HeyJaredMezzo by Chris Damian
Mezzo is a space for the "in-between." For deconstructing and deconstructed Catholics, and those who want to learn with and from them. We coverCatholicism, intersectionality, dialogue, deconstruction, sexuality, race, creativity, healing, change, and much more!
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 8
- Latest publication
- Sep 10, 2026
- Audience
- Checking…
- Earliest in this view
- Jul 15, 2026
Latest episodes
A Girl Started SCREAMING During Eucharistic Adoration... Here's What I Think Happened (opens the original)
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For my whole life, I've just accepted one of Catholicism's most unbelievable claims: that the Eucharist is truly the Body and Blood of Christ. In this episode of Mezzo, I revisit one unforgettable night at a Catholic youth retreat where a girl suddenly began screaming during Eucharistic adoration, students believed they witnessed spiritual phenomena, and I experienced something that has shaped my faith ever since. Looking back as both a lawyer and a gay Catholic, I reflect on the tension between
Black Natural Law & the Christian Response to Oppression, with Dr. Vincent Lloyd (opens the original)
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Today, I’m joined on Mezzo by Dr. Vincent Lloyd, professor at Villanova University and author of Black Natural Law and co-author of Break Every Yoke: Break Every Yoke: Religion, Justice, and the Abolition of Prisons.We discuss natural law, suffering, Christianity, oppression, prisons, abolition, Martin Luther King Jr., Anna Julia Cooper, and why the experiences of marginalized communities matter for understanding human nature and justice.This conversation challenged a lot of the assumptions I gr
What It's Like to Be a "DEI Hire": My Story as a Gay Catholic Lawyer (opens the original)
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In today's Mezzo episode, I share a very personal story.Rather than debating DEI, merit, or politics in the abstract, I wanted to explain what these conversations have looked like in my own life. As a gay Catholic and lawyer, I've experienced both opportunities that were closed to me because of my identity and opportunities that were opened through diversity initiatives.I discuss losing a Vatican internship despite being the top candidate, why a corporate diversity externship changed the traject
Why Christian Stories Need More Honesty (Not More Arguments) (opens the original)
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What happens when you stop trying to win arguments and start telling honest stories?In this conversation, I sit down with Simon, creator of the acclaimed Dear Alana podcast, to talk about the years-long journey of bringing Alana Chen's story to life. We discuss grief, creativity, Catholicism, deconstruction, conversion therapy, and why so many people—religious and secular alike—feel trapped by simplistic narratives.We explore why Dear Alana resonated so deeply, the challenge of telling a story i
Does the Catholic Church Really Condemn Socialism? (opens the original)
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Socialism is presently all over American news, with democratic socialist politicians currently competing for key roles in state and national leadership. These developments have elicited forceful commentary from Catholic leaders such as Bishop Robert Barron. Catholics are often told that the Church has always condemned socialism. But is that actually what the Church teaches? In this episode, I examine Bishop Robert Barron's response to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and use it as a starting p
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