The Catholic Man Show

• Embracing the Dignity of Work and Virtue with Dr. Kent Lasnoski

  Episode OverviewJoin hosts David Niles and Adam Minahan on The Catholic Man Show as they welcome Dr. Kent Lasnoski, a theology professor and key figure in founding San Damiano College for the Trades. In this lively episode, recorded with David’s godson Luke present for the first time, the trio explores the dignity of work, the role of masculinity in Catholic life, and the interplay of work, leisure, and virtue. From ultimate Frisbee to speculative theology about the Garden of Eden, this episode blends humor, faith, and deep insights into living as a Catholic man.Key Themes and DiscussionsMasculinity and Feats of Strength: The episode kicks off with a lighthearted recount of an impromptu ultimate Frisbee game, sparking a discussion on how friendly competitions—like stone-throwing or wiffle ball derbies—foster community and allow men to embrace their God-given strength. Dr. Lasnoski highlights how such activities echo the heroic spirit of figures like King David, who boasted of slaying bears and lions.The Dignity of Work: Drawing from Genesis and Pope St. John Paul II’s Laborem Exercens, Dr. Lasnoski explains work as a fundamental human vocation to imitate God’s creative act. Work involves earning daily bread, extending dominion over creation, and elevating culture toward God. The subjective element—who performs the work—gives it value, distinguishing human labor from robotic tasks.Work Before and After the Fall: The hosts dive into speculative theology, debating whether work existed before the Fall. Dr. Lasnoski argues that Adam’s role to “tend and till” the Garden was work, but without the toil introduced by sin. Post-Fall, work became punitive due to man’s interior disorder, yet it retains a redemptive quality through participation in Christ’s restoration of creation.Home as a Place of Production: Dr. Lasnoski challenges the modern view of the home as merely a place of consumption (e.g., entertainment, food). Historically, homes were productive spaces where men and women collaborated in family economies. He encourages Catholics to see the home as a domestic church, fostering virtue and fruitfulness in alignment with God’s plan.Work, Leisure, and Contemplation: Referencing Josef Pieper, the discussion distinguishes work (done for extrinsic goods) from leisure (done for its own sake, touching the foundation of reality). Leisure prepares the soul for contemplation and union with God, while a consumerist mindset can hinder true rest. The hosts also explore whether prayer or routine tasks like tying shoes qualify as work.Men’s and Women’s Roles in Work: Dr. Lasnoski reflects on the complementary roles of men and women in work, rooted in their biological and spiritual natures. Women’s work often involves nurturing and making a home, while men’s work is more extroverted, pouring themselves out to make creation fruitful, as seen in Genesis and John Paul II’s Theology of the Body.Retirement and Multigenerational Living: The modern concept of retirement—focused on leisure without purpose—can lead to a loss of meaning. Dr. Lasnoski advocates for a retirement that continues giving oneself through service, like volunteering or mentoring. He also champions multigenerational households as a gift, fulfilling the biblical call to honor parents and enrich family life.San Damiano College for the Trades: Dr. Lasnoski shares the mission of San Damiano College, a three-year program integrating trade skills,

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  1:14:17
• Praying in Temptation

