The Catholic Experience

“They Live” isn’t fiction anymore. TJ uses the cult classic to call out how our world, and even parts of the Church have traded truth for illusions. NOTE: THIS IS THE LAST episode of The Catholic Experience. Follow the links to the new podcast
 “They Live” isn’t really about aliens—it’s about blindness. In this episode, T.J. Haines tears into the eerie accuracy of John Carpenter’s They Live, showing how the film’s “glasses” reveal not aliens, but our willingness to believe lies. From the Church to culture, he shows how people today see what isn’t there—and ignore what’s right in front of them.

Stoking the Embers Podcast Substack | Apple Podcasts | Spotify Also available on most other podcast apps. Just search for “Stoking the Embers”

LINKS

The Quiet Ember, short article on “They Live” 

SOCIALS

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• (00:00) - Welcome and announcement of Stoking the Embers

The Church has just canonized young St. Carlo Acutis. A new, young saint who had all the markers of holiness from a young age. Perhaps this is the perfect time to publish this episode about my encounter with another young saint in the making. It’s the reason that I launched The Saint Foundry.

This is FREE only for one day, then only paid subscribers have access to it. In this new episode I take on a claim that just won’t die: that Vatican II is to blame for the collapse in Mass attendance. A recent economics study made the rounds, arguing that the Council caused pews to empty out. But when you scratch the surface, the evidence is flimsy, and the real story points somewhere else entirely. Was Vatican II really to blame for the decline in Catholic Mass attendance—or is the deeper issue Catholic culture itself? 

I dig into the cultural shifts of the 1960s, sloppy implementations of Vatican II at the parish level, and the dangers of weak catechesis and watered-down homilies. But there are many signs of renewal today, which I get into as well.

Links & Resources:

• Read the CNA article discussed in this episode: Economics paper suggests Mass decline tied to Vatican II implementation
• Podcast home: catholicexperience.fm

Do aliens exist? Drawing from Scripture, theology, and the wisdom of St. Thomas Aquinas, I take on one of the most intriguing questions in our time. I explore why belief in intelligent extraterrestrial life is not only unlikely but also theologically problematic. But this is also a lesson about angels and demons! It’s a necessary component, not random. I talk about the nature of angels and demons, examine UFO sightings with both logic and faith, and explain why what people often call “aliens” may be better understood as demonic manifestations—or even human technology cloaked in secrecy. BONUS: What if these ARE aliens? They’re not. But as a fun thought experiment, I explain why, if these are aliens, humanity should be very afraid!

This isn’t just a conversation about outer space—it’s a deep reflection on man’s unique place in creation, God’s order, and the spiritual battles that shape our world.
Show notes, chapters found below

📖 Show Notes

Key Topics Covered:

• Scripture on Humanity’s Place in Creation: Genesis 1 and Colossians 1 reveal why mankind is God’s highest earthly creation, making other intelligent species unnecessary.
• The Redundancy Problem: Why God wouldn’t create another race of “men” with free will and intellect on another planet.
• UFO Sightings Examined: Natural phenomena, government technology, or something spiritual? Why most footage fails the logic test.
• Theological Issues with Aliens: Would they need a Redeemer? If so, who—and how? Why Christ’s one sacrifice makes alien redemption impossible.
• Angels and Demons 101: What Aquinas teaches about angelic nature, free will, infused knowledge, and why demons can manifest physically—with limits.
• Demonic Deception: How alleged ghostly encounters and UFO sightings may be tactics to confuse, terrorize, and pull us away from God.
• A Thought Experiment: If aliens did exist, could God allow them as punishment for mankind’s global transgressions—similar to Israel’s history in Scripture?

