• Into the Heart of Middle-earth with Kaitlyn Facista
    Apr 17 2026

    Haley interviews Kaitlyn Facista, the founder of Tea with Tolkien (an online reading community) and the author of Into the Heart of Middle-earth. This episode discusses the wonderful works of J.R.R.Tolkien, his Catholic faith, and the Catholic theme of hope in The Lord of the Rings. It also explores the importance of feeding our souls with good books after becoming parents and modeling a healthy delight in our interests to highlight the joy of parenthood for our children.

    Learn more about the children's literature available from Word on Fire Votive. Stay up-to-date with the latest episodes of the The Votive Podcast biweekly on WordonFire.org or wherever you listen to podcasts.

    Do you enjoy this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member to support the production of the Votive Podcast and other initiatives from Word on Fire. Our ministry depends on the support of listeners like you! Become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.

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    35 mins
  • The Gift of Poetry and the Natural World with Paul J. Pastor
    Mar 13 2026

    Haley interviews Paul J. Pastor, a poet, writer, and editor who lives with his family in the Pacific Northwest. He recently released a beautiful collection of poems called The Locust Years from Wiseblood Books. This episode discusses poetry that's rooted in images of the natural world and the gift of the natural world for a child's imagination. It also considers how to introduce children to poetry and teach them to write poetry themselves.

    Learn more about the children's literature available from Word on Fire Votive. Stay up-to-date with the latest episodes of the The Votive Podcast biweekly on WordonFire.org or wherever you listen to podcasts.

    Do you enjoy this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member to support the production of the Votive Podcast and other initiatives from Word on Fire. Our ministry depends on the support of listeners like you! Become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.

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    33 mins
  • The Christian Themes in Snow White with Dr. Vigen Guroian
    Feb 27 2026

    Haley interviews Vigen Guroian, the author of Tending the Heart of Virtue. This episode discusses the Christian themes in one particular popular fairy tale: The Grimm Brother's story of Snow White. Dr. Guroian unpacks this classic story and explores the Christian influence of the Brothers Grimm.

    Learn more about the children's literature available from Word on Fire Votive. Stay up-to-date with the latest episodes of the The Votive Podcast biweekly on WordonFire.org or wherever you listen to podcasts.

    Do you enjoy this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member to support the production of the Votive Podcast and other initiatives from Word on Fire. Our ministry depends on the support of listeners like you! Become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.

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    46 mins
  • The World of Fairy Tales with Grace Fitzpatrick
    Feb 13 2026

    Haley interviews Grace Fitzpatrick, an icon writer and a storyteller. Her collection of fairytales, The Stag with the Crystal Horns and Other Tales, is forthcoming from Ignatius Press. Grace is wife to fellow writer Danny Fitzpatrick and mom to four beautiful kids. In this episode Haley and Grace discuss fairy tales: what they are, why we're drawn to them, and why they are still worth sharing and writing.

    Learn more about the children's literature available from Word on Fire Votive. Stay up-to-date with the latest episodes of the The Votive Podcast biweekly on WordonFire.org or wherever you listen to podcasts.

    Do you enjoy this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member to support the production of the Votive Podcast and other initiatives from Word on Fire. Our ministry depends on the support of listeners like you! Become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.

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    41 mins
  • Taking Young Readers Seriously with Randy Boyagoda
    Jan 30 2026

    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, Original Prin, and Beggar's Feast. They talk about the importance of taking young people seriously as readers and as thinkers. They also discuss the genre of YA literature and Randy's new YA novel titled Little Sanctuary. This episode considers the need to challenge young readers with powerful language and thought-provoking themes and the need for all of us to read more in an age of distraction.

    Learn more about the children's literature available from Word on Fire Votive. Stay up-to-date with the latest episodes of the The Votive Podcast biweekly on WordonFire.org or wherever you listen to podcasts.

    Do you enjoy this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member to support the production of the Votive Podcast and other initiatives from Word on Fire. Our ministry depends on the support of listeners like you! Become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.

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    38 mins
  • How Story Prepares Children for Suffering with Anthony D'Ambrosio
    Jan 16 2026

    Haley interviews Anthony D'Ambrosio, a film producer, writer, and director as well as the founder of Sherwood Fellows. This episode discusses his film Triumph of the Heart about the martyrdom of St. Maximilian Kolbe. Haley and Anthony explore the powerful medium of film and how it can shape the imagination. And they consider the importance of letting stories of heroic suffering (like Kolbe's) shape young people so that they have the tools to face suffering when it comes, accompanied by the saints and by Christ who suffers with us.

    Learn more about the children's literature available from Word on Fire Votive. Stay up-to-date with the latest episodes of the The Votive Podcast biweekly on WordonFire.org or wherever you listen to podcasts.

    Do you enjoy this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member to support the production of the Votive Podcast and other initiatives from Word on Fire. Our ministry depends on the support of listeners like you! Become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.

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    47 mins
  • Entering the Advent Story with Laura Kelly Fanucci
    Dec 12 2025

    Haley interviews Laura Kelly Fanucci, an award-winning author of several books including Everyday Sacrament and Grieving Together. Her work has been featured all over the place including the Hallow App, NPR, and The Kelly Clarkson Show. She runs two best-selling Substacks: The Holy Labor and The Compassion Brigade and she lives in Minnesota with her husband and her five sons. She also has a new book called Mary's Way of Advent, the season being discussed on the show today. This episode explores how to share this holy season with children and how to enter into the story of Advent.

    Learn more about the children's literature available from Word on Fire Votive. Stay up-to-date with the latest episodes of the The Votive Podcast biweekly on WordonFire.org or wherever you listen to podcasts.

    Do you enjoy this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member to support the production of the Votive Podcast and other initiatives from Word on Fire. Our ministry depends on the support of listeners like you! Become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.

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    37 mins
  • Building a Home Library with Nell O'Leary
    Nov 28 2025

    Haley interviewes Nell O'Leary, Institute Consultant for the Word on Fire Institute and mom of five living in St. Paul. This episode explores developing a home library and what kind of books to stock in it. Nell and Haley talk about raising readers, helping children develop their moral imagination and learn to strengthen the muscle of critical thinking as they encounter new media, and building a bookish family culture

    Learn more about the children's literature available from Word on Fire Votive. Stay up-to-date with the latest episodes of the The Votive Podcast biweekly on WordonFire.org or wherever you listen to podcasts.

    Do you enjoy this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member to support the production of the Votive Podcast and other initiatives from Word on Fire. Our ministry depends on the support of listeners like you! Become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.

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    38 mins