Rephonic
Artwork for Family Matters
Orthodox Church
Disabilities
Accessibility
Orthodox Christianity
Gratitude
Orthodox Church In America
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese
Center For Family Care
Autism
Accessibility In Churches
Marriage
Family Life
Human Trafficking
Addiction
Family
Saint Maria Of Paris
Law Enforcement
Saint Anastasia Fellowship
Paraclesis
Tourette Syndrome

Empowering Marriages and Families in the Faith

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes214Founded9 years ago
Categories
ChristianityReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for Family Matters

Latest Episodes

In this Fully Human Father's Day message, His Grace Bishop John Abdalah of the Diocese of Worcester and New England, for the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, speaks about fatherhood from the unique vantage point of a father... more

What does it mean to be fully seen — not just for our struggles, but also for our gifts? In this conversation with Apostolos Christos Lianos, a remarkable young man living with Tourette’s Syndrome, we meet someone whose daily life includes challenges... more

Deacon Demetrius Romanczuk serves Archangel Gabriel Orthodox Mission in North Carolina, is a retired educator with a background in special education, an Accessibility Coach with the On Behalf of All initiative: Toward an Accessible Divine Liturgy for... more

Further information on substance abuse resources: afm.box.com/s/krmo5uy493i2wezjvqh698cu2lm6l32u Father Nikolas Delaveris, the Director of the Saint Anastasia Fellowship, and Adriana Makrov, the Program Manager, join Presvytera Kerry Pappas f... more

Father Peter J. Spiro, Director of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese's FREEDOM (Faith-based Resolve to Eradicate Enslavement: Didactic Outreach Ministry) joins Presv. Melanie to discuss how human traffickers seek to manipulate and capitalize on any huma... more

Abby Vlahos is the co-liaison for the On Behalf of All (OBOA) initiative's pilot parish, St John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Des Plaines, Illinois. Her youngest child, Cosmas, is 9 years old and was born with a rare genetic syndrome causing ... more

Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Yagze, currently the Pastor of St George Orthodox Church in Fishers, Indiana and Fully Human Steering Committee member, shares insights on keeping our relationship with God open and authentic every day, and specifically during t... more

In this month of November when we celebrate National Gratitude Month and the American Feast of Thanksgiving, the Center for Family Care is spotlighting the virtue of gratitude. In this conversation, Pres. Kerry Pappas interviews Pres. Pat Tsagalakis,... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host

Recent Guests

John Abdalah
Bishop and guest on the episode
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Episode: Becoming a Father Like Our Father in Relationships that Pour Out and Receive: Father's Day Edition with Bishop John Abdalah
Christos Lianos
Educator, accessibility advocate, and artist living with Tourette Syndrome
GOA Fully Human Steering Committee; On Behalf of All accessibility coach
Episode: Beyond the Tics: Faith, Dignity, and a Voice for Tourette’s Awareness
Deacon Demetrius Romanczuk
Deacon attached to Archangel Gabriel Orthodox Mission
Orthodox Church in America, Archangel Gabriel Orthodox Mission
Episode: Our Autistic Family: A Father's Reflections on Raising His Profoundly Autistic Children
Father Nikolas Delaveris
Priest with pastoral leadership and addiction counseling experience
Saint Anastasia Fellowship
Episode: The Impact of Addiction on Marriage and Family Life
Adriana Makrov
Licensed clinical counselor with public communications background
Saint Anastasia Fellowship
Episode: The Impact of Addiction on Marriage and Family Life
Father Peter J. Spiro
Greek Orthodox priest; law enforcement chaplain and trainer on human trafficking
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; GOA Freedom Ministry
Episode: What Makes Children with Disabilities Vulnerable to Human Trafficking?
Abby Vlahos
Co-liason for On Behalf of All Pilot Parish, St John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church (Does Plains, Illinois)
St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
Episode: St John the Baptist Is Preparing the Way of Accessibility: On Behalf of All Pilot Parish Feature
Anthony Yagze
Very Reverend, ordained priest; host's guest
St. George Orthodox Church; Antiochian Archdiocese
Episode: Giving Thanks to God When We Do Not Feel Grateful
Pat Tsagalakis
Presbyteria Pat, Assistant Director of the Family Wellness Ministry
Metropolis of San Francisco
Episode: Cultivating Gratitude in our Hearts and Homes

Host

Melanie DiStefano
Host of Family Matters and related Orthodox family‑care initiatives

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 35 ratings
  • Thank you!

