In this powerful episode, we unpack Luke 15’s Parable of the Prodigal Son and connect it to real conversion, Lenten prayer, and the transformative journey of returning home to God. 🌟

We dive into:

🔥 My personal conversion story — how I wandered, returned, and found mercy
🙏 The Lent #Pray40 Challenge with Hallow — inspired by the Prodigal Son’s return and The Brothers Karamazov theme of mercy and restoration 🌿
🕊️ The Jesus Prayer and how a daily rhythm of prayer helps us grow closer to Christ
📖 How Mother Olga, Mark Wahlberg & Chris Pratt are helping millions in this global Lenten prayer movement with Pray40
💡 The deeper meaning of repentance, forgiveness, and the joy of coming home to the Father

This episode is perfect for anyone seeking spiritual renewal this Lent, looking to build a daily prayer life, or wanting to understand how the story of the Prodigal Son mirrors our own journey of faith and mercy. 🌄

👉 Watch until the end for practical prayer tips, encouragement for Lent, and how to join the Pray40 movement!

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#ProdigalSon #Lent2026 #Pray40 #CatholicPodcast #ConversionStory #JesusPrayer #HallowApp #ReturnToGod

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Most Catholic families treat Lent like a 40‑day diet instead of a 40‑day transformation for their homes. In this episode, we show you how to stop “giving up chocolate and quitting by week two” and start using Lent as boot camp for your marriage and family.

We’re talking to Catholic couples and families who are tired of going through the motions—Ash Wednesday, fish fries, a small sacrifice—and then hitting Easter with nothing really different in their hearts or homes. Instead of random Lenten promises, we walk you through a simple, 5-part framework to help you actually grow closer to God, closer to your spouse, and closer as a family.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why most Catholic families quietly waste Lent year after year
• How to think of Lent as spiritual training, not just punishment or “ Catholic dieting”
• A simple way to treat these 40 days as a reset for your marriage
• How to start leading your kids spiritually in small, realistic ways
• A practical, 5-part plan that makes Lent doable in real family life (without becoming monks)

This conversation is for:

• Catholic couples who want a stronger, more prayerful marriage
• Catholic parents who want to bring their kids into Lent in a meaningful way
• Families who feel spiritually “stuck” and want a clear, simple Lenten plan
• Anyone who’s ever started Lent strong and fizzled out by the second week

We’re not just talking about little sacrifices—we’re talking about real transformation in your home.

👉 If you don’t want to waste Lent this year, comment “LENT” and we’ll send you the full 40-day family plan and this episode breakdown so you can put it into action.

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Marriage isn’t about getting what you want—it’s about getting each other to heaven.

In this episode of The Catholic Couple, Bobby and Katie unpack one of the most counter-cultural truths of Catholic marriage: the path to holiness is paved with interruptions, inconveniences, sacrifice, and the Cross.

From daily annoyances to seasons of real suffering, marriage constantly invites us to die to ourselves. In this conversation, we talk honestly about:

• Why marriage is full of interruptions (and why that’s not a mistake)
• Doing things you don’t want to do—and how that forms virtue
• How spouses become each other’s crosses
• Why inconveniences are actually graces
• How sacrifice sanctifies us and makes us more like Christ
• The true purpose of marriage: mutual sanctification and salvation

Catholic marriage isn’t about comfort, happiness, or self-fulfillment. It’s about love that costs something. Love that looks like the Cross. Love that transforms us if we let it.

Whether you’re newly married, struggling, or decades in, this episode will challenge how you view marriage—and invite you to see even the hardest moments as opportunities for grace.

👉 If this episode encourages you, share it with another married couple who needs hope today.
👉 Subscribe for more conversations on Catholic marriage, family, and discipleship.

#CatholicMarriage #TheCatholicCouple #ChristianMarriage #MarriageAndFaith #CatholicPodcast #MarriageAdvice #MarriageAndTheCross #FaithAndFamily #SacrificialLove #HolinessInMarriage #CatholicTeaching

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In this episode, we unpack a powerful article we discussed on the show that tackles one of the most pressing questions of our digital age: What is an algorithm, really—and what is it doing to our souls? with guest, TJ Burdick

we explore how modern AI systems are not neutral tools, but machines designed to exploit our weaknesses, feed our vices, and keep us addicted to a hyper-reality that slowly pulls us away from real life, real relationships, and ultimately, God.

We dive into his article on CatholicExchange.com

• Why algorithms are not “smart” in the human sense
• How hyper-reality fuels addiction, isolation, and despair
• The spiritual and psychological cost of constant digital consumption
• Why only humans—not machines—can love, sacrifice, and seek the common good
• What a truly Catholic use of technology looks like in a world dominated by AI

This episode isn’t anti-technology—it’s a call to choose reality, practice virtue, and reclaim our humanity before ethics are completely removed from the digital systems shaping our lives.

As St. Paul reminds us, we weren’t made to finish the doomscroll—we were made to finish the race.

👉 Learn more and read more from TJ Burdick

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https://linktr.ee/bobbyfred85

What if improving your marriage didn’t require a major overhaul—but a return to a few simple, intentional habits?

In this episode of The Catholic Couple Podcast, we break down four powerful marriage habits inspired by a viral clip from Arthur Brooks (Harvard professor and happiness researcher) that he shared on the Tim Ferriss Podcast. While Arthur Brooks approaches marriage from science and psychology, we show how his insights beautifully align with Catholic teaching, Sacred Scripture, and the wisdom of the saints.

Arthur Brooks challenges the idea that struggling marriages should immediately default to therapy alone. While therapy can help, he argues that many marriages heal not by digging up more past wounds—but by pouring in more joy, connection, and intentional love.

