    • (00:48) - Introduction to the Fire Branded Podcast
    • (01:39) - The Church's Stance on the Term 'Co-redemptrix'
    • (03:23) - Clarifying Misconceptions About 'Co-redemptrix'
    • (10:35) - The Importance of Obedience in Catholic Life
    • (15:17) - Challenges of Obedience and Cultural Clashes
    • (34:43) - Pope Francis and Church Priorities
    • (38:39) - Understanding Pope Francis' Theology
    • (40:36) - Challenges in Following Church Teachings
    • (42:33) - Trusting the Magisterium
    • (46:18) - The Role of Evangelizers
    • (49:22) - Personal Reflections and Advice
    • (01:02:12) - Final Thoughts and Farewell
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • The Rhythm of Ritual in Everyday Life
    Nov 7 2025

    Ritual isn’t superstition—it’s rhythm. In this episode, TJ Haines shares practical ways to bring sacred rhythm into your ordinary day: from morning prayers to prayer corners and holy moments woven through daily routines. Simple habits, powerful grace.

    EXTENDED DESCRIPTION
    We live in a world that’s lost the rhythm of the sacred. In this live session, TJ Haines explores how ritual grounds us in grace and gives our days shape, meaning, and direction toward God.

    Learn simple, practical ways to bring ritual back into your Catholic life—how to sanctify your mornings and evenings, create a domestic prayer corner, and weave prayer into the ordinary rhythm of your day.
    Ritual restores order, builds discipline, and opens the soul to encounter Christ in the everyday.

    • (00:00) - Ritual
    • (06:04) - Moments
    • (08:20) - Tip #1 Prayerful "Bookmarks" to the Day
    • (12:18) - Tip #2 Domestic Prayer Corner
    • (15:14) - Bonus: Candles, Candles, Candles!
    • (19:49) - Random Bible Moments
    • (22:32) - Tip #3 - Link Prayer to Daily Rhythms
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    36 mins
  • You're Not Real (and how you can be!)
    Oct 23 2025

    Formerly "The Catholic Experience", now an episode of "Firebranded!" - A heavy-packed episode, tackling the provocative theme: “God is Real. You Are Not.” What does it mean to "be real" and how can you get there? But there's much more to this episode than that!
    In this lively and deeply reflective episode of The Catholic Experience, the Catholic Adventurer tackles the provocative theme: “God is Real. You Are Not.” Drawing from theology, personal testimony, and real-time audience interaction, I unpack what it means to become “real”—the True version of what God envisioned when he "thought you up", before you came into the world.— shedding the distortions of sin and returning to the person God originally envisioned. But I talk about a lot more than that! See show notes below.

    • (00:00) - In troduction of the Episode
    • (01:54) - Episode Begins
    • (02:20) - Why You're Not Real!
    • (05:46) - Being Holy is Being the REAL Y ou
    • (07:26) - Engagement Spreads the Truth
    • (09:21) - How to Become REAL
    • (09:53) - Your "HOLY" Is Unique
    • (12:06) - TikTok is 'Tripping"
    • (13:20) - The Recipe for Real-ness
    • (13:46) - "Lord, Make me Holy"
    • (14:30) - Lord of the Rings is a Saints Story
    • (16:43) - Pursuit is Hard. Surrender is Easy
    • (19:58) - Checking in with the Chat
    • (23:30) - Tips for Your Journey
    • (29:32) - Why is Being a Saint "Easy" but "Hard"?
    • (30:38) - You Have to be TOUGH! We React to Peril
    • (32:57) - Scrupulosity, and Self-Sabotage
    • (35:57) - Devil Tempts to Excess, and Laxity
    • (38:48) - Find Balance, not Extremes
    • (39:57) - Surrender - The Challenge of Catholicism
    • (44:05) - Amazing Value of Humanity: You UNDERESTIMATE Yourself
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    51 mins
  • Benedict XVI: The Future of the Church is Now
    Feb 17 2025

    In this episode, we explore a compelling topic: Benedict XVI's prophetic insights about the future of the Holy Catholic Church. We discuss how his observations from the 1970s seem increasingly relevant today, and how the church is evolving amid modern challenges. Join me for this thought-provoking analysis and more.

    Substack: https://catholicadventurer.substack.com

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    49 mins
  • Biblical Proportions Realness audio
    Feb 2 2025

    Talking about the secularizing of the faith in Europe, particularly in Ireland on St. Brigid's Day. And is the faith worth standing up for, even in our own lives? Then I have a few words to share about "the business is in the mess" when it comes to our progression in the Catholic faith toward holiness.

    Spotify / https://open.spotify.com/show/5AterTnIKtSmEQVPsBNrS9
    iTunes / https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-adventurer/id1787409416
    Other Podcast Apps / https://www.catholicadventurer.com/get-the-podcast

    Join me as we discuss the erosion of Catholic culture. I share my personal decision to boycott St. Patrick's Day due to its secularization and talk about the broader implications for other feast days and traditions. We will examine a news story about Ireland's spiritual mother, St. Bridget, facing secular reinterpretation, and raise critical questions about the role of the Church in preserving its identity. Lastly, we reflect on my statement, "We want the clean Catholic experience, but the real business is in the mess" — the messiness of living a Catholic life and the importance of enduring and persevering through challenges. This episode underscores the importance of standing up for what is good, true, and beautiful in our faith and culture. Thanks for joining me on this journey.

