The Catholic Man Show

The Catholic Man Show

Promoting the virtuous life. Adam and David have been best friends for 30 years and love being Catholic, husbands, and fathers. They enjoy whisky, beer, bacon, flamethrowers, St. Thomas Aquinas, virtue, true leisure, and authentic friendship. The show is typically broken down into 3 segments - A drink, a gear, and a topic. We are on the Lord's team. The winning side. So raise your glass. #CheerstoJesus You can support our show by going to www.patreon.com/thecatholicmanshow

  1. JAN 15

    Sin as Rejection of Reality: Josef Pieper, the Catechism, and the Path Back to Grace

    This episode moves from a lighthearted family practice of setting “New Year’s disciplines” into a serious, practical conversation on Josef Pieper’s The Concept of Sin. Adam and David argue that modern culture often avoids the word “sin” not because sin disappeared, but because the concept of sin has been replaced with softer language: mistakes, weakness, psychological explanations, or vague “bad choices.” Pieper’s central claim, they explain, is that sin is not merely a moral misstep but a rejection of reality itself. The conversation ties sin directly to freedom. Only a truly free person can sin, because sin requires knowledge, responsibility, and the willful refusal of the good. Drawing on the Catechism, they frame sin as an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience, as well as a failure in love caused by disordered attachment to lesser goods. Sin is not “missing the mark” in the sense of trying hard and falling short; it is a refusal, a “no” to what is. They also explore how every sin involves untruthfulness and self-deception. To commit sin, a person constructs a false account of reality that makes the act seem reasonable. This helps explain why rationalization demands constant outside validation and why modern life often tries to remove guilt without removing sin. Against that, the hosts emphasize that forgiveness presupposes guilt, and sin can only be understood alongside grace. Practical takeaways include building a daily examination of conscience, paying attention to patterns and triggers, naming both sins of commission and omission, and running to confession with regularity. The episode closes with a fatherly focus: how to speak about sin with children truthfully without crushing them, holding together mercy and clarity so that kids learn both the seriousness of sin and the permanence of love. Key topics covered A family approach to New Year’s disciplines: spiritual, virtue-driven, and “free choice” goalsWhy “the concept of sin” has faded while sin itself has notPieper’s claim: before sin is a moral issue, it is a metaphysical issueSin, freedom, and responsibility: why only the free can sinWhy sin is more than “missing the mark”: refusal vs. mistakeSin as rejection of reality and the link to truth and the transcendentalsThe role of self-deception and rationalization in every sinful actGrace and forgiveness: why forgiveness presupposes guiltVice vs. sin and how habitual patterns can erode clarity and hopeExamination of conscience, confession, and spiritual “trench warfare”Parenting: naming sin without demoralizing children, holding truth with mercy Notable references mentioned Josef Pieper, The Concept of SinCatechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1849 (definition of sin)St. Paul on grace abounding where sin increasesli...

    1h 11m
  2. 12/29/2025

    Resolutions Ordered to the Good: A Thomistic Guide to the New Year

    Opening: Joy evangelizes (and kids teach us)The “joyful demeanor” that opens doors to talking about Jesus (without getting weird).A godfather breakfast on a baptism anniversary becomes a living lesson in evangelization.“Five seconds” theology: most of our daily encounters are brief—so what do we do with them? The Thomistic pivot: Why life feels like a blurTime accelerates as you age; “someday” becomes a trap.Many men feel stuck for 10–15 years—spiritually, vocationally, relationally, and in work.The antidote isn’t bigger ambition—it’s better order. Aquinas on happiness: What won’t satisfyAquinas method: name the end (happiness), then rule out false ends. Wealth: money is a means, not a final end.Honor / reputation: depends on others; happiness must be stable and interior.Power: instrumental, addictive, and easily disguised as “leadership.”Pleasure: real and good, but cannot be the end—pleasure perfects an act, it doesn’t define the goal. The positive claim: What happiness actually isPerfect happiness is the vision of God (beatific vision).We can’t fully attain it in this life, but we can live an imperfect happiness by ordering our lives toward it.Key shift: beatitude, not optimization. Hierarchy of goods (practical framework for 2026)Three filters for any resolution: Is it ordered toward the highest good? (God, truth, contemplation)Does it support your vocation? (husband/father, priest, etc.)Does it treat lesser goods as means? (money, status, comfort serve the mission) Concrete resolutions (small, durable, lifelong)“Not huge shifts—small profitable habits that stick.”Guarding silence and adding a few more minutes of contemplative prayer.A reminder: you can “succeed” without prayer, but not in the way a Christian wants to succeed. The closing medicine: Gratitude slows timeGratitude grounds you in the present and breaks the “always next” mindset.span class="ql-ui"...

