Super Bowl Champion Harrison Butker and his wife Isabelle discuss marriage, fatherhood, motherhood, and raising virtuous children in a chaotic world.

Isabelle opens up about the often unseen strength of motherhood, the beauty of sacrifice, and what young women should look for in a husband. Harrison shares what he admires most about his wife, how they live out their vocations as Catholic parents, and why men must reclaim their role as spiritual leaders in the home.

In this episode:

• The complementary roles of fatherhood and motherhood
• Why suffering well is at the heart of sainthood
• Advice for young men & women discerning marriage
• How to form children in faith without losing sight of the home
• The power of presence, prayer, and humility in family life

Whether you’re a parent, single, dating, or discerning your vocation, this conversation will challenge and encourage you to pursue holiness in your home.

In this episode of The Catholic Man Show, Adam Minihan and David Niles sit down with Matt Walsh — Catholic commentator, author, and host of The Matt Walsh Show — for a conversation on leisure, manhood, and how technology is reshaping our minds.

Matt shares his perspective on the modern man’s crisis of leisure, the dangers of mindless scrolling, and why intentional hobbies like fishing or board games are more than just recreation — they’re necessary for the soul.

They discuss:

• Why men today are worse at leisure than their grandfathers
• How social media disorders our view of rest
• The connection between leisure, joy, and being fully human
• How to foster habits of real leisure in your home and family
• Why every man needs one good hobby — and why that hobby should help you disconnect

Matt also reflects on the importance of silence, presence, and being able to simply “be” without needing to consume content or noise.

Sponsor:

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In this episode of The Catholic Man Show, hosts Adam Minihan and David Niles share personal anecdotes and deep spiritual insights, focusing on the challenge of distractions in prayer. From road trip stories to household mishaps, the hosts set the stage with relatable humor before diving into a discussion inspired by St. Thomas Aquinas and Father Frederick Faber. They explore the five fountains of distraction in prayer, offering practical advice for cultivating a deeper prayer life by addressing distractions outside of prayer time.

Key Discussion Points:

• Opening Banter (00:00:19 - 00:04:50): David recounts his family road trip to Wyoming, including an unexpected stop in Denver and the challenges of traveling with six kids. Adam shares his chaotic week of household breakdowns, from a malfunctioning dishwasher to a beeping van door and a broken lawnmower, humorously reflecting on the "throwaway culture" he’s trying to resist.
• Health Struggles (00:09:01 - 00:11:24): Adam discusses a rare bout of heartburn that kept him up at night, highlighting his lack of Tums and his struggle to lead a meeting while sleep-deprived and feverish. David relates to his heartburn experience from a past "one chip challenge" on the show.
• Sponsorship Spotlight (00:12:00 - 00:12:39): The hosts thank Select International Tours, a long-time sponsor, for their reliable pilgrimage offerings. They encourage listeners to visit selectinternationaltours.com for details on their upcoming October pilgrimage to Italy, emphasizing the ideal weather and transformative experience.
• What We’re Drinking (00:37:02 - 00:37:26): Adam and David enjoy Wyoming Whiskey, a bourbon David praises for its affordability ($30 in Wyoming) and delicious flavor, making it a fitting choice for the episode.
• Main Topic: Distractions in Prayer (00:15:28 - 01:11:09):
• Personal Reflection: Adam shares a moment of grace in adoration, where he asked God to reveal impediments in his prayer life. A distracting phone check during a conversation revealed his struggle with presence, sparking a realization about the need for focus in both human and divine relationships.
• Theological Foundation: Drawing from St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica (Second Part of the Second Part) and Father Walter Farrell’s Companion to the Summa, the hosts discuss prayer as an act of the will, preceded by the intellect. They reference the Baltimore Catechism’s teaching that we are made to “know, love, and serve” God, emphasizing that knowing God fuels love, which leads to service.
• Five Fountains of Distraction (Father Frederick Faber):

1. Disordered Health: An obsession with health (valetudinarian state) can distract from tranquility in prayer, unlike true suffering, which can draw one closer to God when united with the Cross.
2. Actions of the Holy Spirit: Distractions can serve as a crucible to humble and purify, grounding believers in deeper devotion by burning away self-love.
3. The Devil: Demonic distractions are marked by their abundance, vivid imagery, soul-disquieting nature, disconnection from daily life, repetitive patterns, and potential to lead to sin. Custody of the eyes, especially against sins of the sixth and ninth commandments, is crucial to limit the devil’s influence.
4. Inculpable Self: Unintentional distractions arise from temperament, imagination, or poor spiritual direction, which are not deliberately chosen but still disrupt prayer.
5. Culpable Self: Deliberately entertained distractions are grave sins if knowingly allowed during time owed to God. These include:

• Bodily Sources: Lack...