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When a spiritual father dies, it’s not just the end of an era — it’s a moment for grief, gratitude, and renewed faith.

In this special episode, I sit down with my friend JD Flynn to unpack the life and legacy of Pope Francis — the parts that inspired us, the parts that challenged us, and the parts that still call us to deeper conversion today.

This conversation isn’t about politics. It’s about family. It’s about honoring the man who gave his life to shepherd the Church through some of the most complicated years in recent history — and asking what we are called to do next.

Want to jump right to the key moments? Here's where you can dive in:

3:30 - How Pope Francis defied political labels—and why that matters ⚖️

4:48 - Why this papacy didn’t fit into any easy box

6:51 - The messy moments—and why healing starts with truth

8:46 - His pastoral heart: daily calls to a priest in Gaza ❤️

13:11 - Why pretending “everything’s fine” actually hurts the Church

29:27 - The call to go back to the heart of it all. ✝️

32:26 - How his witness challenges you and me to grow in maturity

The Church isn’t just an institution, but a family. And when a spiritual father dies, it's time to come together and carry the best parts forward, meet the hard parts with faith, and keep working together—not with anger or division, but with the hope and joy that only Jesus can give.

Let's pray for Pope Francis.

Let's pray for the Church.

And Let’s pray that the future pope would be exactly what the church needs right now.

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What if one headline could rewrite your entire life?

“He is Risen.” Three words that flipped the world upside down—and they still change everything today.

In this episode, we dive deep into what the Resurrection of Jesus actually means for your life. Not in a distant, theological way—but in the realest, most practical sense. The tomb is empty. Death has lost. Your story is forever changed. We talk about the eternal victory that breaks into our ordinary days. The cancer diagnosis? Doesn’t win. That grief? Doesn’t define you. The enemy of death itself? Conquered.

And I’ll take you inside the tomb of Jesus—actual footage from one of the most powerful places on earth.

Timestamps:

00:00:16 – Why “He is Risen” Changes Everything

00:01:22 – The Kind of News That Rewrites Your Story

00:04:41 – The Real Enemy at the Gates (And How Jesus Beat Him)

00:06:15 – Why Christians Don’t Just “Make Peace” With Death

00:07:52 – How Jesus Transformed My Mother-in-Law’s Final Days

00:12:23 – St. Josephine Bakhita and the Redemption of Suffering

00:15:16 – Scientific Evidence Behind the Resurrection

00:16:47 – Your Life Isn’t a Story o...

Happy Holy Week, guys! This week before we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection on Easter is a special time in the Church. So often, we get distracted by holiday plans and preparation that we let the week go by without reflecting on the magnitude of what really happened 2,000+ years ago. So that’s what I’m going to focus on over the next two weeks—the passion, death and resurrection of our God.

I’m going to be honest, this was a tough talk for me to write, and it might be tough for you to hear. But that’s what this week is all about. Sit in those feelings and let the events that took place have that impact on you. Be there with Jesus this Holy Week in the garden, in the praetorium, on the cross, and in the tomb. Let yourself be moved and affected by the story of our Lord’s passion, death, and resurrection. And remember, He is with you in your trials and suffering, and He did this all out of love for YOU. No matter your past, your present, your triumphs, your failings, your wounds—Jesus loves you so much that He died for YOU.

And as always, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to our YouTube channel so that you never miss an episode of the Chris Stefanick Show!

Thanks to Bishop Barron for the insight about all the world’s evils converging on Jesus, and to Fr. Benedict Groeschel for the insight about Jesus feeling abandoned so we wouldn’t have to feel that way alone.

Join the mission! Become a Missionary of Joy: https://reallifecatholic.com/moj/

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What if your greatest weakness could become your greatest witness?

In this powerful, funny, and deeply moving conversation, I sit down with Fr. Augustine Wetta — a Benedictine monk, author, and high school chaplain — who’s living with early onset Parkinson’s. Doctors told him he’d be “non-functional” by now… but he’s still preaching, writing, and cracking jokes.

