Chris Stefanick Catholic Show

A while back, I had Jim Beckman on the show, and we talked about healing from abuse. And… wow. We got so much heartfelt feedback. (Seriously, you guys are the best.) But a lot of you asked about hearing this from a woman’s perspective. So, I talked to my wife, Natalie, and she agreed to come on the show and tell her story. What you’re going to hear is a story that touched our marriage specifically. But I hope our own journey of hope and healing will give you strength in your own journey too. If you want to know what raw faith and redemption look like in a Catholic life, this episode is for you.

We always say that conversion is a possibility for anyone. But it can be tempting to think that there’s no hope for some people. Dr. Joseph Pearce used to be one of those people. He used to be a white supremacist neo-Nazi, and even spent time in prison. Now? He’s one of the top Catholic intellectuals in the world, with works on Lewis, Tolkien, Shakespeare, Belloc, and more! He also has served as an editor for the Augustine Institute, the Imaginative Conservative, and other intellectual publications. All of this was possible because Dr. Pearce accepted the love and forgiveness of Christ. In this episode, you’ll hear about his conversion and learn: - What initially attracted him to white supremacy- How God rescued him from racism- How to have a cultural identity without being hateful And more!

We can all use some hope. Lucky for us, Pope Benedict XVI wrote a whole encyclical about it. So in honor of his recent passing, we’re going to explore what this great pope said about the virtue of hope. And to do that, we’re joined by Fr. Brian Larkin, who is a priest in the Archdiocese of Denver. Not only is Fr. Brian really smart, but he can also take Pope Benedict’s deep teaching and break it down into bits we can all digest. If you’ve been inspired by Pope Benedict and want to learn more about him, then you’re in for a treat!

Vulnerability. Sounds like weakness, doesn't it? Because you're opening up the wounded parts of yourself to people. But God can create such incredible good out of your brokenness. He even says in the Bible, “My power is made PERFECT in your weakness.” So this week we're talking to John Edwards again, because he knows all about vulnerability. His life's been full of it – converting back to Christ while in prison, learning to be more open with his wife and kids, and starting a men's ministry from scratch. If you want to find the true JOY we're all looking for, it takes vulnerability. But don't fear! John and I are here to explain what authentic (and life-giving) vulnerability looks like.

We live in a world where anything goes, but nothing is forgiven. (We even have a new word for it: “cancel culture.”) Amazingly, a lot of Christians (even Catholics) believe there are people out there who shouldn't be forgiven. So in this episode, we reflect on: What real forgiveness is, and what it's NOT. Why forgiveness is meant to be total, no exceptions! How to forgive even the most horrific sins. If you're struggling to forgive someone else or even yourself, you'll take away a lot from this episode.

What is salvation? If we get anything right in our faith, it should be this. And yet, most Catholics don't have a clear idea of what salvation means. Especially when a non-Catholic challenges them with the question “Are you saved?” In this episode, Dr. Michael Barber unpacks the Church's teaching on salvation: what it IS and what it ISN'T. So the next time someone asks you “Are you saved?” you'll know exactly how to give them the Catholic answer!

Nobody likes a grumpy saint. You could be the most pious person walking the face of the Earth. But if you're a spiritual curmudgeon, then you're kinda missing the whole point. Because God wants you to HAVE FUN! Like St. Teresa of Avila once said, “A sad nun is a bad nun.” In fact, having fun is so important that there's a virtue for it! So in this episode, we talk about how fun fits into the spiritual life: - Why it saves you from getting spiritually lukewarm. - How much is too much. - Three ways to exercise your “fun muscles.”

When we last talked to Jeremy Rivera, he told us about his wild and wonderful journey back to the Catholic Church. But that wasn't the end of the story. Returning to Catholicism was great for Jeremy, but it wasn't just “happily ever after.” He had to figure out how to have the kind of life that most cradle Catholics take for granted. So in this episode, Jeremy tells you about: ● The hardest part of going from Protestant minister to fresh new Catholic. ● Why conversion is an ongoing process, not once and for all. ● What Catholics should know about the converts in their parishes.

You've almost definitely heard of Lord of the Rings; it's pretty much the greatest fantasy epic in the history of Western Literature. But do you know about its Catholic influence? Joseph Pearce, one of the top Catholic intellectuals in the world and a leading Tolkien scholar, is joining Chris to talk about the trilogy that its author called a “a fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision.” Pearce has written multiple books about Middle-Earth and Catholicism, and is the editor of multiple intellectual publications, such as the Imaginative Conservative. He's also a friend of Chris's. Join their awesome conversation to learn about: ● The religious symbolism in LOTR ● How Tolkien's faith formed his storytelling ● How a Catholic should read fantasy And more!

