Chris Stefanick Catholic Show

Chris Stefanick | Real Life Catholic
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The world says the Catholic Faith is boring. And too often, we act like we believe it. Ready to live your Faith like an adventure instead? Chris Stefanick wants to help you live the JOY God created you for, right here and now. Hit Play and get rolling!

  1. 21 Jul

    Gym Bro Secrets + Theology of the Body (This Combo Works)

    Fitness and faith aren't as separate as you think. In this episode, professional bodybuilder and personal trainer Dakota Lane joins Chris to talk about the real connection between physical health and spiritual growth — and why "getting spiritually buff" starts with how we treat our bodies. Dakota pulls back the curtain on the extremes of competitive bodybuilding (6,000-calorie bulks, 60-lb cuts, near-total dehydration before stepping on stage) and explains why that world is closer to an extreme sport than everyday fitness. Then he and Chris dig into what actually matters for the rest of us: the theology of the body, why St. Thomas Aquinas says we're body-soul composites, how self-mastery is meant to lead to self-gift, and why so many people's struggles with food and fitness trace back to unhealed wounds rather than a lack of willpower. Dakota — who is also Chris's personal trainer — shares his own story of using fitness to cover for insecurity, the difference between vanity and being a good steward of your body, and practical, no-cost ways to start today: morning habits, hydration, protein, and simply taking the next right step. They close with some straight-up "gym bro" talk on why a consistent, holistic approach beats every fad diet out there. HIGHLIGHTS [00:02:39] The bodybuilding disclaimer — why extreme physique culture is "no longer fitness, it's an extreme sport" [00:07:04] The truth about competition "peak" — how bodybuilders get dangerously dehydrated for magazine-cover photos [00:08:55] Why fitness and the spiritual life were never meant to be separate — Aquinas, body-soul composites, and grace [00:10:22] Self-mastery is meant to lead to self-gift — the story of the priest giving piggyback rides on the beach [00:25:52] Dakota gets vulnerable about the wound behind his own fitness journey — and why food issues are almost never really about food [00:31:59] Breaking the all-or-nothing mindset — "you can get anywhere from anywhere if you just start taking steps" [00:44:56] Gym bro talk: the "human approach" to nutrition, why 80% of results come from what you eat, and Jesus's own physicality as a "tekton" ....... Sign up for The Daily Anchor to get Chris Stefanick's bite-sized reflections every morning and be entered for a chance to win a trip for two on our Pilgrimage to Beauty: https://bit.ly/4tQCXtP ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic and get free access to 9 transformative courses: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 Chapters (00:00:00) - Bodybuilder Dakota Lane on How to Get Huge(00:00:43) - Chris Stefanick(00:01:24) - In the Elevator With Dakota Lane(00:01:49) - Getting Fit For Your Spiritual Life(00:03:16) - Gaining Weight For Cutting(00:07:51) - The Connection of Fitness and Virtue(00:12:58) - Mission: Missionaries of Joy(00:14:22) - How to Avoid the Extremes With Exercise(00:18:57) - How to Motivate People in the Ministry(00:23:48) - How to Help People Get Over Eating Disorders(00:29:15) - How to Stop Getting Fat With Stress(00:34:06) - How to Heal From a Sinful Habit(00:37:45) - How to Lower Your Stress(00:40:52) - Committed to a Little Thing Every Day(00:45:54) - Diet and nutrition in the fitness world(00:51:25) - A Father's Love for His Wife

  2. 11 Jul

    The Tricky Temptation Nobody Talks About (It's Not What You Think)

