When most people think about where God is, they look to the sky or point to a mountaintop. God is ON HIGH, right?

But the reality of the incarnation flips that vision upside down.

Christ dwelt among us. God came to the lowest of places to meet us in our brokenness and heal our sin.

Did you know the spot where Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River is literally one of the lowest places on earth? That can't be an accident.

It reminds us that even when we are at our lowest point—a medical diagnosis, marital issues, problems with our children, job loss—God is right there alongside us. He doesn't want us to walk these trials alone.

Hear the words God spoke at Christ's baptism. They are meant for you, too:

“You are my beloved son… you are my beloved daughter… with whom I am well pleased.”

If you find yourself in a low place right now, take it to the Lord. He's already there next to you.

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• (00:00:00) - The Low Places of the Holy Land
• (00:06:39) - The Words for When You're in the Lowest Spot

Have you ever noticed that when God shows up, he often does so in ways that are...completely ordinary?

Think about the Epiphany of the Lord that we are celebrating today. Angels fill the sky. A star bends the universe. Heaven breaks into earth. Kings come to pay homage.

And at the center of it all? A poor child. A nursing mother. A scene you could walk right past.

Fast forward two thousand years and God is still so often hiding His glory in plain sight, but we've lost the ability to contemplate and truly SEE him in the ordinariness of the world around us. God made Himself small—so ordinary that only the humble can see Him. And that’s exactly why so many of us miss Him.

We’ve trained ourselves to scroll past miracles. To numb ourselves when big questions stir in our souls. To distract instead of contemplate. And in doing that, we don’t just lose silence—we lose wonder.

As we enter the new year, let's cultivate a contemplative heart that recognizes Jesus in the bread and the wine...and in our spouse, family, friends, and coworkers. When you become humble enough to see God in the ordinary, life becomes a constant epiphany.

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• (00:00:00) - The Secret to Christ's Birth
• (00:06:28) - The 7 Joys of Mary

Why do we keep confessing the same sins… making the same resolutions… and falling back into the same patterns?

In this practical and powerful episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Fr. Peter Mussett, a priest who has heard thousands of confessions—and has lots of advice to share about human nature, change, and mercy.

In this conversation, we talk about real sins and real solutions so you can make real changes in your life.

Fr. Peter explains:

-Why most people don’t actually change
-The hidden link between unforgiveness, victimhood, and temptation
-Why willpower alone never works
-How habit stacking, conscience, and mercy work together
-Why God sometimes allows us to keep struggling
-And the one mindset shift that finally makes real change possible

If you’re frustrated with yourself, tired of starting over, and feel like you can't conquer your vices, I hope this interview will give you hope, clarity, and a true path forward.

Highlights:

0:00 Why real change is so hard

2:08 Why priests see what most people never notice

7:00 The beauty of Confession

16:58 The movie-scene insight that reveals how people change

19:18 Conscience: where God actually speaks

24:13 Why “deliver us from evil” is where change starts

27:27 The difference between passion-driven and reason-driven living

29:23 Habit stacking: a spiritual key to breaking bad habits

33:31 How unforgiveness fuels temptation

39:28 Why mercy—especially toward yourself—changes everything

57:33 “You are not your sin” (John Paul II’s powerful reminder)

1:07:36 A prayer for anyone frustrated with themselves

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• (00:00:00) - New Year's Resolutions with a Priest
• (00:00:43) - Chris Stefan
• (00:01:26) - Peter Musset on My Favorite Person In the World
• (00:01:53) - How to Change Your Life
• (00:07:20) - What is your favorite experience in confession?
• (00:08:01) - How Do People Change?
• (00:08:22) - Mission: Joy
• (00:09:45) - I Stole The Sacrament Of Confirmation
• (00:12:52) - I Had A Fake Confirmation Certificate
• (00:15:56) - What Have You Learned About Human Nature While Preaching?
• (00:21:34) - The Power of the Our Father
• (00:24:57) - God's 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit
• (00:28:44) - How to Make a Friend Feel Okay
• (00:29:11) - Atomic Habits: Habit Stacking
• (00:33:29) - Forgiveness and Temptation
• (00:35:35) - Culture: The Conflict of Values
• (00:38:56) - The Prison of Unreveal
• (00:42:53) - How to Stop Sinning
• (00:46:37) - How to Get Comfortable With Your Pain
• (00:49:14) - Wine and the Real World
• (00:53:33) - Setting Us Free From Trauma
• (00:55:18) - Reasons to Change Your Mind (Metanoia)
• (01:00:15) - Real Talk: Change the Mind
• (01:03:51) - A friend confesses his sins to one another
• (01:04:56) - The Reasons Why God Allows Personal Struggles
• (01:05:49) - The Gifts of Reading Souls
• (01:07:33) - Prayer for Repenting Sinner People

Happy Feast of the Holy Family!

