Our guest on this episode is Jonathan "Johnny" Kuplak, co-founder of Sebaste, an organization in New Mexico challenging young men to become great saints through adventure, brotherhood, physical challenge, and prayer. Johnny is a husband. He is also a teacher and an endurance athlete.

In this episode, you will find the answers to the following questions about Johnny and Sebaste:

Did he grow up in a large, sports-oriented family?

What kind of school did he attend and how did it affect him?

Why is brotherhood so important to him throughout his life?

When and why did running become important in his life?

What does he say about fear and how does his view affect his life?

What is Sebaste and how did he and his friend, Jeremy, develop the Sebaste organization?

Why did they name the organization “Sebaste” and what’s the story of the Forty Martyrs?

What is the mission, purpose, and goal of Sebaste and why is running so important to the experience?

Why is freedom so important to him?

What is the difference between a marathon and an ultra-marathon?

What is the Via Magna and did he complete it?

The four pillars of Sebaste are: Devotion, Adventure, Challenge, and Brotherhood. What do each of these pillars mean to the Sebaste organization?

Where does the Catholic identity in Sebaste come from?

Are stoicism and comfort the enemies of Christianity?

Does Sebaste have any events coming up?

Is there a target age and a gender that Sebaste is geared toward?

What advice does he have for people who won’t participate in Sebaste but want to practice what they preach?

Links:

https://www.sebaste.org/

Trailer for Sebaste's documentary "Run so as to Win", chronicling Jonathan's 214 mile race through the Eastern Sierra's: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYdMmtZsLNY

40 Martyrs - https://www.sebaste.org/about-us

https://melkite.org/faith/faith-worship/melkite-identity/the-melkites

https://www.usccb.org/topics/youth-and-young-adult-ministries/saint-pier-giorgio-frassati

https://www.sebaste.org/via-magna

#catholicsports, #sebaste, #catholicbrotherhood, #faithandphysicality, #understandingmen, #RunsoastoWin

Anthony Isacco, PhD is program director, professor, and head of clinical research in the new MS in clinical psychology program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. He is a licensed psychologist and is the principal of Puritan Psychological Services, a small private practice focused on helping clergy, seminarians, and women religious live healthy, holy, and happy lives in their vocations. Dr. Anthony is a generalist, with areas of expertise in the psychology of men and masculinity, fatherhood, psychological assessment, and religious/spiritual integration in psychology. He is a Fellow of the St. John Paul II Foundation. Dr. Isacco lives in Pittsburgh, PA with his wife and four daughters. Among his many endeavors, Dr. Anthony studies addictions, especially regarding young men. He recently wrote a commentary entitled “Digital Sports Betting Fuels a New March Madness” for the National Catholic Register. We are pleased to have Dr. Anthony on our podcast.

In this episode you will find answers to the following questions about Dr. Anthony:

- How do his endeavors integrate faith?

- How did he become interested in sports betting?

- Is gambling inherently wrong?

- How did a 2018 Supreme Court decision affect sports betting?

- What makes sports gambling so accessible these days?

- How can an activity like betting on a sports game that brings people together and fosters camaraderie become an addiction?

- Why does addictive behavior seem to affect men more than women?

- What is the neuroscience of addiction?

- What does he say about Adam and Eve and Saints Peter and Paul? What do these biblical figures have to do with sports betting addiction?

- What are the three A’s?

- What’s a “prop bet”?

- Are there any programs that can help those who find themselves addicted to sports betting?

- What can family and friends do for a loved one who they feel might be spiraling into sports gambling addiction?

- Can recently canonized St. Giorgio Frassati and/or St. Carlo Acutis help someone with an addiction?

- How does physical exercise help a person?

- He ends the podcast with some meaningful words of wisdom. If a person integrates some (or all) of these suggestions, how might a life be enhanced?

Links:

Digital Sports Betting Fuels a New March Madness| National Catholic Register

16-476 Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Assn. (05/14/2018)

Wild at Heart | Wild At Heart

In the Footsteps of Saints: Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati| National Catholic Register

Online Clinical Psychology Master's Program | Saint Mary’s

#catholicsports, #sportsbetting, #sportsbettingaddiction, #sportsbettinghelp

The Most Reverend John O. Barres, STD, JCL is the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre (Long Island, NY). Previously, he served as the Bishop of the Diocese of Allentown (PA) from 2009 to 2016. He is a graduate of Phillips Academy (Andover), Princeton University and the New York University Graduate School of Business and holds advanced theological degrees from the Catholic University of America and the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. Bishop Barres serves on the Board of Trustees of the Catholic University of America. We are blessed to have Bishop Barres on our podcast.