    1h 1m
  3. 12/23/2025

    How to Talk About Jesus Without Being Weird | Cy Kellett Catholic Answers

    Cy Kellett, host of Catholic Answers Live, joins the Catholic Man Show for a wide-ranging and surprisingly practical conversation on evangelization. If the idea of “sharing your faith” makes you uncomfortable, intimidated, or quietly guilty, this episode is for you. The guys talk about why evangelization feels scary for normal Catholics in the pews, why it is not optional, and why God never asked you to be effective. He only asked you to be faithful. Cy explains why pressure to “get results” is misplaced, how discouragement is the devil’s favorite weapon against evangelists, and why introverts might actually be better at sharing the Gospel than extroverts. They also dig into what the Gospel actually is, why “God loves you” is true but incomplete, and how the full Christian story speaks directly to the modern world’s confusion about meaning, identity, and purpose. From street evangelization to talking with adult children who have drifted from the faith, Cy offers clarity, encouragement, and concrete advice rooted in real experience. This is an episode about integrity, prayer, the sacraments, and learning how to talk about Jesus in a way that is honest, human, and real. In this episode: Why evangelization feels intimidating for ordinary CatholicsWhy you are not called to be effective, only faithfulHow discouragement shuts down evangelizationThe difference between proclamation and debateWhy introverts can be excellent evangelistsWhat the Gospel actually is, beyond “God loves you”How modern culture misunderstands science and human dignityWhy evangelization always includes words, not just exampleThe role of prayer and the Eucharist in sustaining evangelistsWhy the goal is winning souls, not argumentsCy’s new book, How to Talk About Jesus with Anybody Guest: Cy Kellett, host of Catholic Answers Live and co-author of How to Talk About Jesus with Anybody Book mentioned: How to Talk About Jesus with Anybody by Steve Dawson with Cy Kellett

    1 hr
  4. 12/19/2025

    Christmas Starts on Christmas: Breaking the “One-Day Holiday” Habit

    Ever wake up with that “today is the day” feeling, like you are ready to conquer the world? The guys start there, take a hard left into Pinky and the Brain, and somehow end up pondering what it was like when Christ rose from the dead. From there, it turns into a practical, tradition-packed episode on celebrating Christmas well. Not the Hallmark version, and not the American “Christmas ends on December 26” version either. The kind that actually follows the liturgical calendar, keeps Advent as Advent, and treats Christmas as a season, not a day. Along the way, they review a Taiwanese whiskey from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, talk family customs that make the day feel grounded, and make a strong case for grandfathers and fathers to be the custodians of tradition. One of the best parts is a simple, doable challenge: take the 12 Days of Christmas seriously and mark the feast days with small, intentional practices your family will actually remember. In this episode: The “wake up and conquer the world” mood vs the day Christ resurrectedAdvent vs Christmas, and why our culture gets it backwardsWhy “Merry” used to mean more like blessed than happyMidnight Mass, caroling, real Christmas trees, and reading Luke before presentsA great grandfather tradition: gather the family and speak from the heartGifts for kids: fewer and meaningful vs abundance as a sign of the Father’s generosityThe 12 Days of Christmas, and the feast days that stack up fastSt. John’s Blessing of Wine and why you should do itA practical idea for the Holy Innocents: dads blessing their children out loudEpiphany water and why you should plan ahead to get it blessed Whiskey for the episode: Taiwanese whiskey (Scotch Malt Whisky Society pick), “Dunker’s Delight” style notes, 107 proof, with flavors like caramel and apple pie crust. Challenge for the week: Pick two feast days during the 12 Days of Christmas and do something small but real. Bless your kids, bless wine, invite someone over, go to Mass, or start a tradition worth keeping.

    1h 5m
  5. 12/04/2025

    Becoming a Happier Catholic Man: Presence, Porn, and Penance w/ Matthew Christoff

