God & Other Delicacies

The tension between creative freedom and religiosity in Pakistan and England; different childhoods; his fight to break free and pursue his dream of acting and freedom of expression in the United States; a meditation on obstacles and struggles; and the yearning to find spiritual peace, happiness and acceptance amidst life's challenges.
 
Babar Peerzada [TV/Stage Actor... NCIS: Los Angeles (also Writer), NCIS, Lions for Lambs] joins Nick on the phone to share the complex and compelling physical and spiritual journey he's taken to this point in his life.  Born in Pakistan to artistic, free-thinking parents, he lived in London, England until the age of 12, when his family returned to Pakistan full time.  This juxtaposition and tension between the cultures of creative freedom and overarching religiosity has defined the struggle of his life.  Unhappy having left England as a pre-teen, Babar fought, with the help of friends and family, to strike out on his own and follow his passion to work in Los Angeles as a professional actor.  The obstacles, setbacks, and successes of his life are worthy of a listen alone, but it is his reflections on his journey of faith, and his yearning to find peace and acceptance amidst life's challenges and his own personal struggles, that are at the heart of this story.  I found it to be a deeply meditative episode, punctuated by moments of aching and laughter and warmth.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
 
Babar is a big fan of Carl Sagan, and quotes him at one point in the episode.  Find that quote and more at this link: Carl Sagan
Also, Babar is writing a stage play about the life of Mary Shelley, and the inspiration for her seminal book, Frankenstein.  More about her at this link: Mary Shelley
Babar Instagram: @babarpeerzada
 
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

A military child who returned to her New Orleans home; the spirituality of music; how music and spirituality intertwine with African-American history in Louisiana to bring about something unique; the artistic and spiritual journey that led her home; and the obstacles her community faces to save New Orleans.
 
Arsène DeLay (New Orleans-based singer/songwriter/musician with multiple award-winning albums and music featured on NCIS: New Orleans, MFA graduate of California Institute of the Arts) hops on the phone with Nick, and the old college theatre buddies (Marquette University) share a beautiful catch-up after having not seen each other since Nick and his wife visited her in New Orleans six years ago.  Arsène grew up the daughter of an active-duty military father, and she has the travel history to prove it.  But her family lineage is quintessentially New Orleanian, and the story of her spiritual journey to this point centers on the return to her familial and musical community there.  Arsène shares openly and deeply about the trials and joys of living in her beloved city, the richness of the culture she relies on there, and the particularly painful challenges New Orleans is dealing with today.  It's an intimate story which reveals as much about Arsène as it does New Orleans itself, and it was an honor to listen to her tell it. 
       
Here's a short video that gives insight into something Arsène speaks about in the episode: The New Orleans "Second Line"
 
And here's Arsène performing a song with The Charlie Wooton Project that is damn-near guaranteed to get you shakin' something: Boogie On Reggae Woman  
 
Arsène Delay Official Website: arsenedelay.com
Arsène Facebook: Arsène DeLay Music
Arsène Instagram: @arsenedelaymusic
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Converting to Reform Judaism; the Jewish concepts of dayenu and tikkun olam; a yearning for deeper spiritual meaning in his life; the story of his actual conversion as an adult; and how he led a Passover Seder for myself and others in Vancouver while we were shooting season 2 of Trial & Error.
 
Steven Boyer (Hustlers, Orange is the New Black, Chicago: Fire, The Blacklist, and Tony-Award Nominee for Hand to God), Nick's old partner in both committing and fighting crime on their beloved little comedy Trial & Error, hops on the phone from his place in Brooklyn and tells a beautiful story about what led to his conversion to Reform Judaism.  Born in Columbus, Ohio to a loving Presbyterian family that did not practice weekly, or even monthly, Steven found himself at a young age seeking out a deeper religious connection than what he had at hand.  He spent time with Evangelicals, and time as an Agnostic Secular Humanist, but his life transformed emotionally, practically and spiritually upon meeting the woman whom he would marry.  Feeling no pressure from her or her family, Steven began to feel a resonant kinship with the synagogue at which his wife's family attended service, and he decided to convert when they were engaged.  Steven talks affectingly about the Jewish concepts of dayenu and tikkun olam, and he and Nick reminisce about how they were together in Vancouver when Steven led a Passover Seder for the first time (Jewish fans of the show may find a "bone" of contention in the story wink wink).  It's a warm, heartfelt, thoughtful and loving story, and it was an honor to listen to an old friend tell it.
 
Something I need your help with: Let me know if you jam with the Peanut Butter Podcast.
 
Steven Twitter: @SteveBoyer5000  
Steven Instagram: @SteveBoyer5000
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Old friends discuss their complicated beginning in TV; offers of vulnerability; sharing similar spiritual journeys; getting Nick to talk; fatherhood, Hollywood, living in the present and Wakanicci Bathrobes. 
 
David Walton (Council of Dads, New Girl, Masters of Sex, About a Boy, Bad Moms, Fired Up!) and Nick, old friends who were cast as best friends in the first TV pilot either of them ever booked nearly 20 years ago, open up a conversation that surprises both of them in the nature of its' depth, its' generosity, and its' vulnerability.  Unwittingly, both came to the discussion with an offer for healing - Nick, by exorcising past feelings of hurt from when he was replaced off that aforementioned pilot from two decades ago before it went to series; and David, in sharing that he too had the idea to start a podcast on religion similar to G.O.D., and how he was initially reticent to listen.  What follows is the joyfully grounding discovery that they are sharing in similar spiritual journeys at present, along with many of the same questions, concerns and hopes about where they are headed.  It is a free-flowing and loving conversation, and both men left it with a deep sense of gratitude for the moment.
 
