
The Simpleton Podcast | Catholic Culture, Mission, and Politics with Clark Massey and Laura Hehman
Welcome to The Simpleton Podcast with Clark Massey and Laura Hehman!
Clark is the founder of A Simple House of Sts. Francis and Alphonsus, a Catholic inner-city outreach ministry in Washington, DC and Kansas City, MO. Laura was one of the first missionaries to join the ministry, and is still involved today.
The vision of The Simpleton Podcast is to discuss Catholic culture, mission, and politics through the lens of the Catholic laity.
New episodes (almost) every Thursday!
To learn more about A Simple House, visit https://www.asimplehouse.org/
Latest episodes

May 4, 2023 • 38min
Should You Give Money to the Homeless?, Tucker Carlson, Catholic Star Wars | The Simpleton Podcast
Also in this episode:
• Don Lemon and Tucker Carlson
• Star Wars Catholicism
• ASH's 20th anniversary!
• How to TRULY help the homeless
• So you want to start a ministry?
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Chapters:
0:00 Start
1:42 Tucker Carlson, Don Lemon, and the Catholicism of Star Wars
5:21 A Simple House Anniversary Party! And the NFL Draft
5:55 ASH Updates: finding love, St. Andrew Kim devotion
9:58 Lucky Charms, candy, and sugar crises
12:32 So you want to start a ministry? 3 things you need to consider
16:21 How to approach giving
22:27 Solidarity and its massive importance
25:28 What is subsidiarity? And why does it tie into solidarity?
30:32 Mental illness, addiction, "grifters": homelessness in the big picture
34:00 How to REALLY serve someone experiencing homelessness
37:01 Should you give $5 to the guy on the side of the road?
37:38 A "shazam" of an outro!
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The Simpleton Podcast is also on Rumble and Odysee! You can watch the latest episodes of The Simpleton Podcast by going to:
Rumble: rumble.com/user/asimplehouseU
Odysee: odysee.com/@asimplehouseU
You can also find this episode on YouTube. Just search "The Simpleton Podcast", or go to https://youtu.be/2Q_rzJtxYe4.
---
Like, subscribe, share the podcast, and most of all, send us your feedback! We want to hear from you about what you loved, what you didn't, where you want to see the podcast go, and any other thoughts you have. Send us an email at asimplehouse@gmail.com with the subject line "The Simpleton Podcast Feedback".
A Simple House is a Catholic ministry that serves project and Section 8 neighborhoods in southeast Washington, DC and Kansas City, MO. Our Catholic missionary work involves meeting people in their neighborhoods and in their homes. Missionaries strive to meet the material and spiritual needs of the poor. While missionaries serve at A Simple House, they live a simple religious life. Each missionary attends daily Mass, says morning and evening prayer from the Catholic Church's Liturgy of the Hours, and makes time for personal prayer and scripture study.
To learn more about A Simple House and The Simpleton Podcast, visit asimplehouse.org. You can also follow us on these platforms:
YouTube - A Simple House: https://www.youtube.com/@asimplehouse.catholic
YouTube - A Simple House U (home of The Simpleton Podcast): https://youtube.com/@asimplehouseu_2023
Facebook: @asimplehouse
Instagram: @asimplehouse.catholic
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#homeless #starwars #catholic

Apr 27, 2023 • 1h 3min
Are Floozies Taking Over? Bad News for Holy Week, Seth Rogen & Public Policy | The Simpleton Podcast
Episode #56!
Also in this episode:
• Clark reaches cyborg status
• Maryland abuse report & analysis
• Commercializing spirituality
• Urban decay
• China’s awfulness
---
Chapters:
0:00 Start
1:34 Clark's new arm! Cyborg status unlocked!
2:58 The Catholic sex abuse scandal, the Pennsylvania Report...
