Chris Stefanick Catholic Show

It’s beautiful to want good things and to build a great life in our time on earth. But here’s where it all gets twisted: When the dream stops being about God and the blessings He’s given us, and quietly becomes all about me—my security, my reputation, my legacy. I’ve seen it in family life. I’ve seen it in ministry. I’ve seen it in my own heart. This is where John the Baptist becomes a perfect model for us as an "anti-influencer." He had a massive following and huge crowds hanging on his words. But his life wasn't built on what his personal legacy could be. He pointed to Jesus. He knew that he was simply a voice...and Jesus was the Word incarnate. In this reflection, I discuss: What it really means to say, “He must increase, I must decrease” How to keep “first things first” and let everything else fall into place John the Baptist as a pattern of Christian living C.S. Lewis’ line: “Put first things first and you get second things thrown in…” How to examine your dreams and “drain your legacy” so it’s truly about Jesus Oh, and watch til the end to see me try to walk on water. I encourage you to take 10 minutes and pray about this question: What am I actually trying to build with my life? Am I pointing to Christ? Know that I’m praying for you as you lean into these last days of Advent with joyful repentance and a heart that says: “He must increase. I must decrease.” DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. When you imagine your “dream life,” what’s at the center of it—comfort, success, security, or Jesus? Be honest. 2. Where have good desires (for family, work, or ministry) started to shift into building “your own kingdom”? What are some signs of that in your life? 3. John the Baptist calls himself “a voice” pointing to the “Word.” If someone looked at your life from the outside, what would they say your life is “a voice” for? 4. C.S. Lewis said that if we put first things first, we get second things thrown in; if we put second things first, we lose both. What are some “second things” you’ve been tempted to put first lately? 5. Where do you get distracted by the things of God instead of God Himself (debates, preferences, liturgical details, online arguments, etc.)? 6. As Advent comes to a close, what is one concrete way you can “decrease” so that Christ can “increase” in your family, your work, or your ministry this week? ----- Sign up for Chris Stefanick's daily Advent reflections: https://reallifecatholic.com/daily-anchor-advent/ ----- Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ----- Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://www.reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages ----- Learn more about CORE, Real Life Catholic's new Confirmation prep experience for the next generation to be released in 2026: https://bit.ly/4p6HrsW Chapters (00:00:00) - Baby's First Christmas(00:00:27) - What Dream Life Are You Trying to Build?(00:03:11) - John the Baptist(00:07:26) - A Legacy of Christian Living(00:11:11) - Walking On Water(00:11:43) - Advent is Over: Keep Lifting In

Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But what if the hardest person for you to love…is you? In this profound new episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Dr. Peter Malinoski, Catholic psychologist and founder of Souls & Hearts, to unpack one of the most misunderstood teachings of Jesus: the command to love yourself. Because here’s the thing no one tells you: You can’t love your neighbor if you hate yourself. And you can’t love God wholeheartedly if you’re rejecting the person He created. If you wrestle with negative self-talk, perfectionism, shame, or the belief that you're "not enough"…this episode offers you a strong wakeup call from those lies. We also dive into the psychology of inner conflict, how fragmented “parts” of us block us from God’s love, and why accepting love can sometimes feel scary and painful, but ultimately transforming. We even pray the powerful Litany of Self-Love together — trust me, you need this. Self-love isn't selfish...It's opening yourself up to receive God's goodness. God delights in you. And he wants you to learn to delight in yourself, too. Want more with Dr. Peter? Check out our previous interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoTUVoSSRbU ........ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for. Get Daily Advent Reflections right now, including exclusive videos with Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ........ The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/ ........ Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://www.reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages Chapters (00:00:00) - Beautiful reflections from Cardinal Cantalmasa(00:01:24) - Dr. Peter Malinowski on EWTN(00:01:41) - The Importance of Self Love(00:07:43) - Mission: Mission of Joy(00:14:58) - How to Love Yourself(00:19:26) - How to Accept the Love of God First(00:25:38) - How to Love Your Neighbors(00:30:58) - The Hero's Journey(00:33:12) - Self-Love for Catholics Podcast(00:37:41) - The Litany of Self-Love(00:39:56) - Deliver Me, Jesus From the Pain of Self-Hatred

What can you learn from a preacher who wore a camel's hair cloak while eating locusts and wild honey? Plenty. In this week's Gospel, John the Baptist gives us the perfect playbook for entering into Advent...and for taking our spiritual lives to the next level. His ascetic appearance and way of life might seem crazy to us, but his intensity had the goal of stripping away life's distractions to clarify his message and make room for love. Distracted has become our default mode. Advent is the perfect time to slow down and take in the message of John the Baptist. And his message? “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” We’ve heard that line a thousand times. But in this reflection, I explain what the word "repent" really means in this context. The actual translation of the Greek word—metanoia—is much deeper than you think. It implies a changing of the mind and your way of thinking. That's not just penitence as a form of behavior modification. It's not just looking backward and being sorry for the past. It means opening your eyes to the grace you have received and realizing that change is only possible with God—an entirely new perspective. You can't pick yourself up by your own bootstraps to raise yourself to heaven. We need God for that. I pray you are able to enter into a joyful penance this Advent that relies on his grace to make a lasting change in your life. Allow that grace to challenge your approach to everything you do by taking on the mind of Christ. Make space for Christ and let him "meta" your "noia." I'll pray for you...please pray for me! DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What’s one distraction you could strip away this Advent to make room for Christ? 2. Before hearing this reflection, how did you understand the word repent? How does the meaning of metanoia change that? 3. Can you think of a time when a shift in perspective — not just behavior — changed your life? How might God be inviting you to a new way of thinking right now? 4. What’s one area where you’ve been trying to “pull yourself up by your bootstraps”? How can you invite grace into that instead? 5. Which parts of your life feel “too busy” for God? What practical step could you take this week to open space for Him? ----- Sign up for Chris Stefanick's daily Advent reflections: https://reallifecatholic.com/daily-anchor-advent/ ----- Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ----- Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage to Poland and Prague: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/12693/ ----- Learn more about CORE, Real Life Catholic's new Confirmation prep experience for the next generation to be released in 2026: https://bit.ly/4p6HrsW Chapters (00:00:00) - The Secret to Flying Through Airport(00:00:13) - John the Baptist in the Airport(00:00:43) - John the Baptist(00:01:23) - John the Baptist: Stripping Down His Life(00:06:01) - Advent: To Be Converted

Why does marriage hurt—and why is that actually a good thing? In this powerful and incredibly vulnerable episode, I sit down with Dr. Christopher West, the world’s leading communicator of Theology of the Body, for one of the deepest conversations we’ve ever had on this show. Christopher doesn’t just teach TOB…he lives it. And today he opens up about the most intimate parts of his story—the childhood wounds that shaped him, the pain that almost broke him, and the moment his wife told him he was "in no place" to write a book of advice for husbands. Christopher has spent his career sharing the truth that the path to true joy always passes through suffering, especially in marriage, where spouses should be carrying the cross together. This interview is PACKED with wisdom on what a real marriage looks like—backed up by Church teachings, the writings of St. John Paul II, and Christopher's lived experience. The ups and downs of married life are not always pretty...but they are beautiful. You might need to watch this one a few times to take in all the nuggets of advice! Highlights: 00:00 Intro02:59 Chris & Christopher: friendship, vulnerability, and real ministry07:50 The book deal & Wendy’s truth bomb: “You’re in no place to write that book.”13:40 The ache of desire: Star Wars, Springsteen, and the hunger of the heart 15:50 The “starvation gospel” vs. the “fast-food gospel” 19:52 Dorm-room trauma & the desperate prayer that began his conversion 25:02 “You don’t know how to love me” — the breakup that launched his mission 30:04 Discovering John Paul II’s Theology of the Body and realizing “this is the answer” 41:03 When ideals hit real marriage: masks, control, and Wendy’s long, painful honesty 50:45 Trying to protect your spouse—but causing harm 55:19 The “sweat lodge prayer” of marriage 56:20 Marriage pain as a feature, not a bug — the cross, purification, and real hope for couples 1:02:14 Why marriage pain is lifelong (and worth it) 1:04:18 Theology of the Body as a North Star in marriage 1:07:01 "Hell is the destiny of those who who refuse purification." 1:14:35 Any path to true fulfillment requires suffering 1:17:37 Prayer for healing your heart and marriage ........ The first 10 people to sign up for The Daily Anchor at this link will receive a free copy of Christopher West's book "Eating the Sunrise": https://bit.ly/4ant67d ........ Take 20 percent off of Christopher West's book "Eating the Sunrise" with promo code SUNRISE. https://shop.corproject.com/collections/books/products/pre-order-eating-the-sunrise-meditations-on-the-liturgy-and-our-hunger-for-beauty-paperback ........ Make a Giving Tuesday Donation to support CORE, a new Confirmation prep experience for today's teens: https://reallifecatholic.com/giving-tuesday-core/ ........ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for. Get Daily Advent Reflections right now, including exclusive videos with Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ........ Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://www.reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages

What story is dominating the headlines of your life? As we enter the Advent season, we are preparing our hearts to receive the ONLY headline that matters: Jesus is our savior. And this headline should change EVERYTHING. In this reflection, I introduce a word most Christians have never heard: kerygma. In the ancient world, a kerygma was a headline delivered by a herald—news that was so big it rewrote your whole day...and maybe your entire identity. And the early Church used that exact word to describe the Gospel. Because the good news that God loves you, that He sent His Son for you, that He calls you into eternal life—that’s not just another news brief in your spiritual life. That’s the headline under which everything else gets reorganized. And if you're living with the Gospel as your headline, then your life is not a story written by your sin, weaknesses, and wounds. It's a much bigger story rewritten by a baby born in Bethlehem...a savior who dies on a cross...and a Resurrection that makes all things new. I invite you to slow down this Advent and really soak in the power of the Gospel headline and what it means for you: Our savior is coming! Let him be born anew in your heart this Christmas. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Kerygma means a life-changing announcement. What parts of your life are still competing with Jesus for the “headline spot” today? 2. Think of a time when an announcement seemed to restructure everything (pregnancy, job change, illness, etc.) How did God show up in that moment? 3. If Jesus rewrote the headline of your life today, what would it say? 4. What area of your life feels the least “made new," and how might Jesus be inviting you to see it differently? 5. What would "believing the Good News" look like in your habits this Advent? What are you willing to do in your spiritual life to make this season different? ----- Giving Tuesday is three days away and we could really use your support this year as we begin producing CORE, a transformative Confirmation prep series for today's teens. We need to raise $2.1 million to complete it in a way that is high-quality, relevant, and effective to lead our youngest generation to a life of joy and purpose in Christ. We are more than halfway to our goal, so please make a gift to get us the rest of the way! Thank you for partnering with us on this life-changing program that will have a generational impact on the Catholic Church. ----- Sign up for Chris Stefanick's daily Advent reflections: https://reallifecatholic.com/daily-anchor-advent/ ----- Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ----- Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage to Poland and Prague: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/12693/

Michael Miley is one of the best rock & roll drummers in the world. In this wide-ranging interview, we discuss secrets to his outlier excellence that can help you in your own life, the wild road to his conversion to Catholicism, and what it's like to witness as a Christian sharing the stage with legendary rockers like Ozzy Osbourne and Guns 'n Roses. We cover everything from the state of popular music today, why joy is necessary to make you an outlier in any field, Miley's routines that have made him so good at his craft, and how you can glorify God in all that you do—from office work to hobbies to keeping the beat for a rock band. As someone who considered himself a spiritual seeker, Miley went from a gnostic...to a Krishna...to a Christian...to a Catholic. He beautifully describes his conversion story, why he feels at home in the Catholic Church, and how he offers up every performance as a sacrifice to co-create the kingdom of God on earth. How cool is that?! This interview contains so much practical wisdom on how to be successful from someone who is at the height of his craft, as well as spiritual insights about actively witnessing your faith in a secular setting and glorifying God through your work. Plus, be sure to watch to the end for some bonus footage of me and Miley jamming in my living room! It's amazing to see how God works through the unlikeliest of people and places—even rock & rollers at rock concerts—to reveal his love for us. Rock on. Check out Mike Miley's band Rival Sons: https://www.rivalsons.com/ Timecodes: 0:00 Intro0:55 Michael Miley on the drums4:00 Why modern music feels “soulless”8:00 What Rival Sons set out to revive in rock13:35 What makes an outlier in ANY field15:09 Miley’s pre-show routine: offering it up to God23:25 "Lord, make them dance!"33:40 Why discipline and sacrifice matter42:57 From Gnostic → Krishna → Christian → Catholic1:00:39 Making the Leap to Christianity1:07:03 The prayer that changed his life1:13:28 Why he feels at home in the Catholic Church1:15:57 How his faith shapes his career1:18:10 The gift of offering up his performances1:24:11 What it's really like touring with major rock bands1:27:48 Striving for excellence and living his faith1:33:47 What's next for Rival Sons1:25:50 Miley’s message to young artists1:36:24 Miley and Stefanick’s living-room jam session ........ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ........ Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://www.reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages

In this on-the-road Sunday Reflection, I'm talking about the Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (how's that for a title?!) along with Fr. Burke Masters of St. Isaac Jogues Parish in Hinsdale, Illinois, where we held a sold-out REBOOT event a couple weeks ago. Jesus is king. Full stop. And it's not the typical kind of kingship. He doesn't take more when he has everything. He gives more when he has nothing left. In today's Gospel, Jesus is literally about to die and he is promising eternal life to a criminal hanging on a cross next to him. When you are hanging on the cross of your own struggles, do you trust in the Lord's kingship? He's right there with you...offering you so much more than your current circumstances. If you make him the center of your life, he will transform you in every way and you can live out your royal identity through him—even when you are at your weariest or most broken. But we can't let other distractions and "priorities" take his throne. In his youth, Fr. Burke Masters was obsessed with baseball—and he was good at it. He hit a game-winning grand slam to send his team to the College World Series! But eventually he converted to Catholicism and realized that God, not sports, should be at the center. In this video, he shares his beautiful vocation story that took him from the baseball diamond to the priesthood—and back again. In addition to being pastor of a thriving parish outside Chicago, he serves as chaplain for the Chicago Cubs! You never know what path God has in store for you, but he is lifting you up on that journey. Be sure you are lifting him up as your king, too. Timecodes 0:00 Christ the King: a different kind of royalty 1:03 Jesus gives more when He has nothing left 2:35 When you feel drained, that’s your time to shine 4:36 Fr. Burke Masters: from baseball dreams to priesthood 6:03 Putting God first (even above sports) 8:20 The danger of making anything else your “god” 10:10 The prince who forgot he was royalty DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Who or what is most likely to become a “false king” in your life? 2. Think of a time when you felt drained, discouraged, or “empty.” Looking back, how did God meet you in that weakness? 3. Jesus shows kingship not by taking but by giving when he has nothing left. How does this challenge your idea of what power, success, or dignity looks like? Where might Christ be calling you to give more? 4. Fr. Burke Masters gave up baseball for God—and God gave him something better. Have you ever experienced God returning something you surrendered to Him in a transformed way? If not, where might God be asking you to trust Him like that? 5. Who in your life models “royal dignity” in Christ—even in suffering? What's one practical way you can proclaim Christ as king in your life this week? It could be a prayer, a sacrifice, giving up a habit, or something you stop giving power to. ----- Sign up for the Daily Anchor for free daily reflections from Chris Stefanick in your inbox: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk ----- Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ----- Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage to Poland and Prague: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/12693/ ----- Learn more about CORE, Real Life Catholic's new Confirmation prep experience for the next generation to be released in 2026: https://bit.ly/4p6HrsW

As a 10-year-old, Sister Marilyn of the Sisters of Mary watched her father murdered by family friends—then grabbed his gun to take revenge and had her finger on the trigger. Something stopped her in that moment, but the trauma of that experience hardened her heart with thoughts of anger and revenge. She felt like a failure and couldn't trust anyone. In front of the Blessed Sacrament years later, Jesus met her in that memory…and turned a would-be taker of life into a spiritual mother who gives life to thousands of the poorest children on earth. She found her vocation and the Lord miraculously healed her wounds. In this powerful conversation, we talk about trauma, forgiveness, Eucharistic healing, and the Sisters of Mary’s mission to the poorest of the poor around the world. Timestamps 0:00 Intro 1:35 Sisters of Mary: “Sisters and Mothers” 5:19 The day her father was killed 12:10 Running for the gun… and why she didn’t pull the trigger 16:00 The hidden lie: “I’m a loser” 18:10 A priest’s counsel that opened the door to healing 24:10 Adoration: meeting Jesus inside the memory 26:50 From taking life → giving life: discovering her vocation 33:05 Saying the killer’s name before Jesus—and forgiving 39:00 The Sisters of Mary across 7 countries 41:15 “The poorest of the poor” (more than material poverty) 49:45 A student’s story: “Why do I feel nobody loves me?” 53:40 Final encouragement: your wounds can become windows to God Whatever you've gone through, the Lord is ready to heal you. In all things, God works for the good of those who love him. Pursue his grace in the sacraments. Bring your trauma to the foot of the cross and spend time in Adoration. The Resurrection is on the other side of your trauma. You are not alone. ........ Learn more about the Sisters of Mary: https://worldvillages.org/sisters-of-mary/ ........ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ........ Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://www.reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages

Are you afraid it will get instantly awkward around the water cooler if you mention Jesus or talk about your faith? Yeah, it might. And Jesus told us it would be this way! His message is uncomfortable because he claims divinity. If he is who he said he was, then it has to change everything. We have to change EVERYTHING about the way we are living. And a lot of people don't want to do that. But you know what we should fear more than an awkward silence? Denying Christ...or depriving others of the chance to know and love the Lord because of our lack of an invitation. We should care about other people's souls! Evangelization is not easy. There are countless martyred saints who gave their lives while proclaiming Christ to people who didn't want to hear it. But you have so many opportunities to share the hope of our faith with other people in your every day life. Don't be a sissy when it comes to sharing your faith. Risk the awkwardness. Be yourself. Lead with love. You might save someone's life. ----- Sign up for the Daily Anchor for free daily reflections from Chris Stefanick in your inbox: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk ----- Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ----- Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage to Poland and Prague: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/12693/ ----- Learn more about CORE, Real Life Catholic's new Confirmation prep experience for the next generation to be released in 2026: https://bit.ly/4p6HrsW