David's luxury bathrobe company gets a lot of great run in this story... enjoy the payoff, and learn more about Wakanicci Bathrobes here. 
David's breakfast tip: Butter coffee with MCT oil from Bulletproof?  Love iiiiiiiit!
And now for those FU! fans out there... here's where Nick and Shawn meet Dr. Rick.
 
David's Instagram: @davidwalton
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Seminary at 14, ordained at 27, left the priesthood to marry, became a father and, ultimately, become a Priest again in a new and healthier form; the personal and familial turmoil surrounding his choice to renounce his vow of chastity; a painful memory from his youth which he has overcome; and his spiritual calling to build bridges in his community through healing and reconciliation.
 
Paul “Pablo” Burson (Director of Student Development and Community Partnerships at Regis University, and a Priest in the Ecumenical Catholic Communion), a dear friend and former teacher of Nick’s, joins the show, and Pablo’s inner light, his kindness, and his calm reverence for God and the spiritual life make for sublime conversation.  Pablo’s story is extraordinary.  He entered the seminary at the age of 14, would be ordained at 27, would be transformed while ministering in Guatemala, and would later marry, become a father, and find a new church in which to practice and preach.  He tells of the turmoil surrounding his choice to renounce his vow of chastity, which involved not only his inner spiritual life at the time, but his relationship to his parents, as well as another tragic revelation from his youth.  But Pablo’s story is one of healing and reconciliation, and his spiritual calling is to build bridges in the same fashion.  It is a warm, loving, joyful and generous hour, and it was a great honor to have him on the show.
 
Something I learned: Pablo was influenced in his early training by a style of prayer that resembles the Pentecostal experience -- Charismatic Catholic Renewal
Pablo tells a story about where the practice of his inner spiritual life blossomed, during his time spent at The Abbey of Gethsemani -- where Thomas Merton lived as a monk. 
If you're in Denver, CO, you and all are welcome to attend a service with Pablo and his faith community at The Church of the Beloved! 
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Leaving the talent business after 30+ years; her mothers' death and final words; divorce; spiritual and professional fulfillment; and why you should align your priorities in life while you still have the chance.
 
Louise Spinner (former Senior Talent Agent in the Motion Picture Department at UTA/United Talent Agency), Nick's very first (and now most recent) talent representative, hops on the phone to share about why she is presently stepping away from her 30+ year career in the entertainment business, and what she hopes to gain by doing so.  She also talks about growing up the only biological child of two Reformed Jewish parents who each had prior marriages and families, and the way her perspective on life shifted in the wake of their deaths.  Especially touching are her intimate reflections on the unexpected passing of her mother to cancer.  Now a divorced mother of three who is seeking a more wholesome and balanced life inside a business that seems to resist those notions at every turn, Louise offers hard-earned wisdom on the struggle of aligning one's priorities in life, and why, despite the difficulty, it's important work to do when you still have the chance.
 
Something I learned about after having already become a father... "Push Presents" 
 
Louise Instagram: @spin.stagram
Facebook: Louise Spinner
LinkedIn: Louise Spinner
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Being a PK (Pastor's Kid); a spiritual event that occurred when Aaron was in the womb, and how that changed the direction of his family's life; the tensions and challenges of being a skeptic in a religious home; and how he navigates his unique pursuits in relation to a family he loves so dearly. 
 
Aaron Yoo (The Tomorrow People, Hawaii 5-0, Disturbia, 21, Everything Before Us) hops on the phone with Nick from his apartment in New York City, and the old Rocket Science pals share memories from 15 years ago and chat NYC Covid-19 before jumping into Aaron's unique relationship to religion, and Christianity in particular...  While five months pregnant with him, Aaron's mother suffered a terrifying automobile accident, and her doctors did not believe the baby would survive.  A father's pledge to God and a son's miracle survival would set the foundational tension for a young boy who would grow up both a "Pastor's Kid" and a curious skeptic.  Aaron speaks about this tension with deep love for his family, and love even for Christianity, but his distaste for the structure of religion and his interests in other philosophical thought remain clear.  It's a wide-ranging discussion, as well as funny, generous and revealing.  It was a joy to catch up with him, and learn more about an old friend.
 
Who knows how many times I'll do this in the future, but this episode was the first one where I forgot to ask my guest what he had for breakfast!  So as not to deprive you, here it is, straight from Aaron:
"I had sourdough toast with butter and sunflower butter. And some pumpkin granola with almond milk. That’s my go to breakfast. (My wife) turned me on to sunflower butter back when we started dating and I’ve never looked back. It puts peanut and almond butter to shame."  Dammit.  I missed a good one.
And for those of you lucky enough to have seen him during his Off-Broadway run of THE HEADLANDS by Christopher Chen, Aaron has been nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award!
 
Aaron's Instagram: @merlinwizdawg
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Christianity during an unorthodox childhood; rejecting that Christian label; merging comedy and faith in her podcast "Who's Your God?"; reflections on her parents and siblings; and some insights into dudes named Jeff.   
 
Amy Miller (One of Comedy Central's "Up Next" comics for 2018; her album "Solid Gold" was named a Top 10 comedy album of 2016 by Interrobang) has been complimented by established comedians as both "alpha" and "fierce".  Well, no different here, as she was the alpha-guest regarding my first Covid-19 phone interview, and then afterwards would reveal to me that she had no idea who I was (or what she was getting into) until she looked me up on Instagram when we had finished.  That same ferocity and fearlessness shined through in the episode, as she spoke boldly, clearly and thoughtfully about what defined her upbringing and early spirituality, and what defines her outlook and comedic commentary today.  From a challenging childhood that found her leaning heavily on her Christian faith for strength and guidance, to an adulthood that rejected that Christian label but still finds her exploring the conversation of God every week on her podcast "Who's Your God?", Amy demonstrates the sincerity, empathy, and edge that makes her such a compelling comedian.  It was an honor to have her on the show. 
 