4:58 ...and the new Baltimore/Maryland Report
8:31 Shocking facts about the acknowledgement and legality of abuse (until the 1970s)
13:54 The problem with lifting the statute of limitations
16:44 The problem of abuse BEYOND the Church, in schools
21:05 Walter Reed Hospital's interesting Catholic clergy situation
24:02 The commercialization of spirituality and persecution of religion
32:14 Statistics, narratives, and what you hear vs. reality
35:18 Mass shootings vs. school shootings
37:11 The statistical problem of denying rights to improve life for others
40:22 Urban decay and blind eyes for violence
41:20 The Kansas City shooting and stand-your-ground laws
44:32 Why are we afraid of each other? And the Buffalo Blizzard story
45:43 Urban decay in the past; the persuasiveness of statistics and anecdotes
48:57 The horrors of China and how other nations should interact with them
51:53 A Catholic (maybe?) social policy for China (and beyond)
57:17 "Coming out as a Republican" from "Long Shot" (2019)
1:02:30 Outro
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The Simpleton Podcast is also on Rumble and Odysee! You can watch the latest episodes of The Simpleton Podcast by going to:
Rumble: rumble.com/user/asimplehouseU
Odysee: odysee.com/@asimplehouseU
You can also find this episode on YouTube. Just search "The Simpleton Podcast", or go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGtaVKhobYc.
---
Like, subscribe, share the podcast, and most of all, send us your feedback! We want to hear from you about what you loved, what you didn't, where you want to see the podcast go, and any other thoughts you have. Send us an email at asimplehouse@gmail.com with the subject line "The Simpleton Podcast Feedback".
A Simple House is a Catholic ministry that serves project and Section 8 neighborhoods in southeast Washington, DC and Kansas City, MO. Our Catholic missionary work involves meeting people in their neighborhoods and in their homes. Missionaries strive to meet the material and spiritual needs of the poor. While missionaries serve at A Simple House, they live a simple religious life. Each missionary attends daily Mass, says morning and evening prayer from the Catholic Church's Liturgy of the Hours, and makes time for personal prayer and scripture study.
To learn more about A Simple House and The Simpleton Podcast, visit asimplehouse.org. You can also follow us on these platforms:
YouTube - A Simple House: https://www.youtube.com/@asimplehouse.catholic
YouTube - A Simple House U (home of The Simpleton Podcast): https://youtube.com/@asimplehouseu_2023
Facebook: @asimplehouse
Instagram: @asimplehouse.catholic
---
#cyborg #maryland #catholicchurch #catholicteaching #china #politics #urbandecay #sethrogan #catholic #christian #catholicpodcast #christianpodcast #catholicism #podcast #catholicmissionary #catholicmission #catholicinstagram #catholicministry #catholicevangelization #catholicvolunteer #catholiccharity #catholicvolunteer #catholicvolunteernetwork #yearofservice #ministry #mission #missionary #evangelization #charity #volunteer

Apr 6, 2023 • 55min
Afroman's Revenge, AI Shutdown?, Jazz Jennings, & Norm Macdonald | The Simpleton Podcast
Clark and Laura discuss Afroman's insane legal battle (and how to effectively embarrass the police), the moratorium on AI, and more on this episode of The Simpleton Podcast.
Also in this episode:
• Why is Clark in a cast and sling?
• Can we make AI safe?; The lockdown on AI
• What does AGI and "alignment" mean?
• Jazz Jennings, "I am Jazz", and understanding transgender transitions
• Norm Macdonald and the Christian idea of self-knowledge
---
NOTE:
Below are the links for the statistics and studies that Clark and Laura mention. One slight clarification: in the podcast, it is stated that when comparing the mental health profiles of TIY (transgender-identifying youth) and non-TIY, the statistics of s*icidal behavior are "the same". The line from the second article below provides clarification: "[when comparing the mental health profiles of TIY and non-TIY,] the disparities in s*icidal behavior reduced considerably, suggesting that it is not the lack of gender affirmation that seems to be driving s*icidal behavior." Key emphasis on "disparities" and "reduced considerably", as opposed to "[are] the same".
Links:
Suicidality Among Transgender Youth: Elucidating the Role of Interpersonal Risk Factors: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32345113/
Pediatric Gender Medicine and the Moral Panic Over Suicide: https://www.realityslaststand.com/p/pediatric-gender-medicine-and-the?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
---
Chapters:
0:00 Start
0:46 Clark's bionic arm
1:21 *MEDICAL TRIGGER WARNING*
2:01 Recovering from an injury
2:38 *MEDICAL TRIGGER WARNING PT. 2*
3:49 Afroman returns! He's getting SUED for his song?
7:47 Embarrassing and speaking out against the government
10:09 Can we make AI safe?; The moratorium on AI
12:11 WHY AI is so powerful
14:18 What is Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)?
