Overheard: The very answers you’ve been looking for.
Imagine you’ve just ambled into a classic diner. You slide into the booth, take in the atmosphere for a moment, then rotate the thick white ceramic mug in front of you. As your waitress sloshes it full with scalding regular, you realize there’s an energetic conversation going on in the next booth. A couple of guys chatting about some Catholic beliefs. They’re covering serious issues, yet the tone is totally casual. No preaching or judging, nothing combative or confrontational. They actually sound like they’re having fun. You lean back to get a better listen. This is gonna be good.
Welcome to The Catholic Cafe.
It’s where all that the Catholic Church believes and teaches is served fresh — accessible and relevant in your everyday life.
Each episode of The Catholic Cafe focuses on a single topic. Your hosts? Deacon Jeff Drzycimski (driz-ZIM-skee) and Tom Dorian. Two real-life dudes with wives, kids, and a fascination with the Faith. Together with frequent notable guests, they’ll make the important things make sense to you. All from the comfortable confines of the “luxurious corner booth.”
You’ll even get a coffee break: Halfway through each episode, the deacon’s better half shares “Another Great Moment In Church History.”
Order up: This is a ministry of The Order of Malta.
The Catholic Cafe started when Robert Hutton, KM, then Hospitaller of the Memphis Region of the Order of Malta – Federal Association, asked Deacon Jeff if he’d be interested in helping put together a “Defense of the Faith” project. The idea was to comply with the Order of Malta’s universal two-fold mission to defend the faith and to serve the sick and the poor.
As a “revert” to the Catholic Faith, Deacon Jeff loved church teaching and apologetics. At the same time, he supported his family as a professional in broadcast communications. It was indeed a perfect match… and the rest, as they say, is history.
The first episode of The Catholic Cafe aired in September 2008. Although strictly local at first, it was produced to sound like big-time national shows. It was simultaneously released on Apple’s iTunes podcast network, which helped the show expand its reach to where it is today.
Look who’s coming for donuts.
When it comes to guests, The Catholic Cafe drops plenty of names you’ll want to eavesdrop on.
Just go to the Listen page and search for some of these who’s-who episodes:
- Father Andrew Apostoli, CFR
- Bishop Robert Barron
- Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers
- Bishop James Conley, STL
- Father Dave Dwyer, CSP
- Fra. Matthew Festing, Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta
- Cardinal Francis George
- Father Benedict Groeschel, CFR
- Dr. Scott Hahn
- Dr. Peter Kreeft
- Curtis Martin, Founder/CEO, FOCUS
- Father Bruce Nieli, CSP
- Father Tad Pacholczyk (NCCB)
- Father Frank Pavone
- Father Larry Richards
- Cardinal Justin Rigali
- Abbot Placid Solari (Belmont Abbey)
- Bishop J. Terry Steib, SVD
And stop in regularly to hear interviews with:
- Abbots
- Ambassadors
- Athletes
- Bishops
- Brothers
- Cardinals
- CEOs
- Dads
- Dames
- Deacons
- Doctors
- Exorcists
- Judges
- Kids
- Knights
- Moms
- Philosophers
- Priests
- Princes
- Singers
- Sisters
- Soldiers
- Theologians
What’s on the menu?
The topics you’ll hear on The Catholic Cafe are timely, but also timeless. They’re timely because they’re the issues that face our world today — the very challenges you’re confronting as you make your way through this modern world. But they’re timeless because you’ll draw from the church’s 2000-year history of unchanging, truthful teaching.
For every topic, you’ll not only hear what the church teaches, you’ll learn a lot about why. It’ll be concise and easy-to-understand. Non-judgmental, but rooted in orthodoxy — and in the love of Jesus Christ.
It’s all the truth of Holy Mother Church. With sprinkles on top.
- IVF
- Same-sex attraction
- Contraception
- Death penalty
- Prison ministry
- Erosion of religious liberty
- Confessing your sins to a priest
- Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist
- Praying to Mary
- The ordination of women
- Purgatory
- Large Catholic families
- The Order of Malta
- Abortion
- The early church fathers
- Redemptive suffering
- Marriage between one man and one woman
- Scripture and tradition
- The saints
Oodles of satisfied customers.
There are many souls out there, hungry for the truth — and they’re being fed by The Catholic Cafe. It’s become a global ministry.
Evidence of our evangelization effectiveness:
- Averaging 16,000 downloads a month from TheCatholicCafe.com (not including iTunes and other listening sites).
- Total listenership estimated at 2–3 million people per weekly episode.
- Frequently rated number 1 in the weekend lineup for Relevant Radio, in major markets like Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul.
- Consistently ranked in the top 40 among the nearly 4,000 Catholic-related podcasts on iTunes.
Listeners around the world.
- Angola
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Benin
- Bermuda
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- India
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Kuwait
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macau
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mexico
- Myanmar
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Norway
- Pakistan
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Puerto Rico
- Qatar
- Republic of Korea
- Republic of Moldova
- Romania
- Russian Federation
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Singapore
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turkey
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Zimbabwe
Praise from iTunes.
Nice Fresh Approach for Christian Podcast (
)
by stevetim61
“This is not your typical podcast where there are boring lectures on boring subjects. Instead [it’s] informal discussion among … people who enjoy life and have a passion for the truth.”
Thanks a Latte! ()
by cahi
“I love the informal format — like a talk show or having coffee with a friend. I”ve learned so much listening to this podcast.”
I want a seat at The Catholic Cafe!!! ()
by Keystone 29
“This podcast is fantastic!! … the ‘Big Names’ in Catholic podcasting would do well to take a few pointers from The Catholic Cafe.”
What I have been looking for!!!! ()
by Cotl
“This is an answer to my prayers! … I am always quoting conversations from ‘the cafe’ to my friends and random people when we talk about faith and Catholic traditions and beliefs.”
Another gift from God! ()
by Kfitz59
“I was looking for an answer to a specific question on a particular topic and I found your show. Your show has made a difference in my life and I am most grateful for it!!”
Praise from email.
“I am a Protestant in search of the ancient Christian faith… [you have] really helped me understand what Catholicism is, and is not.”
— Dr. Jeff, Arlington, Tennessee
“I went to Mass for the first time in years this past Sunday, and it is your podcast that has helped me to understand a lot of what I had forgotten (or never learned) about the RCC.”
— Mandy
“I am a life-long Lutheran … Your program … was very timely, informative, and straightforward in a manner that I can understand. I am very interested in learning to pray the Rosary.”
— Raymond, Cordova, Tennessee
“… exactly what I needed … We definitely need things like this to make youngsters realize that being a Catholic is actually cool.”
— Samuel, Granada, Spain
“Your work matters tremendously! … my husband and I hope to enter the Catholic Church Easter Vigil 2012.”
— Rachel, Coco, Florida
“Here in the UK … I praise God for your work … now going back to my iPod for some more spiritual coffee.”
— Deacon Tito, United Kingdom