Catholic Dawgs Podcast

Most of us will end up married and with children. That’s just how God designed us, and it’s what we call the natural vocation. Maybe this vocation seems to be right around the corner, or maybe it seems years ahead. Whatever the case, why not prepare our lives, hearts, and minds with the wisdom and knowledge to become awesome Catholic parents? Rachel Balducci—a wife, mother, author of four books, cohost of a Catholic talk show for women, professor of journalism at Augusta University, and UGA alumna (with a pending Ph.D.)—shares her insights into how college students can be formed today for raising kids later down the road.Learn more about Rachel here: https://rachelbalducci.com/

Anonymously, various Catholic Dawgs submitted their questions to the show about anything related to the afterlife: death, judgment, purgatory, heaven, hell, eternity, etc. Rachel invited Fr. Kevin Peek, the Military Chaplain and Airport Chaplain for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, to answer them!This is a long episode, so if you’re looking for answers for a specific question(s), they’re timestamped below:00:07:21 — Will we know/recognize everyone in heaven?00:12:04 — What does “no marriage in heaven” mean and look like?00:23:25 — What is purgatory and who goes there?00:36:49 — How does time work in purgatory?00:42:12 — Why do some people fear purgatory? Shouldn’t we hope to go there?00:50:22 — Will I be bored in heaven?00:56:57 — Will I think and speak in heaven, or will I be a vegetable?01:02:55 — If I have doubts about the faith, will that hurt me on Judgment Day?01:13:08 — How was the afterlife/judgment different before Jesus’ death?01:18:35 — Will we get to see Jesus during our judgment no matter where we go after that?01:21:50 — Do kind people who don’t have faith go to heaven?01:28:41 — What happens to non-practicing Catholics?01:32:59 — What does the Church teach about people who die by suicide?01:43:48 — What does the scapular mean for the afterlife?01:49:13 — What does the Church teach about the salvation of the Jews after Jesus came?01:53:11 — Will my dog be in heaven?01:57:18 — Is there singing in heaven?01:59:12 — What does the “new heaven” and the “new earth” mean?02:04:11 — How do I get to heaven?

Emotional chastity is physical chastity’s forgotten sister. How come we never talk about her? Rachel brings this topic to light with Ava Dunlop, a Catholic social media content creator in Savannah, GA. They talk about oversharing, vulnerability, fantasizing, and more within the context of relationships—and why living emotionally chaste leads to joy, freedom, and greater love.Check out Ava’s content:Instagram: @avaacatherineTikTok: @avaacatherine7Substack: @avadunlop1 | The Short n’ Sweet

For many of us, The Catholic Center feels like home. We’ve established amazing friendships and a convenient prayer routine thanks to the accessibility of the CC right off campus. But what happens when we eventually have to graduate and move on? Benedict Esposito, a young adult who works at the Archdiocese of Atlanta, speaks to both the hardships and joys of transitioning from college life and gives practical advice for how to build a new community and stay connected to the one you nurtured in school.To get involved with Catholic young adult happenings in Atlanta, check out the links below:Cathedral of Christ the King 20/30 Somethings: https://ctk2030somethings.org Honest to God Young Adult Podcast: https://thequestatlanta.com/honesttogod/ Archdiocesan Young Adult Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/generationatl City on Purpose: https://cityonpurpose.com Atlanta Young Adults Google Calendar: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=OTcxZDUxMWFhYjFmNWNhY2Q1OWE3MTdkNDVlYmY5MDkwMDlhZDIyMzRjNTZjNzZiNDBlMmMxYjBlMjNhZTBkZUBncm91cC5jYWxlbmRhci5nb29nbGUuY29t

Rachel and first-year FOCUS missionary Angelle Doucet sit down to chat about God’s generosity—through the lens of money. Rooted in topics like fundraising and charitable giving, they discuss how the Lord transformed their relationship with earthly treasure and opened their hearts to love and give of themselves to others.

***Trigger warning: mentions of satanic worship and suicidal thoughts/attempts*** At every moment, there is a battle for your soul. The enemy and his demons want to keep you from eternal bliss in Paradise. And you don’t want them to win. When we walk with Christ, we have to be vigilant and aware of Satan’s tactics. How does he work, speak, deceive, confuse, distort? Knowing these things helps us to stay following the voice of the Good Shepherd. Join Rachel and Fr. Matthew Howard, a priest at a neighboring parish in Athens, for a raw, deep conversation about common ways that the evil one attacks us and how to fight back.

