Purpose and Perseverance Podcast

"By your perseverance, you will secure your lives." Luke 21:19 Conversations ordered to understanding our purpose, living well, and persevering in mind, body, and soul. AMDG

#36 - Fighting Decrepitude and Getting After It With Age 01/25/2026

#36 - Fighting Decrepitude and Getting After It With Age In this episode, I'm talking about decrepitude — the slow, often unnoticed decline that many people mistake for “normal aging.” Rather than focusing on disease or dramatic outcomes, I'm talking about the everyday metabolic forces that quietly shrink capacity over time. Using what I call the four horsemen of metabolic syndrome — chronic stress, lack of quality sleep, poor nutrition, and sedentarism, I think through how these fundamentals interact, how they fail together, and why neglecting them leads to unnecessary decline with age. This is a conversation about preserving capability, resilience, and dignity over the long haul, and why aging doesn’t have to mean surrendering function. /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/39872350

#35 Second Hand Stress and Anxiety 01/18/2026

#35 Second Hand Stress and Anxiety In this episode, I talk about secondhand stress—the anxiety and tension we absorb simply by moving through certain environments. From school hallways and lunch tables to workplace break rooms and meetings, I discuss how stress spreads through proximity, chronic negativity, and politicized conversation, even when nothing “bad” is happening to us personally. It's a look at how toxic negativity in our environments affect our interior lives, why we feel exhausted without knowing why, and come to dread school or work the next day. Then I offer some practical suggestions for what simple awareness, restraint, and steadiness can actually do about it. /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/39777020

#34 The New Food Pyramid - Eat Real Food 01/12/2026

#34 The New Food Pyramid - Eat Real Food The USDA put out a new food pyramid and dietary guidelines this week. This week's episode is my thoughts on the the idea food pyramids/dietary guidelines in general, along with some history, and politics behinds them. /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/39692145

#33 The Epidemic of Loneliness 01/04/2026

#33 The Epidemic of Loneliness In this episode of Purpose and Perseverance, I reflect on the truth that we were never meant to do life alone. Drawing from Scripture, the Harvard longevity study, and the growing epidemic of loneliness, we explore how deep, meaningful relationships shape not only our spiritual lives but our mental and physical health as well. This conversation looks at why Christianity is fundamentally a relational faith - and why presence, connection, and communion may be among the most important practices of a well-lived life. /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/39607325

#32 Personal Exceptionalism: Becoming Who You’re Meant to Be in the New Year 12/28/2025

#32 Personal Exceptionalism: Becoming Who You’re Meant to Be in the New Year In this episode, I talk about personal evolution - the quiet, often uncomfortable work of becoming better over time. Not better than other people, but better than who we were yesterday. The idea of personal exceptionalism is not about ego, entitlement, or comparison, but responsibility: the responsibility to steward our bodies, minds, and souls and multiply the "talents" God has given us in each of those areas. Ultimately, it's about the idea of aspiring to become the best versions of ourselves over time. /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/39549230

#31 Expectations vs. Aspirations: Why One Traps Us and the Other Sets Us Free 12/21/2025

#31 Expectations vs. Aspirations: Why One Traps Us and the Other Sets Us Free As the New Year approaches, this episode is about exploring the difference between expectations and aspirations, and why confusing the two can quietly undermine our mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Expectations outcomes, they're finite, and often fuel anxiety and discouragement when things don't go according to our will or life doesn’t cooperate. Aspirations, by contrast are open ended, hopeful, and about direction (purpose) rather than arrival. My prayer is that this episode helps listeners let go of the pressure of perfection and choose faithfulness, trust, and perseverance stepping into the year ahead. /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/39489020

#30 Thoughts on Joy, and Answers to Student Questions 12/14/2025

#30 Thoughts on Joy, and Answers to Student Questions As we celebrate the third Sunday of Advent, these are some of my thoughts from the week on Joy, and especially gratefulness as a precedent for joy. Then I answer two questions from students - one on energy drinks, and the second on if we can reverse coronary artery (cardiovascular) disease. /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/39402530

#29 Weight Loss, and Cognitive Health As We Age 12/08/2025

#29 Weight Loss, and Cognitive Health As We Age A question from a friend about weight loss, and some thoughts on maintaining cognitive health with age. /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/39318330

