"I've always underestimated what God can do with my calling. I could never really believe in it because it was just too big and too far away and too inaccessible. But I think I underestimated in a massive way how generous God's people would be if I stepped forward and put the flag in the ground and said, we're gonna take this ground for the cross." Join us for an inspiring conversation with Anthony Dambrosio, Catholic filmmaker and founder of Sherwood Fellows, as he shares the final stages of bringing his film "Triumph of the Heart" about St. Maximilian Kolbe to theaters.

Our discussion explores:

• The decade-long journey from concept to completion of a feature film about St. Maximilian Kolbe
• Why a director must be "a cross between a poet and a general" when making films
• The challenges of creating Catholic content within Hollywood's distribution system
• How Catholics have ceded cultural ground to the left and why we must reclaim storytelling
• The importance of excellence in Catholic media - meeting or exceeding secular standards
• Why St. Maximilian Kolbe's story offers a powerful answer to our culture's questions about suffering and the purpose of life
• The vision for building a Catholic alternative to Disney's $250 billion cultural influence
• How AI might democratize filmmaking while maintaining quality storytelling
• The unique crowdfunding approach allowing communities to secure local theater screenings

Anthony shares candid insights about the sacrifices required to create meaningful art, comparing the filmmaking team to "templars going on a crusade." His story demonstrates how saying yes to God's calling—even when it seems impossible—can lead to extraordinary outcomes through divine grace and the generosity of faithful supporters.

This episode challenges Catholics to support excellent storytelling that competes with secular media while staying true to our deepest beliefs about human dignity, sacrifice, and love.

Resources:

"Triumph of the Heart" film: https://triumphoftheheart.com
Crowdfunding campaign: https://triumphoftheheart.com/militia
Sherwood Fellows: Anthony's creative agency

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