Busted Halo Show W/fr. Dave Dwyer

Developments in artificial intelligence have made headlines in recent months, specifically the evolution of a language processing tool called ChatGPT. It is a chatbot that responds conversationally to your instructions, and generates answers to complex questions in a matter of seconds. Team Busted Halo put it to the test: Can ChatGPT write a better homily than Father Dave?

As Mental Health Awareness Month concludes, Father Dave welcomes back Catholic speaker and author Dr. Ian Murphy to discuss his new book, “The Road to Self-Awareness: A Therapy Book for Christians.”

A listener named Susan shares with Father Dave that her marriage recently ended. “I came to no other choice but to get divorced to protect myself from further physical and emotional harm,” she says. “I feel very lost sometimes. How can I rectify my situation with the Church? I pray daily and go to confession, but I still feel like I'm a hypocrite receiving the Eucharist.”  

People of faith are called to take a day of rest, and filmmaker and founder of Journey Films Martin Doblmeier analyzes this concept in his new documentary “Sabbath.” He joins Father Dave to discuss the Sabbath’s role in our modern world.

Spring often coincides with large life changes, from graduations to a surge of weddings. Father Dave welcomes back speaker and author Emily Wilson Hussem to offer guidance for young women through her courses “Navigating College” and “Navigating Engagement.”

Many celebrate the Sacraments of First Eucharist and Confirmation during spring, and one listener named Titus asks Father Dave about the order of the Sacraments of Initiation.

Guest co-host of the Busted Halo Show Kathryn Whitaker shares her reflections on her time spent in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and different seasons of motherhood. Kathryn now hosts a podcast called NICU Babies Parent Support from the national nonprofit organization, Hand to Hold.

Father Dave welcomes back actor, writer, producer, and director Emilio Estevez to discuss the re-release of his 2011 film “The Way.” He directs and stars in the movie along with his father Martin Sheen, and it is returning to theaters with additional content for one night only on May 16.

After the Vatican’s announcement regarding the Synod on Synodality’s voting process, Father Dave explains the history of these gatherings and their future impact. Contrary to previous custom, laypeople, including women, will participate as voting members of the general assembly that begins this October.

Whether you’re a parent or not, you probably know that kids ask a lot of questions. To aid in answering their questions of faith, Father Dave welcomes author, speaker, and catechist Julianne Stanz to discuss her new book, “The Catholic Parents' Survival Guide: Straight Answers to Your Kids' Toughest Questions.”

A listener emails Father Dave about receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation while managing social anxiety.

While the Eucharist and Precious Blood of Christ are to be handled with reverence, sometimes mistakes happen. A listener named Mary asks Father Dave for advice after her 9-year-old son accidentally spilled the Precious Blood on his shirt while receiving communion.

Easter is more than one day on our liturgical calendar, and itinerant missionary, speaker and author Meg Hunter-Kilmer joins the show to reflect on living out the season’s joy despite challenging times.

Father Dave welcomes back friend of the show Father Maurice Nutt to discuss his new book, “Down Deep in my Soul: An African American Catholic Theology of Preaching.”

As we continue our National Eucharistic Revival, Father Dave welcomes Sister Alicia Torres, F.E., who serves on the Revival’s executive team. She is also the managing editor of their weekly e-newsletter “Heart of the Revival,” which includes a new series for the Easter season called “Beautiful Light: A Paschal Mystagogy.”

With many things clamoring for our time and attention, it can be easy to lose focus while praying. Two listeners, Joe and Patricia, ask Father Dave questions about distractions during prayer. Joe specifically struggles with this while praying the Rosary, while Patricia says, “It seems my brain is always multitasking, and concentrating on my prayers is very difficult.”

Father Dave and Brett joined Lino Rulli and Tyler Veghte of “The Catholic Guy Show” on SiriusXM’s Catholic Channel for a Lenten pilgrimage to the Holy Land. They led 125 pilgrims to many important sites in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, including Jerusalem, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and more.

During his workshop at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, Father Dave answered questions of faith from those in attendance regarding the Mass. Many of those questions centered on our beliefs surrounding the Eucharist, and Cindy asks, “How do we simplify the explanation of transubstantiation for the benefit of children?”

As spring begins, many children prepare to receive two sacraments for the first time: Reconciliation and Eucharist. Speaker and singer Jackie Angel joins the show to discuss her and her husband Bobby’s involvement in two new programs from Ascension Press, “Renewed: Your Journey to First Reconciliation” and “Received: Your Journey to First Communion.”  

Father Dave welcomes Loyola University Chicago’s Men’s basketball team chaplain Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, just in time for March Madness! The 103-year-old nun first gained national attention in 2018 during the Ramblers' unexpected journey to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. She shares stories and lessons from her life in her new memoir, “Wake Up With Purpose: What I’ve Learned in My First Hundred Years.”