"Seeking Beauty" Red Carpet Premiere with David Henrie

Join us for this special red carpet premiere of a remarkable new documentary series from EWTN that delves deep into the very essence of what it means to seek beauty in our lives. We'll be chatting with the CEO of EWTN, Michael Warsaw, Peter Gagnon, President of EWTN Studios, charismatic host David Henrie, Lila Rose and many others!

Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:01

Welcome everyone to the Joelle Marin Show. I'm your host, Joelle Marin, and today we're stepping onto a very special red carpet. We're here to celebrate the premiere of a remarkable new documentary series from EWTN. A series that delves deep into the very essence of what it means to seek beauty in our lives. This is the Red Carpet for Seeking Beauty, and I am absolutely thrilled to be joined by the incredible mind and heart behind this project. We'll be chatting with the CEO of EWTN, Michael Warsaw, Peter Gadman, the president of EWTN Studios, who helped bring this vision to life, and charismatic host David Henry, who guides us through each episode, and even some of the esteemed members of the clergy and special well-wishers, including Lila Rose, who understand the profound significance of this series. So settle in, get comfortable, and let's dive into the world of seeking beauty right here on this very special episode of the Joelle Marin Show. Peter, what a gift to see you here tonight. And EWTM puts out incredible projects. But what was it about seeking beauty that made you want to get involved?

SPEAKER_10 1:16

Well, when we did our new EWT Index initiative, we realized we needed a new content strategy to reach that next generation. And so the generation of those who are who are seeking, who are maybe even skeptics. And when we received the concept of seeking beauty, we said this aligns perfectly with our content strategy. And so of like show, don't tell, help them be inspired in family viewing. So that's why I'm really excited about this program.

SPEAKER_04 1:38

Yeah. Can you give us kind of an overview of what seeking beauty is and how that leads us to God?

SPEAKER_10 1:44

So Seeking Beauty is a travel program where David Henry leads people throughout Italy, and it's a journey with David. It's not David telling you what you're seeing, it's it's you're going with him as he's seeking, as he's being inspired. The audience also should be inspired. So it goes to six different locations throughout Italy. It's beautifully shot, and um the locations are really outstanding.

SPEAKER_04 2:05

Is there an episode that you were just dying for people to see that's like your favorite?

SPEAKER_10 2:09

I think the Florence episode, there's a special event that happens in the midst of that episode. I don't want to give it away, but people should definitely tune into that one.

SPEAKER_04 2:18

Okay, so you heard it here. There's something in the Florence episode, so you might have to watch a lot of episodes to get to that one, but it will be worth it. David, you've done so much work, but seeking beauty is something really different and so, oh, like breathtakingly beautiful. What was it that drew you to this project and what's the inspiration behind it?

SPEAKER_05 2:37

Um what it what what I liked about this project is they wanted to flip the narrative on its head. So when you think of um a documentary or docuseries on beauty, I don't know, for for some reason, what comes to mind in my head is like an old guy walking you through a lecture on beauty and it's not very exciting.

unknown 2:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 2:53

And they're like, we want to flip it on its head, where you have just a normal guy, an accessible host, that sits down with experts and asks curious questions about these works of beauty and why they exist. And I was like, okay, that's me, good, because like I'm not an expert. I appreciate culture, I love culture, and I like taking it in, and I'm curious by nature. So um, it was just a great fit and beauty, of course. Like to me, what I love about travel shows is how you get to see the locations, you get to have fun. But a lot of times in the travel shows, I want to go deeper. I want to know like why, how does this represent your culture? What is your culture? What does it stand for? What are its beliefs? Why do these things exist? So with this show, we go deeper. And I was very, yeah, we we go there, you know, because I that that's how I think. And um, and it worked out great. Thanks, Bitty God. It worked out great. Yeah, so a lot for many reasons I wanted to do that.

SPEAKER_04 3:42

David, we get to see the final product, but as an executive producer, there was a lot that went behind the scenes. What are some challenges that you faced where you saw the hand of God come through?