To all my listeners named "Jeff" out there... this one's for you.
 
Instagram: @amymillercomedy & @whosyourgodcast
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Growing up Evangelical; discovering his true calling in comedy; his identity as queer, and his polyamorous lifestyle; on his early marriage and divorce; and the evolution of his personal relationship to God.
 
Steve Hernandez (Comedian, founder of Chatterbox Comedy Night, field reporter on Sarah Silverman's "I Love You, America!" and host of multiple podcasts) fearlessly visits Nick's studio as a total stranger, and is thankfully won over by a cup of coffee.  Nick, in turn, is won over by Steve's hearty laugh, his thoughtful reflection and his devotion to living life as kindly and honestly as possible.  Steve's spiritual journey begins as a devout young child raised in Faith Church, an Evangelical Christian community in West Covina, CA.  He tells a story about nearly entering the Army, and then becoming a leading Youth Minister in the church, only to leave the church as a young man who, as Steve puts it, "had a lot of sin his life."  Steve's journey continues through a marriage and subsequent divorce before he discovers ultimately where he is supposed to be - comedy.  Steve refers to himself as queer, and talks openly and at length about his polyamorous lifestyle as well as his devotion to his girlfriend, and how he's been able to understand himself and his personal relationship to God on new and evolving levels.  It's an enlightening, entertaining, honest and warm conversation, and I loved having him on the show.
 
Here are iTunes links to all three of Steve's podcasts (find him @hernia on social):
Who's Your God?
The Male Gaze
Views From The Vista    
 
Steve's Instagram: @hernia
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com 
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

New life after deep depression; raised by Christian foster parents due to his mother's addictions; discovering his artistic talents and "making it" in Hollywood; reconciling with his impossible standards of success; and living a life of gratitude devoted to his health, his community and a purpose higher than himself.
 
Another of Nick's old friends, Enver Gjokaj - pronounced "Joke-Eye" - (Marvel's "Agent Carter" & "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.", Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse", Emergence) visits the studio, and almost instantly we're swept up in not only Enver's journeys abroad, but the deeply mindful journey he's embarked on over the last handful of years since he bottomed out with depression.  Enver's story is a story of resilience - from being raised at times by foster parents due to his mothers' drug addiction, to achieving nearly all of the life goals he has so far set for himself, to finally choosing a path of health, happiness and gratitude after years spent in an unhealthy mindset and self-abuse.  Enver speaks openly and eloquently about his struggles both personally and professionally, and how he works to overcome these struggles by devoting himself to his community of loved ones and serving a purpose higher than himself.  We're catching Enver at a beautiful and inspiring stage in his spiritual journey, and I know I walked away much better for having heard him tell about it.   
 
Here's a link to the camp where Enver and his brothers spent part of their youth: Golden Valley Camp
... And a (free!) link to an influential book mentioned by Enver: The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James
 
Enver's Instagram: @therealenver
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com  
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

A devout Christian details his faith journey; his mothers' addiction to painkillers and his fathers' health scares; his mission to bridge the divide between his too-often insular Christianity and the outside secular world through his podcast Christianese; and his humorous and generous thoughts on many challenging questions of faith.
 
This week, Dan Sachoff (Zooey's Extraordinary Playlist, Black-ish, Scrubs, The Closer, Prison Break) visits the studio as kind repayment for when Nicholas was recently a guest on Dan's podcast, Christianese (ep #44).  Dan tells a beautiful and detailed story about his faith journey in Christ.  He weaves together his early challenges comprehending his mothers' addiction to painkillers and his fathers' health scares, on through to the solidification and deepening of his faith upon meeting his wife and becoming a father.  Dan co-hosts Christianese with his friend and Grace Baptist Church pastor, Jared Burkholder, and their core mission is to attempt to bridge a divide between what they see as their too often insular world of devout Christianity, with the diverse and/or secular world of belief outside their faith community.  Dan often says his hope is that "through open and honest dialogue we may find disagreements, but there's no reason we can't be thankful for the conversation and still part friends".  I believe we achieved that on both of our podcasts, and I'm thankful that Dan tackled many challenging questions so generously and openly.
 
Here's an article that discusses a concept Dan introduced me to regarding the missionary aspect of believing in God's inerrant Biblical Word: Mission Field
And here's another link to my episode on Dan and Jared's podcast: Christianese (ep #44)
 
Dan's Instagram: @ventrickolist
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Uncomfortable impressions of Christianity as a child; her father's suicide when she was 18; a transformative experience with a psychic medium; an embrace of holistic healing methods, the study of human frequencies, and a reverence for the mystical aspect of our lives.
 
Elizabeth Brooks Oakley (Speech Pathologist - Founder of Magnolia Speech Therapy in Burbank, CA, and now Soundpath LA) visits the studio and, although she didn't get in a good breakfast for herself, the fact that she's drinking coffee again means she's mostly doing fine.  Elizabeth has an extraordinary story to share, and she tells it energetically, passionately, and thoughtfully.  From her early impressions of Christianity as a young child, to wrestling with the aftereffects of her fathers' suicide when she was 18, Elizabeth tells a story that is mindful, reflective, and hopeful.  Her openness and curiosity in pursuit of spiritual answers led her to what would be, for example, a transformative experience with a psychic medium and, from there, further down the path to where she resides today: A belief in holistic healing methods, the study of human frequencies, and a reverence for the mystical aspect of our lives.  It was an enlightening and enriching conversation, and it was an honor to have her on the show.
 