    Summary:
    The Catholic Adventurer podcast tackles the pressing issue of the secularization and paganization of the Catholic faith. The host, known as the Catholic Adventurer, voices concerns about the diminishing true essence of Catholic feast days, using St. Patrick's Day as a key example of this trend. The discussion highlights a news story from the Catholic News Agency about Ireland's St. Bridget's Day being rebranded to omit Christian references, reflecting a broader issue. The host argues that both Catholic faith and culture are under threat and calls for a more assertive stance from the Church, suggesting that the Church should assert its rightful influence. The podcast also introduces the 'Saint Foundry,' a new initiative aimed at helping believers navigate and grow through the 'messiness' of their spiritual journeys, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and authenticity in faith practice.

    00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview
    01:26 Secularization of St. Patrick's Day
    03:59 Defining Catholic Culture
    06:29 Secular Reinterpretation of St. Bridget's Day
    20:19 Historical Context of Christianity and Secular Order
    24:21 The Impact of Aryan Heresy on Church and State
    25:01 The Secularization of Society
    28:57 St. Paul's Admonishments to the Corinthians
    36:57 The Messiness of the Catholic Experience
    45:53 Introducing the Saint Foundry

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    51 mins
  • Credo vs. Fidei (On Faith and Belief)
    Jan 27 2025

    In this episode, we discuss 'Credo vs. Fide,' or belief in knowledge versus confidence of the heart, and how only one makes a saint. Many Catholics recite the creed without understanding its deep meanings, leading to a deficiency in true faith—fide. To bridge this gap, I offer ways to build good credo and fide, emphasizing the importance of genuine, heartfelt belief. Additionally, explore my Saint Foundry initiative, a platform designed to foster knowledge and community among believers, available for free at the my website: https://www.catholicadventurer.com/jointhefoundry


    Personal Story: Here is the personal story I mentioned I'd be sharing with members of The Saint Foundry. Existing members can find the video here, and non-members will be taken to a free signup form at the same link h
    ttps://www.catholicadventurer.com/videos/v/story-about-meditation

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    44 mins
  • Faith and Belief (Credo vs. Fidei) - A Famine in the Church?
    Jan 27 2025

    In this episode, we discuss 'Credo vs. Fide,' or belief in knowledge versus confidence of the heart, and how only one makes a saint. Many Catholics recite the creed without understanding its deep meanings, leading to a deficiency in true faith—fide. To bridge this gap, I offer ways to build good credo and fide, emphasizing the importance of genuine, heartfelt belief.

    Additionally, explore my Saint Foundry initiative, a platform designed to foster knowledge and community among believers, available for free at the my website: https://www.catholicadventurer.com/jointhefoundry

    Personal Story: Here is the personal story I mentioned I'd be sharing with members of The Saint Foundry. Existing members can find the video here, and non-members will be taken to a free signup form at the same link https://www.catholicadventurer.com/videos/v/story-about-meditation

    Chapters:

    00:00 Credo vs. Fidei

    00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

    00:55 Understanding Credo vs. Fide

    04:19 The Problem with Modern Catholic Faith

    15:08 No Wonder They Leave the Faith

    18:31 Personal Growth and Avoiding Stagnation

    21:40 Reflecting on Personal Growth

    22:54 Introducing the Saint Foundry

    25:35 Building a Healthy Prayer Life

    31:31 Holy Spirit vs. Holy Ghost

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    44 mins
  • Freemasonry, Humanism, Satanism: They're the same things!
    Jan 25 2025
    With Joe Biden recently joining the Freemasons, I decided to re-publish this classic episode on Freemasonry.

    We're starting off with a riveting conversation that explores the intriguing intersections of Catholicism with Freemasonry, Satanism, and Humanism. Listen in as we unpack the complexities of these topics, peppered with some of the latest unusual news stories that mirror the current state of our society. You won't want to miss the insights from today's Mass reading from the book of Maccabees and the significance it holds within our faith and historical context. Then we examine the concept of unity and its potential parallels to communism and Freemasonry, discussing the Catholic Church's stance against the latter. With a keen eye on the growing popularity of Freemasonry Hear my take on the establishment of a Satanic Temple's after-school club in Connecticut and how it ties into broader philosophical movements. We'll also reflect on the unfortunate news of an Ohio priest's sentencing, shedding light on the dark undercurrents in modern culture, and revisit Pope Leo XIII's historical perspective on Freemasonry. Finally, wrap up this episode with a profound reminder of the importance of keeping our faith alive through prayer and Mass. I share with you the power of communion with the divine, and how frequent encounters can bring restoration and truth into our chaotic world.
    Resources Satanic Temple announces launch of ‘After School Satan Club’ at Connecticut elementary school Why Can't Catholics Be Freemasons? Vatican doctrine office reaffirms that Catholics cannot be Freemasons
    • (00:00) - Introduction and Episode Overview
    • (00:15) - Freemasonry and Catholicism
    • (02:08) - The Book of Maccabees and Its Relevance
    • (05:53) - Modern Parallels and Cultural Critique
    • (11:50) - Freemasonry's Influence and Church's Stance
    • (22:09) - Freemasonry, Law, and Society
    • (23:28) - Satanic Temple and Legal Implications
    • (25:07) - Legal Battles and the Satanic Temple
    • (25:38) - Inside the Satanic Club
    • (25:50) - The Satanic Temple's Mission
    • (26:50) - STEM and Freemasonry
    • (28:26) - Changes in Youth Over 25 Years
    • (31:14) - The Rise of Naturalism and Humanism
    • (33:49) - Debating Social Justice and Reason
    • (39:22) - Parental Guidance and Faith
    • (43:09) - The Power of Prayer and Meditation
    • (47:48) - Final Thoughts and Farewell
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    48 mins