The LOOPcast
Welcome to LOOPcast—where we cut through the noise, break down the week’s biggest headlines, and tackle politics, culture, and current events with a solid Catholic perspective. Expect accurate reporting, sharp analysis, real talk, engaging interviews, and just the right amount of humor to keep things lively. Stay informed, stay faithful, and enjoy some laughs along the way. LIVE shows every Wednesday at 11:00 ET.
Lindsey Graham, Mitch McConnell, And Capitol Hill Madness, Odyssey Thoughts, And Bison Survival
Senator Lindsey Graham dies unexpectedly, and his sister is sworn in to replace him. Meanwhile, the Iran war escalates as attacks on U.S. targets and commercial shipping send oil prices climbing and threaten to reverse recent inflation relief. Finally, Catholic philosopher Peter Kreeft shares advice everyone needs to hear. All this and more on the LOOPcast!
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Discover your next precious metals investment with St. Joseph Partners, one of the...
How Growing Up Was Stolen From Gen Z | The Deep
Is Gen Z really lazy... or were they handed a world designed to keep them anxious, distracted, and afraid to commit? From smartphones and student debt to helicopter parenting and faith, this episode uncovers why growing up feels harder than ever… and where signs of hope are emerging.
Watch The Deep on Zeale: https://zeale.co/podcasts/the-deep
Graham Platner's Campaign Implodes, SSPX Officially Excommunicated, And Young Washington Review
Graham Platner’s Senate campaign implodes after new allegations emerge and old scandals resurface. Meanwhile, democratic socialists are gaining ground in elections across the country. And finally, what is going on with Mitch McConnell? All this and more on the LOOPcast!
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Nazare...
10 Best Movies to Watch for America’s 250th Birthday! | The Deep
What are the most patriotic movies ever made? From Rocky IV and Apollo 13 to Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and John Adams, Erika counts down her favorite films and series for America's 250th birthday. History, heroes, aliens, and a few surprising picks await.
Watch The Deep on Zeale: https://zeale.co/podcasts/the-deep
SCOTUS Issues Landmark Rulings, Trump Pushes for SAVE Act, and What Makes America Great?
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Why Catholic Schools Got WAY More Expensive | The Deep
What happened to free Catholic schools? For generations, working-class families could send every child to Catholic school on a single income. Today, many can't afford even one. Erika investigates how America's largest private-school network was built, why it unraveled, and who's trying to save it.
Watch The Deep on Zeale: https://zeale.co/podcasts/the-deep
Mamdani Socialists Sweep NYC Primaries, Starmer OUT in UK, And Paglia Expose
Democratic socialists just swept major New York City primaries, giving Zohran Mamdani and the DSA a new claim to power inside the Democratic Party. We break down what the Mamdani machine means for Democrats, Israel, immigration, and the future of the progressive left. Then, we look overseas as Britain’s post-Brexit political chaos continues and populism rises again across the Western Hemisphere. Finally, SCOTUS hands Trump two major immigration wins, Bishop Barron calls out the collapse of liberal Catholic moral theology, and the Twilight Zone delivers a DEI trash-can scandal you couldn’t invent in a lab. All this and...
You’re Probably Practicing The Occult Without Knowing It | The Deep
What if that “harmless” horoscope, tarot reading, or manifestation ritual is more than just a game? Millions of Americans – including Catholics – dabble in New Age spirituality without realizing where it comes from or why it’s forbidden. In this episode, Erika Ahern traces the hidden roots of the occult and explains why it’s making a comeback.
Watch The Deep on Zeale: https://zeale.co/podcasts/the-deep
Trump's Iran Deal Sparks Fierce Debate, JD Vance Press Tour, And Scots Invade Boston
President Trump announces a framework agreement with Iran aimed at ending the war. Meanwhile, JD Vance makes a series of high-profile media appearances. And finally, Scottish soccer fans take over Boston. All this and more on the LOOPcast!
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome To LOOPcast
5:20 Zeale For America 250 Wrap
12:05 Leaked Trump Iran Deal
23:18 JD Vance on Press Tour
45:46 JD on The View
53:35 Good News
1:01:10 MLB Pride Hats
1:12:31 World Cup Fans Love America
1:26:16 SSPX and Parish Consolidations
1:41:46 Twilight Zone<...
