The Best of the Week – Détails, épisodes et analyse

If you've ever sent a text, meant it to be NBD, and suddenly found yourself in a heated battle, you are so not alone. 😅 On this episode of Marriage Unhindered, therapist dream team Doug and his daughter Monica Hinderer take a call from Mary, a wife of 33 years, who's just trying to go camping... without emotional landmines. 🚐

The Conflict: Trailer Trouble & Radio Silence

Mary shared a pic of their busted trailer floor in the family group chat. Her husband totally lost it. 🙈 He shut down, started name-calling, and hasn’t spoken to her in five hours.

Why the meltdown?

Doug and Monica help Mary (and us!) break it down:

💢 His likely triggers:

-Disrespect (He felt like she should’ve checked with him first.)

-Failure (That photo made him feel like a bad handyman in front of the whole family.)

Doug explains that men can be super sensitive about these two things, and this little moment was a perfect storm. ⛈️

Monica’s Advice: Don’t Chase, Don’t Explode

Monica gives calm, Christ-centered advice for conflict repair:

✅ Let him cool off. (Stonewalling means he is trying to self-soothe, even if it’s immature.)

✅ When things calm down, say something like:

“I’m sorry for upsetting you. That wasn’t my intention. I’d like to talk when you're ready.”

✅ When he’s open, gently ask:

“Help me understand what triggered you, because I didn’t see it the same way.”

But also: Don’t ignore his bad behavior.

“Swearing and name-calling aren’t okay. That hurt me.”

It’s about growing together. 🙌

💡 Doug’s Take: Conflict = Opportunity

Doug shares this gem 💎:

“Conflicts are great chances to learn how to love your spouse better... and for them to learn to love you better.”

Let’s be honest: every married couple has their weird, recurring conflict patterns (read: landmines you keep stepping on 🙃). The trick is learning from them... not just surviving them.

The final advice:

➡️ Start with humility.

➡️ Be curious, not accusatory.

➡️ Keep boundaries around disrespect.

💕 Your Takeaway:

If your spouse overreacts... don’t retaliate. Slow down. Breathe. Ask questions. Apologize if needed, but don’t excuse sin or verbal abuse.

Marriage = sanctifying chaos with sacraments. 😂💒

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

🧴 Plastic, Plastic Everywhere...  😱

So, Drew kicks things off with the unfortunate news: we are literally full of plastic. Not like, “I eat too many Cheetos” full; we’re talking microplastics in our brain, lungs, heart, even the placenta. 💔 

It’s not just about turtles and oceans anymore. 🐢🌊

We’re eating, breathing, and absorbing plastic through food wrappers, shampoo, detergents, even that “eco-friendly” coffee cup you thought was safe. ☕😬

Some of these chemicals, like phthalates, are hormone disruptors and immune wreckers. 🤒

🛡️ Enter: Your Gut. The Unsung Superhero. 🦸‍♂️

Dr. O’Mara says: don’t freak out. The battlefield is your gut microbiome, aka your inner bulletproof vest 🦠

“Your microbiome is like your sump pump,” Dr. O'Mara says, “and mine failed last week; it was $40,000 in water damage. Don’t let that be your body.” 💧

🔥 What helps your gut armor up?

Fermented foods! 🥬🥕🧀 Think: sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, blue cheese, kombucha.

Clean up your diet: Ditch the donuts, muffins, processed junk. 

🪵 Cutting Boards & Coffee Cups: The Everyday Plastic Swap ☕🍽️

Dr. O’Mara says:

✅ Yes to wood & bamboo cutting boards! They’re safer than plastic ones that shed micro-junk onto your veggies.

🚫 Be wary of paper coffee cups; they’re lined with plastic and heat pulls that gunk straight into your drink.

💡 Dr. O’Mara's pro tip: Carry your own ceramic coffee mug.

👶 “What About the Pool?! And Shampoo?!” 🏊‍♀️

Yep, even kiddie pools and shampoo bottles can release nasty VOCs (volatile organic compounds) into the air. 😬 

So again, it’s not about panic; it’s about limiting exposure:

🧼 Switch to natural personal care products.