    Chris Stefanick reflects on this Sunday's Gospel from a Benedictine cemetery at a Steubenville youth conference, where the monks buried there remind us that leaving the world behind isn't about the world being bad — it's about discovering something better. Drawing on Jesus' parable of the seed choked out by "the anxieties of this life," Chris breaks down the three classic sources of temptation — the world, the flesh, and the devil — and focuses on the trickiest one: the world, which we're actually meant to enjoy. He shares two practical tools for keeping worldly desires in check, opens up about a painful financial low point early in his ministry, and points to St. Francis and Blessed Carlo Acutis as examples of what it looks like to hold this world loosely while loving it fully. Discussion Questions 1. Chris says the world is the "trickiest" temptation because it's something we're actually meant to enjoy. Where do you find that line blurry in your own life? 2. What would it look like to "ask your own heart what you desire" this week — and to check that desire against your desire for eternal things? 3. Arthur Brooks' exercise imagines the person you'd have to become to get everything on your bucket list. What's one item on your list you might be willing to "empty out" or surrender? 4. Chris shares that he'd choose financial hardship over leaving ministry because he values eternal things more. Is there something in your own life you've had to give up — or would be willing to give up — for the sake of something eternal? 5. St. Francis gave up everything yet loved creation more deeply than most. How might letting go of something actually free you to enjoy it more, rather than less? ----- Sign up for the Daily Anchor for free daily reflections from Chris Stefanick in your inbox: https://bit.ly/4tQCXtP ----- Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ----- Help support us as we seek to bring our transformative CORE Confirmation program to this next generation: https://reallifecatholic.com/confirmation/  Chapters (00:00:00) - Walking around the Benedictine Cemetery(00:00:52) - The Secret to Growing Into Greatness(00:01:48) - 3 Sources of Temptation in the World(00:08:01) - St. Francis: What Are You Valuing More Than Money?

  3. 7 Jul

    He Had 800 Million Views… Then Got Banned for Talking About Jesus

    David Latting built a TikTok ministry with over 800 million views — then got permanently banned for inviting Muslims to follow Jesus. In this raw, deeply personal conversation, David shares the mystical experiences behind his conversion that he's never talked about publicly, his harrowing two-year crisis of faith starting at age 13, the night The Passion of the Christ broke him wide open, his evangelism among Muslims in Iran, Afghanistan, and at a flea market, navigating the algorithm as an influencer without losing his soul, and why he — a Pentecostal/non-denominational evangelist — finds himself drawn to the beauty of Catholic liturgy, religion, and the question of transubstantiation. HIGHLIGHTS [00:00] Intro — David's banned TikTok ministry and what's ahead [05:48] A 13-year-old's crisis of faith: doubt, despair, and a letter opener [25:19] Watching The Passion of the Christ alone at midnight — and breaking down [35:51] "Allah is not real" — the video that got him permanently banned [42:00] Underground baptisms in Iran, Afghanistan, and Mecca [51:02] The flea market encounter that led to an 8-month friendship with a Muslim woman [1:11:00] "Religion" and "liturgy" off the naughty word list — why Gen Z is craving structure [1:28:48] If transubstantiation is true, "I have to be Catholic" ....... Sign up for The Daily Anchor to get Chris Stefanick's bite-sized reflections every morning and be entered for a chance to win a trip for two on our Pilgrimage to Beauty: https://bit.ly/4tQCXtP ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic and get free access to 9 transformative courses: 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/ Chapters (00:00:00) - David Lading On His Conversion To Catholicism(00:01:29) - Chris Stefanick: Missionary of Joy(00:02:22) - David Ladding on Talking To Christians(00:03:54) - My Conversion to the Faith at 13(00:08:58) - Daily Inspiration(00:09:38) - The Tension of Gen Z(00:14:38) - Ex-(00:18:22) - Chris Stefanick on His Call To Ministry(00:22:05) - Married to TikTok(00:25:20) - The Passion of the Christ(00:29:21) - How 'The Right Art' Converted Me(00:32:23) - I Had A Mystical Experience On TikTok(00:35:20) - David On TikTok Getting Pulled(00:38:37) - TikTok Bans Christian Vlogger(00:42:05) - Muslims: The Unveiling of Eden is the undoing of(00:45:56) - David Brooks on Islam and His Evangelism(00:49:36) - One woman converted to Christianity after seeing a Quran(00:53:18) - What is it about the Islam message?(00:55:40) - Facebook and the Lion's Den(00:56:06) - How to Make a Video Go Viral(00:59:54) - Are You Tired Of Social Media?(01:02:08) - Social Media: The Good Side and Bad Side(01:07:10) - Pete Wentworth on Good Content(01:10:17) - Prayer for the Warfighter(01:11:20) - The Turn of the Church(01:15:11) - On Liturgy and Religious Liberty(01:17:54) - Music and the Search for Beauty(01:20:38) - The Unveiling of Iconography(01:25:13) - Separation of Catholicism and Evangelicalism(01:28:38) - on Transubstantiation and Apostolic succession(01:31:32) - Paul On The Issues Of Catholic Diets(01:34:39) - Jordan Peterson on the Tension of His Faith(01:40:19) - Understanding the Spirit of Ecumenism(01:41:19) - Michael Kuliana on Gen Z and His Conversion