15:18 AGI's threats (as expressed by AGI's creators) and what is "alignment"?
18:52 Why AGI is hard to control
20:13 Guardrails are needed (pt.1): what are they and where do they go?
20:33 Laura asks Bing AI about itself
21:24 Guardrails are needed (pt.2): "it's a race to the bottom"
24:02 What we can do to protect ourselves
26:17 We need guiding, universal rules for AI
29:33 We need good, well-intentioned people for AI
31:24 AI, transhumanism, eugenics, and human potential
33:49 What does TLC stand for?? (as in, the TLC Channel)
35:14 Jazz Jennings, "I am Jazz", and a story of transgender transition
38:02 Understanding the situation, exploitation, child abuse, e etc.
40:47 The epidemic of transgender transitions
41:42 The complexity of transgenderism, gender dysphoria, body dysmorphic disorder, child abuse
46:08 (SEE NOTE IN DESCRIPTION) S*icide and transgender identifying youth
48:10 The Christian idea of self-knowledge
49:49 How self-knowledge relates to transgenderism (pt. 1)
50:13 Norm Macdonald and the intuition for God
52:11 How self-knowledge relates to transgenderism (pt. 2)
54:37 Outro
---
The Simpleton Podcast is also on Rumble and Odysee! You can watch the latest episodes of The Simpleton Podcast by going to:
Rumble: rumble.com/user/asimplehouseU
Odysee: odysee.com/@asimplehouseU
You can also find the video version of this episode on YouTube. Just search "The Simpleton Podcast", or go to https://youtu.be/hmg1IJsv5GU.
---
Like, subscribe, share the podcast, and most of all, send us your feedback! We want to hear from you about what you loved, what you didn't, where you want to see the podcast go, and any other thoughts you have. Send us an email at asimplehouse@gmail.com with the subject line "The Simpleton Podcast Feedback".
To learn more about A Simple House and The Simpleton Podcast, visit asimplehouse.org. You can also follow us on these platforms:
YouTube - A Simple House: https://www.youtube.com/@asimplehouse.catholic
YouTube - A Simple House U (home of The Simpleton Podcast): https://youtube.com/@asimplehouseu_2023
Facebook: @asimplehouse
Instagram: @asimplehouse.catholic

Mar 30, 2023 • 47min
Catholic Social Doctrine (What, Why, Impact, & Shortcomings) | The Simpleton Podcast
Clark and Laura break down the Catholic Church’s Social Doctrine, including the Compendium of the Social Doctrine. What is it, how did it come to be, what’s good about it, and where is it lacking?
Also in this episode:
• Do Christians only help people because it makes them feel good?
• It's ok to make money; when self-interest is good
• A correction: Catholicism's official teaching on Protestants and Schisms
• 20th Anniversary of ASH and YOUR INVITATION
• Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church
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Chapters:
0:00 Start
0:58 Catholicism's official teaching on Protestants and Schisms
3:39 20th Anniversary of ASH and YOUR INVITATION
5:03 Introduction to Catholic Social Doctine
5:37 How did the Social Doctrine come about? And its context
12:18 Issues with the Social Doctrine
15:21 The implications of decentralization and human growth
18:47 Nobility and its many issues
21:09 Do Christians only help people because it makes them feel good?
23:06 What IS the Social Doctrine of the Church?
25:22 Is the Church Socialist, Libertarian, or Communist?
27:54 The primary principles (and the ambiguity) of the Social Doctrine
31:01 Is the Social Doctrine authoritative?
32:35 What's missing from the Social Doctrine: #1 Decentralization
36:39 It's good to make money; when self-interest is ok
39:57 Why ethics in business is necessary (and helpful)
42:11 Understanding "rights" (feat. Mary Ann Glendon's "Rights Talk")
44:09 Recapping: What we wish the Social Doctrine did better
44:30 Laura's recommendation: library hack!
45:55 Clark's stand-up comedy
46:56 Outro
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The Simpleton Podcast is also on Rumble and Odysee! You can watch the latest episodes of The Simpleton Podcast by going to:
Rumble: rumble.com/user/asimplehouseU
Odysee: odysee.com/@asimplehouseU
You can also find the video version of this episode on YouTube. Just search "The Simpleton Podcast", or go to https://youtu.be/3pPQubXAEeo.
