In this episode of the Gotta Be Saints Podcast, I’m joined by Professor James Nolan, sociologist at Williams College and author of Atomic Doctors, for a powerful conversation on memory, martyrdom, and healing—centered on the Catholic history of Nagasaki and his work on the Nagasaki Bell Project.

James shares the remarkable story of his grandfather, Dr. James Nolan, who served as a physician on the Manhattan Project and later traveled to Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the immediate aftermath of the atomic bombings. What began as a family legacy of moral complexity became a personal mission for healing and reconciliation through the gift of a new bell—donated by American Catholics—to replace the one destroyed at Urakami Cathedral.

Together, we explore the deep Catholic roots of Nagasaki, the heroic endurance of the hidden Christians, and how their suffering bore fruit through forgiveness, faith, and restoration.

Topics Covered:

• The forgotten Catholic history of Nagasaki and its "hidden Christians"
• Why Urakami Cathedral was the ground zero for Japan’s Catholic faith
• The life and witness of Takashi Nagai and post-bomb theology of redemptive suffering
• Tensions faced by Catholic doctors during the Manhattan Project
• The story behind the Nagasaki Bell Project and how Catholics today can help
• Why the legacy of martyrdom still speaks to us in a divided and war-torn world
• How the new bell—named The Kateri Bell of Hope—will ring out once again on August 9, 2025

🔔 Learn more and support the Nagasaki Bell Project.

📖 You can also check out Atomic Doctors by James Nolan, available wherever books are sold.

🎙️ Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this conversation moved you or helped you see the past—and your faith—with new eyes.

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In this episode of the Gotta Be Saints Podcast, I sit down with Fr. Donald Haggerty, priest of the Archdiocese of New York and renowned spiritual writer, for a sobering and deeply moving conversation on his newest book, The Hour of Testing: Spiritual Depth and Insight in a Time of Ecclesial Uncertainty.

With decades of experience in priestly ministry and a profound relationship with the Missionaries of Charity, Fr. Haggerty offers insight into the spiritual challenges of our time. In this episode, we reflect on the fading of faith, the rise of indifference to God, and how Catholics are called not to panic—but to go deeper into prayer, suffering, and redemptive love.

We explore what it means to live out union with Christ in the 21st century, how suffering can be offered for souls, and why this era—dark as it may seem—can still be a fertile ground for hidden saints and heroic virtue.

Topics Covered:

• Why the indifference to God may be the greatest evil of our time
• How prayer, sacrifice, and Eucharistic devotion sustain us
• The connection between holiness and the dark forces in every age
• How to find meaning in suffering and offer it with Christ
• Whether we may be entering a time foreshadowing the Passion of the Church
• What gives Fr. Haggerty hope in this “hour of testing”
• Why now is a time not for lukewarmness, but heroic sanctity

📖 Pick up a copy of The Hour of Testing by Fr. Donald Haggerty through Ignatius Press.

🎙️ Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this conversation stirred something in your heart or helped you see the spiritual battle in a new way.

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In this episode of the Gotta Be Saints Podcast, I share a talk I recently gave to a men’s group at my old parish, centered on The Secret of Holiness: Lessons from Our Lady.

On this special episode, released on the feast of St. Louis de Montfort—a saint who radically shaped my devotion to the Blessed Mother—I dive into the truth that Mary isn’t just a part of our Catholic faith... she’s essential to it. Through Scripture, personal stories, and practical guidance, I explore how Mary’s humility, docility, and courage offer us a model for growing in holiness today.

Holiness must be our primary goal, even before family, career, or comfort. And no one can guide us more surely to Jesus than His mother.

Topics Covered:

• Why Mary is the “safest, easiest, shortest, and most perfect” way to Jesus
• What the Annunciation, Wedding at Cana, and the Cross reveal about Mary’s role in salvation
• The power of her last recorded words in Scripture: “Do whatever He tells you”
• The importance of embracing suffering, obedience, and mission like Our Lady
• Practical ways to grow in holiness today—starting with the Rosary, the sacraments, and Scripture
• How men and women alike can model Mary’s yes in a world of distraction and indifference

📖 Want to grow in holiness? Start by taking Jesus at His word: Behold your mother.

🎙️ Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this episode moved you or helped you see Mary—and your own path to sainthood—with fresh eyes.

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A short reflection on how to enter into the Easter season without forgetting all the lessons from the Lenten season.

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In this episode of the Gotta Be Saints Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Josh McMullen, historian and author of The Glacier Priest, for an inspiring conversation about one of the most fascinating and overlooked Catholic figures of the 20th century—Father Bernard Hubbard, S.J.

Known as “The Glacier Priest,” Father Hubbard was a Jesuit geologist, adventurer, and missionary who explored the Alaskan frontier during the 1930s and 40s. A gifted lecturer and photographer, he brought the beauty of God’s creation and the Gospel message to thousands—both in person and through his extensive travels and publications.

Josh shares how he first encountered Father Hubbard’s story, what compelled him to write the biography, and how Hubbard’s deep faith, love for nature, and willingness to suffer for the Gospel remain deeply relevant today.

