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  • Fr. Dave Pivonka - A Proud Father

    Fr. Dave Pivonka - A Proud Father
    2025/12/02
    Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, is the president of Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio and is our guest on this episode. Fr. Dave grew up in a devoted Catholic family and he and his siblings were very involved in various types of sports. Fr. Dave liked the competitive nature of sports, but most appreciated the relationships that are prevalent in team sports. Looking back, he realizes how the lessons he learned in his early years in sports helped shape him for his current role. As the president of a university, Fr. Dave is a very busy man who has many responsibilities. With a full day in front of him, he finds that spending 30 to 45 minutes on a treadmill each morning before going to the office is very beneficial to his day. Fr. Dave also recently attended a Notre Dame game and is a Denver Broncos fan. He can’t imagine his life without sports. Fr. Dave explains the three types of Franciscan Orders and the Third Order Regular (TOR). Although he felt called to the priesthood at a young age, Fr. Dave knew that he was not called to be a diocesan priest. He needed to be in a community, a brotherhood that supports each other. He lives with nineteen Friars and enjoys the camaraderie and the sports rivalries inherent in a group of men. Fr. Dave also explains what he likes about St. Francis who lived in the 12th to 13th century in Italy and felt called by God to “Rebuild My Church”. Fr. Dave explains some of the many assignments he had in the Order prior to his assignment as President of Franciscan University in 2019. In his current role, he talks about celebrating early morning daily Mass in a packed chapel that holds 590 people at a time when roughly 70% of “kids” stop going to church. Franciscan University also sponsors about 25 summer youth conferences across the country with approximately 60,000 young people attending. Fr. Dave discusses his collaboration with Wild Goose TV in producing a video series called My Father’s Father in which he talks about experiences and discussions he had with his father that taught Fr. Dave more about Our Heavenly Father. He also collaborated with Wild Goose TV to produce a series called “Metanoia”, a Greek word that means a transformation of the heart, a spiritual conversion, which comes about through repentance. The Metanoia series was filmed in the Holy Land. Fr. Dave also talks about two video series he is involved in called “In Focus” and “In Person”. Of all the many things that encompass Fr. Dave’s life, he just wants to do what God wants him to do. He hopes everything he’s doing comes from his personal relationship with Jesus. Fr. Dave cannot imagine doing anything else. He hopes that his 2000 students know that “Fr. Dave is proud of me!”, like Fr. Dave’s father was proud of him. Fr. Dave talks about prayer and says it’s “pretty simple” and tells listeners how to have a good prayer time. Like the old Nike adage, Fr. Dave encourages listeners to “Just Do It!” In the life of a Franciscan, the word “kenosis” is important. Kenosis means “emptying” of oneself and is best described in Philippians 2:6-8. While prayer may be simple, kenosis takes practice (like hitting a baseball). Fr Dave talks about how he experiences kenosis. Fr. Dave ends by emphatically stating that young people are good, and they are not the future of the Church as he has heard some people say, young people are part of the Church today! He invites listeners to visit Franciscan University and go to Mass at 6:30 in the morning! He likes that young people are “messy” sometimes and are still trying to figure things out. With his belief in and enthusiasm for young people, it’s not a stretch to say that God has Fr. Dave in just the right place! Links: Franciscan University of Steubenville | Live the Truth Youth Conferences - Steubenville Conferences Wild Goose TV streaming platform – My Father’s Father and Metanoia Franciscan University Faith & Reason - Nurture your soul and your mind. – contains “In Focus” and “In Person” series with Fr. Dave among other faith-oriented videos Franciscan University of Steubenville – a mission of the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis Fr. Dave’s Bio | Franciscan University of Steubenville #catholicsports, #franciscanuniversity, #faithandreason, #striveforkenosis
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    48 分
  • Rachael Popcak Isaac - I Have Nothing to Prove and Everything to Share

    Rachael Popcak Isaac - I Have Nothing to Prove and Everything to Share
    2025/11/06

    Rachael Popcak Isaac developed the Success and Performance Coaching Program and is our guest on this episode. Rachael grew up as a competitive figure skater and dancer, so she knows the love of competition. She has also experienced the intense pressure, anxiety, and stress inherent in sports or any high-pressure endeavor and this is the part of competition she did not like. Early in Rachael’s career, she leaned on her faith and the love God had for her, and something shifted in her spirit and this new perspective changed her life. Rachael was able to enjoy and flourish in her God-given talents.

