Episode 244: Smartphones, Sleepovers, and Setting Standards: A Playbook for Confident Parenting with Dr. Ray Guarendi
Being Human
How can you raise strong, faith-filled kids when the culture around them pushes everything but virtue? Dr. Ray Guarendi joins Dr. Greg to talk parenting with courage, moral clarity, and a little humor—even when the world tells you you're crazy. Key Topics: Why raising virtuous kids today requires going against the cultural current The difference between parenting in love vs. parenting in fear How to make trustworthiness—not age—the benchmark for giving your child a smartphone What most parents get wrong about discipline (and how to fix it) Why affection from fathers is essential to...
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Episode 243: Mercy, Mercy, and More Mercy: The Parent Perspective that Can Change Everything
Being Human
Parenting isn’t all cupcakes and rainbows—especially when you’re nine months pregnant and tripping over toys. In this episode, Dr. Greg sits down with his wife Barbra (just days away from delivering baby #8) for a raw and honest conversation about how the hidden, exhausting moments of family life are actually powerful works of mercy. If you’ve ever felt like you’re not doing “enough,” this episode will give you a whole new perspective. Key Topics: Why parenting is one of the most overlooked works of mercy The spiritual significance of everyday parenting struggles What it...
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Episode 242: Raising Faithful Kids in a Fallen World: A Conversation with Raquel Rose
Being Human
This episode dives into one of the hardest questions we face as parents: How do we help our kids stay rooted in the faith when the world is pulling them away? Dr. Greg sits down with Raquel Rose, who’s lived this from every angle—first as a scared college student facing an unexpected pregnancy, later as a school counselor walking with teens through their toughest moments, and now as a Catholic mom of four. She shares real-life wisdom about building trust, opening up honest conversations, and bringing faith into everyday family life. Key Topics: The real reasons kids shut down—and what...
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Episode 241: Big God, Little Devil: Rethinking Spiritual Soundbites with Dr. Sean Tobin
Being Human
Our world—and especially Catholic social media—is flooded with sensationalized talk about the devil, demonic activity, and spiritual “access points.” But what if that fear-based narrative is actually distracting us from the truth? In this episode, Dr. Greg Bottaro is joined by Dr. Sean Tobin to reframe the conversation around spiritual warfare, demystify deliverance, and remind us of the one truth we often forget: God is bigger. Way bigger. Key Topics: Why obsessing over the devil may actually weaken your spiritual life How Catholic social media is shaping our fears—and not always...
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Episode 240: The Incorrupt Baby: A Modern-Day Eucharistic Miracle?
Being Human
Dr. Greg sits down with Bri Edwards to share the stunning story of “Baby Brian,” an infant whose incorrupt body was found decades after burial. Together, they reflect on God’s mercy, the mystery of suffering, and the hope this miracle brings. Key Topics: The incredible discovery of Baby Brian’s incorrupt body 37 years after burial How this mystery challenges our understanding of God’s mercy The Catholic tradition of incorrupt saints—and how this case is different What this story reveals about the dignity of every human life The impact of infant loss on faith, hope, and healing Why...
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Episode 239: Reclaiming Sacred Time: Uncovering the Amazing Story of Black Elk
Being Human
What if reclaiming sacred time could heal cultural wounds and renew the Church? Dr. Greg and Deacon Bill White uncover the astonishing story of Servant of God Nicholas Black Elk—a Lakota healer and Catholic catechist whose life invites us to rediscover time, tradition, and faith through a deeply human lens. Key Topics: Why reclaiming sacred time is essential for healing and spiritual renewal The inspiring story of Nicholas Black Elk, Servant of God and Lakota Catholic catechist How traditional Lakota spirituality aligns with the Catholic understanding of creation What “Indian Time”...