This episode is a powerful look at a priest who combined scientific curiosity with spiritual depth—and who used his unique calling to evangelize, educate, and inspire.

Topics Covered:

• Who was Father Bernard Hubbard and why his story still matters
• The Jesuit priest who became a national celebrity
• What it meant to say Mass in the wilds of Alaska
• How Hubbard’s work helped shape America’s view of Alaska
• The tensions between religious vows and public acclaim
• The beauty of redemptive suffering and the Sacred Heart
• Why creation drew him closer to the Creator
• What we can learn from Hubbard’s life about vocation, sacrifice, and mission

📖 Pick up a copy of The Glacier Priest: Father Bernard Hubbard and America's Last Frontier wherever books are sold.

🎙️ Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this episode moved you or helped you see holiness in a new light.

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In this episode of the Gotta Be Saints podcast, I sit down with Matthew Wiseman, convert to Catholicism and author of The Two Jerusalems, for a powerful conversation about his journey from the Messianic movement to the Catholic Church.

Raised in a devout Southern Baptist home, Matthew’s family began a home church that eventually led them into the Hebrew Roots movement, where they embraced the Mosaic Law and Old Testament festivals. But what began as a sincere desire to follow Scripture more faithfully soon revealed deep questions—especially about authority, unity, and interpretation.

Matthew shares how a hunger for truth and clarity led him to explore Jewish oral tradition, Anglicanism, and ultimately Catholicism. We discuss the need for a living authority in the Church, the flaws of sola scriptura, and the life-changing impact of discovering the Liturgy of the Hours. He also shares the role his family played in his conversion journey and how reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church helped lead his wife into the Church as well.

This episode isn’t just about one man’s conversion. It’s about the longing we all share for truth, unity, and a Church that reflects Christ fully.

Topics Covered:

• What it’s like growing up in the Hebrew Roots movement
• Why the Mosaic Law alone isn’t enough—and what that reveals about Scripture
• The role of tradition and authority in interpreting the Bible
• Matthew’s personal conversion story and how it affected his family
• The beauty and power of praying the Psalms and the Liturgy of the Hours
• Why unity in the Church matters and what drew him to Catholicism
• How reading the Catechism brought his wife into the Church

📍 Pick up a copy of Matthew's book, The Two Jerusalems, at ignatius.com or wherever books are sold.

Call to Action:
If this conversation moved you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone searching for deeper truth or considering the Catholic Church.

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In this episode of the Gotta Be Saints podcast, I sit down with Michael Acaldo, National CEO of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, for an inspiring conversation about what it really means to see Christ in the poor.

With over three decades of leadership in Vincentian ministry, Michael shares stories from his early days in Baton Rouge to his national role today—always with one central focus: growing in holiness through acts of love and service. We talk about how Vincentians are formed spiritually by serving, the transformational power of home visits, and why Catholic social teaching must be lived, not just studied.

This episode explores how the Society’s work isn’t simply about social services—it’s about encountering Christ in every person and every moment, especially in those who are vulnerable or forgotten. We dive into the unique Vincentian approach of loving through action, forming intentional community, and resisting political labels to focus purely on the Gospel.

Whether you’re already involved in your parish, searching for a way to serve, or just looking for a deeper spiritual grounding, Michael’s testimony is a powerful reminder that holiness is found in simple, faithful acts of love.

Topics Covered:

• The spiritual foundation of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul
• Why acts of service are vital for personal spiritual growth
• Catholic social teaching vs. political ideologies
• Homelessness prevention as evangelization
• How to get involved in the Society and grow in holiness

📍 Learn more at svdpusa.org

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts or visit gottabesaints.com

Call to Action:
If this conversation moved you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone looking for a deeper way to live their faith.

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In this episode of the Gotta Be Saints podcast, I sit down with Fr. John Nepil to explore the profound spiritual lessons that come from journeying through the wilderness—literally and figuratively. A priest of the Archdiocese of Denver and member of the Companions of Christ, Fr. John shares stories from his 486-mile trek along the Colorado Trail and the reflections that led to his new book, To the Heights and Unto Depths: Letters from the Colorado Trail.

We talk about how pilgrimage shapes our understanding of faith, the beauty of silence and solitude, and how adventure in the outdoors can act as a powerful metaphor for the interior life. Fr. John explains why the wilderness is a privileged space for Catholic formation and how community, challenge, and even suffering are vital to encountering Christ in a deeper way.

Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast, someone feeling spiritually restless, or just curious about the intersection of nature, faith, and discipline, this conversation will inspire you to consider the road less traveled—especially during this Lenten season.

Topics Covered:

• How pilgrimage cultivates hope and detachment
• Why the mountains offer a unique setting for formation
• The spiritual importance of silence, stillness, and solitude
• Navigating the tension between comfort and sacrifice
• Building authentic community on the journey to holiness

📚 Get the Book: To the Heights and Unto Depths is available through Ignatius Press and wherever books are sold.
🎧 Listen to Fr. John’s podcast: Catholic Stuff You Should Know

Call to Action:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use a deeper sense of direction or renewal in their spiritual walk.

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Use code gottabesaints for a free trial at truthly.ai

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