Arch D Radio

** WINNER ** of THREE New York City Podcast Awards!!! - Best Editing - Best Education Podcast - Best Personal Growth & Spirituality Podcast In June 2025, on the 180th anniversary of the first Catholic school in SA, 18 pilgrims, leaders within the sector, travelled to Ireland to learn about and experience the stories, courage and heart that drove the founders of the Irish orders that created our schools. In Episode 1, the group arrives in Ireland, then travels to Nano Nagle Place in Cork, and the birthplace and first home of Christian Brothers founder, Edmund Rice in Callan. You can listen to whole series here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Zr0phAOoWPdnMvJ4ir6hV Photo – Former Christian Brothers school students get a photo in front of the Edmund Rice statue in Callan. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1339073764890802&set=a.229392659192257 Music in this episode: “Arizona Moon”, “Milkwood”, “Ballade for Jemma”, “Basketliner” and “Finn’s Valley” by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue).

** WINNER ** of THREE New York City Podcast Awards!!! - Best Editing - Best Education Podcast - Best Personal Growth & Spirituality Podcast In June 2025, on the 180th anniversary of the first Catholic school in SA, 18 pilgrims, leaders within the sector, travelled to Ireland to learn about and experience the stories, courage and heart that drove the founders of the Irish orders that created our schools. In Episode 2, the group travels to the stunning forest monastery of St Kevin in Glendalough, and Catherine’s House, the home of the Mercy Sisters in Dublin. You can listen to whole series here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Zr0phAOoWPdnMvJ4ir6hV Photo – The incredible landscape near Glendalough. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AoKR5Qppr/ Music in this episode: “Simple Melody”, “Finn’s Valley”, “Tassle K”, “Bright Linen” and “One Dirty Sleeve” by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue). Folk Round Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

** WINNER ** of THREE New York City Podcast Awards!!! - Best Editing - Best Education Podcast - Best Personal Growth & Spirituality Podcast In June 2025, on the 180th anniversary of the first Catholic school in SA, 18 pilgrims, leaders within the sector, travelled to Ireland to learn about and experience the stories, courage and heart that drove the founders of the Irish orders that created our schools. In Episode 3, the group travels to Kildare, the home of the Brigidines, and the island of Inishmore, off the coast of Galway. You can listen to the whole series here now: https://soundcloud.com/forteachers/sets/footsteps-of-faith-a-celtic Music in this episode: “Be Still” and “I Am Here” by Deirdre Ni Chinneide (Copyright 2020 – All rights reserved – Used with permission) "An Capall Bán (The White Horse)" Music composer and conducted by Vincent Kennedy. Uileann Pipe Soloist Mark Redmond with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra (Copyright Vincent Kennedy 2022 - All rights reserved - Used with permission) “Basketliner”, “November Mist”, “Sunset at Sandy Isle”, “Sage the Hunter”, and “On Top of It” by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue).

** WINNER ** of THREE New York City Podcast Awards!!! - Best Editing - Best Education Podcast - Best Personal Growth & Spirituality Podcast In June 2025, on the 180th anniversary of the first Catholic school in SA, 18 pilgrims, leaders within the sector, travelled to Ireland to learn about and experience the stories, courage and heart that drove the founders of the Irish orders that created our schools. In Episode 4, the group travels to Glental Abbey, the home of the Benedictine Monks in County Limerick, St Patrick’s College in Maynooth, before returning to Dublin and reflecting on the moments on the pilgrimage that left the most lasting impressions. You can listen to Episode 1-3 here now: https://soundcloud.com/forteachers/sets/footsteps-of-faith-a-celtic Photo of the Gunn Chapel at St Patrick’s College in Maynooth is here: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1375252824606229&set=a.229392659192257 Music in this episode: “Taboret”, “Arizona Moon”, “Gilded Frames”, “The Kennicott”, “Solage”, “Basketliner”, “On Top of It”, and “Sunset at Sandy Isle” by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue).

With a cast of your Arch D favourite announcers, all former students for whom Arch D has been a deeply influential part of their lives, we bid goodbye to the Life FM radio show as it reaches 15 years on-air and 654 episodes.

Yes... it's true! :( As Arch D goes 100% into the podcasting space, the radio show comes to an end!! Hear all about the "hows and whys", and Michaela and James share their favourite all-time Arch D moment... and discover it's EXACTLY THE SAME ONE. Also a sneak preview of next week's EPIC finale show...

