Episode 214: Mental Health & Social Media: How to Start a Digital Detox for the Soul
Being Human
Feeling overwhelmed by endless scrolling? Discover how a faith-based digital detox can help you reclaim peace of mind. In today's hyperconnected world, our minds are constantly bombarded by notifications, newsfeeds, and endless scrolling. But is social media helping us—or hurting us? Dr. Greg Bottaro sits down with Darrell Miller of MAX Studios to explore the mental, emotional, and spiritual effects of digital overload. Together, they discuss why social media fuels anxiety and comparison, and how faith-based mindfulness can help us unplug and reconnect with real life. Key Topics: ...
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Episode 213: Are Faith and Psychology at Odds? Unpacking the Biggest Mental Health Questions
Being Human
Think faith and mental health don’t mix? Think again. In an interview with Oscar Rivera on Ave Spotlight, Dr. Greg breaks down the biggest myths about psychology and Catholicism. Are faith and psychology at odds? Where do we draw the line between normal emotions and real mental health struggles? Can prayer cure anxiety? Is therapy un-Catholic? How do you beat seasonal depression? Tune in for a fresh perspective on faith and mental well-being! Discussed in this episode: The surprising connection between faith and mental health; Why Catholicism and psychology are not at odds;...
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Episode 212: Take Your Prayer Life to the Next Level: Discover the Secret to Unlocking Your Deepest Capacity
Being Human
If you’ve ever felt stuck in your spiritual life—doing all the right things but still not feeling closer to God—this episode is for you. Dr. Greg explores the layers of distraction that keep us from deeper prayer, and how to quiet the noise of our own narratives and hear God's voice in the stillness. Discussed in this episode: Why doing all the right things in your spiritual life doesn’t always lead to feeling closer to God; How interior noise and distraction can block us from hearing God's voice; Understanding the layers of inner narratives that shape your perception...
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Episode 211: The Growth Myth: Why You Can’t Do It Alone
Being Human
Think growth is all about grinding harder or going it solo? Think again. In this episode, Dr. Greg dives into the surprising truth about growth: it takes both trusting God and showing up yourself. Tune in for practical tips and a fresh perspective on breaking through plateaus to experience real transformation. Discussed in this episode: The importance of balancing trust in God with personal responsibility in the growth process; Why relying entirely on God or entirely on yourself leads to stagnation; A practical understanding of the phrase: "Pray as if it all depends on God, work...
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Episode 210: Are You Safe But Stuck? Uncovering Hidden Obstacles Blocking Your Growth
Being Human
Discover the blind spots and defense mechanisms quietly holding you back from real growth. In this episode, Dr. Greg unpacks tough truths, shares relatable personal stories, and offers practical insights to help you break free and flourish. Discussed in this episode: The importance of growth and development in becoming the best version of yourself; Blind spots and defense mechanisms: how they form and why they hold us back; The role of avoidance in blocking personal growth; Personal insights from Dr. Greg’s life and leadership at the CatholicPsych Institute; The value of...
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Episode 209: The Masculine Crisis No One is Talking About with Nick Clune
Being Human
Men today are searching for identity, purpose, and real freedom—but so many feel stuck, especially when it comes to breaking free from pornography. In this episode, Dr. Greg sits down with Nick Clune, a CPMAP graduate, to talk about his journey, what men really need, and how true masculinity leads to lasting freedom. Discussed in this episode: The deep need for fatherly guidance in developing true masculinity; The struggles men face in finding affirmation and purpose; How Nick’s relationship with his dad shaped his mission to help men; The importance of intentional...
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Episode 208: A Trick to Unlock Hidden Secrets in Your Unconscious
Being Human
Start the New Year with renewal, not resolutions! In this episode, we dive into a powerful exercise to unlock hidden patterns in your unconscious, deepen self-awareness, and align your growth with God’s plan for your life. Tune in and discover a new way to set the tone for a year of transformation. Discussed in this episode: A fresh perspective on the New Year—renewal, not resolutions; How self-reflection helps us grow in holiness; Unlocking the unconscious to discover what’s hidden within; Using psychological tools to access deeper self-awareness; Why transformation is...