    A friend recently recommended the interviews by Presvytera Melanie and I have been listening and sharing with friends ever since. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Southern Girl in Upstate NY
    United States4 years ago
  • Grateful listener

    thank you for this podcast! keep them coming

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AnnaDSeattle
    United States6 years ago
  • HCF101

    Wonderful and worthwhile podcasts by Fr. Alex. Highly recommended!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hcf101
    United States7 years ago
  • Love

    I love love love this podcast. Fr Alex always has such a calming and reassuring voice. His guests and interviews are easy to follow and the advice is easy to incorporate into my daily life. Thank you for providing this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kouklie
    United States8 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The show is valued for its empathy and accessible exploration of complex topics.
Praise for inclusive, compassionate approach to disability and family life.
Guests are described as easy to follow with valuable takeaways for daily life.
Listeners praise the host's calming demeanor and practical, faith-grounded guidance.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Giving Thanks to God When We Do Not Feel Grateful
Q: How does liturgy influence gratitude in daily life?
The Eucharist and accompanying prayers remind believers that God's mercy and grace are continually offered, making gratitude a shared, communal practice rather than a solely individual feeling.
Giving Thanks to God When We Do Not Feel Grateful
Q: What can help someone cultivate Thanksgiving during illness or hardship?
A daily recommitment to engage with God, rely on scripture, and lean on supportive people in the faith community, recognizing that all things belong to God and that suffering can be sanctified within a faithful relationship.
Where is the Love that Moves Mountains?
Q: How do you define being fully human in the context of faith communities?
Being fully human means being fully present with others and with ourselves, building intentional connections that reflect communal life and the shared goal of belonging within the Body of Christ.
Where is the Love that Moves Mountains?
Q: What are some important things for parishes to keep in mind as they plan projects and ministries to be more accessible?
Inclusion should be more about involving people in what the church is already doing—adding them into ministries and liturgies—rather than creating separate spaces, and it often requires small, practical pivots like pacing changes and inviting participation on committees.
What Makes Children with Disabilities Vulnerable to Human Trafficking?
Q: Could you speak to some of the statistics and current research regarding populations who have disabilities? Are these populations more vulnerable than typical populations to be trafficked?
The guest explains that while hard numbers are difficult to pin down and vary by region, disability is certainly a vulnerability factor among others, and traffickers target trust and opportunity, making prevention rely on strong family support, vigilant caregiving, and proactive safeguarding measures.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Family Matters

What is Family Matters about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Heartfelt conversations focus on Orthodox-informed family life, parenting, disability inclusion, and faith-based recovery. Episodes pair clergy or lay leaders with families navigating real-life challenges—ranging from disability, addiction, and trauma to marriage and intergenerational dynamics—through practical faith-centered guidance and pastoral wisdom. The show often centers on building belonging in faith communities, inclusive parish life, and supportive family ministry, with a consistent emphasis on dignity, humility, and relational care. A notable throughline is translating theological principles into everyday practices for homes and parishes, making it especially compelling for church leaders, family ministers, and practitioners advo... more

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How many episodes of Family Matters are there?

Family Matters launched 9 years ago and published 214 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Family Matters?

Recent guests on Family Matters include:

1. John Abdalah
2. Christos Lianos
3. Deacon Demetrius Romanczuk
4. Father Nikolas Delaveris
5. Adriana Makrov
6. Father Peter J. Spiro
7. Abby Vlahos
8. Anthony Yagze

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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