We explore mental prayer through a Carmelite lens, moving from definitions and methods to the lived experience of silence, distraction, and trust. The theme is simple and demanding: prayer is a relationship, not a performance, and silence is wh...

Saint Rita of Cascia’s winding path moves from a violent marriage and family feuds to quiet holiness, peacemaking, and steady fidelity that outlasts grief. We wrestle with God’s will, cultural narcissism, and how endurance can be wiser than esc...

What if obedience in marriage isn’t about control, but about love that aims at the common good? We dig into the heart of a Catholic marriage through the living model of Christ and the Church—where respect means honoring dignity, headship means ...

We explore respect and obedience through the lens of Christian discipleship, tracing how honor, office, and conscience intersect and how obedience, purified of fear, can lead to real freedom. Stories from religious life ground the theology in d...

What if your feelings didn’t get the final say on your choices—especially when life is in flux? We open up about seasons of upheaval: a child leaving for college, grieving a parent, cancer scares, and the low hum of uncertainty that follows big...

A compilation of previous episodes exploring sanctity, holiness, justification, and righteousness. Theology of Sanctity (Season 1 Episode 4)Catholic and Protestant Views on Justification (Season 2 Episode 21)

Father Stephen and John dive deep into Chapter 8 of Lumen Gentium, exploring Mary's unique role in salvation history and addressing common misconceptions about Catholic Marian devotion.• Mary's maternal role toward humanity doesn't dimi...

A quick life update and request for prayers.

In this episode, Father Stephen brings his profound insights into how aligning our struggles with Christ's can be a transformative experience, offering both psychological relief and spiritual growth. Together, we explore the idea that suffering...

Can understanding the role of Mary change your perspective on the Church? Join me and Father Stephen Sanchez as we navigate the profound teachings of Lumen Gentium, focusing on the essential yet often misunderstood role of Mary. We promise this...

A Quick Life Update and Request for Prayers.

Join us for an engaging conversation with Father Stephen Sanchez, a Discalced Carmelite priest, who recently attended a Congress meeting in Boston. Father Stephen shares his experiences, from the joyful talks on the saints of Carmel to the cama...

In this episode, we dive deep into the critical role of the laity within the Church, inspired by Lumen Gentium. We discuss how both men and women are essential to the Church's mission, working alongside clergy and religious members. Our discuss...

In this episode, Father Stephen and John discuss the centrality of Christ in the Church and its mission as a sacrament of God's love. Drawing insights from Sacrosanctum Concilium and theologians like St. Cyprian, they explore how the Church, as...

In this episode, John and Father Stephen explore Pope John XXIII's vision of the Pilgrim Church as detailed in Lumen Gentium, emphasizing the Church's ongoing mission away from a triumphalist view. They reflect on the veneration of saints, with...

In this episode, John and Fr. Stephen delve into the historical context of Vatican II.Take a walk through history with us as we revisit the abrupt end of the First Vatican Council in 1870 and the unresolved issues it left behind. Fast f...

Prepare yourself for an emotionally charged episode as the co-hosts from the Bigfoot Club podcast, Robert Dominguez and his nephew, Steven Dominguez, step in for Father Stephen Sanchez. Robert recounts his terrifying health ordeal — fro...

In this episode, John and Chris go on a profound journey into the intricate world of biblical translations, specifically comparing John 14:12-28 in the NIV and Catholic versions. You'll learn the deeper significance behind Jesus' repeated use o...

In this episode, John and Chris consider ink as a metaphor Chris developed in a song he wrote after dropping off his oldest daughter at college.Our upbringing and relationships significantly shape us, much like ink colors a page. Drawin...

In this episode, John and Mark's discussion ranges from the philosophical themes inspired by "Groundhog Day" to pondering whether intelligent alien species would be considered children of God. Can the gospel be preached to alien beings? What ar...

In this episode, John and Mark Gansle continue their conversation and take a heartfelt look at the unique challenges and blessings that come with being a deacon's wife. They discuss how growing closer to God can enhance intimacy, promoting pati...

In this episode, John and Mark Gansle ponder the profound distinction between happiness and joy through Mark's experience so far a year into his discernment to become a Catholic deacon. They consider the thought that while happiness is a fleeti...

In this episode, Father Sanchez emphasizes the necessity of understanding the sacred authors' intentions in their historical and cultural contexts, and we explore how metaphors like the good shepherd or parables like the sower and the seed reve...

In this episode, John and Anthony discuss the importance of open, respectful conversations in a world increasingly divided by differing beliefs. Anthony shares the inspiration behind his innovative clothing brand aimed at making the elegant spo...

In this episode, John is joined by Anthony Alexander for a heartfelt conversation about fatherhood. Navigating blended families and past relationships can be a minefield, and Anthony candidly shares his experiences with these challenges. They t...