Takeaway

Aliens? No. Angels and demons? Yes. Our faith and reason point to humanity’s unique place in creation—and warn us not to be distracted by phenomena that might, in reality, be spiritual deceptions.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction and Tonight's Topic 

00:54 Exploring the Existence of Aliens 

02:58 Scriptural Insights and Human Uniqueness 

08:14 Analyzing UFO Sightings and Theological Implications 

25:49 Debating 

39:04 Understanding Angels and Demons

• (00:00) - Introduction and Tonight's Topic

In this lively and deeply reflective episode of The Catholic Experience, the Catholic Adventurer tackles the provocative theme: “God is Real. You Are Not.” Drawing from theology, personal testimony, and real-time audience interaction, I unpack what it means to become “real”—the True version of what God envisioned when he "thought you up", before you came into the world.— shedding the distortions of sin and returning to the person God originally envisioned. But I talk about a lot more than that! See show notes below.
NOTE: See your player/app for chapters, if supported (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and several other podcast apps support the feature)

LINKS
CatholicExperience.FM: Episodes, video episodes (when available), articles, exclusives. Subscribe for weekly updates and announcements, and bypass the algorithm! Be part of the tribe, not just a bystander
The Live Sessions podcast: Raw, largely unedited, casual live sessions streamed to social media. This link goes to the podcast's page on Substack, with latest episodes, and links to other podcast networks/apps that carry the podcast.
The Waypoint Dispatch newsletter: Brief articles or summaries of what I've published to my Substack throughout the week. Subscribing is free!

Major Segments & Flow

1. Intro & Context
   • Lighthearted confession about “fraud podcaster” status (episode meant for Live Sessions).
   • Explanation of the difference between Live Sessions and The Catholic Experience.
   • Push for direct listener connection via CatholicExperience.fm.
2. Main Theme: “You Are Not Real”
   • Theological explanation: God’s perfect idea of you vs. what sin and life’s experiences have shaped.
   • How original sin, personal sin, and life’s hardships distort God’s vision.
   • Holiness as the process of “becoming real” — becoming who God originally thought up.
3. Practical Implications of Holiness
   • The holier you are, the more “real” you feel and the more you experience life differently.
   • How holiness intensifies your joy in good things and sharpens your awareness of what needs to change.
4. Challenges & Analogies
   • The road to sainthood likened to The Lord of the Rings: highs, lows, and being pursued by darkness.
   • The need for perseverance, toughness, and embracing both joy and struggle.
5. Practical Roadmap to Holiness
   • Prayer life, sacraments, Mass attendance, frequent confession.
   • Honest self-assessment of virtues and flaws.
   • Patience with failures while refusing to tolerate sin.
6. Audience Q&A
   • Recognizing and avoiding scrupulosity.
   • How the devil uses both laxity and excess to derail progress.
   • Finding balance between taking yourself too seriously and not seriously enough.
7. Closing Challenge
   • Emphasizing the dignity of the human person — our nature is compatible with God’s.
   • Persevering through the “sticky” process of peeling away sin and distortion.
   • Final encouragement: take yourself seriously because God does, but stay humble.

Brief Show Notes

• Theme: Becoming the person God intended by growing in holiness.
• Key Insight: “The holier you are, the more real you are — and you begin to feel it.”
• Practical Tips:
  • Commit to a prayer life, even if it starts small.
  • Frequent the sacraments, especially confession and the Eucharist.
  • Identify what’s objectively good and bad about yourself; thank God for the good and ask His help to purge the bad.
  • Be patient with failures, but don’t tolerate them.
• Memorable Analogy: The journey to sainthood is like The Lord of the Rings — peril, pursuit, highs, lows, and ultimate victory if you endure.
• Special Moment: Audience question on scrupulosity leads to practical, down-to-earth advice on spiritual balance.

• (00:00) - In troduction of the Episode

In this short clip from a recent episode of The Live Sessions I respond to a question asked from someone in the live chat room: Are Catholics obligated to obey the Pope under any circumstances? Using a relatable analogy of fatherly authority, military discipline and spiritual combat, I explain the theological basis for obedience to the Pope, how far it goes, the role of humility in spiritual warfare, and how this obedience ultimately empowers personal growth and holiness. With a few examples from Pope Francis’s papacy, I examine misunderstandings about Church teachings and how obedience, even in moments of frustration or confusion, contributes to the unity and strength of the Church.
Visit the podcast's new website! Go to catholicexperience.fm and subscribe so that you never miss the good stuff! Don't trust the algorithm! Subscribe to stay in the loop

In this raw and passionate episode, I get into some uncomfortable truths about the state of the Church today. From the undisciplined and unholy behavior of the faithful to the alarming trend of irreverence in the sanctuary, I challenge listeners to confront the reality of the Church's position in the world today. Do we stand up to, or challenge to the secular counter-culture, or do we merely coexist with it—sometimes even cooperating with it? I call on all Catholics to a return to seriousness and to take a collective stand against a culture that is increasingly hostile to the faith. Not by violence, arrogance, or even rage, but by a fresh effort to grow in holiness and more fearless evangelization, even on a person-to-person level. 