Why Gen Z Wants To Return To A World They Never Knew | The Deep
Millennial nostalgia isn't just for Millennials anymore. As Americans flock to vintage fashion, hackey-sacks, Gameboys, and pre-digital lifestyles, a deeper question has emerged: are we escaping the present… or rediscovering something we lost that’s worth saving?
Watch The Deep on Zeale: https://zeale.co/podcasts/the-deep
U.S. Helicopter Downed on Day 100 of Iran War, Karmelo Anthony Verdict, And Pope Leo In Spain
Things are heating up again in the Middle East as tensions rise between Israel, Iran, and the United States. Meanwhile, we unpack the conviction and sentencing of Karmelo Anthony in the death of Austin Metcalf. Finally, Pope Leo is in Spain. All this and more on the LOOPcast!
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00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast
03:20 Things Are Heating Up Again in the Middle East
29:45 What is “disparate impact”?
34...
Why Colleges Made Grades Totally Worthless | The Deep
80% of Harvard students get A’s – and are somehow more stressed out than ever. In this episode of The Deep, Erika uncovers the bizarre history of American grades, the collapse of academic standards, and why elite universities are quietly admitting the system no longer works. If everyone gets an A… does Harvard mean anything anymore?
Watch The Deep on Zeale: https://zeale.co/podcasts/the-deep
Trump Berates Netanyahu Over Lebanon, Bill Pulte at ODNI, And Dream American Movies
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Atheism Was A Failed Experiment. Are We Rediscovering Christianity? | The Deep
Why are the anti-Woke atheists taking a second look at Christianity? They miss the FRUITS of Christian civilization — community, meaning, trust, beauty, family — but still don’t understand the CAUSE. In this episode, Erika breaks down three major voices searching for the benefits of religion… and one woman who finally discovered why Christianity actually works.
Watch The Deep on Zeale: https://zeale.co/podcasts/the-deep
Pope Leo Drops Magnifica Humanitas: AI, Dignity, And War, Paxton wins in TX, And "Spur Nuns"
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Today on the LOOPcast: Pope Leo’s first encyclical tackles what it means to remain human in the age of AI, grounding technology, education, work, and human dignity in Catholic social teaching. Ken Paxton’s routs in Texas Senate runoff victory over John Cornyn, what it reveals about the changing GOP, and how it reshapes the race against Democrat James Talarico. Good news from the Midwest, Spurs nuns, and the UFC...
The Dark History Behind America’s New Wave of Political Violence | The Deep
The Weather Underground didn’t disappear – they got tenure. From 1970s bombings and Marxist revolution to BLM riots, activist academia, and today’s political extremism, Erika uncovers the forgotten history behind America’s long march from “Days of Rage” to the political violence of 2026.
Watch The Deep on Zeale: https://zeale.co/podcasts/the-deep
Massie Loses Most Expensive House Primary Ever, New Grad Boo AI, And Kamala is Back
Trump-backed challengers shake up Republican primaries as Thomas Massie falls in the most expensive House primary ever. We break down what happened, who funded it, and what it means for the future of the GOP. Meanwhile, AI takes over graduation season. And finally, is Kamala back? All this and more on the LOOPcast!
Get your FREE PHONE as a new Charity Mobile user with every new line — and FREE SHIPPING — with promo code LOOPCAST at https://bit.ly/LOOPcast-CharityMobile
00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast
02:31 Primary Updates
49:52 Anti-Weaponization Fund
1:00:36 Good News
What Ruined Modern Movie Villains? | The Deep
Hollywood rewrote our childhood villains – and millions of adults are cheering it on. From Loki to Maleficent to Frozen, why do we keep rebranding evil as “misunderstood trauma”? In this episode of The Deep, Erika explores nostalgia, decadence, relativism, and how we can get back to true heroes in our movies.
0:00 Intro: “Reimagined” villains
1:57 Examples
3:22 Misplaced nostalgia
4:41 The progressive blueprint
6:55 A decadent society
10:39 Moral relativism
14:29 Conclusion: good vs. evil
Watch The Deep on Zeale: https://zeale.co/podcasts/the-deep
Marty Makary OUT at HHS: MAHA Dead? Trump & Co Off To China, And Messy Massie Primary
Marty Makary is out at HHS. Is MAHA dead? Meanwhile, troubling new economic data points to rising anxiety among young Americans. And finally, Trump heads to China alongside some of the world’s most powerful CEOs. All this and more on the LOOPcast!
