Episode 339: Pope Leo’s Chicago Roots | Rob Kaczmark of Spirit Juice Studios on Faith, Film, and Catholic Art

Hey Everybody! It's Fr. Edward

In this episode, Fr. Edward Looney sits down with Rob Kaczmark, CEO of Spirit Juice Studios, to talk about his unique connection to Pope Leo XIII’s Chicago roots and how Catholic media continues to inspire today. Rob shares his experience visiting the Chicago neighborhood where Pope Leo grew up, filming on location, and reflecting on how Catholic art and media may be entering a new renaissance. 👉 Topics discussed: The moment Rob realized Pope Leo was from Chicago Behind the scenes of Spirit Juice’s videos on Pope Leo’s favorite Chicago spots What it was like filming at Pope Leo’s childhood home (and is the neighborhood safe?) The story of losing press credentials for the White Sox Stadium Mass—and making it work anyway Whether Pope Leo’s family has seen the videos Is Catholic art leading the way again, like in the Renaissance? 📌 Perfect for those interested in Catholic media, Church history, and the inspiring story of Pope Leo’s Chicago connection. Watch the videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpaknCv107Y https://youtu.be/QtZhoRP8uPY?si=CtktB0B16YF3cWlO

About Podcast

Fr. Edward Looney is a Catholic priest who loves having conversations with guests. They talk about new book releases, various topics related to faith and life, and occasionally he speaks with producers, directors, and actors from the film industry. He has podcasted since 2019, formerly as “How They Love Mary” and “Cup of St. Joe,” conducting over 300 interviews to date. The interview style podcasts from Fr. Edward continues now, as he begins each conversation greeting his audience with “Hey Everybody!” Tune in for inspiring conversations about faith, film, and life.