🍽️ Go for glass, ceramic, and stainless steel in the kitchen.

💧 Refill a good water bottle.

🙏 So What Do We Do?

This is a call to stewardship. 💚🌍

We’re temples of the Holy Spirit, remember? (1 Cor. 6:19 👈) So taking care of our bodies means:

-Eating more like our great-grandparents did.

-Being mindful of what we use, touch, and breathe.

-Keeping our "sump pump" (gut) healthy. 

You can listen to Part 2 of the conversation here!

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

Image via Marco Iacobucci Epp / Shutterstock.

This Morning Air episode with John Morales and Mark Mastroianni explores how we can navigate this AI and digital world with discernment and peace. 

AI is here, but is it holy?

John starts off with the obvious: AI is everywhere now: our phones, our schools, our jobs, and our health. But the real question is not “Can AI answer our questions?", but rather:

🤔 Can it serve the common good and uplift the human soul, or is it just another flashy algorithm sucking up our time?

Meet the Pope with a Tech Plan: Leo XIV

Just like his namesake stepped up during the Industrial Revolution, Pope Leo XIV is stepping in during the Digital Revolution.

Why’d he pick “Leo”? Because this new age of machines and algorithms needs a reminder:

🧠✨ “Technology is a tool... not a replacement for the beauty and infinite worth of the human soul.”

Can we get an amen?

👶 AI vs. Our Kids: Who’s Winning?

Pope Leo isn’t just worried about chatbots replacing teachers. He’s laser-focused on how AI impacts kids and young adults, especially in how it shapes:

🧠 How they think

💔 How they relate to others

😵‍💫 How glued they are to screens

John and Mark remind us: Algorithms aren’t neutral. They’re designed to be sticky, to keep our eyeballs scrolling and our souls scrolling away from the good, true, and beautiful.

💡 But there’s hope: More parents and educators are pushing back. 🙌 There’s a movement to ditch the screens and rediscover real-life wonder.

✝️ Blessed Carlo Acutis 

They mention our millennial future saint and spiritual tech guide, Blessed Carlo Acutis. He loved the internet... but loved Jesus way more.

His message:

👟💒 “Get off the screen, go outside, go see Eucharistic miracles, and live a holy, real life.”

Yes, please.

🧍‍♂️📖 Human Wisdom > Artificial Intelligence

AI might be able to mimic priests or teachers (gulp), but it can’t imitate true wisdom, love, or holiness.

Pope Leo XIV warns:

🗣️ “We must never replace face-to-face transmission of wisdom.”

Mark adds that real transformation doesn’t come from bots; it comes from:

👥 One-on-one conversations

🙌 Small groups sharing faith and struggles

🎨 Creative, Spirit-filled collaboration

AI can serve us... it just can’t save us.

Mark says the future actually belongs to humans, not machines. AI will automate the busywork, freeing us up to be more human:

🤝 More connection

🧠 More real thinking

❤️ More service

✝️ More soul-to-soul holiness

So... What Can You Do?

✅ Talk about AI with your friends, family, and parish.

✅ Limit screen time, especially for your kids.

✅ Get in the room: small groups, Bible studies, youth nights, coffee chats.

✅ Stay close to Jesus, the true source of wisdom, not just information.

🌟 Want to stay human in a world of robots?

Then cling to what’s eternal: the Church, the sacraments, real relationships, and Christ.

🔁 Share this with your tech-curious friends... even the ones glued to TikTok.

📱 And remember: You’re not just data. You’re a soul.

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

If you're craving a holy dose of faith, flowers, and popes across the ages, this Morning Air episode with John Morales and Fr. James Kubicki delivers a soul-stirring bouquet! Here's your heavenly highlight reel... in all its rose-scented glory.

St. Thérèse and Her "Rose-Sending" Promise

Fr. Kubicki talks about St. Thérèse of Lisieux, affectionately known as The Little Flower, and her legendary promise:

"I will send down a shower of roses from the heavens and I will spend my heaven doing good upon earth."