It’s time to stop tolerating mediocrity—if we want to win the battle between good and evil, we must first learn to take our faith seriously, both individually and as a community, and to inspire others to do the same. Join the conversation and reflect on how we, as members of the Mystical Body of Christ, can raise the standard and strengthen the Church.

Follow me on: Instagram | TikTok | Catholic Experience Podcast (Links Below)

Show Notes:

• 00:00 - 01:00 – Introduction: Setting the tone for a hard-hitting discussion on the current state of the Church.
• 01:00 - 06:00 – A disturbing pattern of irreverence: A personal story from John about an incident at Mass that exemplifies the lack of respect for the sanctuary.
• 06:00 - 10:00 – A bold call to action: Addressing the need for serious commitment to Catholic teachings, both in individual lives and as a collective Church.
• 10:00 - 20:00 – Church's position in the world: Why the Church is not taking a collective stand against the surrounding culture and the need for more disciplined action.
• 20:00 - 30:00 – The failure during COVID-19: Reflecting on how the Church's response to the pandemic highlighted its weaknesses, and the consequences of not taking the faith seriously.
• 30:00 - 35:00 – Generation Z and the future of the Church: Discussing the influx of young people back to the Church and the importance of solid catechesis to support them.
• 35:00 - 40:00 – The final battle: Exploring the idea of the spiritual battle between good and evil and how the Church is currently not in a position to win it.
• 40:00 - End – Wrapping up with a call for greater commitment to the faith, and a plea for stronger, more clear leadership from the hierarchy to guide the Church forward.

• (00:00) - Introduction and Opening Thoughts

In this raw and passionate episode, I get into some uncomfortable truths about the state of the Church today. From the undisciplined and unholy behavior of the faithful to the alarming trend of irreverence in the sanctuary, I challenge listeners to confront the reality of the Church's position in the world today. Do we stand up to, or challenge to the secular counter-culture, or do we merely coexist with it—sometimes even cooperating with it? I call on all Catholics to a return to seriousness and to take a collective stand against a culture that is increasingly hostile to the faith. Not by violence, arrogance, or even rage, but by a fresh effort to grow in holiness and more fearless evangelization, even on a person-to-person level.

NOTE: Looking for video? See the end of this post.

It’s time to stop tolerating mediocrity—if we want to win the battle between good and evil, we must first learn to take our faith seriously, both individually and as a community, and to inspire others to do the same. Join the conversation and reflect on how we, as members of the Mystical Body of Christ, can raise the standard and strengthen the Church.

An after-show for paid subscribers is forthcoming!

Follow me on: Instagram | TikTok | Catholic Experience Podcast (Links Below)

Show Notes:

* 00:00 - 01:00 – Introduction: Setting the tone for a hard-hitting discussion on the current state of the Church.

* 01:00 - 06:00 – A disturbing pattern of irreverence: A personal story from John about an incident at Mass that exemplifies the lack of respect for the sanctuary.

* 06:00 - 10:00 – A bold call to action: Addressing the need for serious commitment to Catholic teachings, both in individual lives and as a collective Church.

* 10:00 - 20:00 – Church's position in the world: Why the Church is not taking a collective stand against the surrounding culture and the need for more disciplined action.

* 20:00 - 30:00 – The failure during COVID-19: Reflecting on how the Church's response to the pandemic highlighted its weaknesses, and the consequences of not taking the faith seriously.

* 30:00 - 35:00 – Generation Z and the future of the Church: Discussing the influx of young people back to the Church and the importance of solid catechesis to support them.

* 35:00 - 40:00 – The final battle: Exploring the idea of the spiritual battle between good and evil and how the Church is currently not in a position to win it.

* 40:00 - End – Wrapping up with a call for greater commitment to the faith, and a plea for stronger, more clear leadership from the hierarchy to guide the Church forward.

