The Catholic Experience

When life pulls you in a hundred directions, how do you make prayer the anchor? In this fiery, honest, and often hilarious episode, I talk about rebuilding my own spiritual life (for YOUR edification, not to talk about myself), why my prayer went from “being drawn into the deep” to barely staying afloat—and how I’m getting back to that place of depth and intimacy with God. Along the way, you'll hear about shadow bans, spiritual warfare, demonic resistance to the rosary, and why TikTok finally got the boot.

💥 Plus:

* The power of “building a house of prayer”

* Why prayer isn’t optional—it’s oxygen

* What demons said during an exorcism about a woman who always prayed

* A breakdown of the Gospel of Martha and Mary and what it means for your spiritual life

* After-Show: Take a trip down musical memory lane! 🎶(After-Show is for paid subscribers)

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Whether your prayer life is strong or struggling, this one will remind you why it's worth fighting for.👉 Tune in. Recommit. Choose the better part.

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Don’t miss this special After-Show that totally breaks the mold!

This episode of The Catholic Experience Podcast is available to the public for a limited time. I open the show with a candid and fiery reflection on the current state of Catholic evangelization online. I express my deep concerns about the growing number of unqualified, under-formed voices who dominate independent Catholic media, and challenge the idea that good intentions and internet access are enough to represent the voice of the Church.

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Then in the second segment the tone shifts as we explore the concept of building a “house of prayer” in your daily life. Using vivid analogies—like a whale needing to surface for air—I remind you that prayer is not optional for the Christian life. It's survival. But what is a “house of prayer” and why should we focus on building one?

You'll learn:

* Why prayer is vital, not decorative

* The role of "prayer pillars" (like the Angelus) and how they anchor your day

* Why the rosary or Divine Office may not always be the best foundation for beginners

* How meditative Scripture, litanies, and even short invocations can furnish the interior of your spiritual house

* And why the greatest gift you can give your faith life is consistency

This isn’t just a how-to guide—it’s a call to spiritual seriousness.

ARTICLE

You can read all about building a ouse of prayer in this article:

Thank you Paul L, Ellis, The Critic., KM Jacik, Dustin, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.

Let’s explore the idea of “peaceful places”—those sacred, personal spaces (both physical and spiritual) where we can rest, recharge, and reconnect with God and ourselves. But why do we so often wait until we're burnt out to retreat there? Why isn’t peace our Plan A? Why are our “peaceful places” only rest stops, rather than dwelling places?

I then dive into the tension between our desire for peace and our compulsion to chase noise, even when we know it’s draining us. Along the way, I share deeply personal insights—including the powerful truth that even our peaceful places can be infiltrated by negative thoughts and temptations. In those moments, the Lord asks us to choose—to choose peace, to choose grace, to choose Him or to choose the temptation to anxiety.

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Another key moment comes when I drop some deep spiritual insight: in every temptation, there’s a clue to your escape. The enemy always tips his hand—if you’re paying attention. So whether you’re battling anxiety, anger, or distraction, this episode shows how awareness and grace can help you reclaim your peace and fortify your soul.

It’s not just about resting in your peaceful place. It’s about living there—intentionally, frequently, and faithfully.

Thank you How To Be Catholic, KM Jacik, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.

*The Scripture Sessions is now a subset of The Catholic Experience Podcast*

This special live edition of The Scripture Sessions looks at St. Paul’s letter to Timothy with fresh eyes — and a bit of grit. I break down what it means to compete well, why finishing isn’t enough, and why aiming only for purgatory is a spiritual trap we fall for too easily.

Midway through, this episode turns into a conversation with you — my Substack readers and listeners — as we riff on questions, side notes (yes, even Batman vs. Superman through a Catholic lens), and what it all means for the fight for holiness.

Don’t coast. Don’t settle. Don’t just get by. You’re made for greatness — so run to win.

Chapters

* 00:00 Introduction and Special Announcement

* 01:44 Scripture Reading and Reflection

* 18:55 Competing to Win: A Call to Action

* 24:54 Competing for Greatness

* 25:53 Judgment and Effort

* 31:42 Faith and Superheroes

Greatest American Hero

In this raw and unscripted live session simulcasted to Substack and Instagram , I dive into Cardinal Burke’s recent appeal to Pope Leo XIV to lift the restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass—and what I really think is going on behind the scenes. Spoiler: Church politics isn’t always what it seems. (NOTE: This is re-published to The Catholic Experience from The Live Sessions)

The Live Sessions is also on iTunes | Spotify

I break down the historical and spiritual context of the TLM controversy, share a personal story about how a reverent Novus Ordo Mass once rescued my faltering faith, and challenge both traditionalist and modernist assumptions about the liturgy. Plus, I explain why holding too tightly to any “spiritual crutch” stops us from moving forward—and how we must move beyond it to encounter the deeper reality of the mass and the Catholic experience.

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This episode kicks off my new podcast section, The Live Sessions—a gritty, honest, and totally unscripted window into Catholic life, commentary, and conviction.

