

Franciscan University Presents
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Franciscan University Presents airs monthly on EWTN. Check your local listings for time and availability!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 1, 2025 • 58min
Forming Families for Heaven | Fr. Carter Griffin | Franciscan University Presents
Join host Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, panelists Dr. Regis Martin and Dr. Scott Hahn, and special guest Father Carter Griffin, Rector at the Saint John Paul II Seminary and author of Forming Families, Forming Saints, as they discuss the role of parents and family life in preparing us for our final destination.
Other Voices for this episode include:
Dr. Ron Bolster
Dean of the School of Theology and Philosophy
Dr. Petroc Willey
Professor of Theology and Catechetics
Dr. William Keimig
Deputy Director of the Catechetical Institute
Original Air Date: June 2025
Listen to more Franciscan University Presents episodes and discover other Catholic podcasts, videos, and at Faith and Reason.

Jul 3, 2025 • 58min
Preparing for Martyrdom | Dr. Regis Martin | Franciscan University Presents
Join host Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, panelists Dr. Scott Hahn and Dr. Shane Owens, and special guest Dr. Regis Martin, Professor of Theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville and author of March to Martyrdom: Seven Letters on Sanctity From St. Ignatius of Antioch, as they discuss how the example of St. Ignatius of Antioch can inspire us to examine our lives.
Other Voices for this episode are excerpts from Dr. Martin's book, read by the author.
Original Air Date: May 2025
Listen to more Franciscan University Presents episodes and discover other Catholic podcasts, videos, and resources at Faith and Reason.

Jun 6, 2025 • 58min
The Stigmatists | Dr. Paul Kengor | Franciscan University Presents
Join panelists Father Jonathan St. André, TOR, and Dr. Scott Hahn, host Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, and special guest Dr. Paul Kengor, Professor of Political Science at Grove City College and author of The Stigmatists: Their Gifts, Their Revelations, Their Warnings, as they discuss the saints who bore the wounds of Christ, and why this should get our attention.
Other Voices for this episode include:
Dr. James Matenaer
Professor of History, Franciscan University of Steubenville
Dr. Kyle McKenna
Professor of Biology, Franciscan University of Steubenville
Original Air Date: April 2025
Find talks from the Marked with the Wounds of Christ Conference from September 12-14, 2024, here.
Listen to more Franciscan University Presents episodes and discover other Catholic podcasts, videos, and resources at Faith and Reason.

10 snips
May 2, 2025 • 58min
St. Augustine's Confessions and Us | Dr. Shane Owens | Franciscan University Presents
Join Dr. Shane Owens, an Assistant Professor of Theology and author focused on St. Augustine, as he explores the heart and spiritual journey through Augustine's 'Confessions'. Discover how Augustine's insights on love contrast self-love with love for God. Learn about the transformative power of prayer and memory in shaping our identities and narratives. The conversation highlights the significance of friendship and divine guidance in personal growth, urging listeners to deepen their connection with God through introspection and storytelling.

Apr 2, 2025 • 58min
Why Some Women Defy the Birth Dearth | Dr. Catherine Pakaluk | Franciscan University Presents
Join panelists Dr. Regis Martin and Dr. Scott Hahn, host Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, and special guest Dr. Catherine Pakaluk, associate professor in the Busch School of Business at the Catholic University of America and author of Hannah’s Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth, as they discuss why some women are open to having large families, despite cultural pressure.
Other Voices from this episode include:
Alicia Hernon
Co-Founder, Messy Family Project & Mother of 10
Laura Doroski
Parish Respect Life Ministry Coordinator & Mother of 6
Original Air Date: February 2025
Listen to more Franciscan University Presents episodes and discover other Catholic podcasts, videos, and resources at Faith and Reason.

Mar 5, 2025 • 58min
A Year of Hope and Grace | Dr. John Bergsma | Franciscan University Presents
Join panelists Dr. Regis Martin and Dr. Scott Hahn, host Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, and special guest Dr. John Bergsma, Professor of Theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville and Author of Jesus and Jubilee: The Biblical Roots of the Year of God’s Favor, as they discuss how we can enter into this Year of Jubilee and discover what God wants to offer each of us.
ORIGINAL AIR DATE: January 2025
Other Voices for this episode include:
Jean Robledo, Theology and Catechetics Major
Sarah Gacka, History Major
Katherine Saliga, Communication Arts and Classics Major
Listen to more Franciscan University Presents episodes and discover other Catholic podcasts, videos, and resources at Faith and Reason.

Feb 1, 2025 • 58min
A Catholic Approach to Relationships | Dr. Greg Bottaro | Franciscan University Presents
Join panelists Dr. Regis Martin and Dr. Scott Hahn, host Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, and special guest Dr. Greg Bottaro, Catholic psychologist and founder of the CatholicPsych Institute, as they discuss difficult relationships and the contributions of John Paul II to modern psychology.
Father Dave also had an entire series about mental health with Dr. Greg Bottaro on season 3 of In Focus, which you can find here.
Other Voices featured in this episode include:
Vincent D'Antuono, Communication Arts major
Laura Rodriguez, Marketing major
John Fusco, Business Management and Theology major
Isaac Desrosierss, Mechanical Engineering Major
ORIGINAL AIR DATE: December 2024
Listen to more Franciscan University Presents episodes and discover other Catholic podcasts, videos, and resources at Faith and Reason.

Jan 3, 2025 • 58min
The Fatherhood of God | Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR | Franciscan University Presents
Join panelists Dr. Regis Martin and Dr. Scott Hahn, and Host – and special guest – Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR, President of Franciscan University of Steubenville and Host of the video series “My father’s Father“, as they discuss how human fatherhood reveals – but can never replace – the divine Fatherhood of God.
Other Voices for this episode include:
William McNamara, Communication Arts major
Emma Grace Brierley, Marketing major
Duran Lurie, Philosophy and Theology major
ORIGINAL AIR DATE: NOVEMBER 2024
Listen to more Franciscan University Presents episodes and discover other Catholic podcasts, videos, and resources at Faith and Reason.

Dec 6, 2024 • 58min
The Light of His Eyes | Mother Iliana | Franciscan University Presents
Join Host Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, panelists Dr. Regis Martin and Dr. Scott Hahn,, and special guest Mother Iliana, a nun of the Byzantine Catholic Christ the Bridegroom Monastery and author of the new book “The Light of His Eyes: Journeying From Self-Contempt to the Father’s Delight“, as they discuss how we know that our lives matter and that we are enough.
ORIGINAL AIR DATE: OCTOBER 2024
Other Voices for this Episode include:
Ally Lazo, Theology and Catechetics Major
Isabella Severson, Nursing Major
Joshua Costello, Manager of Guest Outreach and Satisfaction
Listen to more Franciscan University Presents episodes and discover other Catholic podcasts, videos, and resources at Faith and Reason.

Nov 1, 2024 • 59min
A Catholic Pilgrimage Through American History | Dr. Kevin Schmiesing | Franciscan University Presents
Join Host Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, panelists Dr. Regis Martin and Dr. Scott Hahn,, and special guest Dr. Kevin Schmiesing, professor of Church History at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and School of Theology and author of A Catholic Pilgrimage Through American History: People and Places that Shaped the Church in the United States, as they discuss what pilgrimage is and all of the many holy sites located throughout the United States of America.
ORIGINAL AIR DATE: September 2024
Other Voices for this Episode include excerpts from Dr. Schmiesing's book, read by John Romanowsky.
Listen to more Franciscan University Presents episodes and discover other Catholic podcasts, videos, and resources at Faith and Reason.