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Rebel Saints: A Catholic Podcast for Restless Hearts

Okay, here’s the ‘how it started’ vs. ‘how it’s going’ of it all.

Rebel Saints actually began when I was a youth minister. I was just trying to find a way to show a bunch of teenagers that following Jesus isn’t some dusty, boring chore. It’s actually the most radical, 'cool-kind-of-weird' thing you can do with your life.

Fast forward to today, and my 9-to-5 is at a Catholic newspaper. I spend my days deep in the headlines, covering the Church. The beautiful parts, the messy parts, and the very human parts. But I realized I needed a place to step out from behind the byline. I needed a spot where I wasn't just reporting on the faith, but actually living it out loud with you.

Restless Hearts & The Gospel

There’s this famous line from St. Augustine:

"You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You."

That restlessness? I think it’s a gift. It’s the part of us that refuses to just 'fit in.' Honestly, I don't even want to fit in. I want to lean into the weirdness of the Gospel, the part that asks us to love our enemies and find joy in the middle of a chaotic 2026.

Real Life, No Filters

No 'perfect saint' filters here. I’m Nicole. I’m a wife, a mom, a Catholic journalist, and a photographer. I also fail a lot, but I’m showing up anyway. If you’re ready to be a little counter-cultural and a lot more honest about the journey, you’re in the right place.

Let’s be rebel saints together.

Join the Community

Become a Misfit: Subscribe to Rebel Saints right now.
Share Your Story: If you have a topic idea, a story, or a big question about Christianity, send it my way. I genuinely read them all.
Spread the Word: If you love the show, please leave a review or send it to a friend. It’s the best way to help other restless hearts find us.

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Rebel Saints: A Catholic Podcast for Restless Hearts

Where I’ve Been and Where We’re Headed

May 09, 2025 • Nicole Olea • Episode 16

0:00 | 7:46

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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 things like grace, sacrifice, and truth. It’s for Catholics (and maybe the Catholic-curious) who are trying to live an ancient faith in the middle of our contemporary world.

Expect stories, hard questions, strange saints, and the messiness of trying to be holy without pretending it’s easy.

This episode was written and produced by Nicole Olea

If you enjoyed this show, please leave a review or share it with a friend.

Got questions?
Email us at rebelsaintspodcast@gmail.com

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Blog: https://substack.com/@rebelsaints

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Music featured in this podcast, is used under Upbeat's license terms for creators. Music is human-made, rights-cleared for podcasts and content creators.

Main theme song "Life Mood" by Daniel Hartmann can be found at Upbeat - https://share.uppbeat.io/7lal9g5wpyks

License code: SUWF2L8VG76UJDZS