In this passionate and personal episode, I take aim at the rising tide of disunity and disloyalty within the Church—especially among radical traditionalists, but also modernists. Reflecting on my near-detour into sedevacantism 30 years ago, I share hard-won wisdom about loyalty, liturgy, and what it really means to be a traditional Catholic.

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You'll hear a response to a viral Instagram comment about the Latin Mass (Find the image below), a strong defense of the Church’s authority over the liturgy, and a no-nonsense call to unity in a time of growing factionalism. If you're tired of the tribalism infecting Catholic discourse and you're ready to stand with Holy Mother Church, this one's for you.

AFTER SHOW segment (9 minutes) is linked at the bottom of this post, for paid subscribers

💥 No hot takes—just the truth, straight up.🛡️ The Church is our Mother, not our servant.🔥 Get ready. This episode pulls no punches.

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👉 Subscribe on Substack for more longform reflections, essays, and live sessions: https://linktr.ee/catholicadventurer.

AFTER-SHOW (Paid Subscribers

Let’s talk about going deeper in the lived experience of the Catholic faith, beyond the surface. Basing my points on a revelation I recently had on social media (“the surface”) I discuss how viewers often miss important points in my podcast clips because they swipe away too soon, having not found the “surface level” substance they’ve come to expect from a “Catholic video” This is emblematic of what Catholic culture has become even outside of social media, out in the real world. There is some richness on the surface of Catholic life, and so we’re tempted to stay there, resisting invitations to journey into the deep. continues below

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I compare content on Instagram and TikTok, emphasizing the need for deeper, more meaningful exploration and receptivity to Catholic-based material. The takeaway? True Catholic faith and understanding lie beneath the surface, in the depths.

Chapters

* 00:00 Introduction and Greetings

* 00:18 Catholic Rant: Go Deeper

* 00:52 Analyzing Viewer Engagement

* 04:30 Reflections on Social Media Content

* 07:50 The Depth of Catholic Faith

* 09:55 Concluding Thoughts

After-Show

Available to everyone for a limited time and then available only to paid members

The great deceiver; the man of iniquity. What’s should we understand about the Antichrist? In this episode I discuss the characteristics and deceptions of the Antichrist, the trials the Church must endure, and the ultimate battle between good and evil. I talk about some clues and “signs” we’re seeing in the human culture even today, and some hints we’re seeing even in Catholic culture. Could the Antichrist already be among us? Tune in to find out what I think! BELOW: Chat Thread, Chapters timecode, Afterthoughts (Paid only)

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PAID SUBSCRIBERS: There’s an “Afterthoughts” section down below, with a writeup of what the Fathers had to say about the Antichrist.

Be part of the adventure. Subscribe for free.

Chat Thread (Share what YOU Think)

Chapters

* 00:26 Introduction to the Antichrist Discussion

* 01:06 Engagement and Audience Interaction

* 03:57 Clarifying Misconceptions about the Antichrist

* 07:32 The Church's Ultimate Trial

* 09:38 The Great War Between Good and Evil

* 16:31 The Deception of the Antichrist

* 25:21 Recognizing Truth in a World of Lies

* 32:09 Engaging with the Audience

* 33:20 Instagram Experiment: Will It Work?

* 33:59 Understanding Social Media Algorithms

* 35:40 The Church Fathers and the Antichrist

* 39:10 The Antichrist in Revelation

* 41:36 Cultural Shifts and the Antichrist

* 45:18 Signs of the Antichrist Today

* 49:40 The Church's Resilience and Future

* 56:11 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Thank you, Ellis, The Critic. , Michael Koopman, PricklyPublius, Dear Clary, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.

Afterthoughts

Paid Subscribers Only: The Fathers Weigh In on the Antichrist

This was moved off of this post and made into its own post. Link below.

You're not the only one dealing with difficult questions about your faith. Welcome to the inaugural episode of 'Catholic Rants' a TikTok LIVE series. In this session, I talk about cancer, the suffering it brings, and I explore the question "Why!?"  I share personal anecdotes, including the compartmentalization of grief and difficult questions of faith sparked by my mother's passing and personal experiences with prayer requests. I wrestle with tough questions about why suffering and illnesses like cancer exist, and explore how faith has to enter into the picture.
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00:00 Introduction and Welcome
01:37 Social Media Presence
02:29 Rant on Cancer and Suffering
07:13 Theological Reflections on Suffering
12:54 Personal Stories and Reflections
22:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
25:26 Outro and Farewell

Welcome to the inaugural episode of 'Catholic Rants' a TikTok LIVE series. I’m making the audio available to my podcast audience here, and on my podcast carriers. In this session, I talk about cancer, the suffering it bring

s, and I explore the question "Why!?" I share personal anecdotes, including the compartmentalization of grief and difficult questions of faith sparked by my mother's passing and personal experiences with prayer requests. I wrestle with tough questions about why suffering and illnesses like cancer exist, and explore how faith has to enter into the picture.

Clip

Follow me on: TikTok | Instagram | Catholic Experience Podcast (All Carriers)00:00 Introduction and Welcome01:37 Social Media Presence02:29 Rant on Cancer and Suffering07:13 Theological Reflections on Suffering12:54 Personal Stories and Reflections22:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts25:26 Outro and Farewell