PODCAST · religion
Family Matters
by Pres. Kerry Pappas, Pres. Melanie DiStefano, and Ancient Faith Ministries
A podcast from The Center for Family Care, a Ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, focusing on equipping families to apply the teachings and practices of the Orthodox faith to every dimension of their lives.
Episodes
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On the Accessible Mystery of Repentance: Disability and Participation in Holy Confession
In this Fully Human edition of Family Matters, Presvytera Melanie welcomes Dn. Perry Hamalis, Orthodox scholar and religious ethicist, for a thoughtful conversation on the Mystery of Confession and its accessibility for all members of the Church. Together, they explore the purpose of Confession,...
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A Noble Purpose: Understanding Guide Dogs' Specialized Training to Provide Independence and Access for their Owners
October is National Guide Dog Awareness Month, and Presvytera Melanie speaks with Vivian Fridas, a blind Orthodox Christian and disability advocate who was a guide dog owner for over 10 years. Vivian shares the extreme care in selection of service dogs and the specialized training required before...
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Most Holy Theotokos, Save Me!
Presvytera Melanie shares a supplicatory prayer to the Mother of God on behalf of all mothers, especially mothers who experience atypical childbearing and childrearing experiences, highlighting events and experiences from Our Lady's life that have served as examples to emulate and touchstones of...
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Becoming a Father Like Our Father in Relationships that Pour Out and Receive: Father's Day Edition with Bishop John Abdalah
In this Fully Human Father's Day message, His Grace Bishop John Abdalah of the Diocese of Worcester and New England, for the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, speaks about fatherhood from the unique vantage point of a father and grandfather, spiritual father and…
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Beyond the Tics: Faith, Dignity, and a Voice for Tourette’s Awareness
What does it mean to be fully seen — not just for our struggles, but also for our gifts? In this conversation with Apostolos Christos Lianos, a remarkable young man living with Tourette’s Syndrome, we meet someone whose daily life includes challenges many of us may not fully understand, but whose...
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Our Autistic Family: A Father's Reflections on Raising His Profoundly Autistic Children
Deacon Demetrius Romanczuk serves Archangel Gabriel Orthodox Mission in North Carolina, is a retired educator with a background in special education, an Accessibility Coach with the On Behalf of All initiative: Toward an Accessible Divine Liturgy for Children with Disabilities, husband of…
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The Impact of Addiction on Marriage and Family Life
Further information on substance abuse resources: https://afm.box.com/s/krmo5uy493i2wezjvqh698cu2lm6l32u Father Nikolas Delaveris, the Director of the Saint Anastasia Fellowship, and Adriana Makrov, the Program Manager, join Presvytera Kerry Pappas for a discussion about the origin and mission of...
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What Makes Children with Disabilities Vulnerable to Human Trafficking?
Father Peter J. Spiro, Director of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese's FREEDOM (Faith-based Resolve to Eradicate Enslavement: Didactic Outreach Ministry) joins Presv. Melanie to discuss how human traffickers seek to manipulate and capitalize on any human vulnerability, including vulnerabilities...
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St John the Baptist Is Preparing the Way of Accessibility: On Behalf of All Pilot Parish Feature
Abby Vlahos is the co-liaison for the On Behalf of All (OBOA) initiative's pilot parish, St John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Des Plaines, Illinois. Her youngest child, Cosmas, is 9 years old and was born with a rare genetic syndrome causing a range of disabilities including intellectual...
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Giving Thanks to God When We Do Not Feel Grateful
Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Yagze, currently the Pastor of St George Orthodox Church in Fishers, Indiana and Fully Human Steering Committee member, shares insights on keeping our relationship with God open and authentic every day, and specifically during the challenging times in our lives. He lifts up...
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Cultivating Gratitude in our Hearts and Homes
In this month of November when we celebrate National Gratitude Month and the American Feast of Thanksgiving, the Center for Family Care is spotlighting the virtue of gratitude. In this conversation, Pres. Kerry Pappas interviews Pres. Pat Tsagalakis, the Assistant Director of the Family Wellness...
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Celebrating Clergy Appreciation Month
October is designated as Clergy Appreciation Month (CAM) for all Christian churches in the US, honoring St. Paul's exhortation to acknowledge those "who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you," and to "hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work"…
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A Faith Tested: A Couples' Turning to God through a Congenital Diagnosis of Spina Bifida
October highlights many disabilities as awareness days/month in the US, and this month's podcast seeks to create awareness on one family's experience with Spina Bifida. Kevin Deutsch, an On Behalf of All (OBOA) Initiative pilot parish liaison, shares how he and his wife Nicole met a test of faith...
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Lessons Learned About Marriage & Family: An Interview with Fr Alexander Goussetis
Presvytera Kerry Pappas speaks with Fr Alex Goussetis, the outgoing host of the Family Matters podcast series, about what he learned about marriage and family life as Director of the Center for Family Care these past nine years. He offers advice for married couples, parenting tips, and insights...
