This week, Jake and Bob celebrate the 150th episode of Restore the Glory! They take a moment to reflect on the story of how the podcast came to be, new insights learned, and their hopes for the future. This episode is a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what God has done in not only their lives but also the lives of listeners.

Key Points:

• Jake and Bob express deep gratitude for God's evident presence and blessing throughout the life of the podcast.
• They share powerful testimonies from listeners, including marriages restored and lives changed through the podcast.
• The podcast has surpassed three million downloads, with many episodes reaching tens of thousands of listeners.
• The two most popular series are Anatomy of a Wound and Security, Maturity, and Purity
• A surprising "puzzle" they discuss is how some of their favorite episodes initially received fewer downloads than expected.
• Jake and Bob explain that their intention in difficult topics is always faithful dialogue rooted in Church teaching and charity. They also desire to remain docile to the Holy Spirit, committed to offering conversations that glorify God and foster authentic healing in the Church.

Resources:

• Virginia Satir Daily Temperature Reading
  • Appreciation
  • New Information
  • A Puzzle
  • A Complaint/Concern
  • Hopes and Dreams
• Anatomy of a Wound Series
• Security, Maturity, Purity Series
• The Life of Peter Series

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

03:15 Appreciation for the Podcast

10:04 New Information (Statistics!)

19:31 Puzzles We are Working Through

26:46 Complaints or Concerns About the Podcast

36:44 Our Hopes and Dreams for the Future

Connect with Restore the Glory:

• Instagram: @restoretheglorypodcast
• Twitter: @RestoreGloryPod
• Facebook: Restore the Glory Podcast

Never miss out on an episode by hitting the subscribe button right now! Help other people find the show and grow in holiness by sharing this podcast with them individually or on your social media. Thanks!

This week, Jake and Bob welcome John Edwards, a fellow guy in the pew, to share his raw and redemptive journey from addiction and secrecy to finding his identity in God. From outward success and hidden cocaine use to the devastating loss of his mother, John reveals how grief, shame, and a longing for affirmation shaped his choices—and nearly destroyed his marriage and family. He opens up about the masks he wore, the lies he believed about God as a harsh judge, and the panic attacks that finally exposed the prison he was living in. With honesty and courage, John recounts the night he chose confession over isolation, and how mercy began to break through years of self-reliance and despair. If you've ever felt abandoned by God or buried under your own failures, this conversation is an invitation to bring your whole story into the light.

Key Points:

• The absence of emotional affirmation from John's father created a deep wound and a longing to feel seen.
• Addiction to drugs, alcohol, and pornography became a way to numb pain and pursue belonging and control.
• John describes living behind layers of "masks" to hide his addiction and shame from others.
• Marriage and fatherhood did not automatically heal John's wounds, and secrecy continued to damage family life.
• The death of John's mother shattered his emotional security and intensified his anger toward God.
• Fear of being exposed kept John trapped in lies and prevented him from asking for help.
• John's arrest and imprisonment brought total loss of control and the collapse of his false identities.
• In the jail cell, John experienced profound powerlessness and the end of his ability to hide.
• Surrendering control marked the moment when true freedom began.
• Jesus met John in his darkest place, revealing that He never abandoned him.
• Christ goes anywhere to restore broken hearts.

Resources:

• Just a Guy in the Pew
• John's Podcast: Just a Guy in the Pew Podcast
• Redeemed - A Men's Retreat (with the JPII Healing Center)
• Power Made Perfect by John Edwards - Coming Soon!

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

04:05 The Masculine Ache for Belonging

13:44 Wearing Masks and Chasing Connection and Power

21:22 Honoring Our Past Selves

23:10 Losing His Mother and God

30:03 Powerlessness and Rage

33:40 Resisting Comparison and Facing Your Story

38:40 John's Secret Comes Out and Meeting God in Jail

59:05 Resources

Connect with Restore the Glory:

• Instagram: @restoretheglorypodcast
• Twitter: @RestoreGloryPod
• Facebook: Restore the Glory Podcast

Never miss out on an episode by hitting the subscribe button right now! Help other people find the show and grow in holiness by sharing this podcast with them individually or on your social media. Thanks!

This week, Jake and Bob reflect on a few topics that were discussed during a recent "Holy Desire" Priest's retreat with the JPII Healing Center. They discuss the connection between communion with God and the removal of pain, how woundedness redirects good desires, and why coping strategies are not usually virtuous. Jake and Bob also answer a few questions received from priests at the retreat, such as—Am I using wounds as an excuse for sin? What is the difference between soul ties and enmeshment? And should I share my wounds with my parents?

Key Points:

• Healing is best understood as an ongoing encounter with God's love that restores communion and is not simply the removal of pain.
• Pain relief can be a fruit of healing, but it should never become the primary goal over intimacy with God.
• Broken communion is the reason we experience pain.
• Wounds often lead us to develop maladaptive responses that we mistakenly elevate into "virtues."
• Holy desires naturally draw us toward love and communion with God and others.
• When wounds and vows press down on holy desires, those desires often emerge sideways as disordered desires.
• Disordered desires are not evil at their core but are distorted expressions of something originally good.
• Enmeshment reflects a lack of healthy differentiation and often develops within family systems.
• Soul ties are distorted bonds that form through sin, wounds, or misplaced dependency.
• Learning to recognize the good desire beneath another's behavior transforms how we relate to them.
• Love grows when we respond to a person's holy desire rather than reacting to their maladaptive behavior.
• Discernment, timing, and freedom of heart are essential when considering sharing one's wounds with parents.

Resources:

• Principles of Catholic Theology by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger
• Holy Desire Workbook (In the dropdown menu select the "Workbook" as the type)
• Rick and Dick Hoyt Video
• Deadly Wounds and Holy Desires Chart

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

06:34 What does "I Experienced Healing" Mean?

13:40 Can the Way I Cope with a Wound Actually be a Virtue?

18:42 How are Disordered Desires Formed?

29:36 How Do I Find the Holy Desire Behind My Sin?

35:55 Am I Treating Woundedness as an Excuse for Sin?

42:54 What is the Difference Between a Soul Tie and Enmeshment?

51:07 Should I Share My Wounds with My Parents?

Connect with Restore the Glory:

• Instagram: @restoretheglorypodcast
• Twitter: @RestoreGloryPod
• Facebook: Restore the Glory Podcast

Never miss out on an episode by hitting the subscribe button right now! Help other people find the show and grow in holiness by sharing this podcast with them individually or on your social media. Thanks!