  4. 4 Jul

    One of the Most Brilliant Minds in History Said THIS Before He Died

    Chris is on pilgrimage in Toulouse, France, taking you straight to the tomb of St. Thomas Aquinas — one of the most brilliant minds in the history of the Church (and the world). Known as "the Dumb Ox" by classmates who mistook his quiet nature for dullness, Aquinas went on to write the 1.8-million-word Summa Theologica, showing that faith and reason aren't enemies but, as John Paul II said, "two wings of a bird that lift up the soul." But the real story isn't his brilliance — it's what he asked Jesus for at the end of his life, and why he stopped writing altogether. Find out what the smartest man in Church history figured out about the point of all knowledge. St. Thomas Aquinas, pray for us. Discussion Questions 1. Chris says knowledge is meant to lead us "to the threshold of relationship," the way courtship leads to a proposal. Can you think of a time in your own life when intellectual understanding eventually had to give way to a decision of trust or commitment? 2. St. Thomas Aquinas, after writing 1.8 million words about God, said his work "amounts to straw" compared to what he glimpsed of heaven. What do you think he meant by that, and does it change your view of his life's work? 3. Chris suggests that skeptics aren't necessarily smarter than believers — they may simply be afraid to surrender to what their own knowledge points toward. Do you agree or disagree, and why? 4. When Jesus offered Aquinas anything he desired, he asked only for more of Jesus himself rather than more knowledge or answers. If you were offered the same question today, what would your honest answer be? 5. St. Albert the Great predicted that the quiet "dumb ox" would one day be heard "throughout the entire world." Has someone ever underestimated you, or have you underestimated someone else, in a way that turned out to be very wrong? ----- Sign up for the Daily Anchor for free daily reflections from Chris Stefanick in your inbox: https://bit.ly/4tQCXtP ----- Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ----- Help support us as we seek to bring our transformative CORE Confirmation program to this next generation: https://reallifecatholic.com/confirmation/  Chapters (00:00:00) - St. Thomas Aquinas(00:02:01) - St. Thomas Aquinas(00:04:23) - The Life of Saint Thomas Aquinas

  5. 30 Jun

    Feminism Robbed Women of This — Here's How to Get It Back

    What does it really mean to be a woman—and why has no one taught us? In this episode of the Chris Stefanick Show, Chris sits down with January Donovan, founder of Catholic Feminine Formation, for a wide-ranging and deeply practical conversation about what's been lost—and what's possible when women are truly formed. January brings nearly 30 years of experience helping women live out their God-given genius, and she pulls no punches. She unpacks how feminism—despite some early goods it sought—ultimately robbed women of their femininity, their faith, and their family. And she makes a compelling case that the Church now has an unprecedented opportunity to offer the world something better: a new model of womanhood rooted in Our Lady. This conversation will challenge you, inspire you, and give you real, practical tools—whether you're a woman seeking to thrive, a husband who wants to better understand his wife, or a parish leader wondering how to serve your community more deeply. In this episode: – Why the "fragile femininity" of 150 years ago and today's "vicious feminism" are both failures—and what comes next – What John Paul II's "feminine genius" actually means in everyday life – The chaos of the busy household—and how formation changes everything about how you show up – Why 7% of communication is words, and what that means for how you love your family – The difference between faith formation and human formation—and why women need both – How a growth mindset is really just another word for humility – The New Woman Masterclass: a year-long formation journey for women in small groups – How to bring Catholic Feminine Formation to your parish HIGHLIGHTS 0:00 – Introduction: Catholic feminine formation—and why men need to watch too 8:00 – How feminism robbed women of their femininity, faith, and family 11:10 – "Fragile femininity" vs. "vicious feminism"—and the new model the world is hungry for 13:45 – What the feminine genius actually is: nurturing humanity to its greatness 19:00 – The chaos of the busy household—and the dozen skills a woman needs in that one moment 23:00 – Tone, body language, and why 93% of communication has nothing to do with words 29:30 – Growth mindset vs. fixed mindset—and why it's really about humility 34:00 – "You can't preach joy frowning": why your thriving is your evangelization 38:30 – Why the feminine genius can't be fully lived without the masculine genius 45:10 – The New Woman Masterclass: a year-long, small-group Catholic formation journey 51:40 – How to bring Catholic Feminine Formation to your parish ....... Sign up for The Daily Anchor to get Chris Stefanick's bite-sized reflections every morning and be entered for a chance to win a trip for two on our Pilgrimage to Beauty: https://bit.ly/4tQCXtP ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic and get free access to 9 transformative courses: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ........ Learn more about Catholic Feminine Formation at https://catholicfeminineformation.com/ ........ The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/ Chapters (00:00:00) - Catholic Female Formation(00:00:50) - Chris Stefanick: Missionaries of Joy(00:01:42) - Filipinos: The feminine genius(00:05:20) - Cook with Your Heart(00:10:46) - There's a New Model of Women(00:12:11) - What does a powerful Catholic understanding of femininity look like?(00:18:47) - How Many Skills Do a Woman Need To Manage Her Home?(00:22:15) - Women's spiritual formation(00:26:34) - On Growth and the Woman(00:32:38) - A Fixed Mindset in Relationships(00:37:47) - Formation of the Male Mind(00:42:13) - How to Salvage Your Marriage(00:45:08) - The New Woman: How to Be a Woman(00:48:10) - Wonders of the World: Marriage and Family(00:51:36) - Catholic Fanformation: Rebuilding Culture(00:54:52) - Chris on The Feminine Formation(00:56:17) - Praying the Hail Mary in Cebuano