James & Michaela catch up at the beginning of 2026 and talk about all the biggest issues: Queensland Themed Restaurants, A.I.'s worst (best?) impressions of our hosts... and why does coffee, TikTok and James doing bad accents always seem to be at the heart of every conversation, no matter where it starts??

Discover the heart behind Dialogue Week, a groundbreaking initiative inviting thousands of voices from Catholic schools and communities across South Australia to shape the future of the Church. James sits down with Peter Bierer, Marcia Burgess, and Tahlia Sully to unpack what synodality means and why listening deeply matters more than ever. From practical classroom conversations to the big-picture vision of the Synod 2026, this episode explores how authentic dialogue can transform faith and community. Listen to more Arch D Radio episodes at https://open.spotify.com/show/1JgG7oEbIJ9k0bldEblhbp

St Thomas School, Goodwood is about to celebrate its 130th Anniversary next year... or is it? Principal Belinda and long-standing teacher Jane came into the Arch D studio to discuss a discovery they've made, that there is a gap in the school's (and public!) records between the believed opening date of 1896 and 1909. They are putting a shout-out to Arch D listeners, does anyone have grandparents/great grandparents or any connection to the school of that time, with any old photos, school reports or letters tucked away? If so, YOU can unlock the mystery of the missing years!! Please send through any discoveries to Belinda and Jane at [email protected]. Thankyou!!!!

Former Arch D Podcaster of the Year and St Mary's old scholar Madison has just arrived back in SA after almost 3 years working on rural properties and parks in the deepest outback of WA. She's evacuated a holiday park due to bushfire, drowned her ute in a river, and rocked the front bar of the Kununurra Hotel at karaoke... and gives thanks to many of her epic adventures to the motto "Feel the fear, but do it anyway".

In 2015, former high school chaplain Bekk Shaw, founded Hopestreet, an organization that has created safe, fun, and inclusive spaces that understand the unique needs of the youth of Playford, where the youth unemployment rate is 61% (eight times higher than the Adelaide average). She chats with Alkira all about her faith journey, her life leading up the founding of Hopestreet, and all the challenges and triumphs that have been a part of it.

Our special guest Brooke chats with James about her faith journey, becoming a Mission Captain in her final year of high school at Cardijn College, to then returning as Youth Ministry at Cardijn's R-9 Campus.

Arch D Awards Hall of Fame recipient Kaitlyn Davey returns to the show to talk about her faith journey, all the way from her early childhood to where she finds herself now in her early 20's. It's an incredible story with lots of challenging and inspirational twists and turns along the way!

When Alkira came into the Arch D studio to record this show, James had returned from the Catholic Education Ireland pilgrimage only a couple of days beforehand.... all the experiences for him were still sinking in, and this is a fantastic conversation covering all aspects of it .. and a bit of a preview of the upcoming podcast series "Footsteps of Faith: A Celtic Pilgrimage" is talked about too! Since then, the first two episodes of "Footsteps of Faith: A Celtic Pilgrimage" have been released, and you can hear them here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Zr0phAOoWPdnMvJ4ir6hV

Arch D's final show in London, this time visiting St Mark's Catholic School, with James chatting with his student co-hosts all about their experiences at the school, why it has such a strong Catholic culture, and the impact that St Mark's has had on each of their own faith journeys.

Arch D is in London, this time visiting St Claudine's School for Girls, with James chatting with his student co-hosts all about their experiences at the school, why it has such a strong Catholic culture, and the impact that St Claudine's has had on each of their own faith journeys.

Arch D is still in London UK, and this show comes from St Joseph's Catholic Primary School. James chats with co-hosts (and Head Girl, and Head Boy and Deputy Head Girl respectively) Maya, Lawrence and Greater about their amazing school mission statement "St Joseph's Way", co-created by teachers, staff and students, and the incredible impact it has had on the life of the school. They also tell some fantastic stories about their first day at St Joseph's, and what thing they are most proud of achieving during all their years at school.... which surprised James A LOT (in a very good way!).

For the first of our special shows from London UK, James chats with three inspirational Year 11 students from St Michael's Catholic College about their involvement in the school's Chaplaincy Program, their very first memories of school, and how the college's commitment to meaningful Catholic Identity has helped to strengthen and broaden their own faith journeys.

Aden's faith journey and commitment to being a "leader for the world god desires" has been a dedicated adventure across his time as a youth leader at Seeds Church, as Mission Engagement Officer at Cardijn College, and stretches back through his school days and early family memories.

