The Votive Podcast
Episodes
The Gift of Poetry and the Natural World with Paul J. Pastor
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Paul J. Pastor, a poet, writer, and editor who lives with his family in the Pacific Northwest. He recently released a beautiful colle...
The Christian Themes in Snow White with Dr. Vigen Guroian
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Vigen Guroian, the author of Tending the Heart of Virtue. This episode discusses the Christian themes in one particular popular fairy...
The World of Fairy Tales with Grace Fitzpatrick
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Grace Fitzpatrick, an icon writer and a storyteller. Her collection of fairytales, The Stag with the Crystal Horns and Other Tales, i...
Taking Young Readers Seriously with Randy Boyagoda
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Randy Boyagoda, a writer, critic, and scholar. He teaches English at the University of Toronto and is the author of Dante's Indiana, ...
How Story Prepares Children for Suffering with Anthony D'Ambrosio
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Anthony D'Ambrosio, a film producer, writer, and director as well as the founder of Sherwood Fellows. This episode discusses his film...
Entering the Advent Story with Laura Kelly Fanucci
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Laura Kelly Fanucci, an award-winning author of several books including Everyday Sacrament and Grieving Together. Her work has been f...
Building a Home Library with Nell O'Leary
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviewes Nell O'Leary, Institute Consultant for the Word on Fire Institute and mom of five living in St. Paul. This episode explores developi...
The Path of Virtue with Dr. Grace Hamman
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Dr. Grace Hamman. Dr. Hamman is a writer and independent scholar of late medieval poetry and contemplative writing. She is the author...
A Heavenly Imagination with Gracie Jagla
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Gracie Jagla. Gracie is a wife, mom of 4, and an award-winning Catholic children's author. She hosts the Catholic storytime podcast C...
Making Scripture Come Alive with Emily Stimpson Chapman
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Emily Stimpson Chapman. Emily is mom to three toddlers, the voice behind popular Substack Through a Glass Darkly and co-host of The V...
Shaping Young Minds for Joy with Shemaiah Gonzalez
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Shemaiah Gonzalez, a Catholic writer, wife, and mom to two teenage boys living in Seattle. In this episode they discuss the delight o...
Can Imperfect Parents Raise Saints? with Colleen Pressprich
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Colleen Pressprich, an author of books for both kids and grown-ups including her new release Real Moms of Real Saints. Colleen is a f...
The Dignity of Dependence with Leah Libresco Sargeant
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Leah Libresco Sargeant, a writer and speaker whose work covers religion, culture, statistics, and family policy. Leah is a Catholic c...
Reviving Sacred Beauty with Kate Capato
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Kate Capato, a professional painter of Catholic Sacred Art, inspirational speaker, and dance choreographer. In this episode they expl...
Navigating Libraries and Raising Readers with Elizabeth Nava
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Elizabeth Nava, a school librarian in Dallas, TX, advocate for Catholic education, and mom of two voracious young readers. In this ep...
Forming Young Creatives with Wonder and Hope with Millie Florence
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Millie Florence, author of the brand new middle grade fantasy novel Beyond Mulberry Glen. Millie lives in Illinois and published her ...
Painting Wonder with Katie Wray Schon
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Katie Wray Schon, an author, illustrator, and mother of three living in Texas. In this episode they discuss Katie's artistic journey,...
Encountering Scripture with Fresh Eyes with R.J. Sheffler
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Rose John Sheffler, the author of Past Watchful Dragons, a brand new book of fairy tales releasing from Word on Fire Votive on March ...
Teaching Kids to Swim in the Deep Waters of Life with Katy Carl
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Katy Carl, the Editor of Word on Fire Luminor, a new literary imprint. Katy is also the author of multiple books including As Earth W...
Cultivating the Faith of Science-Minded Children
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Thomas Salerno, an educator, author, freelance essayist, and podcaster from Long Island, New York. With a bachelor's degree in anthro...
