Advent isn’t over yet, guys! While in the secular world, it seems like Christmas is already here, Catholics have a very different perspective. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, we not only prepare our homes for Jesus’ birth, but we prepare our hearts and minds and spiritual lives, too!

Today on the Chris Stefanick Show, I’m talking to my dear friend, Fr. Michael O’Loughlin. He is the pastor of the Proto-Cathedral of St. Mary in Los Angeles and co-host of the What God Is Not Podcast. And yes, he is also famous for going to bars and coffee shops in LA dressed in his priest clerics and evangelizing to the patrons there!

We talk about how to close our Advent strong (or how to get back on track if you feel like your Advent has been lacking) and how to finish with the best Christmas ever. We chat about how hardcore Byzantine Advent is (they fast from meat, dairy, wine AND oil!), why engaging with God through our senses is important and needed, how to prepare your heart for Jesus’ birth, and so much more.

Plus, Fr. Michael shares all about Byzantine iconography and goes through several beautiful icons that capture the beauty of this season. I can’t wait to dive in!

Show links: Fr. Michael’s podcast: https://whatgodisnot.com/

My sister’s AMAZING art and iconography: https://elizabethzelasko.com/

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LIFE: The Journey of Real Life Catholics is HERE! Watch the first episode for FREE on our exclusive streaming platform: https://bit.ly/3yIWG72

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❤️ The episode was made possible by our Missionaries of Joy. To support this channel, visit https://reallifecatholic.com/moj/

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December 12 is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, marking 493 years since our Blessed Mother appeared to St. Juan Diego and initiated the largest mass conversion to Christianity EVER. If you don’t know how AMAZING the story of the apparitions of Mary, the miracle of Juan Diego’s tilma, and how God intervened in a contentious relationship between Aztecs and Spanish colonists, your mind will be BLOWN.

You guys, I am so excited to share this episode with you, that I filmed at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe! I touch on the complex issue of colonialism (it’s not as black and white as you’d think), the story of a lowly farmer who was visited by the Mother of God, and truly AWESOME facts discovered about the tilma over the centuries. Plus, I share some lessons from Our Lady of Guadalupe that are just as relevant today. Let’s dive right in!

Don’t forget to like and subscribe to Real Life Catholic, and if you could, share this episode with a friend!

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Enter to win a FREE pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe for you and a Friend by following this link! https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimage-giveaway/

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THANK YOU to our Missionaries of Joy who make all of this work possible! Please consider supporting our work today: https://reallifecatholic.com/moj/

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✈️ To learn more about all of Real Life Catholic Pilgrimages visit: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/ ........

LIFE: The Journey of Real Life Catholics is HERE! Watch the first episode for FREE on our exclusive streaming platform: https://bit.ly/3yIWG72

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❤️ The episode was made possible by our Missionaries of Joy. To support this channel, visit https://reallifecatholic.com/moj/

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✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration in your inbox. https://reallifecatholic.com/opt-in/

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️ Listen to 3-Minute Reset, my NEW podcast with Pat Lencioni for working Christians: https://apple.co/3RHoSg2

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Listen to the "Chris Stefanick Show" as a podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

You know him, you love him! I am so happy to bring back my good friend Fr. Mike Schmitz.

Did you know that, in addition to his podcasts and YouTube videos, Fr. Mike is a spiritual father to hundreds of students? It’s true! He has been the campus minister at the University of Minnesota Duluth Newman Center for 20 years!

We talk about how campus ministry has changed, how to get through to the “nones” (those who identify with no religious affiliation), and we offer some hope and advice for parents who want to ensure that their college-aged and young adult children stay close to the Lord.

Plus, I am so excited to share Fr. Mike’s newest adventure! The Newman Center at UMD has outgrown its very small space (the chapel can fit only 60 people!) and Fr. Mike is on a mission so that no soul at UMD has to be turned away for lack of space. UMD Newman is fundraising to build a new, amazing, HUGE facility that is a beacon of Catholicism on campus!

My conversation with Fr. Mike is so blessed, as always! If you’re struggling with motivation and hope, no matter your state in life, please know that there is hope and consolation and immense JOY in our God.

