Explore every episode of Lapsed
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| 20 Sep 2022 | Welcome to Season Two! | 00:41:05 | |
Steph and Anne are back with Season 2 of Lapsed! Steph discusses one rather big development in her life (hint: he’s adorable and shares a name with a very Jesuit saint). The hosts also catch up on several months of Catholic news, including Francis updates, newly Catholic celebrities (we’re looking at you, Shia LaBeouf), and Catholic references in the media (oh hey, A League of Their Own). This episode may or may not be peppered with some super cute baby noises. LINKS
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| 21 Feb 2023 | The Pope's Middle Finger & Other News | 00:53:02 | |
Steph and Anne engage in a much needed catch-up session on ***Catholicism In The News*****. College students are sharing dorms with nuns. The FBI is targeting Catholics (but in a needed way). Francis extolls the virtues of....flipping the bird (?!??!). The hosts know an embarrassing number of lyrics to Billy Joel’s “Only The Good Die Young.” LINKS
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| 30 May 2023 | What the heck is Kairos? | 00:48:58 | |
The first rule of Kairos is that you don’t talk about Kairos….and today the hosts are rule breakers! Listen in as Anne recounts her experience with this widespread Catholic senior retreat program. References include Cindy Lauper and the Indigo Girls. NOTE: See below link for a (more or less) positive update on the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence/Dodgers situation since we recorded! LINKS: Vatican withdraws World Youth Day 2023 stamp after criticism in Portugal UPDATED info on Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and the Dodgers (they were asked back after we recorded!) SPECIAL COLLECTION:: https://www.institutochicago.org/ RECOMMENDATIONS: Heavyweight Ep #51: The Elliots WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
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| 01 Jul 2023 | Go Now in Peace | 00:14:45 | |
School’s out for the summer (and so are we)! The hosts say “go in peace” and “see you in the fall” and things like that, but not before hearing a listener story about making a pit stop at Mass on the way to the ER (because #priorities). Have a great summer, lapsed friends! SPECIAL COLLECTION: Full Spectrum Community Outreach WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
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| 26 Apr 2022 | Nuns! | 01:02:03 | |
Ruler-wielding tyrants or holy social justice warriors? Join the Anne and Steph as they attempt to sort out their feelings about nuns and religious sisters (and the difference between the two). COLLECTION BASKET: This week we invite you to support Kina Collins for Congress.
New Jersey Diocese settles with abuse victims for $87.5m (CW: sexual assault): “Don’t Expect Justice From the Dominicans” Burger King in Spain apologizes, pulls offensive Holy Week ads Video: Franciscan Sisters, TOR: A Day in the Life Video: Sister Joni Shares Her Story | |||
| 30 Oct 2024 | Juan Munoz | 00:55:43 | |
Listen in as Anne chats with comedian/writer/actor/storyteller Juan Munoz about life as a youngest child/bilingual/queer CCD kid. Topics covered include how Mass is like drag brunch and why the witchy parts of Catholicism are the best parts. And also with you. LINKS
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| 06 Feb 2024 | Jesuits Are My Invisible Boyfriend: An Interview with Comedian Eliana La Casa | 00:55:13 | |
Eliana La Casa is a real life apostate! She’s also a bilingual Argentinean stand up comedian who has been featured on Comedy Central Latinoamerica, as well as BBC Radio 4. She was voted Best Stand Up Comedian of 2021 by the Chicago Reader. She moved to the US in 2021 and has since fallen in love with Storytelling. She affirms she moved to pursue comedy, but her real goal is to try every single vegan restaurant in Chicago. Listen in as she regales Anne and Steph with tales of living as an atheist in a very Catholic country. Check her out at https://www.elianalacasa.com/. COLLECTION BASKET: This week we invite you to work to construct a compassionate food system at https://foodnotbombs.net CONNECT:
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| 19 Mar 2024 | Queer Catholic Histories with Emma Cieslik | 00:54:02 | |
New Flash: despite what some may want you to believe, queer Catholics exist! Meet the woman who has made it her mission to to tell their stories. Emma Cieslik (she/her) is a queer, disabled, and neurodivergent museum professional, religious scholar, and writer based in Washington, DC. She explores the histories of gender, sexuality, religion, and material culture. She currently directs the Queer and Catholic Oral History Project, and has worked at a variety of museums in the DC area, from the National Museums of American History, the American Indian, and Natural History to the The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the Queer and Catholic Oral History Project, contributing to the Project, participating in an interview, or just talking more about these topics, feel free to reach out to Emma at eocieslik@gmail.com. COLLECTION BASKET: This week we invite you to donate to thetrevorproject.org Links: https://sojo.net/articles/joy-being-queer-and-christian/mary-mother-god-help-me-find-queer-joy https://folklife.si.edu/magazine/appalachian-folk-magic https://outreach.faith/2022/12/the-need-to-chronicle-and-preserve-queer-catholic-history/ CONNECT:
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| 23 Dec 2023 | What's in Your Advent Calendar? | 00:56:12 | |
It’s irritatingly cold and dark outside, so Anne and Steph are fully embracing all things Advent. Steph walks us all through the surprisingly sordid history of Advent calendars. The hosts quiz themselves on their Catholic Advent knowledge. Steph’s cat has some thoughts. Grab of mug of hot chocolate and tune in! Special collection: Community of Congregations Migrant Response CONNECT:
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| 04 Oct 2022 | The Catholic Afterlife | 01:02:15 | |
Stephanie and Anne take a deep dive into what Catholic school and CCD taught them about life after death. A young Steph imagined a cloudy heaven that was harp-filled and toga-forward. Anne realizes how the Wizard of Oz impacted her early view of the afterlife. The hosts also launch into their own lapsed Catholic version of #yesyesno as they struggle to make sense of a Catholic-adjacent tweet involving #depop, #coquettegirlies and #cleangirlaesthetic (#eldermillenialsareconfused). This episode also once again involves a Harry Potter reference, care of Steph. LINKS A Depop Seller Offering $5 Absolution Online Created A Mess Of Catholic Discourse What Jesus Really Said About Heaven and Hell What Does the Catholic Church Believe About Life After Death? Heaven And Hell Are 'Not What Jesus Preached,' Religion Scholar Says COLLECTION BASKET:
