Singleness and vocations / Shannon’s experience with singleness and discernment / Fitting into the life of the Church / Focusing on the call to holiness / Radical honesty in prayer / Being a supportive friend if you’re not single

39: Cliques, Small Talk, and One-Sided Friendships - But I Have Called You Friends, pt. 4

Oct 9th, 2023 58m 57s

Cliques vs. communion / Friendship as sharing of emotion and soul / Are friends more than the people with whom we share our hobbies and interests? / Detachment and spiritual directors / St. Therese and the struggle to center friendship on God /

38: Instant Coffee and World Peace - But I Have Called You Friends, pt. 3

Sep 7th, 2023 52m 49s

Life and travel updates / The compounding power of friendship / Charity close to home / Intuitive versus ‘Real’ friendships / Slow growth relationships / Progressive growth in the spiritual life / Trusting the process of purification / How fail

37: The Power of Community - But I Have Called You Friends, pt. 2

Jun 19th, 2023 55m 38s

The difficult choice to love others / Why community matters for our holiness / Therapy and friends helping us to detach and empathize / The ‘exuberant discovery’ of friendship / Seeing the beauty in others that God sees in us / Loving each othe

36: Friendship, The Common Denominator of Love - But I Have Called You Friends, pt. 1

May 30th, 2023 52m 33s

Lent and Easter, a brief retrospective / Introducing "But I Have Called You Friends" / Friendship is the common denominator in love / Taking a second look at relationships / Community as a source of purification / Get to know people, but don't

35: Intercessory Prayer

Jan 25th, 2023 46m 29s

Praying for friends / Embracing the awkwardness of praying with other people / Intercession through the liturgy / Contemplation and intercession / "Offer it up" / Immersion in Scripture

34: We're Back (And Discussing Mental Health)

Jan 11th, 2023 1h

Another life update / Mental health, and our different experiences / Vulnerability with God and each other / Being loved in our weakness / Self-mastery for human and spiritual flourishing---Here are some mental health resources we and others ha

33: Jacob's Ladder and the Power of Intercession - The Priest Is Not His Own, pt. 2

Jun 16th, 2022 1h 3m

Priest senioritis / Chunky books / The story of Jacob’s Ladder / Vertical and horizontal dimensions / Dependence on Christ acting in us / Pro-worm podcasting / Interceding for others / Only Christ can bring souls to himself / The grief and joy

32: "Just Me And The Squirrels" - The Priest Is Not His Own, pt. 1

Jun 1st, 2022 55m 22s

Shannon shouldn't drink coffee / Introducing Fulton Sheen's 'The Priest Is Not His Own' / Priesthood and victimhood / Being a priest means being sacrificed / Sacrificial love and vocations / Learning to be a priest-victim / Fr. Cassidy's big ne

31: "Christ Living In Me" - Easter Joy & Lenten Lessons

Apr 28th, 2022 56m 4s

We're back! / Liturgical music is awesome / Spiritual lessons learned / Christ living in the priesthood / The importance of silence / commemorating the Deposition and Burial of Christ / Supporting friends in carrying their crossesListen to Fr.

30: “Sparks and Iron” - Marriage, Friendship, and Sacrifice, feat. Rachel Pocta

Dec 23rd, 2021 58m 35s

Introducing Rachel / Cor Christi ministry / Friendship as a foundation for marriage / Early years in Rachel’s discernment / Life in a ‘spiritual pressure cooker’ / The value of spiritual direction in discerning marriage and vocational discernme

29: Advent Anticipation, feat. Brandon & Marlene Ocampo

Dec 16th, 2021 48m 33s

Introducing guests / Experiences of waiting / Video games are the secret to online dating / Growth through patience / Why does God make us wait for stuff? / Longing for heaven

28: "Toothbrush Coach" - Goal-setting and Accountability

Nov 18th, 2021 54m 24s

Technical difficulties and Fr. Cassidy's confusion / Goals in our personal and spiritual lives / The role of community support / Peer friendship vs. mentorship / Characteristics of a good goal / Holy envy / Knowing your own style of motivation

27: Hot Takes of the Desert Fathers

Nov 14th, 2021 1h 1m

Shannon returns to share her feelings about Spare Ribs / Introducing the Desert Fathers and their sayings / Patience, humility, and people who test us in both / Would you want to know the day and moment of your death ahead of time?

