Three Dogs North

Latest Episodes:

S11 Episode 86- Render unto Metz Oct 27, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, the dogs discuss their homilies from the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary time, reflecting on Jesus' words, "repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God" (3:40). Michael Metz shares an update from Fort Knox (3:50) and Connor summarizes his guest homily at Rob's parish (8:30).

Quotes:

"You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you." (Connor quoting St. Augustine, 11:00).

"When I try to give my heart to the Lord... the way that I use my money properly flows after that because it’s not the main focus of what I’m worried about.” (Michael Metz, 17:30)

“Jesus is just awesome.” (Michael Metz, 18:50)

“Your soul belongs to God; that’s what you offer him.” (Rob, 22:00)

“Everything I have and am is from Him, to be enjoyed, and then given.” (Connor, 24:00)

“I'm ultimately not in charge, and the most important thing I have to give anyone is me.” (Connor, 26:00)

Media Mentions:

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Confessions of Saint Augustine
C.S. Lewis' The Weight of Glory
Thomas Merton's Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander ("shining like the sun")
James 2:17

References:

Emilie Poletti
Fort Knox
Jerusalem

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S11 Episode 85- Are we there yet? Oct 17, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, the dogs discuss the necessity of patience in their own spiritual lives and in forming the people they've been given to shepherd (11:00). They reminisce on their wildly successful podcast career (0:35), Michael Metz gives so many compliments (5:30, 33:05), and Connor picks a fight with a teenager (47:00).

Quotes:

"Patience is a universal fatherly virtue." (Connor, 11:10)

"Violence is trying to speed up time." (Connor quoting Deacon Keating, 15:00)

“Patience implies a story that unfolds.” (Michael Metz, 22:15)

“Our salvation is not something we do but we let be done to us.” (Connor quoting Bishop Bartosic, 29:00)

“It’s God’s job to sanctify you.” (Michael Metz, 39:43)

Media Mentions:

The Chosen (2017- present)
Brad Pitt & Adam Sandler
Cain and Abel
Christian Mythic Narrative with Monsignor Shea
Msgr. Shea 2026 Commencement Speech
Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited
Dr. Becky Kennedy's Good Inside
Aesop's Fables
St. Paul
Wendell Berry's Jayber Crow
The Extended Edition of The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001, 2002, 2003)

References:

Marco Polo
Clubhouse
Fort Knox
Mundelein Seminary
Deacon James Keating
The Catholic University of America
Bishop Mark Bartosic
St. Paul
The Camino de Santiago
Fr. Gus Belauskas
Dr. Scott Hahn

Shout-Outs:

Blake Riffel
Fr. Kevin Ripley
Fr. Noah Huddleston
Fr. Scott Harter
Monica Mackie
Jennifer Patel
Pat Metz

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S11 Episode 84- Golden hAUney Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, the dogs mourn the loss of two episodes (0:02). Rob (7:40) and Michael Metz (11:15) offer Connor some suggestions for his upcoming trip to Rome. They spend the rest of the episode discussing salvation history and the power of finding our own story imbedded within it (18:00).

* Sorry for the background noise this time, check out our GoFundMe so Fr. Mike can upgrade his recording gear. Every bit helps.

Quotes:
“Sacred art must be particular enough to be recognizable, but universal enough to bear the mystery.” (Connor quoting Dr. Denis McNamara, 16:30)

"We are narrative creatures because we are made in the image of the Logos.” (Connor, 17:40)

“God is infinite, but he makes himself receivable; He accommodates our finite categories.” (Connor, 19:15)

“People don’t lose their faith because of a lack of evidence, but because of a lack of imagination.” (Connor quoting Fr. Daniel Siwek, 19:30)

"You can have everything you need, but if there's no story to it then what’s the point?” (Connor, 21:35)

“Imagination is full of potency.” (Michael Metz, 34:50)

Media Mentions:

Borat (2006)
Bishop Robert Barron's Catholicism (2011)
The Chosen (2017- present)
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
The Gospels
Monsignor Shea's Christian Mythic Narrative
John Henry Newman's An Essay in Aid of a Grammar of Assent
Rocky (1976)
Michael D. O'Brien's Theophilos
Acts of the Apostles

References:

St. Peter's Basilica
Rome, Italy
Assisi, Italy
Basilica of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere
Catacombs of Saint Callixtus
FOCUS
Jim Caviezel
Cardinal Francis George
NBA
Sea of Galilee

Shout-Outs:

Drew Hines
Ryan Saltness
Fr. Ben Holdren
Fr. Patrick J. Boyle
Matt and Eileen McDonough
Isaac and Mary Margaret Nawa
Fr. Callistus Iyorember
Tim Anastos
Anycia Flynn, Little Sister Agape

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S11 Episode 83- Pars are for cowards Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, the dogs discuss the current state of collegiate sports (5:40). Michael Metz pretends to read books at the airport (23:00), Connor begins another lecture series (23:55), and Rob offers 3DN consulting services to fix college football (29:10).