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| 08 Jul 2022 | Abortion and the Catholic Church...Again. | 00:45:44 | |
The hosts grapple with their feelings around the recent Dobbs ruling. Steph dishes on the Kardashian’s recent brush with Catholic aesthetics even though by all accounts they practice…Kardashianism? Anne recalls that one time as a kid when she accidentally stumbled into a Protestant Vacation Bible School. The hosts announce they’re going extra lapsed for summer. LINKS Bishop says school flying BLM, LGBTQ flags can no longer call itself Catholic COLLECTION BASKET:
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| 13 Nov 2024 | Britt Migs | 00:56:00 | |
Britt Migs is an award winning standup & sketch comedian living and working in NYC. You might know her from viral videos in which she plays a sassy Italian PR professional scrambling to spin the drama coming out of the Vatican. Listen in as Britt spills the tea about growing up in a Catholic-Jewish household, why Bat Mitzvahs are cooler than Confirmations, and why Communion wafers are a letdown. LINKS Britt’s upcoming NYC show on 11/15 Adorable photos of Britt’s Communion
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| 18 Oct 2022 | Saints! | 00:50:22 | |
Things get unexpectedly spooky as Stephanie and Anne talk murdered saints, postmortem popes, and the occult in this Halloween season-appropriate episode. Join the hosts as they dive into feast days, patrons, canonization, and martyrdom. Steph is still proud to be the only Chavara cousin who got $3 instead of $2 on her patron saint’s feast day. Little Anne dreamed of being one day canonized but never totally worked out the details. The hosts also get macabre as they talk ouija boards and preserved pope corpses (only ONE of which the Catholic Church apparently finds creepy. Can you guess?!?!). LINKS https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2022/10/07/ouija-board-spirituality-243154 On Second Vatican Council anniversary, Pope urges Catholic unity COLLECTION BASKET: National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center
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| 15 Feb 2022 | Confessions of a Former Catholic School Theater Kid: An Interview With Matthew Scott | 01:03:00 | |
The hosts are beyond excited to welcome actor, photographer, friend, and fellow former Catholic school kid Matthew Scott onto the show! Matthew recounts stories of being a queer theater kid who had no real beef with the Catholic Church but just kind of…wasn’t that into her. Matthew, Anne and Steph talk Catholic-style high school musicals (NO to references to teen pregnancy, YES to nuns in the audience); the calisthenics involved in the Stations of the Cross; and that time Matthew leveraged his acting skills to pass a Chemistry class. They also laugh a whole lot. Follow Matthew at MatthewThomasScott and at Matt Scott Shots. COLLECTION BASKET: This week we invite you to donate to the American Alliance for Theatre & Education.
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| 10 May 2022 | Abortion & The Catholic Church | 00:59:09 | |
There are scary things happening in US politics right now, and Anne and Steph are working on unpacking it, lapsed Catholic style. Listen in as they recount what they were and weren’t taught in Catholic school about a pregnant person's right to control their own body. Along the way they do manage some levity….like when they learn of the 9 sins that will get you kicked out of the church (hint: don’t punch the pope). The hosts also learn some fun new definitions. COLLECTION BASKET: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/ https://www.catholicsforchoice.org/
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| 21 Dec 2021 | In Egg Shells Is Deo: A Very Lapsed Catholic Christmas Episode | 00:49:17 | |
This week the hosts talk Catholicism and Christmas memories! Stephanie reveals the carol for which she would sell her soul to the devil in order to be able to sing well (and nearly suggests a certain church choir should maybe have considered such things). Anne recounts the time she got to walk down the aisle at midnight Mass in a green velvet dress, though she’s still salty that she didn’t get to carry the baby Jesus. The hosts deal with the emotional turmoil of some debunked Christmas Story myths. COLLECTION BASKET: This week we invite you to donate to the International Rescue Committee.
Links Britney Spears Calls Herself A Catholic Slut 9 Things You Need to Know About Christmas (according to the Catholic Church) | |||
| 07 May 2025 | BEST OF Lapsed: Popes | 01:51:57 | |
We were talking about popes before it was cool. Tune in to this throwback episode from Season 1 (!!!) as Anne and Steph discuss the who, when, where, and why of the papacy. RIP Francis (seriously, we were fans). LINKS Anne’s recent story on the The Moth Radio Hour Anne’s upcoming 5/21 LIVE Chicago storytelling event benefiting the work of Sister District Chicago
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| 24 May 2022 | We want to hear from you! | 00:02:41 | |
Hey listeners. Some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that we don't have a new episode this week. The good news? We want to hear from you! So much of what we talk about on this show is rooted in parts of the Catholic church we've had trouble making sense of. So now it’s your turn. Which parts of Catholicism did you or do you find confusing or difficult to understand? This could be a funny story from childhood, or a right-now story about a part of the Church that you'll just never make sense of. Whether you identify as Lapsed, a current Catholic, or none of the above, we want to hear your stories about confusion and the Catholic church. Because we know we can’t be the only ones. As always you can email us your stories at lapsedpodcast@gmail.com. BUT! We’re also very excited to announce a brand new feature: a voicemail number! You can now call and leave us a message! Our number is 505 -6-LAPSED. That's 505-652-7733. We look forward to hearing from you! We'll be back with a regular episode in 2 weeks. And: also with you. | |||
| 17 Aug 2021 | Communion | 01:28:23 | |
Stephanie and Anne compare First Holy Communion stories. Anne tattled on a CCD kid at First Communion rehearsal. Steph got into an argument about transubstantiation with her high school theology teacher. The hosts agree on the impossibility of consuming the Communion host without chewing. COLLECTION BASKET: This week we once again invite you to support women’s health and bodily autonomy with a donation to Planned Parenthood. Because it’s just that important.
