The Church has just canonized young St. Carlo Acutis. A new, young saint who had all the markers of holiness from a young age. Perhaps this is the perfect time to publish this episode about my encounter with another young saint in the making. It’s the reason that I launched The Saint Foundry.

Do aliens exist? Drawing from Scripture, theology, and the wisdom of St. Thomas Aquinas, I take on one of the most intriguing questions in our time. I explore why belief in intelligent extraterrestrial life is not only unlikely but also theologically problematic. But this is also a lesson about angels and demons! It’s a necessary component, not random. I talk about the nature of angels and demons, examine UFO sightings with both logic and faith, and explain why what people often call “aliens” may be better understood as demonic manifestations—or even human technology cloaked in secrecy. BONUS: What if these ARE aliens? They’re not. But as a fun thought experiment, I explain why, if these are aliens, humanity should be very afraid!

This isn’t just a conversation about outer space—it’s a deep reflection on man’s unique place in creation, God’s order, and the spiritual battles that shape our world.
Show notes, chapters found below

📖 Show Notes

Key Topics Covered:

• Scripture on Humanity’s Place in Creation: Genesis 1 and Colossians 1 reveal why mankind is God’s highest earthly creation, making other intelligent species unnecessary.
• The Redundancy Problem: Why God wouldn’t create another race of “men” with free will and intellect on another planet.
• UFO Sightings Examined: Natural phenomena, government technology, or something spiritual? Why most footage fails the logic test.
• Theological Issues with Aliens: Would they need a Redeemer? If so, who—and how? Why Christ’s one sacrifice makes alien redemption impossible.
• Angels and Demons 101: What Aquinas teaches about angelic nature, free will, infused knowledge, and why demons can manifest physically—with limits.
• Demonic Deception: How alleged ghostly encounters and UFO sightings may be tactics to confuse, terrorize, and pull us away from God.
• A Thought Experiment: If aliens did exist, could God allow them as punishment for mankind’s global transgressions—similar to Israel’s history in Scripture?

Takeaway

Aliens? No. Angels and demons? Yes. Our faith and reason point to humanity’s unique place in creation—and warn us not to be distracted by phenomena that might, in reality, be spiritual deceptions.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction and Tonight's Topic

00:54 Exploring the Existence of Aliens

02:58 Scriptural Insights and Human Uniqueness

08:14 Analyzing UFO Sightings and Theological Implications

25:49 Debating

39:04 Understanding Angels and Demons

• (00:00) - Introduction and Tonight's Topic
• (01:16) - Exploring the Existence of Aliens
• (03:20) - Scriptural Insights and Human Uniqueness
• (08:36) - Analyzing UFO Sightings and Theological Implications
• (26:11) - Debating the Nature of Alien Spacecraft
• (26:52) - Understanding Angels and Demons
• (39:30) - Theological Implications of Aliens
• (48:45) - Engaging with the Community and Final Thoughts

In this raw and passionate episode, I get into some uncomfortable truths about the state of the Church today. From the undisciplined and unholy behavior of the faithful to the alarming trend of irreverence in the sanctuary, I challenge listeners to confront the reality of the Church's position in the world today. Do we stand up to, or challenge to the secular counter-culture, or do we merely coexist with it—sometimes even cooperating with it? I call on all Catholics to a return to seriousness and to take a collective stand against a culture that is increasingly hostile to the faith. Not by violence, arrogance, or even rage, but by a fresh effort to grow in holiness and more fearless evangelization, even on a person-to-person level.

It’s time to stop tolerating mediocrity—if we want to win the battle between good and evil, we must first learn to take our faith seriously, both individually and as a community, and to inspire others to do the same. Join the conversation and reflect on how we, as members of the Mystical Body of Christ, can raise the standard and strengthen the Church.

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Show Notes:

• 00:00 - 01:00 – Introduction: Setting the tone for a hard-hitting discussion on the current state of the Church.
• 01:00 - 06:00 – A disturbing pattern of irreverence: A personal story from John about an incident at Mass that exemplifies the lack of respect for the sanctuary.
• 06:00 - 10:00 – A bold call to action: Addressing the need for serious commitment to Catholic teachings, both in individual lives and as a collective Church.
• 10:00 - 20:00 – Church's position in the world: Why the Church is not taking a collective stand against the surrounding culture and the need for more disciplined action.
• 20:00 - 30:00 – The failure during COVID-19: Reflecting on how the Church's response to the pandemic highlighted its weaknesses, and the consequences of not taking the faith seriously.
• 30:00 - 35:00 – Generation Z and the future of the Church: Discussing the influx of young people back to the Church and the importance of solid catechesis to support them.
• 35:00 - 40:00 – The final battle: Exploring the idea of the spiritual battle between good and evil and how the Church is currently not in a position to win it.
• 40:00 - End – Wrapping up with a call for greater commitment to the faith, and a plea for stronger, more clear leadership from the hierarchy to guide the Church forward.