Quotes:

“I do feel the centrifugal force of the world of artifacts, where we live totally in a man-made world that gets more and more removed from the God-made reality.” (Connor, 20:20)

“God uses the folly of the cross to shame the wisdom of the world.” (Connor, 26:30)

“Am I part of the problem? Absolutely.” (Michael Metz, 30:43)

Media Mentions:

No Laying Up Podcast
Wendell Berry's Eternal Story
Josef Pieper's Leisure, the Basis of Culture

References:

2026 U.S. Open Golf Championship
Scottie Scheffler
Tiger Woods
YouTube
Dabo Swinney
Clemson Tigers
Lane Kiffin
LSU Tigers
Croagh Patrick
St. Patrick
Chicago Bears
George Halas
Red Grange
Illinois Fighting Illini
Big Ten Conference
SEC
Wendell Berry
New York University
Piggly Wiggly
Rushville, IL
Georgia Bulldogs

Shout-Outs:

Daniel Munie
Fr. Patrick Gorman
John "Juice Box" Johnson

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S11 Episode 82- Look higher Sep 04, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, the dogs discuss summer movies (1:00), putting the highest goods first (14:00), and how God uses His incarnational reality to draw us into deeper communion (29:40). Additionally, Michael Metz discovers the hermeneutic circle in real time (30:40).

Quotes:

“How important it is for me to not try and take the greatest goods and use them as a manipulation to get the things that I want.” (Michael Metz, 14:00)

"Treat the good as a good not because it’s beneficial, but just because they are good in and of themselves.” (Michael Metz, 14:55)

"You can fail to enjoy even the secondary goods when you don’t put the highest good first.” (Connor, 22:10)

"Nothing really can ever be lost; the giver of every good gift has promised, 'I am with you always even until the end of the age.'” (Connor, 23:10)

“No doubt, it is a great grace to receive the sacraments. When God does not permit it, it is good too! Everything is grace!” (Connor quoting St. Therese, 25:50)

"In the caverns of a baptized soul, there is this love. You don't stop being a person, you don't stop being a person who wants all the things people want, but you’re able to freely give them up.” (Connor, 35:50)

"We also need to be open to receiving the good things that God wants to give us.” (Michael Metz, 37:10)

Media Mentions:

The Odyssey (2026)
The Rivals of Amziah King (2025)
John Wick series
The Beekeeper (2024)
The Italian Job (2003)
Snatch (2000)
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)
Toy Story 5 (2026)
Wishbone (TV series- 1995)
1 Kings 18 (Elijah and the prophets of Baal)
C.S. Lewis' A Grief Observed
Sermon on the Mount

References:

Matt Damon
Kurt Russell
Jason Statham
Charlize Theron
Mark Wahlberg
Guy Ritchie
Netflix
Anne Hathaway
Christopher Nolan
Troy
Bishop Barron
Mother Teresa
St. Therese of Lisieux
Dr. Scott Hahn
Missionaries of Charity (in St. Louis)
Hermeneutic circle: See- Judge- Act
Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger)
Réginald Garrigou-Lagrange

Shout-Outs:

Kevin

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S11 Episode 81- Metaphysical archipelago Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, the dogs center their conversation around a quote from Edith Stein (5:50) about hidden souls and their impact on salvation history. Connor shares his experience in Ireland so far (11:55), Rob reflects on the immense gift of the human soul (23:20), and Michael Metz ties it all back into Mary's fiat (26:10).