  6. 27 Jun

    A 7-Year-Old's Heroism Will Convict You

    What does it really mean to love Jesus more than your own life — and why does it actually make life better? In this Sunday Gospel reflection filmed at Fatima, Portugal, Chris Stefanick unpacks Jesus' provocative words: "If you love your father or mother or even your life more than me..." Far from being the words of a narcissist, this is either a claim to divinity — or the greatest red flag in history. There's no middle ground. Chris also tells the extraordinary story of St. Jacinta Marto, the seven-year-old visionary of Fatima who was thrown in jail, threatened with the torture and death of her brother, and still refused to deny what she had seen. Her response? She led a jail cell full of grown men in the rosary. What gave a seven-year-old that kind of heroism? She held her life lightly — and grabbed onto something eternal instead. This reflection is filmed on location at the very spot in Fatima where the angel first appeared to the three shepherd children. Discussion Questions 1. Jesus says we must love him more than father, mother, or our own life. What's your honest reaction to that demand — and what does it reveal about how you see Jesus? 2. Chris describes two ways of going through life: gripping your blessings tightly out of fear, or holding them lightly as gifts from God. Which mode do you find yourself in most often, and what drives that? 3. St. Jacinta was seven years old and showed more courage under pressure than most adults ever will. What do you think formed her? What are you doing — or could you do — to form that kind of faith in yourself or in the young people around you? 4. Chris connects "holding life lightly" not just to heroism but to enjoying life more. Has there been a moment in your own life when letting go of something actually freed you to appreciate it more? 5. The authorities in Portugal told the Fatima children to keep their faith out of public life. Chris responds: "How about you get your politics out of my faith?" Where do you feel pressure today to keep your faith private — and how does this Gospel speak to that? ----- Sign up for the Daily Anchor for free daily reflections from Chris Stefanick in your inbox: https://bit.ly/4tQCXtP ----- Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ----- Help support us as we seek to bring our transformative CORE Confirmation program to this next generation: https://reallifecatholic.com/confirmation/ ----- Chapters (00:00:00) - The Power of Love at 7

  7. 23 Jun

    What Escaping a Cult Taught Me About God | Interview with Ex-Jehovah's Witness Dr. Cary