In this episode you will find answers to the following questions about Bishop Barres:

· He wrote a chapter for a book titled “Apostolic Athletes” edited by Trent Beattie. What personal memories did this evoke for him?

· What sport did he play in college?

· Why is St. John Neuman important to him and what do they share that he is proud of?

· What was he experiencing when he found a pamphlet that emphasized “don’t play sports for your own ego, play it for the glory of God”. How did this affect him?

· What does a point guard in basketball have in common with being a bishop?

· How did the experience of team chemistry while playing basketball affect his spiritual life?

· Why is Pope St. John Paul II’s encyclical “Redemptoris Missio” important to him?

· How was he involved in a Vatican Conference in 2024 regarding the Catholic evangelistic and pastoral care of the global sports world? What effect might this have on Catholic college and high school sports?

· Why are Catholic theology and spirituality of work important?

· Are professional, Olympic, and any level of sports a good place for evangelization?

· What was important about the 1969 New York Mets?

· Is the Holy Spirit moving within young people today?

· How was Archbishop Fulton Sheen involved in the Barres family’s life?

· Is the crucifix important to him? Does he challenge us to make it important in our lives?

· Are sports, at all levels, a great place for our personal missionary spirit?

Links:

Pope St. John Paul II’s encyclical: https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_07121990_redemptoris-missio.html

https://www.usccb.org/resources/Vatican%20Pastoral%20Care%20of%20Sports%20Bishop%20Barres%20Remarks%20May%202024.pdf

https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/catechumen

https://www.wordonfire.org/about/bishop-robert-barron/

https://ascensionpress.com/pages/person/mike-schmitz

https://focus.org/

https://www.archbalt.org/bishop-barres-says-amazin-mets-of-69-who-defeated-orioles-for-championship-can-inspire-church-to-evangelize/

https://www.usccb.org/committees/ecumenical-interreligious-affairs/ecumenical

Johnny Rodriguez is our guest on this episode. He played many types of sports throughout his life and eventually gravitated to lacrosse (a sport that does not get much attention in the USA). He played the sport from before high school through college and played professionally for 7.5 years. Today, Johnny is a lacrosse coach at Mater Dei, a Catholic high school in Santa Ana, CA. He is married and is the proud father of three children. Johnny enjoys coaching and imparting skills to his players. Then one day in November 2023, his world changed as he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Join us as we walk with Johnny on his ongoing battle with this disease and how faith and family continue to push him through the sport that both defines his life and continues to drive him.

The day following the recording of this episode, Johnny received his Sacrament of Confirmation.

In this episode you will find answers to the following questions:

What is Johnny’s “trifecta” that he learned while playing lacrosse?

What grounded Johnny early in life?

What is ALS? How and when was Johnny diagnosed and how did he initially respond?

How did the diagnosis affect his family?

What’s the typical progression and life expectancy of ALS?

What event changed Johnny’s perspective and gave him purpose? In what ways did he change?

What happened when Johnny applied his life-long competitive spirit to ALS?

Johnny went to Lourdes, France. What’s special about this place, why did he go there and what did he experience?

What happened when Johnny returned from Lourdes?

Why did Johnny go to the Ascent and Recreation Center and what did he experience there?

What is Athletes vs ALS and Augie’s Quest and what do these organizations do?

Is ALS more prevalent with athletes?

What words of wisdom does Johnny have about suffering?

What saved Johnny and his family?

Links:

Johnny's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/j3rod/

Athletes vs ALS: https://www.instagram.com/athletesvsals/

https://www.britannica.com/sports/lacrosse

https://augiesquest.org/athletes-vs-als/

https://ascentadaptation.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanctuary_of_Our_Lady_of_Lourdes

https://www.aboutcatholics.com/beliefs/catholic-confirmation-explained/

#catholicsports, #alschallenge, #alslourdes, #findpurposeinsuffering #materdeilacrosse

Our guest on this episode is Fr. Ben Keller, OP (Order of Preachers, commonly known as the Dominican Order). He and the Dominican Friars are chaplains to the Indiana Hoosiers Football team who won the 2026 College Football playoff and produced this year’s Heisman Trophy winner, Fernando Mendoza. Fr. Ben’s episode answers the following questions:

How do faith and sports intersect in Fr. Ben’s life? What impact did Focus and Varsity Catholic ministries have in his journey?

What is Fr. Ben’s vocation story and what did God ask him to give up when he felt a calling to the priesthood?

What is the St. Paul Center and what does Fr. Ben do there?

How did the Dominican Order get involved with the Indiana Hoosiers?

What was it like to be a part of the CFP championship team and friends with Heisman winner Quarterback Fernando Mendoza?