• (00:00) - Introduction and Opening Thoughts
• (02:28) - Frustrations with Modern Catholic Practices
• (14:44) - The State of the Church and Its Challenges
• (25:26) - The Crisis in Catechesis
• (29:01) - Church Fires and Arson in Canada
• (32:12) - Call to Action and Community Engagement

In this short clip from a recent episode of The Live Sessions I respond to a question asked from someone in the live chat room: Are Catholics obligated to obey the Pope under any circumstances? Using a relatable analogy of fatherly authority, military discipline and spiritual combat, I explain the theological basis for obedience to the Pope, how far it goes, the role of humility in spiritual warfare, and how this obedience ultimately empowers personal growth and holiness. With a few examples from Pope Francis’s papacy, I examine misunderstandings about Church teachings and how obedience, even in moments of frustration or confusion, contributes to the unity and strength of the Church.

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Show Notes:

* Introduction: Answering the question of whether Catholics must obey the Pope under any circumstance.

* Fatherly Authority Analogy: Drawing parallels between parental discipline and obedience to the Pope.

* Case Study of Pope Francis: Understanding Pope Francis’ teachings, including the revisiting of the Church's stance on the death penalty.

* Obedience and Spiritual Warfare: Why obedience to the Pope is vital for spiritual strength and discipline, likened to the structure of an army.

* Holiness vs Orthodoxy: A discussion on the imbalance between orthodoxy and holiness in the Church today.

* Humility as a Weapon in Spiritual Combat: How growing in humility through obedience to ecclesiastical authority strengthens our spiritual combat.

* Final Thoughts: A call to respect the authority of the Pope, regardless of personal frustrations, and how it leads to personal and spiritual growth.

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Key Takeaways:

* Obedience to the Pope is integral to maintaining the unity and discipline of the Church.

* Even when a Pope’s actions or words are difficult to understand, the call to obedience remains foundational.

* Humility, born out of obedience, is a secret weapon in overcoming spiritual challenges.

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I unpack what it means to be innocent in a world that no longer believes in innocence. From a surprising (and partly bizarre) podcast clip featuring Barack Obama (‘on raising sons’) to memories of James Evans Sr. saving the day in Good Times, I explore masculinity, fatherhood, the erosion of family authority, and the danger of outsourcing a child’s moral compass to “better parents.”

In the second segment of the show, I open the Mass readings and get into the topic of Innocence, with a sprinkling of Thomas Aquinas’s take, and my prescription for how you can reclaim purity of heart—no matter how far you’ve fallen. Oh, and there's a big announcement: introducing The Waypoint Dispatch, a new newsletter that bridges the gap between the fast food of social media and the rich meal of Substack.

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🗒️ Chapters and Show Notes

* 00:00 Audio chaos, mic magnets, and the reverb from the abyss

* 03:00 Barack Obama’s comments on gay professors, empathy, and co-parenting

* 08:15 Why the “diversity of dads” idea is more dangerous than it seems

* 13:30 Pop culture fathers: James Evans Sr. vs. Mike Brady

* 18:45 Modern progressivism and the family as target #1

* 22:10 The special announcement: introducing The Waypoint Dispatch newsletter

* 28:00 Innocence in Scripture: Abraham, Sodom, and the Gospel

* 33:00 Aquinas on innocence: it's not just about not sinning

* 36:10 How we actually reclaim innocence: grace, penance, persistence

* 40:00 Modern culture’s assault on innocence—from store displays to PG-13 content

* 47:00 A call to arms: prayerfulness, penance, and building back spiritual muscle

Mentioned:

* Good Times and James Evans Sr. as a masculine ideal

* The cultural gap between social media and longform Catholic thought

* New newsletter: The Waypoint Dispatch

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When life pulls you in a hundred directions, how do you make prayer the anchor? In this fiery, honest, and often hilarious episode, I talk about rebuilding my own spiritual life (for YOUR edification, not to talk about myself), why my prayer went from “being drawn into the deep” to barely staying afloat—and how I’m getting back to that place of depth and intimacy with God. Along the way, you'll hear about shadow bans, spiritual warfare, demonic resistance to the rosary, and why TikTok finally got the boot.

💥 Plus:

* The power of “building a house of prayer”

* Why prayer isn’t optional—it’s oxygen

* What demons said during an exorcism about a woman who always prayed

* A breakdown of the Gospel of Martha and Mary and what it means for your spiritual life

* After-Show: Take a trip down musical memory lane! 🎶(After-Show is for paid subscribers)

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Whether your prayer life is strong or struggling, this one will remind you why it's worth fighting for.👉 Tune in. Recommit. Choose the better part.

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Don’t miss this special After-Show that totally breaks the mold!

Let’s explore the idea of “peaceful places”—those sacred, personal spaces (both physical and spiritual) where we can rest, recharge, and reconnect with God and ourselves. But why do we so often wait until we're burnt out to retreat there? Why isn’t peace our Plan A? Why are our “peaceful places” only rest stops, rather than dwelling places?

I then dive into the tension between our desire for peace and our compulsion to chase noise, even when we know it’s draining us. Along the way, I share deeply personal insights—including the powerful truth that even our peaceful places can be infiltrated by negative thoughts and temptations. In those moments, the Lord asks us to choose—to choose peace, to choose grace, to choose Him or to choose the temptation to anxiety.

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Another key moment comes when I drop some deep spiritual insight: in every temptation, there’s a clue to your escape. The enemy always tips his hand—if you’re paying attention. So whether you’re battling anxiety, anger, or distraction, this episode shows how awareness and grace can help you reclaim your peace and fortify your soul.

It’s not just about resting in your peaceful place. It’s about living there—intentionally, frequently, and faithfully.

Thank you How To Be Catholic, KM Jacik, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.