God gave humans the incredible ability to create and add value to society. Do not forget how dignified and good it is! Whether in a class, an internship, a job, or a volunteer commitment, Rachel and fellow senior Eva Hillmann encourage you from their personal experience how to invite Christ into every act of labor, no matter how ordinary. God wants to meet us, form us, and evangelize in us through our work.

Fr. Brian McNavish, Director of The Catholic Center at UGA, joins Rachel for a discussion about artificial intelligence (AI) and what it means to operate it well in the context of our faith. In a world where AI can be wielded for dehumanizing purposes or where people can turn it into something idolatrous, how can we as Catholics use AI and order that use toward virtue?

Philanthropist, author, speaker, mother, and wife to the late Vince Dooley, former University of Georgia football coach, Barbara Dooley joins the Catholic Dawgs Podcast to talk about her crazy and wonderful life. She shares about her relationship with Vince and endeavors from writing books, pursuing politics, doing comedy, hosting a radio show, to surviving breast cancer—and how her Catholic faith has grounded her through it all.

Art, music, writing, photo, video, dance, crafting… there are SO many ways to be creative, and these abilities are all gifts from the Lord. Senior and Catholic Center Co-President Elijah Baker and Rachel share their experiences of navigating the creative process and seeing the Lord reveal Himself in it. What a wonderful thing to share in God’s creative power — something in which we can all participate!

Don’t let growing up steal your playful spirit! In this episode, Rachel and Master’s student Angela Schwerin, who helped pioneer the term “playtime” amongst our Catholic Center culture, talk about what playfulness means to them as young adults, how it inspires us to embrace our childlikeness, and how to see God in the silliness and fun. They also touch on eutrapelia… huh? Yep. Just listen. It’s about to become your new favorite virtue.

This is part 2 of a bonus discernment Q&A series, so listen to part 1 if you haven’t already! Rachel gathered questions anonymously from fellow Catholic Dawgs about anything discernment-related, and Fr. Michael Bremer, the Assistant Director of The Catholic Center, provides answers in this episode!

Do you ever feel distracted or overwhelmed by all the noise in your every day? Life can get so loud, but “it is in the silence of the heart that God speaks,” Mother Teresa said. Sophomore Céline Liandisha, a recent convert who was drawn to the Catholic faith through moments of silence, and Fr. Michael Bremer, who Céline called the “LeBron of silence,” join Rachel to talk about making room for stillness amidst the stimulus and recognizing quietude as an opportunity for encounter with the Lord.

Anonymously, various Catholic Dawgs submitted their questions to the show about anything discernment-related, and Rachel brings Fr. Michael Bremer, the Assistant Director of The Catholic Center, into the hot seat to answer them! Only half of the responses were covered in this episode, so stay tuned for part 2!

In this episode, Nolan and Katie McGinley, two Catholic Dawgs alumni who recently got married in June 2025, offer their perspectives on dating. They share the story of how they started dating, bits of wisdom of how they kept Christ at the center of their dating relationship, and what challenges they find present in the young Catholic dating landscape.

In Mark 16:15, Jesus tells us, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” What does that really look like, though? How do we go about evangelizing? Rachel sits down with her uncle Dr. Andrew Lichtenwalner, the Director of Evangelization & Discipleship for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, for a conversation addressing these questions and more!

Rest is good, rest is holy, and it’s what you were made for — so why don’t we do it more? Rachel and fellow senior Ellie Dodd unpack the importance of rest and honoring the Sabbath, dispel common misconceptions, and offer tips for fruitful leisure.

In this episode, Rachel is joined by senior Jefry Capinegro to talk about the role of intercessory prayer in our faith — why it’s important, it’s purpose, how to be bold in praying for and over others, and tips for incorporating more intercession into our prayer life.

Rachel and Jessica Kirchner, a recent UGA and Catholic Dawgs alumna, weren’t expecting to work at the same advertising agency this summer, but hey, divine providence! Recorded toward the end of the summer, Rachel and Jessica reflect on how the Lord has been loving them and where He has been present in this season and work environment.

Welcome back to the Catholic Dawgs Podcast! For the first episode of the show’s re-launch, host Rachel, a senior at the University of Georgia, and Fr. Brian McNavish, Director of The Catholic Center at UGA, dive into the topic of what we’ll call “the divine paradox of Christ.” Sometimes, there are qualities of Jesus that on the surface seem in opposition to each other. How can He be tender yet also a warrior and mighty? How can He be both merciful and just? Rachel and Fr. Brian discuss how these characteristics of the Lord converge rather than contradict.