    Rachael is the daughter of Dr. Greg Popcak, founder of CatholicCounselors.com and the Success and Performance Coaching Program is a division of her father’s company. Rachael is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and uses her skills and experience to help people who are in highly competitive, high-performance, high-pressure, high expectation, and/or high stress professions. Her clientele ranges from high school to professional athletes, dancers, doctors, lawyers, executives, anyone who has a position with high responsibility and high expectations. Common among these are people who have unbalanced competitive professions where stress and anxiety are the norm and which, if left unchecked, can lead to unhappy, anxious, and stress-filled lives apart from their field of endeavor. That is where Rachael’s new program can help.

    Like the other services offered on CatholicCounselor.com, the Success and Performance Coaching Program uses tele-services to help clients achieve their goals. Unlike sports psychologists or other secular counseling services, CatholicCounselors.com bases their services on St. John Paul II’s teaching on the Theology of the Body. Rachael explains the importance of integrating mind, body, and spirit in the life of a competitor. Disintegration in a competitor can lead to failure, stress, and frustration in their endeavor and can spread to other areas of a person’s life. Integration can lead to a sense of calm and confidence that can make success much more attainable and offers a more fulfilling life outside a person’s field of endeavor. Rachael explains what to expect in counseling and the benefit of incorporating faith in the process. An added gem, Rachael explains her favorite definition of “confidence” and why it’s important in the life of a competitor (or anybody). Rachael also talks about how most competitors experience unique pressures, expectations, experiences, and their language might be a little different than people with other counseling needs and that’s the niche the Success and Performance Coaching Program aims to fill.

    For everyone who enjoys participating in sports, or those who enjoy watching sports, Rachael suggests fostering and maintaining healthy relationships around sports is most important. Rachael ends with a heartfelt story where she experienced a time when fierce competition got in the way of enjoying her God-given gifts and those of others. It’s summed up in her adopted motto “I have nothing to prove and everything to share” and where it should lead us all… toward true confidence in relationships with others. It’s a motto that works everywhere, on or off the field.

    Links:

    Success and Performance Coaching - Catholic Counselors

    Home - Catholic Counselors

    https://catholiccounselors.com/playing-for-glory-how-theology-of-the-body-transforms-the-way-athletes-compete/

    #catholicsports, #coachingforsuccess, #successandperformancecoaching, #godandathletes, #sportstheologyofthebody
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    48 分
  • Raquel Rose - God Turns Despair into Success

    Raquel Rose - God Turns Despair into Success
    2025/10/11

    Raquel Rose is the founder of the Little Rose Shop and is our guest on this episode. In addition to running her own business, Raquel is a wife and the mother of one girl and three boys. Growing up, she liked all sports, especially basketball. She tried to make the basketball team in college, even as a walk-on, but didn’t make it. Raquel and her friend tried out for the rugby team and made it. She recalls her experiences as a rugby player. Even though she didn’t make the basketball team, Raquel’s experience with getting on the rugby team taught her that your plan is not always God’s plan. She learned that God provides other opportunities.

    At age 21, Raquel found out that she was pregnant and shares the feelings she had at that time in her life. It was at Mass, during the consecration of the Eucharist, that Raquel thought she was a failure but felt the deep love Jesus had for her. She explains what she experienced at this life-changing time in her life. Raquel also found acceptance from her parents and the few friends she confided in. Her experience at Mass and with the Eucharist caused a powerful “reconversion” in her faith journey and her life would be forever changed. As a single mother, Raquel began coaching and observed that while the drive to win and achieve success is common in sports, she found and emphasized that sports also provide opportunities for personal development.

