Help Launch The Catholic Storyteller Podcast — A Ministry of Hope, Imagination, and Evangelization

My name is Monsignor Eric R. Barr, STL, and for more than forty years I have preached, taught, and written to help people encounter Christ through faith and imagination. Today, the Church is facing a generation that is discouraged, overwhelmed, and spiritually hungry. Many feel distant from the sacraments, unsupported by community, or unsure where to turn for wisdom.

I believe one of the most powerful tools we still have is story.

Christ taught through parables — narratives that reached the heart when simple argument could not. Inspired by His example and by years of pastoral ministry, I am launching The Catholic Storyteller Podcast, a weekly program designed to:

• bring faith alive through powerful stories

• offer clarity, meaning, and hope

• reach the homebound, the young, and the searching

• provide pastoral guidance without anger, politics, or noise

• share truth and beauty in a culture starving for both

I want this to be a true Catholic evangelization ministry, beautifully produced and freely available to all. But to build a year-long, professional-quality studio that can serve thousands of listeners, I need your help.

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⭐ Why I’m Asking for Your Support

A quality podcast isn’t simply a microphone on a desk. It requires reliable audio, video, lighting, computing power, storage, and the software/services to produce every episode with excellence. Your support will directly build a complete podcasting setup that allows me to:

• record weekly reflections and storytelling episodes

• host remote and in-person guests

• produce video versions for YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok

• reach those who cannot attend church or who feel far from the faith

• create a welcoming, thoughtful Catholic presence online

This is evangelization through imagination, offered freely and built entirely through generosity.

Every gift brings this ministry closer to reality.

Even $10 helps.

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How Your Donation Helps

$10 – Cables, mounts, or small accessories

$25 – Lighting components for clear video

$50 – Acoustic treatment for clean sound

$100 – Helps fund the secondary monitor for Scripture/notes

$250 – Supports professional lighting or the primary camera

$500 – Helps purchase the Shure microphone and audio chain

$1,000 — Founding Supporter

You will be thanked in a launch episode

Every donor becomes part of the ministry. I will be transparent about spending and will post updates as the studio is built and recording begins.

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What This Podcast Will Bring to the Church

✨ Storytelling that opens hearts

People remember stories. They experience God in them.

✨ A place for those who feel distant

The homebound, the lonely, the discouraged, the spiritually searching.

✨ Beauty, depth, and gentleness—online

Where so much Catholic media is angry or shallow, this will be different.

✨ A weekly source of wisdom and encouragement

Rooted in Scripture, tradition, imagination, and pastoral care.

This is a ministry I cannot do alone.

But together, we can launch something that brings real hope to a wounded world.

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FULL COST BREAKDOWN

AUDIO — $1,000

• Shure MV7+ microphone

• Professional boom arm

• Shock mounts & windscreens

• Acoustic panels & sound treatment

• Second microphone for in-person guests

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VIDEO & LIGHTING — $1,400

• High-quality camera (upgrade path to mirrorless 4K)

• Dual soft-panel lighting

• Backdrop / accent lighting

• Tripods and mounts

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STUDIO HARDWARE — $900

• Portable secondary monitor

• Monitor stand

• Cables & adapters

• Backup storage drives

• Desk / studio accessories for a clean look

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COMPUTING & STORAGE — $700

• External SSDs

• Cloud backup

• Long-term media storage

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SOFTWARE & ONLINE SERVICES — $600–$800

• Riverside.fm (remote interviews, 1-year subscription)

• Canva Pro (graphics + branding, 1-year subscription)

• Optional: Hindenburg or audio editing plugins

• Domain / website services

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UNEXPECTED COSTS, FEES & UPGRADES — $600–$1100

• GoFundMe processing fees

• Replacement cables

• Improved mounts/accessories

• Future camera or microphone upgrades

• Equipment for guest interviews

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Suggested Donation Tiers

• $10 — Helps with cables and mounts

• $25 — Helps purchase lighting accessories

• $50 — Supports acoustic treatment for cleaner sound

• $100 — Funds the secondary monitor for Scripture/notes

• $250 — Helps fund professional lighting or the camera

• $500 — Helps purchase the main microphone & audio chain

• $1,000 — Founding Supporter (name thanked in the launch episode)

Thank You

Whether you give, share, or pray for this project, I am deeply grateful.

May God bless you for helping bring this ministry to life.