Being Human

You might know St. John Paul II for Theology of the Body—but that's just scratching the surface. In this episode, Dr. Greg shares why JP2's deeper philosophy holds the key to understanding the human person today—especially in a world of AI therapy, psychedelics, and emotional confusion.

Key Topics:

• Why relying solely on Aquinas isn't enough for addressing the psychological and spiritual needs of today
• The philosophical genius of St. John Paul II—and why he's more than just the "Theology of the Body pope"
• The critical difference between being a therapist who's Catholic and doing authentically Catholic therapy
• How personalism bridges timeless Church teaching with the complexities of modern life
• Why understanding subjective experience is essential for Catholic therapists, clergy, and educators
• How personalism offers a Catholic answer to postmodern relativism without losing objective truth

Learn More:

• Theology of the Body for Beginners by Christopher West – A clear, accessible introduction to John Paul II's groundbreaking teaching on love, sexuality, and the human person.
• Love and Responsibility by Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II) – A philosophical deep dive into human dignity, attraction, and the true meaning of love.
• Related podcast episodes:
  • Ep. 180 – The Psychology of JP2: A Bold Proposal
  • Ep. 183 – The Lead Domino Effect: Transformation Begins with a Blueprint
  • Ep. 197 – Correcting Aquinas: JP2's Truth Bomb on Gender and Human Dignity
  • Ep. 218 – My Conversation with a Secular Therapist: Unveiling the Blueprint of the Human Person
  • Ep. 221 – Is AI Really More Effective Than Your Therapist?
  • Ep. 238 – The False Promise of AI and Psychedelics
• Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation
• Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment

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Life as a parent is anything but simple. In this vulnerable episode, Dr. Greg and Fr. Dave Pivonka talk about the complexity of fatherhood, the wounds we carry, and how our vocation starts to make more sense when we begin to see God as Father—and dare to embrace our own weakness.

Key Topics:

• Dr. Greg's raw reflection on feeling helpless as a dad—and what happened when he couldn't hold it all together
• The words every child longs to hear—and how one moment with his dad changed Fr. Dave's life
• What Fr. Dave learned at his father's deathbed—and why his family started clapping
• The surprising power of helplessness—and why it's safe to admit you don't have it all figured out
• Why obedience isn't restrictive—but actually the key to peace for parents
• How wounds from divorce, absence, or imperfect fathers still shape us today
• Why God's Fatherhood isn't just a metaphor—it's the foundation of healing

Learn More:

• "My father's Father" – A Video Series by Fr. Dave Pivonka: A moving exploration of how our human experience of fatherhood affects our view of God the Father—told through Fr. Dave's personal story.
• Fr. Dave Pivonka on YouTube: Explore Fr. Dave's videos and powerful reflections on faith, fatherhood, and the spiritual life.
• "Overcoming Anxiety and Depression" – In Focus Series: Fr. Dave sits down with Dr. Greg Bottaro for a powerful series on the spiritual and psychological roots of anxiety and depression—and what real healing looks like.
• Redemptoris Custos by Pope John Paul II: Read the apostolic exhortation On the Person and Mission of Saint Joseph in the Life of Christ and of the Church.
• Catherine Pakaluk: Learn more about economist and Catholic author Dr. Catherine Pakaluk.
• Franciscan University of Steubenville: Discover more about the university where Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR, serves as president.
• Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation
• Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment

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Scrupulosity isn't just "Catholic guilt gone too far"—it's a deeply painful form of OCD that can hijack your relationship with God. In this episode, Dr. Greg sits down with Stephanie Muncy, CatholicPsych's in-house expert (and someone who's lived it), to unpack what scrupulosity really is, how it distorts the spiritual life, and why the path to healing might look very different than you think.

Key Topics:

• How scrupulosity is actually a debilitating form of OCD
• The scariest part of scrupulosity? It feels like it's about God—but it's really not
• Why obsessively going to confession or seeking reassurance only makes things worse
• The true root of scrupulosity isn't spiritual failure—it's unhealed anxiety
• How the need to "get it right" spiritually often masks a deeper wound
• Why you can't "logic your way out" of OCD
• What healing actually looks like—and why it's not about caring less
• Why even well-meaning spiritual advice can sometimes make things worse
• The most powerful thing you can offer someone suffering from scrupulosity

Learn More:

