Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Sophia Chamblee via phone call on August 9th, 2025. Some of the questions/answers have been rearranged, edited, and paraphrased to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.
What inspired you to start Playground Saints?
I think the inspiration started up around Covid. I noticed people starting up these small businesses. It started as an Etsy stop with bookmarks. The bookmarks were like a humble beginning. I really like stickers and I noticed that other shops prioritized stickers. I wanted to have stickers as my own.
After I graduated college, I got a printer and cricut. I use an app call Design Space.
What saints did you begin with for your stickers?
I use the same designs of Padre Pio, and Therese of Lisieux, and Mama Mary as when I began.
Thomas Aquinas and Martin de Porres and Rose of Lima were original saints that I have later upgraded the designs.
Your logo, “Mama Mary and Son,” has such a warm, whimsical feel. What was your inspiration?
Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Chris Lewis via phone call on August 7th, 2025. Some of the questions/answers have been rearranged, edited, and paraphrased to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.
What inspired you to start creating Catholic art?
I had been a graphic designer for a number of years and I was a convert. I converted as a practicality to get married in the Church but eventually I started to have questions about the faith I accepted, and was being pulled to learn the faith for myself which led to a profound and authentic intellectual conversion. However in my 30’s I was diagnosed with lung cancer and this experience shook me spiritually. I learned I was grateful for my gifts and thought maybe I should use these gifts to help share the faith.
I started doing Catholic art for fun and as a cathartic experience. I used to be an illustrator. And I would hand-draw everything. I went into graphic design for stability.
When I started out sharing my sketches on social media my art took off. When you started Baritus Catholic in 2018, I was still working at my full-time graphic design job. Two years later, I decided to go full-time with Baritus Catholic.
How did you decide the name of your company?
I love reading ancient history. I was reading about the fall of the barbarians to the Romans in the 300s. There was a war cry that sounded like a trumpet, it was called “baritus”. That’s actually where we get the word baritone from. The war-cry and trumpeting reminded me of the angels ushering in the end time judgement in Revelation and the war-cry at Jericho in the Book of Joshua.
Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Father Edward Looney via phone call on July 1st, 2025. We have rearranged and edited some of the questions. This provides the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.
You’ve written and spoken extensively about the Blessed Mother. What first sparked your devotion to Mary, and how has that relationship deepened over time?
What really started it was—I joke—I came out of the womb loving Mary. My mother and father were separated by the time I was born. I grew up in Oconto, WI, and in my hometown, there was a woman who organized pilgrimages to Medjugorje. And I think she had a great influence on Marian devotion in our parish. I remember starting later with rosaries.
Once you realize our Catholic tradition is 2,000 years old, and once you start reading the Early Church Fathers, it only deepens your devotions. The writings and quotes of the saints inspired me too.
In your book A Heart Like Mary’s, you offer practical ways to imitate Our Lady. What’s one Marian virtue you personally find the most challenging to practice as a priest?
Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed A.R.K. Watson via phone call on June 30th, 2025. We have rearranged and edited some of the questions. This provides the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.
What inspired you to launch Catholic Reads?
When I converted to Catholicism (from the Church of Christ) in college, I was taking a diversity in literature class. My professor said things in the class that seemed prejudiced against Catholics. I talked to the professor and she mentioned that she was actually Catholic herself. I then realized that I had projected my own anti-Catholic bias onto her.
And I was awoken to how literature can help in your spiritual growth through literature. I grew up in Tennessee (less than 3% of the population is Catholic) so I was surrounded by a lot of anti-Catholic bias.
In Flannery O’Connor book’s Wiseblood, I was provoked by how she portrays the South. I didn’t realize as a Protestant that her book was a dry satire. Once I became Catholic I found the jokes and learned how laughter and story can be tools to fight against prejudice.
Converting was like walking around with those old fashioned 3D glasses with one lens red and the other blue. I had my gut-Protestant reaction but also saw things from the Catholic perspective.
In your experience, what sets Catholic fiction apart from other genres?
Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Tom Gould via phone call on June 11th, 2025. Some of the questions/answers have been rearranged, edited, and paraphrased to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.