LINKS: Gossipy Sun Article About Britney Spears Announcing She's Catholic Trash NYT Piece About Why America Supposedly Needs Catholicism The Time A Baby Was Dressed Up Like the Pope and Obama Lost It Irritating Article About Teaching Kids About Transubstantiation Catholic-Dot-Com Polices Communion Nun and Priest Who Died in a Fire While Trying to Save Eucharist | |||
| 31 Aug 2021 | In Hot Holy Water: Feminist and Queer Theology with K Kriesel | 01:20:08 | |
Stephanie and Anne chat with a real live theologian to talk feminism and queer theology in the Catholic Church! The hosts welcome K Kriesel, a textile artist devoted to Mother Mary and queer feminism, who spills the tea about folk Catholicism, Catholic Womenpriests, and how Saint Sebastian became the patron saint of gay men. You can learn more about K and their art at https://www.instagram.com/kkriesel_art/ COLLECTION BASKET: This week we invite you to support The Trevor Project, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ young people under 25.
LINKS: Artist Chris Ofili's The Holy Virgin Mary Queer Catholic resources (Thanks, K!):
K’s Feminist Catholic resources (Thanks, K!):
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| 05 Dec 2023 | [TEASER EPISODE]: Racy Vatican Acrobats and other Catholicism in the News | 00:33:19 | |
::::::This is a shorter version of a longer exclusive video episode that can be viewed in full on our PATREON.:::::: This episode has EVERYTHING: scorned conservative Cardinals, inclusive Papal dinners, slightly racy circus performers at the Vatican. Listen in! LINKS: Video of the Benedict circus performance Video of the Francis circus performance REACH OUT:
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| 20 Feb 2024 | Saint Deep Dive: Saint Blaise! | 00:33:23 | |
Anne surprises Steph with a deep dive into Saint Blaise whom, as it turns out, Steph has literally never heard of. Listen in as the hosts talk throat blessing, wool combing, pig stealing and more. (#SaintBlaisePrayForUs) COLLECTION BASKET: This week we invite you to donate to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. CONNECT:
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| 05 Mar 2024 | Comedian Paddy Raff | 01:19:13 | |
It’s March and the hosts are ready to learn about an Irish guy named Patrick…but not the one you’re thinking of! After just 5 years in comedy, comedian Paddy Raff has a record-breaking 6 solo sell-out nights at Belfast's SSE Arena under his belt, amassed millions of likes and views on his social media sketches, provided tour support for comedy legend Micky Flanagan in the UK & Ireland and also written and created 2 award-winning seasons of BBC NI's comedy sketch series 'The Paddy Raff Show' - making him one of Northern Ireland's fastest rising comedians. Listen in as Paddy and Anne talk Catholic grandmothers, sending your kids to Catholic school as a lapsed Catholic, and how St. Patrick’s day is celebrated in Ireland vs. the US. Check Paddy out at https://www.paddyraffcomedy.com/. COLLECTION BASKET: This week we invite you to donate to https://www.cedar-foundation.org/. Links: CONNECT:
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| 16 May 2023 | Reading While Lapsed: A Conversation with BookTok Icon Lupita Aquino | 00:51:04 | |
Show up for some awesome queer Latine BookTok gossip, stick around for the excellent #catholicgrandma content. Curl up with your beverage of choice and listen in as literary enthusiast and TikTok-er Lupita Aquino spills the tea about skipping out on catechism classes for the thrills of the mall, the trials and tribulations of celebrating your birthday on the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe (and sharing her name!), and what it means to sometimes feels like a Secret Catholic. WHERE TO FIND LUPITA: LUPITA'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OUR LISTENERS: How Not To Drown In A Glass of Water The People Who Report More Stress SPECIAL COLLECTION: WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
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| 07 Mar 2023 | The Anarchy of Ash Wednesday | 00:50:48 | |
Anne quizzes Stephanie on Ash Wednesday facts. Spoiler alert: as far as Catholic stuff goes, this may be the most loosey goosey day of the liturgical year! The hosts also talk Catholic toxic masculinity (gross) and about how the Sisters of Mercy are actually kind of rad when it comes to social justice stuff. Sidebars include 80’s Ballroom drag culture and recreational squirrel feeding. LINKS
Recommendations: Collection Basket: Syrian American Medical Association Learn more about the Women’s Ordination Conference’s Lucile Murray Durkin Scholarship For Women Discerning Priestly Ordination
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| 04 Apr 2023 | Saint Patrick, patron saint of...shapeshifting? | 00:49:47 | |
Beyond the green beer and corned beef, what is the actual deal with Saint Patrick? Grab a pint of Guinness and listen in as Anne and Steph learn the truth (maybe?) about shamrocks, banished snakes, and the true origins of corned beef of St. Paddy's Day. There’s also some deer-related pagan-esque magicky stuff which they totally did not expect. #themoreyouknow 🌈 🍀🦌 Links: Rabbi & 11-year-old son testify against anti-trans legislation Francis on his BS about “idiolotical colonization” and transgender identity Denver-area Catholic women say priest denied them Communion over rainbow masks Divesting from Whiteness: The Irish & St. Patrick’s Day Collection Basket:
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| 10 Jan 2024 | The Pope talks gay marraige (kind of) | 00:36:43 | |
Anne and Steph hash out their thoughts on the headline-making news of Pope Francis allowing Catholics priests to bless same sex couples. Radical change for the better, or too little too late? The hosts have Feelings. Listen in. Special collection: choose your own adventure! Donate time or money to a local cause and then let us know about it! Please! CONNECT:
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| 29 Jul 2024 | Spilling the Irish Tea | 01:04:00 | |
Anne recaps her inherently Catholic-forward trip to Ireland. The hosts say goodbye to Season 3, and Steph says a more serious farewell. Listen in! | |||
| 07 Nov 2023 | Buttresses and Bone Chapels: Talking Catholicism & Art History with Heather Bowling | 01:02:28 | |
Did you know that early Christian basilicas were repurposed Roman court buildings with the door in a new location? Or that there’s a chapel in Rome built from human bones? Tune in as the Anne and Steph talk all things early Christinity and art history with lapsed Catholic art historian Heather Bowling! (Also hear the moment when Anne realizes she may be one of the tiktok husbands.) And don’t forget: we have a new PATREON! Head to https://www.patreon.com/LapsedPodcast to contribute and get access to exclusive content, Q&As, and more! Special collection: World Central Kitchen
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| 12 Apr 2022 | Holy Week & Easter | 01:07:00 | |
Anne and Steph serve up some Holy Week and Easter realness as they talk palms, confession, stations of the cross, itchy tights and egg hunts. Grab a chocolate bunny and tune in. COLLECTION BASKET: This week we invite you to donate to the Chi Nations Youth Council.
