Episodes

3 days ago
3 days ago
In this episode, Antony Barone Kolenc speaks with Bryan Mercier, a popular speaker with teens across the nation, about stemming the rise of atheism in our youth today, and we review his site, TheCatholicTruth.Org.

Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
The Shepherd’s Pie - Teens Active in the Cause for Life
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
In this episode, Antony Barone Kolenc speaks with Hannah Blosser, the teen president of a national homeschool chapter of Students for Life, about helping teens be more active in promoting a culture of life, and we review the pro-life movie, Unplanned.

Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
The Shepherd’s Pie - A Writing Community for Teens
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
In this episode, Antony Barone Kolenc interviews Dominic de Souza, the founder of Legend Fiction, about the importance for teens to have a writing community for self-expression and mentorship, and we review his site, Legend Fiction.

Wednesday Dec 21, 2022
The Shepherd’s Pie - A Parent’s Guide to Social Media
Wednesday Dec 21, 2022
Wednesday Dec 21, 2022
In this episode, Antony Barone Kolenc interviews Evan Barber, a publisher at Axis, about the various social media platform challenges and opportunities for parents and teens today, and they review five of the Axis Guidebooks by Tyndale Kids.

Monday Dec 12, 2022
The Shepherd’s Pie - Controversial Saints and Our Kids
Monday Dec 12, 2022
Monday Dec 12, 2022
In this episode, Antony Barone Kolenc interviews teacher and author Joseph Lewis about the best ways to speak with kids about controversial saints, and we review Joseph's YA novel, "Miracle at the Mission."

Friday Dec 09, 2022
The Shepherd’s Pie - Christmas Activities for Kids
Friday Dec 09, 2022
Friday Dec 09, 2022
In this episode, Antony Barone Kolenc interviews author Mindy Baker about her picture book, "Mouse's Christmas Gift," and about creative ways to bring Advent and Christmas to your family, and we review the children's book, "Christmas Love Letters from God."

Monday Nov 21, 2022
The Shepherd’s Pie - Speaking with Teens About Truth
Monday Nov 21, 2022
Monday Nov 21, 2022
In this episode, Antony Barone Kolenc interviews editor and author Mary Woods about her novel, "Markmaker," and on speaking to teens about the importance of knowing truth and identifying falsehood, and we review Lois Lowry's novel, "The Giver."

Wednesday Nov 16, 2022
The Shepherd’s Pie - Speaking with Teens About Evil
Wednesday Nov 16, 2022
Wednesday Nov 16, 2022
In this episode, Antony Barone Kolenc interviews award-winning author Jill Willis about her YA novel, "The Demons Among Us," and on speaking to teens about the existence of evil, and we review Sharon Rene's series, "Defying Destiny."

Monday Nov 07, 2022
The Shepherd’s Pie - Talking with Kids About Church Scandal
Monday Nov 07, 2022
Monday Nov 07, 2022
In this episode, Antony Barone Kolenc interviews award-winning Catholic author Ellen Gable about the best ways to speak with youth about church scandal, and we review Ellen's YA novel, "Ella's Promise."

Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
The Shepherd’s Pie - Using Animals to Teach Our Kids
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
In this episode, Antony Barone Kolenc interviews beloved Christian children's author Dandi Daley Mackall about using animals to help teach children valuable life lessons, and we review Dandi's "Young Winnie" series of horse gentler books.

Monday Oct 17, 2022
The Shepherd’s Pie - Evangelizing Our Older Children
Monday Oct 17, 2022
Monday Oct 17, 2022
In this episode, Antony Barone Kolenc interviews teacher and award-winning author Jim Sano about ways to evangelize our children when they go off to college and beyond, and we review Mary Jo Thayer's YA novel, Close to the Soul.

Thursday Oct 06, 2022
The Shepherd’s Pie - Top Homeschooling Resources
Thursday Oct 06, 2022
Thursday Oct 06, 2022
In this episode, Antony Barone Kolenc interviews national homeschooling authority Cathy Duffy about the best homeschooling curricula and other resources available to families, and we review Cathy's latest release, 103 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum.

Tuesday Sep 27, 2022
The Shepherd’s Pie - Ignatian Spirituality for Kids
Tuesday Sep 27, 2022
Tuesday Sep 27, 2022
In this episode, Antony Barone Kolenc interviews professional writer Claudia Cangilla McAdam about how kids and their imaginations can benefit through Ignatian Spirituality exercises, and we review The Bronze Bow, by Elizabeth George Speare.

Monday Sep 19, 2022
The Shepherd’s Pie - The Character Club
Monday Sep 19, 2022
Monday Sep 19, 2022
In this episode, Antony Barone Kolenc interviews teacher and author Allie Slocum about building character in kids through her experience and her children's series, The Character Club, and we review Resistance, by Jennifer Nielsen.

Monday Sep 12, 2022
The Shepherd’s Pie - Media, Psychology & Our Kids
Monday Sep 12, 2022
Monday Sep 12, 2022
In this episode, Antony Barone Kolenc interviews child psychologist and dystopian author Jacqueline Brown about the psychological impact of media on our youth, and we review The Green Ember series, by S.D. Smith.

Wednesday Jul 20, 2022
The Shepherd’s Pie - Youth & Vocations
Wednesday Jul 20, 2022
Wednesday Jul 20, 2022
In this episode, Antony Barone Kolenc interviews Benedictine oblate and Catholic author Julie Ash about the importance of presenting religious vocations to youth at a young age, and Jen and Kate Waldyke from Catholic Mom and Daughter review Miraculous!, by Kathryn Swegart.
Credits: A.J. Kolenc, original music; Amina Kolenc, graphic design

Monday Jul 11, 2022
The Shepherd’s Pie - Kindness, Empathy & Youth
Monday Jul 11, 2022
Monday Jul 11, 2022
In this episode, Antony Barone Kolenc interviews author and acquisitions editor Hope Bolinger about the importance of encouraging kindness and empathy in our youth, and Hope reviews one of her favorite middle grade novels, Legend of the Storm Sneezer, by Kristiana Sfirlea. Credits: A.J. Kolenc, original music; Amina Kolenc, graphic design

Tuesday Jun 21, 2022
The Shepherd’s Pie - A Christian Book Fair for Kids
Tuesday Jun 21, 2022
Tuesday Jun 21, 2022
In this episode, Antony Barone Kolenc interviews mother and entrepreneur Tiffany Fischer about her non-profit organization and the value of having books with Christian morals and values sold to students at Catholic and Christian schools, and Tiffany discusses some of her favorite books that she sells at her book fairs.
Credits: A.J. Kolenc, original music; Amina Kolenc, graphic design

Thursday Jun 16, 2022
The Shepherd’s Pie - Considering Home Education
Thursday Jun 16, 2022
Thursday Jun 16, 2022
In this episode, Antony Barone Kolenc interviews homeschooling mother and librarian Georgiana Daniels about the challenges and opportunities when considering home education as an option for your family, and he reviews Practical Homeschooling Magazine.
Credits: A.J. Kolenc, original music; Amina Kolenc, graphic design

Tuesday Jun 07, 2022
The Shepherd’s Pie - Youth & the Arts
Tuesday Jun 07, 2022
Tuesday Jun 07, 2022
In this episode, Antony Barone Kolenc interviews actor and screenwriter Joseph Mauck about the importance of youth participation in the Arts, and the risks involved, and Steven McEvoy reviews Corinna Turner's YA anthology, A Saint in the Family.
Credits: A.J. Kolenc, original music; Amina Kolenc, graphic design