Why Catholic?

Why Catholic?

Dive into the what and why behind Catholic beliefs with Justin Hibbard - former Evangelical Pastor, Apologist, and Catholic convert. whycatholic.substack.com

Episodes

July 15, 2025 17 mins

In part 2 of our series on the 21 Ecumenical Church Councils, Justin Hibbard discusses some of the challenges in the early church particularly in the third to early fourth centuries that led to the Council of Nicaea. Why was an ecumenical church council really only possible in the early fourth century? What were some of the key places, people, and events that led to the church desperately needing to meet in order to keep the Church...

Mark as Played

Justin Hibbard kicks off our series on the 21 Ecumenical Councils with an introduction. What is an ecumenical council? Why aren’t all councils and synods considered ecumenical? Why are these councils called? And how do Catholics consider the outcome of these councils’ decisions?

Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support this podcast).

Become a free subscriber...

Mark as Played

In this special interview episode of Why Catholic, Justin Hibbard is joined by Katherine Mosco Depfer. Katherine shares how she went from growing up in a Catholic bubble, to abandoning her faith at college, and the radical reversion she experienced as a prodigal daughter. She gives practical advice for Catholic parents as well as Catholic teens.

Interested in having Katherine speak at an event or a retreat, you can email her at kath...

Mark as Played

Justin Hibbard concludes our series on the Catholic approach to prayer by addressing the claim made by many Evangelicals: “Religion is man’s way to get to God; Christianity is God’s way to get to man.” Is that true? Is all religious practices Pharisaical and a distraction from a relationship with Jesus? Or does religion actually help us pursue the heart of God?

Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the ...

Mark as Played

In continuation on our series on the Catholic Approach to Prayer, Justin Hibbard talks about how Scripture teaches us that prayer is our most powerful weapon. Why do we often neglect prayer for more practical measures, and how can the Christian learn to arm themselves with prayer?

Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support this podcast).

Become a free subscribe...

Mark as Played

Justin Hibbard continues our series on the Catholic Approach to Prayer by focusing on the rhythm of prayer. How has the Catholic Church cultivated a practice of ordering our day around prayer? How do common Catholic prayers create a rhythm that helps us to pray? What are some ideas on how we can cultivate a more purposeful and disciplined prayer life?

Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the Why Cath...

Mark as Played
May 27, 2025 13 mins

Justin Hibbard reconvenes our series on the Catholic approach to prayer by talking about prayer while we move. What are some common ways that Catholics incorporate movement in prayers? And how can we think of prayer beyond just sitting still and saying words but rather pray with our bodies?

Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support this podcast).

Become a free...

Mark as Played
May 23, 2025 22 mins

In light of our new Pope - Leo XIV, Justin Hibbard explores the attributes that make a Pope “Great.” What do the “Great” Popes have in common? How did they become known as “Great?” And what experiences does Pope Leo XIV have that might position him to also be a “great” Pope?

Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support this podcast).

Become a free subscriber or ...

Mark as Played

Is the Conclave “antiquated,” and is it time for the Catholic Church to “get with the times?” Justin Hibbard explores why the Conclave has evolved to what it is today and why the Catholic Church isn’t eager to have election processes that mimic the elections of democratic nations.

Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support this podcast).

Become a free subscribe...

Mark as Played

Justin Hibbard continues reflecting on the change of the papacy by focusing on Pope Francis’ funeral. What is the irony of Pope Francis’ funeral occurring at the very place where St. Peter was martyred? What does the funeral say about Pope Francis’ final act on earth and how should it serve as an example for all of us?

ubscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support...

Mark as Played

We have lost the 266th Vicar of Christ - the Pastor of 1.3 billion people. What should our response be? Justin Hibbard shares the importance of grieving for Pope Francis, ways we can be introspective, and what we lose when we mentally try and rush to fill the empty chair at our table.

Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support this podcast).

Become a free subsc...

Mark as Played
April 22, 2025 15 mins

Justin Hibbard reflects on the reign of Pope Francis - the 266th individual to serve as the Vicar of Christ. Why does he feel like Pope Francis was one of the individuals that led him to become Catholic?

Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support this podcast).

Become a free subscriber or a patron of Why Catholic? and get the next episode and a discount code t...

Mark as Played
April 16, 2025 15 mins

Justin Hibbard continues our series on the Catholic Approach to Prayer by focusing on intentional prayer. Why do Catholics use the term “prayer intentions,” what do they mean by “offer it up?” and why do they often read prayers rather than pray extemporaneously? What are some practical ways we can be more intentional about our prayers and live out the command to “pray without ceasing?”

Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get you...

Mark as Played
April 8, 2025 13 mins

Is prayer something we do, or is it an opening for God to do something far beyond our efforts? In continuation on our series on the Catholic approach to prayer, Justin Hibbard explains a theory of how God uses prayer to rewire our brains.

Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support this podcast).

Become a free subscriber or a patron of Why Catholic? and get the...

Mark as Played

Justin Hibbard continues our series on the Catholic approach to prayer with exploring the ancient discipline of Lectio Divina. How can we incorporate Scripture and meditation into our prayer, and how does God use that time and space in transformative ways?

Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support this podcast).

Become a free subscriber or a patron of Why Cath...

Mark as Played

Do Catholics worship images and statues? In continuation of our series on the Catholic Approach to Prayer, Justin Hibbard talks about the use of images in Catholic liturgy. How do these images invoke the use of imagination, and why is imagination an essential ingredient for prayer?

Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support this podcast).

Become a free subscrib...

Mark as Played
March 18, 2025 13 mins

Justin Hibbard begins a new series on the Catholic Approach to Prayer by exploring why it’s so challenging for Christians to pray? Why is prayer so important, and why do we struggle to have a disciplined prayer life?

Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support this podcast).

Become a free subscriber or a patron of Why Catholic? and get the next episode and a dis...

Mark as Played

Justin Hibbard is joined by Fr. Christopher Gray - Pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Park City, UT and Maria Villar - St. Mary's Director of Charity to talk about how the parish has become a beacon of charity in the Wasatch Back. Learn how St. Mary's grew from providing assistance to being a hub for collaborating with assistance organizations within the local community.

Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you g...

Mark as Played
February 25, 2025 19 mins

Justin Hibbard continues our series on Sacred Scripture by demonstrating how to utilize a variety of hermeneutical principles to not only interpret Scripture but to immerse yourself in Scripture.

Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support this podcast).

Become a free subscriber or a patron of Why Catholic? and get the next episode and a discount code to the Why...

Mark as Played
February 18, 2025 15 mins

Justin Hibbard continues our series on Sacred Scripture by demonstrating how to utilize a variety of hermeneutical principles to not only interpret Scripture but to immerse yourself in Scripture.

Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support this podcast).

Become a free subscriber or a patron of Why Catholic? and get the next episode and a discount code to the Wh...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

    24/7 News: The Latest

    The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

    Latino USA

    Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S. centering Latino stories, hosted by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Maria Hinojosa Every week, the Peabody winning team brings you revealing, in-depth stories about what’s in the hearts and minds of Latinos and their impact on the world. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peaks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. www.futuromediagroup.org/joinplus

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.