Did the recent Eucharistic Revival that culminated in Indianapolis have an impact on the students?

Where does Fr. Ben find reality and truth?

According to Fr. Ben, why is it important to embrace God’s will in present circumstances?

Links:

Indiana University: https://www.iu.edu/index.html

St. Paul Catholic Center serves as the Newman Center and Catholic parish for the Indiana University community: https://www.hoosiercatholic.org/

FOCUS: https://focus.org/

Varsity Catholic: https://focus.org/what-we-do/varsity-catholic/

OCIA Program: https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/who-we-teach/christian-initiation-of-adults

Eucharistic Revival: https://www.eucharisticrevival.org/

#catholicsports, #indianastpaulcanter, #2026cfp, #faithandfootball, #hoosiercatholic

Our guest on this episode is Bryan Richardson. He is married and has three grown boys, a granddaughter and a grandson. Bryan served our country in the Navy and the Naval Reserves. Bryan’s episode provides answers to these questions:

• What did Bryan’s high school football coach encourage as a team?
• How did Bryan's faith intersect with sports?
• How did Bryan convert to the Catholic Church? Who was the first person he called to talk about his conversion?
• Bryan joined the Navy but was chasing a dream, what was it?
• What is one of Bryan’s favorite Bible verses?
• How did the events of 9/11 affect Bryan?
• How did Bryan start scuba diving and does he still dive?
• How did Bryan’s family get from Southern CA to Fredericksburg VA?
• Bryan’s first son is a Franciscan priest, how did Bryan’s visits to his son in Kensington, Pennsylvania affect him?
• As a retiree, besides attending Mass, what ministries is Bryan involved in?
• In the spirit of evangelization, what does Bryan encourage listeners to be prepared to do?

Links for more information about the topics discussed by Bryan:

OCIA - https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/who-we-teach/christian-initiation-of-adults

Charismatic Renewal in the Catholic Church - https://aleteia.org/2019/06/07/what-is-the-charismatic-renewal/

#catholicsports, #catholicconvert, #catholiccharismaticrenewal, #catholicministries

Lauri Hauser is our guest on this episode. She is a wife and the mother of two grown boys and was also a high school teacher. Twenty years ago, Lauri and her family started a family chant about God.

Little did Lauri know, God would turn that family chant into a burgeoning ministry for His glory. In this episode you will find the answers to the following questions:

· What does IC2KG mean and how did it get started?

· In what ways did her son Joe contribute significantly to the establishment of IC2KG?

· How do “Know, Love, Share, and Serve” play a pivotal role in the IC2KG ministry?

· How did faith and sports play a role in Lauri’s young life and her current life as a wife and mother?

· What is a “God Rock”? What is Lauri’s God Rock?

· How did IC2KG pull Lauri out of her comfort zone and who encouraged her to start IC2KG?

· When Lauri attended the SEEK 2026 Conference, what did she think of it? What is a SEEK Conference?

· What are the future plans for the IC2KG ministry?

Website: https://www.ic2kg.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ic2kg/

SEEK 2026: https://www.ncregister.com/cna/seek-2026-set-to-kick-off-in-3-cities

Link to article by Francesca Pollio Fenton: https://www.ewtnnews.com/world/us/catholic-mom-spreads-ic2kg-message-to-youth-attends-first-seek-conference

Chris Vander Woude is one of seven sons of Tom Vander Woude and is our guest on this episode. Tom died saving his son, Joseph, who fell in a septic tank on the family farm. Family, friends, and the Diocese of Arlington have started the process that, they hope and pray, will lead to Tom’s eventual canonization as a saint in the Catholic Church.

In this episode you will find answers to the following questions:

· Who was Tom Vander Woude?

· Did Tom and his wife, Mary Ellen, foster a spiritual family?

· Were faith and sports important in the Vander Woude family?

· How was Tom’s life as a husband and father extraordinary?

· What was special about their youngest son, Joseph?

· What was the relationship like between Tom and Joseph?

· What happened to Joseph that led to Tom’s death?

· What was extraordinary about Tom’s funeral?

· Who is St. Gianna Molla and why was the Walk of Life important to Tom?

· What stage is Tom’s canonization process in?

· What is the Tom Vander Woude Guild and how is the Diocese of Arlington involved in Tom’s process?

· How can you be involved with Tom Vander Woude’s journey toward sainthood?

Tom Vander Woude Guild

St. Gianna Beretta Molla | EWTN

Walk for Life 2026 Schedule - Walk for Life West Coast

Saints | USCCB : Information about the process of sainthood in the Catholic Church

#catholicsports, #vanderwoudiewitness, #vanwoudiesacrifice, #vanderwoudiejourney