Using his “dirty cup” analogy, we explore how adding the right habits can push out resentment and rebuild intimacy.

In this episode, we discuss:

✔️ Why having more fun together matters and how many couples stop dating after marriage
✔️ How praying together—not just saying prayers—deepens spiritual and emotional intimacy
✔️ Why eye contact is essential for connection, trust, and feeling truly seen
✔️ The importance of physical touch in marriage, especially for men, and how it communicates love beyond words

We connect each habit to:
📖 Scripture
⛪ Catholic teaching and the Catechism
✨ Quotes and insights from the saints
🧠 Modern science and relationship research

Whether your marriage is thriving or feeling stuck, these four habits can help you strengthen your bond, grow in holiness together, and rediscover joy in your vocation.

👉 If this episode encouraged you, subscribe to the channel, leave a comment, and share this with another couple who could use hope and practical wisdom for their marriage.

Great marriages aren’t found—they’re built. One intentional habit at a time.

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Keywords
Catholic marriage, Catholic couples podcast, marriage advice, Arthur Brooks marriage, Tim Ferriss podcast marriage, Christian marriage tips, praying together as a couple, how to improve your marriage, Catholic relationship advice, marriage habits, Theology of the Body, faith and marriage

https://linktr.ee/bobbyfred85

What does real renewal in the Church actually look like—and why do so many parishes struggle to move from maintenance to mission?

In this episode of The Catholic Couple Podcast, we sit down with our good friend Ron Huntley, a seasoned Catholic leadership coach who works with dozens of dioceses and countless priests across the country. Ron has spent years helping Church leaders build healthy cultures, authentic discipleship, and truly evangelizing parishes—and his work is rooted in one clear mission: bringing the Great Commission (Matthew 28) to life.

We dive deep into Ron’s new book, Road to Renewal, which features 14 total chapters—12 written by priests and Church leaders who candidly share their struggles, breakthroughs, failures, and victories, and 2 written by Ron himself, offering wisdom and clarity from decades of walking alongside parish leadership. Together, these chapters paint an honest picture of what it really takes to move a parish from maintenance to mission. Checkout Ron's website, Huntley Leadership for a lot of free resources and his links to podcast and youtube episodes.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Why so many parishes are stuck in “maintenance mode”
• What renewal actually requires from priests and parish leaders
• The common obstacles that prevent authentic discipleship
• How relationships—not programs—fuel evangelization
• What the Church can learn from leaders who are courageously trying something new
• How moving toward mission brings life back into parishes

Whether you’re a priest, parish leader, ministry volunteer, or a Catholic who longs to see the Church fully alive, this episode will challenge, encourage, and equip you to think differently about renewal—and your role in it.

📘 Learn more about Ron’s book: Road to Renewal
🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on faith, marriage, leadership, and discipleship

📩 Share this episode with someone who cares deeply about the future of the Church

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19)
This episode is about making that command real—right where you are.

https://linktr.ee/bobbyfred85

What does the sanctuary candle really mean—and how can it help our children fall in love with Jesus in the Eucharist?

In this powerful and heartwarming episode, we sit down with Catholic author Susan Joy Bellavance to discuss her new children’s book from Sophia Institute Press, This Little Light of Thine. This beautifully illustrated story follows the sanctuary candle as it travels from church to church, gently teaching children (and adults) the profound truth it represents: Jesus Christ is truly present in the Tabernacle.

Susan explains how the sanctuary candle points us to the same holy reality revealed in Scripture—from God’s presence in the burning bush to His dwelling among us today in every Catholic church around the world. The book is a simple yet profound tool to help restore reverence, awe, and joy for the Eucharist, especially in the hearts of our children.

But this conversation goes even deeper.

Susan also shares the miraculous story that brought this book to life, along with unforgettable personal testimonies from the three years she spent discerning religious life in Mother Teresa’s order. Living, praying, and serving alongside Mother Teresa herself, Susan witnessed extraordinary moments of faith, humility, and trust in God’s presence—experiences that continue to shape her life and mission today.

This episode will:

• Help parents teach children why the sanctuary candle matters
• Rekindle reverence for Jesus truly present in the Eucharist
• Offer rare, firsthand stories of Mother Teresa’s holiness and miracles
• Inspire deeper faith through powerful storytelling and witness

Whether you’re a parent, catechist, or simply longing to grow in Eucharistic devotion, this episode will remind you that God is not distant—He is here, waiting for us, in every tabernacle.

https://linktr.ee/bobbyfred85

In this episode of The Catholic Couple Podcast, we sit down with Charlie McKinney, President of Sophia Institute Press, to talk about one of the most exciting developments in Catholic media today—the Saintifi app.

Saintifi is a Catholic audiobook app designed for busy Catholics who want to grow in their faith but struggle to find time to read. With unlimited access to over 250 Catholic books, and 8–10 new titles added every month, Saintifi allows you to listen to trusted Catholic teaching wherever life takes you—whether you’re commuting, working out, or doing chores.

We dive into:

• Why audiobooks are becoming a powerful tool for Catholic formation
• How Saintifi helps Catholics grow spiritually without adding more to their schedule
• The vision behind Sophia Institute Press and their commitment to faithful, orthodox Catholic content
• How listening to great Catholic books can transform marriages, families, and personal discipleship
• Why this app may be a game-changer for modern Catholic evangelization

If you’re serious about growing in your faith—but feel overwhelmed, distracted, or too busy—this episode will show you a practical, accessible way to keep Jesus and the Church at the center of your daily life.

🎧 Listen now and discover how Saintifi can help you build a stronger Catholic mind, heart, and home—one book at a time.

https://linktr.ee/bobbyfred85