Podcast
Feeding Fathers
Hosted by Qurbana Media · EN
Fr. Simon Esshaki hosts engaging conversations and shares a meal with three of his brother priests. This Catholic podcast offers candid, informal discussions on theology, faith, and contemporary issues, seen through a distinct Chaldean Catholic lens.
Explore the profound ancient spirituality of the Church of the East, bringing unique and fresh perspectives to Christianity and modern culture. This show is for anyone seeking spiritual insights, Catholic wisdom, and meaningful dialogue about faith in today's world.
Listen in for discussions that truly nourish your soul, enlighten your understanding, and make you hungry!
27episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Feeling Lonely in a Crowded Room [Ep. 94]
4d ago00:45:50Tap to summarizeYou can be completely alone and feel peace. You can be surrounded by people and feel empty. We get into solitude vs. loneliness, why your social battery dies as you get older, the quiet time parents with little kids desperately need (and how to actually get it), and the kind of loneliness Jesus felt in the Garden even though the disciples were right next to Him. We talk about the people who scroll for hours while the lonely person is sitting in the next room, why cliques make the Church feel colder than it should, what to do if you’re the new one trying to break into a friend group without looking needy, and why the most Christian thing you can do is sometimes just walk up to the person sitting alone and start a conversation. Featuring: Fr. Simon Esshaki, Fr. Andy Younan, Fr. Christopher Somo, Fr. Daniel Shaba –––
Transcribe →SSPX Excommunicated & Chaldean Priests Ordained: What Real Unity Costs [Ep. 93]
2w ago00:51:42Tap to summarizeWe got back from Michigan a few days ago after witnessing two new priests, Fr. Brandon and Fr. Lucian, for the Chaldean Eparchy of St. Thomas get ordained. The humidity was brutal, but the time with the Chaldean Sisters and our brother priests was very special. This example of unity contrasts the recent SSPX news. We discuss what actually happened with the excommunications under Pope Leo, why consecrating bishops without the Holy See matters so much, and how the Church has always handled moments like this. We got into the difference between valid and illicit, why excommunication is meant to be temporary medicine instead of a final door slam, and what real obedience looks like when it costs something. We also talked about organic development versus just breaking off when things get hard — and why staying in the Body, even when it’s hard, is the only way any of this actually holds together for the long haul. We try some frozen yogurt from our friends at Yogurt Express and play the most chaotic game of describing Church stuff without saying the obvious words. There always seems to be some tension between loving tradition and staying united, so tune in to learn how to process what’s happening in the Church right now. Featuring: Fr. Simon Esshaki, Fr. Christopher Somo, Fr. Augustine Joseph, Fr. Roni Schamoun –––
Transcribe →We Finally Address All the Church Gossip You've Been Hearing About Us [Ep. 92]
3w ago00:51:57Tap to summarizeYou know how something gets said in one corner of the community and somehow reaches the exact person it’s about in under two hours? Yeah… we’re that episode. We get honest about why gossip moves so fast around here, how you literally can’t take words back once they’re out, and why “but it’s true though” still doesn’t get you off the hook. We also talk about whether just being curious is a problem (Aquinas had some thoughts on that), the difference between venting to someone who will actually check you versus just spreading it, and why holding onto that grudge for three years might be hurting you more than the person you’re mad at. It’s the conversation we’ve all kind of needed. And yes, we’re very aware of the irony of priests making an entire episode about gossip. Featuring: Fr. Simon Esshaki, Fr. Andy Younan, Fr. Fadi Auro, Br. Sinan ––– 00:00 Travel Rumors and New Assignment 02:04 How Gossip Spreads 04:03 St Philip Neri Feather Lesson 07:59 Truth vs. Gossip vs. Slander 13:58 Gossip Can Ruin Lives 18:19 Forgiveness and Letting Go 26:59 Venting Is Still Gossip 30:41 Curiosity As A Vice 35:11 Wonder vs. Trivial Questions 37:48 Celebrity Knowledge Trap 42:33 Church Gossip And Family 43:27 Dream Dinner Draft –––
Transcribe →Chaldeans in the Diaspora: Preserving Our Language & Culture in the West [Ep. 91]