Get the Catholic Experience Podcast

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Video

My distribution has somehow taken a hit since I started hosting my podcast on Substack, and went over to a video format. As I continue to investigate why that is, I’m going to offer a video version of the episode separately. I’m hosting this one on the podcast’s new website, catholicexperience.fm Consider subscribing once you get there.

In this short clip from a recent episode of The Live Sessions I respond to a question asked from someone in the live chat room: Are Catholics obligated to obey the Pope under any circumstances? Using a relatable analogy of fatherly authority, military discipline and spiritual combat, I explain the theological basis for obedience to the Pope, how far it goes, the role of humility in spiritual warfare, and how this obedience ultimately empowers personal growth and holiness. With a few examples from Pope Francis’s papacy, I examine misunderstandings about Church teachings and how obedience, even in moments of frustration or confusion, contributes to the unity and strength of the Church. 

Follow me on: Instagram | TikTok | Catholic Experience Podcast (Links Below)

Show Notes:

* Introduction: Answering the question of whether Catholics must obey the Pope under any circumstance.

* Fatherly Authority Analogy: Drawing parallels between parental discipline and obedience to the Pope.

* Case Study of Pope Francis: Understanding Pope Francis’ teachings, including the revisiting of the Church's stance on the death penalty.

* Obedience and Spiritual Warfare: Why obedience to the Pope is vital for spiritual strength and discipline, likened to the structure of an army.

* Holiness vs Orthodoxy: A discussion on the imbalance between orthodoxy and holiness in the Church today.

* Humility as a Weapon in Spiritual Combat: How growing in humility through obedience to ecclesiastical authority strengthens our spiritual combat.

* Final Thoughts: A call to respect the authority of the Pope, regardless of personal frustrations, and how it leads to personal and spiritual growth.

Check out The Waypoint Dispatch. A new newsletter focusing on weekly roundups of my work, and brief rundowns of new podcast episodes.
Also, the new podcast website is catholicexperience.fm with video episodes, articles, and bonus content. You can subscribe and be notified of new episodes, upcoming hot topics, join the Discord server and more.

Key Takeaways:

* Obedience to the Pope is integral to maintaining the unity and discipline of the Church.

* Even when a Pope’s actions or words are difficult to understand, the call to obedience remains foundational.

* Humility, born out of obedience, is a secret weapon in overcoming spiritual challenges.

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit catholicadventurer.substack.com/subscribe

I unpack what it means to be innocent in a world that no longer believes in innocence. From a surprising (and partly bizarre) podcast clip featuring Barack Obama (‘on raising sons’) to memories of James Evans Sr. saving the day in Good Times, I explore masculinity, fatherhood, the erosion of family authority, and the danger of outsourcing a child’s moral compass to “better parents.”

In the second segment of the show, I open the Mass readings and get into the topic of Innocence, with a sprinkling of Thomas Aquinas’s take, and my prescription for how you can reclaim purity of heart—no matter how far you’ve fallen. Oh, and there's a big announcement: introducing The Waypoint Dispatch, a new newsletter that bridges the gap between the fast food of social media and the rich meal of Substack.

Follow me on: Instagram | TikTok | Catholic Experience Podcast (Links Below)

🗒️ Chapters and Show Notes

* 00:00 Audio chaos, mic magnets, and the reverb from the abyss

* 03:00 Barack Obama’s comments on gay professors, empathy, and co-parenting

* 08:15 Why the “diversity of dads” idea is more dangerous than it seems

* 13:30 Pop culture fathers: James Evans Sr. vs. Mike Brady

* 18:45 Modern progressivism and the family as target #1

* 22:10 The special announcement: introducing The Waypoint Dispatch newsletter

* 28:00 Innocence in Scripture: Abraham, Sodom, and the Gospel

* 33:00 Aquinas on innocence: it's not just about not sinning

* 36:10 How we actually reclaim innocence: grace, penance, persistence

* 40:00 Modern culture’s assault on innocence—from store displays to PG-13 content

* 47:00 A call to arms: prayerfulness, penance, and building back spiritual muscle

Mentioned:

* Good Times and James Evans Sr. as a masculine ideal

* The cultural gap between social media and longform Catholic thought

* New newsletter: The Waypoint Dispatch

Get the Catholic Experience Podcast

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Pandora | Amazon Music | Castbox | Deezer | Overcast | Pocket Casts | And many others

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