Spare Ribs Bonus Ep. 1: Divine Office Hours

Oct 20th, 2021 30m 3s

A long-awaited bonus episode featuring Fr. Cassidy and Brandon Ocampo on the challenges of rest, personal support systems, and spiritual health as a person in public ministry.

26: SBS Anniversary Special, feat. Cloister Adventures & Intergenerational Friendships

Oct 5th, 2021 59m 34s

A joyous in-person meetup / One year of SBS! / Do nuns listen to podcasts? / Friendships with people older & younger than ourselves / Getting involved in your parish groups / Fr. Cassidy is (maybe) doing more media stuff

25: Of Humility and House Blessings - Letters of St. Francis De Sales & St. Jane de Chantal, pt. 6

Sep 21st, 2021 55m 55s

Unexpected confessions / Patience and the will of God / Charity and humility as keys to the virtuous life / Recommendations vs. commands / St. Francis de Sales doesn’t like masks / Focusing on the ‘big things’ in the spiritual life / Shannon’s

24: "Mauled By Moose" - St. Benedict and St. Scholastica

Aug 20th, 2021 53m 34s

Catching up after downtime / Shannon's new home / Introducing Benedict and Scholastica / trusting God's weird providence / family dynamics / siblings and parents as spiritual friends / Sofa woes

23: “At The Foot Of The Cross” - Grieving With Friends

Jul 15th, 2021 53m 53s

Alacrity, or the lack thereof / Experiences with friends and loss / What to say (or not) in difficult times / Scriptural examples of hope in the face of the Cross / Ministries of presence / Pointing friends to Christ / A brief hiatus

22: "I Care About Your Living" - Letters of St. Francis De Sales & St. Jane de Chantal, pt. 5

Jul 8th, 2021 56m 50s

Painting woes / Better to be done than perfect / Worries about life and family / Can you be friends with your spiritual director? / Shannon is mad at the saints / St. Francis de Sales needs more sleep / Using your imagination in prayer / libert

21: "And There Was Much Rejoicing" - Reflections on Gifts and Gratitude

Jul 1st, 2021 58m 8s

Shannon’s big news / Castle ownership / Ordinations and friends becoming new priests / gifts and symbols / Trusting God to provide / the importance of gratitude / Handing on our spiritual gifts

20: "Aggressive Sprinkles" - Letters of St. Francis De Sales & St. Jane de Chantal, pt. 4

Jun 24th, 2021 1h 5m

Fr. Cassidy isn’t very original / Bringing faith into your family / Detachment in relationships / Forming a spirit of interior freedom / Spiritual directors who make you mad / Being angry in a virtuous way / The relationship between joy and hop

19: "Laugh At The Enemy" - Letters of St. Francis De Sales & St. Jane de Chantal, pt. 3

Jun 3rd, 2021 59m 57s

Reopening our parishes / Transitions back to ‘normal’ life / practical advice on discernment / Complementary discernment speeds / Inner peace and God fulfilling our desires / Spiritual direction anxieties / Praying for friends as a priest / How

18: Online Vs. 'Real Life' Friends

May 27th, 2021 51m 50s

'Concerned Dad face' / Wedding joys and shenanigans / Being yourself online / Technology facilitating interpersonal communion / Breakups on SnapChat / Scripture Ain’t No Videochat / What makes Catholic community unique / Fr. Cassidy makes crazy

17: "Go With The Flow" - Letters of St. Francis De Sales & St. Jane de Chantal, pt. 2

May 20th, 2021 56m 34s

Celebrating St. Joseph / Easter and First Communions / Whether Teresa of Avila is a relaxing read / Discerning God's call / Friendship and charity enduring into heaven / Prioritizing relationships