• Blog articles by Stephanie Muncy:
  • How to Settle Anxiety in the Heart and Mind of Someone with OCD
  • The Love that Sets Us Free: A Compassionate Path through OCD
• Previously on the Being Human Podcast:
  • Ep. #22: A Look at Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Scrupulosity
• Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat: An 8-week course that brings freedom from anxiety and depression by showing you how to live as if you really believe in a God who loves you.
• The Mindful Catholic by Dr. Greg Bottaro: A practical guide to finding peace in the present moment through Catholic mindfulness.
• CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism (CPMAP): Catholic accompaniment training that truly integrates faith and science.
• Learn more about Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Parts Work:
  • Ep. #160: Healing through Parts Work
  • Ep. #35: Why Do I Feel Like I Have Conflicting Parts?
• Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation
• Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment

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oes following God mean life will be free from suffering? In this deeply moving episode, Dr. Greg reconnects with his longtime friend Stefanie Madden, who shares the heartbreaking story of losing her daughter to a rare neurological disorder. It's an honest conversation about grief, faith, and the truth that God doesn't promise to take away suffering—but He does promise to be with us in the midst of it.

Key Topics:

• Stefanie's heartbreaking story of losing a child to a rare neurological condition
• Why the idea that "good Christians don't suffer" is not only false—but harmful
• How grief and faith can coexist without canceling each other out
• How Stefanie learned to carry her pain with God, not apart from Him
• What does it really mean to say God is with us in suffering?
• Why Stefanie says she now feels free for the first time in years
• What a grieving mom wishes she'd done differently

Learn More:

• Baby Brian: A Pilgrim of Hope – Discover the full story of this incorrupt infant, view photos, and sign up for updates as his journey continues to unfold.
• Previously on Being Human:
  • Ep. 79: The Weight of Grief with Bri Edwards
• A Thousand Pounds – An award-winning book offering strength and hope for parents carrying the unimaginable weight of grief.
• Lach's Legacy – Bri Edwards' nonprofit ministry serving families who have experienced the loss of a child.
• Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation
• Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment

What if the real challenge of screen-time isn't about screens at all? In this episode, Dr. Greg and colleague Teresa Violette explore how digital distractions can interfere with the deeper needs of a child's development. Instead of fear or guilt over screen use, discover the secret ingredient that helps parents raise confident, connected kids—even in a digital world.

Key Topics:

• Why simply limiting screen time isn't the full solution—and what to focus on instead
• The deeper question every parent should ask: What are screens replacing in your child's life?
• The overlooked power of parental attunement—and how it shapes your child's development
• Why every child needs something different depending on their age, personality, and family dynamics
• Teresa's honest, relatable story about summer survival and cutting back on TV at home
• How screen overuse can quietly erode creativity, connection, and emotional regulation
• Why perfection isn't the goal—and how to parent with peace, even when things are messy

Learn More:

• Previous episodes with Teresa Violette:
  • Ep. #102: ADHD and Me
  • Ep. #62: Relationship Q&A with Married Therapists: An Interview with Dr. Bryan and Teresa Violette
• Blog: Show Me Your Face: Being Present with Your Children
• Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation
• Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment

How can you raise strong, faith-filled kids when the culture around them pushes everything but virtue? Dr. Ray Guarendi joins Dr. Greg to talk parenting with courage, moral clarity, and a little humor—even when the world tells you you're crazy.

Key Topics:

• Why raising virtuous kids today requires going against the cultural current
• The difference between parenting in love vs. parenting in fear
• How to make trustworthiness—not age—the benchmark for giving your child a smartphone
• What most parents get wrong about discipline (and how to fix it)
• Why affection from fathers is essential to building influence and obedience
• How to handle peer influence when other families don't share your values
• The long game: how to raise kids who seek God even if they push back now

Learn More:

• Raising Upright Kids in an Upside Down World – A parenting guide by Dr. Ray Guarendi on raising children with virtue in a culture that resists it.
• Previously on Being Human:
  • Ep. # 101: Catholic Parenting Amid Cultural Chaos with Dr. Ray Guarendi
• Visit Dr. Ray Guardendi's website – Access his full library of books, radio shows, videos, and stay tuned for the upcoming release of Zero-Drama Discipline.
• The Anxious Generation – Jonathan Haidt's must-read book on how screen time is reshaping childhood.
• Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation
• Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment

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Parenting isn't all cupcakes and rainbows—especially when you're nine months pregnant and tripping over toys. In this episode, Dr. Greg sits down with his wife Barbra (just days away from delivering baby #8) for a raw and honest conversation about how the hidden, exhausting moments of family life are actually powerful works of mercy. If you've ever felt like you're not doing "enough," this episode will give you a whole new perspective.