#28 Homily For the 1st Sunday in Advent - Stay Awake! 11/30/2025

#28 Homily For the 1st Sunday in Advent - Stay Awake! For today's episode, I wanted to share my homily for this first Sunday in Advent on the theme of staying awake - which seems to fit perfectly with the overarching themes of this podcast - purpose and perseverance! /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/39210625

#27 Advent Disciplines & New Year Resolutions 11/23/2025

#27 Advent Disciplines & New Year Resolutions Following up on last weeks Q&A episode, I wanted to continue talking about the disciplines of Advent as a means to prepare for not only the second coming of Christ, but renewals in mind, body, and soul as we get ready to take on resolutions for the New Year. /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/39147965

#26 First Ever Q&A Episode 11/17/2025

#26 First Ever Q&A Episode Thanks to folks for sending in some great questions! What simple habit has had the greatest impact on your life this year? What is something people care about far too much, and what should they care about more? What is a piece of advice you heard as a child that turned out to be completely wrong? What are the pros and cons of taking creatine? What health myth do you hear repeated constantly? What is a belief you held five years ago that you no longer hold today? What fitness and training challenges are on the horizon for 2026? What are your thoughts heading into Advent? What is a hill you are willing to die on that other people think is ridiculous? What part of adulthood nobody prepared you for? /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/39054435

#25 When Motivation Fails 11/10/2025

#25 When Motivation Fails I’ve come to realize that motivation is one of the most overrated words in our culture. We talk about it as if it’s the fuel that drives everything, but really, it’s just a feeling. It comes and goes. And if you rely on it, you’ll be tempted to quit every time it fades. Motivation might get you started, but only purpose, perseverance, and discipline will carry you through. The Christian life is not about chasing inspiration; it’s about being faithful to what we’ve said yes to. That’s where peace comes from. Not from feeling motivated, but from becoming faithful to your purpose. /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/38972520

#24 This Isn’t Suffering: Rethinking Discipline at the Table — and Beyond 11/02/2025

#24 This Isn’t Suffering: Rethinking Discipline at the Table — and Beyond In this episode, I unpack why eating well, moving with purpose, and resting deeply aren’t forms of suffering - they’re expressions of gratitude, reverence, and freedom. Our culture confuses pleasure with peace, but when we begin to order our lives through discipline, we discover the joy of self-mastery and the freedom of being who God created us to be and being good stewards of the bodies (and health) we have been given. And at the end, I meant to say Matthew McConaughey not Woody Harrelson. Doh. Questions? Suggestions for something I could talk about? Email me at deacon.watkins@gmail.com /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/38885275

#23 When Life Goes Sideways: The Silent Homily 10/26/2025

#23 When Life Goes Sideways: The Silent Homily In this episode, I reflect on what it means to persevere when our bodies don’t cooperate, pain lingers, limitations feel overwhelming, or life just seems to be going sideways. These are my thoughts on how embracing weakness, leaning on God, and finding grace in our struggles can transform moments of limitation into opportunities for growth. I tried to offer practical ways to care for body and soul, and think through how our quiet endurance can become a silent homily — a witness to God’s work in our lives. /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/38787075

#22 Persistency Is Key (Sunday Readings) 10/19/2025

#22 Persistency Is Key (Sunday Readings) If there was a weekend of readings that were all about what I'm all about, this is it! From Exodus, Moses persisting in prayer, from St. Paul's second letter to Timothy, "persist whethere it is convenient or inconvenient, and "The Persistent Widow from St. Luke. I was so happy that the priest at Mass preached all about PERSEVERANCE! So, of course, I can to talk about the readings in this episode as the relate to life in mind, body, and soul. AMDG PS We passed 500 downloads - thank you to everyone who listens!!! /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/38638165

#21 What is the best diet? 10/12/2025

#21 What is the best diet? We have a health epidemic in America related to people being overweight or obese. Many will try to make changes to their lifestyle through highly restrictive diets - diets that they are not able to maintain for the rest of their lives. So, even if they lose weight in the near term, they eventually gain it all back and then some when they get off that extreme diet. This leads to mental health challenges about "failing again." This is what we refer to as yo-yo dieting. The best diet then, is the healthy one we can maintain 90% of the time for the rest of our lives. /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/38556895