3w ago00:51:58Tap to summarizeWhat happens when most Chaldeans and Assyrians now live outside Iraq? Will our language disappear? How do we stop our culture from dissolving in the West without losing our Catholic Faith? On this episode we talk about the Church itself as the glue holding our scattered people together — more than land, more than language — and why preserving our Eastern identity actually matters to the whole Catholic Church. Fr. Simon and Fr. Tristan just got back from a pilgrimage in France where they visited St. Thomas Chaldean Church in Sarcelles and were blown away. They describe the most beautiful Chaldean church they’ve ever seen, a packed Mass, and being welcomed with a massive lunch and full-on khigga dancing. They also met young French-born Chaldean priests who speak Sureth with a French twist and are fully living both worlds. Featuring: Fr. Simon Esshaki, Fr. Tristan Farida, Abbot Ankido Sipo, Fr. Augustine Joseph –––
Transcribe →The Problem with "Bible Alone" and "Faith Alone" [Ep. 90]
Jun 1900:54:22Tap to summarizeThis episode is all about the two most common objections that come up between Catholics and Protestants — Sola Scriptura and Sola Fide (Scripture Alone and Faith Alone). We lay out why “Scripture alone” sounds straightforward until you ask the obvious follow-up questions: Who decided which books actually belong in the Bible? Why did the Church already have the faith, the liturgy, and the Eucharist long before the canon was settled? And what happens when the same text gets interpreted in completely different ways with no living authority to settle it? We point out that “Do this in memory of me” already assumes tradition and practice that go beyond the text itself. On the salvation side, we take on the “faith alone” claim directly. We explain how baptism actually makes us new creations, how Christ lives and works in us, and why “I never knew you” is such a sobering warning. Intellectual agreement with the right facts isn’t enough if it never becomes real transformation and relationship. We also squeezed in some World Cup banter, Zlatan quotes, celebrate someone's birthday, and play a game of "Holy Hot Takes" while we were at it. If these two topics have ever left you with more questions than answers, this one’s worth your time. Featuring: Fr. Christopher Somo, Abbot Ankido Sipo, Fr. Roni Schamoun ––– 00:00 Protestant Label 01:41 World Cup Tangent 06:07 Sola Scriptura Origins 14:41 Church and Canon 18:44 Interpretation and Authority 24:47 Sola Fide Explained 33:55 Faithfulness Not Belief 35:38 Ratzinger On Faith Alone 38:50 Saved By Love And Fruit 41:25 Birthday Cake! 42:45 Holy Hot Takes 44:57 Underrated Saints 47:03 Underrated Bible Books 48:36 Seminary Hot Takes 50:15 Viral Bible Characters 51:21 Popes With Podcasts 52:32 Prayers Not Prayed Enough –––
Transcribe →Chaldean Funerals: Are We Grieving the Right Way? [Ep. 89]
Jun 1100:47:47Tap to summarizeYou ever sit at a Chaldean/Assyrian funeral gathering and feel like something about it just doesn’t sit right, even though everybody’s there for a good reason? We get into what actually happens in those halls — the way the room splits, the "hired" wailers doing their thing to get people crying, and how the men usually end up talking business or church stuff while the women are on the other side. We discuss the pressure that falls on the women especially, the black clothes, the 40 days, the skipping weddings and celebrations, and how that can turn into something heavier than anyone meant it to be. We also call out the part that’s harder to say out loud: how mourning can quietly become a competition, or how family drama and judgment show up right when people are already hurting. And the question that keeps coming back is the one that matters most — where is Jesus in the middle of all of it? If you’ve ever left one of these and felt like the traditions were running the show more than the actual grief or the faith, this conversation is gonna feel familiar. Featuring: Fr. Christopher Somo, Fr. Andy Younan, Abbot Ankido Sipo, Fr. Daniel Shaba ––– 00:00 Wailing and Grief 08:36 Gender Split Dynamics 10:51 Black Clothing Pressure 14:37 Faith Over Formalities 17:56 Grieving With Structure 24:59 Hope Versus Despair 27:26 Praying for the Dead 28:46 Guardian Angel Myth 32:52 Legacy and Being Forgotten 36:08 Do Dogs Go Heaven 39:46 Mexican Food! 43:05 "30-Second Homily" Game ––– ▶️ Video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/lhLN-AP03Jw 📲 Follow us on social media: "Qurbana Media" IG: https://www.instagram.com/qurbanamedia/ "Youth for Truth" IG: https://www.instagram.com/youthfortruthshow/ 🗞️ Sign-Up for our newsletter: https://www.qurbanamedia.org/newsletter 📧 Email us at media@qurbana.org if you'd like to hear about ways you can support Qurbana Media or if you're a content creator wanting to collab!
