Best Emmaus Project Podcasts (2025)

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Ep. 118: Friendships in Times of Change (feat. Paul Henley) 43:32

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24d ago43:32

43:32

Tom sits down with a close friend, Paul Henley, to discuss how maintaining friendships is vital to the challenge of navigating various changes in one's life.

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Ep. 117: Do Monks Have Midlife Crises? 38:30

1M ago38:30

38:30

Br. Francisco and Tom discuss how we as humans respond to change in our lives and the weight that comes when we are forced to accept that our lives might not be how we expected.

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Ep. 116: A Thirst for the Demonic - a Corruption of Beauty 31:48

2M ago31:48

31:48

Why does there seem to be a increase in obsession and fascination for the demonic and disturbing? Br. Francisco and Tom explore the answer and how they believe it is a corruption of the innate human desire to experience the transcendental of beauty.

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Ep. 115: The 12 Steps of Humility and Recovery (feat. Lauren Scharmer) 1:27:58

3M ago1:27:58

1:27:58

Br. Francisco is joined by Lauren Scharmer, a licensed, clinical social worker from St. Louis, MO, who specializes in treating addictions, to discuss the overlap between St. Benedict's 12 Steps of Humility and AA's 12 Steps of Recovery.

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Ep. 114: Monastic Vocation or Military Career? 36:53

3M ago36:53

36:53

Br. Francisco, Nate, and Tom discuss the similarities of being a monk and being a soldier and how both call one to something greater than oneself.

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Ep. 113: Leisure vs. Laziness 43:33

4M ago43:33

43:33

Br. Francisco and Tom discuss the distinction between leisurely and lazy activities and how one contributes to communion, culture, and relationship, while the other does the exact opposite.

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Ep. 112: Becoming a Deacon 36:29

4M ago36:29

36:29

Br. Francisco shares the story of his diaconate ordination and what it means to him to be a deacon in the Church.

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Ep. 111: An American Pope 36:16

5M ago36:16

36:16

Br. Francisco and Tom react to the newly elected Pope Leo XIV and what it will mean for the Church to have a pope from America.

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Ep. 110: Emmaus - Eden Restored 50:51

5M ago50:51

50:51

Nate and Br. Francisco reflect on the story of the road to Emmaus and how it is clear recreation of the Garden of Eden.

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Stations of the Resurrection - Original Meditation 51:15

6M ago51:15

51:15

Br. Francisco and Sarah Morgan Burger lead you through original guided meditations of the Way of Light (the Stations of the Resurrection).

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Good Friday Meditation 44:13

6M ago44:13

44:13

Br. Francisco leads you in an original meditation on the Lord's Passion based on the Gospel of St. John and the Psalms.

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Ep. 109: Monks and Birthdays 35:48

6M ago35:48

35:48

Br. Francisco shares with Nate and Tom how monks celebrate birthdays in the monastery and then the three brothers discuss the importance of celebrating others as a sign of love.

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Ep. 108: Lent, Love, and the Death of Self (feat. Aidan Garza) 2:03:06

6M ago2:03:06

2:03:06

Nate is joined by a friend from the Greek Orthodox Church to discuss what it means for us to love God and our neighbor.

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Ep. 107: RETREAT!!! 35:02

6M ago35:02

35:02

Br. Francisco and Tom speak about the necessity to take a step back at times and make a spiritual retreat.

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Ep. 106: Metaphysics - the Philosophy of God 48:28

7M ago48:28

48:28

Br. Francisco and Nate tackle the basics of metaphysics in order to discuss the transcendent and mysterious nature of God.

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Ep. 105 - Hydration, College, and Founding a Monastery (feat. Mark Armour) 48:37

7M ago48:37

48:37

Nate has a friend on the show to talk about evangelizing college students and fostering a sense of Catholic community.

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Ep. 104: Dating Advice from a Monk 49:09

7M ago49:09

49:09

Br. Francisco offers Nate and listeners dating advice based on monasticism and the Rule of St. Benedict.

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Ep. 103: No Parental Controls (Sharing Childhood Memories) 49:44

7M ago49:44

49:44

Br. Francisco and Tom reminisce about what they did as siblings when they had the house to themselves free of parental supervision.