SPEAKER_07 3:54

First off, I mean, to to be able to pull any project together is a miracle, right? Uh there's there's casting, there's the concept itself, there's pulling things together, there's locations, and there's funding. And so many projects just wait because funding hasn't it's really hard to get it. So first, to get EWTN to have the kind of vision to make the investment into this project is the first miracle, right? But ultimately, you gotta put a full team together, and that team with Andrew Hyatt as a director, you know, accomplished and accredited director. I love his work on the film Paul Apostle for Christ. He had a recent film, Site, that that came out with Angel Studios. Andrew is incredible to pair Andrew with David, Henry, and then to have Edmundo Reyes come in and kind of shepherd the whole thing. That in and of itself is a dynamic that happens way, way, way ahead of time. And it's orchestrated in a way that um I think has created Seeking Beauty. And so uh that team, that team has really been incredible.

SPEAKER_04 4:57

Yeah, so basically God provides and puts all the people and pieces together, right?

SPEAKER_07 5:02

Every single time, right? So he's gonna use everything, everything that you have, he'll use to um if you let him, he'll use to actually bring about his will. And so my experience in this project was at a 20-year relationship with David Henry. I had just done a movie um as the producer with Andrew Hyatt, and I hired Andrew to work on my film. I had um I had a premiere of my film that that was at the Heartland Film Festival, and I brought them together, and then at Mundo Reyes, um, I knew Edmundo before I was married, and and that was 25 years ago. So to bring all of them together, and we were just celebrating together, and then this idea came up. And that's where all this stuff starts to happen, and it and it really comes together.

SPEAKER_04 5:47

Okay, well, we are here with Lila Rose. I just want to say Divine Providence is coming to mind because I was just on the Lila Rose show, and now Lila's on the Joel Morin show. So this is so exciting, and Lila, this is a really big TV series for a lot of reasons. What brought you out here tonight to support it? And what is the importance of seeking true beauty?

unknown 6:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_12 6:10

I'm very excited for what EW10 is building and extremely proud of David and his family for what they've created here. I think the postmodern era is in desperate need of true beauty and tracing the roots of beauty, especially when it has to do with our faith in sacred art and music and whether it's cuisine or architecture. I just think that's so inspiring. People need to see it, and it's gonna be so much fun with David hosting. So I cannot wait. I everyone's gonna love it. And what do you think are some things we could do to become more beautiful in Christ? I mean, the ultimate beauty is the ultimate beauty is God. And so I think a loving heart always shines through. If your heart is full of love, it will come out in your face. Um, obviously, a smile. Mother Teresa says that joy is a net by which you catch souls. And so letting that joy come out through your eyes and your smile to draw other people in, not to for your own purposes, but ultimately for the purpose of love, I think is what's what's human interaction all about. So yeah.

SPEAKER_04 7:13

I've never heard of that before. Yeah, joy is a net. Joy is a net by which to catch souls, and then joy is also the infallible sign of the Holy Spirit. So that what's more beautiful than that? It's God, God in you. What are you hoping that people take away after watching this series?

SPEAKER_12 7:31

I hope that they're just inspired to be grateful for the richness of the heritage that is our faith and the beauty that surrounds it in every part of human life, and that all parts of human life, whether you're eating food or you're looking at a beautiful church, all of it is designed for our flourishing and for glory to God. And for excuse me, all of it is designed for flourishing and for glory to God.

SPEAKER_05 7:55

What if beauty was something more than we see? What if it was something we seek? I'm David Henry. We're traveling across Italy, exploring the people. Well, I think I'm gonna get used to it here. The culture. This is such a full circle moment for me in the sacred art to uncover the beauty that's been speaking to hearts for centuries. Michelangelo has found the Lord at the end of his life. Makes me emotional. Along the way, I've met monks, musicians, artists, even a few fellow pilgrims. Viva Spania! And each one has helped me uncover deeper meaning. Trying to understand the mind of Carvaggio. I got fired up about this stuff, man. Because beauty isn't just decoration, it's the language of the soul. Come join me to see how timeless beauty still speaks to us today, and how it just might change the way we see everything.

SPEAKER_04 8:49

Archbishop Gomez, what an honor to have you here with us at this special event. I would like to start with the title of the series, Seeking Beauty, and what do you feel that means, you know, in relation to the Lord and our church?