Transcribe →The Catholic Retreat That Converted Me: Feeling Spiritually 'High' & Low [Ep. 88]
Jun 400:57:06Tap to summarizeComing off the heals of the latest "Emmaus Retreat," Fr. Augustine shares how he converted through this retreat years ago when he was barely showing up to Church. Now he leads them. That part is strong on its own. But what we really got into is what happens after a retreat for most people. You come home on fire, then real life shows up. The feeling starts to fade. Your family looks at you like they don’t quite recognize you. And you catch yourself wondering how much of it was even real once you’re back in your normal routine. We talked about the honest parts that usually don’t get said out loud. Why chasing the good feeling can actually pull you in the wrong direction. What it costs when you try to go back to your old life after something real happened inside you. And whether you even have to be “ready” before you sign up for a retreat in the first place. If you’ve ever left a retreat or any kind of spiritual experience feeling close to God and then watched it slip away once you got home, you’ll probably recognize a lot of what we said. For the young Chaldean Catholic adults in our diocese, the youth convention is coming up: https://spyouthconvention.org Featuring: Fr. Simon Esshaki, Fr. Augustine Joseph, Fr. Christoper Somo, Fr. Fadi Auro ––– 00:00 Back from Emmaus 03:16 Emmaus Passage Walkthrough 08:48 Why Retreats Matter 13:03 Retreat Versus Vacation 18:51 After The Spiritual High 23:07 Consolation And Desolation 34:16 Am I Ready For a Retreat 40:53 Perpetual Conversion 47:07 Youth Convention Preview 49:16 Burrito "Draft Day" & Kanafa 53:22 Leo Elects First Female Prefect –––
Transcribe →Pope Leo XIV’s First Encyclical on AI Just Dropped & We Actually Read It [Ep. 87]
May 2900:53:36Tap to summarizeIn his very first encyclical, Pope Leo XIV tackles artificial intelligence and the massive technological shift happening right now — comparing it directly to the upheaval of the Industrial Revolution 135 years ago when Leo XIII wrote Rerum Novarum. We walk through the heart of the letter: how AI risks turning human dignity into a “social score” based on productivity, the dangers of transhumanism and posthumanism, and why the Pope says our limitations, struggles, and relationships are actually the most beautiful and important parts of being human. You’ll hear about the Tower of Babel versus the rebuilding of Jerusalem, why AI can never replace real friendship or creativity, the need for real limits and oversight on this technology, and what Catholic social teaching has to say about building a civilization of love in the digital age. What do you think — is AI just a powerful tool, or is it quietly reshaping who we are? Drop your thoughts in the comments! Featuring: Fr. Simon Esshaki, Abbot Ankido Sipo, Fr. Fadi Auro, Fr. Christopher Somo –––
Transcribe →Holy Spirit & Pentecost: Speaking in Tongues Means Speaking in Love [Ep. 86]
May 2200:50:53Tap to summarizeWith Pentecost Sunday right around the corner, we sit down to talk about the Holy Spirit and why the "upper-room moment" still matters for everyday Catholics. We cover the Acts passage about the violent wind, tongues of fire, and the apostles suddenly speaking in other languages—but we take it further than the usual explanation. We get real and practical about evangelization and why yelling the truth, winning online arguments, or nagging your adult kids about church usually backfires, and why just being a normal, sincere human being who listens and builds real relationships actually works. New episode every week—subscribe and join the table! Featuring: Fr. Simon Esshaki, Fr. Andy Younan, Fr. Tristan Farida, Fr. Augustine Joseph –––
Transcribe →Uniting the Church of the East & A New Chaldean Patriarch [Ep. 85]
May 1400:53:48Tap to summarizeHis Beatitude Mar Paulos III Nona is now leading the Chaldean Church, and it feels like we’re stepping into a genuinely hopeful new chapter. In this episode we talk about the direction he’s already setting for our Church, what it really means to have a patriarch, and how our ancient structure is meant to carry us forward. We walk through the patriarch’s role as father of the Church, how the synod actually governs, and how we live in full communion with Rome while staying true to our own tradition. We also get real about life in the diaspora — where the vast majority of Chaldeans and Assyrians now live — and what it’s going to take to keep our liturgy, the ancient Anaphora of Addai and Mari, our language, music, and entire patrimony alive far from our historical homeland. One of the most exciting parts of the conversation is the real hope for deeper unity and eventual reintegration with the Assyrian Church of the East — returning together to our shared roots in the historic Church of the East. We also talk about the Sons of the Covenant Monastery and how communities like this are living out our consecrated life and identity right here in the diaspora. This is an honest, hopeful conversation about where our Church is headed. The installation of Patriarch Mar Apolos III Nona is May 29th — please keep him and the entire Chaldean Church in your prayers. Featuring: Fr. Simon Esshaki, Fr. Daniel Shaba, Abbot Ankido Sipo, Fr. Fadi Auro ––– 00:00 Meet the New Patriarch 03:04 What Makes a Patriarch 05:13 Patriarchs vs Major Archbishops 06:04 Synods East and West 07:50 Patriarchal See and Origins 18:45 Preserving Tradition in Exile 22:04 Ecumenism and Reintegration Vision 26:59 Language Loss and Identity 32:42 Reviving Chaldean Monasticism 43:03 Diaspora Distinctions 46:52 'Hot Takes' Game –––
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