Pope Francis apologizes to Indigenous delegates for 'deplorable' abuses at residential schools | |||
| 13 Jun 2023 | Gen Z Catholic Schoolgirls and Women Deacons: Dispatches from (Current) Catholicism | 01:05:50 | |
The hosts try something new this episode as they each share a ***top secret*** (or maybe not-so-secret) interview with the other. Stephanie gets all the deets from real live Gen Z Catholic school girl Maeve. Anne interviews a fellow alum of her own Catholic high school, Katie Owens Mulcahy, whose recent article about the potential for women deacons in the Catholic church was featured in America Magazine. The episode includes some bad ass nun stories as well as possibly the greatest ever description of the ritual that is First Holy Communion. SPECIAL COLLECTION: Chicago Refugee Amazon Wish List WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
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| 16 Nov 2022 | The Catholic Church & Contraception | 00:56:27 | |
The hosts learn about the Church’s beef with birth control. Anne shares some rather racy Catholicism in the News. Steph points out some colorful language used to describe contraception in the bible. There’s also a Steve Carrell reference, and really, who doesn’t love Steve Carrell? LINKS Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly Being Weird The Pope Urges Priests and Nuns to Delete Porn from Their Phones RECOMMENDATIONS: Marcus Mumford’s Awkward Interaction with the Pope COLLECTION BASKET: https://nativegov.org/news/voluntary-land-taxes/ | |||
| 08 Mar 2025 | Gabrielle Minoli i.e. @saltlacroix | 00:44:57 | |
Gabrielle Minoli (@saltlacroix) is an LA-based writer and comedy content creator. Her satirical fashion trend prediction series on TikTok and Instagram has earned her accolades such as “my Oracle of Delphi,” “sociologists could never,” and “who is this esoteric diva?” She has her mother’s Argentinian family to thank for her Catholic upbringing, and unfettered access to computers from a young age to thank for being chronically online. Listen in as Gabrielle and Anne talk communion dresses, dodging Confirmation, and how talking to fellow raised-Catholics is a lot like one of those “Are we dating the same guy?” facebook groups.
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| 27 Nov 2024 | Catherine McCafferty | 00:54:07 | |
Catherine McCafferty is an actor, writer and stand-up. Originally a scrappy Chicagoan where she dabbled in theater, now she splits her time between LA and NYC. See her new digital series Pretty Gay on Patreon. Recently she’s back from a successful Edinburgh Fringe run of her solo show: (Not) That Bad and wrapping her second feature a queer rom-com, Crush, streaming on Hulu. Bothered is a web-series she co-created/wrote/starred in with Seth Daniel. Listen in as Anne and Catherine talk rosaries, first Communion, and the cultural vortex that is the Irish Catholic southside of Chicago. CONNECT!
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| 02 May 2023 | Moon Bishops And Other Actual Headlines | 00:36:22 | |
Listen in as Steph and Anne catch up Catholicism in the News. Topics include limbo, the devil holding Jesus ransom, a song that cuts down on Purgatory time, the AI-generated papal puffer coat that launched a thousand tweets, diocese on the Moon, and Jesus’s DNA. Weirdly, this episode includes two references to the decidedly non-Catholic British Royal Family. Links: The Catholic Church can never admit that something it taught for centuries was dumb Singing This Song on Holy Thursday Can Purify Your Soul (And Save You Time in Purgatory) We Spoke To The Guy Who Created The Viral AI Image Of The Pope That Fooled The World The Catholic Church Officially Has A Moon Bishop Pope Francies has given King Charles III a poignant Coronation gift Recommendations: Cameron Esposito was a Eucharistic minister Megan Markle planned her wedding in Catholic school Dylan Mulvaney and Rosie O’Donnell talk Catholic Mass Collection Basket: We want to hear from you!
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| 03 Apr 2024 | Catholic Funerals | 01:04:16 | |
Listen in as the hosts chat about the very light and airy and not at all emotionally triggering subject of Catholic funerals. Mass cards! Wakes! Gorging yourself with fellow grieving family members! Laugh and cry with the hosts as they parse through how the Catholics handle death. COLLECTION BASKET: Support women in the Democratic Republic of Congo through Oxfam. CONNECT:
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| 17 Sep 2024 | Astrology, Tarot & Catholicism with Monica aka The Gospelle | 01:05:49 | |
What do Catholicism, Tarot, and Astrology have in common? Monica of The Gospelle is here to tell us! In this first episode of season 4, Anne and Monica talk mysteries of faith, Christian/pagan symbology, and the occult (or not-so-occult?). Tune in! LINKS The Contemplative Tarot book that Monica recommends Special collection: https://outreach.faith/support-us/
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| 03 Aug 2021 | Popes | 01:56:20 | |
EPISODE 3: Popes Anne and Stephanie attempt to tackle the 2000+ year history that is the Catholic Papacy. Stephanie explains how her Catholic grandma once tore all the family photos off the walls and replaced them with a letter from the Pope. Anne describes how her Catholic grandma once got pranked by a priest impersonating a Cardinal. Disney’s The Little Mermaid somehow comes up again. This week’s episode contains brief references to enslavement, genocide, sexual assault, and homophobia. COLLECTION BASKET: This week we invite you to support women’s health and bodily autonomy with a donation to Planned Parenthood.
