Catholic Adventurer Podcast

Something you don't know about me. I was in a singing group called The Boulevards as a teenager. The greatest unknowns you've never heard of. True story, told in this After-Show to “Choose the Better Part”. This picture was produced with AI, guided by very careful and deliberate prompts. It’s pretty close to the reality. Can you ...

I open the show with a candid and fiery reflection on the current state of Catholic evangelization online. I express my deep concerns about the growing number of unqualified, under-formed voices who dominate independent Catholic media, and challenge the idea that good intentions and internet access are enough to represent the voic...

Imagine that ‘Don’ Vito Corleone, boss of the Corleone crime family, left his life of crime and took his Catholic faith seriously. How would such a man, intent on not only living a holy life, but on fulfilling his duty as a father, convince his sons to follow his lead and return to the Catholic faith?

I think it would sound something like this…

NOTE: Originally published 7/14/2023, republished 6/26/2025 with VoiceOver

The Voiceover ...

This is a followup (sort of an after show) to a recent podcast I recorded live on my Instagram. But here I go just a little deeper, as I talk about the importance of going beyond the surface of the Catholic experience, and journeying “into the deep”. The real riches of the faith lie in its depths, not on the surface. Using example...

The Catholic Church is old—dusty, crusty, and ancient. Why would any rational person base their life on what this 2,000-year-old institution says?

That’s a question I’ve heard a lot over the years, but I’m hearing it a lot more lately. It’s often the star of the show in social media comments, and YouTube commentary. No actual arguments, no logical responses, just “The Catholic Church is old, the Bible is ancient. Ignore them”

The Ca...

Today I get into the legacy of Pope Francis, and explore the excitement surrounding the new pontificate of Pope Leo XIV. I share my personal reactions, thoughts, and what I learned from Francis' papacy. In the third segment I discuss the damage done to the Church during Francis' pontificate (not what you think), and why it serves ...

Today, the eyes of the world turn to Rome, where hundreds of thousands gather to bid farewell to Pope Francis — a shepherd who spent his life walking with the forgotten and building bridges across every divide. In this special segment, I’ll walk you through some major Catholic headlines shaping the day: from the global tributes pouring in at the pope’s funeral, to a moving moment when society’s most marginalized honored him in a fi...

NOTE: I keep saying “abrogates” in the episode what I meant was “abdicates” Sorry for any confusion.

Description:

In this live episode of the Catholic Adventurer Podcast, broadcasted on Substack, I respond to the shocking yet not entirely surprising news of Pope Francis' death on April 21, 2025. I discuss my initial reactions, the...

Voiceover/Reading of my article, "Are You Judas, Peter, or John" on my Substack

During the mass readings for Palm Sunday, I was overwhelmed by thoughts and ideas that came to my mind as we read the Passion narrative in the Gospel.

I usually don’t like this Gospel reading in the mass very much because I always feel awkward reciting the parts spoken by the crowd. I don’t like saying things like “Crucify him!” or “He deserves to die.”...

Today remember that the people will exultantly shout, "Hosanna, hosanna!" and line the path of Jesus to throw palms on the ground before him.On Good Friday, they'll shout, "Crucify him, crucify him!" and line up along the path to Golgotha to spit on him.

What changes a heart from "Hosanna!" to "Crucify him!"? Why do we hear of only women weeping for Our Lord, Veronica wanting to tend to him, and only one man, Simon, begrudgingly sho...

For paid subscribers; free/audio version will be published tomorrow. I share my personal struggles with the idea of abandoning everything to God Drawing on Father Jacques Philippe's book 'Finding and Maintaining Peace,' I reflect on a common fear that surrendering everything to God might lead to losing everything we value in our l...

Description:

A final follow up to my essay, Facts, Faults, and Fallacies of Catholic Decline I sit down for a Substack Live to provide additional color to, and thoughts about why we’re seeing such drastic decline in the Catholic Church, and what we can address to fix the problem. I explain why I reject some common excuses, such as ...

In this special episode, captured from a live Substack stream, I examine the decline in mass attendance and participation in sacraments within the Catholic Church. While some blame shifting demographics or clergy scandals, I propose deeper issues like secularism and inadequate catechesis. The episode also emphasizes the significan...

We kick things off by talking about the recent my episode 32, 'Mass Hysteria,' that I just released. I share my thoughts on the reactions it’s been getting, which are both expected and yet.

Then, we get into the meat of this episode: reverence in the Mass. I’ll share my views on what real reverence means—beyond just the traditional...

In this podcast, we explore a compelling topic: Benedict XVI's prophetic insights about the future of the Holy Catholic Church. We discuss how his observations from the 1970s seem increasingly relevant today, and how the church is evolving amid modern challenges. Join me for this thought-provoking analysis and more.

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Freedom is one of those words that have been redefined by secular culture over a long period. True Freedom: Understanding the Liberty to Live According to Our Nature.

St. Thomas Aquinas teaught that freedom is the capacity to act in accordance with reason and will, and to choose what is good. He believed that true freedom is found ...

In this video (A segment from “Reclaim ‘Catholic’”), I critically address the shortcomings of contemporary Catholic education and evangelization, particularly how Jesus is portrayed as weak and unserious. I revisit topics from my previous video on why people quit Catholicism, emphasizing the importance of presenting the whole trut...

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In this episode, we discuss 'Credo vs. Fide,' or belief from knowledge versus faith—confidence of the heart—and how only one makes a saint. Many Catholics recite the creed without understanding its deep meanings, leading to a deficiency in true faith—fide. To bridge this gap, I offer ways to build good credo and fide, emphasizing the importance of genuine, heartfelt belief. Additionall...

Many people have spent a long time redefining "Catholic"—what the faith is, what it teaches, and how to live it. Often even we Catholics fail to actively define "Catholic" (The church, or the faith) in a miscalculated effort to be charitable and welcoming. I agree with the ends, but not the means. It's time to reclaim Catholic, to...