One of the most comforting truths of our faith is also one of the hardest to live. You’re not living the whole story — you’re living your current page.

One of the most powerful (and overlooked) truths of the Bible is typology—the way God weaves the same story across centuries, fulfilling promises in ways no human author could plan. Different people. Different centuries. Same Author.

In this reflection, we look at the stunning parallels between Joseph in the Old Testament and St. Joseph in the New, and what they reveal about suffering, trust, and God’s plan.

Old Testament Joseph didn’t get to see the whole picture. He only saw the chaos of the page he was on—betrayal, exile, fear, uncertainty. And yet, he lived with peace because he trusted the Author...and look what happened thousands of years later! Prophecies fulfilled. A Savior born in a manger. And another Joseph managing the chaos of his current page while trusting in the larger story.

If you’re walking through illness, family struggles, anxiety, grief, or confusion…this message is for you. This can be especially difficult to remember during the holidays, but your pain isn’t your story. It’s one page in a much bigger one that is unfolding according to divine plans we may not understand in our lifetime.

I hope this reflection puts you on the path to accept the peace that both Josephs found amidst chaos—by trusting in the love of the Lord who knows the glorious ending of your story.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Chris talks about “the chaos of the page you’re on.” What does that phrase bring up for you right now?
2. Can you think of a time in your life when something that felt chaotic later made sense in hindsight?
3. Where do you struggle most to trust God when you don’t understand what He’s doing?
4. The Holy Family experienced fear, displacement, stress, and uncertainty, but had confidence in God's ultimate plan. How does that change the way you think about holiness in family life? What would it look like to invite God’s peace into the “chaos” of your own family?
5. What “page” of your story are you living right now? (Illness, transition, joy, stress, grief, growth, confusion, etc.) How might remembering that this is not the whole story change the way you face it?

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• (00:00:00) - Joseph in the Old Testament vs St. Joseph in the New Testament
• (00:01:10) - Both of Them Were Envious

What if Santa Claus wasn’t just a character… but a calling?

In this unforgettable episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with one of my oldest and dearest friends, Eddie Cotter, Jr.—a longtime Catholic youth minister who unexpectedly took on the role of Santa Claus and eventually ended up appearing as Santa at Rockefeller Center in New York City!

What starts as a fun conversation turns into something deeply moving as Eddie tells the story of how he became Santa Claus for his autistic grandson, attended the Harvard of Santa training schools, and has had some truly magical experiences serving in this beloved role.

And then… Eddie steps out, and Santa Claus himself walks in for an exclusive interview!

Yes. I really interviewed Santa Claus. And yes…I cried.

Santa gets deep as we delve into the history of St. Nicholas, the backstories behind some well-known Christmas traditions and legends, and how Santa Claus points us to the real reason for the season—the greatest gift of all. This episode is about hope, goodness, repentance, and the deep truth behind Christmas—that God really did come into the world, and love still wins.

You do not want to miss this one.

HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 – Intro

02:51 – How Eddie first felt called to become Santa

06:14 – The moment Santa changed Eddie’s autistic grandson’s life

07:17 – “Lord… if You want me to do this, I’m in”

09:05 – Santa school is WAY more intense than you think

14:35 – Why being Santa makes you a better Christian

17:42 – The Rockefeller Center Santa moment

19:37 – “I’ll never live long enough to give back that much love”

31:39 – Santa Claus walks into the studio

36:38 – What it means to be Santa Claus

37:40 – Redemption from the Naughty List

39:12 – The Legend of Receiving Coal

41:20 – The Story of St. Nicholas

46:10 – St. Nick Bows Before the King (A New York Story)

49:54 – Santa's Outift Explained

52:53 – How He Does It All In One Night

59:55 – Milk and Cookies

1:03:01 – Be A Giver

1:04:54 – Santa's Message to Those Struggling This Christmas

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Learn more about Eddie's work:

