The episode of Navigating the Cross, "An Introduction to Prayer," features host Spencer discussing the crucial and comprehensive topic of prayer. The episode begins by acknowledging that while prayer is vast and complex, most Christians have room to grow in their prayer lives.

The host explores various definitions of prayer, noting that the act of religion—a virtue in the Catholic Church—is the bond uniting man to God, making prayer essentially the act of uniting oneself to God. Definitions provided include:

• A simple look turned toward heaven (St. Terz Lu).
• True prayer is nothing but love (St. Augustine).
• The raising of one's mind and heart to God (St. John of Damascus).
• The vital and personal relationship with the living and true God (the Catechism).

The host details the purpose of prayer, which is to acknowledge God's power and our own neediness and dependence on Him, helping to order our desires and grow our relationship. Prayer presupposes faith (believing in God even when you do not see) and hope (the recognition that God wants good for you and can save you).

The discussion also covers how Catholics pray, emphasizing that prayer is always directed to a person (the Holy Trinity or the saints in heaven) and not objects or idols. The Mass (Liturgy) is identified as the highest and most important form of prayer. Finally, the host discusses the need for private mental prayer (recommended at least 15 minutes a day) and notes that devotions like the Rosary are tools for mental prayer meant to avoid vain repetition by focusing on meditating on the mysteries of Christ's life. The episode concludes by stressing that Catholics should always be working to improve their prayer life to achieve union with God.

The episode of Navigating the Cross, "Why Detachment is Necessary as Catholics," features host Spencer discussing the crucial concept of detachment in the modern world. Detachment is defined as the opposite of an attachment, which is an emotional dependence on earthly things, people, or objects. The host uses the quote from 1 Timothy 6:7–8—"For we brought nothing into the world... If we have food, clothing, we shall be content with that"—to frame the discussion, asserting that life's goal is to acquire spiritual goods and deepen one's relationship with God, not physical goods.

Achieving sanctity begins with mastery over attachments, which means avoiding using earthly goods (like food, wealth, or marriage) in excess of one's needs or for purposes other than their intended primary end. Attachments discussed include:

• Earthly Pleasures such as money, success, gluttony, women (or hookup culture), friendship, food, and comfort.
• Modern Attachments like being ambitious for oneself rather than submitting to God's will.
• Even Spiritual Goods such as the comfort or consolation of God in prayer, security, knowledge (prioritizing apologetics over relationship with God), or seeking joy as a constant state.

The episode stresses that the goal of detachment is not to stop loving the world, but to love things and people more truly in God. Ultimately, Catholics must detach from everything except God, who is the only thing we should desire. The host advises pursuing virtues like righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness (citing 1 Timothy 6:11–12) to desire God. The episode concludes with the importance of becoming an instrument for God by imitating Christ and striving for the goal that Christ lives within us.

This episode of Navigating the Cross, "Prayer, Conversion, and Apologetics," features host Spencer and guest Luis, a St. Leo University student. The discussion begins with Luis describing himself as a cradle Catholic submitted to Rome whose faith matured after his confirmation in eighth grade.

The hosts explore periods of spiritual lukewarmness, particularly during Luis's first year of college, where he describes being "Catholic only by name". Luis shares his journey of deepening his prayer life, starting with quiet time in the chapel and attending daily Mass in high school, sometimes even lying to friends to do so. A major point of the conversation is the hosts' mutual discovery—and subsequent shock—that many Catholics, including themselves, were never taught the practical necessity of avoiding Communion while in a state of mortal sin. They emphasize the need for greater reverence for the Eucharist.

The podcast also delves into Catholic apologetics, using the writings of the Church Fathers (such as St. Ignatius of Antioch) to prove the historical consistency of Catholic teachings, including the Eucharist and the papacy.