LINKS: The Chicago Tribune remembers JP the II's 1979 visit to Chicago | |||
| 16 Oct 2024 | Kelli Dunham | 01:27:11 | |
A comedian, a storyteller, a nurse, an author, a queer activist, and a former nun walk onto the podcast ….and they’re all the same person. Listen in as the brilliant Kelli Dunham dishes on converting to Catholicism, the lesser known sayings of Mother Theresa, and how queer folks offer the solution to a whole lot of our problems. LINKS Kelli’s storytelling series, Queer Memoir The documentary video about Kelli’s life as a sister
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| 01 Feb 2022 | Vatican Reject: An Interview with Father Anne | 01:01:33 | |
The hosts welcome their first Catholic priest onto the show…and she’s a woman! Fr. Anne Tropeano is a Roman Catholic Womanpriest who is committed to seeing women welcomed into the priesthood within her lifetime. She has a deep love of the Society of Jesus, earned a Master of Divinity from Jesuit School of Theology, and has worked in multiple parishes in the Jesuits West Province. While many have understandably walked away from the Roman Catholic Church, Father Anne chooses to obey the Holy Spirit's call to collaborate with God in bringing about gender equality in one of the most powerful institutions in the world. Learn more about her ministry at Fatheranne.com. COLLECTION BASKET: This week we invite you to work to construct a compassionate food system at mercyforanimals.org
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| 23 Nov 2021 | Hello, My (Confirmation) Name is: | 00:44:11 | |
This week the hosts share their Confirmation names and then hear from listeners about the names they chose! Stephanie gives off some serious pagan goddess vibes. Anne shocks Steph with her own grand name reveal. The hosts discover the 1970 hit that apparently inspired a heck of a Confirmation name trend, though confusingly in the late 90’s/early 00’s. COLLECTION BASKET: This week we invite you to contribute to the Sweet Rest Project.
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| 07 May 2024 | Comedian Nico Carney | 00:55:18 | |
Anne and Steph are joined by Nico Carney! Nico is a standup comedian, writer and actor. He was selected for Netflix is a Joke's inaugural "Introducing" showcase in 2022, was named a Just For Laughs New Face in 2023 and made his late night television debut on Late Night with Seth Meyers in January 2024. Nico also has a podcast called Boys Club which he co hosts with fellow comedian Conor Janda. Listen in as Nico, Anne, and Steph talk CCD life, tropical Christmas Mass and cry boxes. This is also an Andrew Scott appreciation episode. COLLECTION BASKET: https://www.transjusticefundingproject.org/ CONNECT:
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| 20 Jul 2021 | Confession: “What’d you do?” | 00:57:41 | |
Anne and Stephanie take a walk down memory lane and straight into the church confessional. Stephanie is relieved that the Ten Commandments say nothing about being nice to your siblings. Anne still remembers all the words to the Act of Contrition she had to memorize in 2nd grade. The hosts agree on the merits of Rosaries (even though they’re not necklaces). COLLECTION BASKET: This week we once more invite you to learn about the International Indigenous Youth Council and **donate** at https://indigenousyouth.org/
LINKS: Handy dandy chart of the Ten Commandments by religion/denomination Brene Brown talking to Oprah about the people with whom we share our shame | |||
| 09 Nov 2021 | Guardian Angels: Are They Really A Thing? | 00:57:57 | |
Stephanie reminisces about how her grandma’s car was decked out with Catholic paraphernalia. Anne points out that guardian angels sound a heck of a lot like New Age-y "spirit guides." The hosts lament how angels are always depicted as white and Barbie-esque. COLLECTION BASKET: This week we once again invite you to donate to the Equal Justice Initiative.
LINKS Why Catholics Should Use Preferred Gender Pronouns and Names Biden: Pope told me that I should “keep receiving Communion” Hilarious photo of the Pope being forced to stand next to Trump Italian Translator: Trump vs. Biden 8 Things to Know and Share About the Guardian Angels What Does the Church Teach About Guardian Angels? | |||
| 29 May 2024 | Comedian Conor Janda | 01:04:50 | |
Conor Janda is a New York based stand up comedian and writer. He has been featured on Comedy Central and in Vulture and, along with recent pod guest Nico Carney, is the co-host of the podcast Boys Club. Conor, Steph and Anne have so much to talk about: single sex Catholic high schools! The Sisters of Mercy! Kairos! Listen in. COLLECTION BASKET: https://www.forthegworls.com/home CONNECT:
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| 01 Mar 2022 | Lent | 00:57:51 | |
The hosts talk all things LENT as they spill the tea (the Communion wine?) on Ash Wednesday, fasting, giving things up, and fish fry Fridays. Stephanie explains why her dad is legitimately the King of Lent (there is ice cream involved). Anne explains the intricacies of how Irish Catholics manage to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day to its fullest despite the Lenten season. This episode also includes a Harry Potter reference. COLLECTION BASKET: In memory of actor Lindsey Pearlman, we invite you to donate to the American Alliance for Theatre & Education and the ASPCA
Priest Resigns After Using “We” Instead of “I” In Baptisms Lust, Lies And Empire: The Fishy Tale Behind Eating Fish On Friday | |||
| 18 Apr 2023 | Queer. Catholic. Artist: A Conversation with Dani of "And Her Saints" | 00:42:58 | |
Anne and Steph chat with Dani, (she/they) a writer, illustrator, Costa Rican, femme lesbian, and devout catholic who spends most of her time reminding everybody of those last two facts. Dani runs the blog and subsequent store “And Her Saints”, which seeks to illustrate the holy in an affirming and inclusive way. Topics include accidentally denying the virgin Mary as a child (omglol so sorry Our Lady!), surviving a hellish Catholic education experience, and finding queer Catholic community through social media. The hosts also profess their undying love for Catholic grandmas. Again. Links: instagram: @andhersaints twitter: @idkwhosdani tumblr: and-her-saints Collection Basket: Art for Aid
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| 30 Dec 2024 | Lapsed Special Holiday STORYTELLING Edition: Guilt and the Innkeeper | 00:14:15 | |
This week’s special post-holiday episode is a recording of a story Anne told LIVE way back in Junary 2024 with 80 Minutes Around the World as part of Lifeline Theatre’s Fillet of Solo Festival. Enjoy. Special Collection: https://www.chicagorefugee.org/
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| 21 Mar 2023 | Trans Day of Visibility Special Edition: A Conversation with Nat Vikitsreth | 00:57:30 | |
As #transdayofvisibility approaches, we are honored to share our conversation with @comebacktocare founder Nat Vikitsreth, a dot connector, norm agitator, and lover of liberation who supports social justice curious parents to practice social justice in their parenting while re-parenting their inner child. Listen in as Nat talks about what it was like attending an all boys' #catholicschool as a Catholic-Buddhist trans kid growing up in Thailand. Highlights include altar boy Spice Girl fashion shows and secret highschool romances. 🔥💙💗💙🔥 A little more about Nat: Nat is a graduate of and faculty instructor with the Erikson Institute’s Social Work and Child Development Program. She also holds another master’s degree in Infancy & Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. In 2021, she received the Zero to Three Award for Emerging Leadership where she was nationally recognized for her innovative work at Come Back to Care. Her most recent publications include an academic article in the June 2022 Zero to Three Journal and an op-ed piece in Condé Nast’s Them. Outside of her clinical and psychoeducation work at Come Back to Care, Nat provides political education and mental health support to youth organizers around the stolen land of the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations (Chicago). Her advocacy areas include economic justice, intergenerational healing justice, disability justice, and trans rights. Collection Basket: Connect with us!
