Episodes

  • The Heart of the Matter

    The Heart of the Matter
    Dec 17 2024
    In this special Christmas Eve episode, Victor and I reflect on the true meaning of giving your whole heart to God. Too often, we hold back out of fear—fear of being hurt, fear of what surrender really means, or even fear of giving up the “worldly things” that we think will satisfy us. But here’s the truth: the heart is where transformation happens. When God calls us to follow Him, He doesn’t just want our minds or our actions—He wants our hearts, fully and completely. We dive deep into what it means to stop hedging your bets and go all-in with Christ, trusting Him with everything. This isn’t about perfection; it’s about choosing Him each day and giving Him access to every part of your life, even the messy places. From scripture to the wisdom of the saints, we explore why the heart is so central to our faith: - Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” - Ezekiel 36:26: God promises to replace our hearts of stone with hearts of flesh. - Psalm 16: David’s example of choosing God as his “portion and cup.” We also talk about the powerful reflections from Archbishop Fulton Sheen and St. Augustine: - Fulton Sheen reminds us that part of our hearts are with God in heaven, and we’ll always feel incomplete until we turn back to Him. - St. Augustine famously said: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” And let’s be honest—this hits home for all of us. So many of us try to “play it safe” with God, hedging our bets and keeping one foot in the world. We share personal stories and struggles with this, and how we’ve learned (the hard way) that true joy and peace only come when we surrender fully to God’s love. And hey, this isn’t just for “perfect Christians.” We talk about how the journey to giving God your whole heart is ongoing—there are ups, downs, mistakes, and grace-filled moments along the way. Jesus doesn’t demand perfection; He asks for our trust, our surrender, and our love. On this beautiful Christmas Eve, we’re reminded that God gave everything for us. He sent His only Son to take on flesh, to live among us, and ultimately to give His life for ours. If God has already given us His heart, how can we not respond by offering Him ours in return?
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    34 mins
  • Stop Hedging Your Bets

    Stop Hedging Your Bets
    Dec 14 2024
    Today we’re talking about something we see far too often: living with one foot in the world and one foot in the faith. It’s time to make a choice, to stop hedging our bets, and go all in with Christ. In this episode, we share our own struggles with lukewarm faith and explore what it means to commit fully to God. We look at examples from Scripture—like Elijah calling out the people on Mount Carmel and David’s heartfelt psalm of trust—to remind us that God doesn’t want a half-hearted relationship. Advent is a time to prepare, reflect, and decide: Will we give our all to Him, or keep clinging to the distractions of the world? Victor and I are passionate about helping you find the joy, peace, and purpose that only Christ can bring. This episode is a wake-up call for anyone who’s ready to stop living a "safe" faith and start living a fulfilled one. Don’t miss this one, and as always, share it with someone who might need to hear this message. God bless! Join us for our 2025 Footsteps of St. Paul Pilgrimage to Greece and Turkey! Get ready for an incredible journey through biblical history, breathtaking views, and moments of spiritual renewal. 🇬🇷🇹🇷 Get all the details (and special Black Friday savings!) here 👉 https://selectinternationaltours.com/product/footsteps-of-st-paul-pilgrimage-to-greece-with-john-edwards-and-fr-james-clark/
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    36 mins
  • Advent: Preparing the Way of the Lord

    Advent: Preparing the Way of the Lord
    Dec 6 2024
    Victor and I are diving into something really close to my heart—what Advent is truly about. It’s so easy to let this season slip by in the rush to Christmas, but Advent is such a gift if we really lean in. It’s not just about lighting candles or decorating—it’s about inviting Christ into the deepest parts of our lives. We talk about how Advent challenges us to open the doors we’ve kept locked for far too long—the places of shame, hurt, and brokenness. Jesus came into the world as a baby, humble and vulnerable, and He’s waiting to come into our hearts in the same way. In this episode, we break open scriptures like John 1 ("The Word became flesh"), Isaiah 61 ("He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted"), and Philippians 2 ("He emptied himself...") to explore why Christ came and how we can prepare ourselves to welcome Him fully. We also share personal stories about letting Jesus into the messiness of our lives and what happens when we do. I’m praying this episode inspires you to make this Advent more than just a countdown to Christmas. Let’s prepare our hearts, invite Him in, and let His light shine in our darkest places.
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    44 mins
  • Encountering Emmanuel w/ Heather Khym

    Encountering Emmanuel w/ Heather Khym
    Dec 2 2024
    This week, I’m thrilled to have Heather Khym, co-host of the Abiding Together Podcast, join me for a special episode. With Advent in full swing, Heather and I dive deep into the meaning of this beautiful season and how it’s so much more than just a countdown to Christmas. Heather shares the inspiration behind her Advent journal, Encountering Emmanuel, and how Jesus wants to meet us in our “messy stables”—the broken, vulnerable places we often hide. We reflect on the importance of slowing down, making space for Christ, and letting Him enter our hearts to bring healing and freedom. In this conversation, we explore some powerful truths: 👉Why Advent feels overlooked and how we can reclaim its importance. 👉How to recognize Christ as the healer who enters our struggles, not just a distant figure. 👉Heather’s personal stories of vulnerability and the real freedom that comes when we let go of control. 👉Practical ways to prepare your heart for Jesus this season, using Heather’s guided reflections and journaling prompts. Advent is a time to pause, reflect, and encounter Christ anew. I hope this episode inspires you to open your heart to Him, whether that means diving into Heather’s journal or simply carving out quiet time to pray. 🔗 Get Encountering Emmanuel: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/encountering-emmanuel PS - #igivecatholic on #givingtuesday is now LIVE 🚨 You can give today. Your support creates safe, transformative spaces for men in need. 👉 https://bit.ly/40TfJHs
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    51 mins
  • Thanksgiving: Living a Life of Gratitude