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00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast
04:55 Makary is OUT
36:07 Economy
1:07:30 Good News
1:19:05 China Visit
1:29:32 Twilight Zone
2:05:13 Closin...
Catholics Are Leaving… But Something Else Is Happening w/ Fr. Ambrose | The Deep
Fr. Ambrose Criste sits down with Erika to confront the central challenges of the Church in America: Why are so many Catholics leaving the Church? What went wrong with Catholic education? And how do we turn this ship around? Fr. Ambrose also shares his personal vocation story and what it’s like to be a “celebrity priest.”
Check out the Evermode Institute: https://www.evermode.com/
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Indiana Primary Results: Redistrict or else, Pro-Life Caucus in Chaos, And Homeschool Beef
Indiana Republicans who opposed Trump-backed redistricting efforts got crushed in Tuesday’s primaries. Meanwhile, SCOTUS pauses a major abortion-pill ruling. And finally, Utah residents revolt against a major AI Data Center project. All this and more on the LOOPcast!
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00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast
04:00 Primary Results
27:40 SCOTUS and Mifepristone
48:41 Good News
59:00 Data Center Community Resistance
1:16:17 Homeschool Beef
1:28:55 The Life o...
Why Brand New Homes Are Falling Apart | The Deep
America needs more homes… but what if the ones we’re building are falling apart? In this episode of The Deep, Erika exposes the shocking truth behind new construction, from hidden defects to broken incentives, and why Big Building is making the housing crisis worse.
0:00 Intro: New houses are a disaster
1:40 We need more homes
3:01 Why can’t we build enough houses?
4:58 Why prefab fails
6:13 The death of craftsmanship
7:06 Poor quality materials
8:09 Broken market incentives
10:04 How large builders trap new buyers
12:44 How we...
Top Fauci Advisor Indicted, WHCD Shooter Charged, and Pope Leo x Anglican "Archbishop"
Top Fauci adviser indicted by DOJ for concealing COVID records. Meanwhile, what really happened at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting, and why security failures are raising serious questions. And finally, Pope Leo meets with Anglican "archbishop." All this and more on the LOOPcast!
Get your FREE PHONE as a new Charity Mobile user with every new line — and FREE SHIPPING — with promo code LOOPCAST at https://bit.ly/LOOPcast-CharityMobile
00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast
04:15 DOJ Updates
35:15 What We Know About the WHCD
57:04 Good News
1:18:53 News on the Gas Fr...
How Smartphones Quietly Destroyed Childhood | The Deep
Gen Z was the guinea pig, the results are in, and the Zuck has been called to account. Are smartphones rewiring childhood forever? In this episode of The Deep, Erika breaks down the data, the lawsuits, the 5 hidden harms of a phone-based life – and how families can fight back.
Watch The Deep on Zeale: https://zeale.co/podcasts/the-deep
Trump Extends Ceasefire as Iran Skips Talks, VA Dems Massive Redistricting Win, And Sodom is Back
Iran war tensions continue as Iran skips talks with Vance, and Trump extends the ceasefire. Meanwhile, Virginia Democrats secure a major redistricting victory that could give them a 10-1 advantage in Congressional representation. And finally, Sodom is back. All this and more on the LOOPcast!
Get your FREE PHONE as a new Charity Mobile user with every new line — and FREE SHIPPING — with promo code LOOPCAST at https://bit.ly/LOOPcast-CharityMobile
00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast
04:51 Iran War Update
39:25 VA Dems Massive Redistricting Win
1:12:50 Good News
Why Are So Many American Mothers Dying From Childbirth? | The Deep
Why is the U.S. maternal mortality rate the highest in the developed world? In this episode of The Deep, we break down shocking data on pregnancy deaths, C-section risks, postpartum care failures, and healthcare system incentives putting moms at risk. This is the maternal health crisis no one is explaining clearly.
0:00 Intro
1:26 Breaking down the statistics
6:54 A political problem
9:00 A broken system
16:27 Postpartum deaths
20:03 A twisted view of motherhood
22:05 Conclusion
Watch The Deep on Zeale: https://zeale.co/podcasts/the-deep
Trump Doubles Down on Pope Leo, FACE Act Bombshell Report, and Artemis II
Trump doubles down after a clash with Pope Leo over the Iran war. Meanwhile, a bombshell report reveals troubling details about Biden-era FACE Act prosecutions. And finally, NASA’s Artemis II astronauts make history. All this and more on the LOOPcast!
