Rebel Saints: Catholic Faith & Spiritual Growth
There is nothing more punk than being Catholic.
In an increasingly secular world, there is nothing more radical than choosing to belong to something as ancient and eternal as the Catholic Church. To be Catholic today is inherently counter-cultural. It means choosing sacrificial love, prayer, and fidelity to God in a society that prizes noise and self-interest above all else.
I’m Nicole Olea. Most days you’ll find me reporting on the Catholic Church, but I spent years in the trenches as a youth minister and a catechist. If there is one thing I learned accompanying teens on their faith journey, it’s that Catholicism is metal.
When I first heard St. Augustine’s words, “our hearts are restless until they rest in You,” I could finally put a name to the longing in my heart, that constant ache for something real.
If your heart is restless too, that isn't a glitch; it’s an invitation. It’s the signal that we were made for more than what’s being sold to us.
Yet, misconceptions about Catholicism prevail, often fueled by the very real mistakes and pain members of the Church have caused. While we shouldn’t hide from our history, the Church needs real voices of people who have joy in the Lord, to testify on her behalf and point people toward Christ in whatever way the Holy Spirit calls them to.
I was called to start this podcast, to share the messy, the beautiful and the METAL parts of the Catholic faith. I am a layperson, and there is no degree in theology hanging on my wall, but I'm not afraid of digging through books and often find myself doing just that when preparing for an episode.
I don't have it all figured out, I’m not perfect, and this podcast isn’t a guide on how to become some plastic version of a saint. I can't promise you this journey won't be chaotic and we'll definitely take the scenic route. So consider yourself warned.
But if you're like me, or if you are longing for "more" authentic spirituality and the idea of becoming exactly who God made you to be appeals to you, then hit that + button and join this little rebellion, because your restless heart can only mean you're a Rebel Saint too.
Welcome home Rebel!
Episodes
31 episodes
What Catholics Believe About Mary: The Original Rebel Mother
This One Goes Out to All the Baby Mamas ... and to the tired mamas, the bonus mamas, the spiritual mamas, and every single one of us who had a mother.On this Mother’s Day episode, we’re going straight to the heart of what Catholics actua...
Pope Leo XIV: One Year of Peace in a Restless World | Rebel Saints Podcast
One year into the papacy of the first American pope, Nicole reflects on why Pope Leo XIV’s simple, repeated message of peace is cutting through the noise of our exhausted, outrage-driven culture.In this heartfelt episode, she explores ho...
Pope Leo XIV vs. The White House: April 2026 Catholic News Roundup
The world is trying to delete Christ, but the Church is busy acting as the only referee left in a world that’s lost its mind.In this episode, I'm rounding up the top News Stories for April 2026 and sharing my honest hot takes on:<...
Catholic Saint Stories: St. Catherine of Siena's Contagious Spiritual Fire
If you’ve ever wondered whether one person can actually change the Church… meet St. Catherine of Siena.In this episode of Rebel Saints: A Catholic Podcast for Restless Hearts, Nicole Olea dives into the life of one of the...
Catholic Gospel Reflection: The Apostles' First Apostles | Easter Sunday (Year A)
Can small acts of faith change the world?On this Easter Sunday 2026, we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ by looking at the "forgotten co-conspirators" of the Paschal Mystery. While the world focused on the powerful, God ...
Catholic Gospel Reflection: Standing at the Foot of the Cross | Good Friday (Year A)
On this solemn Good Friday 2026, we try to silence the noise around us to stand at the foot of the cross with Jesus. As Catholics do, there will be no rushing to Easter. No sanitizing the blood, the nails, or the agony. In th...
Catholic Gospel Reflection: Do we follow the real Jesus or just our idea of Him? | Holy Week (Year A)
Are you following the real Jesus or just your idea of Him? As we enter Holy Week 2026, Nicole reflects on the Palm Sunday transition from glory to the Cross.Palm Sunday 2026: Do we follow the real Jesus or just our idea of Him? In this e...
Catholicism Explained: Why Catholic Priests Don't Marry
Why don't Roman Catholic priests get married? Nicole explores the "why" behind priestly celibacy as a total gift of self to Christ and the Church.This week on Rebel Saints, Nicole dives deep into the "why" behind priestly celibacy in the...
Catholic Gospel Reflection: Faith When Life Gets Messy | Fifth Sunday of Lent (Year A)
In this Rebel Saints episode, Nicole explores the Raising of Lazarus (John 11) for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year A. Jesus declares, "I am the resurrection and the life," confronting the tombs in our lives: spiritual dryness, shame, sin, broken...
Catholic Saint Stories: The real story of St. Patrick of Ireland
St. Patrick: The Real Story of Slavery, Prayer & Redemption | Catholic saint stories Was St. Patrick actually Irish?Not even close.In this episode of Rebel Saints, we uncover the real story of St. P...