  OverviewIn this episode, David Niles and Adam Minahan sip on Brothers Bond bourbon, celebrate the election of an American pope, and share updates on farming and upcoming interviews in Nashville. The main discussion focuses on the importance of prayer, particularly in moments of temptation, drawing from scripture, saints, and practical advice for building a prayerful life. The hosts also promote their upcoming pilgrimage and Patreon support.Key Topics1. Celebrating an American PopeAmerican Pope Enthusiasm: The hosts humorously declare “everything is American now” with the election of an American pope, jokingly claiming spaghetti and the Catholic Church as American.Cultural Shift: They playfully note the Church is now “more profitable” with an American pope, reflecting their excitement for this historic moment.2. Personal Updates and Farming AdventuresDavid’s Farming Efforts: David shares his experience planting 576 kernels of corn (16 rows of 36) without tilling, following a “Back to Eden” approach using wood chips. He discusses challenges with nitrogen depletion in the soil, leading to poor growth, and plans to amend it.Family Teamwork: David describes a rewarding family moment planting with his daughters, using a power drill and raking to plant seeds, fostering teamwork and bonding.Farm Life: Updates include a nearly completed garden fence to keep out rabbits, 41 chickens, and a rooster confrontation. David’s son, Luke, caught his first rabbit, soon to be fried for dinner.Anniversary Trip: David and his wife, Haley, celebrated their 13th anniversary in Mexico, briefly mentioned as a joyful getaway.3. Upcoming Interviews and Patreon PromotionNashville Interviews: The hosts are heading to Nashville to interview Father Mike Schmitz, Michael Knowles, Matt Walsh, Harrison Butker, and possibly Candace Owens, among others. These interviews will be posted first on their Patreon page.Patreon Support: They encourage listeners to support The Catholic Man Show on Patreon to help spread the gospel in a manly way, with exclusive access to upcoming interviews. Visit thecatholicmanshow.com for details.Guest Teaser: The hosts announce an upcoming episode with Dr. Kent Litnoski, who offered insights on living Lent as a married man, with plans for him to return to Tulsa for further discussion.4. Discussion on Prayer and TemptationScriptural Foundation: The hosts focus on Matthew 26:41 (“Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”), reflecting on Jesus’ Agony in the Garden and the apostles’ failure to stay awake and pray.Theological Importance of Prayer:Union with Christ: Prayer during temptation unites us with Christ, who modeled prayer in distress, revealing man’s supreme calling (Catechism reference).Humility and Dependence: Prayer crushes pride and fosters reliance on God, countering the modern tendency to act independently of Him.Obedience: Jesus’ command to pray in temptation is reason enough to do so.Saints’ Wisdom:St. Alphonsus Liguori: Willfully neglecting prayer for a day is a venial sin, but neglecting it during temptation could be mortal, emphasizing prayer’s gravity.St. John Chrysostom: Prayer is owed to God as a matter of justice, regardless of one’s state in life, with a suggested minimum of 15 minutes daily.Origen and St. Jerome: The apostles’ failure to pray in the Garden shows the need for constant prayer...

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  1:08:06
• Exploring Degrees of Humility, Wedding Crashing, and Pope Leo XIV