An Undercover Poet Shares the Joy of Language with A.M. Juster
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews A.M. Juster, poet, translator, and author. For many years he lived a double life as an undercover poet while working in senior roles ...
Sacred Art and the Beauty of Conversion with Chris Lewis
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Chris Lewis, a Catholic illustrator and owner of BARITUS, a Catholic illustration studio with a huge Instagram following. Chris's wor...
Our Brains, Storytelling, and Not Being Afraid of Technology with Dr. Sarah Jane Murray
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Dr. Sarah Jane Murray, an award-winning Professor of Great Texts & Creative Writing at Baylor University, an EMMY®-nominated filmmak...
True Myth, the Inklings, and the Creative Value of Good Graphic Novels with John Hendrix
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews John Hendrix, a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator. He is the Kenneth E. Hudson Professor of Art and Chair of the MFA ...
Caryll Houselander's Spirituality and Stories for Children with Dr. Julia Meszaros
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Dr. Julia Meszaros about British spiritual writer Caryll Houselander's legacy and contribution to children's literature. Dr. Meszaros...
Advent and Inviting Children into the Liturgical Year
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Word on Fire designer and photographer Clare Sheaf about an exciting new project: The Catholic Kids' Cookbook: Holy Days and Heavenly...
Celebrating St. Joseph's Day with Good Stories with Joseph Ruli
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Joseph Ruli, the author of new Votive title Giovanni and the Fava Beans illustrated by the incredible Jaclyn Warren. Joseph is a New ...
Childhood in American Literature with Dr. LuElla D'Amico
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Dr. LuElla D'Amico, an Associate Professor of English at the University of the Incarnate Word. They discuss the concept of childhood ...
The Labors of Hercules Beal with Gary D. Schmidt
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews celebrated author Gary D. Schmidt, the winner of multiple Newbery Honor awards and a National Book Award finalist, about his middle g...
Works of Mercy and Catholic Novels with Sally Thomas
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews poet and fiction writer Sally Thomas. In this episode they discuss Sally's wonderful novel Works of Mercy, how to get children to lov...
AI and Sacred Art with John Herreid
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews John Herreid, a graphic designer and illustrator. They discuss the rise of images generated by artificial intelligence, what we lose ...
The Magic of Picture Books and Reading Aloud with Sarah Mackenzie
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Haley interviews Sarah Mackenzie, homeschooling mom of many, founder of Read Aloud Revival, and author of several books including A Li...
Difficult Topics in Middle Grade Novels with Claire Swinarski
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Haley interviews Claire Swinarski, the award-winning author of What Happened to Rachel Riley? They discuss the often overlooked genre...
Forming a Child's Taste for Beauty with Daniel Mitsui
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Haley interviews Daniel Mitsui, a professional artist specializing in sacred art. They discuss the artistic traditions that influence ...
Bringing the Saints to Life with Fabiola Garza
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode features Fabiola Garza, the author and illustrator of bestselling book Princesses of Heaven. Haley and Fabiola discuss this incredible pr...
A Better Narrative of Gender with Dr. Abigail Favale
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Haley Stewart interviews Dr. Abigail Favale, a professor in the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and the author of Th...
Why Fairy Tales Are Essential Reading with Dr. Vigen Guroian
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Haley Stewart interviews Dr. Vigen Guroian, author of Tending the Heart of Virtue. They discuss the importance of reading fairy tales like those from ...
Light of the Sacraments
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Haley interviews Cory Heimann and Tricia Dugat, the author/illustrator team behind two innovative books: Light of the Saints and Light of the Sacramen...
Chesterton, Harry Potter, and Death with Nancy C. Brown
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Host, Haley Stewart, talks with Nancy C. Brown, the author of The Woman Who Was Chesterton and The Mystery of Harry Potter: A Catholic Family Guide. T...
Welcome to The Votive Podcast!
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this short introductory episode, host of the show and editor of Word on Fire Votive, Haley Stewart, introduces the vision for this new podcast and ...