Country People Know Best | Episode 5

Truths About Childbirth | Mary Haseltine and Anna Shephard | Ep. 10

In this episode, Samuel and Anna sit down with doula and author Mary Haseltine to explore the beauty, challenge, and profound meaning of childbirth. Drawing on years of experience supporting mothers, Mary shares how birth is designed by God and how fear has shaped modern perceptions of childbirth, and what women can do to prepare for birth with confidence and peace. Together, they discuss Catholic anthropology, natural birth, the role of fathers, the need for more Catholic midwives, and how families can reclaim a deeper trust in the wisdom built into the human body. Whether you're expecting a child, supporting someone who is, or simply interested in what it means to be human, this conversation offers a compelling vision of birth as both deeply natural and deeply spiritual. Resources: Mary Haseltine's Book: Made for This: The Catholic Mom's Guide to Birth [https://www.madeforthisbirth.net/product-page/made-for-this-the-catholic-mom-s-guide-to-birth] Made for This Resources [https://www.madeforthisbirth.net/]

Beautiful, Ethical, and Sustainable Clothing | Veronica Marrinan | Episode 8

What if fashion could be beautiful, ethical, and faith-driven? Veronica Marrinan, co-founder of Litany, shares how her brand disrupts fast fashion with made-to-measure garments, sustainable sourcing, and a deep focus on care—for people, the planet, and God. She explains how small-scale fashion can make a big impact, offers smart ways to consume less without sacrificing style, and reflects on the role of faith, stewardship, and personal relationships in clothing. Explore Litany: https://www.litanynyc.com/

Christians and Climate Change | Episode 7

How can Christians properly engage with climate change? Dr. Samuel Shephard talks with Lorna Gold, co-founder of the Laudato Si' Movement, about Pope Francis’ vision for caring for creation. They explore how "ecological conversion," sustainable living, and community engagement make environmental stewardship a natural expression of faith.

Nature, God, and Homesteading | Episode 6

Jason Craig and Thoman van Horn, authors of The Liturgy of the Land, join Dr. Samuel Shephard to explore what it means to live a truly integrated, faith-filled life on the land. Drawing on years of homesteading, regenerative agriculture, and Catholic tradition, they discuss how working with creation can deepen our connection to God, family, and community. From beekeeping and seasonal farming to cultivating a productive home and embracing simplicity, Jason and Tommy share both the challenges and rewards of a lifestyle rooted in stewardship, faith, and the rhythms of the natural world.

Country People Know Best | Episode 5

What does it mean to truly belong to the land — and what do we lose when that connection is severed? Sebastian Morello, philosopher at St. Mary's University in London and author of Woodland Philosophy: Meditations on Hunting, Hiking and Holiness, joins Dr. Samuel Shephard to explore what it means to be a country person in an age of urban disconnection. Drawing on his Catholic faith, his grandfather's stalking knives, and years of managing the landscape, Sebastian makes the case that country people possess a kind of embodied, irreplaceable knowledge — and that Westminster's constant interference is quietly destroying the very countryside it claims to protect. Woodland Philosophy is available wherever books are sold.