  OverviewIn this lively episode, the hosts express enthusiasm for the election of Pope Leo XIV, share personal stories, including a wedding-crashing adventure in Mexico, and dive into a deep discussion on the virtue of humility, drawing from Father Beleckias' book Solid Virtue. The episode blends humor, personal reflection, and spiritual insights, with a focus on Catholic faith and living a virtuous life.Key Topics1. Excitement Over Pope Leo XIVNew Pope Announcement: The hosts are thrilled about the election of Pope Leo XIV, an American cardinal with a Tulsa connection, having served on the board of Cascia Hall, a Catholic preparatory school in Tulsa.Historical Context: They discuss Pope Leo XIII, a significant influence (one host named a child after him), and note Leo XIV's choice of name as a nod to this legacy.Conclave Insights: The quick election (likely on the fourth ballot) suggests strong consensus among the cardinals. The hosts avoid speculating on insider details due to the sacred nature of the conclave.Fun Facts: Pope Leo XIV is a White Sox fan, not a Cubs fan, as initially reported. The hosts humorously claim him as "basically from Tulsa."Prophetic Banter: A playful exchange about predicting the length of Leo XIV’s pontificate (jokingly suggested as 25 years) and his potential holiness.2. Personal Stories and Anniversary CelebrationDavid’s Anniversary Getaway: David shares how he and his wife, Haley, celebrated their 13th anniversary with a phone-free weekend in Mexico to focus on their time together.Wedding Crashing in Mexico: David recounts crashing an Indian wedding at a resort in Mexico, joining the groom’s procession with a hype man, music, and dancing. He and Haley briefly joined the celebration before slipping away.Hype Man Discussion: The hosts humorously explore the idea of having a hype man for life events, likening it to a boxer’s ring walk or a DJ hyping up a crowd.3. Eucharistic Miracle of LancianoHistorical Miracle: David shares the story of a 12th-century Eucharistic miracle in Lanciano, Italy, where a doubting monk witnessed the host turn into flesh and the wine into blood during Mass.Scientific Studies: In 1977, 1978, and 1987, tests confirmed the flesh as living heart tissue and the blood as human, preserved for over 1,200 years.Spiritual Significance: The hosts emphasize the miracle’s importance for reinforcing belief in the Real Presence, while noting that every Mass holds the same ontological reality.Pilgrimage Plans: The hosts invite listeners to join their October 2025 pilgrimage to Lanciano to celebrate Mass in the presence of this miracle.4. Discussion on HumilitySource Material: The hosts draw from Solid Virtue by Father Beleckias, S.J., to discuss the three degrees of humility.First Degree: Complete obedience to divine law, refusing to commit mortal sin even if offered the world or threatened with danger.Second Degree: Holy indifference to wealth, poverty, honor, or disgrace, refusing even venial sin for worldly gain. The hosts reflect on the challenge of achieving this in a materialistic world.Third Degree: Actively choosing poverty, contempt, and disgrace to imitate Christ’s humility, as exemplified by saints like Francis and Katharine Drexel. The hosts acknowledge the difficulty of this level, especially for family men.Practical Insights:Humility is not thinking less of oneself but thinking rightly about oneself in relation...

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  1:05:23
• Time Management

  Opening Story: Country Mart in Coweta, AmericaHost shares a humorous experience at the Country Mart grocery store in Coweta, Oklahoma, a beloved local spot with no self-checkout and bag boys who carry groceries to cars.After Mass, dressed in a suit, the host is mistaken for a preacher by four different people (a passerby, a deli customer, the cashier, and a bag boy).Jokes about leveraging his "preacher hair" and suit to become the mayor and preacher of Coweta, introducing the concept of "nondenominational Catholic" (a playful term explained as Catholics not being a denomination, derived from Latin de nominae meaning "other name").Reflects on the Christian culture of the store, where such assumptions are a kind gesture.Coweta Anecdote: Natural Family Planning (NFP) StoryHost recounts a family story about his parents, the first NFP teachers in Oklahoma, teaching the Couple to Couple League’s symptothermal method.A humorous moment from a class where a participant mispronounced "coitus" as "Coedes," leading to an ongoing family joke about Coweta (pronounced similarly).Mentions his in-laws’ involvement in promoting NFP classes and their eventual move to Coweta, tying it to the town’s significance.Listener Question: Plenary Indulgence During Sede VacanteListener query: Can a plenary indulgence be received during a sede vacante (when there is no pope), given the condition of praying for the pope’s intentions?Hosts ponder without definitive answers, suggesting:Prayer is outside linear time, so praying for the next pope or the recently deceased pope’s soul might satisfy the condition.Pope Francis’ intentions for the month (published in advance) could still be prayed for.No prayer is wasted; God applies it appropriately, even if the target (e.g., a soul in hell or heaven) cannot benefit.Encourage canon lawyers or experts to clarify, acknowledging their limited knowledge on the topic.Brief mention of Polymarket, a prediction market where bets can be placed on the next pope, highlighting absurd betting trends.Pilgrimage PromotionPromotion of Select International Tours, a long-time sponsor offering pilgrimages to holy sites worldwide for 34 years.Visit selectinternationaltours.com for details on their high-quality tours with excellent hotels and guides.Clarification from Previous EpisodeCorrection from a prior episode about papal eligibility: Any baptized Catholic man can theoretically be elected pope, not just clergy.Hypothetical first act as pope:One host would set a date for Blessed Carlo Acutis’ canonization, expected to be a priority for the next pope.Other host jokingly suggests suppressing the Jesuits, quickly clarifying it’s a jest, praising Jesuits like Father Mitch Pacwa and noting their potential as Dominicans.Main Topic: Time Management for Catholic DadsIntroduction and Context:Host shares a chaotic day (e.g., a cow in the wrong pasture) to humorously underscore the need for time management, the episode’s focus.Aimed at Catholic dads balancing work, family, and prayer life.Philosophical Understanding of Time:Time is a gift from God, not an enemy, akin to grace—available only in the present moment, not to be saved or earned.Avoid the mindset of “just getting past this weekend” to reach holiness; every moment is an opportunity for sanctity through fulfilling one’s vocation.Busyness does not equal holiness; faithfulness and resignation to divine providence do.References a conversation with Dr. Carlo Broussard defining time as “the measurement of change,” emphasizing human agency in shaping incremental changes toward...