What if your calling isn’t something you have to chase… but something God already wrote into your soul? In this new episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, Dr. Bob Rice—Franciscan University professor, deacon, and joy-filled Catholic dad—joins me for a deep dive into how to discover your unique charisms, live out your personal vocation, and find meaning in being the one-of-a-kind person God made you to be. We discuss how to discern your own personal gifts, how to see your family as a “religious order” and identify your family charism, and why holiness doesn’t make you boring. He also offers some thoughts on the vocation of a deacon—what it is, what it isn't, and why it's important. This conversation is so packed with insights (and great analogies) from Dr. Bob that you might have to watch it twice! As St. Catherine of Siena reminds us, "Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire." I pray this conversation can be the spark that helps you to discern and share your unique gifts as a precious child of God. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 3:56 What is a charism? (Dr. Bob explains) 6:00 Your vocation is now—not “someday” 10:00 Holiness doesn't make you boring 14:09 Discernment 101: stages, signals, and the “gift card” analogy 22:00 What a deacon really is (and isn’t) 27:24 Priest vs. Deacon 30:28 Your family as a religious order with a mission 40:00 How to name and guard your family’s charism 52:29 Praying the Magnificat together ........ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ........ Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://www.reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages

On the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Jesus reminds us: “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” He was speaking of his Body—and by baptism, you are joined to that Body. That means the Church is a living temple right now: the Church Triumphant (in heaven), the Church Suffering (in purgatory), and the Church Militant (us!). As a member of the Body of Christ, you are consecrated for holiness. And you've got some work to do! Namely, building up the kingdom of God on earth in your everyday life. And you know who did that really well? The saints! In this on-the-road reflection, I'm joined by Fr. Jonathan Meyer, a priest in Bright, Indiana where I recently hosted a REBOOT event, to talk about making the invisible visible—icons, sacramentals, and relics—and how surrounding yourself with the saints can inspire you in your personal pursuit of holiness. Fr. Meyer shows us his incredible saintly relic collection (including St. Francis of Assisi, St. Clare, St. John Paul II, St. Padre Pio, St. Mother Teresa, and even a reliquary with the Twelve Apostles and fragments of the True Cross!). We also peek at his St. John Vianney–inspired bedroom setup (epic!) that reminds him how he is supposed to live when he wakes up in the morning. And we visit Ars Café, the parish's no-distraction coffee shop space to actually listen and build real relationships. Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro with Fr. Meyer & the Feast of St. John Lateran 0:46 – “Destroy this temple…” What Jesus meant 0:49 – Church Triumphant, Suffering, and Militant (Lightning round!) 1:45 – Why Catholics use tangible reminders (icons, sacramentals) 2:35 – Fr. Meyer's relics collection 6:15 – St. John Vianney’s room… in Indiana?! 8:07 – You are consecrated for holiness 8:45 – “Go to Mass” (yes, even the license plate!) 9:01 – Ars Café: listen, slow down, evangelize through friendship Together—saints and fellow sinners—we are all part of the living temple of the Church! Heaven is closer than you think. The saints are praying for you. And Jesus is building his temple in you. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. How does seeing the Church as the Body of Christ—rather than just a building—change the way you think about your faith life? 2. What helps you keep your heart fixed on heaven in the middle of ordinary life? 3. What visible signs in your home or parish help you remember that you belong to something eternal? 4. Where is God calling you to “build the Church” in your daily life—home, work, friendships, community? 5. What could you change in your environment—music, images, schedule—to draw your heart closer to God? ----- Sign up for the Daily Anchor for free daily reflections from Chris Stefanick in your inbox: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk ----- Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://moj.reallifecatholic.com ----- Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage to Poland and Prague: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/12693/

What happens after we die? If the answer is "nothing," then what are we doing here? The good news is that we ARE headed somewhere. Our Christian hope changes everything—we have our eyes fixed on heaven as a final destination. As Pope Benedict XVI wrote, our entire story can be redeemed by a good ending. Jesus won that victory for us, so death becomes a comma instead of a period. This hope also grants us the opportunity to perfect ourselves after death—and to pray for those who have died before us who are in Purgatory preparing to meet the Lord. We can even reconcile with our loved ones through these prayers and sacrifices for their souls. You can help get them to heaven...and they will be made pure once they get there. The sin and wounds of their earthly existence will be erased. It's a beautiful and healing aspect of our theology! Learn more in my video reflection and join me in praying a decade of the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the holy souls in Purgatory. Hope does not disappoint! Chapters: 0:00 Is your life going somewhere? 1:52 Pope Benedict XVI on hope 4:38 Proof from near death experiences 6:30 The Church’s teaching on purgatory 9:40 How to reconcile with loved ones who have died 11:30 Pray a decade of the Divine Mercy Chaplet with us DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. When you think about your “final destination,” what emotions come up—fear, apathy, hope? Why? 2. How does believing that “if the ending is good, the whole story is redeemed” change the way you view your struggles and failings? 3. What are your thoughts on Purgatory? Did any part of the Church’s teaching on purgatory surprised you or bring relief? 4. Is there someone who has died with whom you still feel “unfinished business”? What concrete prayer or sacrifice can you offer for them this week? 5. After praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet, did you notice any shift in your heart (peace, forgiveness, gratitude)? Who can you invite into this hope right now? ----- Watch my interview with John Burke on near death experiences: https://youtu.be/-9Y-hE_ZFQM ----- Sign up for updates from Real Life Catholic to hear about our upcoming series on joy: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk ----- Pray the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/chaplet-of-the-divine-mercy-387 ----- Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage to Poland and Prague: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/12693/

Remember when making friends was simple? Somewhere between adulthood, social media, and COVID…we forgot how. In this new episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Maggie Craig—speaker and author of Friendship Reset—to talk about the loneliness pandemic that is eating away at society and how we can turn the tide in our own lives and relationships. We unpack why we’re more connected than ever yet more isolated than ever, what toxic friendships really look like, whether men and women can really be friends, how to form relationships that actually help you become a saint, and much more. You’ll laugh, be challenged, and walk away with actionable tips to cultivate the friendships God made you for. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 5:43 Loneliness statistics 6:18 Why have we forgotten how to make friends? 8:12 What’s a toxic friendship? 12:03 When is it time to reset a friendship? 16:04 How to rebuild a broken friendship 17:00 Courage, vulnerability, and holiness 24:05 Can men and women really be friends? 29:35 How to be vulnerable 34:39 A message to introverts 39:54 Everyone wants new friends If you’ve been feeling isolated, this conversation will remind you: you were made for real, life-giving relationships. Build a community of holy friends who will help get you to heaven. Don't settle for less! Check out Maggie's book "Friendship Reset": https://www.amazon.com/Friendship-Reset-Ditch-Drama-Find/dp/164680385X ........ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic: https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ ........ Join Chris Stefanick and Fr. Dave Pivonka on pilgrimage to Assisi: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/1226/ ........ Join Chris and Natalie Stefanick on a pilgrimage to beauty in Kauai: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/kauai/ ......... Join Chris Stefanick on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/cs-holyland2026/

We all know it's impossible to avoid suffering. But what if there was a way to respond to the suffering in your own life—from serious tragedies to everyday difficulties—in a way that ultimately led to peace? In this powerful episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Dave VanVickle, a husband and father who’s walked through some of the deepest suffering imaginable. From raising multiple children with serious health challenges to losing his beloved wife Amber to cancer when she was only 40 years old, Dave has faced hardship and grief that would break most people. But through this pain, Dave found a path that allows him to surrender his suffering to Christ and transform it into a peaceful acceptance grounded in love. Suffering is STILL hard, but Dave shares a perspective of gratitude and grace that will help you to offer up your daily crosses and not take any of your blessings for granted. This episode isn’t just about grief—it’s about finding hope in the resurrection when you're living through Good Friday. Timestamps:0:00 Intro1:51 His children's health challenges7:20 His wife Amber's journey through cancer 14:33 What it means to “offer it up” 17:28 Managing grief 19:24 Preparing your spouse for death 26:30 The peace that surpasses understanding 29:00 Learning to live again after loss 32:13 Living in the moment with gratitude and love 35:41 When you feel abandoned by God Jesus didn’t suffer so you wouldn’t have to. He suffered so you’d know how to. If you’re in pain, if life doesn’t make sense right now—this conversation is for you. You’re not alone. Christ is with you in the cross, and he’s preparing you for heaven through these trials. ........ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://www.reallifecatholic.com/subscribe ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic: https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ ........ The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/ ........ Join Chris Stefanick and Fr. Dave Pivonka on pilgrimage to Assisi: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/1226/

I’m so excited for you to watch this week’s Sunday Reflection that I filmed on a recent pilgrimage to Mexico City while literally climbing up Tepeyac Hill—the place where Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to St. Juan Diego in 1531. The story of Juan Diego ties in perfectly to what Jesus tells us in the Gospel: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted." It doesn’t get much humbler than Juan Diego. He was a peasant…an absolute nobody by the standards of the world. But God chose to work through him to bring about the largest mass conversion to Christianity in history! Are you feeling like a nobody? God doesn’t see you that way. Mary never appeared to celebrities, politicians, or influencers. She spoke to people that no one else was paying any attention to. God is exalting you in your humility. Don’t reject his invitation. Be like Juan Diego and change the world—even for just one person. How might God use you in your personal sphere of influence? Who are the people in front of you right now that need your love? Turn your attention there. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us! Timecodes: 0:00 At the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe 3:59 Mary appears to a “nobody” 5:11 Juan Diego’s humility 6:39 Mary’s message of comfort 7:51 The miracles of Our Lady of Guadalupe 8:44 The greatest conversion in history 9:46 Ongoing signs: preservation, studies, and protection 10:10 Three Takeaways from St. Juan Diego 13:47 Prison ministry witness—love who’s in front of you 14:28 See St. Juan Diego's tilma 500 years later DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Every Marian apparition was given to someone who seemed insignificant in the eyes of the world. When have you felt like you didn’t matter or weren’t “enough”? How might God want to use you in your humility? 2. Mary said to Juan Diego, “Am I not here, I who am your mother?” What part of that message hits your heart today? Where do you most need to trust that Mary’s protection and God’s love are real? 3.What does humility look like for you in your daily life—at work, in your family, online? What’s one small, hidden act of love you can do this week? 4. Juan Diego’s tilma still hasn’t decayed after 500 years. How does that ongoing miracle strengthen your faith? What miracles—big or small—have you seen in your own life?5. True greatness comes from focusing on the person right in front of you. Who is that person for you today? How could you love them in a way that might change their world? ----- Sign up for the Daily Anchor for free daily reflections from Chris Stefanick in your inbox: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 ----- Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://moj.reallifecatholic.com ----- Join Chris Stefanick on an upcoming pilgrimage: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/