You’ve been faithfully posting a new comic every Friday since 2014, what inspired that commitment?
I graduated from John Paul the Great Catholic University in California. Matt Martinusen was starting a Catholic men’s blog called The Catholic Fellows. He thought it would be fun to start a comic for the Men’s blog. While the other writers moved on, Matt encouraged me to continue. There wasn’t a meaning to Friday at first, it was originally a deadline for the blog. But as I continued Tomics after the blog ceased, I figured I would keep posting on Fridays as that day has significance for us as Catholics.
How has your creative process evolved over the years?
I think I definitely look stuff up more. It used to mostly be Bible puns, but now I like to use the knowledge I have or acquire to teach the faith. So I’ll be more careful when looking up stuff. I use a Wacom Tablet, and I like to handwrite the lettering. I found a free website where I could turn my handwriting into a font, and have turned my handwriting into a font to save time. It helps with spacing and sizing of letters. I have tried to both streamline and keep the process personalized.
Your comics bring Scripture to life with humor and visual storytelling. How do you strike the balance between being reverent and being funny—especially when depicting scenes with Jesus and the apostles?
That’s a tough one. There are certain lines I don’t cross and not everyone is going to agree with where that line is. My approach to humor is to invite people into the stories. It’s trying to encourage people to the Gospel but understanding that people often think in turns of puns and jokes. I try to make the apostles look silly during the Gospels because they were bumbling fools at times in the Gospels. I don’t do that with Jesus and I don’t recharacterize individuals from how they are portrayed in the Bible.
You occasionally dive into the Old Testament and the lives of the saints. What’s been one of your favorite “non-Gospels” comics to create, and why?
For the Old Testament, in the story of Adam and Eve I portrayed Satan as a sock-puppet. Besides that, Moses puns are fun. The Israelites are freed from slavery and can’t help but complain soon after. Like what’s God done for us lately? I dial up the denseness about Exodus and the Israelites to point out the ridiculousness of their complaints.
Here’s the sock-puppet Satan popping up again in the New Testament this time.
You contributed artwork to the Council at Daybreak game from The Catholic Card Game. What was that collaboration like, and how did your style fit into the world of Catholic tabletop gaming?
Matt had made the Catholic Card Game already. He was great with reaching out to people to collaborate with. He got Fr. Mike Schmitz and Pints with Aquinas to make suggestions for the cards.
A few years later Matt had this idea to make a Catholic Mafia game (based on One Night Werewolf). This game was more illustration focused. I had fun making this game! Matt had all the names of the cards and concepts. I gave him a few test things and he either approved them or added adjustments. I was pretty free to design the cards/characters how I envisioned them.
If a young Catholic artist approached you wanting to evangelize through comics or visual storytelling, what advice would you give them—spiritually and artistically?
That’s a tough one, but I think definitely being knowledgeable about the faith. I have to relook up stuff about Catholicism to make sure I get it right. Before college, I had my Catechism. During college I had philosophy courses to help build up the faith. Nowadays, I look up things in the Bible, the Catechism, and Catholic Answers. I think I take for granted at times how valuable having this knowledge is.
Another thing is not to wait until the art is perfect to start. I think having a deadline where you have to post something helps you get over perfectionism. And the main thing is you are serving God in your art. As long as you are trying to represent the faith well and God well that’s the main thing.
Be open to criticism if you get the theology wrong.
Who do you consider your patron saint?
For my work and my confirmation saint is Lawrence. I connected with the gallow’s humor and his story is short and almost fairy tale like.
The Holy Family is another one I pray to a lot especially as I draw comics about them. Mary and Joseph are the two saints physically closest to Jesus.
Another saint that’s connected to me a lot is Joan of Arc. Her story is a strange place where theology sticks itself with history. Joan brings God into the reality of the war between France and England. Saints that have a very clear space in history help me.
Anytime I do a comic about a particular saint I ask them for intercession.
Where’s the best place for my audience to read your comics?
Instagram is where I am most active and I like the formatting. I think the slides are nice.