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  1:04:49
• Recollection, Office Life, and Pope Francis

  Opening BanterHosts discuss their busy week, humorously referencing comedians Jim Gaffigan and Dane Cook about the chaos of parenting.Easter season is highlighted as a joyful but busy time.Transition to Office LifeDiscussion about returning to office work after a period of working from home.One host shares the challenges of balancing work with family life, especially with six young children and homeschooling demands.The other host enjoys a unique office setup with fellow Catholic businessmen, allowing for faith-based discussions and idea-sharing.Business and Catholic PrinciplesHosts explore how secular business podcasts often unknowingly adopt Catholic virtues like prudence and wisdom.Advice from a business perspective: surround yourself with the right people to change your life, and prioritize who you work with over the job itself.Reflecting on early career lessons:Taking risks is crucial for success.Money isn't everything once basic needs are met; pursuing it excessively can lead to disordered priorities.Hard work is valuable but ineffective if not directed toward the right goals.Pilgrimage PromotionPromotion of Select International Tours, a long-time sponsor offering pilgrimages to holy sites worldwide.Visit selectinternationaltours.com for details.High Levels of Manliness WarningA humorous callback to early episodes, warning listeners about the "high levels of manliness" on the show.Remembering Pope FrancisHosts reflect on Pope Francis' passing:Personal memory: Pope Francis kissing one host's daughter in 2015.Notable moments: His global benediction during COVID and the phrase "shepherds need to smell like sheep."Speculation about the timeline for electing a new pope, with a nod to historical conclave delays.Eucharistic Miracle StoryStory of Father Peter of Prague, a 13th-century German priest who doubted the Real Presence.During Mass in Bolsena, Italy, the host bled, leading to the establishment of the Feast of Corpus Christi by Pope Urban IV.St. Thomas Aquinas composed hymns like Tantum Ergo and Pange Lingua for the feast.The miraculous host is preserved in Orvieto, which the hosts will visit on their October pilgrimage with listeners.Spiritual Insights from Solid Virtue by Father BalakiusDiscussion of Solid Virtue by Jesuit priest Father Balakius, published by Coresu Press.Recollection:Defined as watchfulness and awareness of God's presence, akin to an "earthly heaven."Benefits: Prevents sin, reduces weariness, and fosters joy in God's love.Three sources: solitude, silence, and avoiding news (to curb curiosity and anxiety).Particular Examine:Focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of faults, not just external behaviors.Analogous to treating the cause of a disease, not just symptoms.Requires self-knowledge, possibly aided by friends, a spouse, or spiritual direction.After correcting major faults, shift to perfecting daily actions and cultivating virtues.Spiritual Warfare:Involves a firm resolution to amend faults, renewed twice daily (morning and noon).Resolutions should be short-term (half-day increments) to avoid discouragement.Twice-daily examination of conscience (noon and evening) to track progress.Keep a log of faults to compare daily and weekly progress, ensuring empirical improvement.Practical ApplicationsHosts emphasize the practicality of Balakius' advice, comparing it to business...

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  1:12:01

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