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| 02 Oct 2024 | Talking Women's Ordination with Father Anne | 01:03:41 | |
Our favorite Catholic priest has returned! Father Anne Tropeano returns to talk women’s ordination, gender and sexuality in the church, following the Holy Spirit, and so much more (including an update on Old Dog Heaven). We’re thrilled to have her back. Listen in. LINKS See a photo of Father Anne’s adorable senior pups, Lucky, Rocky, Dexter and Bandit! Father Anne’s Celebration of Life Liturgy for an Animal Companion
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| 18 Jan 2022 | Lapse Tales: How We Left the Church | 00:56:05 | |
The hosts give detailed accounts of what leaving the Church looked like for each of them. One of the hosts makes a VERY BIG ANNOUNCEMENT that would probably make a certain cranky pope very happy. COLLECTION BASKET: This week we invite you to support voting rights at https://fairfight.com/.
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| 07 Feb 2023 | Lapsed Special Edition: Live Storytelling | 00:16:48 | |
This week we bring you something a little different: a story Anne recently performed live at A Very Serious Gallery in Chicago. Listen in as Anne grapples with the question of whether you really can’t go home again. (Related: Are the Bill Swerski’s Superfans of early ‘90’s SNL fame Catholic? Discuss. Write in and tell us. Anne has thoughts.)
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| 14 Sep 2021 | Catholic School vs CCD | 01:32:45 | |
Stephanie and Anne go head to head in this *epic showdown* between CCD and Catholic School. ….just kidding! The hosts keep things extraordinarily amicable as they compare notes on their religious education experiences. Steph got out of being grounded by memorizing a prayer. Anne enjoyed passing retired nuns in hallways. This episode also includes a pretty solid Catholic joke. COLLECTION BASKET: This week we invite you to donate to Women for Afghan Women.
LINKS Court Rules Catholic School Wrongfully Fired Gay Substitute Link About Pope Francis and Reform and Synods Summary of Paolo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed Former Resident of the White House is Angry at Catholics and Jews Biden and Stephen Colbert talk faith and loss in 2015 Late Show episode Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth | |||
| 24 Jan 2025 | Singer-Songwriter Grace Leckey | 00:57:15 | |
"Can't Pray to Me," affectionately alternatively titled, "The Mary Song," presents listeners with Mary the Mother of Jesus' take on guns in America–that is, according to Catholic songwriter and troublemaker Grace Leckey. A multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and audio engineer, Grace grew up singing hymns and Americana in a Catholic folk choir. Listen in as Anne and Grace talk growing up in an “involved” Catholic family, rethinking depictions of Mary, and what happens when a queer questioning Catholic roles up to the Evangelical college Christian club.
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| 24 Oct 2023 | Season 3: We're back! (And also with you.) | 00:45:32 | |
Steph and Anne dive headfirst into season 3 with some major catching up on #CatholicismInTheNews! Listen in as they talk bogus bankruptcy claims, priest-related relationship drama, and mutinous nuns! ANNNNDDDD…..the podcast has a new PATREON! Head to https://www.patreon.com/LapsedPodcast to contribute and get access to exclusive content, Q&As, and more! LINKS
Special collection: UNHCR
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| 26 Oct 2021 | Stuffing the Catholic Holes, or That Time Pope Francis Praised Black Lives Matter | 00:51:45 | |
Stephanie is all aflutter at Francis’s talk of social justice. Anne nerds out over the concept of structural sin. A charming listener invites the hosts to rate her hypocrisy on a scale of 1 to “Pope Francis claiming to be an LGBT ally.” The hosts are also tired. Like, really, really tired. COLLECTION BASKET: This week we invite you to donate to the Equal Justice Initiative.
LINKS Sister Megan Rice, Fierce Critic of U.S. Nuclear Arsenal, Dies at 91 ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE 3rd WORLD MEETING OF POPULAR MOVEMENTS | |||
| 15 Mar 2022 | “The Most Catholic Non-Catholic”: An Interview with Racial Justice Writer & Educator ShaRhonda Knott-Dawson | 01:01:55 | |
Stephanie and Anne sit down with writer, advocate, and racial justice educator ShaRhonda Knott-Dawson. ShaRhonda is a “taco enthusiast, a proud member of the Beyhive, and truly believes that she will be receiving her letter from Hogwarts any day now.” She’s also the self-proclaimed “most Catholic non-Catholic in the world.” ShaRhonda chats with the hosts about her decidedly non-Protestant love of Marian theology, the sensory experience of Catholic Mass, and how the “idolatry” of Catholicism can serve as a gateway to indigenous African religious practices. Learn more about ShaRhonda and her work at https://sharhondatribune.com/ and https://www.brondihouse.org/. COLLECTION BASKET: ShaRhonda requests donations to the https://www.fraternitenotredame.com/. You can also support ShaRhonda’s incredible work in social justice and racial equity education at https://www.brondihouse.org/.