    In this episode, Adam and David welcome back longtime friend and mentor Matthew Christoff of EveryCatholicMan.com to talk about what it really means to become a happier Catholic man. Matthew shares the story behind his new devotional, “Becoming a Happier Catholic Man 2026,” and why he believes every man can be happier by drawing closer to Jesus, embracing suffering, and living a zealous Catholic life. Topics discussed: Why God actually wills our true and lasting happinessThe difference between fleeting pleasure and beatitudePracticing the presence of God in ordinary daily lifeUsing “triggers” like sirens, cemeteries, and churches to turn the mind to GodHow technology, curiosity, and pornography are devastating modern manhoodHomeostasis of the soul: breaking habits and building new spiritual baselinesWhy pornography and AI-generated lust are a major assault on men and womenConfession, near occasions of sin, and forming a real battle planThe need for a “penance revival” to accompany the Eucharistic RevivalWhy evangelizing men is decisive for families, parishes, and cultureHow awe of Jesus, not just information about him, is the foundation of conversionThe structure of the book: weekly Gospel commentary, awe-of-Jesus focus, maxims, and prayersUsing the devotional as a couple and in the domestic church Resources mentioned: Becoming a Happier Catholic Man 2026 – devotional for Sundays and feast days of the liturgical yearEveryCatholicMan.com – Matthew Christoff’s apostolate and resources for menBrother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of GodThe Catechism of the Catholic Church (references used throughout the book) Learn more and get the book: Visit EveryCatholicMan.com or search “Becoming a Happier Catholic Man 2026” on Amazon. Support The Catholic Man Show and get access to extra content and community at: TheCatholicManShow.com

    55 min
  6. 11/29/2025

    St. Charbel, Marian Devotion, and the Rise of Young Catholic Men with Fr. Charbel (Franciscans of the Immaculate)

    This episode is packed — saints, miracles, Marian devotion, vocations, fatherhood, fasting, silence, and the rise of a new generation of men hungry for God. Fr. Charbel, a Franciscan Friar of the Immaculate, joins Adam and David in Tulsa along with first-class relics of St. Maximilian Kolbe and St. Charbel, sharing powerful stories of faith, mission, intercession, and what young Catholic men are longing for today. IN THIS EPISODE1. Meet Fr. Charbel — his order, his mission, and why Marian consecration is centralFr. Charbel introduces the Franciscans of the Immaculate, an order founded to continue the Marian mission of St. Maximilian Kolbe: Total consecration to Mary as a fourth vowA spirituality built on St. Francis + St. MaximilianMissionary availability (“Send me anywhere in the world”)Heavy emphasis on prayer, poverty, obedience, and Marian devotion He explains how Our Lady’s presence has shaped every major moment in salvation history — from Nazareth to the Cross — and why consecration gives Mary “permission” to form us the way she formed Christ. 2. A surge of young men seeking GodAs the newly appointed vocations director, Fr. Charbel reveals something astonishing: 40+ serious vocation inquiries in just two months. Why the sudden surge? Men want something realThey crave mission and purposeThey want orthodoxy and reverenceThey want a spirituality that demands something of themMarian devotion draws them in a unique way “It’s inspiring,” he says. “Young men want authenticity.” 3. Stories of Divine Providence and the adventure of religious lifeThe guys talk about: The Franciscan blend of active + contemplativeThe thrill of trusting God with everythingPoverty that becomes a doorway to providenceWhy Franciscans never seem to fundraise (“God just provides”) Religious life, he says, is more adventurous than most men realize. 4. Deep dive: Who is St. Charbel? Why is he exploding in popularity?St. Charbel Makhlouf, a Lebanese hermit, is becoming one of the most beloved saints of the century. Father explains why: Lived a hidden, humble, ascetic life23 years in community + 23 years as a hermitEntire life centered on the Holy EucharistBody discovered incorrupt with supernatural light rising from his tombOver 29,000 documented miracles since 1950Miracles among Muslims, Druze, Orthodox, and nonbelieversGlobal pilgrims: 2 million+ per year One stunning story: A Muslim sheikh publicly visited St. Charbel’s shrine to thank him for healing his mother of cancer. “Why would God confirm the life of a hermit who spent his life before the Eucharist,” Father asks, “unless the Eucharist is truly what the Church says it is?” 5. Lessons from St. Charbel for modern men + fathersWhat does a hermit from Lebanon have to teach us? A lot. Fr. Charbel lays out practical takeaways: Faithfulness in the small thingsSilence — making space for God’s voiceDaily prayer even without consolationsObedience and humilityEucharistic devotionMarian devotion as a way of being formedAsceticism and fasting: dying to self in small waysDoing your duty with...

    1h 13m
4.8
out of 5
761 Ratings

About

Promoting the virtuous life. Adam and David have been best friends for 30 years and love being Catholic, husbands, and fathers. They enjoy whisky, beer, bacon, flamethrowers, St. Thomas Aquinas, virtue, true leisure, and authentic friendship. The show is typically broken down into 3 segments - A drink, a gear, and a topic. We are on the Lord's team. The winning side. So raise your glass. #CheerstoJesus You can support our show by going to www.patreon.com/thecatholicmanshow

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