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Modern Catholic Family

Teaching the Faith in an Age of Distraction

March 17, 2026 • Jim Schubert

0:00 | 44:47

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What if the most effective tool for faith formation in a distracted world is a catchy song? Jim sits down with Justin West to explore how digitally created music and sharp apologetics are drawing souls to the faith across social media. As the creator of Peter's Barque, Justin has produced over 60 songs in just three months, reaching more than a million views with content that resonates with Catholics, non-Catholics, and even atheists alike. With wit, conviction, and a marketer's instinct for what cuts through the noise, Justin is building the kingdom one song at a time.

What’s in this episode:

Justin's journey from agnostic to Catholic revert at Benedictine College
The origin of Peter's Barque and the production house Hemlock and Honey
How a three-second attention span is reshaping faith formation online
The viral song showing science and faith are not in opposition
Stories of people returning to Mass after encountering Peter's Barque
The Gunslinger Saint Ballads and how saints come alive through song
Why fathers living the faith raises children's retention rates significantly
Peter's Barque content used in OCIA, middle school, and high school classes
Upcoming songs planned for Lent, Easter, and the feast days in between
One resource every Catholic family should know: Catholic Answers
Book he is currently reading: Sola Scriptura Doesn't Work by Joel Peters
Advice to his younger self: Live your faith and don't be afraid to fail
Final wisdom for listeners: Learn your faith, learn it better, and then learn it again

Resources Mentioned:

Peter’s Barque Music – Justin's hub for Peter's Barque music, content, and listener testimonials

Catholic Answers – The largest lay Catholic apologetics association in North America

Sola Scriptura Doesn't Work by Joel Peters – A defense of the Church's authority and Sacred Tradition

How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization by Thomas Woods – Referenced for the Church's foundational role in modern science