Ask your questions below in the chat or text them to 720-650-0100. Chris welcomes Dakota Lane to talk about fitness and the importance of the body in the Christian life.

Chris talks to a MASTER at the art of silence (a Benedictan nun) for some advice.

Q & A with Chris

Ask your questions below in the chat or text them to 720-650-0100. Chris talks with entrepreneur Mosongo Osong about his approach to Catholic education with CatholicBrain.com

You might know someone who's looking for spiritual fulfillment, but not in the Church. Instead, they try to find it in nature. They say they don't need to go to a church to get close to God. Well, they should meet Ashley Piche. Ashley LOVES being outdoors (she's really into snowboarding), and she's a recent convert to the Catholic faith. She runs Creatio, a travel ministry that guides young people to deepen their faith through outdoor adventures and mission trips. Ashley has some great insights about: - How to connect with someone who has a relationship with “the universe” instead of God. - Her not-so-typical point of entry into the Catholic faith. - Why getting out in nature is crucial to the New Evangelization. Warning: you might get the urge to throw down your phone and get outside when you listen to this episode!

Text your questions in to (before the show or live) to 720-650-0100 or drop them into the chat below! Mario Enzler, a former Swiss Guard who served Pope John Paul II, joins Chris on the show to discuss stories his life as a Swiss Guard, stories of John Paul II, and his encounter with Mother Teresa.

Contrary to popular belief, Jesus did not say, "I came to make them boring." He wants us to live life to the full. Dive into the heart and soul of what it means to be Catholic with Chris Stefanick and his guests streaming live every Monday at 7 p.m. ET. The Chris Stefanick Show is the most recent addition to the Augustine Institute's robust and innovative programming, which aims to help Catholics understand, live, and share their faith. Watch the series promo here.

Hey guys, This week we have a really awesome guest: John Edwards! He's one of the most interesting people I've ever met, and his story is nothing short of incredible. You may know him because of his podcast “Just a Guy in the Pew.” He's so humble and faithful, you'd never think he went to prison because of drugs. But he did. And that's where Christ changed everything. Now John's working on the front lines of men's ministry, with a blend of faith and masculinity that men are desperately looking for. If you care about bringing more men back to the Church, you do NOT want to miss this!

When we first met Heidi Ganahl, she was inspiring us to keep moving in the face of tragic loss. The entrepreneur and motivational speaker now turns her attention to politics. That's right, Heidi is running for governor of Colorado. The campaign trail has been an interesting road for Heidi. She shares these insights with her usual wit and joy. You'll definitely want to hear what Heidi has to say in this episode!

Fear. Everyone feels it. Even my buddy Dom Raso, a Navy SEAL. But here's the thing about fear. If you try really hard to NOT feel afraid, you'll get even more anxious. As Dom will tell you, what you gotta do is redirect your fear with a mindset of faith, rooted in God and His truth. This week, Dom's back on the show to explain four ways you can redirect your fear. And trust me, they work. He's BEEN there and DONE that in over 350 combat missions. If you put his advice into practice, you'll be more courageous than you ever imagined.

We're in a “father crisis” right now. More kids than ever are raised without dads. And even when both parents are around, it's Mom who takes the kids to church, not Dad. We can't save our culture without good fathers. Fr. Dave Pivonka knows just how high the stakes are. From years of working with guys at Franciscan University, and helping people like me get ready for marriage, he's got his pulse on what we need to do about the culture today – starting with the men. If you want to know what real fatherhood is all about, don't miss this!

People can be super-annoying. Even some of the saints weren't always the most pleasant companions! Fact is, we are all broken creatures. But God still calls us to live in communion with each other. Friendship is one of the most profound unions we can have. And it's necessary to live a full, joyful life. But how can you find joy in friendship, even during those annoying times? And how do you choose good friends and avoid bad ones? That's what we'll discover in today's episode!

There's a pretty big hole in Catholic ministry right now. If you're a youth or adult from divorced parents or a separated family, there's not much pastoral care focused on your needs. And since divorce rates have skyrocketed over the years, this means a huge cross-section of our Church isn't getting their pain and heartache addressed. So this week, we're talking to my friend Rachel Oline, who works with Life-Giving Wounds. It's a ministry spearheading the movement of pastoral care to Catholics with divorced parents or separated families. If you've had to deal with divorce in your own family or know someone who has, this episode will give you hope.

As he sat in prison and anticipated a cruel and untimely death, St. Paul refused to give into negativity. He implored others to “have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.” How could St. Paul stay positive in such a dire situation? He kept his focus on God. And as Fr. Chad Ripperger tells us this week, the Evil One hates that. When we set our sights on the good, the demons are forced to flee. Fr. Ripperger has seen this happen with the possessed people he has worked with, but it can work for all of us. We should all make positivity a part of our everyday spiritual lives. Join me and find out how to do just that.

