Immigration attorney Rachel Davis—self-proclaimed “Dairy Queen” and mom of a yogurt-obsessed 4-year-old—joins lawyer and gay Catholic writer Chris Damian to pull back the curtain on the hidden immigrant labor behind America’s food supply. They talk TN visas for animal breeders, how COVID border shutdowns almost broke major dairies, the chaos of the $100,000 H-1B fee, and why current immigration policy feels less about safety and more about cruelty. Rachel shares her perspective as a Jewish lawyer reading Project 2025, draws unsettling parallels to 20th-century history, and explains why targeting “grandmas and farmworkers” instead of violent criminals is bad ethics and bad economics. It’s a deep dive into immigration, economics, faith, and what it really means to show up when a system turns dehumanizing.00:00 Introduction and Catching Up04:13 Rachel's Dairy Law Specialization11:58 Impact of COVID-19 on Immigration and Agriculture18:50 Immigration Policies and Challenges28:58 The Impact of H1B Visa Changes30:52 The $100,000 Fee Panic33:38 The Broader Implications of Immigration Policies34:45 Comparisons to Historical Regimes38:54 The Human Cost of Deportations43:01 The Role of Public Perception and Misinformation48:22 The Importance of Advocacy and Action

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Meg Hunter-Kilmer has become “the Catholic saints lady” for a reason. In this conversation, she joins Chris to talk about how the lives of the saints can anchor us in an anxious, polarized, and often unjust world—especially for immigrants, the undocumented, and those who feel like they don’t belong in the Church or in the heart of God.

Meg shares stories of saints and blesseds who protested fascism, slept in migrant camps as bishops, were arrested dozens of times, or were literally undocumented immigrants killed in part for their legal status. She also highlights saints who struggled with illness, suicidal ideation, infertility, and bad personalities—reminding us that holiness doesn’t erase our rough edges.

00:00 The Importance of Saints

03:49 Saints as Models in Challenging Times

05:00 Examples of Saints in Oppression

06:28 Saints and Privilege

16:45 Saints in Unjust Imprisonment

23:44 Jewish Solidarity and Empowerment

24:09 Catholic Communities and Empowerment

31:05 Diverse Personalities of Saints

32:56 Community and Ingroup Dynamics

36:00 Responding to Suffering with Action

41:02 Connecting with Saints

The ex-gay movement never really went away—it just rebranded. From “reparative therapy” to “healing ministries,” Catholic leaders continue to promote the same discredited ideas about homosexuality under new names. In this episode, I dig into how these theories shape Catholic seminaries, influence pastoral care, and fuel ongoing harm in the Church. We’ll explore why conversion therapy bans don’t go far enough, how ex-gay narratives slip under the radar, and what LGBTQ+ Catholics need to watch for when seeking support. I discuss the work of Courage International, Joseph Nicolsoi, Elizabeth Moberly, Timothy Lock, NARTH, Richard Cohen, and more!00:00 The Ex-Gay Movement's Influence on Catholicism00:43 Understanding Conversion Therapy vs. Reparative Therapy02:16 The Ex-Gay Narrative and Its Psychological Underpinnings05:34 Controversial Practices and Legal Challenges08:16 Rebranding and Subtle Continuation of Harmful Theories12:30 A Healthier Approach for LGBTQ+ Catholics