Kim has been a part of her Vietnamese Catholic Community since she was born, her parents were in the choir! James and Alkira talk with her about her faith journey, what makes the Vietnamese Catholic Community so unique, and so much more.

Cardijn College's Podcasting Captain Sienna was at Arch D last week for Work Experience, so it seemed like the perfect time to have her on the show! Michaela and James chat with her about her experiences with Arch D (including winning 3 Awards!) and Cardijn's incredible YCS (Young Christian Students) program.

Rose's faith journey stretches back to Day 1! Arch D Award winning student Alkira Prior chats with Rose about growing up in a big Italian Catholic family in Port Pirie, moving to Adelaide after finishing school and living at Aquinas College, and all the roles she's had leading students through their own Catholic journeys as a teacher and leader of Catholic Identity and Mission in schools.

Lisa grew up as part of a big (understatement!) family in Mt Gambier before moving to Adelaide in her late teens to study. For her faith journey, it's been one that started with her family in the (multiple!) pews at church, through to working as an Assistant Principal of Religious Identity and Mission in one of Adelaide's large Catholic Colleges, with a lot of inspirational stories along the way.

Cabra old scholar Catie Engelhardt started in Arch D as a Year 11 student, since then she has won multiple awards, earned the praises of radio industry legends, and is now fully primed for a promising career. Catie and James chat about her time in Arch D, the Australian Radio School and TONS more. You can hear Catie's award winning podcast, "Once Upon A Shoe" here: https://soundcloud.com/schoollifepodcast/catie-once-upon-a-shoe-cabra-dominican-college Watch the video podcast of this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2_Qwgboqbo

Anneliese has graduated from Year 12 and is going to start studying Speech Pathology at Uni in about a month's time, something that she's been planning for since she was in Year 9. However, Anneliese has been doing radio & podcasting with Arch D since she was in Year 6. Lots of radio shows, podcasts, stories (and awards!) have happened along the way! She and James chat about her favourite and most memorable moments. You can also check out the video version of the podcast at https://youtu.be/eHNZU2uKxmA

Tahlia has, for the last 3 months, been working on big Catholic projects Adelaide-wide around Student Voice and Youth Ministry... and she wants to talk all about it. And of course, as this is Tahlia, there's also a lot of great stories, insights and wisdom as part of this chat too!

Alkira (formerly of Compass Catholic Community and winner of Arch D’s Podcaster of the Year Award) returns to Arch D to fill James in on the hugely successful “WonderFULL Christmas Festival” that she and her church community hosted at the end of last year. They chat about the gospel reading of the week and deeply discuss how in their own lives they go about spreading the good news in unique ways. Check out the VIDEO version of this podcast at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ0fbR5hgGo

For the first time ever (VERY overdue!!) Life FM content director Scotty is the special guest on Arch D, talking all about his journey of faith, his beginnings in radio as a teenager, and his career highlight of travelling to the Philippines helping to restore sight to people in need.

Michaela chats with Sylvia about her early memories of church, the moment in her life where she chose faith for herself, and her first impressions and hopes in her new role as part of the Catholic Office for Youth and Young Adults in Adelaide.

Award winning podcaster Alkira Prior has been very busy since graduating from Compass Catholic Community, between post-school study and being as involved as possible in her church community she barely has a spare minute, but fortunately for us she found some time to drop into the Arch D studio for a chat. She fills us in on everything she's been up to, including planning for the big Christmas event at her church (including fireworks!).

Dale Oria's Catholic journey has been unique. Moving with his large family from the Philippines to Adelaide when he was 14 years old, Dale and his family got used to an entirely new culture, and made a new spiritual home at the Salisbury parish. From there, Dale's journey has taken him professionally to graphic designing for game developers, and now, working directly for the Archdiocese of Adelaide.

Heather's life journey has taken her down many roads; prominent singer/songwriter, sound healer, meditation leader, as well as working with patients at Flinders Medical Centre as part of "Arts in Health" for 13 years. Throughout, Heather's relationship with God and her own evolving spirituality has been an integral cornerstone.

Radio announcer, singer/songwriter.. Lilli's journey from kid at church to emerging artist has been one full of great stories! Also on this podcast we feature Lilli's new single "Nostalgia".

Michaela is back in the Arch D studio, but this time as part of her new role as Diocesan Youth Ministry Officer in the Catholic Office For Youth. She talks about her first 6 months in the role; the surprises, and the most inspirational moments.