Support Fr. Mike’s mission today: https://bulldogcatholic.org/seeds-of-...

SPECIAL THANKS TO CORPORATE TRAVEL, PRODUCERS OF THE GOOD NEWS CONFERENCE FOR MAKING THIS INTERVIEW POSSIBLE!

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❤️ The episode was made possible by our Missionaries of Joy. To support this channel and be entered into a drawing for a FREE Pilgrimage to visit Our Lady of Guadalupe for you and a friend, sign up to become a Missionary of Joy! https://reallifecatholic.com/moj/

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Get on the waitlist for out new program Way of the Apostle on how to share your faith as we follow the footsteps of Saint Paul visit https://coaching.reallifecatholic.com... to sign up!

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✈️ Join me on pilgrimage in 2025 to the Holy Land, Poland and Prague, or Mexico! https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrima...

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LIFE: The Journey of Real Life Catholics is HERE! Watch the first episode for FREE on our exclusive streaming platform: https://bit.ly/3yIWG72

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✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration in your inbox. https://reallifecatholic.com/opt-in/

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️ Listen to 3-Minute Reset, my NEW podcast with Pat Lencioni for working Christians: https://apple.co/3RHoSg2

Happy Thanksgiving, guys!

Before we dive into turkey, football, and pumpkin pie, let’s take a second to remember what we’re even celebrating in the first place—gratitude for all of the AMAZING gifts God has given to us. Even if you have had a very tough year, there are still fantastic blessings that the Lord has placed in your life.

You may not realize this, but we actually OWE gratitude to God and the people around us, and that is a fantastic thing!

In this one-on-one episode, I talk about the Christian roots of Thanksgiving, my recent AWESOME visit to Colby, Kansas, why practicing gratitude really RESHAPES our lives, and why just “being a good person” without God doesn’t cut it. Plus, we dive into a spicy Q & A session where I respond to some of your comments and questions on my recent videos.

Don’t miss this uplifting and inspiring episode to get your mind and heart right before going into the holiday weekend. Happy Thanksgiving, and may your heart be filled with gratitude and JOY!

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, THANK YOU to our Missionaries of Joy who make all of this work possible! Please consider supporting our work today: https://reallifecatholic.com/moj/

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LIFE: The Journey of Real Life Catholics is HERE! Watch the first episode for FREE on our exclusive streaming platform: https://bit.ly/3yIWG72

........

❤️ The episode was made possible by our Missionaries of Joy. To support this channel, visit https://reallifecatholic.com/moj/

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✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration in your inbox. https://reallifecatholic.com/opt-in/

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️ Listen to 3-Minute Reset, my NEW podcast with Pat Lencioni for working Christians: https://apple.co/3RHoSg2

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Listen to the "Chris Stefanick Show" as a podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Damien Walker is saving the world through beauty.

In the aftermath of the catastrophic earthquake in his hometown of Christchurch, New Zealand in 2011, Damien began restoring the sacred statues in his local church. What started as a hobby became a “field hospital for sacred art,” and now Damien had the largest statuary in the Southern Hemisphere!

We talk about how he uses beautiful sacred heart to bring souls to Christ, why beauty will save the world (and why the Devil despises it), how to combat the distractions of modern life with the timeless beauty of the Church, and most notably, Damien’s commission from the bishops of New Zealand to create the AMAZING image of Our Lady of New Zealand. And as always, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss an episode of the Chris Stefanick Show!