I’m a lifelong cartoonist from a big Catholic family. My art was inspired by animated superhero shows and the ever-popular “Peanuts” and “Calvin & Hobbes” comic strips; my faith was formed by my parents, several church communities, and my small Catholic college. I’ve been posting weekly “Tomics” for just over ten years now, and I hope to continue using my gifts to bring people closer to God in a way that’s accessible, faithful, and fun.
Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Ana Munley via phone call on June 26th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.
How did you start your Tiktok?
I had a regular account I made in 2020. I posted something about reading the Bible in 2024 and it was flagged as a violation. It sat under review for several weeks. I was upset and feeling like I was being silenced about sharing my faith. So on December 15th, 2025 I decided to make a new TikTok and this one dedicated to my Catholic faith.
For about a month I only had Tiktok, but with the ban looming, I went over onto Instagram in January 2025.
Your Instagram bio says “Rooted in Christ. Built on Truth.” Can you share how that phrase became your personal mission and what it means in your day-to-day life?
I think it’s because growing up I was a cradle Catholic. My family was Catholic in name only. Being lukewarm, our life was about comfort over our actual faith.. but as I started to dig deep and look at the teachings I realized it is the way it is because it’s rooted in truth. Because of that, my faith was deepened and transformed.
I like to describe the Catholic faith being like the railings on the side of a highway to keep you on the road and safe, to keep you from veering off the road.
I always want to stay rooted in truth. The tagline speaks to the content that I share and the intent I have with sharing it.
You’ve grown a large following on Instagram and TikTok rather quickly. What do you think has resonated most with your audience—and what has surprised you about this journey?
The answer is the same one. What’s resonated with me the most is the rediscovery of my faith and hearing from cradle Catholics. It’s like you are re-catechetizing Catholics.
Bishop Barron said we are taught this “Sunday school” type of catechesis in either OCIA or in Catholic schools,but there’s so much richness in the faith.
People want to learn more but don’t know where to start. I’m not here to debate people and tell them they’re wrong.
My approach is more like bringing light to the truth instead of fighting darkness with more darkness.
You’re the host of the AfterMass podcast. What inspired you to launch it, and what kinds of conversations or themes do you hope to bring to light through that platform?
My first episode comes out next week. I want to provide reverts and new converts more information about the faith in a long-form manner. It’s based on how to be a more devout Catholic and how you can be the best Catholic you can be.
I want it to be a place to have conversations and not just a bite-sized version on the other platforms.
Being an “Unapologetic Catholic” online isn’t always easy—how do you navigate pushback or criticism while staying grounded in truth and charity?
This is something I have taken to Confession. My priest has given me really good advice. When you deal with negative comments especially the ones that bash the Theology of the Catholic Church. My priest told me that the Catholic Church doesn’t need my defense, She has stood before you and will remain after you. Another thing to realize is to keep it charitable for the sake of those people who are watching and reading the comments who may slightly think the same thing as the negative commenters. Can my response help the people reading/commenting? If not, then I don’t comment that way.
I get feisty and a bit sassy at times (you can see that in some of my videos) but I always aim to have my responses be rooted in charity and truth for the sake of those reading.. And that is my approach.
Have there been any particular saints, devotions, or Church teachings that have deeply shaped your spiritual life and how you share your faith online?
Not necessarily any saints that shaped anything online, but Saint Rita has resonated with me. She is the patron saint of impossible causes (victims, the sick, etc). As far as my online work, Saint Maximlian Kolbe inspires me. He played a huge role in online evangelization and his life and death are a great example of not only how to spread the Good News of your faith but also how to live it.
What advice would you give to young Catholics who want to evangelize on social media but are nervous about being too “out there” with their faith?
My number one thing is to start with something that resonates with you. For example, if the Rosary is a devotion you are particularly passionate about and drawn to, start with that.
There’s a way to deliver your faith from a place rooted in faith while also delivering it with love and charity.
Looking ahead, what’s next for your ministry or digital presence? Any projects you’re especially excited about?
The podcast is definitely top of the list, and I am also working with a Catholic shop called Abundantly Yours in designing a Rosary (Saints Jude and Rita design). I’ll be sharing why these specific rosaries are important to me and sharing more of my personal struggles and how these Saints have helped me.
