The Rundown
Pro-Life Series: 4US
This is our third and final episode of our pro-life series. You can check out previous episodes linked below. In the first episode talked about Catholic Mobilizing Network and in the second episode, we highlighted Obria Medical Clinics.
In this final episode, we talked with the founders of 4US – which stands for For Ultra Sound. Kim and Diego Wendt are trying to equip pregnancy centers with the tools, technology and talent to save more lives. Their vision is make abortions rare by choice and their mission is to Illuminate hope for pregnant women in crisis through the power of ultrasound. Learn more about them and this initiative.
Helpful Links:
Pro-Life Series: Restorative Justice
Pro-Life Series: Obria Medical Clinics
We’re finally on to our second episode of our pro-life series. You can check out episode one where we highlighted Catholic Mobilizing Network who works for restorative justice practices.
In this episode, we caught up with Obria Medical Clinics. They provide women and families with compassionate, comprehensive health care from professional medical consultations on tons of things like: well woman care, pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, STD testing and treatment, pre-abortion screenings, abortion education, abortion pill reversal, prenatal care, health education and sexual health.
Dawn Hughes, Chief Executive Officer of Obria Medical Clinics, and Keyasha Kuykindall, V.P. of Mission Advancement, Brand Marketing & Technologies at Obria, talk about how Obria seeks to give wholistic care to women and families, and why it's important to care for people mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.
Helpful Links:
Pro-Life Series: Restorative Justice
How do we as a society help someone who has made a bad choice or poor judgement call?
Host Bridget Richardson talks with two advocates for restorative justice, Caitlin Morneau, Director of Restorative Justice with Catholic Mobilizing Network, and Chris Castillo, a murder victim family member and advocate for restorative justice. They work with Catholic Mobilizing Network, the national Catholic organization that works to end the death penalty and promote restorative justice through education, advocacy, and prayer. Bridget asked them about punitive versus restorative practices and how Catholic Mobilizing Network, and all of us, can advocate for restoration for those who have committed crimes.
This is episode one of our three-part series on what it means to be pro-life.
Chris Castillo's Story | Catholic Mobilizing Network
Restorative discipline works to remove racial bias in Houston schools | ABC 13
Death Penalty in Your State Map
Larry Swearingen, who claimed science excluded him as killer, is executed by Texas | Washington Post
Virginia becomes first state in the South to abolish the death penalty
Virginia’s lawmakers vote to abolish the death penalty. Catholic activists helped make it happen.
Pope Francis has shown the U.S. a new path for ending the death penalty—for good. | America Magazine
The Miraculous Vaccine
Conversations having to do with the vaccine can feel tense and like a non-starter. With a lack of trust and tons of misinformation, how can people be sure about the vaccine? We decided to look to the experts - in science and faith. First, we talked with Dr. Carl Vartian, Infectious Disease Specialist at HCA Houston Healthcare and we included a PSA from Pope Francis and other Catholic leaders from around the world encouraging people to get vaccinated. We also share what University of St. Thomas-Houston is doing to encourage vaccinations on campus.
As many return to the office, tensions flare between the ‘vaxxed and unvaxxed’
Expect more business mandates, lots of them: Harvard's Neeley on Biden vaccine mandate
What's behind COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Texas | KVUE
Students sue Creighton University over COVID vaccine mandate
Vaccine mandates are coming. Catholics have no moral reason to oppose them.
Urban Dictionary: I’m right, you’re wrong, shut up.
Pope Francis said he doesn’t understand why people refuse to take Covid-19 vaccines
Afghanistan: Then, Now & Next
In this episode, Bridget talks with Dr. Yao-Yuan Yeh, chair of the University of St. Thomas (UST) Department of International Studies & Modern Languages, and Dr. Richard Sindelar, director of the UST Center for International Studies, to better understand the situation in Afghanistan. They discuss the situation in three stages: what happened and why, what will be the perception of the U.S. moving forward and the relationship with China, and the influx of refugees coming to Houston. The guests encourage us to welcome the refugees with openness and love.
