Florida Catholic | Preaching Faith In A Pod(cast)

Preaching faith in a pod(cast)

‘Hands and Feet Show’ started by San Isidro parishioners reaches teens and young adults via the Internet.

ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FLORIDA CATHOLIC MIAMI BUREAU EDITOR

Published: 03.28.08

“Hands and Feet” creators and co–hosts, Gerard Bross, left, and Javier Plumey, broadcast live during a retreat on St. Paul held at St. Thomas University at the end of February.
ANA RODRIGUEZ–SOTO | FC

The “Hands and Feet Show” is available through www.beyourhands.com.

Listeners can also tune in through the link on www.romanhabit.org.

MIAMI | With computers, microphones, a video camera and an Internet connection, some young adults from San Isidro Parish in Pompano are evangelizing their peers around the world.

“This podcast has been known to induce conversion, inspiration and uncontrollable fits of laughter,” says the announcer at the beginning of the “Hands and Feet Show,” a one-hour program broadcast live on the Internet Mondays at 9 p.m. — and available for downloading to your iPod, desktop or laptop any other time of day or night.

Friends Gerard Bross, Javier Plumey and Jose Rojas developed the show in 2005. They typically record it live, at home, in front of an Internet audience which they say has grown from five listeners at first to about 2,000 per episode today.

“We reach a pretty good audience all over the world,” said Plumey. “This is the new radio.”

Done with a light touch — literally friends talking around a table — the “Hands and Feet Show” consists of comedy sketches, serious discussions on controversial topics and quizzes on the Bible.

The segments include: Gone in 30 Seconds, which covers the latest news; Bible Lotion, a “fun” look at the Bible; Relationships 2.0; Catholic Mythbusters; and Devotions in G Major.

“It’s like going to a coffeehouse and just hanging out with friends,” said Bross, a sound engineer by day.

“We don’t talk down,” said Plumey, who makes his living by working on computers. “We make it fun, entertaining, and we’re very frank and honest. We don’t shy away from any of the touchy subjects. Young people don’t want things sugarcoated.”

The “Hands and Feet Show” was nominated in 2007 for a People’s Choice Podcast Award in the religious inspiration category.

One benefit of the Internet is that the hosts receive constant feedback from their listeners, both on and off the air. Hands and Feet has a page and blog on MySpace, a discussion forum and message board on the Web and an online chat room for members.

That’s how the hosts know that people are tuning in from as far away as England and the Middle East. Fans also can sign up to receive the latest podcast automatically via the Internet or downloaded directly to iTunes — all at no charge.

“Our biggest expense is just equipment and the ongoing cost for the Internet,” said Plumey, who estimated the initial investment in equipment at $2,000.

To help support the ministry, he and his wife, Aneesa, sell Catholic-themed T-shirts through another nonprofit, Internet-based organization, the Roman Habit Co.

Bross and Plumey, who have known each other for 15 years, say they have been active in ministry since their high school days. Hands and Feet is “kind of like our stewardship,” Plumey said.

Apparently, they are doing something right.

“We’re seeing an explosion in our audience in our young adult market and in teenagers,” Plumey said. “We have 13-year-olds who listen to the show every week.”

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