Here's a link to the book that Elizabeth gave me as a gift!: The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton  
 
Elizabeth's Instagram: @soundpathla
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com  
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Raised on a farm with a church, but wasn't religious; the shocking death of his father when Robert was 16; how that event has altered and affected his life and his own fatherhood; reflections on his time in and out of the church; and his evolving relationship to God and wonder.
 
Friend, and fellow Fantasy Football League-mate Robert Baker (Grey's Anatomy, Wrecked, Texas Rising, Justified, Supergirl) visits the studio, and it's only natural that the two former Champs would take a moment to reflect upon their shared successes before hopping into the larger question of God.  Robert grew up on a farm in West Memphis, Arkansas, surrounded by a Baptist Christian community - where there was even a Church located on the farm - but Robert and his family were not particularly religious.  Robert, like Nicholas, is a husband, a father to a young son, and is reflecting on turning 40 years old - but the most defining moment in Robert's life came when he was 16, with the shocking death of his father.  Unsurprisingly, that event not only took Robert years to process, but it remains a point of contemplation that Robert has turned to time and again throughout his life.  Robert shares openly and thoughtfully about this experience, his time in and out of the Church, and his evolving relationship to God and wonder.  It's a beautiful, reflective, and joyful conversation, and it was an honor to have him on the show.   
 
Here are two songs from a 1986 live performance of Robert's dad singing and playing lead guitar in his beloved Memphis band - Mud Boy and the Neutrons...
And a link to their full length album from 1993 - Negro Streets At Dawn...
And a tribute written in the Memphis Flyer about Lee Baker after his death. 
 
Robert's Instagram: @slyhuckleberry
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com 
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Raised a Christian Scientist; belief in the healing power of prayer instead of modern medicines; the sudden death of his father; his journey out of the unconscious pessimism that had overshadowed his life in the wake of that event; and his present exploration of a more hopeful and enriching life path.
 
Paul James (Greek, The Path, Hot Zone, Soundtrack) visits the studio and instantly puts Nicholas on his heels by revealing that Nicholas' beloved, bottom shelf, American steel-cut oats might be laced with some sort of new 21st Century toxin.  Paul kindly offers to feed all of us his clean, organic, Irish steel-cut oats (for a price), and just as soon as Paul provides his address we can go knock on his door for breakfast.  What we don't have to pay for, however, is Paul's illuminating story about growing up a Christian Scientist - a denomination of Christianity that encourages belief in the healing power of prayer, instead of the use of modern medicines, as the best tool for curing illnesses.  This ranges from the treatment of illnesses as large as cancer, to such mundanities as not using Neosporin for cuts.  Equally as compelling are Paul's reflections on the sudden death of his father, when Paul was still a young man.  Paul speaks about his journey through that difficult time, his new understanding of the unconscious pessimism he lived with in the aftermath of that event, and how he has recently begun exploring a more hopeful, and enriching, path forward in his life.  It's a beautiful, thoughtful, funny, and reflective conversation.  It was a joy to have him on the show.
 
Something Paul's mother told him about, that I promised I'd link here: Tapping
And another, for good measure: Woo Woo
 
Paul's Instagram: @pauljames_6
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com 
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

His time in a Christian "cult"; born secular, then turned Born Again, then Pentecostal, then beyond extreme; deep emotions as he recalls the life routine and mindset of those years; the decades spent unraveling those thoughts; divorce; and finally a newer and healthier spiritual life for him and his children.
 
David Muller (Los Angeles-based headshot and portrait photographer, named one of LA's favorite headshot photographers by Backstage Reader's Choice Awards) visits the studio for what becomes an extraordinarily revealing look into what he refers to as his time spent in a Christian "cult".  David tells a story as surprising as it is understandable, beginning as a secular middle-schooler, and transitioning step-by-step from being Born Again, to Pentecostal, to something much more extreme and unhealthy, always following his Mother along this astounding journey.  David is free from this past now, and his faith today, although one of genuine spirituality, is rooted in science, evolution, and reason.  But all of the pain, agony, sincerity and even euphoria of those years are palpable in his voice and his words as he recalls for us his dramatic upbringing.  It was a gift to listen to his story. 
 
Something to share: Here's a link to a famous pastor - T.D. Jakes -  who at times in the video you will see Speaking in Tongues...
... However!  Here's a link to an article about how T.D. Jakes has now moved away from his Pentecostal "Oneness" faith, to a more Trinitarian point-of-view.
 
David's Instagram: @davidmuller1
David's Photography Instagram: @davidmullerphotography
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com 
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

A Torah Scholar eloquently speaks on his faith, the Afterlife, on Angels, on science, on love, on friendship, on community; on what it means to choose to believe; Emmy and Golden Globe-winner with an enrapturing style of storytelling.
 
David Sacks (Emmy and Golden Globe-winning Writer/Executive Producer: The Simpsons, 3rd Rock From The Sun... currently the animated series Final Space) visits the studio, and it is instantly apparent that he lives his life in a devout, contemplative, and mindful place.  The conversation deepens so quickly that Nick doesn't even remember to ask David about breakfast until after the second break!  David is a Co-founder and Senior Lecturer at The Happy Minyan in Beverly Hills, CA, and it's clear why -- he is a masterful storyteller, a fluid Torah scholar, and a man whose organizing principles are love, friendship, and community.  David openly tackles many elevated subjects, ranging from his foundational faith in God, to how he views the Afterlife.  It was an extraordinarily reverent conversation, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.  
On Sunday mornings, you can sit in on his class "Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World"... Or, you can listen to his lectures on iTunes by clicking HERE.
 