Eddie's ministry: https://deadtheologianssociety.com
Eddie's book: https://deadtheologianssociety.com/product/wisdom-inspiration-from-the-saints-in-a-sentence/
Email Santa: santa@santaclauseddie.com
Book Santa Claus Eddie: santaclauseddie.com

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Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic and get free access to the new Living Peace study series: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0

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• (00:00:06) - Interviewing Santa Claus
• (00:01:00) - The Chris Stefanik Show
• (00:02:22) - Santa Is Here for Holidays
• (00:02:50) - Santa Is a Santa for Autism Child
• (00:09:15) - Have You Changed Since Having a Baby?
• (00:09:55) - Chris Stefanik
• (00:13:41) - Santa on Becoming Santa Claus
• (00:17:03) - Santa Wishes He Could Be Santa Claus
• (00:22:06) - George Clooney on Christmas
• (00:25:26) - What Goes Into Santa's School
• (00:29:37) - Santa on My Show
• (00:33:37) - Santa Comes to the Kids
• (00:35:40) - Santa on Being Santa
• (00:37:42) - Christmas: The Nice List and the Naughty List
• (00:39:12) - The Legend of The Coal
• (00:41:15) - The Saint Nicholas' Stockings
• (00:45:57) - Witnessing the Christmas story
• (00:51:09) - Santa in the Christmas Story
• (00:55:12) - Santa Visits Homes Around the World
• (00:58:36) - Christmas Gifts for the Reindeer
• (01:01:10) - Santa's elves
• (01:01:17) - St. Nicholas: The Wonder Worker
• (01:04:38) - Santa's Christmas message

As we draw close to the mystery of Christmas, we don’t just discover who God is—we discover who we are...and what we're worth.

When you look at the face of the Christ child in the manger, you’re not just seeing Emmanuel, God with us. You’re seeing your own value reflected back at you. Your worth is revealed by what God was willing to pay for you. And the price wasn’t silver or gold...It was the precious blood of Christ.

In this reflection I offer some thoughts on what your true price tag should mean for your own self-worth—how you take care of your body, how you talk about yourself, how you think about your sin, and what it means when we hear "Body of Christ."

Here's the game plan:

1. Take better care of yourself.
2. Value the people around you.
3. See your sins in the proper light.

Don't sell yourself to the lowest bidder...especially when that lowest bidder is your own negative self-talk.

Take a few quiet minutes this weekend. Look at Him, remember what you're really worth, and honor how precious you are to God.

Special thanks to Rick Warren for the inspiration on this one!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In what ways do you personally struggle to believe your worth is as great as God says it is?

2. Where in your life might you be “selling yourself to the lowest bidder” instead of living from your true value?

3. How does seeing Jesus as an infant in Bethlehem change the way you see yourself?

4. What would it look like—practically—to treat yourself with the dignity God has already given you?

5. How can you better reflect God’s attentiveness and love to the people around you this week?

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• (00:00:00) - As you approach the mystery of God's worth
• (00:06:34) - Be reminded of Your Worth!

Picture a football stadium full of 80,000 people.

Research indicates that you will influence that many people during the course of your lifetime. (even if you don't have your own YouTube channel)

But who is in your stadium? And what does it sound like in there? Are people cheering for the ways you positively affected them? Are they booing for all the terrible things you did? Or are they silent because you were on your phone most of the time and ambivalent to those around you?

In this thought-provoking conversation, leadership expert Tommy Spaulding poses these important questions and talks through his own personal story of hitting rock bottom with hidden depression and familial turmoil despite outward worldly success.

He relates the story of how he rediscovered his inherent value as a child of God and his potential for influencing those around him. His wife arranged a 50th birthday celebration that involved giving him 50 handwritten-letters—one each day leading up to his birthday—from family, friends, acquaintances...even the HVAC repairman!

These letters showed Tommy that even small gestures for other people can make them feel loved and have a huge impact. This new perspective has led him to live each encounter with another person as if they will one day be sitting in his 80,000-person stadium, and he offers tips from his new book The Gift of Influence so YOU can change your everyday interactions to lean into that idea, too.

You matter more than you know. You don't need a podcast or thousands of Instagram followers to be an influencer. Your mere existence is a blessing, and your daily interactions—with family, friends, and even strangers—can change their lives forever.

