Hey Everybody! It's Fr. Edward

Episode 328: Is The Life of Chuck Worth Seeing? A Catholic Priest’s Honest Reaction

June 14th, 2025  |  15 mins 42 secs

#moviereview

Is The Life of Chuck worth seeing? Catholic priest and film reviewer Fr. Edward Looney gives his honest reaction to this mind-bending, deeply human film based on Stephen King’s short story.

Fr. Looney had early access to a pre-screening but still went to the theater to watch it again—and in this video, he explains why. He shares why this film struck a deep emotional chord and why he thinks it's one of the most thought-provoking movies in recent years.

He also shares that two audience members walked out of the theater after the first 30 minutes, calling the movie “stupid”—a sentiment Fr. Looney firmly refutes. Stay tuned to hear why he believes they missed the entire point of the film.

Episode 327: Desperate for Friendship? How to Be a Better Friend – with Kristen Strong

June 9th, 2025  |  34 mins 15 secs

#bookinterview

What is real friendship—and why is it so hard to find today? In this honest and heartfelt conversation, Fr. Edward Looney sits down with Kristen Strong, author of Desperate Woman Seeks Friends (Thomas Nelson Books), to talk about the beauty, complexity, and spiritual depth of friendship in the modern world.

Episode 326: Two Catholic Priests React to New Exorcism Movie The Ritual

June 4th, 2025  |  18 mins 52 secs

#theritual #exorcismmovie #movieinterview

What happens when a Catholic priest lets a horror movie be filmed in his church? 🎬 Fr. Aaron Williams from Mississippi joins me to talk about hosting the filming of The Ritual, a new exorcism thriller set in the 1920s. We dive into why exorcisms continue to fascinate audiences, whether the movie is historically accurate, and what Catholics should know before watching.

In this powerful conversation, Fr. Williams gives pastoral insight into spiritual warfare, how the Church views exorcism today, and why The Ritual might be one of the more respectful portrayals of exorcism in modern cinema.

Episode 325: Travel Updates, Health Journey, the Billy Graham Library, and Hopes for Pope Leo XIV

May 20th, 2025  |  36 mins 37 secs

Fr. Edward Looney shares personal and spiritual reflections while on the road—offering an update on his latest travels, the academic paper he's presenting, and his new commitment to better health through diet and exercise. He recounts his visit to the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, drawing parallels between evangelical reverence for Graham and Catholic devotion to saints and shrines. He closes the episode by sharing his hopes and prayers for the papacy of Pope Leo XIV.

Episode 324: Mountain Grace: Fr. John Nepil on Hiking, Prayer, and His New Book

May 6th, 2025  |  18 mins 6 secs

#bookinterview

What does hiking the Colorado Trail teach you about God, failure, and fatherhood? In this episode, Fr. Edward interviews Fr. John Nepil from the Archdiocese of Denver about his new book To Heights and Unto Depths: Letters from the Colorado Trail. They discuss the beauty of 14ers, Scripture on mountains, spiritual lessons from hiking, and why Fr. Nepil chose to write the book as a series of letters. From biscuit wisdom to wild encounters and soul-searching reflections, this episode invites listeners to see nature as a path to deeper faith.

Episode 323: Go to Joseph in Detroit: The Story Behind the St. Joseph the Worker Mural with Daniel Egan

April 28th, 2025  |  32 mins 40 secs

#conversation

During the Year of St. Joseph, Fr. Edward Looney discovered a crowdfunded project aiming to honor St. Joseph with a powerful public mural in Detroit. After supporting the project himself, Fr. Edward recently had the chance to visit the mural in person—and in this inspiring episode, he speaks with Daniel Egan, the man who helped bring this tribute to life.

Episode 322: Mary on the Big Screen: Supporting IMRI’s Marian Film Project with Dr. Neomi DeAnda

April 7th, 2025  |  22 mins 46 secs

In this episode of Hey Everybody, It’s Fr. Edward, Fr. Edward Looney sits down with Dr. Neomi DeAnda, director of the International Marian Research Institute (IMRI), to discuss the powerful connection between Mary and the movies. They dive into IMRI’s exciting "Movies with Mary" crowdfunding project, which runs through April 9, 2025.