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| 18 Apr 2024 | What in the Dignitas Infinita | 00:54:23 | |
The Vatican has issued a document on “human dignity.” The hosts have Thoughts. And Words. (Some of which may be considered undignified.) Also Sydney Sweeney is a horror nun. Discuss. Want to watch an unedited version of this interview, which includes Stephanie’s lovely curls drying? Check out our PATREON! COLLECTION BASKET: https://www.pcrf.net LINKS: Sydney Sweeny and her grandmas and scary dress CONNECT:
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| 21 Nov 2023 | Natalia Terfa & Emmy Kegler of Cafeteria Christian | 01:13:26 | |
Four baptized-Catholic women walk onto a podcast…and two of them are Lutheran pastors! Listen in as Anne and Steph get alllll the Christian deets from Cafeteria Christian co-hosts Natalia Terfa and Emmy Kegler. Topics include biblical translation nerdery (the hosts are so here for this), differences and similarities between Catholicism and Lutheranism, and that time Natalia drank holy water (gasp). There’s also a #HarryPotter interlude for those who partake. Listen in…and then go check out Natalia and Emmy’s podcast! LINKS https://www.blueletterbible.org/ Special collection: https://dissonance.org/
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| 29 Mar 2022 | 20th Episode! | 00:49:02 | |
It’s our 20th Episode! Stephanie and Anne take some time to reflect on what they’ve learned, what has surprised them, and what they dream of moving forward. The hosts also talk wordle and a Dan Brown-eque conspiracy theory involving the Pope, Russia, and the Virgin Mary. It’s a doozy. COLLECTION BASKET: We invite you to donate to the UN Refugee Agency.
Pope Rules Baptised Lay Catholics, Including Women, Can Lead Vatican Departments Pope Francis’ Response to Ukraine Has Tapped Into One of Catholicism’s Deepest Conspiracy Theories | |||
| 12 Dec 2024 | Sascha Guinn Anderson | 01:00:14 | |
Sascha Guinn Anderson is a writer, a former cheese educator, a citizen of the Chocktaw nation, and a soon-to-be (Episcopal) priest! Listen in as Anne and Sascha talk rosaries, indigeneity and Christianity, and the atheist-to-clergy pipeline. And also with you! LINKS Sasha’s book recommendation: The Four Vision Quests of Jesus
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| 14 Jun 2022 | Sex, Gun Control and Robin Hood: Catholicism in the News | 00:51:08 | |
The hosts catch up on ***Catholicism IN THE NEWS****. Steph dishes on Francis’s drink of choice. Anne is jazzed that some Catholic bishops are starting to speak out about gun control legislation…until Steph totally (rightfully) harshes her mellow. Anne also fangirls over a fellow progressive, midwestern, redhead “straight, white, Christian, suburban mom" and does her best to sniff out Catholic influences in Disney. The hosts come to the striking realization that no one in the Western world knew how babies were made until pretty darned recently. Buffalo Shooting Should Be a Wakeup Call For White Catholics Pope Francis Says He Needs Tequila for Sore Knee The ‘straight, white, Christian, suburban mom’ taking on Republicans at their own game Human conception was still basically a total mystery until as recently as 1875 Catholic teacher fired for teaching about black culture-Decatur GA COLLECTION BASKET: Petition: Ordain Catholic Women Now!
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| 23 Jan 2024 | BEST OF LAPSED: Father Anne | 01:05:10 | |
Today’s episode is throw back to the BEST OF LAPSED. Relisten to our Season 1 episode where the hosts welcome their first Catholic priest onto the show…and she’s a woman! Fr. Anne Tropeano is a Roman Catholic Womanpriest who is committed to seeing women welcomed into the priesthood within her lifetime. She has a deep love of the Society of Jesus, earned a Master of Divinity from Jesuit School of Theology, and has worked in multiple parishes in the Jesuits West Province. While many have understandably walked away from the Roman Catholic Church, Father Anne chooses to obey the Holy Spirit's call to collaborate with God in bringing about gender equality in one of the most powerful institutions in the world. Learn more about her ministry at Fatheranne.com. COLLECTION BASKET: This week we invite you to work to construct a compassionate food system at mercyforanimals.org CONNECT:
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| 07 Jun 2022 | An Interview With Nate Tinner-Williams of Black Catholic Messenger | 00:51:29 | |
An Interview With Nate Tinner-Williams of Black Catholic Messenger You’ve probably heard of a pandemic marriage or a pandemic move, but what about a pandemic Catholic convert/seminarian/nonprofit founder/writer? In this episode, the hosts chat with someone who checks all of these boxes and more. Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger, a nonprofit media publication covering stories of interest to African-American Catholics. He is also a seminarian with the Josephites and a master's student in theology with the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA). He became Catholic in December 2019. Join the hosts as they talk with Nate about conversion, Black Catholic history, dialogue between practicing and lapsed Catholics, and even musical theater. You can learn more at Nate’s website and find him on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. COLLECTION BASKET:
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| 28 Sep 2021 | Listener Questions: Writing Above the Door and Am I a Freaking Protestant Now | 00:54:47 | |
Stephanie and Anne answer questions from listeners! Stephanie leverages her Catholic knowledge to master crossword puzzles. Anne fangirls over beloved lapsed Catholic musician Alanis Morissette. The hosts bond over a shared love of sauerkraut. COLLECTION BASKET: This week we invite you to donate to Refugees International.