---
Like, subscribe, share the podcast, and most of all, send us your feedback! We want to hear from you about what you loved, what you didn't, where you want to see the podcast go, and any other thoughts you have. Send us an email at asimplehouse@gmail.com with the subject line "The Simpleton Podcast Feedback".
A Simple House is a Catholic ministry that serves project and Section 8 neighborhoods in southeast Washington, DC and Kansas City, MO. Our Catholic missionary work involves meeting people in their neighborhoods and in their homes. Missionaries strive to meet the material and spiritual needs of the poor. While missionaries serve at A Simple House, they live a simple religious life. Each missionary attends daily Mass, says morning and evening prayer from the Catholic Church's Liturgy of the Hours, and makes time for personal prayer and scripture study.
To learn more about A Simple House and The Simpleton Podcast, visit asimplehouse.org. You can also follow us on these platforms:
YouTube - A Simple House: https://www.youtube.com/@asimplehouse.catholic
YouTube - A Simple House U (home of The Simpleton Podcast): https://youtube.com/@asimplehouseu_2023
Facebook: @asimplehouse
Instagram: @asimplehouse.catholic

Mar 9, 2023 • 1h 1min
The Best Spiritual Advice, Bing's AI Can Love You?, New Schisms & JK Rowling | The Simpleton Podcast
Clark and Laura share spiritual pitfalls to stay away from, share how Microsoft's "Sydney" Bing Chatbot is creeping the heck out of people, share conservative vs. liberal thoughts on state-funded education, and more in this wide-ranging episode of The Simpleton Podcast.
Also in this episode:
• Microsoft Bing Chatbot "Sydney" is in love with people
• Schisms in the modern-day Catholic Church
• J.K. Rowling and conservatives/liberals
• Truly, your spiritual problems have simple solutions
• Thomas AquinasGPT and Catholic Chatbots
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Chapters:
0:00 Start
1:16 Pitfalls of spiritual advice
2:04 The 80/20 rule (not the productivity version)
6:10 What's the purpose of spiritual formation?
10:09 Your problems have simple solutions
13:18 Being a supportive bystander (ASH's accountability meetings)
14:37 Schisms in the modern-day Catholic Church
20:45 The problem with ecumenism (and how to find common ground)
24:17 AI and verification problems
25:53 Sentient AI goes off the rails
33:40 AI is in love with you??
36:39 Microsoft's weird decisions behind its AI
37:39 The transhumanist movement behind AI
39:26 The AI revolution: education, white-collar jobs, & art
42:35 AI and fraud
47:56 How "Electric Dreams" (1984) predicted 2023
50:16 J.K. Rowling and conservatives/liberals
56:41 Jordan Peterson, state-funded education
59:16 Final final FINAL thoughts on AI
---
The Simpleton Podcast is also on Rumble and Odysee! You can watch the latest episodes of The Simpleton Podcast by going to:
Rumble: rumble.com/user/asimplehouseU
Odysee: odysee.com/@asimplehouseU
You can also find the video version of this episode on YouTube. Just search "The Simpleton Podcast", or go to https://youtu.be/bpLg9Omx8X8.
---
Like, subscribe, share the podcast, and most of all, send us your feedback! We want to hear from you about what you loved, what you didn't, where you want to see the podcast go, and any other thoughts you have. Send us an email at asimplehouse@gmail.com with the subject line "The Simpleton Podcast Feedback".
A Simple House is a Catholic ministry that serves project and Section 8 neighborhoods in southeast Washington, DC and Kansas City, MO. Our Catholic missionary work involves meeting people in their neighborhoods and in their homes. Missionaries strive to meet the material and spiritual needs of the poor. While missionaries serve at A Simple House, they live a simple religious life. Each missionary attends daily Mass, says morning and evening prayer from the Catholic Church's Liturgy of the Hours, and makes time for personal prayer and scripture study.
To learn more about A Simple House and The Simpleton Podcast, visit asimplehouse.org. You can also follow us on these platforms:
YouTube - A Simple House: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6LYNoV7AFGhKP4LR0Qqgnw
YouTube - A Simple House U (home of The Simpleton Podcast): https://youtube.com/@asimplehouseu_2023
Facebook: @asimplehouse
Instagram: @asimplehouse.catholic

Mar 2, 2023 • 48min
The Dangers of AI, ChatGPT Writes a TSP Episode, & Afroman vs. Police | The Simpleton Podcast
ChatGPT has everyone excited, worried, or both. What do we make of it as Catholics? And what would happen if ChatGPT wrote an episode of The Simpleton Podcast?