As we celebrate St. John Paul II's feast day on October 22, it's the perfect opportunity to revisit his life and legacy—especially his efforts to free Poland from communism through a peaceful revolution grounded in the public witness of deep faith. In this episode of the Chris Stefanick Show, I discuss all things St. John Paul II with Drs. Peter and Kasia Drag, professors at the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow. They experienced the last gasps of communism in Poland—and share the stark reality of that existence. We delve into the history of Poland and rise of communism, the tragedies John Paul II faced in his early life under Nazi and Communist rule, and how God raised him to the papacy at just the right moment to begin undoing the Communist regime in Poland…and beyond. Timecodes: 0:00 — The story of Chris Stefanick's heroic great-uncle standing up to communism 06:36 — History of Poland 08:12 — The “Miracle on the Vistula” 12:27 — John Paul II's childhood tragedies and upbringing under communism 23:31 — Daily life under communism 31:12 — “Nine days that changed the world” 36:15 — The assassination attempt on JPII and Providence at Fatima. 39:36 — John Paul II's ongoing impact 49:13 — How Divine Mercy will change the world When you look at Poland’s story, you see how God turns suffering into strength. A nation crushed by war, communism, and loss became the cradle of some of the greatest saints of modern times—Maximilian Kolbe, Faustina Kowalska, and John Paul II. Their secret? They allowed grace to transform them in the midst of evil to unleash God’s goodness. Oppression has the power to raise up saints—and it certainly did that in Poland through Pope John Paul II. But he reminded us that the true spark to renew the face of the earth isn’t a pope or a politician. It’s Divine Mercy—God’s love poured out on a wounded world. Divine Mercy has the power to tear down walls, topple empires, and heal hearts. It took down the Iron Curtain without a single shot being fired. And if it can break the chains of communism, just imagine what it can do in your own heart. St. John Paul II, pray for us! ........ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic: https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ ........ Join Chris Stefanick and Fr. Dave Pivonka on pilgrimage to Assisi: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/1226/

Are you waiting to find "the one?" The perfect job? Maybe just a general feeling of contentment in your life? God's timing is often (usually!) not our timing. So what can you do? Meet Blessed Sebastian of Aparicio—a man who built roads, made a fortune, and waited decades for his deepest prayer to be answered, but it didn't go quite like he envisioned it. His story is a powerful reminder that what seems like a delay from God is actually just the unfolding of his perfect plan for you. Sebastian longed for marriage and waited until he was 60 to find “the one.” Both wives died soon after. Only later, at 72 years old, did he finally discover his true vocation as a Franciscan friar—and eventually become known as the Angel of Mexico. In this reflection, I offer three tips for what you should (and shouldn't) do while you play the waiting game. Keep living, keep loving, and keep praying. God is never late, and he will not be outdone in generosity. Blessed Sebastian, pray for us when we’re in a rush and God is not. Timecodes:0:00 – When you’re in a rush and God’s not 0:45 – The incredible life of Blessed Sebastian of Aparicio 3:15 – Don’t abandon God’s plan when life feels slow 5:20 – Keep living: the danger of waiting for “real life” to start 7:45 – Keep praying and trust God’s perfect timing ----- Sign up for the Daily Anchor for free daily reflections from Chris Stefanick in your inbox: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 ----- Join the mission! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://moj.reallifecatholic.com

He was a practicing satanist. A successful comedian. And totally lost. Then one day, while sitting in the back of a Catholic church, comedian Shayne Smith had a vision of the Virgin Mary that changed his life forever. In this 100th episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, Shayne opens up about his journey from abuse, violence, and satanism…to freedom, faith, and forgiveness in Jesus Christ. He shares how laughter became a way to heal, how radical forgiveness rewired his brain, and how the love of Christ transformed his woundedness into a life of joy—illuminating comedy as a pathway for sharing that joy with others. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 2:00 How Shayne found comedy (and what makes people laugh) 10:28 The challenge and gifts of ADHD and creativity 18:39 From “the everything guy” to the “Jesus guy” 22:22 Comedy as a sacred calling 26:45 "Laughter is getting close to God." 28:10 Using comedy to uplift rather than tear down 36:00 How conversion redeemed his childhood trauma 43:27 Covering a satanic tattoo to reveal the Trinity 50:07 Shayne's conversion story 56:10 A vision of Mary that changed him instantly 1:06:36 Forgiving those who hurt him 1:11:05 How God redeemed his life experiences 1:15:53 Shayne’s prayer for healing and freedom God can reach into the depths of darkness to remind us that we are his beloved children and redeem any story—no matter how bleak it might seem right now. I hope Shayne's story is a source of hope and inspiration for you if you're still struggling to overcome your wounds or if you're seeking a way to use your talents for the glory of God. ........ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic: https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ ........ Join Chris Stefanick and Fr. Dave Pivonka on pilgrimage to Assisi: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/1226/

We love to overcomplicate things—especially when we're trying to make a lasting change in our lives. But in reality, the road to healing and holiness is paved with a commitment to small, simple steps. Want a better marriage? A deeper prayer life? Better health? Freedom from a bad habit? Don’t overthink it. What is the simplest step toward your goal? And why aren’t you taking it yet? In this reflection, I outline four things holding you back from living the life God intended for you...and the small, incremental steps you can take to break free from stagnation in any area of your life. 1. Pride: “If it were that simple, I’d have done it already.” 2. Desire: Sometimes we don’t really want to change.3. Distraction: We stay too busy to make room for change.4. Fear: The simple step feels too hard, so we avoid it. You probably already know what you have to do, and you just need to create and live out some simple rules for yourself to get there. Stop looking at things from 30,000 feet. Ask God for help. And step out in faith today to take that first, simple step on the journey to transformation. ——— DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Which of the four—pride, desire, distraction, or fear—do you struggle with most right now? What’s one small, concrete step you can take this week to defeat it? 2. Can you think of a time when a simple act of obedience or discipline led to real change in your life? What helped you take that first step? 3. Where are you overcomplicating your relationship with God? How might returning to something simple—like daily prayer, Scripture, or confession—help restore peace? 4. St. Benedict changed the world with a “simple rule of life.” What’s one simple rule or habit you could commit to that would draw you closer to holiness? 5. Naaman almost missed his miracle because he thought God’s command was too simple. Is there an area in your life where God might be calling you to trust and act, even if it seems too easy or small? ——— ✉️ Sign up for Chris’s Daily Anchor for free daily encouragement: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission as a monthly donor (a Missionary of Joy): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ Come on Pilgrimage and Retreat with me in Assisi! https://canterburypilgrimages.com/1226

Unless you have been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of the Hallow prayer app. This wildly popular platform has grown exponentially over the past few years to help millions of people to pray—not to mention making a life of prayer more attractive and mainstream. It’s a simple idea with profound results: use a smartphone app to guide people into a habit of daily prayer. Through monthly prayer challenges, reflections, videos, and music from some of the most recognizable and influential Catholics in the world (and I’m on there, too!), Hallow has recently crossed the incredible milestone of logging ONE BILLION prayers. Praise God! In this episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I am thrilled to welcome Hallow co-founder Alex Jones for an in-depth conversation that goes behind the scenes on the inspiration for the app, Alex’s personal faith journey, glory stories of how God is using this app to change lives, and lessons learned from being a Catholic entrepreneur in the secular world of startups. Highlights: 0:00 Intro 2:50 Alex’s journey from atheism to prayer7:16 Finding the Hallow app’s name through Lectio Divina 11:50 Prayer as a gateway to relationship with Christ 30:00 The sacred surge happening in Catholicism 35:54 When the Super Bowl crashed the app 39:46 Mark Wahlberg, Kevin James, and other Catholic celebs 44:50 Working with Jonathan Roumie 49:49 “The Man Helping Silicon Valley Find God” 54:30 Using Smartphone Technology for Good 58:00 Having an Impact Beyond Metrics 1:06:35 Why Hallow Succeeds in Business 1:19:10 Alex’s Prayer Routine 1:27:48 How God Uses Success to Purify Your Soul 1:39:00 Join Chris and Alex in Silent Prayer Prayer is a fundamental aspect of our faith. If you want to grow in relationship with someone, you have to spend time with them. Same goes for God! I’m so grateful to Alex and everyone at Hallow for creating an app that harnesses modern technology to actually bring us closer to the Lord. If you haven't tried it yet, click below to get a free three-month trial of the Hallow app: https://bit.ly/4odnzEc ........ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic: https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ ........ ✈️ Join Chris Stefanick and Fr. Dave Pivonka on pilgrimage to Assisi: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/1226/