#20 How Healthy Are Your Capillaries? 10/06/2025

#20 How Healthy Are Your Capillaries? For that last week my mind has been thinking about how our optimal health is related to our vascular health, especially our smallest blood vessels. The more I thought about it, some of our worst health outcomes (cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's, etc.) have as a component, worsening vascular health in and around our heart, organs, eyes, brain, skin, limbs, reproductive organs, and more. Some the worst effects of chronic stress, lack of sleep, poor diet, and sedentarism, occur in our blood vessels, especially the tiny ones. I believe it could be said that how healthy our cardiovascular system is - is a reflection of how healthy we are. So in this episode I highlight the importance of taking care of our blood vessels. /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/38474510

#19 Fight Decrepitude! 09/28/2025

#19 Fight Decrepitude! Decrepitude (noun): the state of being worn out, weakened, or in decline due to old age, illness, or long use. For most of my life, I believe the decrepitude was an inevitability of age like death and taxes. It wasn't until about 2019 that I learned it was not a foregone conclusion. Reality is that barring accidents, genetics, or disease, we can stave off the worst effects of time that are actually the physiological outcomes of poor lifestyle choices. Teaching about this has become a passion of mine. And now, when I train, it's for the marginal decade of my life - the last ten years of my life, and to hopefully have as much vigor and vitality as possible. So, this weeks episode is all about fighting decrepitude! /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/38386260

#18 Are We Trustworthy in Small Matters? 09/21/2025

#18 Are We Trustworthy in Small Matters? Lot's going on in our world, much of it kind of heavy and negative. Maybe like you, I'm feeling an increasing need to disconnect and focus on the good things that matter. It was part of my reflection on today's Gospel. Am I trustworthy in small matters? Do I focus on the things that are in my control - what I allow my mind to dwell on, taking care of the gift that is my body and health, and especially, the state of my soul. I did focus a bit on Pope St. Gregory the Great and his many comments on gluttony. A shorter episode today, but hopefully it is of help to someone who listens. That's my prayer anyway. Rember what St. Teresa of Calcutta said, "We can do no great things, only small things with great love." /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/38299435

#17 The Physiology of Stress 09/15/2025

#17 The Physiology of Stress We definitely seem to be living in a more stressful world. Or at least there seem to be more negative things happening in our world that can cause chronic stress. If you're like me, you have heard that stress is bad for you, especially your heart health, but no one ever took the time to explain the physiological mechanisms behind it. This episode is my attempt to try and explain it in the simplest terms possible. Bottomline: chronic stress is bad, but if it's combined with lack of sleep, poor diet, and sedentarism - it's really bad. The good news is that we can change all of them for the better! AMDG /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/38217815

#16 SAINT Pier Giorgio Frassati! 09/08/2025

#16 SAINT Pier Giorgio Frassati! After 25 years of prayer, my dear friend in heaven, Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati was finally raised to the full glory of the altar! So this podcast is a reflection back on the ways he became a part of my life, how our young lives were so different, and why so much of my adult life has been about work with young people and trying to point them to Jesus. This could have easily been a four hour episode, because MUCH was left aside. But praise God. St. Pier Giorgio, pray for us! /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/38122805

#15 What We Should Really Be Concerned About - Coronary Artery Disease 08/31/2025

#15 What We Should Really Be Concerned About - Coronary Artery Disease A weave from Sunday's Gospel, to the tragedy in Minnneapolis, to the thing everyone should be concerned about - CAD - coronary artery disease - the number one cause of death worldwide. This episode highlights how stress, sleep, diet, and movement impact CAD. /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/38034245

#14 Anticipation 08/27/2025

#14 Anticipation A Wednesday Word episode reflecting on the importance of people, especially young people, to gain the ability to anticipate the needs of others. /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/37978525

#13 Instruct The Ignorant 08/24/2025

#13 Instruct The Ignorant It might just be me, but I think this is a good episode - and an important one. A lot of negative outcomes in life are the result of ignorance (which does not mean lack of intelligence). This is why "Instruct the ignorant" is one of the spiritual works of mercy. It's also why wisdom and understanding are the antonyms to ignorance. What becomes important in this life is to recognize the areas in mind, body, and/or soul in which we lack knowledge and understanding, and begin to seek the information in prudence that can positively change our lives. In this episode I give two examples of this from my own life where my ignorance related to lifestyle had two very different (not ideal) results. /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/37939970

