Being Human

The Holy Spirit isn't just a once-a-year topic for Pentecost — He's meant to be at the center of our daily spiritual life. In this episode, Dr. Greg Bottaro unpacks 5 powerful insights from Archbishop Luis Martinez's The Sanctifier to help you enter more deeply into the mystery of how the Holy Spirit transforms us. From the Holy Spirit's permanent dwelling in your soul to His intimate collaboration with Our Lady, this conversation offers a fresh, integrated perspective on how God is actively sanctifying you right now.

Key Topics:

• Why the Holy Spirit deserves more than just Pentecost-level attention

• How the Holy Spirit and Our Lady work together to form Christ in us

• The permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit in every baptized soul

• The real difference between spiritual growth and psychological development

• The role of mindfulness in opening ourselves to the Holy Spirit's work

Learn More:

Dive deeper into the themes from today's episode:

• The Sanctifier by Archbishop Luis Martinez — the powerful spiritual classic Dr. Greg unpacks in this episode.

• Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat — walk through the full eight-week formation with Dr. Greg: catholicpsych.com/virtual-retreat

• Reserve your spot for the 2025 Summit of Integration (June 20–22, virtual + in-person)

• Catch past episodes with Summit speakers here.

• Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation

• Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment

What does it take to be funny—and faithful—in today's culture? In this lively and thought-provoking conversation, Catholic Psychologist Dr. Greg Bottaro sits down with comedian and broadcaster Tom Shillue to explore the grit, humility, and creative discipline behind the scenes of stand-up comedy. From resisting comfort in favor of calling, to navigating AI, analog living, and the deeper meaning of being human, Tom shares a rare peek behind the curtain of the entertainment world. Whether you're a fan of Gutfeld, a lover of vintage vinyl, or just hungry for a more integrated life, this episode will make you laugh, reflect, and maybe even reconsider your smart fridge.

Key Topics:

• The tension between professionalism, calling, and comfort

• The power of imperfection in both performance and relationship

• The spiritual and psychological cost of convenience culture

• How shared laughter creates connection and healing

• What to expect at the Summit of Integration—and why Tom said yes to hosting it

Learn More:

• Summit of Integration – June 20–22 in Madison, NJ Join us in person or virtually for a unique gathering of thought leaders exploring the integration of faith, psychology, and human formation. https://catholicpsych.com/summit

• Tom Shillue's Website Find out more about Tom's work, upcoming shows, and media appearances. https://tomshillue.com

• Dr. Greg Bottaro's Book: The Personalist Cure (Preview) Get the 3-chapter sample of Dr. Bottaro's new book when you register for the Summit in May.

• Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation

• Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment

What if the path to healing isn't about fixing yourself, but finally letting yourself be loved—right in the mess? In this deeply human and hopeful conversation, Dr. Greg sits down with longtime friend and CFR friar Fr. Columba to explore why our spiritual lives fall apart when we try to be angels instead of humans. Together, they unpack the quiet power of incarnation, what holiness looks like in real life (hint: it's not clean or quick), and how surrendering to God's pace opens the door to joy, wholeness, and peace. Whether you're weary from striving or just hungry for something more honest and integrated, this episode offers a refreshing breath of grace.

Key Topics:

• Why trying to be "perfectly spiritual" often leads us further from God

• The hidden danger of rejecting our humanity in the name of holiness

• How Jesus reveals the beauty of slowness, patience, and imperfection

• The role of emotions in spiritual life—and why they're not the enemy

• Why integration (not suppression) is key to authentic healing and holiness

Learn More:

• Join us for the 2024 Summit of Integration – June 20–22 in Madison, NJ, featuring Fr. Columba, Peter Kreeft, Jake & Heather Kim, Jennifer Morel, and Matt Maher.

• Spiritual Passages by Fr. Benedict Groeschel – A foundational resource on integrating psychological growth with spiritual maturity.

• Dr. Greg's Book: "The Personalist Cure" (Coming Soon) – Early chapters available with May ticket purchase to the Summit of Integration.

• Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation

• Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment

Ever wondered what kind of mental health advice people look for on Reddit? In this refreshingly candid episode, Dr. Greg Bottaro teams up with certified mentor Jack Beers to unpack the internet's most common (and sometimes surprising) questions about anxiety, therapy, burnout, and more. With humor, wisdom, and a deeply Catholic lens, they dive into real struggles people face every day—and offer practical insights that go far beyond a Reddit thread. Whether you're curious, confused, or just tired of pop-psych buzzwords, this conversation is for you.