Also in this episode:
• Does ChatGPT have any hidden biases?
• Chatbots and AI: a brief history
• We need...a Catholic ChatGPT?
• The 1975 film "Rollerball", dysutoptia, and street luge
• SIMPLE LIVING: Reverse sear your steak!
Laura's Reverse-searing recipe: https://www.bonappetit.com/story/reverse-sear-chuck-steak
---
Chapters:
0:00 Start
1:49 Artificial Intelligence: an outline of what we'll discuss
2:34 Chatbots: a brief history
3:39 ChatGPT writes a The Simpleton Podcast episode
6:28 Breaking down ChatGPT's TSP episode
9:23 Dissecting ChatGPT's biases
10:50 Where does ChatGPT get its sources from?
14:39 Using ChatGPT as a Magic 8 Ball
16:44 The future of ChatGPT & how it's going to change the workplace
22:18 We need...a Catholic ChatGPT?
23:13 How ChatGPT will change education
26:01 The 1975 film "Rollerball", dysutoptia, and street luge
29:18 Back to ChatGPT and education
30:50 Other dangers of AI
33:48 Afroman's "Will You Help Me Repair My Door" and police injustice
42:21 SIMPLE LIVING: Reverse sear your meat! Also: Puerto Rican cuisine
45:15 Final FINAL words on AI and the future
---
The Simpleton Podcast is also on Rumble and Odysee! You can watch the latest episodes of The Simpleton Podcast by going to:
Rumble: rumble.com/user/asimplehouseU
Odysee: odysee.com/@asimplehouseU
You can also find the video version of this episode on YouTube. Just search "The Simpleton Podcast", or go to https://youtu.be/INbLeap9mdw.
---
Like, subscribe, share the podcast, and most of all, send us your feedback! We want to hear from you about what you loved, what you didn't, where you want to see the podcast go, and any other thoughts you have. Send us an email at asimplehouse@gmail.com with the subject line "The Simpleton Podcast Feedback".
A Simple House is a Catholic ministry that serves project and Section 8 neighborhoods in southeast Washington, DC and Kansas City, MO. Our Catholic missionary work involves meeting people in their neighborhoods and in their homes. Missionaries strive to meet the material and spiritual needs of the poor. While missionaries serve at A Simple House, they live a simple religious life. Each missionary attends daily Mass, says morning and evening prayer from the Catholic Church's Liturgy of the Hours, and makes time for personal prayer and scripture study.
To learn more about A Simple House and The Simpleton Podcast, visit asimplehouse.org. You can also follow us on these platforms:
YouTube - A Simple House: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6LYNoV7AFGhKP4LR0Qqgnw
YouTube - A Simple House U (home of The Simpleton Podcast): https://youtube.com/@asimplehouseu_2023
Facebook: @asimplehouse
Instagram: @asimplehouse.catholic

Feb 23, 2023 • 1h 3min
Book of Job Meaning, Is Catholicism Open-Minded?, The Machine of Comfort | The Simpleton Podcast
🎉 The Simpleton Podcast's 50TH EPISODE! 🎉
Clark and Laura discuss why even tried and true Christians experience doubt. What can we do about it?
Also in this episode:
• "Grounding in God", an Audio Essay
• A special message from Ben the Editor
• Supernatural vs. Natural Happenings
• The machine of comfort & poverty of opportunity
• SIMPLE LIVING HACK: Soviet meat axe!?
---
Chapters:
0:00 Start
0:10 A message from Ben the Editor (who needs a shave)
2:53 Podcast Intro
3:38 A lesson on making coffee
6:23 Audio essay: "Grounding in God"
24:25 Laura returns! And the necessity for relationship with God
27:36 Doubt, Supernatural vs. Natural Happenings
29:22 Catholicism is not a closed ideology: we explain
35:51 Job and getting angry at God
38:46 How Jesus taught & building yourself on God
41:06 Clark's economic geekings: GDP and world politics
49:30 ^ The WHY (and the Catholic application)
53:48 The machine of comfort & poverty of opportunity
57:38 The US is an empire (and what that means)
59:19 SIMPLE LIVING HACK: Soviet meat axe!?
