Pastoral counselor Kevin Prendergast joins the Son Rise Morning Show for an important conversation about treatment-resistant depression. He explains why persistent depression deserves careful medical evaluation, how medication and evidence-based therapy can work together, and why people shouldn't try to self-treat based on information found online or on social media.

Kevin also discusses emerging treatments being studied for severe depression, while emphasizing the importance of working closely with qualified medical professionals. From a Catholic perspective, he offers a message of hope, pointing to saints who experienced profound suffering and reminding listeners that faith, the sacraments, spiritual direction, counseling, and appropriate medical care can all be part of the journey. Depression is a serious illness—but suffering does not mean God has abandoned us.

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Deacon Nathan Beiersdorfer joins the Son Rise Morning Show to continue exploring St. Francis de Sales’ Introduction to the Devout Life and his challenging advice about recreation and amusement. They discuss why rest is necessary for the mind and body, but how our leisure can become unhealthy when games, sports, entertainment, gambling, or social media begin to consume us.

Drawing on St. John the Evangelist and Joseph Pieper’s Leisure, the Basis of Culture, Deacon Nathan explains the difference between genuine recreation and simply escaping from our responsibilities. The conversation challenges listeners to examine their leisure through a Christian lens: Does this activity truly renew me, draw me toward wonder, and glorify God—or is it simply another distraction?

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Cy Kellett, host of Catholic Answers Live, joins the Son Rise Morning Show to continue exploring his book A Teacher of Strange Things: Who Jesus Was, What He Taught, and Why People Still Follow Him. They examine the central claim of Jesus' ministry: that He is the Messiah and Lord—God Himself.

Cy explains how even the Gospel of Mark presents a high Christology, pointing to Jesus' trial before the high priest, His identification as the one who comes “on the clouds” from Daniel, and His use of the divine “I am.” They also discuss Jesus' encounter with Pontius Pilate and the historical evidence for the Gospel accounts. Ultimately, the conversation challenges listeners not to reduce Jesus to merely another great teacher or religious leader, but to confront His own claim about who He is.

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As the Church prepares to celebrate the feast of Pope St. Pius X, Father Philip Michael Tangorra joins the Son Rise Morning Show to explore the remarkable legacy of this influential pope. They discuss Pope St. Pius X’s decision to establish the age of reason—around age seven—as the norm for First Confession and First Holy Communion, and why this was a matter of Church discipline rather than doctrine.

Father Tangorra also highlights Pius X’s many contributions to Catholic life, including promoting frequent and daily Communion, beginning the first comprehensive codification of canon law, reforming the Breviary, and championing sacred music. The conversation offers a look at how many practices Catholics today take for granted can be traced directly to the reforms of Pope St. Pius X.

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Joseph Pearce joins the Son Rise Morning Show to explore St. John Henry Newman’s beautiful poem “The Sign of the Cross” and the deeper meaning behind one of the simplest prayers in Catholic life. They discuss how the Sign of the Cross invokes the Trinity and the Incarnation, strengthens us spiritually, and reminds us of the reality of spiritual warfare and the communion of saints. From the Mass to the soccer pitch, baseball diamond, and everyday life, the conversation reveals how this simple gesture can become a profound profession of faith and prayer for others.

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Gary Zimak joins the Son Rise Morning Show to reflect on Isaiah 31:1 and the warning against placing our trust in our own strength instead of turning to God. Gary explains how everyday anxiety can often be connected to our desire for control and how surrendering that control to the Lord can bring greater peace. They also discuss humility, recognizing our God-given strengths and limitations, and learning to ask for God's help rather than trying to carry every burden alone.

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Greg Willits joins the Son Rise Morning Show to continue exploring his book God Doesn’t Hate Me After All: Discovering Louis de Montfort’s Love of Eternal Wisdom. Together, they unpack St. Louis de Montfort’s challenge: What are we waiting for?

Greg explains the two first means de Montfort gives for obtaining Eternal Wisdom—an ardent desire and continuous prayer—and why seeking Jesus Himself is the key to growing in virtues like humility, patience, and charity. They also discuss praying with strong, pure, and persevering faith, trusting God even when we don't receive immediate consolations or answers. The conversation offers an encouraging reminder to follow Jesus even when we don't yet feel His presence or understand where He is leading us.

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As children head back to school, should smartphones stay out of the classroom? Pediatric psychologist Dr. James Schroeder joins the Son Rise Morning Show to discuss the growing evidence surrounding smartphones, social media, computers, distraction, and academic learning. He also considers why education should be about more than test scores—and how helping children flourish as whole human beings should remain the ultimate goal.

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Father Philip Larrey of Humanity 2.0 joins Anna Mitchell to discuss the Catholic vision for artificial intelligence and the future of work in light of Pope Leo’s teaching. They explore how AI can enhance human work rather than replace it, the dignity and purpose people find through their work, and the challenges ahead as automation eliminates jobs. They also examine the growing concerns surrounding AI data centers, including their impact on energy costs, water usage, and local communities.

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Matthew Becklo joins Matt Swaim to explore one of the central themes of The Way of Heaven and Earth: the Catholic “both/and.” They discuss the tension between God choosing a particular people and His universal desire to save all, the Catholic response to Calvinist limited atonement and religious indifferentism, and the dangers of both extremes—from denying the fullness of truth in the Catholic Church to becoming prideful or triumphalistic about possessing it. Ultimately, they explain why the Church’s mission is not simply to defeat error, but to lovingly lead every person toward the fullness of truth in Christ.

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