Key Topics:

• The difference between stress and anxiety—and why it matters

• What it means to feel numb (and why you can't just "snap out of it")

• Why we sometimes can't sleep—and how to calm your brain without forcing it

• How to share your mental health struggles with others in a healthy way

• The real meaning of burnout—and how to spot it early

Learn More:

• The Summit of Integration – June 20–22, 2025 | Madison, NJ Join us for three powerful days exploring the integration of faith and mental health. Featuring keynote speakers Peter Kreeft, Jake and Heather Kim, Fr. Columba CFR, Jennifer Morel, and a special acoustic concert with Matt Maher. In-person and virtual tickets available. Purchase your ticket in May and receive a complimentary three-chapter preview of Dr. Greg Bottaro's upcoming book, The Personalist Cure.

• Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat Experience the retreat that's helped thousands find peace and clarity in daily life. This self-paced program includes guided mindfulness exercises rooted in Catholic spirituality—designed to help you pray, focus, and rest with greater intention.

• Jack Beers – CatholicPsych Certified Mentor Learn more about Jack's work supporting individuals through mentorship grounded in Catholic anthropology. Visit thecatholicmentor.com or connect with him on LinkedIn.

• Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation

• Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment

What happens when one of the greatest living Catholic philosophers takes on the rise of artificial intelligence? In this lively and deeply insightful episode, Dr. Greg Bottaro sits down with Dr. Peter Kreeft to explore what makes us truly human in an age of technology, why analogies and wonder matter more than ever, and how faith, philosophy, and psychology together can help us navigate a world increasingly dominated by machines.

Key Topics:

• Dr. Peter Kreeft's famous aversion to technology—and why he's learned to (mostly) make peace with it

• The surprising connection between artificial intelligence and the decline of analogical thinking

• Why quantity can never replace quality in art, beauty, or human experience

• How modern culture's obsession with image and efficiency is eroding our humanity

• The collapse of humanities education—and why it matters for the future of civilization

Learn More:

• Dr. Peter Kreeft's book The Philosophy of Tolkien, The One and the Many, and Socrates Meets Jesus

• Brave New World by Aldous Huxley — the dystopian classic discussed in the episode

• Pensées by Blaise Pascal — a brilliant, accessible introduction to defending the faith

• John Paul II's Theology of the Body — key writings on human dignity and personalism

• Fr. Norris Clarke's The One and the Many — a foundational text in Thomistic metaphysics

• The Summit of Integration — learn more about the upcoming event (update with your event link)

• Being Human Podcast Archives — explore past episodes on culture, technology, faith, and human integration (update with your archive link)

• Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation

• Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment

What if the key to understanding who we are was hidden in cultures all around the world? In this episode, Dr. Greg sits down with theologian Jennifer Morel to uncover how different cultures—along with her own Cajun heritage—offer powerful insights into what it really means to be male and female. Through stories of travel, surprising discoveries, and deep reflections on Catholic anthropology, they dive into why reclaiming the truth of our embodiment matters now more than ever. Whether you're fascinated by theology, culture, or just what it means to be fully human, this conversation will inspire you to see yourself—and the world around you—with new eyes.

Key Topics:

• Why Catholic anthropology looks beyond Western assumptions about gender and identity

• The hidden treasures in every culture that reveal what it means to be human

• What Cajun culture can teach us about matriarchy, gift, and authentic complementarity

• Why embodiment—being male or female—matters for our flourishing and our future resurrection

• The dangers of cultural pride and the invitation to learn from other traditions

Learn More:

• Summit of Integration – Join us in person or virtually for the upcoming Summit of Integration, featuring incredible speakers like Jennifer Morel, Dr. Peter Kreeft, Jake and Heather Kim, Fr. Columba, and Matt Maher.

• Man and Woman He Resurrected Them (Kindle Version) – Jennifer Morel's book exploring the meaning of male and female embodiment in the theology of the body.

• CatholicPsych Podcast Archive – Explore past episodes and topics in Catholic anthropology, integration, and human flourishing.

• Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation

• Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment

What happens when you say yes to God - and it turns your whole life upside down? In this powerful episode, Dr. Greg sits down with Jake and Heather Khym, two of the featured speakers at the upcoming Summit of Integration, to talk about marriage, mission, and radical trust. With honesty, humor, and deep wisdom, they unpack what it means to follow the Holy Spirit through seasons of change, simplicity, and surrender - while staying rooted in love, relationship, and the everyday reality of family life. Whether you're married, discerning, or navigating your own leap of faith, this conversation will inspire you to see your story through the lens of grace.

Key Topics:

• How radical trust in God led Jake and Heather Khym into a season of major life transition

• What it means to live out simplicity, change, and mission in marriage and ministry

• The beauty and challenge of following the Holy Spirit without a detailed roadmap

• Why ongoing marriage counseling is a strength, not a sign of failure

• The difference between resuscitating something in your relationship vs. inviting God to resurrect it

Learn More:

• Summit of Integration – Join us in-person or virtually for the CatholicPsych Summit of Integration, featuring powerful speakers, worship with Matt Maher, and transformative conversations on becoming who God created you to be.

• Life Restoration Ministries – Explore the healing and discipleship ministry led by Jake and Heather Khym.