💐 She’s the saint who keeps on giving... through roses. Literally. Many Catholics, including Pope Francis, have experienced her intercession through the unexpected appearance of a rose when praying for guidance.

🌹 The White Rose at the Tomb of Pope Francis

In a touching moment that seemed like something straight out of a divine screenplay, Pope Leo XIV recently visited the tomb of Pope Francis at St. Mary Major in Rome. What did he do?

➡️ He left a single white rose. Simple. Silent... But packed with spiritual dynamite.

Why does it matter? Because Pope Francis himself often asked St. Thérèse for roses as signs of answered prayers. So, this gesture by Leo XIV felt like a final celestial "rose delivery" from the Little Flower herself, symbolizing continuity, prayer, and communion with the saints.

This isn’t just a story about two popes and a saint: it’s a trifecta of popes and their connection to Thérèse:

Pope Leo XIII: Back in the day, young Thérèse boldly asked him for special permission to enter the Carmelite convent early. His response: “If God wills it, it will happen.”

Not exactly a yes, but Thérèse took it as divine affirmation. 

Pope Francis: He openly shared how he turned to St. Thérèse for help and was gifted roses in “odd ways.” She was his heavenly helper.

Pope Leo XIV: By leaving the white rose, he ties together the threads of Thérèse’s legacy, Francis’s spirituality, and Leo XIII’s historic papacy. Also... he took his papal name specifically to honor Leo XIII’s focus on human dignity, labor, and society. 

💓 Sacred Heart Throwback

Quick history detour:

Pope Leo XIII, before he passed, said his greatest act wasn’t an encyclical but consecrating the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1899.

🔥 Fr. Kubicki is hopeful that Leo XIV might follow in those same sacred footsteps, a timely reminder that devotions are power tools for our spiritual lives.

A Pope with Warmth and Awe

Finally, Fr. Kubicki shares his first impressions of Leo XIV:

-A warm, welcoming presence 

-A deep love for reverent liturgy, especially influenced by Eastern traditions

Heaven is Involved

From teenage Thérèse grabbing the Pope’s hands in Rome...
to a white rose left at a tomb 100 years later...

This conversation reminds us that the saints are alive, and we’re part of one big, beautiful body of Christ: living and deceased, praying for one another, with roses as God’s love note to us.

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

Are you and your spouse looking for ways to deepen your connection and improve your marriage? This podcast clip of The Inner Life with Patrick Conley has lots of wisdom packed in for you! 

Celebrating the upcoming National Marriage Week and World Marriage Day, Fr. Dave Heney dives into the profound sanctity and significance of marriage. He emphasizes how marriage is not just a common occurrence but a vital sacrament that seeds the future generation, encapsulating moments of profound love and commitment. 🌱❤️

Drawing from his vast experience, Fr. Dave has noticed a striking transformation in couples' attitudes over the years. Once resistant to Church teachings, couples now approach marriage with humility and openness, eager to receive wisdom that could fortify their bonds against the storms of life. 

The golden nugget of advice from Fr. Dave? Stay engaged. It's a simple yet profound piece of advice that resonates deeply with engaged couples. He reminisces about the evolution of a relationship from acquaintances to friends, to lovers, and finally, engaged partners, urging couples to perpetually dwell in that stage of engagement even after marriage. 💌💍

Fr. Dave warns against becoming "professional household managers," where life's mundane tasks take precedence over nurturing the relationship. The key to an enduring marriage, according to him, is continuous engagement - maintaining that keen attentiveness and deep, meaningful communication that first brought the couple together. 🏡

In a nutshell, staying engaged means keeping the flames of love, attention, and communication alight through every season of marriage, making sure that even in the face of life's inevitable challenges, the bond only grows stronger and more intimate. 🕊️🔥

Are you ready to dive deeper into the art of staying engaged?

Are you ready to sip on a story as rich and invigorating as your morning cup of joe? 🌟 Morning Air just brewed up an episode that will fill your heart as much as your coffee cup! John Morales chatted with Brad Fassbender, the visionary behind Guadalupe Roastery.