Get your FREE PHONE as a new Charity Mobile user with every new line — and FREE SHIPPING — with promo code LOOPCAST at https://bit.ly/LOOPcast-CharityMobile
00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast
04:20 Trump Doubles Down on Pope Leo
34:45 Bombshell DOJ Report
50:21 Good News
1:01:10 Iran Update
1:13:00 Let’s Talk A...
Nuns Helped Build America, Then They Vanished. Why? | The Deep
179,000 nuns… down to 33,000. What happened? In this episode of The Deep, Erika uncovers the shocking collapse of America’s Catholic sisters – an 82% decline – and the hidden forces behind it. Was it Vatican II, feminism, or something deeper? And why are a few communities quietly rising from the ashes?
0:00 Intro: Why did America’s nuns disappear?
3:42 History of religious sisters in America
5:50 What lead to the decline?
8:50 The destruction of the family
11:18 The sexual revolution and feminism
12:16 The media and cultural narratives
13:04 Debt and careerism
14:02 Th...
Trump Announces 2-Week Ceasefire, NY State Comes for the Nuns, and the Pope Likes Peeps
Trump announces a two-week ceasefire with Iran after last-minute escalation threats. Meanwhile, the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne sue New York State over a gender-ideology mandate for care centers. And finally, new data shows a surge in Easter conversions nationwide. All this and more on the LOOPcast!
Get your FREE PHONE as a new Charity Mobile user with every new line — and FREE SHIPPING — with promo code LOOPCAST at https://bit.ly/LOOPcast-CharityMobile
00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast
05:38 Trump Announces Ceasefire
28:50 JD Vance in Hungary
41:07 BIG ANNOUNCEMENT
Iran War Day 31: Trump To End War Without Opening Strait? Holy Week Dustup, And NYC Church PACKED
Trump signals a possible end to the Iran war without opening the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, a Palm Sunday clash in Jerusalem sparks global backlash after Cardinal Pizzaballa is blocked from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. And finally, what is Lindsey Graham doing at Disney? All this and more on the LOOPcast!
Get your FREE PHONE as a new Charity Mobile user with every new line — and FREE SHIPPING — with promo code LOOPCAST at https://bit.ly/LOOPcast-CharityMobile
00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast
05:35 Day 31 - Iran War
29...
Why AI Data Centers Are Invading American Neighborhoods | The Deep
AI is transforming everything—but what’s powering it? In this episode of The Deep, Erika Ahern uncovers the hidden costs of AI data centers: skyrocketing energy use, water consumption, rising utility bills, and growing local backlash. The cloud isn’t weightless—it’s industrial. And it might be coming to your backyard next.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro: The AI data center explosion
1:59 How data centers have changed
4:07 Mapping U.S. data centers
5:40 Energy consumption
7:52 Residents pay the price
9:18 Water usage
11:11 Land grabs and noise
12:23...
Iran War Day 25: 3K Troops Deployed and Hormuz Negotiation, Project Hail Mary, And Church FB Groups
Trump pauses strikes on Iran as troop deployments ramp up and Hormuz negotiations continue. Meanwhile, DHS shutdown chaos spreads to airports, causing long TSA wait times. And finally, are Catholic conversions rising nationwide? All this and more on the LOOPcast!
Get your FREE PHONE as a new Charity Mobile user with every new line — and FREE SHIPPING — with promo code LOOPCAST at https://bit.ly/LOOPcast-CharityMobile
00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast
04:00 Iran War - Day 25
32:44 TSA/DHS Disaster
42:00 Good News
1:02:38 Culture Block
1:11:15 Church Corner
1:41:46 Twil...
What If Someone Went Bar-to-Bar Promoting Euthanasia? - Director Interview w/ Andrew Shemin
What would happen if euthanasia had a marketing department?
In Breakfast of Champions, director Andrew Shemin imagines a darkly satirical world where a cheerful sales representative walks into a neighborhood bar with an unusual proposal: partner with her company to promote assisted death to elderly patrons. What follows is a tense and unsettling conversation that explores dignity, persuasion, and the quiet pressures shaping end-of-life decisions today.
In this interview, Andrew Shemin explains the inspiration behind the film, how satire can reveal uncomfortable truths, and why stories like this matter right now. <...