Chris Stefanick talks with a struggling technology addict on how to unplug and enjoy silence in life.

We're in a spiritual battle against the Evil One. And you don't have to be an exorcist to fight. Speaking of exorcists, Fr. Chad Ripperger is back this week to dive into the spiritual battles we all fight every day. Specifically, you'll learn about the five levels of spiritual combat. Think of them as five areas where the supernatural builds on the natural, for good or for bad. You'll also learn a powerful prayer to combat temptations in the name of Jesus! (Plus other little ways to keep up a strong spiritual life.) So yes, some heavier topics again, but you'll come away with a deeper perspective on your faith. Let's get to it!

Scripture says, “Be sober and alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, solid in your faith.” In other words, the Christian life involves spiritual combat. But a lot of Catholics aren't really familiar with this idea. So to start unpacking it, we're talking to Fr. Chad Ripperger, an exorcist priest. Obviously, he's on the front lines of some intense spiritual warfare, but it's taught him a lot that everyday Catholics like you and me can use to fight in our own struggles. I know exorcism is a serious topic, but don't worry. This is not a scary episode. You'll be amazed by Fr. Ripperger's stories of God's power and providence, and how not even the demons can thwart God's plan for us.

One thing I love about this show is that you can text in your questions live. But, usually, we have a guest to chat with, and while that's fun and all, I have to try my best to get to all your questions. So this week there's no guest because it's all about you! That's right, this week's episode is all about answering YOUR questions! Tune in to hear what your fellow Catholics are asking about God, faith, and living out Church teaching. You just might hear an answer you've been looking for!

This week, my beautiful wife Natalie is with us again. The last time she was on, there was so much to unpack with her story of healing from abuse. So she said yes to coming back to talk about it some more. Healing is a journey. God's love and mercy works in our lives over time, especially when it comes to relationships with family and friends. We're going to talk about those dynamics in this episode. Even after being married to her for all these years, I'm still so in awe of Natalie's faith and strength. I hope you'll be inspired by her too.

Were you as amazed as I was when you heard Roe v. Wade was overturned? This is huge. A lot of people are upset about that, and they're pretty open about it. But a lot of other people are hurting because of abortion, and they're silently searching for healing. Abortion causes trauma, even though you rarely hear that talked about. Countless women who've had an abortion deeply regret it. And they need our help. So even if you don't personally know someone who's had an abortion, what can we do to foster hope and healing around this sensitive topic? That's what we're talking about today.

I talk about joy a lot. But I know there's one place where it's really hard to keep up your joy sometimes: at work. If you feel like you have to find your true joy outside of work, you're not alone. People go to work every day, but their jobs stress them out and leave them exhausted. So this week, I'm bringing in my buddy Patrick Lencioni. Pat is a pro at helping businesses become better places for us to work! And he's discovered the key to finding more joy and energy in your job. I'm not going to give it away, but here's a hint: It's about harnessing the way you naturally think and work. If you could use a booster shot of inspiration, or just want to feel more fulfilled in what you do for a living, you don't want to miss this.

Fr. Peter Mussett is BACK! And this week, we're talking about weed. That's right. Weed. Legal marijuana's the new norm around the country, and the number of people using it has skyrocketed. People argue that it's healthier than alcohol. They even say you can get the same spiritual fulfillment from marijuana without all the organized religion. But that's only on the surface. There's really a CRUCIAL distinction at play here. If you want to know what that is, and also how to explain it to people, then you gotta listen to this episode. Plus, Fr. Peter tells his vocation story.

Meet my buddy Fr. Peter. He's been working in college campus ministry for 16 years! So if you work with young adults or know one who's struggling with their faith, you don't want to miss his nuggets of wisdom about the deeper questions that young people want answered, how the culture's idea of happiness actually pushes people apart, and why campus ministry needs to look weird sometimes. We can't forget the young people staying true to the Church in today's world. They need all the support they can get. If you want to follow Christ these days, the stakes are higher than ever. Whether you're getting the stink eye in the grocery store (true story) or losing friends because of your faith, you face a culture growing more aggressive by the day. But there's hope. Fr. Peter's here to tell us why.

Last week I had a great conversation with my old friend Andrew Whaley about his project Calix and creating spaces for the sake of relationships with the deeply unchurched and post-Church. His vision sparked some serious conversation and questions about how this project works when it hits closer to home. In this episode, we dive into the messy project of living as Christians with a real heart for everyone—in a culture that can be pretty antagonistic to our very existence. How do we balance reaching out and protecting our parish and family? Where do we draw this line when it comes to our kids? What does that look like practically in real time? We dive into all that this week!