    Raquel started to make items to help remind her to pray often. She also made things to keep her little daughter busy and quiet during Mass. This led to her founding the Little Rose Shop. Raquel eventually got married and had more children. She launched herself into being a faithful wife, full-time mother and successful business owner. Raquel explains the mission of her business and what the Little Rose Shop offers. She holds a master’s degree in School Counseling and applies her knowledge and faith to the development of the products at the Little Rose Shop. Raquel talks about the how the “Ignatius Examen” was corroborated by her counseling studies as a great way to reduce anxiety and depression in life. Raquel also talks about how St. Thérèse of Lisieux is important to her.

    Although the Little Rose Shop is predominantly geared toward moms, Raquel discusses how the website offers a few things for men. She also suggests that men can find gifts to help uplift the woman in their lives. Raquel talks about how sports can help children learn healthy virtues and relationships, sporting events can also bring families together. Raquel ends by encouraging listeners to say “yes” to God all the time, even when it's difficult. Her initial “yes” to God has brought much fruition into her life: a great marriage, family, and a thriving business.

    Raquel’s life is a great example of Romans 8:28: We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

    Links:

    Little Rose Shop: Catholic Christian gift and book shop for moms, kids, and baby

    The Eucharist | USCCB

    The Daily Examen - IgnatianSpirituality.com

    St. Thérèse of Lisieux: The Little Flower Who Showed Us the Way of Love – Catholic Online News

    #catholicsports, #littleroseshop, #trustingod, #godneverfails
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    43 分
  • Garrett Bernardo - Claim Your Crown

    Garrett Bernardo - Claim Your Crown
    2025/09/25
    Garrett Bernardo is our guest on this episode. He is the CEO of NOVUS (pronounced Novice), a purpose driven athletic clothing apparel company. Garrett talks about his early life being raised in a devout Catholic home. He recalls sharing a bedroom with his brother where his mom put a football poster in their room with the headline “Never, Never Quit with the bible verse: “Blessed are those who persevere under trial, for having withstood the test, they will receive the crown of life for those who love Him”, James 1:12, a verse that follows the brothers throughout their lives. Garrett went to Maine University his sophomore year and then transferred to Anderson College in South Carolina with his brother, Nick. Garrett and Nick started NOVUS in college as what Garrett describes as a “side-hustle”. Garrett played college baseball and wanted to play in the pros, but God had other plans for him. Garrett was introduced to a Catholic ministry called FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) which became very important in his life. He became a missionary with FOCUS and talks about how being a FOCUS missionary changed his life. NOVUS sports apparel is different from competitors because the company not only offers customers customized sports apparel, but with faith, builds meaningful, lasting relationships. NOVUS in Latin means “new” or “new beginnings”. Garrett, his brother Nick, and their friend Scott (who played lacrosse at Rutgers) run the company. NOVUS offers purpose-driven design and team-focused apparel. The company’s logo and mantra “Claim Your Crown” are derived from the poster in their childhood bedroom. Garrett also explains the three pillars of NOVUS: 1. Pursuing their passion through their God-given abilities 2. Being convicted and committed to their work 3. Never giving up on their dreams. Garrett explains the “1:12 Project” NOVUS created along with their partner, Encounter Travel, that goes to the Dominican Republic and offers employees and customers the experience Garrett had in FOCUS. The 1:12 Project derives its name from the bible, James 1:12, the same bible quote that was in Garrett’s childhood bedroom. They bring a chaplain, celebrate Mass, have Holy Hour, then they hit the field with the kids. Although great, customized sports apparel with unique customer service is the goal of NOVUS, it is easy to see that there is a supernatural foundation that this company is built on! NOVUS CUSTOM | Purpose-Driven Team Uniforms & Apparel

    NOVUS 1:12 Project - Dominican Republic - Baseball & Volleyball in Banica, Dominican Republic

    What We Do Overview - FOCUS #catholicsports, #catholicsportsapparel, #novussportsapparel, #novuspurposedrivencompany
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    50 分
  • Joey Pontarelli - Hurt and Suffering Transformed

    Joey Pontarelli - Hurt and Suffering Transformed
    2025/09/08

    Our guest on this episode is Joey Pontarelli who is the founder and president of Restored, a ministry that helps teens and young adults who come from divorced or dysfunctional families heal and build virtue so they can avoid repeating that cycle and build a better life. Joey holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Franciscan University of Steubenville and an MBA from Benedictine College. Joey recalls growing up in a large Italian family with five boys and one girl. His early life was permeated with sports, whether he was goofing around with his siblings or playing an organized sport. He played club volleyball in college.