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Episode 238: The False Promise of AI and Psychedelics: A Catholic Response to Modern Healing
Being Human
Dr. Greg sits down with Deacon Charlie Echeverry to explore the fascinating crossroads of faith, psychology, and culture—diving into topics like AI, psychedelics, and the deeper rhythms of human formation. Together, they wrestle with the big questions of what it truly means to be human, to suffer, to grow, and to encounter God in a world that’s changing faster than ever. A thought-provoking conversation you won’t want to miss! Key Topics: The risk of seeking quick fixes without “doing the work” The promises and dangers of psychedelic-assisted therapy Why suffering is...
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Episode 237: Why Great Lovers—and Saints—Don’t Wait for the Spark
Being Human
What really makes for lasting love and deep intimacy—whether in marriage or in our relationship with God? In this episode, Dr. Greg explains why the “spark” isn’t the true measure of a healthy sex life and how intentional, self-giving love leads to deeper joy. Drawing on wisdom from St. John Paul II and modern research, he offers a fresh perspective on love, marriage, and the spiritual life. Key Topics: Why “the spark” of spontaneous desire isn’t the gold standard for lasting intimacy The difference between desire and pleasure in a healthy sex life What research reveals...
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Episode 236: How Screens Mimic God: A Solution to Holiness in the Digital World
Being Human
What if the very thing keeping you connected is also keeping you from being fully human? In this thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Greg sits down with Andrew Laubacher from Humanality to explore the unseen effects of screen addiction, digital overwhelm, and AI dependence. From the emotional toll of constant connectivity to the transformative power of real-life presence, they dive deep into what it means to reclaim your time, your mind, and your relationships. Whether you're tech-weary or just curious, this episode offers a hopeful, practical invitation to rediscover your humanity in a...
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Episode 235: You're Not Tired: A Conversation with Dr. Bryan about Overstimulation, Creativity, & Rewiring Your Brain for Rest
Being Human
Feeling worn out—even after vacation? In this episode, Dr. Greg Bottaro and Dr. Bryan Violette dive deep into why real rest is so elusive in our busy, screen-filled lives. We talk candidly about what it actually means to slow down, how boredom unlocks creativity, why scrolling robs us of wonder, and how true leisure isn’t just time off—it’s a way to reclaim freedom and connection with God. Whether you’re planning your next break or desperate for daily sanity, this is an invitation to rethink rest on a profoundly human level. Key Topics: Why our culture treats rest like...
info_outlineWhat if some of our most celebrated American values—independence, grit, innovation—can also be spiritual traps? In 1899, Pope Leo XIII warned about “Americanism,” a heresy that elevates personal effort and autonomy while quietly sidelining grace, humility, and reverence for tradition. In this episode, Dr. Greg explores what the Pope saw coming, and how this heresy still affects our Church and culture today.
Key Topics:
- What Pope Leo XIII meant by “Americanism”—and how this heresy impacts us today
- How independence and innovation can be both a gift and a spiritual risk
- The fine line between healthy revolution and abandoning what’s been rightly passed down
- Why natural virtue and hard work matter—but only when elevated by grace
- What American saints reveal about living holiness within a unique cultural spirit
- How to discern what to keep and what to leave behind in our cultural inheritance
- Why a mature, integrated Catholic identity is the only path forward in a fragmented world
Learn More:
- Testem Benevolentiae Nostrae: Concerning New Opinions, Virtue, Nature and Grace, With Regard to Americanism (Pope Leo XIII, 1899): Read the full text
- Cabrini (2024) – A powerful film about St. Frances Xavier Cabrini’s mission and courage: Watch or learn more
- Related Being Human episodes:
- Episode 202: Complementarity Without the Competition: Why We Need Each Other
- Episode 200: Leaked Audio from a Groundbreaking Franciscan University Conference Keynote
- Episode 151: From Gender Dysphoria to Gender Integration
- Episode 75: Gender Fluidity or Complementarity?
- Saints mentioned in this episode: St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. John Neumann, St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, St. Katharine Drexel, St. Theodora Guérin, St. Isaac Jogues, St. René Goupil, St. Jean de Lalande, St. Damien of Molokai, St. Marianne Cope, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, St. Junípero Serra, and Servant of God Nicholas Black Elk.
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