The Happy Minyan's Instagram: @thehappyminyan
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com  
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

On being raised a Quaker; the value of communal, meditative silence; the sudden deaths of her beloved father and step-mother just six weeks apart; and the decision, in the wake of those deaths, to leave her previous job and pursue a happier and more fulfilling future.
 
Halie Rosenberg (Writer/Producer, SEO Strategist for Fortune 500 Companies) visits the studio and wastes no time dropping the ‘ol 1-2 punch: Quakerism and Cabbage.  (Halie was raised a Quaker, and it turns out she also loves cabbage.)  Halie generously opens up about the philosophy of the Quakers, and how their practice of meditative silence in "Meetings" still influences her today.  Even more compelling are her reflections on the deaths of her father and step-mother, just six weeks apart.  Their shocking loss has inspired Halie to re-think her present, live more in the moment, and re-define for herself what a happier and more fulfilling future might look like.  It’s a deeply thoughtful, informative, sometimes sad, and yet very funny conversation.  It was a joy to have her on the show.
 
Something that might interest you: This list of surprising celebrity Quakers!
 
Halie's Instagram: @yrpalhal
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com  
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

The daughter of a Thomas Merton scholar; her belief in ghosts; fond memories of her Catholic upbringing and affection for the Greek Orthodox Church; an ebb in her spirituality; her recent marriage; and a new assessment of what she wants her family faith structure to look like.
 
Julia Cunningham (SiriusXM DJ and Co-Host of "The Jess Cagle Show") takes time out of her busy schedule (she's leaving for her honeymoon tomorrow!) to visit the studio and rap about growing up the daughter of a Theologian who specialized in Thomas Merton.  Julia has fond memories of her Catholic upbringing, as well as the years where her family would go to service at a Greek Orthodox Church, but her participation in the religion fell away in her early adulthood as she pursued her career.  Now, having just been married, she's turning her mind toward what her family faith structure might look like in the future.  She also discusses meditation, ghosts, and the cat outside her window that won't stop pulling at her heartstrings.
 
Something I'd Like to Do Now: Visit the University of Notre Dame, with its' famous Golden Dome, in Autumn. 
 
Julia's Instagram: @juliacunninghaaam
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com  
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Raised a Seventh Day Adventist; an emotional tribute to his beloved late wife and partner; stories about his father's PTSD suffered in the European campaigns of WWII; his entrepreneurial spirit as a young man; and gratitude for the life and love he has held and continues to hold in his life.
 
Ken Hanes (Television Writer/Director/Executive Producer: Midnight, Texas, Rizzoli & Isles, Make It Or Break It) and Nicholas are old friends from their time working together on the USA pilot Eden - but that doesn't keep Nicholas from surprising Ken with his favorite "Gotcha!" question: "What did you have for breakfast this morning?"  (Note: Ken passed with flying colors.)  Ken, in turn, surprises Nicholas by sharing his upbringing as a Seventh Day Adventist, his entrepreneurial (read: hustling!) spirit as a young man, and the fact that he's still fit enough to play a tough game of basketball weekly.  Most affecting, however, are the stories Ken shares about his father's PTSD suffered during the European campaigns of WWII, and his love for his late wife, Mary.  Ken pays an emotional tribute to his beloved wife, partner and friend.  And as Mary and Nicholas were also friends (Mary co-wrote Eden with Ken), the conversation is full of love, compassion, and deep reflection.  It was a true honor to have Ken on the show.
 
Something that knocked my socks on my ass: Ken spent many seasons as an actor on The Bold And The Beautiful!!!     
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com 
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano 

A devoted Muslim; a new understanding of Islam; the tension between being a modern female Princeton grad, and a Muslim woman committed to activism and support of her Indian community in Mumbai; celebrating and participating in many rituals in the collectivist culture of India; a heart-wrenching story from her childhood; and her radiant joy for living. 
 
Anam Vadgama (Staff Member at the non-profit charity The Life You Can Save) and Nicholas met at a Los Angeles charity event for TLYCS, and Nicholas was thrilled to get her into the studio before she hopped on a plane that would ultimately take her back to her home in Mumbai, India.  Anam is a recent graduate of Princeton, and a brilliant and passionate activist for social change, especially in her own community.  She is a devoted and faithful Muslim - the religion within which she was raised - but her own study of Islam has led her to a new understanding and appreciation of her faith.  The tension between being a modern female Ivy League graduate, and a Muslim woman devoted to her Indian community, is palpable in her story, and it informs the direction of her life.  She is inspiring and courageous, and she has a lot to share about religion, including how she joyfully celebrates the religions of all of her friends (and they hers) in her Indian collectivist culture.  It was a great honor to have her on the show.   
 
A gift Anam brought me!: The Sixth String of Vilayat Khan   
An important clarification: Anam speaks at one point about the Five Categories of Human Action in Sharia Law, and has trouble remembering one of the five... but only because she forgot it in English, not Arabic! 
Another important clarification: My son eats much healthier when his mother isn't working out of town (read: Daddy pretty much just cooks noodles). 
 
Anam's Instagram: @anamvadgama
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com  
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Exec. Dir. of The Life You Can Save talks about preoccupation with his own death, and his belief that he will never see his family again in the afterlife; the challenge of the ego's pull towards vanity, and the desire to succeed in making the world a better place; how he got into Men's Wearhouse, then out of it; and the meaning he is pursuing in the final great adventures of his life.
 