Catholic Gospel Reflection: Maximilian Kolbe & Spiritual Blindness | Fourth Sunday of Lent (Year A)
What if the real blindness in your life isn’t physical, but spiritual?In this episode of Rebel Saints, we reflect on the Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday, Year A) and the powerful Gospel of the man born blind (Joh...
Catholic Gospel Reflection: The Samaritan Woman & Spiritual Thirst | Third Sunday of Lent (Year A)
Are you drawing from broken wells? On the 3rd Sunday of Lent, we meet the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well. Nicole explores John 4, isolation, and finding living water.In this episode for the Third Sunday of Lent (Cycle A), we dive into J...
Catholicism Explained: I Ate Meat on Friday, Is it a Mortal Sin? | Catholic Lent Rules
Did you forget it was Friday and eat meat? Nicole explains Catholic Lent rules, the difference between a slip-up and a sin, and how to handle Good Friday birthdays.It is Friday during Lent. You forget and eat a burger. Or perhaps your ch...
Planning a Catholic Wedding? The Nuptial Mass, Catechism, and Vendor Tips
Planning a Catholic wedding? Beyond the florals and seating charts, the Nuptial Mass is a Sacrament. Photographer Nicole joins us to discuss the theology of the Eucharist, wedding vendors, and keeping Christ at the center of your vocation.<...
Catholic Gospel Reflection: Glory is not the Goal of the Transfiguration | Second Sunday of Lent (Year A)
Is your Lent feeling messy? In the second week of Lent, the energy dips and cravings get louder. We dive into the Transfiguration to see why glory isn't the goal—it's preparation for the Cross.Week two of Lent is when it gets real. The “...
Catholic Gospel Reflection: From Ash Wednesday to the Desert | First Week of Lent (Year A)
Lent begins with ashes and the uncomfortable truth we are not self-sustaining. In this episode of The Rebel Saints Podcast, we move from Ash Wednesday into the Gospel of the First Sunday of Lent, where Jesus is led into the desert and tempted.<...
Where I’ve Been and Where We’re Headed
Nicole is back — not with a rebrand exactly, but something more like a pivot.The Rebel Saints Podcast is no longer just for teens — it’s for anyone swimming upstream in a culture that doesn't understand why you still care about ...
Pope Leo XIV: Why the First American Pope is a Holy Spirit "Mic Drop"
Meet Pope Leo XIV: the first American-born pope. Nicole reflects on this Spirit-led election, his Augustinian roots, and why this "quiet firestarter" is exactly what the Church needs right now.Welcome back to the Rebel Saints Podcast. If...
Catholic Gospel Reflection: Embracing the Promise of Easter | Easter Sunday (Cycle B)
Join us on the Rebel Saints Podcast where Nicole, a Catholic Youth Minister and host, reflects on the profound significance of Christ's resurrection by exploring the readings for the Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord - Easter Sunday, March ...
Catholic Gospel Reflection: From Triumph to Sacrifice | Palm Sunday (Cycle B)
In this episode of the Rebel Saints Podcast, host Nicole delves into the depths of the Gospel readings for Palm Sunday, March 24, 2024. Join us as we unpack the profound journey of Jesus Christ during Holy Week, exploring themes of humility, sa...
Catholic Gospel Reflection: Healing Wounds, Restoring Hope | Fifth Sunday of Lent (Cycle B)
Welcome back to the Rebel Saints Podcast! In this episode, host Nicole explores the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, focusing on themes of surrender, grace, and strength in weakness and how your Catholic faith can restore hope. <...
Catholic Gospel Reflection: Grace in Progress | Forth Sunday of Lent (Cycle B)
In this episode of Rebel Saints Podcast, join host Nicole as she delves into the heart of the Fourth Sunday of Lent's readings, exploring themes of grace, change, and light. Through insightful reflections on the First Reading from 2 Chronicles,...
Catholic Gospel Reflection: Table-Turning Truth | Third Sunday in Lent (Cycle B)
Join Nicole on The Rebel Saints Podcast as she delves into the readings for the Third Sunday of Lent, March 3, 2024. From the timeless wisdom of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments to Jesus' radical actions in the temple, Nicole break...
Catholic Gospel Reflection: Unwavering Faith | Second Sunday of Lent (Cycle B)
In this episode of "Rebel Saints" we break down the Gospel Readings for the Second Sunday in Lent, February 25, 2024. Exploring the profound stories of Abraham's unwavering faith, Saint Paul's reassurance of God's presence, and Jesus' Transfigu...
Catholic Saints: How to Pray Like St. Teresa of Avila & St. Francis this Lent
Is your Lent feeling a bit routine? In this episode of Rebel Saints, we draw radical wisdom from three of the most beloved figures in Church History to help you transform your fasting, prayer, and almsgiving.We explo...