We talk about everything from gangland L.A. and illegal fireworks to mortality, monastic life, and what it really means to suffer with Christ. If you’ve ever struggled with fear, anxiety, or questions about suffering and purpose, this one’s for you.

Timestamps:

00:03:19 – That Time Fr. Wetta Got Stuck in Gangland L.A.
00:06:57 – How Brain Surgery Helped Him Keep Preaching
00:13:10 – Why Religious Life is Like Being a Green Beret
00:31:57 – Offering Up Our Suffering (Even the Dumb Stuff We Brought on Ourselves)
00:34:17 – Fr. Wetta’s Humility Hack: Skull Beads
00:37:12 – The Sister Who Couldn’t Wait to Die
00:42:58 – Living in a Monastery with a View of the Graveyard
00:43:04 – A Saint You’ve Probably Never Heard Of… But Should

This episode will make you laugh, challenge you to think deeper, and leave you with real hope — especially if you’re in the middle of something hard.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs a reminder that joy is possible, even in the face of suffering.

Join the mission! Become a Missionary of Joy: https://reallifecatholic.com/moj/

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We live in a world that’s quick to judge, slow to forgive, and obsessed with keeping score. But here’s the real question: What if mercy was the key to true strength, freedom, and victory?

Guys, I am so pumped for this episode because I’m sitting down with Fr. Ken Geraci, who wrote an incredible book on Divine Mercy and Spiritual Warfare. And let me tell you—this conversation is going to shake you up in the best way possible. One of the biggest lies we buy into is that mercy is weakness—that if we let go of our anger, we’re letting people off the hook. But Scripture and the saints show us something radical: mercy is power. It’s the way we win the battle in our own hearts and the world around us. In this episode, we’re diving into:

Why mercy isn’t optional—it’s the key to true strength

⚡ How the Catechism (675-677) prophesies the end times where mercy is the dividing line

The hidden connection between unforgiveness and spiritual warfare

Why refusing to show mercy actually makes us prisoners to our own wounds

✝️ How Jesus’ call to “love your enemies” is the ultimate battle strategy

I can’t wait for you to hear this because mercy isn’t just something we receive—it’s something we’re called to give. And when we do, it changes EVERYTHING. If you’ve ever struggled to forgive, if you’ve ever felt weighed down by resentment, if you want to be free—this episode is for you. Watch now, and let’s talk about why the Church is still worth fighting for.

Join the mission! Become a Missionary of Joy: https://reallifecatholic.com/moj/

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It’s no secret—within the Church we encounter many problems: scandals, division, human failure. If you’ve ever felt frustrated or even disillusioned, you’re not alone. A lot of people look at the mess and think, why stay?

In this episode, I sit down with Monsignor James Shea to break down what so many people get wrong about the Church’s struggles—and why the mess isn’t a reason to leave, but actually a reason to stay. Too often, we expect the Church to be perfect, but from the very beginning, it never was. One of Jesus’ own apostles betrayed Him—and yet, Christ still chose to build His Church on imperfect people, just like us.

We’re diving into some powerful and eye-opening topics, including:

Why people expect the Church to be perfect—and why that expectation will always lead to disappointment.

⚡ The biggest mistakes people make when trying to “fix” the Church—and how misguided solutions can actually make things worse.

The shocking way God heals corruption—through saints as the Church’s immune system—and how He raises up holy men and women to bring renewal in every generation.

Why utopian thinking leads to frustration, disillusionment, and even despair—and how we can shift our mindset to see the Church as Christ intended.

✝️ The powerful reason Jesus chose to build His Church on flawed, broken people—and how that should change the way we approach our faith.

Here’s the truth: The Church has never been perfect, not even in the time of the apostles. But history proves that when things look the darkest, God raises up saints to fight back. The scandals and struggles of today are real—but they’re not the end of the story.