    Thanksgiving: Living a Life of Gratitude
    Nov 25 2024
    This week, Victor and I dive into the heart of Thanksgiving—not just the turkey and football, but the true meaning of living a life of gratitude every single day. In this special Thanksgiving episode, we reflect on the importance of being thankful for everything—both the joys and the hardships—and how gratitude can transform our lives, bring us closer to God, and even unlock true joy. 🙏 Oh, and big news! We’re announcing our 2025 Footsteps of St. Paul Pilgrimage to Greece and Turkey! Get ready for an incredible journey through biblical history, breathtaking views, and moments of spiritual renewal. 🇬🇷🇹🇷 Get all the details (and special Black Friday savings!) here 👉 https://selectinternationaltours.com/product/footsteps-of-st-paul-pilgrimage-to-greece-with-john-edwards-and-fr-james-clark/ Don’t miss the details, and stick around for practical tips on how to cultivate gratitude in your daily life. PS - Advanced giving with #igivecatholic on #givingtuesday is now LIVE 🚨 You can give today. Your support creates safe, transformative spaces for men in need. 👉 https://bit.ly/40TfJHs
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    32 mins
  • Silently Suffering

    Silently Suffering
    Nov 19 2024
    This episode is for anyone who feels like they’re silently carrying the weight of the world—brokenness, shame, or wounds you’ve never been able to share. You’re not alone, and you don’t have to carry it by yourself anymore. Last weekend, the @JPIIHealingCenter hosted the first-ever Restored Men’s Healing Conference, and it was powerful. Men from all over the country (and even other countries!) showed up with open hearts, some for the very first time. These were men who had been silently suffering for years—dealing with wounds from abandonment, addiction, rejection, or just feeling like they’re not enough. Over the weekend, we watched God work in incredible ways as men opened up, shared their stories, and allowed Christ to step into those broken places. It was humbling and hopeful. In this episode, Victor and I unpack some of the key takeaways from the conference and dive deep into the struggles many of us face but rarely talk about. We’ll cover why we feel like we need to hide our pain, how self-reliance is a trap, and most importantly, how God’s grace can reshape the broken parts of our lives. Here’s the truth: Healing is possible. You can start today. You don’t have to have it all figured out; you just have to take one step forward. Let’s talk about how. PS - Advanced giving with #igivecatholic on #givingtuesday is now LIVE 🚨 You can give today. Your support creates safe, transformative spaces for men in need. 👉 https://bit.ly/40TfJHs ___________________________________________________________________________ ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro: Welcoming everyone back to The Pew and a shoutout to attendees of the Restored Men’s Healing Conference. 03:15 – Silent Suffering: Why so many men carry hidden burdens and how the conference revealed the depth of that pain. 08:40 – The False Mask of Self-Reliance: How trying to handle everything on your own can lead to deeper wounds. 12:25 – Vulnerability as Strength: Breaking the myth that opening up makes you weak—it’s actually the key to healing. 16:05 – God the Potter: Exploring the biblical imagery of God reshaping us like clay and why it’s so relevant to our lives. 20:50 – Action Steps for Healing: From confession to community, practical ways to start finding freedom in Christ. 26:45 – A Story of Grace: Heartfelt moments from the conference where men experienced breakthrough and restoration. 33:10 – Final Thoughts: Why you’re never too far gone for God’s love and how to take the next step forward. 36:00 – Prayer: Wrapping up the episode with a prayer for healing and trust in God’s provision.
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    38 mins
  • God's Got You: Finding Faith Beyond Fear

    God's Got You: Finding Faith Beyond Fear
    Nov 12 2024
    Today, Victor and I dive into one of the biggest struggles we all face—trusting in God's provision. It’s not always easy to let go, especially when anxiety and fear kick in, but we're here to share some inspiration, a few laughs, and even some of our personal struggles with letting go and trusting that God has us covered. In this episode, we go over the importance of surrender, how to recognize God's provision in our lives, and why faith isn’t just about saying we believe—it’s about showing it with our actions. We also reflect on how the Bible reminds us that God knows what we need and always has our backs, even when we’re tempted to take control ourselves.
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    38 mins
  • Remembering the Truth

    Remembering the Truth
    Nov 4 2024
    In this episode, Victor and I get real about those tough, cloudy moments we all face. From intense travel to unexpected challenges, I found myself needing a reminder that even in the storm, God’s light is there for us 🌤️. On a recent flight, as we broke through some dark clouds into the sun, it was a powerful reminder of how Jesus meets us right where we are, even in the hardest times. 🌄 Join us as we share stories from our lives, moments from scripture, and why it’s so important to keep your eyes on the truth of God’s promises. We talk about the lives of Peter and Paul, how they faced their own storms, and what we can learn from their faith and resilience. Whether it’s dealing with grief, challenges at work, or just feeling lost, this episode is here to encourage you to keep pushing through, with Jesus leading the way.
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    32 mins