Charlie Bresler (Volunteer Executive Director of the non-profit charity The Life You Can Save) visits the studio the morning of a big Los Angeles charity event for TLYCS, and in preparation for Nicholas' speech that night, Charlie gets him to open up about the always-compelling "Would you rather be called Nick or Nicholas" question (note: answer revealed!).  Following a plug for Le Pain Quotidien, Charlie talks about his preoccupation with his own death, and the turmoil he sometimes experiences regarding his belief that he will never see his family again in the afterlife.  Charlie is in deep reflection about what he views as his greatest challenge - dissolving the pull of his ego towards vanity, while at the same time remaining deeply active in the pursuit of making the world a better place.  It's a generous and inspiring interview, full of humor and tragedy and sincerity.   
 
A recommendation I was happy to receive: Buddhist Monk/Activist Thich Nhat Hanh   
 
The Life You Can Save's Instagram: @thelifeyoucansave
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com  
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

TV, Film star opens up about her mothers' conversion to being a Jehovahs Witness, the painful separation with her father, and her mothers' early death; her faith journey in God; reflections on her tumultuous time on The View; how she got started in comedy, the first joke she ever told on stage, and so much more!
 
 
Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias, The Best Ever Trivia Show, The Masked Singer, 30 Rock, The View, Precious) and Nicholas reunite for the first time since their days on Trial & Error, and they jump right in to the conversation.  Sherri opens up about her mothers’ conversion to being a Jehovahs Witness, her subsequent painful family separation from her father, her mothers’ early death, and the twists and turns along the way.  Sherri reflects deeply about her often tumultuous time on The View, how she got started in comedy to begin with, and even the first joke she ever told on stage.  What shines through it all is Sherri’s optimism, her resilience, her faith in God, and her desire to always find what’s on the other side of her fears.  She also shares a little about the danger of wearing wigs while getting the Holy Ghost!  It was an absolute honor to have her on the show.
    
 
My first G.O.D. APB: If you’re the co-worker who helped inspire Sherri to be a comedian, please email me because she wants to thank you!!
 
 
Sherri's Instagram: @sherrieshepherd
       
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
 
 
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
    
 
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com
    
 
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Raised a Methodist to parents of science; her battle with suicidal depression; the strength and wisdom that came from surviving; self-realization and her new spiritual clarity; and the discovery of Sand Mirror Studio - her new creative ethos.
 
Kate VanDevender (Friends with Better Lives, Part Timers, The Actor Diaries... Founder of Sand Mirror Studio) visits the show, and Nicholas promptly gets the green light from Kate to head down to Santa Monica Pier and start doing trapeze over the Pacific Ocean (whaaat?!).  Kate was raised in the Methodist faith, to scientifically-minded parents.  Kate describes herself as ten times more emotional than the rest of her family, and that emotional connection has driven her to seek her own unique spiritual clarity.  Her journey is deeply compelling, and Nicholas is particularly blown away by the strength and wisdom she demonstrates while describing the time in her life when she battled a suicidal depression.  Sand Mirror Studio (formerly Sandplay LA), and a dynamic new creative ethos, is what she found on the other side. 
 
Something I need to write here: #DaraIsEverywhere 
 
Kate's Instagram: @vanderwow
Sand Mirror Studio's Instagram: @sandmirrorstudio
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com  
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano 
Interview Originally Recorded at Brigade Radio One Studios

A Preacher's Kid; his appetite for reading made him rethink the religion within which he was raised; a lover of history with stories from a bygone era; and an enthusiasm for the illumination of the Bible in a factual context.
 
Dr. Ronald Peterson (Retired OB/GYN) comes on the show and instantly impresses Nicholas with his choice of juice at breakfast that morning (grapefruit).  Ron is a PK - a Preacher's Kid - and tells the story of growing up the son of a Pastor in the Swedish Lutheran Church.  Ron is an avid lover of history, and part of what makes his story so interesting is how it illuminates a bygone era.  What's more, Ron's historical knowledge, and his voracious appetite for reading, lead him in his adulthood to rethink and reinterpret the religious context within which he was raised, and in turn raised his family.  It also provides Nicholas an opportunity to geek out on some of his own favorite subjects - evolution and the history of life on Earth. 
 
Something I want to dive into: The Great Courses (a lecture series). 
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com  
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano 
Interview Originally Recorded at Brigade Radio One Studios        

Raised Reformed Jewish, but not devout, his fathers' death inspired him to embrace Kaddish - the traditional Jewish ritual of mourning; how to grieve properly and re-enter the living world; the global community of the Jewish diaspora; and being held in a time of need. 
 
Hopper Stone (Still Photographer for Film/TV, Photojournalist) visits the show, and Nicholas surprises him by being willing to mention the film they met on - Mardi Gras: Spring Break - a film, shot in New Orleans, that was never released in theaters (Read: It was very fun, but it didn't turn out great).  Hopper riffs humorously about growing up Reformed Jewish, but then goes on to tell a heartfelt and enlightening story about how his fathers' death inspired him to embrace the traditional Jewish practices of mourning - in particular, the ritual of saying Kaddish.  Hopper talks about how it demonstrated to him not only how to grieve properly and deeply for his father, but also how to end the period of grieving, and begin to re-enter the living world. 
 
Something I studied more after this conversation: The differences between Atheism and Agnosticism. 
 