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Episode 207: The Consequences of Not Dreaming Big Enough
Being Human
Are you dreaming big enough? In this episode, uncover what’s holding you back from becoming the best version of yourself. Through practical insights on self-awareness, inner freedom, and embracing mistakes as stepping stones for growth, discover how to unlock your full potential and share the unique gift only you can offer to the world. Discussed in this episode: The importance of dreaming big and why most people dream too small; How childhood dreams of greatness get suppressed by societal expectations; Why the world needs you to embrace your unique greatness; Understanding the...
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Episode 206: Trauma-Informed Divine Mercy: Unlocking the Secret to Forgiveness
Being Human
Discover how understanding God’s love can transform your ability to heal and forgive—even amidst the deepest wounds. Explore the profound connection between psychology and spirituality, and unlock the secret to forgiveness through the trauma-informed lens of Divine Mercy. Discussed in this episode: The concept of Trauma-Informed Divine Mercy and its impact on forgiveness; The relationship between psychological and spiritual paths to forgiveness; Why forgiveness requires uncovering buried wounds; How trauma imprints on the brain and influences behavior; The role of...
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Episode 205: Is God Angry? Understanding God’s Justice and Mercy
Being Human
Discover the profound connection between God’s mercy and justice. We often think of them as opposites, but what if they’re not? Explore how this truth transforms your understanding of God’s love and deepens your capacity to receive His mercy. (Divine Mercy mini series, part 1 of 2) Discussed in this episode: Why this may be the most important topic ever discussed on the Being Human podcast; The surprising truth: mercy and justice are not opposites but inseparable; Why God is never angry with us, even if there are corrections we need to make; The idea of a wrathful God is a...
info_outlineGender confusion in today’s culture might seem like a curveball, but in this episode, Dr. Greg explores the unexpected opportunity it provides for the Church—and for each of us—to deepen our understanding of what it truly means to be man and woman.
Discussed in this episode:
- Why understanding complementarity is key to healing personal and cultural wounds;
- How the relationship between man and woman provides access to the face of God;
- Why healing the wounds between men and women is essential for restoring communion with God;
- The mystery of how man and woman together image God’s love;
- How JP2's Theology of the Body revolutionizes our view of human dignity;
- Why male and female differences are essential to imaging God;
- The critical distinction between mutual self-gift and hierarchical domination in relationships;
- How original sin distorted trust between man and woman and between humanity and God;
- The role of divinization in the Christian understanding of humanity’s destiny;
- What Sr. Prudence Allen and JP2 reveal about integral sex complementarity;
- The biological, psychological, and spiritual dimensions of male and female complementarity;
- How equal dignity and differentiation coexist in the Catholic vision of gender;
- The dangers of reducing man and woman to rigid roles versus embracing integral identity;
- How historical pendulum swings between equality and differentiation have shaped gender views;
- How marriage reflects and points to the ultimate communion with God.
Resources mentioned or relevant:
- Mulieris Dignitatem by Pope St. John Paul II
- Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Collaboration of Men and Women in the Church and in the World by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI)
- Previous episodes on gender complementarity:
- Episode 202: Complementarity Without The Competition: Why We Need Each Other
- Episode 201: Is Leadership of the Family a Man’s Job? with Special Guest Barbra Bottaro
- Episode 200: Leaked Audio from a Groundbreaking Franciscan University Conference Keynote to Celebrate Our 200th Episode!
- Episode 99: Diversity, Gender, and the Genius of Women, w/ Simone Rizkallah
- Flight from Woman by Karl Stern
- The Catholic Genius of Integrated Masculinity and Femininity
- Maria Fedoryka at Hildebrand Conference
- The Anti-Mary Exposed: Rescuing the Culture from Toxic Femininity by Carrie Gress
- Doctrinal Note USCCB 2023
- Female and Male He Resurrected Them edited by Jennifer Morel
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- Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
- Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available;
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- Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
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