Where’s the best place to learn more about your ministry?
Living in sunny Florida with my husband Joe and our two kids, Emilia and Lucas. I’m a Catholic content creator, corporate professional and host of After Mass, a podcast for Catholics who want more than just Sunday. First podcast episode drops 7/1! Follow along on TikTok & Instagram: @anamunley where I’m sharing Catholic truth with conviction, compassion and zero fluff.
Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Nichole Lanthier via phone call on May 14th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.
Your story includes a 10-year break from visual art before rediscovering it in 2018. What was that moment of rediscovery like, and how has your artistic voice evolved since returning to your creative roots?
It wasn’t so much as a break as I really didn’t pursue art beyond a hobby. I was focused more on music ministry before having kids.
I pulled out the art supplies and started drawing a picture for my friend’s (Katie McGrady) daughter for her birthday.
Drawing was a way for me to pray. I started making prints for people and eventually opened an Etsy Shop. I have taught myself the more technical aspects of artwork and am still trying to learn.
I’ve noticed your “pixel art” design of the Blessed Virgin Mary fighting Satan (My son and I love our t-shirts!). Could you share the inspiration behind this striking imagery and what message you hope it conveys?
There’s an old illuminated manuscript of a priest who sold his soul to the Devil and the Blessed Virgin Mary was protecting the priest’s soul. The kids and I thought this was a great story and decided this needed to be one of our pixel shirts.
How does your Catholic faith specifically inform your artistic choices, themes, and the subjects you choose to create?
It is everything I create. It’s what I do specifically, faith-based work. It is impossible to separate my faith from what I’m doing. As someone who creates for a living I feel like I have an obligation to create something that can inspire others and bring them to God.
What type of music ministry did you do?
I was a singer-songwriter. From 2003-2018 I did ministry music around our diocese. We worked at a lot of the youth events in our diocese. Now I get to sing in our cathedral choir and I prefer this type of music, so it’s been very nice.
Your art helps support your children’s Catholic education. How has this practical purpose influenced your approach to your business, and how do you balance the commercial aspects with the ministry side?
It’s really hard. Since we got married we agreed that I would stay home with the kids. We also prayed about sending our children to Catholic schools. And once we sent our first child to Catholic school my art work started to pick up. We have had to put a lot of trust in God.
Interestingly enough, I don’t have a ton of time to draw due to running the other facets of the business.
It has been a struggle to balance the commercial and ministry sides. I have had a desire to give away my work for free at times, but I have had to tell myself that my work still deserves pay. At the same time there have been various ministries and circumstances to donate. I do try to price my art to be as low as possible to make it affordable.
Many artists struggle with vulnerability in sharing their work. As someone who describes feeling “very green with art,” how has putting your creations into the world as expressions of faith challenged or strengthened you?
It has definitely challenged me and has been an exercise in humility. I get nervous putting some of my stuff out there. Part of it is vanity, worrying about what others think of me. I start picking myself apart and thinking about what others more advanced in art would say. I have learned to push through those things. Some days it is tough. I follow so many talented Catholic artists and sometimes compare myself to others.
If you could create a dream project that perfectly encapsulates what your ministry means to you, what would it look like?
I’m always wishing I could do some large oil paintings. I do have a very long list on my phone of things that I want to paint. The crazy thing is it’s tough to find time to create. Honestly, I would really love to get professional art training.
Have you ever thought about iconography?
I have thought about it, but my husband is much more interested in that. He actually has an art degree, he took his career in a different direction.
How do you prepare yourself in terms of devotions or prayer before you create an artwork?
I try to listen to chant and get into as much of a contemplative state as possible. I love Saints Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross. I also have a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother of God. I really do enjoy drawing images of the Holy Family in their humanity and in their daily life.
I have plans in my list of doing more artwork focused on the Holy Family.
Where is the best place for my readers to find more of your work?
Right now everything is on my Etsy shop.
About Nichole:
Nichole Lanthier is a wife, mother of five, and artist living in Lake Charles, Louisiana. She strives to create pieces that will encourage others to turn their hearts and minds to God. Her work can be found in her etsy shop, at nicholelanthier.etsy.com.