    Around age 11, Joey’s life drastically changed when his parents separated and eventually divorced. He recounts the feelings, problems, and struggles he encountered during this time in his life.

    Joey explains what changed in his life and how his return to God and the Church helped him. Joey felt there was a lack of resources for him when his parents divorced. After much prayer and spiritual direction, he felt called to start Restored. Joey is passionate about helping teens and young adults with resources which he highlights on the Restored website. The most popular resource on the Restored website is the podcast.

    Other popular resources are a book entitled “It’s Not Your Fault” and a guide “7 Tips on Building a Thriving and Divorce-Proof Marriage”. These are only a few of many resources on the Restored website. Joey also talks about how sports is a great tool to help the healing process while building virtues necessary for healthy relationships.

    Joey ends the podcast with practical advice for people who are, or were, in broken families and for people who are in intact families who want to help a friend who might be going through a difficult time in their family. If you find yourself anywhere on this continuum (that’s practically everybody), this podcast and Restored just might be for you.

    Link: Restored - About — Restored

    Resources discussed by Joey:

    Jason Evert – author/speaker: Purified; Books by Jason Evert (Author of Saint John Paul the Great); Jason Evert - Wikipedia

    Retreat: Lifegiving Wounds (Catholic), focus on adults whose parents were divorced: Life-Giving Wounds

    Dr. Greg Bottaro – Catholic Psych Institute: Faith-Aligned Online Therapy at CatholicPsych Institute

    Bob Schutts, PhD. – John Paul II Healing Center – Transformation in the Heart of the Church; Catholic Sportsman Show: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-h779y-16b68c3

    Sr. Miriam: Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT - The GIVEN Institute

    Fr. John Burns: Fr. John Burns - The GIVEN Institute

    Leila Miller- author: Primal Loss: The Now-Adult Children of Divorce Speak - https://a.co/d/4jRcz3C

    Leila Miller: Impossible - Marriages Redeemed, They Didn’t End the Story in the Middle - https://a.co/d/fCXLIfu

    Fr. Mike Schmitz: Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen - https://youtu.be/0NOTU1g0Z8w

    Greg and Julie Alexander: authors - Marriage 911: How God Saved Our Marriage and Can Save Yours Too - https://a.co/d/clwhJxH

    Alexander House: Hope & Healing for Marriage

    #catholicsports, #childrenofdivorcedfamilies, #childrenhealingfromdivorce, #dontletdivorcewin

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    58 分
  • Josh Brooks - Set Apart

    Josh Brooks - Set Apart
    2025/08/14

    Josh Brooks is a seminarian in the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia and is our guest on this episode. Throughout his life, Josh has had a huge passion for basketball. He tried out for his high school team but didn’t make it, God had other plans for Josh. He was raised in the Baptist faith, and his parents sent him to Catholic school. While in a relationship with his girlfriend, Josh felt a call to the priesthood. He explains that being a priest is being set apart, and he feels called to that life.

    Josh became Catholic and is now going into his fourth year of the seminary’s college program, then he will have four more years of theological studies prior to being ordained a priest. Along the way, Josh will continually be discerning his vocation… is God really calling him to the priesthood? Josh is blessed to have the support of his parents. Josh talks about what he likes most about being in the seminary and what he likes least. He explains the difference between the Ordinary Form of the Mass and the Extraordinary Form.

    Josh hopes to use sports, especially basketball, as a tool in his ministry if God wills that he be ordained a priest. Josh ends the podcast with wonderful encouragement for both young men and women as they discern their vocations… married, priesthood, religious life, or a single consecrated life. As you listen to Josh humbly present his story, please offer a prayer for his vocation and all vocations, that we will all follow our Lord wherever He leads. Pray also that we follow the admonition of Jesus’s mother Mary to “do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5).