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Advocating for Connection
Have you ever felt misunderstood and isolated as a parent of a child with disabilities, or struggled to know how to educate members of your community regarding your child's needs? This month Angela Karadsheh shares her advocating approach and offers suggestions for those who find advocating to be...
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Where is the Love that Moves Mountains?
Beth Thielman joins the conversation on disability in the church, clarifying that creating inclusive environments in our parish settings and ministries is more than saying "everyone is welcome," and then not taking steps to remove barriers for full participation in worship and church life. When…
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Gottman's Four Horsemen & their Antidotes for a Healthy Marriage
Fr. Alex Goussetis speaks with Dr. Sofie Azmy regarding John Gottman's well-known metaphor describing four communication styles that often predict difficulties in a marriage relationship–and how to change course toward a healthier bond.
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A Clergyman's Call to Feed All of Christ's Sheep
This Father's Day Edition features a conversation with Fr. Dean Panagos of St. John's Greek Orthodox Church in Blue Point, NY. Father Dean shares honestly about his initial reluctance for his community to apply to become a pilot parish in the GOARCH Initiative funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc. On...
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Game On: The Family Impact of Video Games
Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Dr Randa Anderson regarding the potential benefits as well as the potential risks related to gaming, including the incorporation of Orthodox values in the decision-making process
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When Mothering and Nursing Intersect: Caring for a Child with Complex Medical Needs
Meet Amanda Chagnon, mom to three beautiful boys including her youngest, Alexios, who has medical complexities due to a condition called Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare genetic disease that causes non-cancerous tumors or lesions to grow in the brain and…
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The Impact of Addiction on the Family
Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Fr Dimitrios Moraitis on the collateral damage that family and friends often endure when a loved one is struggling with substance abuse - and advice on how to establish healthy boundaries and support for their loved ones in recovery.
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A Conversation on Human Trafficking & Guidelines for Parents
Fr. Alex Goussetis speaks with Fr Peter Spiro, Director of the GOA National Human Trafficking Awareness Ministry, on who are the traffickers, who are the victims, and what parents need to know to protect their children.
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Pivoting on the Expectations of Fatherhood
Meet Jeremy Swartz, a recent addition to the Center for Family Care team as the On Behalf of All Grant Assistant Director. Jeremy brings his experience in project management, studies in philosophy and theology, and lived experience as a caregiver of a child with disabilities to our ministry.…
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Navigating Online: Potential & Protection for Families
Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Theo Nikolakis, CIO of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, on positive internet usage, child safety, and related software for families.
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Channeling Grief into Giving for the Special Needs Community: The Foundations of Project Sam and Like a Daisy
Pres Melanie speaks with Marissa Eliades, the cofounder of the Like a Daisy Foundation in memory of her sister Samantha Eliades, who had Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). Samantha passed away, unexpectedly, on September 28, 2023. Marissa shares the origins of her family's journey with special needs in...
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Marriage: An Awesome & Sublime Wonder
Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Dr David Ford, professor at St. Tikhon's seminary, on the historical and theological understanding of the sacrament of marriage and its practical application for us today.
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Adult Diagnoses of ADHD in Women: Unveiling Personhood
Lindsay Pals-Bieberich is a clinical social worker and psychotherapist who speaks with Pres Melanie about her clinical specialties working with religious and spiritual trauma, PTSD, and late diagnosis ADHD in women. They explore reasons that many girls receive inaccurate diagnoses in childhood.…
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Social Media Impact on the Family
Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Dr Sarah Riccardi-Swartz on social media's impact on family dynamics, interpersonal communication, and social development - and how parents can change the narrative in the home.
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Love and Snow Chains
Pres Melanie shares a framework and some ideas for making connections to Christ's birth and Nativity Season traditions with atypically developing children.
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When Parenting Styles Clash
Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Dr George Stavros regarding the following question: "Is it possible for parents to get along and send a consistent message to children even when their styles conflict?"
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Angels Unawares?
Presvytera Melanie offers a reflection in honor of Archangel Michael and the angelic hosts, whose assistance and messages for us may be mostly invisible and inaudible to our physical senses; but at times get delivered through unassuming human helpers who ignite our spiritual perceptions.
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"Five Advices" for Marriage
Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Fr Panteleimon Papadopoulos about wisdom he received regarding marriage from an unlikely source.
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There are No Degrees of Worth: Defending the Dignity of the Unborn with Down Syndrome
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month in the US, and Pres. Melanie welcomes Dr. Mary O'Callaghan, a mother, legal advocate, educator and ethicist in the Catholic Church who speaks on behalf of the human dignity of pre-born babies diagnosed with Down Syndrome and other disabilities. She…
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The Blind Psychologist: Helping Families Live Their Best Lives
October is Blind Awareness Month in the US, and this conversation highlights the lived experience of Dr. Lauren Barron -- a licensed counselor, wife, and mother -- who humbly offers wise counsel for families experiencing diagnoses of disabilities and other life challenges. Blind herself, she…
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The Sabbath Was Made for Man: Why Rest, Respite, and Self-Care are Vital for Caregivers, Part 2
Matushka Carrie Foley and Presv. Melanie present helpful advice for parents on easing into and building trust of support staff who will care for their vulnerable family members, as well as creative suggestions to make refreshing family vacations/getaways possible, even when budgets are tight.