“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains.” But you can't have faith unless you know what it IS. And even a great mind like Jordan Peterson seems to be missing something in his definition. Faith can't be reduced to a moralistic view of obeying the rules and it demands that we let go of any skepticism about the existence of God. Our relationship with God is not conditional and our faith can't be, either. In this reflection, I want to set the record straight on what faith is, what faith isn't, and some practical steps we can take to grow in our faith. At its core, faith is clinging to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, even when we don’t fully understand, even when we fall short, even when we can't prove it. If you struggle with your faith, pray the powerful words of the man whose son was healed by Jesus: "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief." Discussion Questions 1. Have you ever struggled with seeing faith as just “following rules”? How does thinking of faith as a relationship change things for you? 2. Jordan Peterson often says he “acts as if God exists” but avoids saying outright, “I believe.” Why do you think it’s hard for some people (maybe even us) to make that leap from thinking about God to trusting in God and his existence? 3. Chris compares faith to marriage—you can learn about someone, but at some point you have to say “I do.” Where do you see yourself on that threshold with God right now? What would it look like for you to take a step deeper in faith? 4. The fastest way to lose faith is to neglect your relationship with God. What distractions pull you away from God most easily? How can you give more time to your faith? 5. Chris outlined three ways to grow in faith: Ask for it, act as if you believe, and fill your life with holy things. Which of these do you most need to focus on right now? ——— ✉️ Sign up for Chris’s Daily Anchor for free daily encouragement: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission as a monthly donor (a Missionary of Joy): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ Come on Pilgrimage and Retreat with me in Assisi! https://canterburypilgrimages.com/1226

The world tells you that dependence is weakness, but it's actually what makes us human. The truth is, you can’t live without being dependent. From the moment we’re born to the moment we die, we’re relying on other people. And that’s OK! In fact, it’s the way God intended. In this episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Catholic writer Leah Libresco Sargeant, to discuss her new book "The Dignity of Dependence: A Feminist Manifesto." Leah challenges the lie of autonomy and makes a bold case that dependence isn’t weakness—it’s the key to a thriving society. Together, we unpack why dependence is not a burden, why our world is literally built for men, what modern feminism gets both right and wrong, and how a Catholic vision of dignity shows us that men and women are equal in worth, but not interchangeable. This is an important conversation that touches on so many fundamental aspects of human life. Leah is ultimately asking what it would take to build a more caring world where everyone—men, women, the unborn, the elderly, and the disabled—can flourish together. God doesn’t want us to hide our need for help. He loves us in our weakness and created us to love each other in those weaknesses as well. That's what real love is all about—depending on one another and on God—not pretending we can do it all on our own. This is a Christian reality that secular society loves to ignore. Living through the lens of interdependence can help us to be a little bit more compassionate and Christ-like in everything we do. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:53 Leah's Tolkien role-playing game 2:48 Why Leah wrote The Dignity of Dependence 3:32 How the world is literally built for men (and why that matters) 10:21 The lie of autonomy vs. the truth of dependence 16:42 Prioritizing interdependence in the workplace 22:18 What mainstream feminism gets right and wrong 30:10 How the cult of autonomy fuels euthanasia 34:39 Why we are obsessed with being independent 37:14 Why men struggle to admit need (and how it’s killing them) 44:06 Leah's hopes for her new book Get Leah’s book The Dignity of Dependence here: https://amzn.to/4pLjF74 Explore her Tolkien-inspired game Back Again from the Broken Land: https://cloven-pine-games.itch.io/back-again-from-the-broken-land ........ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic: https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ ........ The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/ ........ ✈️ To learn more about Real Life Catholic Pilgrimages, visit: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/

Can money actually buy happiness? Believe it or not—Jesus says yes. In this reflection, Chris Stefanick unpacks Matthew 25 and Luke 16, where Jesus makes it clear: a big part of our final exam before God will be about whether or not we loved and served the poor. The story of the rich man and Lazarus is a sobering reminder: if our hearts are closed to the suffering right in front of us, they’re not open enough to receive heaven. But here’s the twist—modern research actually backs this up! Studies prove that spending money on others brings more joy than spending it on ourselves. So your money CAN buy you happiness...if you give it away to help others. What you'll discover: Why serving the poor is essential preparation for eternal life How generosity changes your happiness right now The one thing God will never forget about you Watch now and start investing in the only thing that lasts: love. ❓DISCUSSION QUESTIONS❓ 1. Jesus tells us in Matthew 25 that the “final exam” is about how we serve the poor. How does that challenge or affirm the way you’ve been living your faith? 2. In the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16), the rich man isn’t condemned for being wealthy but for ignoring the suffering at his doorstep. Who are the “Lazaruses” God has placed at your doorstep? 3. God forgets every sin we repent of, but he never forgets a single act of love for the poor. How does that truth change the way you view generosity and service? 4. Research shows that giving money to others brings more joy than spending it on ourselves. Can you share a time when generosity—big or small—brought unexpected joy to your life? 5. What is one way you could “reorder your dreams” to align more closely with how Jesus calls us to use our resources? ------ Living Joy by Chris Stefanick: https://real-life-catholic.myshopify.com/products/living-joy-hardcover ✉️ Sign up for Chris’s Daily Anchor for free daily encouragement: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission as a monthly donor (a Missionary of Joy): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ Come on Pilgrimage and Retreat with me in Assisi! https://canterburypilgrimages.com/1226

Are TikTok and endless scrolling killing our ability to think, pray, and even enjoy life? The truth: yes. And it’s worse than you think. Entertainment isn’t entertaining anymore, it’s addicting. And it’s rewiring an entire generation. What used to refresh us—stories, music, and conversation—has been replaced with noise that is designed to keep us hooked. The result? Shorter attention spans, weaker relationships, and a creeping emptiness that no amount of scrolling can fix. In this episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Deacon Kyle Washut, president of Wyoming Catholic College (and a real-life cowboy ), to talk about what’s really happening to us and how to fight back with faith, beauty, and real human connection. Deacon Kyle also talks about the unorthodox and refreshing ways that Wyoming Catholic College forces students to unplug from screens and plug back into the world around them. We weren’t created to be slaves to our screens. We were made for freedom. And the good news is you don’t have to stay stuck in dopamine culture. With small, intentional choices, you can retrain your heart to savor and wonder at life again. So put the phone down, seek out something real, and be present with the people God has put in your life. ---------------- Kauai Pilgrimage: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/kauai/ Wyoming Catholic College: https://wyomingcatholic.edu/ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ ✈️ To learn more about all of Real Life Catholic Pilgrimages, visit: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/

We live in a culture that wants everything fast—success, influence, recognition. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but that's not always how God works. He grows things slowly, starting small and hidden, so they’re strong enough to last. In this Sunday reflection, I’m sharing why being faithful in the “small things” matters more than you'll ever know. We’ll talk about David’s hidden years as a shepherd, the power of a simple slingshot, and what bamboo plants can teach us about waiting (yes, really ). What You’ll Discover: Why God grows things slowly, starting small and hidden How David’s years with sheep and a slingshot prepared him for Goliath What the moso bamboo plant can teach you about waiting on God Why no one, not even the people overlooking you, can block God’s plan How your faithfulness in ordinary tasks sets the stage for extraordinary impact So if you feel stuck or unseen, take heart. Be faithful with the little things God has put in front of you today. He does some of his best work in hidden seasons. It's not just waiting. It's formation for the greatness to come—in this life or the next. .... Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 .... Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/

What if God is so powerful that he can take your biggest mistakes and deepest wounds and turn them into your greatest strengths!? Good news: He really IS that powerful. That is what today’s story is all about. In this episode, I sit down with January Donovan, founder of The Women’s School, international life coach, and most importantly, mom. Her whole mission to bless women flows from her deepest wound: walking through the pain of abortion and letting God transform her life into a testimony of HOPE and FREEDOM! January’s story is proof that God doesn’t waste a single wound. What should have been the most painful, destructive part of her life became the very place He poured out His mercy and power. And out of that healing, He didn’t just restore her, He gave her a mission. The brokenness that could have defined her became the catalyst for a new chapter in her story that is now lifting up thousands of women. Timestamps: 00:00 What if your biggest wound became your greatest gift? 8:35 From poverty to living with a billionaire 20:50 The day January’s abortion nearly crushed her life at 16 23:29 How your wound can become your greatest contribution 26:36 From shame to mission: how God turned it all around 33:49 Why beautiful marriages save the world 37:58 Training in discipleship with Sister Elaina 45:22 Letting your wounds become the compass to other courage 52:10 Can you be a world-changer AND a mom? 56:18 The lie that keeps women stuck (and how to break it) 1:04:13 Why healed women change the world 1:11:03 Study the desires God puts on your heart and then pursue it 1:12:22 Be a student of your husband The Women's School: https://thewomanschool.com/januarydonovan ........ Franciscan University Steubenville: https://franciscan.edu/ ........ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 ........ Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ ........ The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great co...

Where do we go from here? Even in the darkest of times, Christ remains our hope and there is a path forward. I offer my reflections on the assassination of Charlie Kirk and some suggestions for a Christian response to the violence and hatred that are engulfing our country. Please continue to pray for all the victims and families affected by these recent tragedies. Lord have mercy.