OLSH College Captain and inaugural member of the OLSH "PodSquad" joins James to chat about her journey through podcasting from Year 8 to 12, and the importance of the community that it's built at the school.

James chats with one of the hardest working Catholic Youth Ministers in Adelaide, Jessie Wagas, as part of the Adelaide University Catholic Society and Oblate Youth. Jessie is passionate about his faith, how it defines the direction of his life, and talks about his early formational experiences, significant moments in his faith life, his reflection on the Sunday gospel and his hopes for the current youth ministry projects he's working on.

James and Cailin chat with Sanjay from the Archdiocese of Adelaide about his family experiences of church growing up in Malaysia, through to his experiences as part of Oblate Youth, as a teacher at Xavier College, memories of 3 different World Youth Days, and how he has witnessed this week's gospel (John 5: 9-17) in his life.

Growing up in Southern California, Karla's faith and life journey has been one filled with inspiration, dedication, challenges and deep connections with community.

Deacon Andrew has certainly not travelled a conventional path on his faith journey, from his early family beginnings at his parish in Whyalla, through to youth ministry in Antioch, becoming a Deacon... and founding an architecture firm along the way in his spare time!

Although she didn't grow up in a religious family, Kelly felt her calling to faith while she was still in primary school. She's gone on to be an experienced teacher, leader, Catholic formation advisor and academic, and her passion for teaching remains at the very centre of her life. In this interview James also shares the story of the teacher that changed his life in high school, and why it was so important for him to get in touch with her 25 years later.

Talia grew up going to church with family, and attending Kildare College as a teenager, but it wasn't until she unexpectedly saw a video promoting Australia's National Evangelisation Team (NET) on YouTube that she realised that Youth Ministry and working with the church would, from that moment on, be a huge focus in her life. Great stories and reflections as James interviews the newest member of Adelaide's Catholic Office for Youth.

Award winning journalist Katie Spain has just started as the new journalist with Adelaide's "The Southern Cross", and chats with James about her life growing up in rural SA (and what that taught her about storytelling), her university days and early career in Europe, and her incredible experiences working in all areas of the media industry.

Anneliese has had a big holiday break, first joining her school on an immersion and outreach trip to Fiji and then as a leader for a school holiday program at her church. Anneliese is an award winning podcaster (so her storytelling is seriously on point), so understandably she tells riveting stories about her last couple of months, as well as her experiences growing up as a part of both Catholic & Uniting church communities. Did we mention she's an award winning podcaster? Here's the podcast in question that won the award, it's brilliant, check it out. https://soundcloud.com/schoollifepodcast/anneliese-v02

Lauren Bierer grew up in two very different kinds of Christian churches, became a prominent music minister in Minnesota, before returning home to Adelaide, where she now works in Pastoral Support, community life, worship and liturgy (that's a lot of hats!) for the Archdiocese of Adelaide. Also, she's starting a massive and amazing choir that you absolutely need to hear about.

Arch D Radio alumni, now a very experienced and familiar voice on the radio, Mary-Anne "Maz" Maio, chats about her family beginnings in Catholic faith, her experiences in youth ministry and her current work every weeknight from 7pm-9pm as anchor of Life FM's "The Takeover" show.

James chats with Arch D co-founder and former Catholic Officer for Youth Coordinator, who is now the Director of Pastoral Life for the Archdiocese of Adelaide. They chat about Sarah’s beginnings in the Catholic youth movement, and the highlights and challenges she’s encountered along the way.

Youth Minister, teacher, musician, husband & dad, Dan chats with Michaela about his early faith journey experiences, his beginnings in youth ministry, the richest highlights in his working career, and thoughts on how this week’s gospel speaks to him.

Assistant Director of Pastoral Life and Mission at the Archdiocese of Adelaide, and former Coordinator of the Catholic Office for Youth, Peter chats with Michaela about his early faith journey experiences, his beginnings in youth ministry, the richest highlights in his working career, and thoughts on how this week’s gospel speaks to him specifically.

Project officer with the Catholic Office for Youth & Young Adults, and highly experienced Youth Minister and advocate for young people chats with Michaela about her early faith journey experiences, her beginnings in youth ministry, the richest highlights for her work, and thoughts on how this week’s gospel speaks to her specifically.

St Michael’s College youth minister Sharina is our special guest this week, talking about her journey from Henley Antioch in her teens through to her current role at St Michael’s, and everything in between.