Hopper's Instagram: @hopper_stone
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com  
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano 
Interview Originally Recorded at Brigade Radio One Studios

Raised in the Antiochian Orthodox (Christian) Church; the death of his mother and the surprising, subsequent spiritual connection he has found with his father; a lover of Church tradition and history; the challenges of diverging from his parents' faith; and his affection for many different gurus and spiritual traditions.
 
Nick Massouh (Lucifer, Ray Donovan, Madam Secretary, Designated Survivor) comes on the show, and he and Nicholas promptly begin dissecting the delights and pitfalls of an authentic soul food meal buffet (Taste: Exquisite... Indigestion: Rampant).  Nick comes from a long line of Antiochian Orthodox (Christian) Church leaders and priests, and shares his robust knowledge regarding that religions' history and place in the world.  He states, however, that he can't quite call himself a Christian today, because he sees Jesus as just one of the many gurus he has learned from on his journey to greater spiritual understanding.  He speaks about the challenges of diverging from his parents' faith, as well as the somber, but surprising spiritual connection he has found with his father in the wake of his mothers' passing. 
         
Something that blew my mind: How the Vow of Chastity works in the Antiochian Orthodox Church. 
Something I was excited to mention: The band "Stars of the Lid" is great, and they will help put you to sleep! 
 
Nick's Instagram: @nickmassooouh
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com  
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano 
Interview Originally Recorded at Brigade Radio One Studios 

Daughter of a Black, Christian father and White, Jewish mother; the early death of her father and the emotional and spiritual struggles that ensued; how she and her mother adapted to his death; her newfound relationship with God; and she puts me on the hot seat!
 
Amanda Payton (Trial & Error, The Big Bang Theory, Workaholics, Modern Family) joins the show, and Nicholas cuts right to the chase, digging deeper into Amanda's Splenda addiction, her love of nut butters, and their shared affinity for Spanish-speaking late night hosts who dress as a clown (Noches con Platanito!).  Amanda is generous and open about her life, telling an extraordinary story about the history of her parents' relationship (a Black, Christian father & a White, Jewish mother), her emotional and spiritual struggles regarding her fathers' passing, and her newfound relationship with God.  She even finds a way to put Nicholas on the hot seat for a minute!  #Savvy 
 
Something Amanda helped me clarify: The term "gaslighting". 
Something I needed to Google: What's the difference between white and dark chocolate? (Answer: There's no cocoa powder in white chocolate!!) 
 
Amanda's Instagram: @amanda_payton
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com  
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano 
Interview Originally Recorded at Brigade Radio One Studios   

From a devout Southern Baptist family, he realized he was gay as a very young child; diving even deeper into Calvinism as a young man; the damage of anti-homosexual preaching; pulling away from religion; forgiveness, and a passion to connect with and help others.
 
Mat Hayes (Actor: Jane The Virgin... Writer/Creator of the autobiographical short film Cognitive) visits, and he and Nicholas promptly start singing the praises of their dear Jessalyn Gilsig, who was on the show previously.  Mat was born into a loving, devout Southern Baptist family in Alabama, but at a very young age he knew he was "different" - he was attracted to other males.  Cognitive is about an extraordinary moment in his gay coming-of-age story, where a preacher in Mat's youth told his congregation that AIDS was sent by God to kill homosexuals.  What does that kind of information do to the mind of a child?  Mat is eloquent and full of forgiveness regarding this story, and he has a passion to connect with others, and help where he can.  Another passion?  Arby's food.  Did you know that Nicholas' father is an Arby's franchisee in Omaha, Nebraska??! 
 
Something Mat helped me learn more about: The Evangelical movement and its' denominations. 
Something that blew my mind: The Five Points of Calvinism (aka TULIP). 
 
Mat's Instagram: @hayes_mat
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com  
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano 
Interview Originally Recorded at Brigade Radio One Studios

Jewish in identity, but not in faith; "very superstitious", a believer in ghosts but not God; envisions practicing her Jewish traditions in the future, as a mother; she recites a nightly prayer she said as a kid; a rollicking interview with a very funny writer.
 
Niki Schwartz-Wright (Writer/Producer on The Goldberg's, The Grinder, Speechless, Abby's) visits the show, and she assures a relieved Nicholas that he was hardly the most offensive guest at her wedding (by the way, she's married to Will Greenberg, from the last episode!).  Niki doesn't practice her Jewish faith today, but she does feel a strong connection to it, and she wonders if she might take on some of the ritual aspects of it in the future.  Niki describes herself as very superstitious, but she doesn't believe in God.  She does believe in ghosts, and definitely doesn't want to end up as one when she's dead.  She also recites the most adorable and funny prayer she said as a kid, all the while revealing how adept she is at hedging her bets.     
 
Something that keeps confusing me: Jewish Confirmation. 
 
Niki's Instagram: @nikiswright
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com  
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano 
Interview Originally Recorded at Brigade Radio One Studios

Raised Reformed Jewish in Texas; LSD as a teenager, and alternate paths to spiritual growth; humor as his outlet, and his gift; sharing about how we've done psychedelics together; and transcendent moments of connection while high.  
 
Will Greenberg (Perfect Harmony, Wrecked, Abby's, The Grinder) is an old friend of Nicholas', and in honor of him Will ate a badass tofu scramble to get ready for the show (Nicholas is a flexitarian).  Will is Jewish and was raised in Texas, and although his family participated in a Reformed Jewish religious lifestyle, he does not identify very strongly as being Jewish.  He's much more into exploring alternate paths of spirituality, and he speaks in detail about some extraordinary moments of spiritual growth he experienced through the use of LSD and psychedelics.  Nicholas has had experiences like this too, and both guys share about how they've seen PHISH a few times together... under the influence.  Also, Will reveals how, growing up, you could tell a kids religion by their video game consoles (Nintendo = Christian, Sega = Jewish). 
Something I screwed up: Apparently, STEEL MAGNOLIAS and FRIED GREEN TOMATOES are not the same movie?? 
 