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The Sabbath Was Made for Man: Why Rest, Respite, and Self-Care are Vital for Caregivers, Part 1
Matushka Carrie Foley shares personal lessons learned regarding the vitalness of self-care and times of refreshment for sustainable caregiving. In Part 1 of 2 of this conversation, common roadblocks to rest and relaxation are addressed including guilt, anxiety, and lack of resources, along with...
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Paving the Road to College Through an Orthodox Perspective
Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Christopher Chiakulas, founder of Orthodox Christian College Counseling, a platform that supports teenagers and their parents in navigating the high school journey, focusing on the college search, application, and selection process from an Orthodox perspective.
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Independence, or Interdependence?
As many celebrate the USA's Independence Day, Presvytera Melanie reflects on the societal ideal of independence, examined through the lens of Trinitarian relationship and interdependence. How do families raising children with disabilities strike a balance in encouraging their children's...
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Preying on a Mother's Heart
Elissa Bjeletich Davis of AFR's Everyday Orthodox joins the Fully Human conversation, sharing her family's experience of serious, early childhood health challenges (and beyond) and the tragic passing of her infant son to SIDS. Presvytera Melanie and Elissa particularly focus on how the enemy of…
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Family Bible Reading
Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Dr Edith Humphrey on the holy opportunities for parents and children while reading Scripture as a family.
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Understanding Autism with Summer Kinard Part II
A continuation of Pres Melanie's conversation with Summer Kinard, who shares valuable resources for making churches accessible to all.
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Weathering the Hurricane of Divorce
Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Calliope Couchell-Wilson on her book that addresses the stages of divorce and practical advice on forging a new life.
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Autistics and Flower Bees: Understanding Autism with Summer Kinard Part I
Orthodox Christian, Autistic author, publisher, and faith educator, Summer Kinard, shares her family's intimate experiences as Autistics and offers practical theological insight and encouragement. How are Autistic people like flower bees? Listen and learn!
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"Our Father, who art..."
Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Rev. Dr. George Parsenios, professor of New Testament at Holy Cross School of Theology, on the biblical and theological understanding of God the Father, helping to reorient us to a healthier relationship with our heavenly father and earthly fathers.
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Parenting Toward the Kingdom - A Companion Guide
Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with three mothers who helped to develop activities and discussion questions from their parenting groups that evolved into the publication of this new workbook.
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Developing Liturgical Resources for the Deaf & Blind
Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Fr Nicholas Anton (Assembly of Bishops) and Presvytera Melanie DiStefano (Center for Family Care) on the partnership that is developing resources to serve the blind and deaf faithful in our parish communities.
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Blessed Kevin a Fool for Christ - Part 2
What would our lives look like if we embraced our bodily limitations and understood that they could be offerings to the Lord? Dr. Aaron Haney and Brian Whirledge continue their conversation with Pres. Melanie on such a life - that of their friend Kevin McCarty. At Kevin's funeral, Archbishop Paul...
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Blessed Kevin a Fool for Christ - Part I
Dr. Aaron Haney and Brian Whirledge share reflections on their relationship with Kevin McCarty of blessed memory. Kevin spent most of his life battling cancer which resulted in losing one eye in infancy and the other in his final years. Despite his limited physical vision, Kevin was a gifted...
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Parenting the Teen Years
Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Matushka Rozanne Rucker, who offers her many years of experience as a Marriage & Family Therapist. The conversation highlights the three pillars of parenting teens: consistent limit setting, strengthening emotional attachments, and improving communication.
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Arms Open Wide Blog and Virtual Storehouse
William Gall joins Pres. Melanie and shares about the inspiration for Arms Open Wide, a weekly blog and virtual storehouse of Orthodox Christian disability resources. Listen as he enumerates the resources and links accessible on Arms Open Wide and the various needs they address. Visit the…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A podcast from The Center for Family Care, a Ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, focusing on equipping families to apply the teachings and practices of the Orthodox faith to every dimension of their lives.
HOSTED BY
Pres. Kerry Pappas, Pres. Melanie DiStefano, and Ancient Faith Ministries
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Family Matters have?
Family Matters currently has 217 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Family Matters about?
A podcast from The Center for Family Care, a Ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, focusing on equipping families to apply the teachings and practices of the Orthodox faith to every dimension of their lives.
How often does Family Matters release new episodes?
Family Matters publishes regularly with 217 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Family Matters?
You can listen to Family Matters on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Family Matters?
Family Matters is created and hosted by Pres. Kerry Pappas, Pres. Melanie DiStefano, and Ancient Faith Ministries.
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