As we approach Christmas and the start of a new year, it's a good time to think about how you're treating the other people in your stadium.

Get Tommy's book, The Gift of Influence: https://www.amazon.com/Gift-Influence-Creating-Life-Changing-Interactions/dp/0593138635/

HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 — You Matter More Than You Think

01:56 — Writing from Pain, Not the Mountaintop

03:16 — Success on the Outside, Rock Bottom on the Inside

07:36 — The Plane Ride Where He Prayed It Would End

09:40 — The Birthday That Saved His Life

14:02 — “She Gave Me the Gift of Influence”

15:25 — Why Social Media Hijacked the Word “Influencer”

17:42 — The 80,000-Person Stadium That Is Your Life

21:56 — “What’s the Sound of Your Stadium?”

38:48 — Mrs. Lynn - An Influencer Story

52:16 — The Caribou Coffee Moment

55:58 — “God Bless You” at Jiu-Jitsu

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• (00:00:00) - Your Life Decodes
• (00:00:33) - Joy to the World
• (00:03:14) - When you were 49, you were financially on the edge of life
• (00:10:13) - A Mother's Love Letter for Her
• (00:11:17) - The Gift of Influencing Lives
• (00:15:43) - In the Elevator With Jay-Z
• (00:17:11) - The Average Human Being Influences 80,000 People in Their Lifetime
• (00:21:44) - Chris Farley on His Book
• (00:24:39) - Sum Up: How to Make Friends and Influence People
• (00:26:53) - Don't Network, Net-Give
• (00:29:33) - 3 Eyes: Influence, Investment, Intent
• (00:34:05) - Don't Let Your Story Be About You
• (00:38:10) - A Story about Mrs. Lynn Lin
• (00:42:15) - The Gift of Influence
• (00:48:44) - How to Reach the People
• (00:49:49) - A Story of My Child
• (00:53:46) - The Story of Tate influencing a teen's love life
• (00:56:59) - Chris Melvoin on How Much Does My Life Matter?

It’s beautiful to want good things and to build a great life in our time on earth.

But here’s where it all gets twisted: When the dream stops being about God and the blessings He’s given us, and quietly becomes all about me—my security, my reputation, my legacy.

I’ve seen it in family life. I’ve seen it in ministry. I’ve seen it in my own heart.

This is where John the Baptist becomes a perfect model for us as an "anti-influencer."

He had a massive following and huge crowds hanging on his words. But his life wasn't built on what his personal legacy could be. He pointed to Jesus. He knew that he was simply a voice...and Jesus was the Word incarnate.

In this reflection, I discuss:

• What it really means to say, “He must increase, I must decrease”
• How to keep “first things first” and let everything else fall into place
• John the Baptist as a pattern of Christian living
• C.S. Lewis’ line: “Put first things first and you get second things thrown in…”
• How to examine your dreams and “drain your legacy” so it’s truly about Jesus

Oh, and watch til the end to see me try to walk on water.

I encourage you to take 10 minutes and pray about this question: What am I actually trying to build with my life? Am I pointing to Christ?

Know that I’m praying for you as you lean into these last days of Advent with joyful repentance and a heart that says: “He must increase. I must decrease.”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. When you imagine your “dream life,” what’s at the center of it—comfort, success, security, or Jesus? Be honest.

2. Where have good desires (for family, work, or ministry) started to shift into building “your own kingdom”? What are some signs of that in your life?

3. John the Baptist calls himself “a voice” pointing to the “Word.” If someone looked at your life from the outside, what would they say your life is “a voice” for?

4. C.S. Lewis said that if we put first things first, we get second things thrown in; if we put second things first, we lose both. What are some “second things” you’ve been tempted to put first lately?

5. Where do you get distracted by the things of God instead of God Himself (debates, preferences, liturgical details, online arguments, etc.)?

6. As Advent comes to a close, what is one concrete way you can “decrease” so that Christ can “increase” in your family, your work, or your ministry this week?

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Learn more about CORE, Real Life Catholic's new Confirmation prep experience for the next generation to be released in 2026: https://bit.ly/4p6HrsW

• (00:00:00) - Baby's First Christmas
• (00:00:27) - What Dream Life Are You Trying to Build?
• (00:03:11) - John the Baptist
• (00:07:26) - A Legacy of Christian Living
• (00:11:11) - Walking On Water
• (00:11:43) - Advent is Over: Keep Lifting In