Born into a Colombian family in Chicago, Brad's love for coffee runs deep. His journey from the world of finance to Franciscan friar and then to a coffee crusader is nothing short of a divine plot twist. Frustrated with the emptiness of chasing dollars disconnected from dignity, Brad found his calling among coffee cherries and the hardworking hands that pick them. Guadalupe Roastery is about brewing hope, dignity, and direct relationships with farmers. It's about seeing coffee as a force for good, a vessel for solidarity, and a platform for the common good.

Their mission? To make coffee that respects the dignity of everyone involved in its journey – from bean to your breakfast table. This is coffee with a cause, ensuring farmers earn what they deserve and fostering a connection between consumers and producers that's been long lost in our globalized world.

This episode also poured out how Brad's encounter with poverty in Honduras brewed a determination to make a difference. From a life-altering car accident to saving pennies in the medical field, Brad's story of founding Guadalupe Roastery is a testament to faith and resilience.

Named in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, with a nod to St. Maximilian Kolbe's philosophy, this roastery is about "coffee for the common good." It's a reminder that goodness, at its highest form, connects us back to God and the Mass, inspiring us to carry that virtue into our daily grind.

You're invited to "give from the heart" to support Relevant Radio.

ONLY TODAY: With a gift of $240 or more, you'll receive a bag of the Guadalupe Gold Blend coffee and a Relevant Radio branded mug. Not only do you get to savor this heavenly blend with a special coffee mug, but you also become part of a larger story of hope, dignity, and devotion. It's all encapsulated in a mug bearing Father Rocky's wisdom and a bag graced by Our Lady of Guadalupe. 🌹

Could an apostolic blessing get you straight into heaven? Does this sound too good to be true?

In this compelling episode of The Patrick Madrid Show, Javier from Miami shared the touching story of his mother-in-law, who, while in the final stages of Alzheimer's disease and in hospice care, received the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick along with the Apostolic Blessing from a priest. This experience was particularly moving for Javier's wife, who understood the significance of these rites - essentially a direct path to Heaven, which her mother seemingly took as she passed away shortly thereafter.

Patrick Madrid then delved into explaining the Apostolic Pardon (or Apostolic Blessing). This indulgence, usually granted during the last rites, takes away all temporal punishment due to sin, assuming the recipient is truly repentant and in a state of grace. It's a powerful act of mercy, reflecting the belief that while Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price for sin, the temporal effects still require atonement. This pardon offers spiritual comfort, suggesting the recipient may bypass Purgatory and enter Heaven directly.

Another listener, Mike from Pittsburgh, brought up a point about this pardon. He mentioned a situation with a Nigerian priest who seemed hesitant to grant the Apostolic Pardon to his brother-in-law, who was not unconscious. Patrick encouraged persistence in requesting this rite, clarifying that the condition of the recipient (conscious or not) should not be a barrier.

Fr. Tim from Maryland shared his experiences as a hospital chaplain, particularly regarding the Anointing of the Sick. He described his approach to administering Viaticum (Holy Communion) to unconscious patients, a practice he found deeply meaningful.

Do you feel exhausted at the end of the day? Frustrated that you didn't get your work done?

What are some ways you can stay productive and have a better perspective about your schedule?

Cale discusses a productivity technique called the 3-3-3 method, popularized by Ben Meer and based on ideas from Oliver Burkeman's book "4,000 Weeks." The method suggests dividing your work into three parts:

1. First Three: Spend three hours of deep, focused work on your most important project. This concentrated effort can result in a significant increase in productivity. Deep work involves intense focus and is crucial for accomplishing substantial tasks.

2. Second Three: Complete three shorter, urgent tasks that need attention but might not be as significant as your main project. These could include meetings, emails, or other immediate responsibilities.

3. Third Three: Engage in three maintenance activities, which could involve taking care of your physical health (exercise, self-care), spiritual well-being (prayer, reflection), or other tasks that contribute to overall life balance and functionality.

Cale emphasizes that great minds throughout history have adopted similar time management principles, focusing on limited periods of intense work followed by well-defined breaks. The method encourages individuals to prioritize their most important tasks, address urgent matters, and maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

The key idea is to structure your workday around these three blocks of time, allowing you to be more focused, productive, and intentional with your tasks.