Dr. Yao-Yuan Yeh
Chair, Department of International Studies & Modern Languages
Dr. Richard Sindelar
Director, Center for International Studies
Chaos, desperation at Kabul airport as Biden defends withdrawal from Afghanistan
Hurricane Ida brought death, destruction, power outages and floods to Louisiana | USA TODAY
Video shows aftermath of 7.2-magnitude Haiti earthquake | CNN
Afghan evacuations gather pace, but crowds remain| Reuters
A Cinematic Afghanistan - DJI Movic Air - Full HD Video
Biden orders release of 9/11 documents
President Xi Jinping talks up plans for a 'green economy' in China | Business News
Houston prepares to welcome Afghan refugees
Catholic Charities - Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
U.S. faith groups unite to help Afghanistan refugees after war | America Magazine
Justice for Immigrants | United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI
FOR THE WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES (2013)
Inspired Influence w/ Haley Stewart
In this episode, Bridget talked with Haley Stewart, @haleycarrots. Haley has a large, dedicated following on social media and is considered a part of the new wave of Catholic social media influencers. She’s witty, an avid reader, a podcaster, a mom of four, a writer, a whiskey distillers' wife and a fellow with the Word on Fire Institute.
Her message of authenticity resonates with her audience as she illustrates how she and her family are trying to live out a faithful life. In this conversation, she shares openly about how seeing how other Catholics live out their faith can help us all think more creatively about our family life and our place in this world.
MAX Studios invited Haley to be a guest speaker for the OSV Innovation Challenge that University of St. Thomas-Houston helped facilitate. See details about that partnership here.
Links:
Haley Stewart, @haleycarrots
Haley Stewart: Word on Fire Fellow
UST Named Educational Partner in Our Sunday Visitor Institute’s 2021 Catholic Innovation Challenge
Social Media Influencers Are Changing The Way Companies Market Their Products | TODAY
The Rundown | Social Media and Authentic Connection w/ Katie Villarreal
Climate Change: From Oregon to Texas
The whole world is experiencing extreme weather-related disasters. In this episode of The Rundown, Bridget Richardson focuses in on Oregon's most recent heat wave and the freeze that hit Texas in February 2021 through the eyes of Catholic Charities. She talks with Jennifer Masotja, Director of Disaster Services with Catholic Charities Oregon, and Cynthia Colbert, President, CEO of Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
They discuss the major population shifts that climate change causes, how it affects the most vulnerable among us and how we're all called to respond. They also take a look at "Laudato Si," Pope Francis' encyclical letter on care for our common home.
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEfLP8ThE7w
The Oregon Eagle Creek Fire | Topic
After the Fire: Part 1 — Eagle Creek Fire Explainer
Scenes From the Deep Freeze in Texas
No surprise: Nuns are taking the lead in putting ‘Laudato Si’’ into action
Dorothy Photo: Insomnia Cured Here - The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Unpacking AAPI Hate
Host Eric Diaz sits down with two University of St. Thomas - Houston (UST) professors, Dr. Crystal Tran, assistant professor of psychology, and Dr. Hans Stockton, dean of the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences & Global Studies. They discuss the increased reporting and coverage of hate crimes on Asian Americans in the U.S. Dr. Tran breaks down the psychology behind hate and fear of the other. Dr. Stockton describes how it is important to separate the workings of a government from the people.
Both share how UST is trying to open the minds of their students to understand more about diversity and human dignity.
Dr. Crystal Tran
Assistant Professor, Psychology
Dr. Hans Stockton
Dean, Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences & Global Studies
Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group in the U.S. - Pew Research Center
WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard - World Health Organization
BOLD - A Student Perspective on Protests and Racism - University of St. Thomas - Houston
Not Born to Hate – Part 2
A continuation of our Not Born to Hate series, Brianna Amaya, a middle school religion teacher and graduate student, sits down to talk with a her former professor and dear friend, Fr. Dempsey Rosales Acosta, a Theology professor at the University of St. Thomas.
Together they share their experiences of faith, education and discrimination and articulate why it is hope - trust in God's divine will - that will allow us to grow and become the people God is calling us to be. Not Born to Hate is video series that seeks to examine race, racism and culture in America, provide an understanding of how we arrived at our present situation as a society and offer a sense of hope for our collective future.
Watch part 1 of Not Born to Hate here: Ep. 1 Not Born to Hate - Student Panel
Gaming and the Gospel
In this episode of The Rundown, host Bridget Richardson talked with Jonathan “Bearded Blevins,” partnered streamer and Catholic Director of Evangelization at Saint James Parish in Arlington Heights, Ill.
They discuss how Bearded Blevins began streaming part time because of the encouragement of his brother Tyler, or Ninja, who is one of the most famous streamers in the world.
A husband, father and former youth minister, Bearded Blevins shares how he tries to spread the Gospel message in his stream, the importance of positive online and in-person communities and why the new eSports degree at University of St. Thomas can truly change the world.
Bearded Blevins Fortnite Stream Aims to Change the World