SPEAKER_08 9:03

Well, I think it reminds us that that was the plan of God for creation and especially for the human person. Uh, striving for uh encounter the beauty of God's love for us. So I think it's very special, and I think it will help a lot of people to understand the real meaning of our life.

SPEAKER_04 9:23

What are you hoping that after people see this, that they maybe change in their life or or do or see to seek beauty in Christ?

SPEAKER_08 9:32

Well, especially see the beauty of creation and the beauty for the human person. Because I think sometimes we see that there are differences of opinion or difference of thinking or doing things in society. And when we understand that we all participate in that beautiful plan of God for us, that will help us to be more united and love one another.

SPEAKER_04 9:54

Yes, and I I specifically loved an episode with the Benedictine monks and their devotion to prayer. Do you feel that prayer makes us more beautiful?

SPEAKER_08 10:03

Oh, absolutely. I think uh I think personally and my life and also in the life of the people that I um minister to, I one once that we understand that we can talk to God and listen to God, then that's prayer. So that's when our life is more peaceful, and uh and we we really understand how beautiful it is to uh to share that with the people around us.

SPEAKER_04 10:28

This Seeking Beauty TV series is something new for EWTN and something exciting. Can you share, you know, what really encouraged you to want to be a part of this and bring it to the masses?

SPEAKER_06 10:38

Sure. Well, you know, as we launched this new EWTN Next initiative, really looking at how do we bring content uh to new audiences in new ways. Um you know, this this project really kind of spoke to me, I think spoke to a lot of us at EWTN to say, you know, we live in a day and an age that can be very ugly, um, and that is very often devoid of beauty. And I think all of us need a reminder that uh, you know, there is so much beauty around us that we are surrounded by beauty, we're surrounded by all of the beauty that God has created for us in our world, but we just need to look for that. We need to focus on that and be aware that it's there and draw inspiration, draw hope, um, you know, draw uh our own ability to grow closer to God through that. Um, and so I think it's it's been so important to us to have uh this particular series be really the first uh series released through the EWTN Studios platform, uh, and for that to really be uh kind of a flagship uh series for us as we go forward.

SPEAKER_04 11:45

Yeah, and like you said, I think in the culture, beauty has been distorted so much. So, what are some of the scenes in the series that lead the heart to the beauty leading us to God ultimately?

SPEAKER_06 11:56

Sure. Well, I think there are many, many moments where David is, you know, perhaps in in St. Peter's, for example, taking us through, and you're just looking at, you know, Michelangelo's great works, or uh, you know, so many of the other places that he visits throughout this, where um these these masters, these you know, centuries-old works that have been inspiring people for hundreds and hundreds of years, you know. Um, but also that beauty in the simplest things of whether it's the line drawing or in the beauty of of food and culture and music and all of these things that are that are just a part of our world. And so uh there's so much depth to this, and I'm really excited to see how people react to that.

SPEAKER_04 12:38

What are you hoping that people get after they watch it? What are you hoping they experience internally?

SPEAKER_13 12:44

I hope they start believing in beauty again. Because we live in a world that is ugly sometimes, you know. A lot of times we see we see a lot of bad things happening, we see a lot of ugly things happening. So this show celebrates beauty, not just the beauty that you have outside of you, like the art, of course, the the beautiful um museums and paintings and cathedral, but the art inside of us, the beauty inside of us. I always say that God looks at us as pieces of art. He thinks we are so beautiful. So my hope for this is that people uh start getting educated to beauty again and they start feeling that they're beautiful as well.

SPEAKER_04 13:24

Yeah, we are masterpieces. God is the master piecer that puts us together. We're formed and knitted in the wound, and the world does twist what beauty is. A lot of times, was there any like favorite moments that you had on set where you felt God touch your heart or his presence with you?