LINKS The Pope Visits Roma People in Slovakia The Pope’s Press Conference in the Sky | |||
| 01 Nov 2022 | Baptism | 00:51:03 | |
The hosts do a deep dive (pun only kind of intended) into Catholic baptism. Anne realizes her older son’s baptism involved a lot of fibbing. Steph is freaked out by all the Satan talk. This episode also involves some fangirling over one of our very favorite lapsed celebrities, Melissa McCarthy. LINKS Test scores show Catholic schools largely escaped COVID-induced ‘learning loss’ Collapse: Inside Ireland’s stunning rebuke of Catholicism RECOMMENDATIONS: Young Gay and Single Among the Nuns and Widows Melissa McCarthy: Sex, Nuns and Ghosts on the We Can Do Hard Things podcast COLLECTION BASKET:
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| 06 Jul 2021 | And Also With You | 01:03:19 | |
Anne and Stephanie give the Reader’s Digest version of their respective Catholic childhoods. Stephanie reveals she's a former CCD kid. Anne was kind of a big deal in 3rd grade. The hosts come up with a name for this podcast (spoiler alert: it’s Lapsed.) COLLECTION BASKET: Learn more about the International Indigenous Youth Council and **donate** at https://indigenousyouth.org/
LINKS: Sebastian Tesoriero's article in the Guardian about becoming un-Catholic | |||
| 27 Dec 2022 | Your Funny Catholic Stories | 00:47:19 | |
Many thanks to listeners who shared their stories! The hosts enjoy the heck out of your funny stories about growing up Catholic, from altar server mishaps to altercations with nuns to giggling and church. Additionally, Stephanie has some intel on a rather mysterious calendar of dreamboat priests, while Anne ponders Catholicism as she watches too much TV. This episode contains a Megan Markle reference. LINKS A history of Christmas in America Anti-abortion US priest Frank Pavone defrocked by Vatican “Hot Priests” calendar sends hearts racing in rome The Pope has revealed he has a resignation note to use if his health impedes his work COLLECTION BASKET:
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| 04 Jan 2022 | Lapsed to Lapsed: An Interview with author Monica Dux | 01:02:17 | |
Anne talks with author Monica Dux! Monica is a writer, columnist, and social commentator. She’s also the author of Lapsed, “the story of one woman’s attempt to exorcise her religious upbringing.” You can learn more about Monica here. Then go BUY MONICA’S BOOK HERE. COLLECTION BASKET: This week we invite you to support https://www.foodbank.org.au/
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| 07 Dec 2021 | Everyone's Favorite Virgin: There's Something About Mary | 01:03:39 | |
The hosts take a deep dive into the history of Your Lady and mine, the Blessed Virgin Mary (aka Our Lady of Perpetual Sorrow, aka Star of the Sea, aka Queen of Angels, and and and…). Steph makes some shocking discoveries about where Original Sin supposedly derives from (hint: it has to do with men, but don’t worry, it’s still women’s fault). Anne draws parallels between the Blessed Virgin and Dolly Parton. The hosts both admit to having a soft spot for Mary, minus most of the virginity stuff. COLLECTION BASKET: This week we remind you it’s always a good time to support women’s health and bodily autonomy with a donation to Planned Parenthood.
Links French Catholic Church Says It Will Compensate Sex Abuse Victims Sisters of Mercy Reaffirm Commitment on Trans Day of Remembrance and Resilience | |||
| 24 Jan 2023 | An Interview with Abby Rampone of Left Catholic | 00:43:19 | |
Anne and Stephanie have the pleasure of sitting down with Abby Rampone of Left Catholic. Abby has lived at two Catholic Worker houses and the Women’s Interfaith Residency Program at Union Theological Seminary. She currently lives at the Fireplace Community, an intentional community on the south side of Chicago, and works as a Ministry Coordinator at DePaul University. Abby and Tess Gallagher Clancy are the co-creators of Left Catholic, a zine which draws on a variety of traditions to articulate a people-centered, anti-capitalist vision of the Catholic left. Their first issue includes voices from the Catholic Worker movement, anti-capitalist art, poetry, theology, ecclesiology, and more. COLLECTION BASKET:
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| 13 Dec 2022 | What's the deal with nativities? | 00:50:25 | |
What’s the deal with nativity scenes? That’s what the hosts want to know. A young Steph leveraged her family’s nativity set as a chance at her directorial debut. Little Anne coveted her best friend’s family’s nativity set (there was real hay!). The hosts learn about a rather shocking Catalan nativity tradition and how some Catholics are super smug about Protestants’ veneration of statues during Advent. LINKS Jesus Was Probably Born in a Relative’s House, Not an Inn Salty Article about Protestants and Nativities America Magazine Interview with the Pope COLLECTION BASKET:
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| 29 Nov 2022 | Send us your funny Catholic stories! | 00:01:56 | |
We'll have a new episode ready for you in a couple weeks, but for now we’d love to invite you to share your stories! In the past we have asked you to share your experiences, and you have come through. From questions about navigating Catholic family to stories about how you chose your confirmation name, we are so appreciative of the ways you have contributed your voices to the podcast. While we’re certainly never afraid to shy away from the bleaker parts of Catholicism, this week’s call for stories takes a little bit lighter tone. We want you to share your funny Catholic stories. What is it about the solemnity of a Catholic Mass that can lead many of us to end up with a case of the giggles? Maybe you attended a Catholic Baptism or wedding where things went sideways. Or you were an alter server trying to hold it together as everything went downhill. Truly, who among us has never found ourselves in a bit of trouble for laughing in church? Send us your stories! You can write up your story or email us a voicemail at lapsedpodcast@gmail.com. Or you can simply leave us a voicemail at 505-6-lapsed. We cannot wait to hear from you.
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| 12 Oct 2021 | Let's (Not) Talk About Sex: Catholic School and "Sex Ed." | 01:11:40 | |
Stephanie and Anne talk Catholic school and sex ed….or lack thereof. Steph laments that she never became a mathematician, and all because of lack of adequate sexual education. Anne waxes poetic about the universal human desire to nom babies’ toes. The hosts get peeved at the church. Like, really peeved. COLLECTION BASKET: This week we invite you to donate to the West Fund.
LINKS “Sexual Abuse Revelations Accelerate Sense of a French Church in Retreat” “Grandin name removed from Edmonton Catholic elementary school in unanimous vote” The Conference of Catholic Bishops (ie Celibate Men) Spout Some Deeply Problematic BS About Sex Seriously Though Don’t Even Click on This Link About “Natural Family Planning” | |||