What if I told you the Cross, the most brutal symbol of defeat in history, is actually the greatest sign of victory the world has ever seen? In this episode, I’m unpacking the Triumph of the Cross and what it means for YOUR life right now. From the assassination of Charlie Kirk, to 9/11, to violence filling our headlines, we’ll see how the Cross rewrites every story of death with hope and glory. What You’ll Discover: Why death dominates today’s headlines—and why it doesn’t win The shocking truth behind the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross How Jesus turned Rome’s weapon of humiliation into victory St. Patrick’s kidnapping and slavery—and how God used it for glory Why your suffering might be the very thing God is using to bless others The hope that outshouts even the darkest news The Cross doesn’t mean you won’t suffer. It means your suffering isn’t wasted. God flips the script. He turns pain into power, tragedy into triumph, defeat into victory. That’s why we can face the darkest headlines and our own daily crosses, with HOPE. Come on a pilgrimage and retreat with me in Assisi! https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/ .... Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 .... Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/

Ever wonder what really happens behind the walls of a monastery? In this week’s episode, I welcome back our favorite Benedictine monk with a surfboard, Fr. Augustine Wetta. We’re stepping into a hidden world that’s been quietly defying the noise and chaos of modern life for over 1,500 years with silence, prayer, community, and a whole lot of humility. But don’t expect some dreamy fairy tale. This is real life behind the habit: petty arguments over pens, broken irons held together with the wrong glue, and golf cart joy rides. It’s raw, funny, and surprisingly relatable. Turns out, becoming a monk doesn’t make you perfect; it just means you’ve committed to growing in love. 00:00 Intro 6:24 Why Fr. Augustine became a monk 12:11 What Fr. Augustine discovered about himself in his 1st years as a monk 13:24 Why silence isn’t scary; it’s clarifying 14:44 The monastic trick to handling distractions during prayer 17:49 The unexpected joys of Monastic life 19:22 And... the surprisingly holy story of a broken iron (short) 22:00 What monks fight about (spoiler: it’s hilariously petty and deeply human) 28:07 Why doing the dishes for someone who annoys you can be sanctifying 28:37 The power of apologizing even when you think you're right (short) 32:22 Settlers of Catan and golf carts in the monastery!? 35:51 Three simple ways to make your house more monastic (yes, even with kids running around) 36:26 Deliberately lose your next argument This episode reminded me that monastic life isn’t about escape, it’s about living with radical intentionality. And that’s something every one of us is called to, whether you’re in a habit or a hoodie. ........ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 ........ Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ ........ The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/ ........ ✈️ To learn more about all of Real Life Catholic Pilgrimages,...

Did Jesus really say, “Hate your mother”? It sounds more like a death-metal lyric, right? Nope…those are Jesus’ words in Luke 14. So what’s up with that? Was He telling us to literally despise our parents? Of course not. But He was making one of the boldest, most shocking points He ever made: our love and loyalty to Him must be so much greater, so much higher, that even your deepest family bond looks like hate in comparison. In this episode, I dive into this hard of Jesus and explain why love is free but costs you everything. What You’ll Discover: What “hate your mom” really means (and doesn’t mean) Why following Jesus will cost you everything and why that's GOOD news. Why cheap grace can destroy faith and what costly grace really means. Why you can’t call Jesus a “good teacher” He is either a Lord, a lunatic, or a liar. The saints that went all in and never looked back How putting God first doesn’t take away your life, but gives it back to you in fullness. Jesus’s love is free, but it’ll cost you everything. And when you give Him everything, you discover the only life worth living. .... Come on a pilgrimage and retreat with me in Assisi! https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/ .... Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 .... Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ .... Research links: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2019/01/31/are-religious-people-happier-healthier-our-new-global-study-explores-this-question/ https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu/religion-and-divorce https://www.aau.edu/research-scholarship/featured-research-topics/people-religious-affiliations-live-longer-study-shows

Fr. Juan Gutiérrez’s basketball injury ultimately led to the upcoming canonization of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati! In this episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Fr. Juan Gutiérrez, who experienced something extraordinary: a complete healing of his ruptured Achilles that was officially declared a Vatican-approved miracle and is considered the second miracle needed for the canonization of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. Fr. Juan didn’t go looking for a miracle. When he suffered a complete tear of his Achilles tendon while playing basketball with seminarians, his doctor told him there was little chance of recovery without surgery. He turned to prayer, and what happened next left his surgeon speechless and left the Vatican investigating what even medical experts couldn’t explain. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 1:36 How a basketball game led to a torn Achilles 6:44 How a made-up novena became the turning point of the story 8:38 Intense heat during prayer—was something on fire?! 12:57 The surgeon's stunned reaction 16:29 Why God cares about the little things 16:55 Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati: The Patron Saint of Ordinary People 18:27 What’s your Achilles heel? 20:46 What’s it like to be a subject of a Vatican Investigation? 29:55 Who was Pier Giorgio Frassatti really!? 33:32 Why are we given miracles? 35:02 From atheist to… Catholic priest!? So many of us think, “God only steps in for the big stuff.” But Jesus’ first miracle was at a wedding… turning water into wine. Not raising the dead or curing cancer. Why? Simply to save a couple from embarrassment. Because that’s who He is. A Father who loves the details. A Savior who cares about your daily life. A Friend who meets you in your need, even when the world says it’s too small to matter. ........ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 ........ Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ ........ The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/ ........ ✈️ To learn more about all of Real Life Catholic Pilgrimages, visit: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/ ........ ✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration in your inbox. https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 ......... Listen to the "Chris Stefanick Show" as a podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZOMMAyrrwyFVVcEPU85vV

What if I told you the most powerful spiritual weapon isn't talent and charisma but HUMILITY! In this episode, I’m diving deep into the one virtue that makes you spiritually unconquerable. We’ll talk jiu-jitsu (yes, seriously ), the wisdom of the Desert Fathers, the ground game of Jesus, and why humility isn’t weakness, it's the key to strength, peace, and spiritual victory. What You’ll Discover: Why I love jiu-jitsu (and what it teaches us about spiritual battle) The kind of spouse you should be looking for What a Polish nun taught me backstage at World Youth Day How God uses trials to keep us grounded Practical ways to grow in humility (and spot pride when it sneaks in) If you’re chasing success, struggling in your marriage, or battling pride and discouragement, this episode is for you! Because in God’s kingdom, the path to victory isn’t up… it’s down. The ground is where grace meets you. And if you’re willing to get low, you’ll find that’s where the real power is. Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 .... Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ .... Come on Pilgrimage with me! https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/

What happens when the one who runs toward danger… can’t outrun his own pain? In this gripping episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Jeff Wrigley, a veteran police officer, father of 7, and Catholic convert, who spent decades racing into crises to protect others—all while silently falling apart on the inside. Jeff opens up about what it's like to carry the invisible wounds of decades in law enforcement: the trauma that piles up, the pressure to stay composed, the moments of despair no one sees, and the burnout that nearly ended everything. He shares the moment it all broke, and the turning point that began his road back to joy. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 15:31 The stigma behind being a cop 20:15 How faith informed him as a police officer 25:22 Why bravery without fear is dangerous 31:10 It is responsible to recognize that there are threats in society 34:06 What's it like to be a first responder to tragedy 46:27 Why stuffing pain never works 50:51 PTSD and hidden anxiety in law enforcement 52:30 The simple prayer that saved his life 54:00 The lie of perfectionism as a cop 59:36 The importance of seeking good counsel Jesus didn’t promise an easy life. He promised we wouldn’t go through it alone. If you’re carrying more than you can handle, this episode will remind you: faith isn’t about faking it. It’s about letting Christ into the dark and letting him carry you out. ........ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 ........ Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ ........ The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/ ........ ✈️ To learn more about all of Real Life Catholic Pilgrimages, visit: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/ ........ ✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration in your inbox. https...

How many people are in heaven? How many are in hell? That's exactly the question someone asked Jesus in Luke 13. And His answer? It wasn’t a number. It was a warning: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate.” In this episode, I unpack what Jesus was really saying and why asking how many is the wrong question. This isn’t about statistics. It’s about YOU. Your heart. Your relationship with God. What You’ll Discover: What Luke 13 actually means (and doesn’t) Why salvation isn’t a system you figure out, it’s a person you cling to The Church’s teaching on purgatory, hell, and mortal sin What Pope Benedict XVI said about how few are truly ready for heavenWhy there’s still real hope for the rest of us If you’ve ever assumed you were “good enough,” or felt too far gone, this episode will challenge you and give you hope. LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: Lumen Gentium: https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html Spe Salvi - Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical on hope: https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi.html St. Cyril of Alexandria’s reflection on Luke 13: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_on_luke_10_sermons_99_109.htm Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 .... Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ .... Come on Pilgrimage with me! https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/

If you’ve been through a divorce or walked with someone who has been, you know the pain runs deep. But you are not alone, you are not disqualified, and you still belong in the heart of the Church. God hates divorce. It’s true. Scripture says it. But here’s the part too many people miss: He hates divorce because of how much it hurts you. Because of the pain it passes from parents to kids. Because of how it can wound generations. But God does not hate the people going through it. He doesn’t hate you if you’ve been divorced. And if you’re walking through that right now, hear me, you still belong in the Church. You’re still part of the family of God. And His love for you has not wavered. In this episode, I sit down with Carolyn Klika, a faithful Catholic whose 30-year marriage ended when her husband began living as a woman. She’s lived the pain, wrestled with her faith, and discovered the peace, healing, and freedom that only Jesus can give. Timestamps: 00:42 Why Catholics need to talk about divorce ️ 10:54 Divorce does NOT make you a second-class Catholic 11:52 The first step to healing after divorce➡️ 17:30 How to protect your heart from bitterness ️ 31:01 How to be there for those going through divorce 39:50 Annulments explained 55:17 Turning her deepest pain into a mission of hope Carolyn didn’t just survive her divorce; she turned her pain into a mission, launching a ministry that helps Catholics around the world find healing, restore their identity in Christ, and walk in freedom again. Whether you’re in the middle of a separation, navigating the annulment process, or trying to help someone else, this episode will show you that God can write a beautiful new chapter from even the most broken story. Resources Mentioned: CatholicDivorceHelp.com Support the mission: https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 ........ Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ ........ The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at:

Are you ready to become a spiritual warrior to attain true inner peace? In the final week of our Living Peace series, we are talking about the difference between the world’s peace and the peace that Jesus offers us. If you have unresolved emotions, bad habits, or personal experiences holding you back from the peace that the Lord wants you to experience, this episode will start you on the path to conquering those obstacles on the journey to lasting peace. If you want real peace, first you have to go to war. In this episode, we’ll explore Jesus’ very specific definition of peace, and how it offers us so much more than the “ceasefire” of the world’s counterfeit peace. We’ll also look to examples of spiritual warriors who risked it all to overcome evil and sin in the world to pursue Christ’s peace that surpasses all understanding. .... Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 .... Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ .... Come on Pilgrimage with me! https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/

In 1968, something extraordinary happened at St. Mary’s Church in Zeitoun, Egypt: a glowing, floating figure, identified as the Blessed Virgin Mary, appeared night after night, drawing crowds of up to 250,000, defying power cuts, and even prompting both the Egyptian government and the Coptic Patriarchate to investigate. Seen by Muslims and Copts alike, captured on film, and witnessed by over a million people over two-and-a-half years, this is one of the most compelling recorded miracles ever. I’m joined by Dr. Travis Dumsday (Philosophy Professor, Concordia University–Edmonton; author of The Marian Apparitions at Zeitoun & Evidential Inquiry) to sift through eyewitness testimony, debunk every naturalistic claim, from mass hallucinations to holograms, and reveal the astonishing details that leave no room for doubt. Timestamps: 00:00 Proof of the supernatural seen by 1 million 2:33 Muslim transit workers’ first sighting of Mary! 4:47 Lights out, but Mary’s apparition couldn’t be switched off 15:09 How Mary united Christians and Muslims 17:50 Did Mary stop a looming genocide? 27:49 Top natural explanations—and why they fail ❌ 45:52 Why Disney still couldn’t pull this off today Resources Mentioned: Dive deeper: Get The Marian Apparitions at Zeitoun & Evidential Inquiry here: https://svspress.com/the-marian-apparitions-at-zeitoun-an-evidential-inquiry/?srsltid=AfmBOopQHCPtBmi2w0vVS6RRKCHd9tVpuWPr2lT1wvgVvd68cHUyqdIf ........ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 ........ Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/

Welcome to week 6 of our Living Peace series. We’re still on this journey toward deep inner peace, and today we dive into spiritual detachment: a life-changing practice that unlocks unshakeable joy, deep contentment, and heroic love. If you’ve ever felt your heart chained by worry, ambition, or the need for approval, this episode will set you free. We don’t detach to escape; we detach to love, learning to live in the freedom Christ died to give us. What You’ll Discover: How the samurai–Zen master story reveals the power of radical freedom Why medieval monks used bones to break the world’s grip on their hearts Seneca’s Secret: learning to die as a pathway to true spiritual freedom Christian detachment: detaching from lesser loves to embrace the greatest treasure of Christ’s love The three life-changing fruits of spiritual detachment: Unshakeable joy, deep contentment, and heroic love. Join the waitlist to receive FREE EARLY ACCESS to our Living Peace program! Coming this Fall! https://mailchi.mp/b10a369356c7/pjky3k02q7 .... Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 .... Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ .... Come on Pilgrimage with me! https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/

In this episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Jim Blum, a man who served 20+ years behind bars and found God, purpose, and healing in the unlikeliest place: prison. We talk about what it’s like to be sentenced to 32 years, what actually happens after the gavel drops, and how God used Jim’s lowest point to launch one of the most successful reentry ministries in America. We unpack why most inmates go back and why Jim’s My Father’s House has a 100% success rate. And we explore what really changes a man: humility, prayer, and the experience of being truly loved. Timestamps: 2:19 The moment the gavel dropped and Jim was sentenced to 32 years in prison 3:10 What it’s like to see your mom cry as you're led away in cuffs 20:38 When your resume says “20 years in prison”—what happens next 23:02 What it’s like to walk out of prison... with nowhere to go 23:44 Why 60–70% of inmates return and why The Father’s House guys don’t 42:47 What it’s like to personally pick up a man from prison on release day 47:34 The invitation we all need: Love people we’re uncomfortable loving Resources Mentioned: My Father’s House: https://myfathershousedenver.org/ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 ........ Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ ........ The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/ ........ ✈️ To learn more about all of Real Life Catholic Pilgrimages, visit: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/ ........ ✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration in your inbox. https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 .........

Welcome to Week 5 of our Living Peace series. We’re still on this wild ride toward deep inner peace, and today we hit the real challenge: radical forgiveness. You have to take this step of discipleship to live in the peace of Jesus. It’s so hard that most people won’t even take the leap, which is why true peace remains so rare. We’ve come to see resentment as virtuous, even for wrongs done centuries ago, but Jesus calls us to starve resentment, uproot bitterness, and let the peace He died to give flood our hearts. We’ll dive into Saint Maria Goretti’s powerful story, unpack Jesus’ counterintuitive command: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”and then I’ll personally lead you step-by-step through a prayer of forgiveness. What You’ll Discover: Why resentment feels “owed” and how our gut-sense of fairness becomes a prison Saint Maria Goretti’s mercy: How an 11-year-old’s forgiveness shattered a cycle of hate Jesus’ model on the cross: “Father, forgive them” in the face of betrayal and violence A powerful prayer practice: A guided prayer exercise to drain old hurts once and for all Receive full access to all our video series, including As We Forgive Those, by becoming a monthly donor: https://moj.reallifecatholic.com .... Join the waitlist to receive FREE EARLY ACCESS to our Living Peace program! Coming this Fall! https://mailchi.mp/b10a369356c7/pjky3k02q7 .... Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 .... Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ .... Come on Pilgrimage with me! https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/

In this episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with psychologist Dr. Peter Malinowski to explore why you feel like you’re running on fumes because you can’t say “no”. We dig into the hidden mind‑games that keep us saying “yes,” explore how Jesus modeled both fierce limits and boundless compassion, and equip you with simple, actionable strategies to start saying “no” without second‑guessing yourself. By the end of our conversation, you’ll see that healthy boundaries aren’t just a nice idea; they’re the key to reclaiming your time, your joy, and your freedom. Timestamps: 2:06 Jesus didn’t always welcome with open arms - here’s how He knew when to kick out and when to lean in ✋ 5:00 Think setting boundaries isn’t loving? Here’s why “no” might be the most Christ-like word you ever say ❤️‍ 20:35 Why boundary-breakers are drawn to people who won’t push back 34:05 Not good at boundaries? Why doing it awkwardly and badly is still way better than doing nothing 34:47 – Tired of being called “mean” for standing your ground? Try flipping it to “I love you enough to set this boundary” 44:11 – The most freeing thing you can say in a relationship: “I love you… and I can live without you.” ✨ Resources Mentioned: Dr. Peter Malinowski’s work: https://soulsandhearts.com How to Deal with Narcissism with Peter Malinowski: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujrC9zmoNdk Interior Integration for Catholics podcast: Episode 123: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pcfr8dOj19w Interior Integration for Catholics podcast: Episode 129: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jVXVtth48g Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 ........ Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ ........ The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/ ........ ✈️ To learn more about all of Real Life Catholic Pilgrimages, visit: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/ ........ ✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration in your inbox. https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic...

Have you ever noticed how worry can take up residence in your mind, setting up camp as commander‑in‑chief? In Week 4 of Living Peace, we unpack exactly how worry infiltrates your thoughts and equip you with the tools to flush it out. The good news? You don’t have to live in a state of constant worry. When your biggest fears seize your attention, joy and focus are the first casualties, but prayer offers a frontline strategy to reclaim your mind. In this episode, we dive into the kind of prayer that doesn’t just scratch the surface, but actually roots out anxiety at its core. What You’ll Discover: The subtle routes worry uses to hijack your daily life Why sheer willpower falls short—and what actually dismantles fear Three targeted prayer strategies to uproot anxiety at its source How cultivating intimacy with the Father rewires your mind for peace Timestamps: 0:00 – Welcome & Series Overview: Why Week 4 Matters 1:45 – Worry as Commander‑in‑Chief: How Anxiety Seizes Your Mind 4:10 – The Two Saturations: You Can Only Live in Worry…or Prayer 6:30 – Prayer Move #1: Habitual Presence Prayer 9:15 – Prayer Move #2: The ACTS framework 12:00 – Prayer Move #3: Listening Prayer in Action 15:20 – Real‑Life Stories: Prayer Cracking Anxiety’s Stronghold 23:10 – Practical Next Steps: Embedding Peace into Your Routine Join the waitlist to receive FREE EARLY ACCESS to our Living Peace program! Coming this Fall! https://mailchi.mp/b10a369356c7/pjky3k02q7 .... Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 .... Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ .... Come on Pilgrimage with me! https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/