    He was raised as a third-generation Jehovah's Witness, with his entire family inside the organization. His stepfather was an elder. Leaving meant losing everything — and he knew it from age 12. Today, Dr. Cary is a theology professor at Walsh University, and a devoted Catholic. And in this episode, he pulls back the curtain on everything. What do Jehovah's Witnesses actually believe about Jesus, the Holy Spirit, heaven, and hell? Why is it a cult — and how can you tell? What happens when you leave? And what should you say if one comes to your door? This is one of the most eye-opening conversations we've ever had on this show. In this episode: What Jehovah's Witnesses believe about Jesus (it's not what you'd expect) The 144,000 — and what they believe happens to everyone else How the organization uses isolation and shunning to control members What "PIMO" means — and why thousands are secretly trapped inside Practical tips for talking to a Jehovah's Witness at your door The moment at age 12 that started Dr. Cary's journey out How a funeral homily reignited his wife's faith — and changed his life The first Mass that broke him open and brought him home HIGHLIGHTS 0:00 — Introduction 2:00 — What Jehovah's Witnesses actually believe about Jesus, the Trinity, and the Holy Spirit 10:54 — What it's like growing up inside the organization: fear, conditional love, and a judgmental God 18:12 — Why Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult: isolation, shunning, and what happened when Dr. Cary left his family 23:20 — Leadership structure, the Governing Body, and the Watchtower Society explained 30:30 — What to say when a Jehovah's Witness comes to your door 38:39 — Dr. Cary's "Cornelius moment": the 12-year-old boy named John whose death changed everything 49:50 — Eight years of weekly invitations — and the Sunday Dr. Cary finally said yes to Mass ....... Sign up for The Daily Anchor to get Chris Stefanick's bite-sized reflections every morning and be entered for a chance to win a trip for two on our Pilgrimage to Beauty: https://bit.ly/4tQCXtP ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic and get free access to 9 transformative courses: 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/ Chapters (00:00:00) - Converting From Jehovah's Witness to Catholic(00:02:35) - Jehovah's Witnesses: Explained From The Inside(00:07:51) - St. Michael and Jesus: Do They Really Be The Same Person(00:10:10) - Daily Inspiration(00:10:50) - Jehovah's Witnesses: What Was It Like Growing Up(00:18:05) - Jehovah's Witnesses: Is It a Cult?(00:23:19) - Jehovah's Witnesses: Leadership Structure(00:28:25) - Jehovah's Witnesses: Are You Active?(00:30:14) - Jehovah's Witnesses(00:35:41) - Jehovah's Witnesses: Are They Real?(00:37:17) - The Catholic Church's shunning(00:38:32) - Jehovah's Witness: My Cornelius Moment(00:43:29) - Jehovah's Witness who left the faith(00:49:16) - One Catholic man's emotional spiritual conversion(00:53:15) - The Faith of Academic Work(00:53:32) - Jehovah's Witness At Mass

  8. 20 Jun

    A Few Breaths: What Baby Margaret's Death Taught Me About Fear and Eternity

    What if you've been afraid of the wrong things your whole life? This week's Gospel has Jesus telling his disciples — who would go on to die gruesome deaths for their faith — "Do not be afraid." But he also tells them there is one thing worth fearing: the one who can throw both body and soul into Gehenna. Chris reflects on this Gospel from a deeply personal place, sharing the story of little Margaret — a baby whose skull didn't form fully in the womb, who lived only a few breaths, and whose brief life and faithful family changed her doctor's entire approach to this kind of thing. From the vantage point of eternity, Chris asks: what are we actually protecting when we let fear run our lives? In this reflection, Chris unpacks: - Why Jesus tells us not to fear — and what he actually means by it - The one fear that is good and why we've stopped talking about it - How fear of hell can actually be a gift that keeps us on the right path - Why most of our fears are centered around "the breath" and not the billion years that follow - What it looks like to fear the right thing when it comes to sharing your faith Whether your life is 90 years or a few breaths, from the perspective of eternity, it all goes by in a flash. The question is: what are you doing with it — and what are you afraid of? DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Jesus tells us not to fear those who can harm our bodies, but to fear the one who can throw body and soul into Gehenna. What does it look like practically to "fear the right thing" in your daily life? 2. Chris describes most of our fears as being centered around "the breath" — protecting our comfort, reputation, or earthly life — rather than the eternity that follows. Where do you see that pattern in your own life? 3. Chris shares that fear of sin was sometimes what kept him on the right path when love wasn't enough in a given moment of temptation. Have you ever experienced fear as a gift that moved you toward God? What happened? 4. The Gospel warns against denying Jesus before others out of fear of what they'll think. Is there an area of your life — a relationship, a workplace, a situation — where you've been staying quiet when you should speak? What's holding you back? 5. Little Margaret's brief life and her family's faithfulness moved even her doctor. How does the witness of people who face suffering with faith shape your own understanding of what life is for? ----- Sign up for the Daily Anchor for free daily reflections from Chris Stefanick in your inbox: https://bit.ly/4tQCXtP ----- Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ----- Help support us as we seek to bring our transformative CORE Confirmation program to this next generation: https://reallifecatholic.com/confirmation/  Chapters (00:00:00) - Margaret the Baby's Funeral(00:01:59) - Fear of the Lord

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The world says the Catholic Faith is boring. And too often, we act like we believe it. Ready to live your Faith like an adventure instead? Chris Stefanick wants to help you live the JOY God created you for, right here and now. Hit Play and get rolling!

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Stefanick | Real Life Catholic
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023 Chris Stefanick Catholic Show
  • Show Website
    Chris Stefanick Catholic Show

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