Find Damien online: https://www.thestudioofsaintphilomena.com/ Damien’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestudioofsaintphilomena

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LIFE: The Journey of Real Life Catholics is HERE! Watch the first episode for FREE on our exclusive streaming platform: https://bit.ly/3yIWG72

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❤️ The episode was made possible by our Missionaries of Joy. To support this channel, visit https://reallifecatholic.com/moj/

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✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration in your inbox. https://reallifecatholic.com/opt-in/

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️ Listen to 3-Minute Reset, my NEW podcast with Pat Lencioni for working Christians: https://apple.co/3RHoSg2

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Listen to the "Chris Stefanick Show" as a podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

In this episode, I offer a Catholic perspective on voting, why it is even important to vote, and how we must approach our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout this election period. Later in the episode, I dive into the fascinating intersection of faith and professional life, exploring how we, as Christians, can boldly share our beliefs in the workplace. Joining me is Deacon Steve Greco, who brings a wealth of experience from his time as a senior vice president at Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Deacon Steve Greco shares how he seamlessly wove his faith into his leadership style, highlighting the profound impact of love, prayer, and encouragement in creating a positive and thriving work environment. Throughout our conversation, we emphasize the transformative power of living out our faith authentically in every aspect of our lives.

In a hurry? Skip to the key moments in this episode:

00:00 Introduction

00:54 What You HAVE to Remember Heading Into Election Day

☝️ 06:24 Jesus Didn’t Say “Tolerate Your Enemies.”

10:20 Deacon Steve Greco: Senior Vice President of…Evangelization?

12:27 What “Separation of Church and State” ACTUALLY Means

✍️ 13:22 How to Evangelize Without Scaring People Away: LOVE

❤️ 15:55 How to Keep People Focused on the Same Mission (whether it’s your family or a company of 4,000 people)

20:30 We Are in the Midst of a Love Story—Really!

❤️‍ 23:00 How to Live Abundantly in Christ

✝️ 24:56 The Moment Deacon Steve Realized He Needed to Leave his Corporate Job

27:47 The Remedy to Make the Catholic Church more Evangelistic (Again)

️ 30:05 How the Film Jesus Thirsts is a True Testament to the Power of the Eucharist

30:45 Deacon Steve’s Closing Prayer That Will Set You ON FIRE for the Lord!

You know him from The Minority Report, Band of Brothers, and more. He’s had more than 60 epic death scenes on-camera. He’s Hollywood’s ultimate villain. Ladies and gentlemen, Neal McDonough!

Neal had it all. He was a rising Hollywood star, getting huge roles, working with the biggest names in the industry. Then, he was blacklisted for one thing: refusing to do romantic on-camera scenes with women who were not his wife. Neal stuck to his Catholic values and nearly lost his career because of it!

My conversation with Neal is so inspiring. We talk about his career, how he nearly lost everything after taking a stand, his struggles with addiction during that dark time, and how he came back, better than ever, to have an extensive and AMAZING career, using his talents to glorify God.

Neal knows that faith and staying true to God is a transformative thing. He has seen it first-hand in his own life! May his example inspire us to follow God as intensely in our own lives. If there’s someone you know who is going through a dark time or having a tough job situation, this is a perfect episode to share with them to give them hope! And as always, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to our YouTube channel so that you never miss an episode of the Chris Stefanick Show!

SPECIAL THANKS TO CORPORATE TRAVEL, PRODUCERS OF THE GOOD NEWS CONFERENCE, for making this interview possible. To learn more visit www.GoodNewsConference.com.

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LIFE: The Journey of Real Life Catholics is HERE! Watch the first episode for FREE on our exclusive streaming platform: https://bit.ly/3yIWG72

........

❤️ The episode was made possible by our Missionaries of Joy. To support this channel, visit https://reallifecatholic.com/moj/

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✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration in your inbox. https://reallifecatholic.com/opt-in/

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️ Listen to 3-Minute Reset, my NEW podcast with Pat Lencioni for working Christians: https://apple.co/3RHoSg2

SPECIAL THANKS TO CORPORATE TRAVEL, PRODUCERS OF THE GOOD NEWS CONFERENCE for making this interview possible. To learn more visit www.GoodNewsConference.com.

If your world was ROCKED by Part One of my interview with the legendary Arthur Brooks, get ready for Part Two!

We dive into the book Arthur wrote during COVID, Strength to Strength. In it, he talks about the second half of life—the part where we move from being the “doers” to being the “teachers.” For so many of us, this elicits fear, anxiety, and the sudden urge to buy a sports car, but it doesn’t have to! While our decline (physical and cognitive) IS inevitable, the way we handle it and use this stage of our lives to glorify God is totally up to us.