Quotes:

"The greatest figures of prophecy and sanctity step forth out of the darkest night. . . . Certainly the decisive turning points in world history are substantially co-determined by souls whom no history book ever mentions. And we will only find out about those souls to whom we owe the decisive turning points in our personal lives on the day when all that is hidden is revealed." (Rob quoting Edith Stein, 5:50)

“The formative stream of salvation history actually comes from the little ones and the hidden souls.” (Rob, 7:20)

“My heart is open to receive what God wants to show me about my story.” (Connor, 14:20)

“None of us are actually isolated self-made beings.” (Connor, 15:00)

“The church really is my family.” (Connor, 20:20)

“Not only does God respect it (our hiddenness), that's how he moves through us.” (Michael Metz, 27:50)

“The fulfillment of revelation is that God desires to win us over; and he’s happy to do it.” (Connor, 29:00)

Media Mentions:

Pope Francis' Rejoice and be Glad
John 1:14
Gospel of Luke
Arthur Brooks' The Meaning of Your Life

References:

Ireland
France
Romania
Hungary
Bulgaria
Brodozer
Jacksonville
Chicago
John Paul II Healing Center
Fort Bragg
Edith Stein
Feasts of Saints Peter and Paul
Franciscan Friary in Killarney
St. Patrick
St. Joseph
The Apparition at Knock
Naperville, IL
Bishop Robert Barron
Mundelein Seminary
Libertyville, IL
Alaska
The Annunciation
The Babylonian Exile
2026 NBA Draft
Keaton Wagler
World Cup
Boston
Scotland

Shout-Outs:

Sam
Luke and Megan Sander

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S11 Episode 80- Rest in the present Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, the dogs discuss different experiences of time (8:15). Rob shares his recent trip to Nebraska for FOCUS training (3:18), Connor gives a brief lecture on metaphysics (14:50), and Michael Metz thinks the Sacred Heart of Jesus is "really cool" (35:10).

Quotes:
“There’s a particular grace of old friendships that’s deep magic of the human experience." (Rob, 12:45)

“Heaven is entering into eternity.” (Connor, 14:40)

“We are perfectly open vessels to God’s infinite love and being as he pours himself out into us.” (Connor, 18:50)

“God really is always working.” (Michael Metz, 27:16)

“We have access to eternity as the image of God, but we are also radically conditioned by our bodies, which change and grow and die.” (Connor, 33:00)

“Things pass away, but nothing is really lost.” (Connor, 33:20)

“The infinite love of God pours itself into a human heart and yet it contains the totality of God’s love.” (Michael Metz, 36:00)

“It gives me peace to live in the reality that things that are not fully reconcilced in my life are okay, because God is there.” (Michael Metz, 40:18)

Shout-Outs:

Drew and Emily Hines
Fr. Ben Holdren
Mitch and Sarah Minarick
Anne Marie Brummer
Walter

Media Mentions:

Ezekiel
Paul J. Griffiths' Decreation: The Last Things of All Creatures
Sheldon Vanauken's A Severe Mercy
St. Augustine's Confessions
C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity
The Matrix (1999)
Tig Notaro ("Can you believe it?")

References:

St. Cecilia of Rome
Fr. Gus Belauskas
Bishop Robert Barron
Fr. Bob Schoenstene
Lincoln, Nebraska
FOCUS
Southern Illinois University
Fort Bragg
Champaign, Illinois
metronomic time vs. systolic time
chronos vs. kairos
St. Thomas Aquinas (God is pure act; ipsum esse subsistens)
World War II
Hans Urs von Balthasar
John Mulaney
The Sacred Heart of Jesus
Serenity Prayer

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S11 Episode 79- Eucharistic lineage Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, the dogs celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi (2:20) by sharing their love for the Eucharist (11:50), the privilege of being a priest (12:55), and the joy of sharing the deposit of faith with God's people (20:35).

Quotes:

“All I need to do is show up and Jesus is going to be there (about the Mass).” (Michael Metz, 3:30)

“When all else fails, the Eucharist is our home.” (Connor, 6:40)

"That’s the deposit of faith- all we have to do is not inhibit the flow of God’s grace. There’s an unbelievable richness to it and yet it’s so simple.” (Michael Metz, 20:30)

“Jesus gives people hope and life.” (Michael Metz, 21:00)

“Hold onto the Eucharist, hold onto Jesus.” (Michael Metz, 21:40)

“The paschal mystery will unfold in ways you could never expect.” (Rob quoting another priest, 32:47)

“Abiding conversion comes from being with Jesus (in Eucharistic adoration).” (Rob, 34:55)

"Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I love you!" (Connor quoting St. Augustine's Confessions, 35:55)

“Jesus truly is the axis around which all of reality spins.” (Michael Metz, 40:30)

“There is nothing in the human experience that is outside of the reality of God’s love for us.” (Michael Metz, 41:40)

Shout-outs:
Bobby and Katie Fredericksen (from The Catholic Couple)

Media Mentions:

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis' Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word (Volume IV)
John 10:10
The Simpsons "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Guest Star" (season 16 episode 21)