The conversation spans everything from mainstream depictions of Mary—like Fr. Edward’s critique of Netflix’s Mary—to discovering Marian symbolism in films like Wonder Woman and Blue Beetle. They also explore subtle Marian moments in cinema, like background statues or visual references that add unexpected depth.

Dr. DeAnda and her colleagues, including Dr. Dodd, are working to bring Marian-themed films to the classroom and beyond, but they need your help. Your support will help fund screenings and educational outreach. Fr. Edward has already made a gift—and invites you to consider contributing as well.

🎥 Learn more & donate to the crowdfunding campaign here: https://give.udayton.edu/movies-with-mary
🙏 Support Marian research and education through film!

Episode 321: The Parallel Passion of Mary in the Writings of Maria of Agreda and Anne Catherine Emmerich

March 31st, 2025  |  36 mins 30 secs

#presentation

Fr. Edward Looney was invited by the Centre for Marian Studies in England to give a virtual zoom presentation on his studies of Maria of Agreada and Anne Catherine Emmerich. This video is the recorded presentation reflecting on the passion accounts.

Episode 320: The Making of a Movie: Behind the Scenes of Searching for the Elephant

March 24th, 2025  |  45 mins

#movieinterview

How does a movie go from an idea to the screen? In this episode, Fr. Edward sits down with David Alford and Joseph Stam of Cross Purpose Productions to discuss their film Searching for the Elephant, now streaming on Tubi, Amazon Prime, and more. They dive into the entire filmmaking process—story development, screenwriting, casting, production, and marketing. Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to bring a movie to life!

Episode 319: Do Catholics Believe in Near-Death Experiences? With Scott L. Smith

March 17th, 2025  |  53 mins 15 secs

#bookinterview

Near-death experiences (NDEs) captivate people across religious and secular backgrounds, but how do they align with Catholic teaching? In this episode, Fr. Edward Looney sits down with Catholic author Scott L. Smith to explore NDEs from a faith-based perspective. They discuss the seven medical stages of NDEs—disembodiment, tunnel experiences, the Being of Light, life reviews, and more—while also diving into biblical accounts, the writings of saints like Bede the Venerable and St. Gregory the Great, and Marian visionaries who’ve had glimpses of the afterlife.

The conversation also highlights the Catholic call to pray for the dead, including insights from Sondra Abrahams' NDE, where she encountered souls in purgatory. Can NDEs help us prepare for our own death? What does the Church say about these experiences? Tune in for a fascinating discussion on faith, science, and the mysteries of the afterlife.

This Past Week #8 | Social Media Truths, Airport Insights, and Movie Reviews

March 15th, 2025  |  35 mins 4 secs

In this week’s episode of This Past Week, Fr. Edward Looney reflects on recent events, thought-provoking reads, and intriguing films:

🔹 What he saw – A viral photo from Cardinal McElroy’s installation sparked controversy. Was the church really empty, or was the image misleading? Fr. Looney discusses the importance of fact-checking social media claims before sharing them.

🔹 What he read – Don Fulford, CEO of the Association of the Miraculous Medal, wrote about people-watching in airports. Fr. Looney shares his own insight—how an airport can serve as a microcosm of heaven.

🔹 What he wrote – An upcoming article on movies for a Catholic publication.

🔹 What he watched – Reviews of The Last Supper (new release), Searching for Elephants, Black Bag, and The Pitt on MAX.

Plus, he considers an exciting new project—borrowing movies from the library and reviewing them!

Episode 318: Archbishop Fulton Sheen: The Convert Maker Who Brought 42,000 Souls to the Catholic Church

March 11th, 2025  |  29 mins 35 secs

#bookinterview

At a time when many are preparing to enter the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil, we explore one of the most influential evangelists of the 20th century—Archbishop Fulton Sheen. Known as a convert maker, Sheen helped bring an estimated 42,000 people into the Church.

