Ever wonder what really happens behind the walls of a monastery?
In this week’s episode, I welcome back our favorite Benedictine monk with a surfboard, Fr. Augustine Wetta. We’re stepping into a hidden world that’s been quietly defying the noise and chaos of modern life for over 1,500 years with silence, prayer, community, and a whole lot of humility.
But don’t expect some dreamy fairy tale. This is real life behind the habit: petty arguments over pens, broken irons held together with the wrong glue, and golf cart joy rides. It’s raw, funny, and surprisingly relatable. Turns out, becoming a monk doesn’t make you perfect; it just means you’ve committed to growing in love.
00:00 Intro
6:24 Why Fr. Augustine became a monk
12:11 What Fr. Augustine discovered about himself in his 1st years as a monk
13:24 Why silence isn’t scary; it’s clarifying
14:44 The monastic trick to handling distractions during prayer
17:49 The unexpected joys of Monastic life
19:22 And... the surprisingly holy story of a broken iron (short)
22:00 What monks fight about (spoiler: it’s hilariously petty and deeply human)
28:07 Why doing the dishes for someone who annoys you can be sanctifying
28:37 The power of apologizing even when you think you're right (short)
32:22 Settlers of Catan and golf carts in the monastery!?
35:51 Three simple ways to make your house more monastic (yes, even with kids running around)
36:26 Deliberately lose your next argument
This episode reminded me that monastic life isn’t about escape, it’s about living with radical intentionality. And that’s something every one of us is called to, whether you’re in a habit or a hoodie.
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40:26
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40:26
Hate your mom?! What Jesus really meant & what it means for YOU
Did Jesus really say, “Hate your mother”? It sounds more like a death-metal lyric, right? Nope…those are Jesus’ words in Luke 14.
So what’s up with that? Was He telling us to literally despise our parents? Of course not. But He was making one of the boldest, most shocking points He ever made: our love and loyalty to Him must be so much greater, so much higher, that even your deepest family bond looks like hate in comparison.
In this episode, I dive into this hard of Jesus and explain why love is free but costs you everything. What You’ll Discover:
What “hate your mom” really means (and doesn’t mean)
Why following Jesus will cost you everything and why that's GOOD news.
Why cheap grace can destroy faith and what costly grace really means.
Why you can’t call Jesus a “good teacher” He is either a Lord, a lunatic, or a liar.
The saints that went all in and never looked back
How putting God first doesn’t take away your life, but gives it back to you in fullness.
Jesus’s love is free, but it’ll cost you everything. And when you give Him everything, you discover the only life worth living.
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Come on a pilgrimage and retreat with me in Assisi! https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/
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Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20
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Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/
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Research links:
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2019/01/31/are-religious-people-happier-healthier-our-new-global-study-explores-this-question/
https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu/religion-and-divorce
https://www.aau.edu/research-scholarship/featured-research-topics/people-religious-affiliations-live-longer-study-shows
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18:09
Blessed Pier Giorgio’s Second Vatican-Approved Miracle: Fr. Juan’s Miraculous Healing
Fr. Juan Gutiérrez’s basketball injury ultimately led to the upcoming canonization of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati! In this episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Fr. Juan Gutiérrez, who experienced something extraordinary: a complete healing of his ruptured Achilles that was officially declared a Vatican-approved miracle and is considered the second miracle needed for the canonization of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati.
Fr. Juan didn’t go looking for a miracle. When he suffered a complete tear of his Achilles tendon while playing basketball with seminarians, his doctor told him there was little chance of recovery without surgery. He turned to prayer, and what happened next left his surgeon speechless and left the Vatican investigating what even medical experts couldn’t explain.
Timestamps: 00:00 Intro
1:36 How a basketball game led to a torn Achilles
6:44 How a made-up novena became the turning point of the story
8:38 Intense heat during prayer—was something on fire?!
12:57 The surgeon's stunned reaction
16:29 Why God cares about the little things
16:55 Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati: The Patron Saint of Ordinary People
18:27 What’s your Achilles heel?
20:46 What’s it like to be a subject of a Vatican Investigation?
29:55 Who was Pier Giorgio Frassatti really!?
33:32 Why are we given miracles?
35:02 From atheist to… Catholic priest!?
So many of us think, “God only steps in for the big stuff.” But Jesus’ first miracle was at a wedding… turning water into wine. Not raising the dead or curing cancer. Why? Simply to save a couple from embarrassment.
Because that’s who He is. A Father who loves the details. A Savior who cares about your daily life. A Friend who meets you in your need, even when the world says it’s too small to matter.
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Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20
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Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/
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The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/
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✈️ To learn more about all of Real Life Catholic Pilgrimages, visit: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/ ........
✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration in your inbox. https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20
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Listen to the "Chris Stefanick Show" as a podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZOMMAyrrwyFVVcEPU85vV
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43:38
What Jiu-Jitsu Taught Me About the Devil and Humility
What if I told you the most powerful spiritual weapon isn't talent and charisma but HUMILITY!
In this episode, I’m diving deep into the one virtue that makes you spiritually unconquerable. We’ll talk jiu-jitsu (yes, seriously ), the wisdom of the Desert Fathers, the ground game of Jesus, and why humility isn’t weakness, it's the key to strength, peace, and spiritual victory.
What You’ll Discover:
Why I love jiu-jitsu (and what it teaches us about spiritual battle)
The kind of spouse you should be looking for
What a Polish nun taught me backstage at World Youth Day
How God uses trials to keep us grounded
Practical ways to grow in humility (and spot pride when it sneaks in)
If you’re chasing success, struggling in your marriage, or battling pride and discouragement, this episode is for you! Because in God’s kingdom, the path to victory isn’t up… it’s down. The ground is where grace meets you. And if you’re willing to get low, you’ll find that’s where the real power is.
Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20
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Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/
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Come on Pilgrimage with me! https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/
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19:25
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19:25
Police Officer Burnout, PTSD, and Finding Hope
What happens when the one who runs toward danger… can’t outrun his own pain?
In this gripping episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Jeff Wrigley, a veteran police officer, father of 7, and Catholic convert, who spent decades racing into crises to protect others—all while silently falling apart on the inside.
Jeff opens up about what it's like to carry the invisible wounds of decades in law enforcement: the trauma that piles up, the pressure to stay composed, the moments of despair no one sees, and the burnout that nearly ended everything. He shares the moment it all broke, and the turning point that began his road back to joy.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
15:31 The stigma behind being a cop
20:15 How faith informed him as a police officer
25:22 Why bravery without fear is dangerous
31:10 It is responsible to recognize that there are threats in society
34:06 What's it like to be a first responder to tragedy
46:27 Why stuffing pain never works
50:51 PTSD and hidden anxiety in law enforcement
52:30 The simple prayer that saved his life
54:00 The lie of perfectionism as a cop
59:36 The importance of seeking good counsel
Jesus didn’t promise an easy life. He promised we wouldn’t go through it alone. If you’re carrying more than you can handle, this episode will remind you: faith isn’t about faking it. It’s about letting Christ into the dark and letting him carry you out.
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Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20
........
Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission and become a monthly donor (A Missionary of JOY!): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/
........
The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/
........
✈️ To learn more about all of Real Life Catholic Pilgrimages, visit: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/
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✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration in your inbox. https...
The world says the Catholic Faith is boring. And too often, we act like we believe it. Ready to live your Faith like an adventure instead? Chris Stefanick wants to help you live the JOY God created you for, right here and now. Hit Play and get rolling!
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