SPEAKER_13 13:44

Well, you know, you always have challenges in the productions, and the way you overcome those challenges really tells you if you're working for God or for yourself. And we were very blessed in both season one and two. Um, because no matter the challenges, we were blessed with so many little small miracles because on production you you see miracles every day. Like there's a problem there, the problem there, the problem there. And then God solved all of those problems, and you have to put your spirit out there. Of course, you have to sacrifice for the production as, you know, as a team, as individuals. But if you do that for God and not for yourself, God rewards you. And so we we saw small continuous miracles happening every single day.

SPEAKER_04 14:29

So, Deacon, this is just an incredible series. You know, I was in the LA scene for many, many years, and I didn't realize that you can use TV and you know, film to bring people to God and to evangelize in this way. What drew you to this project and how does this show raise people to what true beauty really is?

SPEAKER_11 14:49

What we like about this project specifically is the fact that it meets people where they are and draws them in through an invitation into a deeper understanding of the transcendent through the lens of beauty. No matter who you are, whether you're just seeking, that's why we call it, you know, seeking beauty, right? You're just starting to seek, or you're well, well advanced in your spiritual walk. Um, this shows an invitation. And it's not like a Bible study, it's not a catechism class, it's an experiential invitation for you to travel and discover how beauty can lead you more to the divine. And I love that idea because when I zoom out and I look at like really all of entertainment, I see a lot of stuff that is just general entertainment, which has nothing to do with God. And I see a lot of stuff at the end of the funnel that's all about like here's the Bible verse and here's whatever. Both of those things are fine. What I see a lot less of is the kind of content that uses, you know, things for lack of a better word, like lifestyle to help draw people into an experience of the faith. So that's why.

SPEAKER_04 15:50

Yeah, and it's very natural the back and forth, you know, and the inquisitive nature that David Henry has to draw people into the mystery. We are seeking, I think we're always seeking beauty because we're always seeking a deeper, closer relationship with the Lord. Do you have a favorite episode that you were just dying for people to see?

SPEAKER_11 16:09

It's like kind of peek picking children, you know what I mean? I love like Subiaco because it was very focused on silence and monasticism. I love Florence as well. Some of the just obviously just the beauty of Florence, but the conversations that David had that were really authentic and genuine with people that he was meeting along the way. I mean, Milan, the Vatican. I mean, it's like it's kind of hard to pick. But um if I had to, if you force me, I'd probably say Florence.

SPEAKER_05 16:34

Along the way, I've met monks, musicians, artists. I got fired up about this stuff, man. What role do you think the artist has to play today? Even a few fellow pilgrims. Viva Espania! And each one has helped me uncover deeper meaning. Trying to understand the mind of Carvajo. This is such a full-circle moment for me. Because beauty isn't just decoration, it's the language of the soul. Come join me to see how timeless beauty still speaks to us today, and how it just might change the way we see everything.

SPEAKER_04 17:06

This is a holy moment. We are here with an auxiliary bishop and Father Larry, who are both Franciscans. And if there's one thing that Franciscans know, it's about true beauty. So I would like to just talk about how do we find God and seeking beauty, even as a Franciscan, what is what does that title, seeking beauty, mean to you?

SPEAKER_00 17:28

Thank you, Joel. I'm honored to be here with Bishop Matt. Uh, but in in intrinsically in our Franciscan spirituality, according to St. Bonaventure, beauty is what converts us to God. So we are we are given beauty to see the aspects of God that resonate and are resplendent in the goodness of God. So beauty is very essential in our understanding of our Franciscan calling, to see beauty, to recognize beauty, to perfume beauty. So this movie really fits in very, very much in our Franciscan tradition and spirituality.

SPEAKER_04 18:01

Oh my goodness, that's amazing. What does seeking beauty mean to you?

SPEAKER_09 18:05

You know, I'd go to St. Augustine, who said, beauty ever ancient, ever new. And it's that beauty of the sacred, which is ultimately in our souls, by which we were created in God's image and likeness, that as we get in touch with that and appreciate that within our own being, we in turn naturally see that in the world that we experience. It's augmented by the song and the food and architecture and those aspects that draw us, but it's drawing what is already within us. And the more we recognize that within us, the more we recognize the fact that God resides in our very being and gives a chance to share Him with others.

SPEAKER_04 18:47

So would you say that we're seeking beauty, and seeking beauty is seeking God?