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Ep. 102: Can We Ever Judge Others? 44:16

8M ago44:16

44:16

Br. Francisco and Nate respond to the false belief that individuals do not have the right to judge others. This judgement must have its limits though, but what are they?

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Ep. 101: Can Men and Women Be "Just Friends"? (feat. Molly Ramich) 38:41

8M ago38:41

38:41

Tom, Johanna, and Molly sit down to discuss whether authentic, platonic friendships can exist between men an women, and if so, how?

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Ep. 100: The Benedict Project 47:09

8M ago47:09

47:09

Br. Francisco, Nate, and Tom announce the newest step in their plans for the future and share how St. Benedict has helped them shape a vision for how they can best participate in the New Evangelization.

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Ep. 99: Can a Catholic Be an Environmentalist? 42:47

9M ago42:47

42:47

The three brothers reflect on the Catholic approach to environmentalism and the tension between having dominion over the earth and needing to take care of it.

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Ep. 98: Crazy Theories about the New Jersey Drones (and should men cry?) 50:15

9M ago50:15

50:15

Nate, Tom, and Johanna weigh in with their conspiracy theories about the NJ Drones and then shift the conversation to answering the question, 'Is it okay for men to cry?'

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Ep. 97: Podcast at 30,000 Feet (ft. SVC students) 26:17

9M ago26:17

26:17

The podcast takes to the skies as Br. Francisco interviews students from Saint Vincent College about their experience at the 2025 SEEK Conference in Salt Lake City, UT, hosted by FOCUS.

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Ep. 96: There Is ALWAYS Hope 39:46

9M ago39:46

39:46

Br. Francisco and Tom discuss the new jubilee year of hope and how it is a virtue so necessary for our times, as well as share some personal stories of when they found hope in their lives.

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Ep. 95: Are You Godparent Material? 40:06

9M ago40:06

40:06

Did you know that the role of Godparents carries both legal and theological weight in the Catholic Church? Nate and Br. Francisco discuss the necessity to choose Godparents wisely and how one ought to take this role seriously.

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Ep. 94: No Church = No Salvation 52:37

10M ago52:37

52:37

The three brothers discuss the doctrinal teaching of "Outside the Church there is no salvation" and why many Catholics do not believe that this teaching is true.

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Ep. 93: Stigmatists - Their Gifts, Revelations, and Warnings (feat. Dr. Paul Kengor, PhD) 1:10:43

10M ago1:10:43

1:10:43

Nate and Br. Francisco sit down with renowned author, speaker, and professor, Dr. Paul Kengor to discuss the subject of his latest book, stigmatists of the Church. You can order Dr. Kengor's book here: https://tanbooks.com/products/books/the-stigmatists-their-gifts-their-revelations-their-warnings/?gc_id=10316277314&h_ad_id=633454567152&gad_source=…

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Ep. 92: Meet the Abbot (feat. Archabbot Martin de Porres Bartel, OSB) 41:17

10M ago41:17

41:17

Br. Francisco interviews the Archabbot of Saint Vincent, Archabbot Martin, who shares insights and stories from his time as the head of the monastery.

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Ep. 91: Advent - A Preparation for Death 40:19

10M ago40:19

40:19

Br. Francisco and Nate share insights on how Advent is more than just a preparation for Christmas, but is even a way to prepare for one's own death. They also offer suggestions on how to make this Advent the most profound one yet!

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Ep. 90: Wounds, Communion, Silence, and Prayer (feat. Fr. Boniface Hicks, OSB) 1:14:55

11M ago1:14:55

1:14:55

Fr. Boniface Hicks, renowned author, speaker, and spiritual director, shares with Br. Francisco and Nate the powerful transformation one can have in prayer if they allow it to be a place of vulnerability, silence, and encounter.

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Ep. 89: Answering Fan Questions - 1st Livestream 1:09:12

11M ago1:09:12

1:09:12

Nate and Br. Francisco go live on YouTube and answer a variety of questions from fans, ranging from their favorite Christmas song, to how to deal with addiction once one enters the religious life.

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Ep. 88: Red Flags - Monastic Life vs. Dating 56:35

11M ago56:35

56:35

Nate and Br. Francisco talk about clear red flags they see in both the realm of dating and in life in a monastic community.