In this episode, Dr. Cheryl Hughes joins Fr. Edward Looney to discuss her book on Fulton Sheen and his lasting impact on Catholic converts. Topics include:

🔹 How Sheen Inspired Her Book – Dr. Hughes shares how she came to admire Archbishop Sheen and why she felt compelled to write about him.
🔹 Famous Converts – Learn about Judith Mayo and other individuals whom Sheen helped bring into the Catholic faith.
🔹 Sheen’s Convert Classes – Discover how Fulton Sheen personally taught and guided converts into the Church.
🔹 Treasure in Clay – How reading Sheen’s autobiography deepened Fr. Edward’s appreciation for his writings.
🔹 The Beatification Controversy – The dispute over moving Sheen’s body from New York to Peoria and the unexpected cancellation of his beatification.
🔹 Sheen & Hollywood – Dr. Hughes connects her background in film studies to Sheen’s profound impact on Hollywood.
🔹 Why Sheen Still Inspires – What makes Fulton Sheen’s message timeless and why people continue to be drawn to his teachings today.
🔹 Must-Read Sheen Books – Cheryl’s top recommendations for those wanting to explore Sheen’s works.

This Past Week #7 | Mocking Faith, Wisdom from St. Bernard of Clairvaux, and The Oscars

March 9th, 2025  |  18 mins 39 secs

#thispastweek

In this episode of This Past Week, Fr. Edward Looney reflects on recent cultural trends, his Lenten writings, and spiritual insights:

🔹 What He Saw – From comedians mocking Christianity to concerning book covers, Fr. Edward questions why society tolerates such disrespect toward faith. He also reacts to the Oscars and expresses dismay over Anora winning Best Picture due to its explicit content.

🔹 What He Wrote – During Lent, Fr. Edward is posting daily reflections on the Stations of the Cross, sharing unique imagery from various churches. He also discusses his article on the Seven Sundays Devotion to St. Joseph, published on Catholic Link.

🔹 What He Read – A deep dive into St. Bernard of Clairvaux's first sermon on the Song of Songs, exploring the dangers of self-love, worldly attachments, and the ongoing spiritual battles we face.

Episode 317: How a Priest, Confession, and the Eucharist Saved Kevin & Krista Wells’ Marriage from Addiction

March 3rd, 2025  |  39 mins 41 secs

#bookinterview

Can the power of a priest and sacramental grace truly heal addiction and restore a marriage? In this compelling conversation, author Kevin Wells joins Fr. Edward Looney to share the deeply personal story behind his latest book, The Hermit. After chronicling The Priests We Need to Save the Church and the life of Venerable Aloysius Schwartz, Kevin now opens up about his own marriage—one marked by struggle, faith, and ultimate redemption.

Kevin recounts how his wife, Krista, battled alcohol addiction and how the grace of Confession, the Eucharist, and the spiritual guidance of Fr. Flum played a pivotal role in her healing. Through moments of conversion, deep wounds, and unwavering commitment, their marriage emerged stronger, filled with faith and hope.

This Past Week #6 | Living as Saints, Sharing the Gospel, and the Power of Scripture

March 1st, 2025  |  22 mins 44 secs

In this episode of This Past Week, Fr. Edward Looney reflects on the inspiring life of Joe Reali, a young man from New York who passed away at 25 and is remembered for his holiness—could he one day be a saint? Fr. Looney shares how Joe’s life challenges us to live as saints now and boldly share our faith.

He also explores a powerful insight from St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s Sermons on the Song of Songs, encouraging us to dive deeper into Scripture. Additionally, he discusses his recent academic paper and upcoming X (Twitter) Space presentation, and he shares thoughts on No Address, a new film addressing the issue of homelessness.

Join Fr. Looney for a thought-provoking discussion on faith, holiness, and the call to live and share the Gospel!

BONUS: An Invitation to Pray with the Church through Lent

February 26th, 2025  |  14 mins 14 secs

#book

Fr. Edward introduces readers to the collect prayer and his new Lenten devotional, Praying with the Church through Lent. In this episode you will hear how he didn't want to write this book, what is the collect prayer, a few reflections about a few different collect prayers, and why he thinks it's important to pray and meditate on the collect.