We talk about fluid intelligence (the first half) vs. crystallized intelligence (the second half), why being a grandparent is AWESOME, how we can make the most of the rest of our lives, what Arthur has learned from Buddhist monks, and MORE. This episode is so packed with wisdom, whether you are in this phase of life (like me) or not, our conversation is a fantastic way to reframe our views on aging and help you to better love and honor those in your life who are in this phase.

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Strength to Strength: https://www.amazon.com/Strength-Finding-Success-Happiness-Purpose/dp/059319148X

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LIFE: The Journey of Real Life Catholics is HERE! Watch the first episode for FREE on our exclusive streaming platform: https://bit.ly/3yIWG72

........

❤️ The episode was made possible by our Missionaries of Joy. To support this channel, visit https://reallifecatholic.com/moj/

........

✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration in your inbox. https://reallifecatholic.com/opt-in/

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️ Listen to 3-Minute Reset, my NEW podcast with Pat Lencioni for working Christians: https://apple.co/3RHoSg2

SPECIAL THANKS TO CORPORATE TRAVEL, PRODUCERS OF THE GOOD NEWS CONFERENCE for making this interview possible. To learn more visit www.GoodNewsConference.com.

If you have never heard of my guest today, your mind is about to be BLOWN!

Arthur Brooks writes a weekly science column for The Atlantic, teaches at Harvard, is a New York Times Bestselling author, is friends with the Dalai Lama, AND is a faithful Catholic. In fact, he’s a daily Communicant!

We talk about Arthur’s disciplined morning routine, how the Virgin Mary has played a SERIOUS role in key moments of his life (including his conversion), what it’s like working with Oprah, the key secret to being an effective missionary in the secular world, and more!

By simply talking with the man, his presence and EXCELLENCE is undeniable. Our conversation was SO good and filled with nuggets of wisdom that this is part one of two episodes we’re releasing from our conversation. Be sure to tune in next week for the rest of our conversation!

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Strength to Strength: https://www.amazon.com/Strength-Finding-Success-Happiness-Purpose/dp/059319148X

........

LIFE: The Journey of Real Life Catholics is HERE! Watch the first episode for FREE on our exclusive streaming platform: https://bit.ly/3yIWG72

........

❤️ The episode was made possible by our Missionaries of Joy. To support this channel, visit https://reallifecatholic.com/moj/

........

✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration in your inbox. https://reallifecatholic.com/opt-in/

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️ Listen to 3-Minute Reset, my NEW podcast with Pat Lencioni for working Christians: https://apple.co/3RHoSg2

St. Francis of Assisi truly changed the world with his radical poverty, love of God, and JOY. I am SO excited for this episode on one of my favorite saints!

We go through Francis’ life story—his lavishly wealthy upbringing, fighting in the Crusades, and eventually losing interest in worldly desires. He eventually renounced his wealth, his family, and his inheritance, for Francis realized his true inheritance was in Heaven.

St. Francis never intended to start a movement with his devotion to radical poverty, but people began to follow him in droves, giving away their possessions and serving the poor. That spirit of Francisican love and intense JOY is alive and well today, nearly 800 years after his death.

I share more about how one of the most pivotal moments of St. Francis’ life inspired a Mumford and Sons song (true story!), how our desire for control is precisely what is making us unhappy, and we close with what I think is one of the most beautiful prayers ever written, St. Francis’ Canticle of the Sun.

Whether he’s one of your favorite saints like me, or you only know him as “that hippie saint,” there is SO much to learn about St. Francis of Assisi in this episode. Let’s dive in!........

LIFE: The Journey of Real Life Catholics is HERE! Watch the first episode for FREE on our exclusive streaming platform: https://bit.ly/3yIWG72

........

❤️ The episode was made possible by our Missionaries of Joy. To support this channel, visit https://reallifecatholic.com/moj/

........

✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration in your inbox. https://reallifecatholic.com/opt-in/

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️ Listen to 3-Minute Reset, my NEW podcast with Pat Lencioni for working Christians: https://apple.co/3RHoSg2