If you’ve ever wrestled with doubt, discouragement, or disappointment in the Church, this episode is for you. Because the answer isn’t to run—the answer is to become part of the renewal. Holiness is the antidote. And maybe, just maybe, God is calling YOU to be one of the saints this generation desperately needs.

Watch now, and let’s talk about why the Church is still worth fighting for.

Join the mission! Become a Missionary of Joy: https://reallifecatholic.com/moj/

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LIFE: The Journey of Real Life Catholics is HERE! Watch the first episode for FREE on our exclusive streaming platform: https://bit.ly/3yIWG72

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️ Listen to 3-Minute Reset, my NEW podcast with Pat Lencioni for working Christians: https://apple.co/3RHoSg2

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Today, we’re diving deep into the eternal reality of Heaven and Hell. But this isn't just a discussion about what the Bible says. We’re bringing you the real-life experiences of those who have crossed over to the other side and returned to tell their stories. I sit down with John Burke, who’s interviewed over 1,500 people who have had near-death experiences. These are real accounts that will challenge your thinking and open your eyes to the truth of eternity. From the overwhelming beauty of Heaven to the shocking, heartbreaking reality of Hell, these stories will shake you to your core.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

What Heaven is REALLY like – It’s not just a fairy tale, it’s a real place filled with light, love, and unimaginable beauty.

The reality of Hell – It’s not a metaphor. Hear the shocking, real stories from those who’ve witnessed its terrifying darkness.

Life After Death – What happens when you die? What do we learn from near-death survivors about the other side?

God’s Mercy and Justice – How even those who don’t know Him are encountering His love in powerful, life-changing ways.

This episode is not just about the afterlife—it’s about how what we do here and now affects our eternity. The choices we make matter more than we can imagine, and God’s mercy is more real than we could ever fathom.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this with someone who needs it.

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THANK YOU to our Missionaries of Joy who make all of this work possible! Please consider supporting our work today: https://reallifecatholic.com/moj/

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✈️ To learn more about all of Real Life Catholic Pilgrimages visit: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/

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LIFE: The Journey of Real Life Catholics is HERE! Watch the first episode for FREE on our exclusive streaming platform: https://bit.ly/3yIWG72

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️ Listen to 3-Minute Reset, my NEW podcast with Pat Lencioni for working Christians: https://apple.co/3RHoSg2

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What Near-Death Survivors Can Teach Us About Heaven & Hell Listen to the "Chris Stefanick Show" as a podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast…

SPECIAL THANKS TO CORPORATE TRAVEL, PRODUCERS OF THE GOOD NEWS CONFERENCE FOR MAKING THIS INTERVIEW POSSIBLE!

www.goodnewsconference.com What if your biggest struggles—your addictions, your need for control, even your mindless Instagram scrolling—aren’t just bad habits, but actually trauma responses to your own sorrowful mysteries? And what if God isn’t just asking you to push through, but actually wants to heal you?

In this episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Sister Miriam James Heidland, a former Division I athlete who battled addiction and deep wounds before one encounter with a Catholic priest completely changed her life. Now, as a leader with the John Paul II Healing Center, she helps people step into the deep healing and transformation that God desires for all of us.

We’re breaking down some BIG ideas, including:

Healing isn’t just for “broken” people—it’s for EVERYONE (yes, even you).

Why we keep running from our pain—and how God invites us to stop.

What our addictions are REALLY covering up (spoiler: it’s deeper than willpower).

How Jesus—who carried His own wounds—teaches us what true freedom looks like.

And, of course… how I ended up crying (again).

This is more than just a conversation—it’s a call to look at your own life in a new way. If you’ve ever felt like your past disqualifies you or that healing is for other people, this episode is here to remind you:God is still working on you. And He isn’t done yet.

Watch now and take the first step into the healing God has for you!

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this with someone who needs it.

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