• Restore the Glory Podcast – Hosted by Jake Khym and Dr. Bob Schuchts, focused on healing the whole person through Catholic teaching and personal transformation.

• Abiding Together Podcast – Co-hosted by Heather Khym, Sister Miriam James, and Michelle Benzinger—offering weekly conversations on faith, healing, and community.

• Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation

• Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment

What happens when AI starts to feel like a friend - but isn't one? In this final installment of our AI series, Dr. Greg explores the growing ability of artificial intelligence to mirror human behavior - and why, no matter how convincing it gets, it can never truly love or choose. Drawing from the Catholic tradition and John Paul II's personalism, we unpack the deep spiritual and psychological truths of freedom and love - and why real relationship can only happen between persons. If you've ever felt both amazed and uneasy about the rise of AI, this conversation will challenge and ground you in what it really means to be human.

Key Topics:

• Why AI may soon be indistinguishable from a real person - and why that matters

• The core differences between mimicking humanity and being human

• How real love requires real freedom—and why AI can't offer either

• How tools like AI can support human flourishing—but not replace human relationship

• The danger of substituting digital connection for true communion

Learn More:

• CatholicPsych Mentorship Program – Explore professional accompaniment grounded in Catholic anthropology and designed to foster real human growth and healing.

• CatholicPsych Podcast Archive – Search past episodes by topic and dive deeper into conversations on AI, psychology, faith, and the human person.

• Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation

• Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment

In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Greg explores the rising influence of artificial intelligence in therapy and why no machine, no matter how advanced, can truly replicate what it means to be human. Drawing from Pope St. John Paul II's theology of the person, he explains the irreplaceable dignity of real human connection - and why healing, growth, and love can only happen in relationship with another person. Whether you're fascinated by tech, worried about where it's all headed, or just craving a deeper understanding of what makes us human, this conversation offers a powerful reminder of our unique identity and mission.

Key Topics:

• The fundamental difference between knowing about a person and truly knowing them

• The irreplaceable role of human relationship in healing and growth

• Why Catholic psychology insists on the sacredness of the human person

• How technology often reflects our cultural misunderstanding of what it means to be human

• How AI lacks the one thing essential for real therapy: love

0:00 - Introduction

4:55 - The Church's View on Technology

9:30 - AI in Mental Health & Therapy

11:30 - Introducing 4 Human-Only Traits (Overview)

12:47 - Horizontal Transcendence (Relationality)

15:16 - False Relationships with AI

21:05 - Part 1 Conclusion

21:49 - Recap of Part 1 (Horizontal Transcendence)

24:45 - Vertical Transcendence

Learn More:

• CatholicPsych Podcast Page – Browse past episodes and search transcripts by topic, including previous discussions on AI and spirituality.

• CatholicPsych Mentorship – Learn more about accompaniment services rooted in Catholic anthropology.

• Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation

• Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment

What makes therapy Catholic—and is it really just adding a rosary to the session? In this unique episode, Dr. Greg is the one answering the questions, sitting down with college student Lucina Frank who's wrestling with how to bring her faith into the world of psychology. Their conversation pulls back the curtain on why CatholicPsych's approach feels so different—because it is—and how it responds to the deep hunger for healing that actually honors both our humanity and our faith. Whether you've been skeptical, searching, or simply curious, you'll walk away seeing therapy—and the Church's role in it—through a whole new lens.

Key Topics:

• Why "just adding prayer" isn't what makes therapy Catholic

• The real difference between faith-informed and faith-integrated therapy

• How a Catholic understanding of suffering changes the entire therapeutic goal

• What St. John Paul II's personalism offers that secular psychology can't

• How CatholicPsych is meeting a deeper need in the Church—and why it matters

• The danger of over-spiritualizing therapy (and how to avoid it)

00:00 – Introduction

03:07 – From Divorce to Vocation: Dr. Greg's Journey to Becoming a Therapist

09:05 – What's the Therapeutic Approach at CatholicPsych?

13:15 – Leading Clients Toward True Human Flourishing

17:00 – Therapy Isn't About Erasing Suffering

21:32 – Faith-Informed vs. Faith-Integrated Therapy

28:54 – Do Catholic Therapists Just Add a Rosary to the Sessions?

32:19 – Where Does Spiritual Direction Fit in Therapy?

41:12 – Why St. Thomas Aquinas Still Matters in Modern Psychology

46:22 – What St. Thomas Got Wrong about Gender

Learn More:

• CatholicPsych's model of daily accompaniment: Integrated Daily Dialogic Mentorship

• Spiritual Passages by Fr. Benedict Groeschel

• Discernment of Spirits course by Dr. Greg Bottaro

• Love and Responsibility by Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II)

• Mulieris Dignitatem by Pope John Paul II

• Related Episode: Ep. 197: Correcting Aquinas: JP2's Truth Bomb on Gender and Human Dignity

• Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation

• Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment

Follow Us on Socials: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter (X) | LinkedIn