It's a fifth Friday, so Cy Kellett of Catholic Answers Live is asking Jimmy Akin weird questions from listeners, about topics like how Adam and Eve relate to other early human ancestors; could dark matter and energy be angelic or demonic; can you pray for souls in hell; and more weird questions.

The Master Plan continues! Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha continue their discussion of this 1st Doctor story, including the return of the Meddling Monk as well as the struggle for power, the consequences of blind obedience, and the complexities of moral decision-making.

Is one man's freedom fighter another man's terrorist? Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this story of Enterrpise getting mixed up in some local conflicts on a desert planet; the ethical implications; and whether Zabral is a good guy or bad guy.

Some are convinced that an ancient clay pot found in Iraq is an electric battery made 2,000 years ago. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli examine the claim and whether it might be advanced, ancient technology or even evidence of extraterrestrial contact.

Tackling the first part of this mega 1st Doctor story, Dom Bettinellli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss Nicholas Courtney's first appearance on Who; the first Companion death; and the moral ambiguity surrounding charaters like Mavic Chen and Sarah Kingdom.

A homicidal hologram that hates people. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this psychological thriller of an emotionally fragile and homicidal alien hologram with a chilling intensity; as well as Harry Kim's cringeworthy attempted romance with Seven of Nine.

After hearing many stories of people reporting After Death Communications from deceased loved ones, Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli examine the reports from the faith and reason perspectives. Are they just imagination? Is it the grief talking? Could it be demons?

The 4th Doctor vs. giant squid monster. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the allegory of colonization and displacement of indigenous groups; the use of humor and wit in the dialogue; and the avoidance of simple good/bad guy divisions.

Millions of people report spontaneous experiences of contact with departed loved ones, hearing their voices, seeing their faces again. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss what After Death Communications are, what they are like, and whether they really could be forms of contacted with our lost loved ones.

A story that can really only be told in audio. Dom Bettinelli and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this 8th Doctor audio story that delves into the nature of music and its importance to human existence; self-sacrificial love and mortality; and the evolution of Charlie's relationship with the Doctor.

Be careful what you wish for! Dom Bettinelli and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this story's themes of the power and danger of imagination and wish fulfilment; escapsm vs. creativity; the signficance of family on the show; and our need to critically assess the impact of fantasy.

In 1909, G.E. Kinkaid found a cave in the Grand Canyon containing Egyptian and Asian artifacts. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss the excavations that began at the time and then how the story vanished from the media. What is the truth of Kinkaid's cave and what did it really contain?

It’s time for another set of weird questions posed by Cy Kellett of Catholic Answers to Jimmy Akin, including this time: should Elrond have killed Isildur?; reported time travelers; teleportation clones and confession; Klingon baptisms; Gulf War syndrome; and more.

A 9th Doctor murder mystery, Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this Big Finish audio story of a murder mystery on a space station, highlighting the Doctor's quippy nature against the cynical attitudes of the other characters and how it sets the stage for his TV adventures.

A world where women are dominant and men are weak. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this 1st season TNG episode infamous for its cringe portrayal of a matriarchy and how it was supposed to be about the evils of apartheid.

In 1972, a book purported to tell the tale of a Communist infiltrator at the Vatican dedicated to bringing down the Church. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss who this mysterious agent was, where he came from, and whether he really did what the books says.

The 7th Doctor at The Rapture. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this audio story that takes the Doctor and Ace to Ibiza where they encounter two angels and the imminent Rapture. They discuss the Rapture within Christian belief; Ace's existential crisis; and the true of Blessed Francisco Palau.

The last of the TNG films is widely marked as the weakest. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss th film's strengths and weaknesses and its themes of identity and the moral and ethical considerations of cloning and artificial sentience and more.

When a Satanist recently asked Jimmy Akin for help with whether he might be possessed, Jimmy offered his best advice. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss that advice and explore how one could approach a similar situation with empathy, charity, and reason, while taking this kind of situation seriously.

The 5th Doctor is caught in an undersea Cold War thriller that mixes in two old foes as well. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the highs and lows of the story; the more than usually bad effects; and the ethical underpinnings of the Silurians and Sea Devils.

T'Pol's hero isn't what she seems. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the story's themes of trust, earned, broken, and granted; the clash of human and Vulcan values; and the glimpse of future human-Vulcan friendship.

We regularly give Patrons the opportunity to ask Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli their mysterious questions and make them available exclusively to Patrons first and then later to the whole audience. This time the questions cover why God created dinosaurs; Dom & Jimmy's own mysterious experiences; foo fighters; and more.

Prisoner of Zenda in space! Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this 4th Doctor story and Romana's active role in it; the use of androids and technology in a feudal society; and the story's exploraton of social class, technology, and hierarchy.

A-koo-chee-moya! Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Dom Bettinelli discuss this Chakotay story featuring guest star Aron Eisenberg, including themes of fatherhood and cultural identity, as well as the missed narrative opportunities while praising the twist ending.

We're celebrating our 300th numbered episode and so Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli are discussing more of our listeners' and viewers' mysterious experiences and what Jimmy makes of what you've shared with them.

The 3rd Doctor on the frontier! Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this story of conflict between Earth and the Draconian Empire, manipulated by the Master and the Daleks, including the Cold War themes, political prisoners, and Jo's character development.

Up periscope! Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this story of the USS Defiant in a submarine-like battle. They discuss Kyra's faith, Quark's business acumen, and Worf's leadership style as the crew fights to survive the Jem-Hadar and the environment.

In 1972, an Italian newspaper published a photo it said was the face of Christ as shown by a machine that could view any point in history. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli ask whether the photo and the machine, the Chronovisor, was real; who was the priest who claimed to create it; and who has it now.

UNIT's origin. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this 2nd Doctor story of a Cyberman invasion of Earth featuring the Brigadier. They discuss the ethical dilemmas of technology raised, as well as parallels to some contemporary figures in society.

Poor Geordi. Dom Bettinellli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this TNG story that combines a ticking clock story with Geordi's awkward romantic track record and a strange holodeck encounter, plus discussion of AI in Trek and Picard's leadership.

Some pet owners feel a special bond with their pets and at times they even seem to know what their owners are thinking. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli examine whether people really can have a telepathic connection to their pets and look at what the scientific evidence says.

River Song and the 10th Doctor are back. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this audio story featuring exploding jewels, an alien ghost, and a deadly sea voyage, including the ethical dilemmas around the preservation of civilizations.

To celebrate their 300th episode, Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha give their lists of the best episodes in each of the Star Trek series, from The Original Series to Strange New Worlds. The ones they agree on are predictable, but where do they disagree?

France, 1764. A terrifying and unknown beast roams the countryside killing more than 100 men, women, and children, and injuring 200 more. A royal reward is even issued for its capture or death. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli ask what made the beast so ferocious, why it attacked so many people, and what kind of beast it actually was.

The First Doctor in the Trojan War! Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin discuss the humor and history of the Doctor's visit to Troy; the departure of Vicki; connections to the Iliad and the Odyssey; and the "true" origin of the Trojan Horse.

Mudd's back. Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin discuss the animated return of con man Harry Mudd, inclluding the eyebrow-raising content for a kid's cartoon, the ethical problems of love potions and their portrayal in popular media, and why Rainn Wilson's Mudd may have been the best.

The 2012 announcement of a papyrus fragment called the Gospel of Jesus' Wife caused a huge media sensation over the claim that Jesus did have a wife. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli examine what this fragment is, what it says, and whether it is an authentic, early Christian document.

The 4th Doctor needs to solve an Agatha Christie style set of murders. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this story that includes good and bad robots, a decadent culture, and a giant sand crawling transport.

Death by computer. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this story's moral implications and real-world parallels with themes of war's human cost, technology's role in conflict, and ethical leadership. Plus Kirk killing another megalomaniacal computer.

One of the most pivotal poltergeist cases involved a Catholic family in New York in 1958. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss the strange events, including popping bottle caps, and explore why this poltergeist case was so pivotal and what may have been responsible.

Romana is back! Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this 8th Doctor audio story that resolves Charlie's paradox, including a dicussion on free will, the ethical and moral implications of the manipulation of time, the impact of power, and more.

Psychic goo alien! Dom Bettinellli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the Enterprise's encounter with an unusual lifeform where they have to discern motive and morality and debate the ethics of extreme measures to save their crew.

In 1982, 7 people suddenly died in Chicago, having taken Extra Strength Tylenol just before, and police learned the pills had been tampered with. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss what happened, who was responsible, and how these events changed American permanently.

Nullified! Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this Chakotay story in all its weird alien word choice, its "don't judge a book by its cover" morale, and the themes of courage, indoctrination, and cross-cultural understanding.

Each Holy Saturday, the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem emerges from the tomb of Christ with the Holy Fire that goes out around the world. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli ask if the fire is lit by God or does it have a natural source and what we can learn about this historic rite.

The 6th Doctor meets Beep the Meep in this audio story. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this pre-2023 appearance of the villain; the story's commentary of television media and especially reality TV in the early 2000s; and how appearances can be deceiving.

Eminent domain! Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss DS9's "Progress," including themes of societal good vs. individual rights; the limits of governmental authority, and Kira's transition from rebel to government official and her ethical and moral dilemmas.

Many reports of near-death experiences sound positive and uplifting and blissful. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss those that are reported as distinctly negative and distressing. What happens in them, what do they mean, and what are their implications?

The 15th Doctor starts his run and Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss everything, including what they think of the new Doctor, his new Companion, the fairytale shift, the themes of family and goodness of babies, and who is Mrs. Flood?