---
The Simpleton Podcast is also on Rumble and Odysee! You can watch the latest episodes of The Simpleton Podcast by going to:
Rumble: rumble.com/user/asimplehouseU
Odysee: odysee.com/@asimplehouseU
You can also find the video version of this episode on YouTube. Just search "The Simpleton Podcast", or go to https://youtu.be/Vb72SNUF5dg.
---
Like, subscribe, share the podcast, and most of all, send us your feedback! We want to hear from you about what you loved, what you didn't, where you want to see the podcast go, and any other thoughts you have. Send us an email at asimplehouse@gmail.com with the subject line "The Simpleton Podcast Feedback".
A Simple House is a Catholic ministry that serves project and Section 8 neighborhoods in southeast Washington, DC and Kansas City, MO. Our Catholic missionary work involves meeting people in their neighborhoods and in their homes. Missionaries strive to meet the material and spiritual needs of the poor. While missionaries serve at A Simple House, they live a simple religious life. Each missionary attends daily Mass, says morning and evening prayer from the Catholic Church's Liturgy of the Hours, and makes time for personal prayer and scripture study.
To learn more about A Simple House and The Simpleton Podcast, visit asimplehouse.org. You can also follow us on these platforms:
YouTube - A Simple House: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6LYNoV7AFGhKP4LR0Qqgnw
YouTube - A Simple House U (home of The Simpleton Podcast): https://youtube.com/@asimplehouseu_2023
Facebook: @asimplehouse
Instagram: @asimplehouse.catholic

Feb 17, 2023 • 56min
How to Replace God, Weird Christian Retreats, Silence Movie, & CS Lewis | The Simpleton Podcast
Back from A Simple House's yearly retreat, Clark and Laura discuss what a good Christian / Catholic retreat should look like, the things that we replace God with, "Silence" (2016), and much more.
Also in this episode:
• C*caine, sugar, and Greyhound buses (we'll explain)
• The phrase, "Do you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?"
• Catholics react to the movie "Silence" (2016)
• Science, fitness, aliens: things that replace God
• SIMPLE LIVING HACK: Popcorn
--
We apologize for the re-upload, we made an editing mistake that caused the second half of the original upload to be way out of sync with the audio. Enjoy the fixed version!
---
Chapters:
0:00 Start
0:55 C*caine, sugar, and Greyhound buses
4:27 ASH Retreat rules
5:23 SUPERFEAST (and how to fast/feast)
10:18 Weird retreat problems
14:14 TRUE Christian fasting (healthy and holy)
20:10 "Do you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?"
22:03 Why it's crucial to have a personal relationship with Jesus
25:59 The book "Silence" and the obviousness of God
29:40 We will experience persecution; here's how to prepare
32:45 A tangent on the dangers of Parkinson's meds
35:00 Science, fitness, aliens: things that replace God
37:36 The genius of C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy
38:01 Should we "fortify" ourselves with theology?
40:04 C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy & "That Hideous Strength"
45:42 Kind, loving, albeit ordinary priests
47:26 Please pray for the popular, superstar priests
51:11 SIMPLE LIVING HACK: Popcorn
---
The Simpleton Podcast is also on Rumble and Odysee! You can watch the latest episodes of The Simpleton Podcast by going to:
Rumble: rumble.com/user/asimplehouseU
Odysee: odysee.com/@asimplehouseU
You can also find the video version of this episode on YouTube. Just search "The Simpleton Podcast", or go to https://youtu.be/8ppKleFoFKs.
---
Like, subscribe, share the podcast, and most of all, send us your feedback! We want to hear from you about what you loved, what you didn't, where you want to see the podcast go, and any other thoughts you have. Send us an email at asimplehouse@gmail.com with the subject line "The Simpleton Podcast Feedback".
A Simple House is a Catholic ministry that serves project and Section 8 neighborhoods in southeast Washington, DC and Kansas City, MO. Our Catholic missionary work involves meeting people in their neighborhoods and in their homes. Missionaries strive to meet the material and spiritual needs of the poor. While missionaries serve at A Simple House, they live a simple religious life. Each missionary attends daily Mass, says morning and evening prayer from the Catholic Church's Liturgy of the Hours, and makes time for personal prayer and scripture study.