The Real Reason Modern Catholic Churches Are Ugly | The Deep
They ripped out the altars. Whitewashed the saints. Built “churches” that look like airports. How did we get here? And why did Catholics go along with it? In this episode of The Deep, Erika exposes the shocking, anti-Catholic roots of the Church’s “wreckovation” era – and the modernist ideas that gutted sacred beauty. But it’s not over. Across America, parishes are rising from the ashes and restoring what was lost.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro: How did we get here?
2:13 The history behind ugly churches
6:29 “Kitschy” Jesus
8:21 The modernist spirit
11:44 The role o...
Joe Kent Resigns: "Iran Posed No Imminent Threat", Population Bomb Author Dies, And St. Patrick!
Top counterterrorism official Joe Kent resigns, claiming Iran posed “no imminent threat.” What does this mean for the war, and what comes next? Meanwhile, the author of The Population Bomb dies, and we revisit one of the most influential (and wrong) ideas of the last century. And finally, what is the real lesson of Saint Patrick? All this and more on the LOOPcast!
Get your FREE PHONE as a new Charity Mobile user with every new line — and FREE SHIPPING — with promo code LOOPCAST at https://bit.ly/LOOPcast-CharityMobile
00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast
03:14 Updates...
Fr. Gregory Pine on How to Speak Truth in an Age of Hot-Takes and Endless Commentary | The Deep
Dominican friar and Godsplaining podcast host Fr. Gregory Pine, OP joins Erika to discuss his new book, Training the Tongue: Growing Beyond the Sins of Speech. In an age of hot takes and endless commentary, how do we learn to speak truthfully, charitably, and even humorously? A conversation about disciplining our speech – and reclaiming real human conversation.
Check out Fr. Pine's new book: "Training the Tongue and Growing Beyond Sins of Speech" https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech
Watch The Deep on Zeale: https://zeale.co/podcasts/the-deep
Fr. Gregory Pine on How to Speak Truth in an Age of Hot-Takes and Endless Commentary | The Deep
Dominican friar and Godsplaining podcast host Fr. Gregory Pine, OP joins Erika to discuss his new book, Training the Tongue: Growing Beyond the Sins of Speech. In an age of hot takes and endless commentary, how do we learn to speak truthfully, charitably, and even humorously? A conversation about disciplining our speech – and reclaiming real human conversation.
Check out Fr. Pine's new book: "Training the Tongue and Growing Beyond Sins of Speech" https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech
Watch The Deep on Zeale: https://zeale.co/podcasts/the-deep
The Real Reason Modern Catholic Churches Are Ugly | The Deep
They ripped out the altars. Whitewashed the saints. Built “churches” that look like airports. How did we get here? And why did Catholics go along with it? In this episode of The Deep, Erika exposes the shocking, anti-Catholic roots of the Church’s “wreckovation” era – and the modernist ideas that gutted sacred beauty. But it’s not over. Across America, parishes are rising from the ashes and restoring what was lost.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro: How did we get here?
2:13 The history behind ugly churches
6:29 “Kitschy” Jesus
8:21 The modernist spirit
11:44 The role of Vatican II
13:37 Ugly...
Joe Kent Resigns: "Iran Posed No Imminent Threat", Population Bomb Author Dies, And St. Patrick!
Top counterterrorism official Joe Kent resigns, claiming Iran posed “no imminent threat.” What does this mean for the war, and what comes next? Meanwhile, the author of The Population Bomb dies, and we revisit one of the most influential (and wrong) ideas of the last century. And finally, what is the real lesson of Saint Patrick? All this and more on the LOOPcast!
Get your FREE PHONE as a new Charity Mobile user with every new line — and FREE SHIPPING — with promo code LOOPCAST at https://bit.ly/LOOPcast-CharityMobile
00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast
03:14 Updates on Iran W...
Fr. Gregory Pine on How to Speak Truth in an Age of Hot-Takes and Endless Commentary | The Deep
Dominican friar and Godsplaining podcast host Fr. Gregory Pine, OP joins Erika to discuss his new book, Training the Tongue: Growing Beyond the Sins of Speech. In an age of hot takes and endless commentary, how do we learn to speak truthfully, charitably, and even humorously? A conversation about disciplining our speech – and reclaiming real human conversation.
Check out Fr. Pine's new book: "Training the Tongue and Growing Beyond Sins of Speech" https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech
Watch The Deep on Zeale: https://zeale.co/podcasts/the-deep