References:

The Feast of Corpus Christi
Archbishop J. Peter Sartain
Cardinal Francis George
Seattle, WA
National Eucharistic Preachers
National Eucharistic Revival
Abner
Boaz
Missionaries of Charity
Yemen
Fr. Jim Rafferty
Pope Leo XIII exorcism prayer
Justin Martyr
St. Boniface (English born "Apostle to the Germans")
St. Charles Lwanga (Uganda)
Apollo (Greek god)
St. Katherine of Sienna
Melchizedek
Abraham
Moses
St. John Paul II Newman Center at UIC
Blue Island, IL
St. Jerome
FOCUS
LifeTeen
Blessed Chiara Badano
Rome
Haiti

Glossary:

autobasileia: the kingdom in person

Fact check:

Did JPII proclaim more saints than all predecessors?

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S11 Episode 78- Meaningful small talk Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, the dogs talk about the importance of fruitful relationships in the context of space travel (8:55), post-apocalyptic horror movies (31:40), and everyday life (35:40).

Quotes:

“My priesthood, to be meaningful, must have a horizon beyond my life.” (Connor, 28:25)

"We're supposed to exist for other people." (Michael Metz, 38:00)

“In our human existence, we will always be in that tension, to truly totally forget ourselves. And yet, that is God; he is perfect, he does not need anything, he enjoys himself, but he also utterly shares himself at no cost.” (Connor, 40:05)

"We are made for relationship." (Connor, 41:00)

“The drive for communion results in you needing to make a sacrifice.” (Connor, 41:20)

Media Mentions:

Passengers (2016)
Interstellar (2014)
Megan Ulrich's Hell, Bring the Kids Too
Megan Ulrich's Return Unto Me
Thomas Jefferson's The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth
A Quiet Place (2018)
The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005, 2008, 2012)

References:

Eucharistic Preachers
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Michael Scott
Men's Warehouse
Chris Pratt
Netflix
Jennifer Lawrence
META
Adam and Eve
Noah's Ark
Emily Blunt
FOCUS
John Krasinski
Rome, GA
Jordan B. Peterson (on self-consciousness and anxiety)
St. Joseph

Shout-Outs:

Fr. Thomas Byrne

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S11 Episode 77- Murder of crows Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, the dogs talk about being attentive to the "right things" (9:10). Michael Metz offers a tutorial on the art of pranking (23:45), and Connor shares how naming what is true helps him find peace in frustrating circumstances (35:30).

Quotes:

"You gotta know when to win." (Rob quoting Doug Johnson, 3:55)

"I'm at that stage in my life where I keep myself out of unnecessary arguments, so, even if you tell me 1+1=5, you're absolutely correct, enjoy." (Connor quoting Keanu Reeves, 4:45)

"What do I attend to and why?" (Michael Metz, 11:00)

“His (Justin's) high philosophy was answered by the simplicity of the humanity of Christ.” (Michael Metz, 26:35)

“We need to live in the truth; our consciences demand it.” (Connor, 27:10)

“There’s something in us that wants to live the lie that we can be something else.” (Connor, 27:55)

“The will of God is the current circumstances you find yourself in; living holiness is accepting that.” (Connor summarizing Ciszeck, 28:05)

“It is good that I am here and God is here sustaining me and strengthening me to do his will, whatever it may be.” (Connor, 29:20)

"I really enjoy golf course confrontation." (Rob quoting Michael Metz, 37:30)

Media Mentions:

Three Dogs North S11 E76- Soft boys
Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote
WarGames (1983)- "The only winning move is not to play."
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
The Matrix (1999)
Ignatius of Loyola's Spiritual Exercises
Arthur C. Brooks' From Strength to Strength
Fr. Walter Ciszek's He Leadeth Me

References:

META
Facebook
Akedo
ChatGPT
YouTube
Matthew Broderick
Neo
The Institute for Priestly Formation (IPF)
Trinity Sunday 2026
Memphis
Justin Martyr (Justin the Philosopher)
Junius Rusticus
The Battle of the Bulge
Chicago
Wordpress
Jiu-Jitsu
Bruce Lee

Shout-Outs:

Walter
Doug Johnson

Glossary:

Murder- group of crows
Aboriginal Vicar of Christ- voice of God speaking directly inside us
Impassible- incapable of suffering pain
Immutable- unchanging
Pantsing- pull down someone's pants (prank)
Tabletopping- when someone is tripped backward by a person crouching behind them (prank)

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