Luis also outlines the nine levels of prayer according to St. Teresa of Ávila and St. John of the Cross, detailing the progression from vocal prayer to transforming union (spiritual marriage with God). He notes that he decided to "lock in" and take his faith seriously after being inspired by the conversion story of St. Augustine, realizing that "every sinner has a future and every saint has a past".

This episode of Navigating the Cross, "Why Discipline is Important for Catholics," features host Spencer and guest Eliab, a sophomore at St. Leo University who runs track and cross country. Eliab, a cradle Catholic who previously took his faith lightly, shares how attending the Latin Mass inspired him to take his faith more seriously.

The central theme is the necessity of discipline—in both daily life and faith—which Eliab cultivated upon starting college. The hosts discuss how practicing faith, including going to daily Mass and praying the rosary, helps build consistency and discipline. They stress that a relationship with God requires setting aside time, even during periods of spiritual desolation (a test from God) or when one doesn't feel the "lovey-dovey" emotions. Eliab emphasizes the importance of continuing the hard work, even when life feels monotonous.

For those looking to build discipline, Eliab recommends timestamping one's day by scheduling specific blocks for tasks and focusing on structured routines, similar to the disciplined life of a monk. The hosts conclude with the necessity of doing the hard work especially when you don't feel like it.

The episode of Navigating the Cross, "How to Take Your Faith Seriously," features host Spencer and guest Luke, the brother of a previous guest. Luke, described as a "pretty devout Catholic," discusses his journey to taking his faith more seriously, noting that he only started "living it out well" about two years ago, upon arriving at St. Leo.

The conversation centers on the hosts' mutual experiences of lukewarmness and lack of care for the faith during high school and middle school. They reflect on the poor catechesis they received, particularly concerning the seriousness of the Eucharist and the lack of teaching on topics like mortal sin (specifically that one cannot receive Communion while in a state of mortal sin) and the Church's sexual ethics. They contrast this with a discussion of the importance of both God's love and His justice.

Luke's conversion was inspired by upperclassmen and student ministry leaders, such as "J Paul" (who is now in seminary), serving as visible, holy role models. Key advice for college Catholics includes the bare minimum—attending weekly Mass, going to Confession, and establishing a routine of prayer—and the vital necessity of community and getting rid of pride. They conclude by stressing that faith formation primarily starts in the domestic church (the family).

The latest episode of Navigating the Cross, "How to Be a Saint While Doing Homework," features host Spencer and his roommate, Brody. Brody, an education major, discusses his journey from being raised Catholic to becoming a more devout Catholic in college, navigating previous doubts inspired by Protestantism and scrupulosity.

The hosts focus on the intersection of faith and college life, specifically the duty to practice academic honesty. Brody emphasizes that education should cultivate a well-formed conscience, not just lead to a degree, and details how his faith encourages him to rethink rules regarding assignments, such as avoiding the improper use of AI.

The conversation also tackles struggles with laziness and procrastination, particularly regarding daily prayer and reading the Bible. They discuss overcoming the temptation of doom scrolling and other addictive behaviors tied to technology, stressing that radical action may be necessary to avoid near occasions of sin. The episode highlights the importance of fortitude—doing the hard work even when you don't feel like it—and concludes with advice to cultivate virtue through fasting during Advent.

This is a brief show notes description for the podcast:

The official first episode of Navigating the Cross features Vincent, a student and fellow men's group leader for the campus ministry at St. Leo University. The hosts discuss living out the Catholic faith in college. The conversation explores Vincent's background as a cradle Catholic who received a strong religious education, and the challenges both hosts faced regarding periods of spiritual dryness and the difficulty of maintaining a deep faith in the college environment. They emphasize the importance of overcoming lukewarmness and outline practical steps for deepening one's relationship with God. Central to maintaining faith in adulthood is the cultivation of community and fellowship and establishing a consistent routine of prayer. The hosts stress that a commitment to faith pays dividends, echoing the principle that what you put in is what you get out.

This episode is a general introduction to the podcast.