In this week's episode of the Chris Stefanick Show, we dive into the frontlines of spiritual warfare, exorcism ministry, and deliverance as I sit down with deliverance minister Dave Van Vickle, who has been working in deliverance ministry since he was 14! We unpack real encounters with demonic activity and equip you for battle. Learn the three tiers of demon attack, discover why love, truth, and the sacraments (even a simple hug!) are your most powerful weapons, and see how everyday moments can become acts of deliverance. Timestamps: 12:09 The 4 Tiers of Demonic Activity: From Temptation to Full Possession 16:16 4 unmistakable signs of authentic possession 23:02 Spider-woman? No..How a demonic assault made this woman scale the ceiling on all fours️ 28:02 An animal can be possessed!? This story is CRAZY! 29:36 They kept finding Mary in the TOILET every time they came home until they got rid of THIS!? 30:49 The demons’ handbook of fear: confession and priests send Demons running 32:47 The moment Our Lady forced demons to their knees and pray… 39:27 Everyday Spiritual Combat: how HUGS can be exorcistic! ️ Resources Mentioned: Dave Van Vickle’s Website: http://www.thecatholictruthaboutangelsanddemons.com/#/ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 ......... Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ ........ The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/ ........ ✈️ To learn more about all of Real Life Catholic Pilgrimages, visit: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/ ........ ✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration in your inbox. https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20

We’ve all been duped into thinking that the busier we are, the more successful we must be. But here’s the truth: hurry is a thief. It steals your joy, fractures your focus, and even suffocates your prayer life. In Week 3 of Living Joy, we will journey from ancient sundials to the ping of your smartphone, exposing how our obsession with time has hijacked our souls—and how the Gospel can set us free. What You’ll Discover: How hurry quietly erodes your inner peace and prayer life. Steps to cut loose the tasks and commitments that leave you worn thin. A clear framework to rebuild your day around what truly matters Methods for carving out quiet moments to reconnect with Jesus Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro: The hidden cost of relentless rush 1:30 - Time’s takeover: Sundials → Smartphone madness 3:10 - Spot “hurry sickness” in your everyday life 5:00 - Three life‑changing practices to reclaim your pace 7:20 – Next steps: Integrate rest into your routine .... Join the waitlist to receive FREE EARLY ACCESS to our Living Peace program! Coming this Fall! https://mailchi.mp/b10a369356c7/pjky3k02q7 .... Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 .... Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ .... Come on Pilgrimage with me! https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/

In this episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Deacon Bob Rice, who has spent 30 years on the front lines of youth ministry, to tackle one of the toughest question for Catholic families: How do we help our teens own their faith in a world of screens, stress, and nonstop noise? Bob and I unpack why smartphones are supercharging teen anxiety, decode the two pivotal growth spurts that make or break faith formation, and reveal why steady presence (even at their big game) is so important. Plus, get practical tips for building a small-team ministry and meeting kids on their turf to help bridge the generational gap. Timestamps: 5:25 Why smartphones have teens more anxious than ever 15:08 The two key growth spurts every parent and minister needs to understand 33:53 The blueprint for assembling a small core team that actually moves the needle 50:10 A simple shift: picturing Jesus as a 12-year-old to see Him in our teens ✝️ 55:10 From flannel shirts to Fortnite: meeting teens where they are—yes, even at the away game 1:00:16 Three practical steps for parents and grandparents: presence, invitation, holy dissatisfaction Resources Mentioned: Sharing the Gospel With Our Lives by Bob Rice: https://www.amazon.com/Sharing-Gospel-Our-Lives-Relational/dp/1639661492 The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Generation-Rewiring-Childhood-Epidemic/dp/0593655036 Life Teen’s free parent & leader toolkits:https://lifeteen.com/cym/kickstart/ Steubenville Youth Conferences: https://steubenvilleconferences.com/youth-conferences/ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 ........ Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ ........ The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/ ........ ✈️ To learn more about all of Real Life Catholic Pilgrimages, visit: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/ ........ ✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration in your inbox. https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20

Your brain is hardwired to look for threats. That’s great if you’re in a jungle being chased by a bear. Not so great when you’re trying to live in the peace Jesus died to give you. In Week 2 of our Living Peace summer series, I delve into the real reason why so many of us are stuck in fear, outrage, and constant conflict, and how Jesus flips the script in one of His most famous parables: the Good Samaritan. What You’ll Discover: How fear hijacks your brain and lowers your IQ Why you’re always “on edge”—and how to stop living that way How to stop labeling people as threats and start seeing souls The Parable of the Good Samaritan is a challenge to your inner contempt .... Join the waitlist to receive FREE EARLY ACCESS to our Living Peace program! Coming this Fall! https://mailchi.mp/b10a369356c7/pjky3k02q7 .... Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 .... Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ .... Come on Pilgrimage with me! https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/

In this episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with seminary professor Scott Powell to journey through Jesus’ prayer life, from the blazing summit of the Transfiguration to the raw honesty of the Psalms. We’ll strip away the fear of getting prayer “wrong,” unlock God’s original prayer playbook in Exodus, and give you a fresh, step-by-step guide to praying the Our Father with courage and freedom. Plus, learn how to wait on God like Simeon, eyes open, heart expectant. Timestamps: 8:23 - Why Jesus paused on the mountaintop and what It means for you ⛰️ 16:18 - Give your soul a soundtrack—lament and hope like a Psalmist 24:34 -The Exodus roadmap: your ultimate prayer manual 34:33 - “Our Father” decoded: your blueprint for bold prayer ️ 49:15 - How to wait like Simeon: the art of silent, expectant prayer ⏳ Resources Mentioned: Walking with Christ: A Journey Through the Gospel of Luke by Scott Powell: https://ascensionpress.com/products/walking-with-christ-a-journey-through-the-gospel-of-luke ........ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 ........ Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ ........ The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/ ........ ✈️ To learn more about all of Real Life Catholic Pilgrimages, visit: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/ ........ ✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration in your inbox. https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 ......... Listen to the "Chris Stefanick Show" as a podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZOMMAyrrwyFVVcEPU85vV

In Episode 1 of the Living Peace Series, I unpack how Jesus’ very first words in the Upper Room weren’t “Surprise” but “Peace be with you!”—a victorious shout that still echoes for us today, even when life feels totally out of control. We’ll explore childlike trust—the same bold faith that sent His disciples out with zero provisions (Luke 10) and kept Paul anchored in a Roman prison:“The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:7) What You’ll Discover: Why Jesus sent His disciples out empty-handed—and how that radical surrender unlocks real, unshakable peace. How to carry Paul’s “prison-room of peace” into your boardrooms, traffic jams, and everyday challenges The secret to turning daily stress into steady trust by embracing God’s plan over your own Join the waitlist to receive FREE EARLY ACCESS to our Living Peace program! Coming this Fall! https://mailchi.mp/b10a369356c7/pjky3k02q7 .... St Ignatius’ self-offering prayer: https://us.magnificat.net/great-catholic-prayers/suscipe-prayer/ .... Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 .... Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ .... Come on Pilgrimage with me! https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/

Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ In this episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Andrew Abela—founding dean of the Busch School of Business and author of Super Habits—to show you how to forge your character with practical, science-backed habits. We tackle the lie of an unchangeable personality, dive into the brain science behind cultivating gratitude, courage, and self-control, and share hands-on tools—from a simple night-time gratitude ritual to the split-second virtue that guided Sully on the Hudson. Plus, discover why leaning into God’s grace always wins over raw willpower. Timestamps: 1:52 - Debunking Your Brain: Why “Wired This Way” Doesn’t Fly 5:47 What makes a habit “super” and how to create one that sticks. 39:05 Tame your anger with a velvet glove, not a chain. 33:48 Four virtues that power every choice—discipline, courage, justice & temperance. 48:43 Crash landing—a real-time lesson in virtue that saved lives. ✈️ 1:09:17 Why sailing on God’s grace beats rowing with your own strength. ⛵ Crash landing—a real-time lesson in virtue that saved lives. ✈️ Why sailing on God’s grace beats rowing with your own strength. ⛵ Resources Mentioned: Download the Grow Virtue App and pick your first habit: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/growvirtue/id6740114810 Grab Super Habits by Andrew Abela: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/super-habits/?srsltid=AfmBOoqsp2im0nAsccrVmYJtnpys47gQhhwTNLceb97Rqy5WrAOYlJQX The Anatomy of Virtue: https://superhabit.substack.com/p/the-anatomy-of-virtue?r=457iow&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true ........ The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/ ........ ✈️ To learn more about all of Real Life Catholic Pilgrimages, visit: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/ ........ ✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration in your inbox. https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20

In this episode, I unpack the explosive boldness that ignited the early Church—from Peter’s courtroom defiance before the Sanhedrin and Paul’s chains-to-pulpit preaching in Rome to John Paul II celebrating Christmas Mass under communist guns in Poland. We’ll explore how the Holy Spirit fuels unshakable Christian courage, the fierce opposition these saints overcame, and how you can activate that same audacious faith today. What You’ll Discover • How Peter’s stand before the Sanhedrin redefined what it means to witness for Christ • Why Paul’s trials in Rome became the launchpad for global evangelization • What John Paul II’s Christmas Mass under machine guns teaches about fearless faith Get your FREE access to Way of the Apostle! https://coaching.reallifecatholic.com/way-of-the-apostle .... Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20 .... Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/ .... Come on Pilgrimage with me! https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/