To learn more about A Simple House and The Simpleton Podcast, visit asimplehouse.org. You can also follow us on these platforms:
YouTube - A Simple House: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6LYNoV7AFGhKP4LR0Qqgnw
YouTube - A Simple House U (home of The Simpleton Podcast): https://youtube.com/@asimplehouseu_2023
Facebook: @asimplehouse
Instagram: @asimplehouse.catholic

Feb 9, 2023 • 1h 2min
The Cure for Poverty, Why "Good" Isn't Exciting, & Steven Crowder | The Simpleton Podcast
Clark and Laura take a deep dive into the problem of poverty, the misconceptions surrounding it, and the solution--which isn't what you think.
Also in this episode:
• "The poor will always be with us": true or false?
• Stupid, classic analogies: the river
• Peter Theil and how nuance can destroy a message
• The marketplace of ideas and what defeats good ideas
• How to TRULY retreat (also: A Simple House's no-wimps retreat)
---
Chapters:
0:00 Start
0:54 "Misunderstanding Poverty": Clark's essay
6:13 True or false: "The poor will always be with us"?
12:16 Exploiting the poor
13:53 Homily problems and elocution
15:58 Stupid, classic analogies: the river
18:02 Ben Speaks Out Against Injustice
19:00 Laura's defense of JP2 and nuance
22:06 **trigger warning, skip ahead to 23:06**
23:06 Nuance can destroy a message
24:45 Peter Theil is a great example of avoiding nuance
26:06 HUGE misconceptions about the poor
34:40 How to make a holy life enticing
39:33 Steven Crowder, the marketplace of ideas, what defeats good ideas
46:58 How to TRULY retreat (also: A Simple House's no-wimps retreat)
57:28 SIMPLE LIVING HACK (kind of): buying eyeglasses
---
The Simpleton Podcast is also on Rumble and Odysee! You can watch the latest episodes of The Simpleton Podcast by going to:
Rumble: rumble.com/user/asimplehouseU
Odysee: odysee.com/@asimplehouseU
You can also find the video version of this episode on YouTube. Just search "The Simpleton Podcast", or go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUja8OgkDWg.
---
Like, subscribe, share the podcast, and most of all, send us your feedback! We want to hear from you about what you loved, what you didn't, where you want to see the podcast go, and any other thoughts you have. Send us an email at asimplehouse@gmail.com with the subject line "The Simpleton Podcast Feedback".
A Simple House is a Catholic ministry that serves project and Section 8 neighborhoods in southeast Washington, DC and Kansas City, MO. Our Catholic missionary work involves meeting people in their neighborhoods and in their homes. Missionaries strive to meet the material and spiritual needs of the poor. While missionaries serve at A Simple House, they live a simple religious life. Each missionary attends daily Mass, says morning and evening prayer from the Catholic Church's Liturgy of the Hours, and makes time for personal prayer and scripture study.
To learn more about A Simple House and The Simpleton Podcast, visit asimplehouse.org. You can also follow us on these platforms:
YouTube - A Simple House: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6LYNoV7AFGhKP4LR0Qqgnw
YouTube - A Simple House U (home of The Simpleton Podcast): https://youtube.com/asimplehouseu_2023
Facebook: @asimplehouse
Instagram: @asimplehouse.catholic

Feb 2, 2023 • 46min
Libertarians, Dave Smith, What Do Catholics Believe, & Gaslighting | The Simpleton Podcast
Clark and Laura discuss the commonalities between Libertarians and Catholics--not in beliefs, but in their messages--in this episode of The Simpleton Podcast.
Also in this episode:
• Red-pill moments and "breaking frame"
• Catholics: stop arguing about what doesn't matter!
• Gaslighting, sexuality, and breakdowns of logic
• Extremism and counter-narratives
• Simple Living Hacks: ice cream!
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Chapters:
0:00 Start
0:51 Libertarians, Catholic governmental history, and Dave Smith
5:16 "Red pilling" the world as Catholics
10:08 What Catholics believe that no one else believes
18:08 Wearing weaknesses as badges?
20:47 Catholics: stop nerding out. Focus on the world!
24:07 Here's what Catholics need to stop talking about
26:56 Absurdism, gaslighting, and damage to our culture
34:59 The breakdown of sexuality
38:11 Politics, extremism, and the rise of counter-narratives
42:04 SIMPLE LIVING HACKS: Ice cream
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