Key Topics:

• Why parenting is one of the most overlooked works of mercy
• The spiritual significance of everyday parenting struggles
• What it really means to "do enough" as a Catholic parent
• How consistency becomes a gift of self to our children
• Why the feedback loop in parenting feels so different from outside ministry
• Lessons from daily Mass with young kids (and front-pew survival tactics)

Learn More:

• Atomic Habits by James Clear – Practical strategies for building better habits and shaping your environment to support your goals.
• Previous episodes with Barbra Bottaro:
  • Ep. #132: We Didn't Plan to Have Seven Kids: Accommodating Life
  • Ep. #127: "I'm Gonna Want to Divorce You at Some Point"
  • Ep. #201: Is Leadership of the Family a Man's Job?
• Blog: Banana Chips, Motherhood, and Mindfulness
• Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation
• Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment

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This episode dives into one of the hardest questions we face as parents: How do we help our kids stay rooted in the faith when the world is pulling them away? Dr. Greg sits down with Raquel Rose, who's lived this from every angle—first as a scared college student facing an unexpected pregnancy, later as a school counselor walking with teens through their toughest moments, and now as a Catholic mom of four. She shares real-life wisdom about building trust, opening up honest conversations, and bringing faith into everyday family life.

Key Topics:

• The real reasons kids shut down—and what actually helps them open up
• Why Raquel was afraid to tell her parents she was pregnant—and what she wishes they had said
• The moment of grace that changed everything before her scheduled abortion
• How seeing Jesus in the Eucharist led to healing, hope, and a new path
• What Raquel learned from years of counseling teens who couldn't talk to their parents
• Simple ways parents can build trust and bring faith into everyday family life

Learn More:

• The Little Rose Shop – Explore Raquel's Catholic toys, books, and tools for faith-filled family life.
• Sitting Like a Saint – Catholic mindfulness for kids
• Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation
• Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment

Our world—and especially Catholic social media—is flooded with sensationalized talk about the devil, demonic activity, and spiritual "access points." But what if that fear-based narrative is actually distracting us from the truth? In this episode, Dr. Greg Bottaro is joined by Dr. Sean Tobin to reframe the conversation around spiritual warfare, demystify deliverance, and remind us of the one truth we often forget: God is bigger. Way bigger.

Key Topics:

• Why obsessing over the devil may actually weaken your spiritual life
• How Catholic social media is shaping our fears—and not always in a good way
• What most people misunderstand about deliverance prayer and spiritual authority
• Why "Dungeons & Dragons" might actually help your spiritual growth
• The surprising connection between imagination, healing, and holiness
• How a four-year-old's fear of demons led to a powerful moment of truth
• Why the devil is more like a mosquito than a monster (and what that means for your faith)

Learn More:

• Big God, Little Devil by Dr. Sean Tobin – Explore the book that inspired this conversation. Reframe your understanding of spiritual warfare and reclaim peace through a Christ-centered lens.
• Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl – The classic work that helped shift Dr. Tobin from atheism toward a deeper search for truth and meaning.
• Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation
• Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment

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Dr. Greg sits down with Bri Edwards to share the stunning story of "Baby Brian," an infant whose incorrupt body was found decades after burial. Together, they reflect on God's mercy, the mystery of suffering, and the hope this miracle brings.

Key Topics:

• The incredible discovery of Baby Brian's incorrupt body 37 years after burial
• How this mystery challenges our understanding of God's mercy
• The Catholic tradition of incorrupt saints—and how this case is different
• What this story reveals about the dignity of every human life
• The impact of infant loss on faith, hope, and healing
• Why hope is central in the face of grief and unanswered questions

Learn More:

• Baby Brian: A Pilgrim of Hope – Explore the full story, view photos, and sign up for updates as this journey unfolds.
• Podcast: Ep. 79: The Weight of Grief – Listen to Bri Edwards share more of her powerful story.
• Book: A Thousand Pounds: Finding the Strength to Live and Love Under the Weight of Unbearable Loss – Bri Edwards' award-winning book offering hope and strength to parents facing unimaginable loss.
• Lach's Legacy – Bri's nonprofit ministry supporting families grieving the death of a child.
• Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation
• Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment