The Catholic Dawgs Podcast is an evangelization and formation initiative of The Catholic Center at the University of Georgia and a space where stories, hearts, and faith are shared and deep questions are explored. Listen in for topics that inspire, educate, challenge, and spark curiosity and reflection.
Catholic Parenting 101: Prepare for Your Vocation Before it Starts
Most of us will end up married and with children. That’s just how God designed us, and it’s what we call the natural vocation. Maybe this vocation seems to be right around the corner, or maybe it seems years ahead. Whatever the case, why not prepare our lives, hearts, and minds with the wisdom and knowledge to become awesome Catholic parents? Rachel Balducci—a wife, mother, author of four books, cohost of a Catholic talk show for women, professor of journalism at Augusta University, and UGA alumna (with a pending Ph.D.)—shares her insights into how college students can be formed today for raising kids later down the road.
Learn more about Rachel here: https://rachelbalducci.com/
20 Apr 2026
Answering Your Questions About the Afterlife
Anonymously, various Catholic Dawgs submitted their questions to the show about anything related to the afterlife: death, judgment, purgatory, heaven, hell, eternity, etc. Rachel invited Fr. Kevin Peek, the Military Chaplain and Airport Chaplain for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, to answer them!
This is a long episode, so if you’re looking for answers for a specific question(s), they’re timestamped below:
00:07:21 — Will we know/recognize everyone in heaven?
00:12:04 — What does “no marriage in heaven” mean and look like?
00:23:25 — What is purgatory and who goes there?
00:36:49 — How does time work in purgatory?
00:42:12 — Why do some people fear purgatory? Shouldn’t we hope to go there?
00:50:22 — Will I be bored in heaven?
00:56:57 — Will I think and speak in heaven, or will I be a vegetable?
01:02:55 — If I have doubts about the faith, will that hurt me on Judgment Day?
01:13:08 — How was the afterlife/judgment different before Jesus’ death?
01:18:35 — Will we get to see Jesus during our judgment no matter where we go after that?
01:21:50 — Do kind people who don’t have faith go to heaven?
01:28:41 — What happens to non-practicing Catholics?
01:32:59 — What does the Church teach about people who die by suicide?
01:43:48 — What does the scapular mean for the afterlife?
01:49:13 — What does the Church teach about the salvation of the Jews after Jesus came?
01:53:11 — Will my dog be in heaven?
01:57:18 — Is there singing in heaven?
01:59:12 — What does the “new heaven” and the “new earth” mean?
02:04:11 — How do I get to heaven?
6 Apr 2026
Navigating Emotional Chastity
Emotional chastity is physical chastity’s forgotten sister. How come we never talk about her? Rachel brings this topic to light with Ava Dunlop, a Catholic social media content creator in Savannah, GA. They talk about oversharing, vulnerability, fantasizing, and more within the context of relationships—and why living emotionally chaste leads to joy, freedom, and greater love.
Check out Ava’s content:
Instagram: @avaacatherine
TikTok: @avaacatherine7
Substack: @avadunlop1 | The Short n’ Sweet
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