Will's Instagram: @wgreenbe
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com  
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano 
Interview Originally Recorded at Brigade Radio One Studios   

Raised an Atheist, she later discovered her mother is a woman of faith; the belief in magic, especially the Christmas holidays; the tension between desire for a parents' approval, and desire for individuality; and the traps and pitfalls of explaining death and God to a child.
 
Eliza Clark (Writer/Producer: Y The Last Man, Animal Kingdom, Extant, The Killing) visits the show and immediately starts throwing around her "sexy" voice for the listeners (read: She had a nasty cold).  Eliza and Nicholas talk a little about her play QUACK, which is where they met, and Nicholas' turn playing the character Brock, a misogynistic men's rights advocate (a fan favorite).  Eliza was raised a staunch Atheist by her (Agnostic?) father, but later in life she discovered that her mother is a woman of faith.  The whole family adores and celebrates the rituals and spirit of the Christmas holidays, and Eliza shares openly about how her love of the magic in life shines through in these moments.  They each spend some time talking about the difficulties of balancing a desire for your parents' approval, with the competing desire of developing your own individuality and point of view.  Also, she doesn't recommend telling your children that they may come back as a dog after they die.   
 
Something I read after this interview: Christopher Hitchens' essay "Why Women Aren't Funny."  (Eliza's right.  But other writings of Hitchens have been important to me.)
 
Eliza's Instagram: @elizaaclarkw
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com 
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano 
Interview Originally Recorded at Brigade Radio One Studios

Daughter of a Jewish father and Catholic mother who wasn't raised as either; the pain of her mothers' ex-communication from the church, and the anti-semitism her family suffered in her youth; grappling with how to impart religious identity to her own daughter; and the realization that she can hold onto faith as she sees fit. 
 
Jessalyn Gilsig (Vikings, Scandal, Glee, Nip/Tuck) visits the show, and she and Nicholas instantly start digging into the burning questions surrounding the series Boston Public (example: Why did they make her take so many showers on camera?).  Jessalyn opens up about having parents from different faith backgrounds (Catholic and Jewish), how they decided not to raise Jessalyn as either one, and how that's left her to grapple with her own religious identity.  She speaks about the difficulty of her mother being ex-communicated from the Church, as well as the anti-semitism her family suffered during her childhood (bomb threats?!).  Jessalyn is now guiding her daughter through these same questions regarding religion and spirituality, as well as trying desperately to get her to stop leaving chocolate laying around where Jessalyn is tempted to eat it. 
 
Jessalyn's Instagram: @jgilsig 
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com 
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano   
Interview Originally Recorded at Brigade Radio One Studios 

A man of devout Jewish faith; witnessing a miracle on Google; the anti-semitism he suffered in high school; coming into a deeper faith and love of God as an adult; Jeff and Nick's mutual affection for each other and their time on Trial & Error; and the many laughs that come when we hang out together. 
 
Jeff Astrof (Writer/Producer on Friends, New Adventures of Old Christine, Trial & Error) visits the show and he and Nicholas promptly begin lavishing praise on their beloved, canceled series, Trial & Error.  Jeff shares about being low on the popularity totem pole in high school, as well as the anti-semitism he suffered, and how he overcame both of those challenges (Answer: He brings an extra pair of pants).  Jeff also describes witnessing a miracle on Google.  Jeff is a devout believer, and his love for God is palpable.  Jeff's feelings about Nicholas referring to him as acerbic?  Also... palpable. 
 
Something I didn't know: A LOT about Jewish history. 
 
Jeff's Instagram: @jeffsastrof
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com  
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano   
Interview Originally Recorded at Brigade Radio One Studios 

A formative Christian upbringing; making promises to God in order to win the role (then having to follow through); attempts to stay in the religion, but slowly falling away; good stories, laughs, and a home in comedy and the family of performers. 
 
Michael Hitchcock (Actor: Waiting for Guffman, Best In Show... Writer: Glee, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) visits the show, and he and Nicholas reminisce about their "Naked Tackling" hi-jinks on Season 2 of Trial & Error.  Michael shares how his Christian upbringing was deeply formative, but how he slowly moved away from practicing the religion.  He speaks about where he finds spiritual fulfillment today, his views on the afterlife, and when some performers from "Up With People" stayed at his house when he was a kid.  They both share a little about growing up in communities that were not demographically diverse.  Michael describes how his grandmother felt the lost souls on the Titanic were doomed for Hell, and also assures Nicholas that he would be there to comfort him if he ever got shingles. 
 
Michael's Instagram: @hitchmichael
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano 
Interview Originally Recorded at Brigade Radio One Studios

On the inaugural episode of G.O.D., Nicholas brings in his friend Rob Kerkovich (NCIS: New Orleans) to chat about their shared Roman Catholic upbringings and Jesuit educations, their movement away from practicing Catholicism today, and what that means for their children and families (and afterlife?).  Rob talks about what makes his life spiritually meaningful in the absence of faith, and reveals that he wants to get a tattoo.  Nicholas discovers, among other things, that being a good host might require him to keep his inner monologue... a little more "inside". 
 
Something I screwed up: It's Martin Luther's "95 Theses"... not 99, or 100. 
 
Rob's Instagram: @robkerkovich
 
Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow
Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow 
Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com  
Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano 
Interview Originally Recorded at Brigade Radio One Studios