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Ep. 87: How Scripture Speaks to Us 1:05:12

11M ago1:05:12

1:05:12

The three Whittaker brothers share Scripture verses that have touched them deeply in their respective states as monk, husband and father, and single.

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Ep. 86: The Monk Marathon 56:04

12M ago56:04

56:04

Br. Francisco shares with Nate his experience of running his first marathon and how it became much more of a spiritual event than he had anticipated.

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Ep. 85: On Moderation (feat. Chardonnay) 1:05:05

12M ago1:05:05

1:05:05

Over a bottle of wine, Br. Francisco and Nate give their thoughts on the virtue of moderation and how it can actually foster greater joy and communion in society.

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Ep. 84: How to Always Be Learning 50:40

12M ago50:40

50:40

Br. Francisco and Nate speak about the nature of learning, how to continuously do it, and what things we should prioritize.

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Ep. 83: Internal Family Systems (feat. Br. Jose Rosa, OSB) 51:59

1y ago51:59

51:59

Br. Jose explains a branch of psychotherapy known as internal family systems which views the mind as having multiple sub-personalities that interact with one another, and shares how these parts can help us approach prayer with more authenticity and vulnerability.

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Ep. 82: Sibling Superlatives 48:33

1y ago48:33

48:33

All four Whittaker siblings get together to reflect on their childhood and growing up together, facilitating their conversation with hilarious and original superlatives.

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Ep. 81: Transformed by the Eucharist (feat. Jess Smith) 46:20

1y ago46:20

46:20

Jess shares her transformative experience while at the National Eucharistic Congress this past July, and how the Lord was made present and real to her in a radically new and powerful way.

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Ep. 80: For I Have Sinned (the Gift of Confession) 50:07

1y ago50:07

50:07

The three brothers sit down to discuss the sacrament of Reconciliation - its Scriptural roots, its human and psychological benefits, as well as personal testimonies with their own transforming experiences within the sacrament.

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Ep. 79: Plato, Jesus, and the Allegory of the Cave 40:17

1y ago40:17

40:17

The brothers discuss the fundamentals of Platonic Philosophy and how understanding its concepts can help us to know and understand Christ better.

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Ep. 78: Relationships with Adult Children (feat. our parents) 1:05:40

1y ago1:05:40

1:05:40

Nate and Br. Francisco are joined by their parents to discuss how their relationship dynamics have changed now that the boys are adults and share feelings and thoughts about growing up.

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Ep. 77: The Olympics - A Disgrace but Not a Surprise 26:33

1y ago26:33

26:33

Nate and Br. Francisco respond to the events of the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremonies and discuss its wider implications.

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Ep. 76: The Monk Talks about Monk Stuff 41:11

1y ago41:11

41:11

Nate interviews Br. Francisco with FAQ's that he gets about his life as a monk.

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Ep. 75: Overcoming Idol Worship 51:46

1y ago51:46

51:46

Recorded while driving in a car, Nate, Tom, and Br. Francisco discuss the danger of falling into the trap of idolizing others in hope of attention, affirmation, or to overcome a lack of confidence, and how to instead truly place God above all things.

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Ep. 74: You Like the Taste of Whiskey 31:05

1y ago31:05

31:05

Nate and Br. Francisco play a game in which they ask each other questions about their likes and dislikes and try to anticipate the other's answers.

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Ep. 73: 40 Minutes of Us Being Sad 42:56

1y ago42:56

42:56

Nate and Br. Francisco talk about their trip to Alaska and the reality of sorrow one feels after the end of something profoundly beautiful.

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Ep. 72: The Philosophy of Pizza Cake (feat. Vince Lombardi) 48:00

1y ago48:00

48:00

Live from Juneau, AK, Nate and Br. Francisco are joined by friend and guest, Vince Lombardi, who shares with them a personal philosophy of life centered on doing uncomfortable things which he terms, Pizza Cake.

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Ep. 71: Newlyweds (feat. Michael and Sophie Marinchak) 49:36

1y ago49:36

49:36

Br. Francisco sits down with recently married couple, Michael and Sophie, to discuss their discernment of marriage and the importance of sacramental marriage in today's culture.