SPEAKER_09 18:52

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_04 18:53

Well, I'm so excited to see you tonight. I bet you feel excited about being here. Once you work so hard on a project, what is it like once it's ready to go live?

SPEAKER_01 19:01

Oh my goodness, this is like the best uh teamwork, right? Uh production and seeing a show coming to life. This is great. It's the is the work and the prayers of many people, and we're so excited to be here. Thank you so much for being here.

SPEAKER_04 19:13

Yeah, yeah. And so, how did you get involved as an executive producer on this project?

SPEAKER_01 19:18

So, as an executive producer and the producer, you know, I'm spared uh of creating the show and bringing this idea uh to life. So, about maybe four and a half years ago, we started with this idea of what would happen if we can bring to people that experience of encountering beauty in this pilgrimage, in this travel show, but beyond a travel show, uh a show of wonder and and and beauty and excitement. So we're very, very excited to be here.

SPEAKER_04 19:43

So it took four years to get this going.

SPEAKER_01 19:45

Yeah, so about four years from beginning to end, and it's just so beautiful to see it here today.

SPEAKER_04 19:49

I really strongly believe you're the wife of David Henry, the host of this show. I believe it's the woman behind the man that makes the man. I'm just saying.

SPEAKER_03 20:00

I I try my best. He did say, should I do this show? And I said, absolutely. So you're welcome, everybody. I'm just kidding.

SPEAKER_04 20:08

And what does the prayer life behind that look like for your family as a prayer warrior for everything, you know, that that comes against doing trying to do God's work?

SPEAKER_03 20:17

Totally. That's something that we take very seriously. We talk about it at least every Sunday when David and I have our family meetings, like for ourselves and for the for the kids. Prayer life is number one. Like we notice that if our prayer life falters, everything else kind of falls apart. So we both have our non-negotiables. Like we do at least 15 minutes of meditation, we do our spiritual reading, like Daily Rosary is a family. So we have our things that like we have to do. We were even talking about it yesterday. Like, do we need to tweak anything? And we really are good at holding each other accountable, and that's something that we work on just as a married couple. Um, so it's number one, and like I feel like we can all kind of see that in our own lives, like when our prayer life falters, it's something that we should all think about. Like, how are we doing, just generally? And if the answer is like not great, you should ask how your prayer life is doing, and very often, not always, but very often it kind of correlates. Um, and we've noticed that in our life, so it's something that we take really seriously, especially his industry is a little crazy, okay? So if you have a prayer life, you better watch yourself, you know. Um, so he takes it very seriously, just as like the head of our household. And um, I know that you know, our kids look to us for an example, so like we both have to, you know, take it seriously in our own way and we hold each other accountable, which is great.

SPEAKER_04 21:27

But you focus on seeking true beauty and helping lead people, even with your own evangelization. What brought you out here tonight to support this incredible TV series? I've known David Henry for a while.

SPEAKER_02 21:39

What a wonderful spirit he has, not only for the Catholic faith, but for infusing truth, goodness, and beauty into media in any capacity that he can. I'm so excited to see him in Seeking Beauty highlighting the richness and the depth of just the faith of culture for him to highlight right with his. Personality and the joy that he has for his faith and for the pursuit of goodness, truth, and beauty to see that highlighted in this series is going to be so wonderful for so many people.

SPEAKER_04 22:08

Yes. And if you could say anything to our audience of why they need to see this, what would you say?

SPEAKER_02 22:14

I would say, especially in a digital culture with AI, right? That's a whole nother conversation for another day. For with all of that infusing our lives to go back to distill everything down to see what David is seeing with these cathedrals that were built stone by stone at a time where it probably felt impossible to people to see the art, to see humanity highlighted in art, in architecture, in food. What a beautiful thing for our lives. The richness that these bring to our humanity are essential. And that's why I think everyone should watch Seeking Beauty.

SPEAKER_04 22:48

Thank you so much for watching. And I can't wait for you to see this incredible TV series on EWTN seeking beauty, because we are all hungering for something more meaningful in life. And it all true art, true beauty, points to God. See you real soon. God bless you.