Would you willingly allow a computer chip to be put into your brain if it meant you could control a computer?

Timmerie dives deep into the fascinating yet complex world of Neuralink, Elon Musk's groundbreaking brain-chip technology. At the heart of this discussion is a tantalizing question: What does the future hold with Neuralink? Imagine controlling a computer with your mind, no hands needed! This isn't sci-fi; it's the promise of Neuralink, aiming to revolutionize how we interact with technology and potentially transform medical treatment for conditions like Parkinson's, epilepsy, and Alzheimer's.

Timmerie doesn't shy away from the ethical crossroads presented by Neuralink. With every giant leap in technology comes a labyrinth of moral dilemmas. Could this tech, designed to connect human brains to computers, pave the way for unprecedented advancements or lead us down a path of ethical quandaries and privacy concerns?

The Good, The Bad, and The Ethical 🌐🔍

Timmerie and guest Hugh Brown of the American Life League peel back the layers of Neuralink's potential. From miraculous medical treatments to the chilling prospects of "consensual telepathy," the conversation spans the spectrum of hope to horror. Imagine a future where paralysis and debilitating conditions are things of the past. But at what cost? In a world grappling with profound moral challenges, from abortion to human commodification, can we trust ourselves with the power to merge mind and machine?

Faith, Ethics, and The Future of Humanity 🙏🔬

Timmerie doesn't just explore the technological marvels of Neuralink; she plunges into the ethical implications, asking tough questions about the role of suffering, the sanctity of free will, and the essence of human dignity. The Church's perspective, emphasizing prudence and the virtuous use of technology, offers clarity in navigating these turbulent waters.

A Call for Prudence and Prayer 🕊️💡

The potential to alleviate suffering is immense, yet so are the risks of undermining the very fabric of our humanity. In a world enamored with the possibilities of transhumanism, we must ask: Just because we can, does that mean we should?

The Verdict: A Journey of Discovery and Discernment 🌟🛤️

As Neuralink strides toward a future where the boundaries between mind and machine blur, we're reminded of the profound responsibility that comes with such power. The dialogue between faith and science, ethics and innovation, has never been more critical. Join Timmerie and dive into the heart of these discussions, where the future of humanity hangs in the balance.

Are we ready for Neuralink? Only time will tell. Stay tuned, stay informed, and above all, stay engaged in the conversation. The future depends on it.

If you have a loved one who is struggling with addiction, you know the pain and the suffering it can cause the whole family. While you want to be there to support this person, you also don't want them to spiral out of control through any enabling on your part.

So, what do you do when the solution isn't always obvious?

In a clip of The Patrick Madrid Show, Gerri from Virginia shares the harrowing journey of her niece, Amanda, a 31-year-old battling the demons of drug and alcohol addiction. Following an intervention and subsequent rehab, Amanda found herself back in Las Vegas, slipping further into her destructive habits. Gerri, torn between desperation and faith, seeks guidance on the Catholic perspective for dealing with a loved one's addiction.

A Biblical Approach to Intervention

Patrick Madrid offers wisdom from Matthew 18. Jesus' teachings suggest a stepwise approach to conflict resolution, starting with a private discussion, escalating to the involvement of witnesses, and, if necessary, bringing the matter to the Church. This blueprint, while not advocating immediate severance of ties, recognizes the potential need for tough love in extreme cases.

The Dilemma of Love vs. Enabling

Patrick emphasizes the importance of discernment in these circumstances, acknowledging the heart-wrenching decision to step back when help turns into an enabler of addiction. The path to clarity is not always clear, so it's always so important to let God lead. 

The Cenacolo Community

Patrick introduces the Cenacolo Community, a Christ-centered program dedicated to helping individuals overcome addiction through faith, communal living, and prayer. This community is a ray of light for those like Amanda, offering a path to recovery that intertwines spiritual healing with personal growth.

No one is beyond help! Through faith, support, and love, there is a pathway to healing. Let's keep Amanda and all those struggling with similar battles in our thoughts and prayers. 🙏