Mother Teresa in prison. Jimmy Wahlberg's story of amazing (mind blowing) grace.

Who doesn't like coffee? Or should I say, who doesn't NEED coffee? (Seriously, just the smell of it gets me hyped.) But you know what else we all need? Community. And Jesus. So my friend Andrew Whaley found a genius way to bring all three together. He literally designs places for people to hang out and grow in faith together, like coffeehouses. It's evangelization over coffee! How cool is that?!? This man is all about hospitality. That's how we reach our brothers and sisters to bring them back to the Catholic faith. I think you'll love what Andrew's got to say about how to connect with people the simple, social way. So, kick back with your favorite cup o' joe and enjoy!

Chris talks to Jim Beckman about his experience as a survivor of sexual abuse. Jim takes on the challenging questions of how to take care of and help people recover from this trauma. Using their knowledge gained from being on the frontlines of youth ministry, Chris and Jim discuss ways Catholics can have open conversations about this topic.

Chris talks with Catholic astronaut, General Chilton about his faith and experience going into space.

Chris welcomes Patrick Devenney to discuss divorce, eating disorders, and a conversion of faith.

Monsters in the closet. Ghosts in the dark. Remember feeling afraid when you were little? Unfortunately, we don't grow out of it. Now that we're adults, we just have new things to be afraid of. But how does that square with having faith in Jesus? After all, Jesus says, “Be not afraid!” Shouldn't we live without fear of anything? Well, here's the thing: Jesus did NOT come to take away everything you're afraid of. But he did come to take away your fear. Having faith in Jesus empowers you! He gives you the strength to overcome your fears and live with true freedom. Now you're probably wondering, “Okay sure, Chris, but how does that actually work?” That's exactly what we're going to talk about in this episode.

On this one, Chris welcomes Catholic psychologist Dr. Jim Langley to talk about COVID recovery from the mental health perspective, and why—for all of us, even you!—it's so important to pause sometimes and check in on ourselves.

Can Catholicism solve our political issues? Society is pretty messy right now. But it's hard to find solutions that really line up with Catholic teaching. Yet there's a unique Catholic way to uphold human dignity, promote small business, and encourage people to work together for the common good. It's called “distributism.” If that sounds like a mouthful, don't worry. In this episode, economist and businessman Tim Reichert comes on the show to break down the basics. Don't miss this episode if you want a fresh Catholic approach to the big questions in society.

How many genders are there? Depends on who you ask. According to Facebook, there are over 50. Tumblr lists over 500! Gender dysphoria has gotten out of control. And it's everywhere, from grade schools to pro sports. But what do you actually do when someone demands to be called by a different gender? Be nice and affirm them, or just refuse to accept it? There's a third option:the Catholic way. My friend Jason Evert is here to tell us about it. Jason's spent years talking to teens and young adults about the Catholic perspective on gender and sexuality. Here on the show, we discuss: What research is finally revealing about “gender affirmation surgery.” Why we need to move beyond gender stereotypes. How to talk to people you love about this sensitive topic. Who's going to be the most influential group against gender dysphoria in the future (and it's not the Christians). If you want to uphold the truth about gender with true love and compassion, this episode's for you!

Feeling anxious? A little burned-out? Maybe you need to rest. When you don't take time for rest, your life can control you and sap your joy. On the flip side, people who take time for rest are happy. They're at peace. Plus they end up doing more of the things they actually enjoy! God commanded us to rest, for our own good. The thing is, a lot of people think they know how to rest, but they're doing it totally wrong! Rest doesn't mean doing nothing. And rest does not equal laziness. So what does REAL rest look like? I'll show you.

Jeremy Rivera is BACK! The last time he was on the show, Jeremy gave us a birds-eye view of his journey from Confirmation class dropout to college pastor to Catholic revert. But there was so much we didn't get to talk about. So he's back to take us deeper into what it was like to be a Protestant pastor rediscovering the Catholic faith! Grab a seat and buckle up as he takes us on a journey from Hawaii to California to Colorado, and finally back into the arms of the Church. If you want to better understand how Catholics can connect with their Evangelical brothers and sisters, you don't want to miss this.

What turned this Protestant leader into a practicing Catholic? This week on the Chris Stefanick Show, meet marketing CEO Jeremy Rivera. He was an active leader in Protestant young adult ministry … until he found the beauty of Catholicism. Since then, he's worked with FOCUS Missionaries to form college students in the faith. Now, he's the head of his own company, doing Catholic media and marketing. Chris and Jeremy talk about Keeping kids Catholic through college Marketing and evangelization Living out the faith in the business world How to get more out of the sacraments