    #catholicsports #catholicseminary #priesthood #catholicvocations #philly
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    46 分
  • Chase Crouse - Endure the Fire

    Chase Crouse - Endure the Fire
    2025/07/26
    Chase Crouse is the CEO and founder of Hypuro Fit and is our guest on this episode. Hypuro Fit is a Catholic approach to fitness or stated another way, it’s fitness with a holy purpose. Chase explains the philosophy of Hypuro Fit is not just to work out to achieve a ripped body, although strength and nutrition are a great by-product. The philosophy of Hypuro Fit is inspired by St. Pope John Paul II’s teaching on the Theology of the Body. It’s rooted in the goal of helping participants integrate a healthy lifestyle with a healthy spiritual life. Chase frequently says, “You can’t give what you don’t have.” If your body is out of shape, you might have trouble physically helping others. Likewise, if you are not spiritually fit you may not be able to help someone who may need spiritual help. Hypuro Fit’s mission is to help their clients integrate the mind and spirit and ultimately to grow in holiness. Hypuro Fit is an app-based ministry and can be used at home, at the gym, or wherever a person works out. Hypuro Fit is staffed by a team of nationally certified trainers who are authentic disciples of Jesus and are devout Catholics. They also help clients with nutrition. Chase explains the different levels, what clients receive at each level, and the pricing. Hypuro Fit is not a canned program. It’s not an ‘everyone has to work out this way and eat that way’ approach. It’s individualized based on a client’s needs, goals, schedules, lifestyles, etc. Interestingly, about a third of Hypuro Fit’s clients are priests or religious (nuns, deacons, etc.) Chase ends the podcast with a provocative question: Why are you working to be physically and spiritually fit? Chase then answers his own question, “For Catholics, your why is always a who. If your why is a who, then it’s based on love and you’re off to a good start!” For information about Hypuro Fit: Catholic Personal Training | Hypuro Fit For information about the Theology of the Body: Summary of the Theology of the Body (TOB) Waldstein #catholicsports, #hypurofit, #catholicfitness, #Theologyofthebodyfitness
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    47 分
  • Scott Carter presenting Venerable Emil Kapaun - Blessed Are the Peacemakers

    Scott Carter presenting Venerable Emil Kapaun - Blessed Are the Peacemakers
    2025/07/14

    Scott Carter is our guest on this episode. He is the coordinator of the office for the Beatification of Venerable Fr. Emil Kapaun. Fr. Kapaun is one of the newest deceased persons to be declared Venerable by the late Pope Francis in February 2025, which is a step closer to being declared a saint in the Catholic Church. Fr. Kapaun is best known for his faith-filled and heroic participation in the Korean war. Scott tells us about the young Emil’s penchant for being an outdoorsman at a young age and his love for sports while he was in the seminary. Fr. Kapaun was ordained on June 9, 1949, and was assigned to a parish in Kansas.

    Fr. Kapaun’s real calling was to minister to and serve soldiers in the war. He served as a chaplain in World War II and returned to the States when the war ended. In 1949 the Army put out a letter requesting chaplains for the Korean War and Fr. Kapaun told his bishop that he wanted to go. Scott says that Fr. Kapaun had a missionary spirit. There is an iconic picture of Fr. Kapaun celebrating Mass on the hood of a jeep. While in the Korean War, Fr. Kapaun was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor and the Medal of Honor for saving a soldier about to be shot. Eventually Fr. Kapaun was captured and sent to a prison camp.

    While in the prison camp, Fr. Kapaun did everything he could to help his fellow prisoners maintain their dignity while encouraging those that wanted to give up. While his captors took Fr. Kapaun to his death, he asked forgiveness for any wrong he might have done to any one of them. Throughout his life and at the hour of his death, Fr. Kapaun put his faith into action. Miraculously, Fr. Kapaun’s remains were found many years after his death in Korea and were returned to Kansas where he is buried at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita. Scott ends the podcast by recalling a reflection given by Fr. Kapaun on the radio in Tokyo in April of 1950 on the Beatitude found in Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers…”

    Scott asks anyone who is praying for the intercession of Fr. Kapaun to contact him at the website listed below.

    For more information about Fr. Kapaun and/or to contact Scott: Venerable Emil J. Kapaun | Official Home Page

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

    #catholicsports, #frkaupaun, #frkapaunkoreanwar
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    1 時間 2 分