#12 The "D-word" (Discipline) 08/17/2025

#12 The "D-word" (Discipline) Any great outcome in life is the result, at least in part, of discipline. Unfortunately, over the last 40-50 years that word has taken on a negative connotation for many people. As in, we're not supposed to tell people they need it or that they lack it. And folks are told they shouldn't feel bad if they lack discipline or self-control. I don't want people to beat themselves up about it, but I simply cannot see how we have any good or great outcomes in mind, body, or soul without discipline, self-control, and will power. So, if you are not a person of discipline, my suggestion is to start small and build the confidence in small victories. Get some momentum through success and then start applying to other aspects of life. And if you are a person with healthy discipline, give thanks to God for the people in your life that helped instill it in you! Then make sure you help others in your life the same way! AMDG /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/37856305

#11 Where Are The Health Ministries In Our Churches? 08/11/2025

#11 Where Are The Health Ministries In Our Churches? This has been on my mind for a bit and I decided to think out loud about it on this episode. We have ministries for a lot of things in our churches and parishes, but very few offer anything to minister to the health and wellbeing of parishioners. Jesus is clear: "Heal the sick" and "Did you care for me when I was sick?" And yet, we offer little to nothing in the way of even educating the faithful in how to take better care of themselves, and heal themselves of metabolic illnesses. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe this isn't a thing the Church should concern itself with, but I just don't see a convincing argument against it. So, I think it through on this episode and offer some possible thoughts on what we could do. /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/37752915

#10 Wednesday Word: Beware of the Prisoners of Doom! 08/06/2025

#10 Wednesday Word: Beware of the Prisoners of Doom! When people struggle with anxiety and depression, one thing to look out for are NEGATIVE inputs in our lives that only make it worse. This is especially true for children, and in my professional experience, young women. But it can be a problem for adults as well. Whether its the fear mongering 24/7 news, social media, or a family member or friend that "vents" all the time about everything. We love them, but they vomit toxic negativity on us constantly. THAT can become a real source of anxiety in our lives that can have physiological impacts. We feel it in our body. We no longer want to go to school or work, but we can't put a finger on why. It might be the case that for our own equanimity, for the protection of our own peace and joy, we have to either tell that person to stop, or cut them out of our lives. What's hard is that they might actually get worse over time, slowly, like the grass growing. Hard to notice. It didn't used to be this bad, and we do love them, but now it's out of control. It's all they do - complain about EVERYTHING. As much as we might need to cut bad habits or unhealthy foods out of our lives, we might have to cut some unhealthy people out of our lives as well. AMDG /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/37712260

#9 Why We Need To Be Intentional 08/03/2025

#9 Why We Need To Be Intentional First, and foremost, apologies on this one that in the later third of the episode I succomed to the realities of recently coming down with covid. But here's the deal, I made a commitment to uploading and episode every Sunday and that means overcoming impediments, setbacks, and even, illnesses. When I started, I said I didn't plan to edit episodes. Well, I had to eat those words. I had to edit out some of the worst coughing fits on this one. Oof. Anyway, I hope this episode is helpful to those of you who will take the time to download it and listen. If nothing else, it helps me to think through these things. BE INTENTIONAL in mind, body, and soul! AMDG /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/37655230

#8 The Four Legs of Health and Wellbeing 07/27/2025

#8 The Four Legs of Health and Wellbeing When I think about the totality of health and well-being I consider four factors: mindset/stress management/learning/mental health Consistent quality sleep Nutrition/Diet Intentional movement Thinking of these like legs of a chair or table, they need to be equal to be functional. When we are intentional about each of these facets of life, they can positively affect each other in a sort of virtuous cycle. As opposed to when each of them is suboptimal or very bad, they become a vicious cycle of physical and mental health. This could have been a much longer episode, because there is much to say about each factor of well-being. God willing, this is of help for someone out there. Please share if you think it would be helpful to someone you know or love. Understand you purpose, be intentional, and persevere! God bless! Dr. Carol Dweck talking about fixed vs. growth mindset: https://youtu.be/hiiEeMN7vbQ?si=xXQsSYUCVOjkLRl0 /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/37570685

#7 Wednesday Word - The Silent Killer 07/23/2025

#7 Wednesday Word - The Silent Killer High blood pressure is known as the silent killer for a reason. It's caused by serious underlying issues, but we usually can't feel them - hence the name. Bottomline, get an inexpensive blood pressure cuff/monitor off Amazon or froom Walmart or a drug store AND USE IT. Regularly! It could save your life, but it will also give you a simple, non-invasive home method of checking on the health of your body. /episode/index/show/8fe9d470-2264-427a-bce3-43046fd98817/id/37526135

Purpose and Perseverance Podcast

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